The Tacit Mystery

Résumé du livre

In the management literature, tacit knowledge has been conceptualized in divergent, contradictory and flawed ways. This paper reconciles these differences by explaining how they address different aspects of the theory of tacit knowing developed in the seminal work of Michael Polanyi. To clarify Polanyi's work we provide a more inclusive theoretical framework for scholars concerned with the creation and transfer of knowledge. We explain that the management literature has examined the concept of tacit knowledge from three main theoretical perspectives (psychology, economics and management). Using a theoretical framework developed from Polanyi's tacit knowing we examine the implications for theory and practice of these different conceptualizations. We also propose areas of further research for each theoretical perspective. We conclude by proposing that new insights can be gained by a focus upon the process of "indwelling" where tacit knowing is developed through practical immersion.