Socio-Cultural Influences of Society on Knowledge Construction

Abstract

This study examined the socio-cultural influences of a society on promoting or constraining knowledge construction practice in a local administrative learning community. Findings show that socio-cultural factors such as hierarchical structure, economic reform, and traditional Chinese culture shape knowledge construction. The implications of this study for knowledge management are: The hierarchical structure allows knowledge to flow easily from the top to the bottom, but does not leave much room for grassroots knowledge to be developed, shared and circulated. Cultural norms such as saving face constrain people's choices of learning and knowledge sharing. Economic reform has resulted in fierce competition and introduced non-linear and decentralized management structure, which encourages creativity and high individual autonomy, and breaks the fixed pattern of circulating knowledge from the top to the bottom. However, fierce competition also prevents people from sharing knowledge with others, especially the tacit knowledge which is gained from experience.