KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT - OVERCOMING THE CULTURAL BARRIERS

In a world where local knowledge is used on a global level, managers have to find solutions not only for developing knowledge management properly, but also for overcoming the cultural barriers that may affect its processes. As a result, the article aims to identify the cultural challenges that knowledge management has to face in a globalized environment. In order to achieve this goal, we selected and analyzed 76 articles that were published in ScienceDirect, Emerald and Sage Publication Databases during 2000 - 2011. First, we find out that most of these articles are coming from journals specialized in intercultural management although it is an issue that may easily be included in the knowledge management area. Then, after applying a content analysis, we discovered that the processes of creating, disseminating and storing knowledge are influenced by language, stereotypes, the national attitude towards mistakes' tolerance, collectivism and uncertainty.