¹Kingston Business School, Kingston University, Kingston Hill, Kingston upon Thames, UK

Correspondence: Stephen Gourlay, Kingston Business School, Kingston University, Kingston Hill, Kingston upon Thames KT2 7LB, UK. E-mail: gourlaysn@kingston.ac.uk

Received 14 June 2005; Accepted 15 February 2006.

Abstract

Tacit knowledge is important for organizations and management, but we lack adequate theory, and find conflicting claims about the concept. A review of empirical studies of tacit knowledge phenomena found the term has been applied to both articulable and inarticulable knowledge. It is suggested that in the interests of clarity use of the term should be limited to the latter. Tacit knowledge appears due to both experience with the particular objects it is applied to, and to general experiences. A solution to the problem of tacit knowledge explication is proposed, and implications of the study for both managerial and academic practice are outlined.