Externalization (Tacit → Explicit)

A mode of knowledge conversion that articulates tacit knowledge into explicit concepts through dialogue and collective reflection.

This is the quintessential knowledge-creation process, making the implicit explicit. The primary mechanism is metaphor: relating two contradictory concepts in a single word, enabling people to express what they know but cannot otherwise say.

Why metaphor works: It creates bridges between the familiar and the unknown. A product concept may start as a metaphor (“this car should be like a sphere”) that captures tacit understanding before it can be specified in formal terms. The metaphor-analogy-model sequence moves from intuitive insight to systematic logic.

Externalization is triggered by meaningful “dialogue.” When team members articulate their perspectives, tacit knowledge that would otherwise remain personal becomes available for collective development. This requires psychological safety and redundant communication.

The challenge: externalization is the least developed of the four modes. We lack systematic methods for converting tacit expertise into shareable form.

Related: 06-molecule—seci-framework, 06-atom—tacit-knowledge-definition