At the centre of the knowledge-to-action cycle is the knowledge funnel, which represents knowledge creation. Knowledge creation, or the production of knowledge, is composed of three phases: knowledge inquiry (first-generation knowledge), knowledge synthesis (second-generation knowledge), and creation of knowledge tools and/or products (third-generation knowledge). As the knowledge is filtered or distilled through each stage in the knowledge creation process, the resulting knowledge becomes more synthesized and potentially more useful to end users.