The thesis examines how credit reports are used as part of a basis for decision-making. Interviews were conducted with professional users of international credit information. The participants were asked about the basis for decision making, and how explicit credit information is utilised.

A model developed by Ikujiro Nonaka, professor at Hitotsubashi University in Tokyo, was used to examine and analyse the process of creating a basis for decision making. The model applied is widely used, and at the time of the research process it had been cited a total of 17 936 times according to Google Scholar.

In accordance with the model used, emphasis is put on the relationship between the credit report and other information such as tacit knowledge and explicit sources in the basis for decision making.

After gathering empirical data and the subsequent analysis, it is clear that the credit information constitutes the most important part of the basis for decision making – however often not the sole basis. Users continuously acquire new tacit knowledge from the credit reports, which is important for future reference. Other explicit sources of knowledge such as information from computer systems and a dialogue with other individuals are also used as part of the basis for decision making.