Are Women Better than Men at Knowledge Absorbing? : An Empirical Search in NGOs

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of males and females’ knowledge absorption capacity among the NGO (Non-Governmental Organisational)-beneficiaries in Bangladesh.  A massive number of NGOs (appx. 22000) are in operations in Bangladesh. The NGO-beneficiaries are the main stakeholders engaged in receiving and absorption of the knowledge transferred by the NGOs. Multi-staged sampling procedure is used.  14-NGOs (7 large and 7 small of the NGO Affairs Bureau enlisted NGOs) from each administrative division of Bangladesh (Bangladesh has seven administrative divisions) are purposefully selected. 54-semi-structured interviews consisting of top, middle and lower levels based on the salary grades (18X interviewees from each level) were interviewed. Simultaneously, 35 questionnaires among the beneficiaries were also administered (5 from each administrative division, e.g. 5X7=35). Content analysis technique is used to analyse the interview transcript. The study reveals that female beneficiaries have more capable in absorbing knowledge than those of the male beneficiaries. Future researchers may carry out similar research in a different country.

Key Words: Knowledge Transfer, Knowledge Absorption, NGOs, Bangladesh