MANAGING INFORMATION FOR ORGANISATIONAL LEARNING FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF TACIT KNOWLEDGE DIFFUSION AND META-ABILITIES

• Main Authors: Selamat, Mohamad Hisyam, Shibghatullah, Abdul Samad, Mohamad Nor, Mohamad Naimi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2005
• Subjects: T Technology (General)
• Online Access: http://eprints.utem.edu.my/id/eprint/13049/1/MohamadHisyamJournal2005.pdf; http://eprints.utem.edu.my/id/eprint/13049/
• Institution: Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka

The diffusion of tacit knowledge is pervasive in the organisational learning (OL)process. However diffusing tacit knowledge, a transparent and subjective form of knowledge, needs an individual’s ability to externalise and share this knowledge. To undertake this, a conceptual framework based on diffusion theory and meta-abilities is proposed. The framework suggests that meta-abilities create individual influencing skills, sharing attitudes and asking habits. Alternatively, influencing skills, sharing attitudes and asking habits externalise tacit knowledge through the medium of ideas,actions, reactions and reflection. Knowledge stewards’ document externalised tacit knowledge thereby making it measurable, tangible and available to systems analysts for future information systems (IS) development. The framework is tested using a case study in Malaysia. It is concluded that the future focus when managing information for OL should be toward an individuals meta-abilities development. There should also be an impetus towards creating the correct organisational culture and infrastructure that promotes tacit knowledge sharing and externalisation within and between employees.