Sharing or ignoring tacit knowledge? A comparison of collective learning routines at two sites

Document Type

Journal article

Source Publication

Journal of General Management

Publication Date

7-1-2017

Volume

42

Issue

4

First Page

57

Last Page

67

Publisher

SAGE Publications Ltd

Keywords

collective learning routines, knowledge sharing, tacit knowledge, task environments

Abstract

Tacit knowledge plays an important role in task performance but is difficult to share. We analysed whether tacit knowledge was being shared through collective learning routines at two sites where employees were undertaking knowledge-intensive work. Employees at the first site were performing procedure-governed tasks, and while their tasks were similar, they were expected to work independently, which restricted access to one another’s tacit knowledge. This restriction was compounded by the management’s policy that collective learning routines should exclusively utilize a technology-based knowledge sharing platform. By contrast, employees at the second site were working interdependently to develop original solutions to common problems and could share tacit knowledge naturally as they engaged in face-to-face collective learning routines. From our analysis of differences between collective learning routines at the two sites, we derive practical implications for facilitating the sharing of tacit knowledge at sites where employees are independently performing similar procedure-driven tasks.

DOI

10.1177/0306307017702997

Print ISSN

03063070

E-ISSN

17596106

Publisher Statement

Copyright © The Author(s) 2017. Access to external full text or publisher's version may require subscription.

Full-text Version

Publisher’s Version

Language

English

Recommended Citation

Abbariki, M., Snell, R. S., & Easterby-Smith, M. (2017). Sharing or ignoring tacit knowledge? A comparison of collective learning routines at two sites. Journal of General Management, 42(4), 57-67. doi: 10.1177/0306307017702997

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