An Integrated Model for the Institutionalisation of Tacit Knowledge in Safety-Critical Environments

Abstract

This study examines how knowledge management, particularly tacit knowledge, is conceptualised and
institutionalised within safety-critical environments. Despite advances in technology and decision-support systems,
organisations continue to struggle to capture and integrate experiential knowledge into formal structures. Using a
qualitative, theory-informed approach, the study combines a scoping review with document analysis to explore knowledge
management practices across aviation, healthcare, and nuclear sectors. The findings reveal consistent patterns across these
environments. Tacit knowledge is critical for decision-making but remains embedded in individuals and informal practices.
Knowledge transfer is largely social and experience-based, while formal systems prioritise explicit knowledge. Organisational
structures, governance, and culture further shape how knowledge is shared and institutionalised, highlighting a systemic
misalignment between knowledge characteristics and management mechanisms. Based on these findings, the study
proposes an integrated model for the institutionalisation of tacit knowledge in safety-critical environments, linking formal
systems, tacit processes, and organisational factors. The model offers transferable insights across safety-critical
environments.