Making tacit knowledge explicit : designing an export trading knowledge portal

This paper investigates how tacit knowledge is made explicit in a predefined export trading knowledge domain. It also considers important aspects of portal design that support knowledge use, creation and renewal. This research looks at how a portal is designed to allow specified users to effectively use knowledge. A case studywas conducted to examine the useful types of export trading knowledge involved in user interactions and portals features that support knowledge use. It was discovered that while a portal serves as a single-window entry-point to information resources, the use of communication tools to enable knowledge exchange amongst intended users and locating knowledge later is essential. Incorporating knowledge management practices is effective in a knowledge portal design as it can more effectively facilitate knowledge use, creation and renewal.