Transfer of knowledge and the information processing professions

Karl-Erik Sveiby

European Management Journal, 1996, vol. 14, issue 4, 379-388

Abstract: How is Knowledge best transferred? Via Information or via Tradition (face-to-face socialization)? This Article draws upon Michael Polanyi's concepts of 'Tacit Knowing' and 'Tradition', contrasting it with Information Theory to explore the two methods. The present growth in information seems to be a supply push, not a customer demand, which is potentially dangerous. On today's information markets the suppliers pay - not the consumers, suggesting that the value of information in transferring knowledge is very small. The value can even be negative, because the reader does not know until after the reading, whether the information was worth spending time on or not. The money makers have the information suppliers as customers or have created standards that force the readers to use their tools. It seems false - and possibly unprofitable - to base transfer of human knowledge on information. I suggest that those carrying a 'radical' definition of information as being equal and meaningless are less likely to be disappointed and less likely to lose money on information markets. Human knowledge is action oriented and is best transferred via tradition, in social interaction with people, because humans have a huge capacity to absorb signals unconsciously in face-to-face communication. However, tradition is slow and unconscious. We must find new ways and other interactive media other than information, for efficient knowledge transfer. One such 'medium' is the open plan office.

Date: 1996
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