The DOI matches its Crossref record; 65 of the 66 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
A Dynamic Theory of Organizational Knowledge Creation
Abstract
This paper proposes a paradigm for managing the dynamic aspects of organizational knowledge creating processes. Its central theme is that organizational knowledge is created through a continuous dialogue between tacit and explicit knowledge. The nature of this dialogue is examined and four patterns of interaction involving tacit and explicit knowledge are identified. It is argued that while new knowledge is developed by individuals, organizations play a critical role in articulating and amplifying that knowledge. A theoretical framework is developed which provides an analytical perspective on the constituent dimensions of knowledge creation. This framework is then applied in two operational models for facilitating the dynamic creation of appropriate organizational knowledge.
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In the citing paper
“We propose that the SECI model of knowledge creation (Nonaka and Takeuchi 1995) provides empirically testable design principles for AI agent memory architecture.”
From From Organizational Knowledge to AI Agent Memory: Empirical Validation of the SECI Model on the LongMemEval Benchmark (2026) · cites this paper as Nonaka 1994
In the citing paper
“Nonaka and Takeuchi (1995) proposed that organizational knowledge is created through a continuous spiral of four conversion modes.”
From From Organizational Knowledge to AI Agent Memory: Empirical Validation of the SECI Model on the LongMemEval Benchmark (2026) · cites this paper as Nonaka 1994
In the citing paper
“The organizational knowledge creation theory proposes that the new knowledge is created through processes of tacit and explicit conversion: socialization, externalization, combination, and internalization (Erden, Von Krogh, & Nonaka, 2008;Nonaka, Toyama, & Konno, 2000;Nonaka, 1994).”
From Linking knowledge management, organizational learning and memory (2020) · cites this paper as Nonaka, 1994
Citations
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“In understanding the problems of knowledge integration, the tacit nature of knowledge (Nonaka, 1994; Polanyi, 1966; Von Krogh et al., 2000), its stickiness (von Hippel & Katz, 2002; von Hippel, 1998), and the difficulty of transferring it (Szulanski, 1996) have emerged as widely accepted…”
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“Knowledge management from an organizational perspective addresses how to establish systematic knowledge management in an organization in terms of activities and organizational structures required (e.g., Probst et al. 2000; Nonaka 1994).”
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Buvik, M. P., & Tvedt, S. D. (2017) · Project Management Journal · doi:10.1177/875697281704800202 · Cited by 99
“Knowledge is typically classified into two categories: explicit and tacit (Nonaka, 1994; Polanyi, 1966).”
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Vernadat, F. (2020) · Computers in Industry · doi:10.1016/j.compind.2020.103265 · Cited by 92
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“’’ More generally, a distinction can be made between, on the one hand, traditional epistemology, which emphasises the absolute, static and ahuman character of knowledge and, on the other hand, the more recent theory of knowledge creation, which considers knowledge a dynamic human process in which personal convictions…”
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“Develop shared vision New knowledge is created in groups when individual tacit knowledge is made explicit for sharing ( Nonaka 1994 ) Employ technical mechanisms for explicit representation of knowledge and sharing of such with group”
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Garrett, R. P., Miao, C., Qian, S., & Bae, T. J. (2017) · Small Business Economics · doi:10.1007/s11187-017-9842-1 · Cited by 33
Organizational knowledge, learning and memory – A perspective of an immune system
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“More concretely, knowledge creation improves an organization’s knowledge and learning to further obtain more useful knowledge (Nonaka, 1994; Nonaka & Takeuchi, 1995; von Krogh, 1998).”
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“As organizations grow and continue to learn, their knowledge and competencies, over time, become embedded in firm routines and practices [63].”
Akhmad, M., Chang, S., & Deguchi, H. (2021) · Journal of Computational Social Science · doi:10.1007/s42001-020-00083-8 · Cited by 18
“A workgroup, as an organization, has the group knowledge that is shared among group members as tacit or explicit knowledge [25, 31].”
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“According to Nonaka (1994), an important step in organizational learning and knowledge development is the translation of tacit and explicit knowledge (Ellis, 2005).”
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Seni, D. A. (2012) · Science & Education · doi:10.1007/s11191-011-9385-9 · Cited by 3
“The integration of individual learning in the organization through socialization leading to ‘‘knowledge creation’’ is discussed in Nonaka and Takeuchi (1995), Nonaka (1991, 1994) , and Nonaka et al. D. A. Seni”
BackgroundLearning on The Job: School Principal’s Tacit Knowledge for Leadership
Bonney, L. A., & Yu, C. H. (2025) · Journal of School Leadership · doi:10.1177/10526846251369971
“Nonaka (1994) conceived cognitive schemata as representing implicit tacit knowledge employed by leaders in understanding circumstances and selecting actions to achieve goals.”
Żatuchin, D. (2026) · Research Square (preprint) · doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-9801639/v1
Baum (2000) · doi:10.1002/(sici)1097-0266(200003)21:3
Metadata
- Authors
- Nonaka, I.
- Affiliations
- Hitotsubashi University (JP)
- Corresponding author
- Nonaka, Ikujiro
- ORCID
- Nonaka, Ikujiro
- Venue
- Organization Science
- Published
- 1994-02
- Volume
- 5
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 14-37
- ISSN
- 1047-7039 (ISSN-L)
- 1526-5455
- OpenAlex
- W2132454116
- Cited by
- 17,809
- References
- 66
- Citations by year
- 2026: 506 · 2025: 438 · 2024: 460 · 2023: 529 · 2022: 717 · 2021: 722 · 2020: 732 · 2019: 776 · 2018: 777 · 2017: 820 · 2016: 706 · 2015: 887 · 2014: 922 · 2013: 1016 · 2012: 944
- FWCI
- 409.35
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Organization Science (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Information Systems and Management › Knowledge Management and Sharing
- Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Strategy and Management › Innovation and Knowledge Management
- Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management › Organizational Learning and Leadership
- Keywords
- organizational knowledge creation, tacit knowledge, explicit knowledge, knowledge creation process, knowledge management, knowledge articulation
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