NONAKA'S SECI MODEL

NONAKA'S SECI MODEL

DESCRIPTION OF THE MODEL:

Nonaka and Takeuchi propose a model for knowledge creating process to understand the nature of the knowledge creation. To make this process effictively this model has three elements:

1. Seci
2. Ba
3. Knowledege assets.

There are two types of knowledge tacit knowledge and explicit knowledge.

Tacit knowledge: Here the knowledge is created from internally of an individual, that means getting the knowledge from the experiences of the individual, it cannot be shown or written.

Explicit knowledge: Here the knowledge is created from the external sources, we can show this type of knowledge in the form of paper or records etc.

The tacit knowledge held by the individuals is converted by there spiral of knowledge through:

1. Socialization
2. Externalisation
3. Combination
4.Internalisation

Socialisation

Socialisation means sharing of knowledge (tacit to tacit) through face to face communication.(Nonaka and Takeuchi, 1995)

example: to develop a project in an organisation people use their own lifetime experiences to build up the project.


Externalisation

"Articulating tacit knowledge through dialogue and reflection".(Nonaka and Takeuchi).

Example: In an organisation the knowledge of an individuals tacit knowledge (experience) is taken by other members, that means here the tacit knowledge is converted to explicit knowledge (tacit to explicit).

Combination

It's a combination of various elements of explicit knowledge (Nonaka and Takeuchi).

Example: Getting the knowedge from variuos explicit knowledge experiences of an individual and applying systemize them into other organisations (explicit to explicit).

Interanalisation

"Learning and aquiring new tacit knowledge in practice" (Nonaka and Takeuchi).

Example: Getting the explicit knowledge by an individual through reading, listening, observation is converted into tacit knowledge.


BENEFITS OF THE SECI MODEL:

1. It gives the framework for management of the relevent processes.
2. Supports the dynamic nature of knowledge and knowledge creation.

LIMITATIONS OF THE SECI MODEL:

1. It is based on the study of Japanese organisation, which is mostly rely on tacit knowledge.
2. The linearity of the concept does'nt support? It can go counter clockwise or anti clockwise.


CRITICISM OF NONAKA'S MODEL

Acoording to Kodama, Guerrieri and Pietrobelli(2004,2005,2007) said that;
"there is no general unique way of creating knowledge because although the underlying processess could always be in the same industry, country or cluster considerations sculpt organizational learning and even these conditions face ongoing evolution and change"

Gourly argues that combination and internalisation appears to be ambiguous notions that conflate knowledge creation and transfer in Nonaka's theory.

Engestron's(1999), "Discover that problem finding is an important part of innovation missing from the seci model".

MY VIEW ON CRITICISM FOR NONAKA'S SECI MODEL

As said above socialization is limted to an extent and externalisation is limited or not applicable, but socialisation takes place only when the sharing of knowledge is allowed in the organisation.
Example: Special agencies like FBI, CIA or any secret agencies, the members of the organisation due to security and confidentiality purpose. So we can sayu that knowledge of an organisation is not transformed into all process of seci model.

Some of the leading companies dont share their knowledge or information with other companies due to competion of capturing the market.Here externalisation is not used or restricted to certain level. Nonaka's knowledge management model (1995) is mostly discussed based on japanese working environment, but different countries have different employment culture.

CONCLUSION

All the knowledge creation process of the seci model could rarely applicable, but according to my learning knowledge of this model i can say that complete application of this model is not applicable. There are many factors such as confidentiality of the data, organisational culture, language etc are influencing the successful application of the seci model.

REFERENCES

1. IKUJIRO NONAKA,HIROTAKA TAKEUCHI (1995)- THE KNOWLEDGE CREATING COMPANY.

2. HAGHIRIAN P, (2003). DOES CULTURE REALLY MATTER? CULTURAL INFLUENCES ON THE KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER PROCESS WITHIN MULTINATIONAL CORPORATION.

3. GREGORIO MARTIN- DE- CASTRO, PEDRO LOPEZ- SAEZ AND JOSE E. NAVAS-LOPEZ (2007). PROCESS OF KNOWLEDGE CREATION IN KNOWLEDGE -INTENSIVE FIRMS: EMPHIRICAL EVIDENCE FROM BOSTON'S ROUTE 128 AND SPAIN.

4. POLANY, M.1966, THE TACIT DIMENSION, GARDEB CITY, NY: DOUBLEDAY AND CO.