Knowledge is very important and necessary to ensure the growth and future of a company. However, training can cost companies a fortune, particularly when the knowledge is not put into good practice. For this reason, there is a need for employers and leaders within organisations to understand the relationship between Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) and how they can use the KAP model to influence the right behaviours within their organizations.
What is the KAP model?
In order to understand the KAP model, there's a need to define Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices.
Knowledge: Knowledge refers to the theoretical or practical information that one has in regard to the understanding of a particular subject. This information can be factual or skill-based and is acquired through training, experience or education.
Attitudes: Attitudes are psychological, mental and emotional constructs. They characterise one’s beliefs, inclinations, mindset, thoughts and feelings towards a particular object, person or event. Our attitudes are often a result of our experiences, upbringing or social context, and influence how we behave.
Practices: Practices refer to the execution of one's knowledge. It is how we apply or make use of our ideas, beliefs and methods we know.
The KAP model is used to underpin the development of relationships between knowledge, attitudes and practices. Having gone over the definitions of Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices, the relationship between each is evident. In any organisation or institution, people’s behaviours or practices are governed by both their knowledge and attitudes.
What is the importance of the KAP model in organisations?
One can be very knowledgeable on a subject but have a negative attitude. These negative attitudes can arise from a failure to separate personal tiffs or feuds between colleagues from the work needed to be done, a mindset that tasks are too challenging to execute, or a feeling of being offended following a feedback session with one of your organisation’s leaders. Whatever the reason, a negative attitude will go on to impact the execution of work within the organisation.
Leaders need to understand that fostering best practices in the workplace is a factor of their team having the right knowledge and the right attitude. Offering your employees training alone will not be effective without the right attitudes in the workplace. Education will only be effective if it translates to the right workplace practices. This is why the KAP model is very important within organisations. Team leaders need to ensure that their teams have the right attitudes so that their organisation can begin to see a positive performance.
Only formidable leaders are able to build a positive attitude within a company. They should be able to identify the knowledge gaps, understand the socio-cultural beliefs and behavioural patterns so that they can facilitate the overcoming of those barriers to drive the right organisational practices.
Contact IMS today to support KAP assessment within your organisation.
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