Examination of Tacit Knowledge Utility Observed in a Knowledge Initiation Process in a Nursing Practice

─Based on Knowledge Initiation Experiences of Nursing Administrators─

Abstract

Semi-structured interviews of eight nurses working as part of the middle management regarding the knowledge initiation experience were analyzed by the “modified grounded theory approach” (M─GTA), and knowledge initiation utility through tacit knowledge was examined by explaining a knowledge initiation process pertaining to a nursing practice.

Although the “fixed form of knowledge” continued to grow by transitioning to explicit knowledge during the process, the knowledge that it was considered to impart only in the form of tacit knowledge also existed ; thus, explicit and tacit knowledge initiation progressed simultaneously. Further, the characteristic influences of the Japanese culture were also observed with an emphasis on the nurses' growth and recognition aspects of knowledge.

This suggested that knowledge initiation was promoted by avoiding an excessive use of the fixed form of knowledge, exploiting the cultural trait that tacit knowledge initiation is favorable, and effectively combining explicit knowledge initiation with tacit knowledge initiation.