Optimising Tacit Knowledge in Organisational Knowledge Management: A Systematic Review of Covid-Era Literature

Tacit knowledge is an asset that boosts innovation and generates competitive advantage for organisations in all walks of life. Its application is not sector band, which makes it significant to every national economy. Several studies have been conducted to identify factors that aid its management, including the methods of managing it. By extension, the current study explored covid-era literature to identify additional factors/constructs that organisations need to consider for tacit knowledge optimisation. The research also aligns with many other tacit knowledge enablers and barriers in previous studies, and asked the following overriding research question “Are there any emerging themes/constructs/factors that can impact the maximum utilisation of tacit knowledge?” It was also important to determine the characteristics of search results. To answer the main research question, a systematic literature review (SLR) for the period 2020 to 2022 was carried out using the Scopus database. The search retrieved 135 studies from various fields of specialisation, out of which 16 were found eligible for inclusion. Findings revealed twenty-one constructs, including absorptive capacity, “ba”, co-working spaces, mistake acceptance, and willingness, that can be factored in to optimise tacit knowledge management. The study advocates that organisations begin to give credence to the roles of knowledge managers to coordinate the complexities involved in tacit knowledge management for optimal organisational advantage. It was intended that the findings will provide additional insight into factors that can enrich tacit knowledge management from different contexts.