Generational Replacement and Knowledge Management in Craftwork Enterprises in the Province of Sugamuxi, in Boyacá (Colombia)

In the province of Sugamuxi, Boyacá, Colombia, local artisans are at risk of extinction due to a lack of knowledge management and generational turnover. Using a qualitative and constructivist approach, information was gathered from ten artisans through participant observation and semi-structured interviews. The results highlight two main challenges: economic instability and the decline in the number of young people interested in continuing the tradition due to their life expectations. The need to develop specific policies with differentiated approaches to strengthen territorial identity and the sense of community is emphasized. The vital role of women as transmitters of traditional knowledge and the importance of involving young people in business decisions are also
highlighted. Despite adaptation and innovation initiatives by some artisanal enterprises, traditional knowledge, especially that of older artisans, is threatened by a socio-structural process that privileges modern over traditional mindset. The study concludes by highlighting the challenge of reconciling the preservation of traditional practices as part of the region’s patrimonial and cultural wealth with the implementation of modern management and administrative practices.