Exploring the Nature and Acquisition of Tacit Knowledge for Military Leadership

Abstract

In this report we first introduce traditional notions of leadership and their limitations, and the importance of tacit knowledge for military leadership. We then present Sternberg's (1985, 1988, 1997) Triarchic theory of intelligence and the role of practical intelligence and tacit knowledge in successful leadership. Next, we examine in-depth the nature of tacit knowledge, how it is defined and measured, how it differentiates experts from novices, and how it is bounded. Furthermore, we present a model of practical intelligence and tacit knowledge acquisition, and demonstrate how tacit knowledge may be acquired experientially and vicariously. Based on the literature reviewed, we draw hypotheses that we test empirically. We then present the results of our findings and discuss their theoretical and practical implications. Last, we relate our findings to the purpose of this report, and to the research questions we sought to answer.

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