Abstract

This paper is a theoretic reflection of the possibilities and impossibilities of dealing with knowledge within the economic and organizational context respectively. The intention is to contrast the tacit knowledge perspective with the knowledge management approach. The aim is to reach a better understanding about the conditions, problems and challenges of dealing with knowledge in the work context. The starting point of this paper is an examination of the term knowledge and the presentation of the tacit knowledge approach that was mainly formulated by Michael Polanyi. First of all we can state that knowledge has a broad frame of reference. Knowledge is “more” than information and it can’t be considered as a thing or an object. In Polanyi’s view knowledge always has a core that remains implicit. In a further step the paper focuses the topic knowledge management. Knowledge management that pays attention to the tacit constitution of knowledge becomes an ambivalent project. On the one hand it creates auspicious perspectives and on the other hand it requires involvement in contingent processes. This constitutes a basic problematic for companies and indicates a fundamental dilemma of dealing with knowledge within the economic context.