handlinghow

Handlinghow is a term used in some professional training and knowledge management contexts to describe an integrated approach to capturing and conveying procedural know-how for performing tasks that involve physical manipulation and decision making. The concept emphasizes both tacit know-how—what practitioners can do without conscious step-by-step narration—and explicit guidance, such as checklists and demonstrations, to facilitate the transfer of skill.

Origin and usage: The term is not standardized and has appeared in industry workshops and practitioner writings since the 2010s. It is often used to distinguish holistic task handling from isolated how-to instructions, stressing the interplay between manual technique and procedural reasoning.

Conceptual framework: Handlinghow links three strands. Physical handling covers tool use and object manipulation; procedural handling covers sequencing, error detection, and choices under varying conditions; contextual handling addresses safety, ergonomics, and environmental constraints. Effective handlinghow documentation combines diagrams, video demonstrations, and narrative explanations that reveal tacit steps. Training approaches include deliberate practice with feedback, think-aloud sessions, and reflective debriefs.

Applications: The approach is applied in manufacturing, warehousing, and logistics, as well as robotics programming, surgical and medical training, and education. It is favored in programs that aim to codify hands-on expertise for scalable instruction and greater alignment with automation and human-robot collaboration.

Limitations: Because handlinghow is a niche term, it may overlap with procedural knowledge and know-how, contributing to terminological fragmentation. Assessing impact requires metrics for transfer of tacit skills and performance under real-world variation.

See also: procedural knowledge, know-how, tacit knowledge, operations management, instructional design.