MOTIVATIONS, TACIT AND EXPLICIT KNOWLEDGE I203 Social and Organizational Issues of Info

Tacit and Explicit Knowledge 2 (Taken from

Knowledge Forms  Explicit Knowledge  Reproduced through codes, language, symbols  Tacit Knowledge  Reproduced through action-based skills 3

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Tacit and Explicit Knowledge in IT  “Codified Knowledge” in Information and Communication Technologies  Synonym for explicit knowledge: can be translated and articulated in formal language or symbols.  “Communities of Practice”  Geographically dispersed professionals (often in different fields) who share common practices and interests in a particular area. 6

Comparing Explicit and Tacit Knowledge  Consider Information Transfer:  By example, how does explicit knowledge function in an organization?  And tacit knowledge? 7

Uninvention of Nuclear Weapons (MacKenzie and Spinardi)  Can the difficulties associated with transferring tacit knowledge actually lead to the “uninvention” of technologies? 8

Motivations for Transferring Knowledge (Osterloh and Frey)  Intrinsic motivation  Satisfies one’s own immediate needs  Advantages and disadvantages?  Extrinsic motivation  Indirect compensation of needs  Advantages and disadvantages? 11

“Crowding Effect” on Motivation  Crowding Effect 12

Psychological Processes  Cognitive Evaluation Theory: Locus of Control  Intrinsic motivation is tied to control over one’s actions. If the impetus for an action depends on external rewards, the control is shifted to the outside (undermines our self-determination)

Psychological Processes (continued)  Psychology of Contracts and Reciprocity  Exchange relationships have socio-emotional aspects as well as utilitarian benefits.  From Social Exchange Theory:  Reciprocal exchange has both instrumental value as well as communicative or symbolic value

Crowding out vs. Crowding in  Adwords and Blogging…  Monetary rewards and open source development…  Other examples of “Crowding Out” and/or “Crowding In”?

Motivational and Knowledge Requirements in Organizational Forms Tacit Knowledge Explicit Knowledge Intrinsic Motivation Knowledge- based teams Knowledge producing teams Extrinsic Motivation Independent knowledge workers Profit centers, spin-offs 18