Tacit knowledge, organizational learning and innovation in organizations

Abstract

Problem: We don’t know how tacit knowledge, organizational learning and innovation are linked. Research question: What is the relation between tacit knowledge, organizational learning and innovation? Methodology: Conceptual generalizing. Purpose: To create a link between tacit knowledge, organizational learning and innovation. Contribution: 1. The authors develop a typology for tacit knowledge and organizational learning that may help us to understand the interaction between different types of tacit knowledge, organizational learning and innovation. 2. The research of the authors shows that tacit knowledge may be said to have three faces: one conservative that limits the continuous improvement process, a second that guards an organization against imitation, and a third that promotes innovation. 3. The authors develop a theory, i.e., a system of propositions related to how do different types of tacit knowledge and organizational learning influence innovation? Keywords: tacit knowledge, organizational learning, innovation. JEL Classification: M10