Tacit Knowledge and Practical Intelligence: Understanding the Lessons of Experience

This report addresses the role of practical intelligence and tacit knowledge in understanding how individuals learn from experience and develop expertise. We present background on the notion of practical intelligence as an alternative to conventional conceptualizations of intelligence, and the exploration of the acquisition and utilization of tacit knowledge as elements of practical intelligence. We review research on practical intelligence and, in particular, highlight findings from over 15 years of research on tacit knowledge. We then address new directions aimed at understanding how individuals learn from experience and acquire tacit knowledge, and present new approaches for identifying and promoting managerial and leadership potential that are based on ongoing research on practical intelligence.