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Aspects of a cybernetic theory of tacit knowledge and innovation

Jon‐Arild Johannessen (Harstad University College, Harstad, Norway)
Bjørn Olsen (Bodø Graduate School of Business, Bodø, Norway)

Kybernetes

ISSN: 0368-492X

Article publication date: 15 March 2011

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to facilitate understanding of the interaction between tacit knowledge and innovation.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper addresses the puzzle related to the impact tacit knowledge has on innovation. It appears that tacit knowledge has both negative and positive effects on innovation. The authors argue that solving this puzzle might find its solution in moving away from a one‐dimensional view of both tacit knowledge and innovation. Hence, they develop a typology of tacit knowledge to facilitate our understanding of the interaction between different types of tacit knowledge and different types of innovation. In conducting an aspect of a cybernetic theory of tacit knowledge and innovation, the authors develop a number of propositions for the influence different types of tacit knowledge have on different types of innovation.

Findings

The authors' argument is that different types of tacit knowledge hold different potential abilities for different types of innovation. The negative effect (a decrease in number of innovations) found in the tacit knowledge's conservative element might be explained in that the lower level of experience are more tied up in rule, procedures and analysis, than is the case for higher levels of experience.

Originality/value

In developing a typology of tacit knowledge and relating it to different types of innovation, the paper contributes to a new understanding of the complexity between tacit knowledge and innovation.

Keywords

Citation

Johannessen, J. and Olsen, B. (2011), "Aspects of a cybernetic theory of tacit knowledge and innovation", Kybernetes, Vol. 40 No. 1/2, pp. 141-165. https://doi.org/10.1108/03684921111117979

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2011, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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