The Knowledge-Leveraging Paradox: How to Achieve Scale without Making Knowledge Imitable

Abstract

Tacit knowledge, one of the most promising resources, is among the toughest toleverage. It is important because it is often inimitable. However, increasing its scalemay require codification, which may make it imitable. We explore and illustrate anapproach to applying information technologies to leverage scarce expertise withoutcodifying or transferring knowledge. Such technology may allow individuals to furtherspecialize and generate more tacit knowledge, preserving the strategic propertiesof knowledge while scaling up.