Procedural knowledge or know-how is the knowledge of how to perform some task.

Know-how is different from other kinds of knowledge such as propositional knowledge in that it can be directly applied to a task. Procedural knowledge about solving problems differs from propositional knowledge about problem solving. For example, in some legal systems, this knowledge or know-how has been considered the intellectual property of a company, and can be transferred when that company is purchased.

One limitation of procedural knowledge is its job-dependence; thus it tends to be less general than propositional knowledge. For example, a computer expert might have knowledge about a computer algorithm in multiple languages, or in pseudo-code, whereas a Visual Basic programmer might only know about a specific implementation of that algorithm, written in Visual Basic. Thus the 'hands-on' expertise and experience of the Visual Basic programmer might be of commercial value only to Microsoft job-shops, for example.

One advantage of procedural knowledge is that it can involve more senses, such as hands-on experience, practice at solving problems, understanding of the limitations of a specific solution, etc. Thus know-how can frequently eclipse theory.

In intellectual property law, the know-how is a parcel of closely-held information relating to industrial technology, sometimes also referred to as a trade secret which enables its user to derive commercial benefit from it. It is a component of the intellectual property rights on its own merits in most legislations but most often accompanies the license to the right-of-use of patents or trademarks owned by the party releasing it for circumscribed use. Knowhow does not however solely comprise of secret information that is not in the public domain; it is a "bundled" parcel of secret and related non-secret information which would be novel to an expert in the field of its usage.

See also

• Algorithm
• Descriptive knowledge
• Descriptive science
• Experience
• Heuristic

• How-to
• Idea
• Inquiry
• Instructional capital
• Knowledge

• Knowledge (philosophy)
• Method
• Normative science
• Procedural memory
• Trial and error

External links

• Wikihowto - a proposed Wikimedia project
• FAQ of the Know-how Wiki for How to Solve It
• Google Video - Will Wright's Games Developers Conference senimar/lecture in March 2006 about procedure vs. data, featuring his upcoming game Spore

Skills | Procedural knowledge | Technical communication

Ноу-хау | Savoir-faire | Handlungswissen | Know how | Savoir-faire | Know-how | Know-how | Know-how | Ноу-хау | Know-how | โนว์ฮาว | 过程性知识