Research
Impact of Cultural Variation on Knowledge Management a Study of National versus Multinational Banks
This study was initiated to measure the role & impact of culture (sub-factors) in the process of knowledge management and to priorities cultural factors (variables) especially with respect to cultural variations. Moreover, study measured the extent/degree of contribution of different cultural factors (variables) in the adoption and implementation of knowledge management practices. This research was conducted in Banking Industry of Pakistan. Expert survey guided by well structured questionnaire was managed to achieve basic objectives. Knowledge sharing, cross functional & interdepartmental teams, intrinsic & extrinsic rewards, official language, interpersonal trust, group trust, organizational trust, institutional trust, sharing of routine information, external orientation i.e. use of consultant, trade journals, etc, on job training and transactional leadership were used as cultural constructs. Descriptive (mean) analysis and t-test were used to measure the extent of different cultural factors (variables) and their significance in adoption and implementation of knowledge management process. Outcomes exposed visible variations in term of priorities with respect to cultural variables and their contribution in the process of knowledge management. Moreover, Results revealed that knowledge as individual’s power, local languages, sharing of sensitive information, transformational leadership, and off the job training are among the cultural variable considered less important in adoption and implementation of knowledge management. In addition, existing cultural variations creates differentiation of opinion in term of degree of contribution of different cultural variables in the process of knowledge management.
