Explicit knowledge (alsoexpressive knowledge)[1] isknowledge that can be readily articulated,conceptualized, codified,formalized, stored and accessed.[2] It can be expressed in formal and systematical language and shared in the form of data, scientific formulae, specifications, manuals and such like.[3] It is easily codifiable and thus transmittable without loss of integrity once the syntactical rules required for deciphering it are known.[4] Most forms of explicit knowledge can bestored in certainmedia. Explicit knowledge is often seen as complementary totacit knowledge.[5]
Explicit knowledge is often seen as easier to formalize compared totacit knowledge, but both are necessary for knowledge creation. Nonaka and Takeuchi introduce theSECI model as a way for knowledge creation. The SECI model involves four stages where explicit and tacit knowledge interact with each other in a spiral manner. The four stages are:
The information contained inencyclopedias andtextbooks are good examples of explicit knowledge, specificallydeclarative knowledge. The most common forms of explicit knowledge are manuals, documents, procedures, and how-to videos. Knowledge also can be audio-visual. Engineering works andproduct design can be seen as other forms of explicit knowledge where human skills, motives and knowledge are externalized.
In thescholarly literature, papers presenting an up-to-date "systemization of knowledge" (SoK) on a particular area of research are valuable resources for PhD students.[6]