Knowledge and learning
Overview
In this chapter we will explore the complex and often paradoxical relationship between learning and knowledge. While theories and definitions abound on these terms, without limiting later study we will broadly distinguished as follows:
Learning refers to the acquisition and possession of knowledge obtained through experience and study;
Information at its simplest level refers to structured data organised and communicated to transfer knowledge;
Knowledge refers to data and information structured for an agreed purpose;
Knowledge management refers to the management of information flows in an organisation to maximise its application to productive purposes desired by the organisation for current or future productive purposes and value creation as determined by the organisation’s core strategic intent;
The distinction between these terms, especially in the context of understanding of knowledge and the multiple ways learning contributes to the creation of knowledge, is fundamental to the understanding of how learning can promote knowledge transfer. Managing learning to create knowledge has become an essential management activity.
Learning outcomes
At the completion of this chapter, you should be able to:
- Establish the relationship between knowledge transfer and learning
- Explain how the ability to learn is a valuable knowledge asset for an organisation
- Outline the reasons why a business should want to encourage learning for the purposes of knowledge transfer
- Relate levels of competence to types of knowledge
