The human factor in knowledge management for development: using theories from social psychology to investigate the predictors of knowledge behaviour in development organisations

Abstract

This article consists of an analytical overview of theories from Social Psychology with respect to knowledge behavior in development agencies. This provides a theoretical background for the presentation of the results of a cross-cultural study towards the frequencies and predictors of six types of knowledge behavior. In this research 445 people from 89 nationalities participated. The results of the analysis and the study point towards the same outcomes. Attitude, organizational culture, self-efficacy, controllability and motivation are significant predictors of knowledge behavior. It concludes that leadership and human resource management have significant tasks in addressing and nurturing the human factor in knowledge management strategies and implementation in order for those strategies to succeed.