Tacit and Explicit Knowledge

Tacit knowledge is defined as a vast unrecorded knowledge foundation based on a person's own experience, insights, observations, intuition and internalized information. It is attained mainly through interaction with others, and its extraction requires mutual engagement. It constitutes the majority of one's knowledge and forms the fundamental basis on which explicit knowledge is based (Polanyi, 1967). Knowledge is defined as explicit when it is articulated and documented in any form of written symbols communication or other visual and oral means. Explicating knowledge makes It possible to collect and disseminate (Horvath et al., 1996; Horvath, 2000). Spender (1995) defined tacit knowledge as "that which has not yet been abstracted from practice".

Acknowledging the fact that knowledge has many dimensions, and the respective advantaged of each dimension, should lead to restructuring the process of scientific research in the academy. It will ensure continuity, creativity and additional development while maximizing the capabilities and comparative advantages of each faculty. Mutual recognition will enable creation of a team of researchers, a cohort, encompassing researchers from both schools in the academy.