SECI Model

Introduction

The SECI model is a well known conceptual model that was first proposed by Nonaka (1991) and expanded by Nonaka and Takeuchi (1995) . The model describes how explicit and tacit knowledge is created, transferred, and improved in organizations.

SECI stands for:

1. Socialization

2. Externalization

3. Combination

4. Internalization

When to use?

For Knowledge Creation Process

Knowledge Conversion

1. From tacit knowledge to tacit knowledge: process of socialization

2. From tacit knowledge to explicit knowledge: process of externalization

3. From explicit knowledge to explicit knowledge: process of combination

4. From explicit knowledge to tacit knowledge: process of internalization

Model

The SECI process is a continuous process i.e. where knowledge is shared from one individual to another individual (Socialization), from the individual to a group e.g. a Communities of Practice (Externalization), from the group to the organization (Combination) and from the Organization to back to the individual (Internalization) which will then restart the process at socialization. This process creates a spiral which can be seen diagrammatically below from Dalkir (2017) pg.75:

Four Modes of Knowledge Creation

1. Socialization is the process of sharing tacit knowledge through observation, imitation, practice, and participation in formal and informal communities (Yeh et al., 2011). The socialization process is usually preempted by the creation of a physical or virtual space where a given community can interact on a social level.

2. Externalization is the process of articulating tacit knowledge into explicit concepts (Yeh et al., 2011). Since tacit knowledge is highly internalized, this process is the key to knowledge sharing and creation.

3. Combination is the process of integrating concepts into a knowledge system (Yeh et al., 2011).

4. Internalization is the process of embodying explicit knowledge into tacit knowledge (Nonaka & Takeuchi, 1995).

A diagrammatical representation of SECI and the interplay between tacit and explicit knowledge are shown below from Cool et al. (n.d):

Characteristics

Socialization

• Easiest manner of exchanging knowledge as this is done instinctively in a social setting.

• Downfall is that knowledge remains tacit as it is rarely documented and remains in the individuals' minds.

• Another shortcoming is that it is time consuming to share the knowledge .

Externalization

• Enables individuals to articulate Know-how, know-why and care-why knowledge.

Combination

• Generally, no new knowledge is created.

• Representation of existing explicit knowledge.

Internalization

• Linked to Learning by Doing.

• Only when knowledge is internalized can it lead to adding value as individuals will be utilizing the new found knowledge.

Examples of Knowledge Conversion

Socialization

• Corridor meetings.

• Chats by the water tank or coffee machine.

• Knowledge Days/ Knowledge Cafes/ Knowledge Jams .

Externalization

• Interviews conducted by knowledge journalist (journalists that have an understanding of the knowledge domain).

• Brainstorming.

• Post Implementation Reviews/ Lessons Learned.

Combination

• A synthesis in the form of a

  • review report,

  • a trend analysis,

  • a brief executive summary, or

  • a new database to organize content.

  • Lecturers using existing literature on KM to design course content for students to easily consume, understand, synthesize and use.

  • Our KM website where we combined explicit information and represented it on a different medium.

Internalization

• Learning by doing:

  • Reading a system manual and performing activities on the system.

  • Observing others perform a job function and replicating it.

Conclusion

• SECI is a Robust Model that can be applied to many settings.

• Main focus is on the conversion of Tacit Knowledge to Explicit Knowledge.

• Drawbacks

  • Lack of coverage of all KM stages.

  • Does not address how decision making can leverage off these forms of knowledge.

• Strengths

  • Simplicity of the Model.

  • Can be easily understood and internalized.