Explicit Knowledge
Knowledge that can be written down, shared, and passed on in documented form.
What it means
Explicit knowledge is formalized knowledge — standards, procedures, manuals, drawings, data models. It's easy to transfer, but on its own it isn't enough for decisions in non-standard situations.
Why it matters
Most organizations have plenty of explicit knowledge. What's missing is the part that actually determines the outcome: the tacit experience behind how it's applied.
A real-world example
A procedure sets a temperature limit. But an experienced operator knows when the process shouldn't even come close to that limit — and that's not written anywhere.
Unspoken knowledge and experience that exists only in people's heads.
A structured knowledge repository available to people right when they need it.
A mandatory, standardized procedure for a recurring activity.
Detailed instructions for carrying out a specific task.
Systematic work with an organization's knowledge, from capture to use.