Title: How to share tacit nuclear knowledge?

Authors: Niina Rintala, Tanja Kuronen

Addresses: Helsinki University of Technology, Finland. ' Helsinki University of Technology, Finland

Abstract: Nuclear organisations are struggling to preserve their expertise and knowledge despite the widespread retirement of nuclear experts in the near future. Already, NPPs have noticed that the retiring experts have tacit knowledge, which is difficult to codify and/or share during formal training. Tacit knowledge sharing requires methods that are based on social interaction, either in one-on-one situations or in groups. This paper describes 23 methods for sharing tacit knowledge. Critical tacit knowledge should be identified at individual level, sub-unit level and NPP level. Different methods for sharing the tacit knowledge can be implemented, as employees and organisational units may have different preferences in terms of how they want to share expertise.

Keywords: tacit knowledge; nuclear expertise; nuclear power plants; nuclear knowledge management; knowledge sharing; manpower shortage; widespread retirement; ageing workers; sustainability; nuclear manpower.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNKM.2006.010289

International Journal of Nuclear Knowledge Management, 2006 Vol.2 No.2, pp.121 - 133

Published online: 13 Jul 2006 *

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