Knowledge management and business growth

Business knowledge is an important strategic asset. It is a sum of skills, experiences, capabilities and insight which you collectively create and rely on in your business. It affects all the activities in and around your business.

Types of business knowledge

Knowledge can exist in many forms, but usually falls under one of three main categories:

Tacit knowledge

This is personal know-how or skills rooted in experience or practice (eg aesthetic sense or intuition). Tacit knowledge is difficult to write down, visualise or transfer.

Explicit knowledge

This is articulated knowledge recorded in documents, memos, databases, etc. Explicit knowledge is easy to store, distribute and communicate.

Embedded knowledge

These are skills and understanding locked in processes, products, rules or organisational culture (eg informal routines, codes of conduct, organisational ethics).

Knowledge can belong to individuals or groups within your business, or exist at the organisational level. You can also share it with different organisations.

You can apply business knowledge in many organisational areas and competencies, from financial management and organisational governance to market analysis, strategic planning, and human resources.

Examples of business knowledge

Examples of knowledge that already exists in your business include:

• the skills, competencies and experiences of your workforce
• the designs and processes for your goods and services
• the industry or market data you've gained from research
• your files or documents (electronic or otherwise)
• your customer data or information on suppliers and stakeholders
• your plans for future activities, such as ideas for new products or services

Importance of business knowledge

Knowledge has great value since it is inherently unique to your organisation. It shapes and drives your business activity, your ability to sell or do more, and stand apart from your competitors.

Individual knowledge is easily lost, especially when key employees leave. Make sure that your employees share knowledge and skills, and pass them on to their successors wherever possible. For example, you can:

• hold brainstorming sessions
• organise training courses
• maintain up-to-date documentation about processes and procedures

See more on sharing knowledge in business.

What is knowledge management in business?

Knowledge management is a systematic approach to capturing and making use of a business' collective expertise to create value. Effective knowledge management makes it possible to create, transfer and apply knowledge at different levels in a coherent and productive way.

Your understanding of what customers want, combined with your workers' know-how, can be regarded as your knowledge base. Using this knowledge in the right way can help you run your business more efficiently, decrease business risks and exploit opportunities to the full. This is known as the knowledge advantage.