TACIT KNOWLEDGE ACQUISITION IN ONLINE LEARNING AT UK UNIVERSITIES

The effective sharing of knowledge is essential to improve organisational and individual performance. Tacit knowledge is certainly the most important but difficult form of knowledge to deal with, given its soft nature and the fact that it is typically not written down or codified in any form. In any domain, tacit knowledge such as practical experience, know-how, or trick of the trade, is known to have a significant impact on the quality of work and professional effectiveness. To pass on tacit knowledge, face-to-face contacts are highly recommended. Indeed, apprenticeships continue to gain popularity as effective means for novices to gain hands-on skills and experiential knowledge from the masters. With the shift to the digital era, online learning has emerged and now widespread. The main concern is whether or not people are able to share and gain tacit knowledge online. The question persists simply because of the paucity of empirical studies that examine the nature of knowledge shared via online learning and tacit knowledge gain.