What is meant by tribal knowledge?

Tribal knowledge is jargon terminology used to describe information that is known within a group of people but unknown outside of it. From a corporate perspective, tribal knowledge or know-how is the collective wisdom of the organization. It is the sum of all the knowledge and capabilities of all the people.

How do you capture tribal knowledge?

Common techniques include:

1. Narrating your thoughts and processes as you carry out the work.
2. Capture your work by recording it or writing it down.
3. Use a knowledge management system.

How do you fix tribal knowledge?

So, here’s how you can solve it:

1. Create a constant feedback loop. When you introduce routine performance reviews, nobody questions how they’re doing or if their job is in danger.
2. Incentivize sharing knowledge. Don’t just wait around for your team to document their tribal knowledge.
3. Make documenting as easy as possible.

What are examples of tribal knowledge?

Examples of tribal knowledge For example, a hydraulic assembly press started overheating in a factory fifteen years ago. At the time, a team of engineers figured out, through trial and error, that bringing the oil temperature below 120 degrees Fahrenheit could solve the problem.

Where does the term tribal knowledge come from?

In a nutshell, tribal knowledge is any knowledge in your organization that has not been documented. Like tacit knowledge, tribal knowledge is stored in the heads of your employees, who have received it from local members of the “tribe”.

What is meant by institutional knowledge?

Institutional knowledge is the combination of experiences, processes, data, expertise, values, and information possessed by company employees. It can span decades and comprise crucial trends, projects, perspectives and that define a company’s history.

Is Tribal Knowledge politically correct?

3 Answers. Tribal Knowledge is a term that can be used everywhere, because a tribe is basically a group or subgroup of people, not necessarily a division of an race. This word can be used like in this situation. It is only generally used around corporations, businesses, offices, etc.

Why institutional knowledge is important?

Capturing and maintaining institutional knowledge can increase productivity in the long run: Reduces time and resources spent onboarding new employees. Prevents mistakes caused by lack of information or experience. Limits risk of disruption from employee absence or departure.

How do you define knowledge that would apply to your organization institution?

Organizational knowledge is the sum of all knowledge contained within an organization that can provide business value. It may be gained from intellectual property, product knowledge, lessons of failure and success, conferences, or customer communications, just to name a few sources.

What is the meaning of institutional knowledge?

Why is Organisational knowledge important?

Organisational Knowledge offers an opportunity for increased awareness about knowledge requirements. It ensures a sound delivery of quality outputs and promotes sustainable business. A handful of potential challenges arise with this.

What is tribal knowledge in business?

Tribal knowledge is any unwritten information that is not commonly known by others within a company. This term is used most when referencing information that may need to be known by others in order to produce quality product or service.

Can tribal knowledge be used as leverage in salary negotiations?

Some employees see this kind of knowledge as leverage during raise negotiations. The company is at risk any time an employee can use tribal knowledge against it, since if the employee leaves, the tribal knowledge often leaves with the employee.

What happens if you don’t document tribal knowledge?

Often, when pieces of processes are not documented, the work performed fails to meet legal and safety requirements. When these oversights are uncovered, it can lead to employee injury, process downtime, legal fines, and other financial consequences. Companies may meet some resistance regarding the documentation of tribal knowledge.

What happens to your tribal knowledge when you retire?

And when they retire, critical information, often referred to as “Tribal Knowledge,” goes with them, resulting in gaps of information at the companies they leave behind. In the United States alone, there are an estimated 12 million manufacturing employees over the age of 55.