The idea for the original article, Why is Knowledge like Steam?, came to me while attending the 2002 McMaster World Congress on Intellectual Capital hosted by Dr. Nick Bontis and McMaster University.
Ten reasons why knowledge is like steam
10. Like steam, all knowledge collects somewhere.
9. Even though all knowledge collects somewhere, this doesn’t imply it is easy to create, find, or use – so too with steam.
8. Small amounts of steam do not appear significant until it is collected together and put to work – so too with knowledge.
7. There is no danger of there being too much steam. Excess steam can be vented or sold – so too with knowledge.
6. The greater the number of sources of steam you have around you, the more likely you are to have it when you need it. So too with knowledge – even if it is simply the same knowledge being held in multiple places.
5. The commercial value of steam is highest when it is new and concentrated – so too with knowledge.
4. Steam can be used to create more steam – so too with knowledge.
3. Steam can be condensed into a purer, distilled form – so too with knowledge.
2. There are many fuels and methods that can be used to create steam and put it to work – not all of which will be economic at a given point in time – so too with knowledge.
1. If you don’t create it, capture it, channel it, and put it to work, its value is marginalized.
Michael Herman, December 2025.