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The role of integrative and interactive technologies on know-what and know-how exchanges in Defense organizations

Author

Listed:
  • Cécile Godé

    (CReA - Centre de Recherche de l'École de l'air - Armée de l'air et de l'espace)

Abstract

In the field of knowledge management, Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) are frequently viewed as instances of knowledge codification. ICTs use makes knowledge sharing between people more efficient because they support the conversion from tacit knowledge to knowledge as a ‘code', referring here to the informational representation of that specific body of knowledge. Some analysts can therefore assign a primal importance to codification because it could de facto provide an expansion of knowledge exchanges between many actors. This paper keeps this last viewpoint in perspective. First of all, we highlight that any discussion about codification and knowledge sharing have to make the distinction between the kinds of knowledge exchanged. Factual knowledge (know-what) refers to knowledge about facts and can be easily codified. Procedural knowledge (know-how) represents knowledge about skills and expertises; it is difficult to codify because a large part remains irreducibly tacit. Some basic characteristics make different ICTs appropriate to manage these two kinds of knowledge: integrative technologies effectively sustain management of existing stocks and sequential flows of codified knowledge in organization. These technologies seem to be appropriate for sharing know-what between people. Interactive technologies are focused primarily on supporting interactions: allowing communication, they sustain exchanges of codified knowledge as explicit knowledge through communication. Interactive technologies are appropriate for sharing know-how in organizations. From these typologies, we stresse the importance of tacit knowing to any treatment of know-what and know-how exchanges through ICTs. As a consequence, we highlight the limits of ICTs' use on knowledge sharing. The American military organizations appear to be a relevant application case: integrative and interactive technologies play an essential role in military activities since the adoption of the Network Centric Warfare doctrine by the American forces. We note the role of tacitness in exchanges of know-what and know-how through ICTs during military operations.

Suggested Citation

  • Cécile Godé, 2006. "The role of integrative and interactive technologies on know-what and know-how exchanges in Defense organizations," Post-Print hal-00293547, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-00293547
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