Bridging Epistemologies

The authors of Bridging Epistemologies are S. D. N. Cook an J. S. Brown. The concept is based on the following assumptions:

Knowledge can be divided into:

• Explicit or tacit

• Individual or group

• There are two epistemologies:
  • Epistemology of possession leads to preference of explicit before tacit and individual before group knowledge
  • Epistemology of practice (bridging epistemology) in addition to knowledge possession centers on the ability to use knowledge as a tool (knowing as action)

Graphically, the concept can be expressed as follows:

According the concept of bridging epistemologies, the organizations must balance the range of knowledge in all four quadrants, evenly use all four knowledge quadrants, and ensure two-way exchange of knowledge between tacit and explicit, and between individual and group knowledge.

Related terms and methods:

• Intellectual Capital
• Knowledge
• Transactive Memory

Related management fields:

• Human Resources Management
• Knowledge Management