Tacit Knowledge in Military Leadership: Evidence of Construct Validity

Abstract

Abstract : Army officers within the command structure of 44 CONUS battalions were administered tests developed to measure the tacit leadership knowledge of platoon leaders, company commanders and battalion commanders. Tests at each level consisted of a series of scenarios derived from actual experiences with a set of possible responses to the leadership situation described. In addition, the 562 officers were also administered a test of verbal reasoning ability, a related test of tacit knowledge developed for business managers, and a criterion measure of leadership effectiveness. Analyses were performed to determine if the tacit knowledge for military leadership inventories predicted leadership effectiveness and if they predicted better than the other measures. The inventories predicted leadership effectiveness ratings at each level and did so better than verbal reasoning ability, tacit knowledge for managers, or experience. A complex relationship emerged between tacit leadership knowledge and leadership effectiveness ratings at the three command levels, supporting the use of a multi-level approach in assessing tacit knowledge.

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