What is the value of knowledge to the following social systems/institutions?

Question

-Society as a whole
-Private firms
-Providers of social services
-Policymakers
-Nation states
-Individual persons

Is gaining knowledge by gossip a distinct way of knowing or is it a manifestation of one or other of the basic ways of acquiring knowledge?
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i just don't know how to approach the question.
I know that for gossip, it is definitely not a distinct way of knowing due to gossip is prone to errors, is subjective (biased) and other factors. but the first bit, i just don't know how to target the question.

Answer 1

What is the value of knowledge to the following social systems/institutions?
-Society as a whole
-Private firms
-Providers of social services
-Policymakers
-Nation states
-Individual persons