Which statement best describes tacit knowledge?

• A. It is documented in textbooks.
• B. It is know-how gained through experience and is hard to articulate.
• C. It is codified and easily communicated.
• D. It is identical to explicit knowledge.

Answer: (B)

Tacit knowledge is know-how gained through experience and is hard to articulate. It develops through practice, observation, and immersion in real situations, so you can perform tasks or sense patterns without being able to fully explain the steps. A seasoned craftsman sensing material behavior, a driver anticipating danger through feel, or a clinician reading subtle cues from a patient are all examples. Because it’s personal and context-specific, tacit knowledge isn’t easily written down or codified, and it isn’t readily communicated like explicit knowledge. That’s why the best description is that tacit knowledge is know-how gained through experience and is hard to articulate. The other statements describe knowledge that can be written, codified, and communicated, which aligns with explicit knowledge rather than tacit.