ABSTRACT
This chapter deals with the input aspects of Knowledge Management, which consists of two stages: Collect and Select. Collect discusses how to capture existing knowledge from available internal and external sources. Select filters and assesses pieces of knowledge to determine which pieces have value. Knowledge can be divided into theoretical knowledge and practical knowledge. Practical knowledge is essential for high performance; theoretical knowledge is essential for expert understanding, progress in the discipline, and adaptability — the ability to solve difficult and unique cases. Finally, knowledge can be viewed from the maturity of the domain — the degree of structure in the knowledge. Tacit sources of knowledge include individual employee expertise, memories, values and beliefs; assumptions and biases; corporate culture; and social and political norms. The types of tasks involved usually include qualitative reasoning in problem-solving, decision-making, designing, and diagnoses, as well as understanding and meaning, communicating, and physical skills.
