Which elicitation technique is best suited for helping to obtain tacit knowledge?

Workshops are particularly effective for obtaining tacit knowledge because they encourage collaboration and interaction among participants, allowing for in-depth discussions and the exploration of complex ideas that may not be easily articulated. Tacit knowledge, which is often unwritten and subjective, encompasses insights, intuitions, and experiences that individuals may not consciously think to share in a straightforward manner.

In a workshop setting, participants can engage in dialogue, share their experiences, and collaboratively brainstorm. This environment fosters group dynamics that can lead to the revelation of insights that individuals might not volunteer in more structured or less interactive formats. The dynamic nature of workshops facilitates the surfacing of tacit knowledge through informal conversations, exercises, and the ability to ask clarifying questions.

Other methods may not be as effective in capturing tacit knowledge. For example, questionnaires tend to be too rigid and may limit the depth of responses, while scenario analysis may focus more on theoretical situations rather than personal experiences. Observation can provide valuable insights but might not capture the nuanced understanding that comes from active discussion and collaborative exploration. Thus, workshops stand out as the most suitable technique for uncovering tacit knowledge in a business change context.