Modeling of Tacit Knowledge

Abstract

Tacit knowledge has always been influential in changing the directions and emphasis of explicit models of knowledge. All explicit knowledge is rooted in tacit knowledge. Due to these reasons modelling of tacit knowledge is of great interest. A research has been conducted to develop an approach to model tacit knowledge. In this research, we have used Artificial Intelligence technique of fuzzy logic for developing an approach to model tacit knowledge. We have considered domain of “Ayurvedic” medicine as a case study domain with tacit knowledge. Tacit knowledge in Ayurvedic sub-domain of individual classification has been acquired through a questionnaire and analysed to identify the dependencies, which lead to make tacit knowledge in the particular domain. In the first place analysis was done using statistical techniques of principle components and the results were not compatible with the experiences of Ayurvedic experts. As such, fuzzy logic has been used to further model the Ayurvedic subdomain. The result of the modelling of Ayurvedic domain using fuzzy logic has been compatible with the experiences of the Ayurveic experts. A framework for modelling tacit knowledge has been integrated with an expert system shell thereby enabling the development of expert systems for domains with tacit knowledge. Framework has been successfully applied for several tacit domains.