photo credit: cyberuly

People and experts might ask, “why should I even share my knowledge?” They ask, “what’s the benefit for me?”

Rather than sharing, they prefer to hoard their knowledge. They think that it will save them their job, at least as they are the only ones who know that particular knowledge.

They forgot that knowledge grows as they share them.

Knowledge can be regarded as the only unique resource that grows when shared, transferred, and managed skillfully.
~Alfred Beerli

Why do knowledge grows when we share them?

1) Knowledge requires context

First of all, let’s reflect back to the difference between information and knowledge. Information might be able to achieve its meaning in generalized way, but we need application and context for knowledge to emerge.

Our distinction between data/information and knowledge conveys that the source of value does not arise from possessing the information source, but from acting on it in a context of a specific meaning at a specific time.
~Thomas Davenport and Sirkka Jarvenpaa

You may understand information individually and in isolation, but knowledge can only be understood in context, and that includes interactivity and communications with others.

2) Knowledge is a “flow”

Do you think knowledge as a “thing” or a “flow”? Rather than static resource or snapshot, it’s better to think that knowledge is a flow between the various state of known and unknown. It flows between the tacit (subjective) to explicit (objective) knowledge, it exists in the transition between the two, and it also exists in the symbiosis or the combination between the two dimensions. By defining knowledge as a flow, we will see the emergence quality of knowledge and how it can only be realized through practice and knowledge networking.

3) Knowledge can be used in many ways

Traditional use of knowledge may include only acquisition, assimilation, and sharing of knowledge. But in practice, knowledge use includes interpreting, reflecting, creating, applying, realizing, understanding, associating, recognizing, repurposing, and enhancing knowledge.

From that many usages, it is only a limited number that an individual in isolation can do. We need network or conversation to maximize the usage of knowledge. As you will see, more knowledge can be created by asking questions and watching the response provoke cascading conversations, responses, and interactions among the participants.

I hope that this article helps you to see the importance of knowledge sharing. Knowledge grow when we share them. Not only they will benefit other learners, they will also benefit you. With the power of technology that we have right now, it’s much easier for us to share knowledge. My question to you, will you dare to share?

Robert

[This article is summarized and adapted from the article "Revolution in Knowledge Sharing" (EDUCAUSE September/October 2003) by Donald M. Norris, Jon Mason, Robby Robson, Paul Lefrere, and Geoff Collier.]