I am a simple guy. I like simple things. I enjoy taking complex ideas and simplifying them so they can be understood. The conversion from complex to human is an important one, because once I can understand it, the word can flow into the streets.
My research of Knowledge Management turned up a number of explanations and ideas, all being complex. I also uncovered that knowledge management was more than a business buzz; it kinda separates the entrepreneurs from business owners. Lets get started.
Literature on the topic usually refer to two types of knowledge: static and tacit.
Stop. For this post the two types of knowledge I am going to talk about are: textbooks and brain mojo. For our scholars out there, textbooks translate into static knowledge, and brain mojo translates to the ever so sexy tacit knowledge. Textbooks and brain mojo, textbooks and brain mojo, say it with me, please
Textbooks, or static knowledge, is the information we process into knowledge from the resources all around us. School, textbooks, IRS websites, PDF’s, magazines, white-papers, case studies etc. This knowledge is available to anyone who wants it. Its not a secret, it is literally what has been published for people to read and process. Textbook knowledge is great because just like a textbook, if you forget it or need to reference it, just look it up.
Brain Mojo, or tacit knowledge, is the information that makes the world tick. I refer to it as Brain Mojo, because unlike textbooks, someones Brain Mojo is rarely published for others use. Even if we did a better job publishing Brain Mojo, I believe only a few could benefit from it. Brain Mojo perpetuates entrepreneurship. An appropriate example to illustrate someones phenomenal Brain Mojo would be the late Steve Jobs. I have heard the critics call Mr. Jobs controlling, degrading, genius, perfectionist, among other names. These labels Mr. Jobs accumulated throughout his career are a direct result of his Brain Mojo. His Brain Mojo, directed, created, edited, criticized, and complemented everything that came out of Apple. Some say he left a road map for Apple to follow for the years to come. Let me be clear here, a road map is not Brain Mojo, so it is left to be seen if the current leader at Apple can carry on Mr. Jobs legacy.
Since textbooks are already in circulation, some say it is important to try and capture the Brain Mojo to pass on. I am not sure it is that easy. I understand manuals, policies, and trade secrets can be documented, but I believe the Mojo is something deeper.
Your thoughts?
Chris, this post makes it much easier to understand the difference between static and tacit knowledge — thank you. And of course, coining the term “brain mojo” is even better.
I really like your insight that while we sometimes the profession talks about “documenting our tacit knowledge in knowledge management systems”, it is a hard thing, and may not even be something that’s fully achievable. (or perhaps there’s a point of diminishing returns) Thanks!
I think there is one key difference between textbook knowledge and Brain Mojo.
Passion.
Passion is what makes the knowledge feel like genius… because it isn’t just regurgitating information, it’s blowing it up and making it contagious. How do you capture that and pass it on to someone else? Not easy to do and virtually impossible to fake.