Conversão do conhecimento : uma intervenção na gestão universitária

The objective of this study is to report the application of Nonaka and Takeuchi’s (2008) four modes of knowledge conversion on university management, specifically in the Secretary of Academic Administration (SAA) at the University of Brasilia (UnB). The SAA is responsible for academic monitoring of all UnB students, from enrollment to graduation, and also for the registration of diplomas from several other institutions of higher education (IHE) in the Federal District. Based on the literature on bureaucratic structure and dysfunctions, informal organizations and the spiral of knowledge, we developed an interview script, which was applied to the SAA employees. The result was the drafting of a manual for using the Diploma Registration System (SIDIP), either as a single file or as pages accessed via intranet. Thus, tacit knowledge became explicit, and enhanced the preservation of knowledge within the organization.