Types of Knowledge
There are many types of knowledge that work together to shape the way we exchange information and learn new concepts.
Explicit knowledge
Explicit knowledge is knowledge covering topics that are easy to systematically document (in writing), and share out at scale: what we think of as structured information. When explicit knowledge is well-managed, it can help a company make better decisions, save time, and maintain an increase in performance.
These types of explicit knowledge are all things that have traditionally been what has been captured in a knowledge base or as part of a knowledge management strategy. It’s formalized documentation that can be used to do a job, make a decision, or inform an audience.
Explicit Knowledge Example: A company manual that outlines standard operating procedures, such as a safety protocol document. This document can be easily distributed to employees and serves as a clear guideline on how to handle specific situations.
Implicit knowledge
Implicit knowledge is, essentially, learned skills or know-how. It is gained by taking explicit knowledge and applying it to a specific situation. If explicit knowledge is a book on the mechanics of flight and a layout diagram of an airplane cockpit, implicit knowledge is what happens when you apply that information in order to fly the plane.
Implicit knowledge is gained when you learn the best way to do something. You can then take that experience and synthesize it with other learned information in order to solve an entirely new problem.
This type of knowledge has traditionally been excluded from formal knowledge bases, as it can be difficult to document and capture in a scalable way. In order to add it to a knowledge base, think of it this way: “What new thing did I learn, would it be useful to others, and how can I explain it?”
Implicit Knowledge Example: An experienced employee's method of efficiently organizing their workflow in a project management tool. This knowledge is based on their personal experience and understanding of the tool, which they've developed over time.
institutional knowledge
Institutional knowledge, also known as institutional memory, is the collective understanding and ability of an organization's workforce. There are several forms of institutional knowledge. Some is intentional knowledge developed through systematic training in the ways of the organization. It can also arise organically through time and exposure to various scenarios on the job, or else it stems from the individual being characteristic of or intuitive of them. With that in mind, it's possible to categorize institutional knowledge into two broad types:
- Tangible: Also known as explicit institutional knowledge, this type refers to knowledge an organization can store and transmit to its employees systematically, such as paper or digital documents. Such knowledge doesn't rely on any particular individual in the organization to keep and convey.
- Intangible: Alternatively called implicit institutional knowledge, this is the knowledge that an individual within an organization has by virtue of their experience or an attribute characteristic of them. It's transmissible through direct training with the individual but isn't tangible unless recorded onto a reproducible medium.
Institutional Knowledge Examples:
- Tangible: A digital archive of all the past projects completed by the company, including details about the project scope, team involved, and outcomes.
- Intangible: The unique approach developed by a long-term employee for client engagement based on their years of interaction with different clients.
Tacit knowledge
Tacit knowledge is intangible information that can be difficult to explain in a straightforward way, such as things that are often “understood” without necessarily being said, and are often personal or cultural. This type of knowledge is informal, learned with experience over time, and usually applies to a specific situation.
When it can be captured (if it’s not, for instance, a feeling), it should be added to a knowledge base. Doing so makes it easy to share expertise gained over time with others who may need it.
Tacit Knowledge Example: The ability of a seasoned employee to navigate complex workplace dynamics and unspoken rules within the company, which they've learned through years of experience.
Check out this Indeed article for a deeper dive: What Is Tacit Knowledge? Definition, Examples and Importance
Declarative knowledge
Declarative knowledge, which can be also understood as propositional knowledge, refers to static information and facts that are specific to a given topic, which can be easily accessed and retrieved. It’s a type of knowledge where the individual is consciously aware of their understanding of the subject matter.
This type of knowledge is typically stored in documentation or databases and focuses more on the 'who', 'what', 'where', and 'when' behind information and less on the 'how' or 'why'. When documented, it creates the foundation for understanding the subject matter and can help companies improve how they share procedural and explicit knowledge.
Declarative Knowledge Example: A database containing facts about the company's product lines, such as specifications, pricing, and historical sales data. This information is specific and can be easily accessed by anyone in the organization.
Procedural knowledge
Procedural knowledge focuses on the ‘how’ behind which things operate, and is demonstrated through one’s ability to do something. Where declarative knowledge focuses more on the ‘who, what, where, or when’, procedural knowledge is less articulated and shown through action or documented through manuals.
Procedural Knowledge Example: A training video demonstrating how to use a specific piece of machinery in the manufacturing process. It shows the steps involved and the proper technique, which is harder to convey in written form.
A Posteriori knowledge
A posteriori knowledge is a subjective type of knowledge that is gained from individual experience. While this type of knowledge isn’t [typically] one to be documented on a company’s knowledge base, it still plays a critical role in the success of teams. This kind of knowledge gives individuals the ability to know their strengths and weaknesses that stem from their experiences, and can help companies diversify their teams skill set.
A Posteriori Knowledge Example: An employee's insight into the most effective marketing strategies for different demographics, gained through analyzing past campaign results and customer feedback.
A Priori knowledge
A priori knowledge is the opposite of posteriori knowledge, and is gained independent of experience or evidence. This type of knowledge is often shared through logical reasoning, or one's ability to think abstractly. Although a priori knowledge isn’t necessarily documented, it’s often shown in the form of team’s ability to understand and reason when faced with situations.
A Priori Knowledge Example: A team's ability to predict market trends based on logical analysis and understanding of economic principles, independent of specific empirical data.