Development Discussion Forum: The Role of Tacit and Explicit Knowledge
The third Development forum, the series of Development Discussion Forums at ECSU, held on 24th January, 2014, in Development Learning Center of ECSU with a theme "The Role of Tacit and Explicit Knowledge."
Dr. Melesse Asfaw Director for School of Graduate Studies in his presentation defined that explicit knowledge – academic knowledge or ‘‘know-what’’ that is described in formal language, print or electronic media, often based on established work processes, use people-to-documents approach. By contrast, tacit knowledge – practical, action-oriented knowledge or ‘‘know-how’’ based on practice, acquired by personal experience, seldom expressed openly, often resembles intuition.
No skill in knowledge sharing techniques, willing to share, but not having enough time to do so, lack of understanding of knowledge management and benefits are some of the reasons why people are reluctant to share knowledge, according to Dr. Melesse.
Participants also reflected their ideas on knowledge sharing trends. Dr. Dereje Terefe, Director for Public Policy Studies said, the way we perceive and the value that we have towards knowledge matters a lot in knowledge sharing activities. If the domain of the teacher is restricted in and around the classrooms, then knowledge sharing lucks its main purpose, he added.
Dr. Samson Kassahun, Academic Vice President of the University said that there are a lot of forums that we can share knowledge with if we are engaged actively. According to Dr. Samson Knowledge sharing starts in the classroom. Dr. Samson said
"We can facilitate knowledge sharing forums in the classrooms as the students come from different social and economic backgrounds, "
In the occasion President of ECSU, Dr. Hailemichael Aberra said ,
"valuable human and knowledge resources will be wasted unless management openly accepts and supports efforts to gather, sort, transform, record and share knowledge. "
To assure this, the university, with all its might, highly encourages those who commit themselves to making this knowledge practical, Dr. Hailemichael underscored. Dr. Hailemichael also said, we can`t avoid coming together through which formal or informal knowledge sharing takes place.
Earlier to this, development discussions were held in two series in titled "Rural Development Policies and Strategies of Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia" by Dr. Hailemichael Aberra, and
" Industrialization Policies and the Ethiopian Economy" by the late Prof. Salah Yousif and Dr. Rana Singh.
The discussion forum was so interactive that Institute directors, lecturers and management members of ECSU were highly participating and giving constructive ideas during the discussion.