A framework to study knowledge management behaviors during decision making

Decision making (DM) is a knowledge-intensive process that demands good knowledge management (KM) in order to generate a desired process outcome. The KM behavioral patterns that transpire while managing knowledge during DM affect the process outcomes. Therefore, in order to understand KM behaviors to generate a desired process outcome, it is crucial to systematically study the nature of KM behaviors that unfold during the process of DM. This paper provides a framework for a systematic study of KM behaviors during DM. Specifically, the paper suggests that the nature of the DM process, the cognitive needs of the DM unit, the affective responses evoked during this process and the situation characteristics surrounding the DM process govern the KM behaviors exhibited by the DM unit. This in turn impacts the process outcome. Specifically, this framework identifies and characterizes the constructs for studying KM behaviors that transpire during DM and the impact of these behaviors on the process outcome.