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1 – 10 of over 115000Marta Mas Machuca and Carme Martínez Costa
The purpose of this paper is to identify the values that make up a knowledge‐friendly culture in the consulting industry, in which the implementation of in‐house knowledge…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to identify the values that make up a knowledge‐friendly culture in the consulting industry, in which the implementation of in‐house knowledge management (KM) projects has positive performance outcomes.
Design/methodology/approach
An exploratory analysis and a structural equation model were used on a sample of 100 knowledge workers (managers and internal KM project managers) in the consulting sector.
Findings
The results of this study indicate that the values identified (trust, transparency, flexibility, collaboration, commitment, honesty and professionalism) bear a close positive relation to the success of the KM project implementation (innovation, employee satisfaction, capabilities, quality and productivity). These values are divided into three groups.
Research limitations/implications
This research focuses on the consulting industry in Catalonia, Spain; further research will be required in order to apply the findings to other countries in the world.
Practical implications
The study provides a better understanding of the cultural success factor in knowledge management initiatives. It offers a significant and practical advance in terms of systematizing KM in organizations.
Originality/value
Knowledge management plays a crucial role in consulting companies, so it is necessary to determine the factors that contribute to its success, and particularly the factor of knowledge culture. However, few empirical studies have analyzed these values. The paper's main contribution is therefore identification of the core values of a knowledge‐friendly culture and their impact on performance.
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The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate that the integration of intelligences plays a great role in changing the organisational and national culture and, in consequence, in…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate that the integration of intelligences plays a great role in changing the organisational and national culture and, in consequence, in changing governmental intelligence (GI). This paper investigates the impact of national culture (NC) and knowledge management (KM) on GI.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper explores the development of a culture knowledge intelligence model (CKI) to test a number of propositions through web-based survey methodology administered to 101 civil servants of two national public administrations, Brazil’s Planning Ministry and Germany’s Bundesanstalt. The data were analysed quantitatively through SPSS and SmartPLS (CFA and SEM). In this paper, the relationships between the variables (hypotheses) were empirically tested using structure equation modelling (SEM).
Findings
The high correlation between organisational/national culture on GI raises the discussion of these relationships in the academic community. The impact of organisational/national culture on GI is much higher in Brazil than in Germany. In opposition to Germany, in Brazil, the GI is more influenced by culture than by knowledge. This is related to the fact that German culture, in opposition to Brazil, is future- and performance-orientated, getting information from facts, books and statistics, instead of being people-oriented, getting the first-hand (oral) information. The major practical implication is to demonstrate the importance of integration of intelligences to improve GI.
Originality/value
The influence of NC on decisions of governments is paramount to understand failures in government decisions, mainly because of the difficulty of public leaders to learn by comparison and collaboration from a global, participative and integrative vision and action. Despite the importance of the relationship between NC and GI, this intuitive juxtaposition has not received attention in the literature.
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Hui Lei, Nguyen Khoi Do and Phong Ba Le
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the correlation between ethical leadership (EL), collaborative culture (CC), knowledge-centered culture and employees’ behaviors toward…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the correlation between ethical leadership (EL), collaborative culture (CC), knowledge-centered culture and employees’ behaviors toward knowledge sharing (KS) in Chinese firms.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper used structural equation modeling to examine the level of how EL, CC and knowledge-centered culture impact on tacit and explicit KS of employees via the data collected from 319 participants in 51 Chinese firms.
Findings
The research findings show collaborative and knowledge-centered culture mediates the relationship between EL and employees’ KS behaviors. It highlights the necessity of practicing EL style to develop a positive climate aimed at positively improving tacit and explicit KS of employees.
Research limitations/implications
Future studies should focus on investigating the relationship between EL, CC and knowledge management process or the other variables to explore and maximize their potential and benefits toward key organizational outcomes.
Practical implications
This paper offers leaders a deeper understanding of the effective pathways to build positive climates for fostering employees’ tacit and explicit KS.
Originality/value
This paper is unique in the attempts to increase the understanding of moral lens by which EL might successfully arouse a positive organizational culture and foster KS behaviors in their firms.
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Stan Oliver and Kondal Reddy Kandadi
This paper seeks to identify various factors affecting knowledge culture in some of the large organizations and suggest realistic strategies for developing knowledge culture.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper seeks to identify various factors affecting knowledge culture in some of the large organizations and suggest realistic strategies for developing knowledge culture.
Design/methodology/approach
In‐depth case studies were conducted at six large distributed organizations to investigate and assess knowledge management (KM) practices and associated organizational culture. The core data collection is based on semi‐structured interviews with senior managers who play a significant role in KM programs at their respective organizations. A range of internal documents of these organizations has also provided some important inputs for the empirical analysis.
Findings
The study identified ten major factors affecting knowledge culture in organizations. These include leadership, organizational structure, and evangelization, communities of practice, reward systems, time allocation, business processes, recruitment, infrastructure and physical attributes.
Research limitations/implications
Perhaps, the major limitation of this research study is associated with the sample selection. All of the companies participated in this research project, were large‐scale distributed organizations. Therefore, the findings may not be applicable for small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs). Furthermore, the derived conclusions would be more assertive if they were tested as hypothetical propositions through a consecutive research survey.
Practical implications
This study provides illustrations and rationale for a diverse range of factors influencing the knowledge culture. Some of the findings deviated from established notions in contemporary KM literature, especially in the issues such as organizational structure, leadership and reward systems. The organizational dimensions explored in this study provide some original thoughts for building sustainable knowledge cultures.
Originality/value
The factors described in this paper are based on the existing KM practices at organizations with well‐established KM programs. These can serve as pragmatic guidelines for KM practitioners in developing knowledge culture.
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Mona Ashok, Mouza Saeed Mohammed Al Badi Al Dhaheri, Rohit Madan and Michael D. Dzandu
Knowledge management (KM) is associated with higher performance and innovative culture; KM can help the public sector to be fiscally lean and meet diverse stakeholders’ needs…
Abstract
Purpose
Knowledge management (KM) is associated with higher performance and innovative culture; KM can help the public sector to be fiscally lean and meet diverse stakeholders’ needs. However, hierarchical structures, bureaucratic culture and rigid processes inhibit KM adoption and generate inertia. This study aims to explore the nature and causes of this inertia within the context of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) public sector.
Design/methodology/approach
Using an in-depth case study of a UAE public sector organisation, this study explores how organisational inertia can be countered to enable KM adoption. Semi-structured interviews are conducted with 17 top- and middle-level managers from operational, management and strategic levels. Interview data is triangulated with content analysis from multiple sources, including the UAE Government and case organisation documents.
Findings
The results show transformation leadership, external factors and organisational culture mediate the negative effect of inertia on KM practices adoption. We find that information technology plays a key role in enabling knowledge creation, access, adoption and sharing. Furthermore, we uncover a virtuous cycle between organisational culture and KM practices adoption in the public sector. In addition, we develop a new model (the relationship between KM practices, organisational inertia, organisational culture, transformational leadership traits and external factors) and four propositions for empirical testing by future researchers. We also present a cross-case comparison of our results with six private/quasi-private sector cases who have implemented KM practices.
Research limitations/implications
Qualitative data is collected from a single case study.
Originality/value
Inertia in a public section is a result of bureaucracy and authority bounded by the rules and regulations. Adopting a qualitative methodology and case study method, the research explores the phenomena of how inertia impacts KM adoption in public sector environments. Our findings reveal the underlying mechanisms of how internal and external organisational factors impact inertia. Internally, supportive organisational culture and transformational leadership traits positively effect KM adoption, which, in turn, has a positive effect on organisational culture to counter organisational inertia. Externally, a progressive national culture, strategy and policy can support a knowledge-based organisation that embraces change. This study develops a new model (interactions between internal and external factors impacting KM practices in the public sector), four propositions and a new two-stage process model for KM adoption in the public sector. We present a case-comparison of how the constructs interact in a public sector as compared to six private/quasi-private sector cases from the literature.
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Vesna Stojanović-Aleksić, Jelena Erić Nielsen and Aleksandra Bošković
Being mindful of the importance of organizational structure and organizational culture for knowledge management in companies, the purpose of this study is to investigate the…
Abstract
Purpose
Being mindful of the importance of organizational structure and organizational culture for knowledge management in companies, the purpose of this study is to investigate the organizational prerequisites for creating and sharing knowledge. The goals are to determine whether and to what extent the attributes of organic structure contribute to the creation and sharing of knowledge and to show that an organizational culture which supports knowledge stimulates the processes of knowledge creation and sharing.
Design/methodology/approach
The data for the empirical study was obtained through a survey of 150 respondents, employed in 30 companies from several industries, in the Republic of Serbia. The questionnaire was adapted to the needs of the study and was developed based on the theoretical knowledge and findings of several previous studies on processes of knowledge creation and knowledge sharing. A regression method was used to test all hypotheses.
Findings
The results show that both the organic structure and the organizational culture that support knowledge have positive effects on knowledge creation, while knowledge sharing is positively influenced only by the knowledge supporting culture of an organization.
Originality/value
This study contributes to organization studies and knowledge management theory because of the holistic approach taken with regards to the issue involved and the fact that it takes into account a large number of the significant characteristics of organizational structure and culture that are relevant to knowledge management processes. The findings could prove useful to managers when structuring an organization and shaping its culture to enhance knowledge management.
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Wioleta Kucharska and Teresa Rebelo
This study aims to examine the micromechanisms of how knowledge culture fosters human capital development.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to examine the micromechanisms of how knowledge culture fosters human capital development.
Design/methodology/approach
An empirical model was developed by using the structural equation modeling method based on a sample of 321 Polish knowledge workers employed in different industries.
Findings
This study provides direct empirical evidence that tacit knowledge sharing supports human capital, whereas tacit knowledge hiding does not, and this hiding is considered a waste of knowledge. If tacit knowledge does not circulate within an organization, it is a severe waste of an organization. The findings indicate that shame from making mistakes might impede the sharing of knowledge gained from making those mistakes, and in such cases, the knowledge remains hidden.
Practical implications
Leaders aiming to ensure human capital growth should implement an authentic learning culture composed of a learning climate and mistakes acceptance components that enable open discussion about mistakes on each organizational level.
Originality/value
The knowledge culture is found to be an essential element of building human capital but, at the same time, not sufficient without a learning culture, and its mistakes acceptance component. A permanent organizational learning mode that supports a continuous organizational shared mental model reframing is an antidote to tacit knowledge hiding.
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This study aims to present the overview of intellectual capital creation micro-mechanisms concerning formal and informal knowledge processes. The organizational culture…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to present the overview of intellectual capital creation micro-mechanisms concerning formal and informal knowledge processes. The organizational culture, transformational leadership and innovativeness are also included in the investigation as ascendants and consequences of the focal relation of intellectual capital and knowledge processes.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on a sample of 1,418 Polish knowledge workers from the construction, healthcare, higher education and information technology (IT) industries, the empirical model was developed using the structural equation modeling (SEM) method.
Findings
The study exposes that the essence of transformational leadership innovativeness oriented is developing all intellectual capital components. To do so, leaders must support both formal and informal knowledge processes through the organizational culture of knowledge and learning. Furthermore, for best results of the knowledge transformation into intellectual capital, the learning culture must be shaped by both components: learning climate and acceptance of mistakes.
Practical implications
Presented findings can be directly applied to organizations to enhance innovativeness. Namely, leaders who observe that the more knowledge is formally managed in their organizations, the less effective the knowledge exchange is-should put more effort into supporting informal knowledge processes to smoothly develop human and relational intellectual capital components. Shortly, leaders must implement an authentic learning culture, including the mistakes acceptance component, to use the full organizational potential to achieve intellectual capital growth. Intellectual capital growth is essential for innovativeness.
Originality/value
This study presents the “big picture” of all intellectual capital creation micro-mechanisms linking transformational leadership with organizational innovativeness and explains the “knowledge paradox” identified by Mabey and Zhao (2017). This explanation assumes that intellectual capital components are created informally (i.e. human and relational ones) and formally (i.e. structural ones). Therefore, for best effects, both formal and informal knowledge processes, must be supported. Furthermore, this study exposes that the intensity of all explored micro-mechanisms is industry-specific.
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This study focuses on knowledge management in relation to its organizational context. It argues that knowledge management is not just computer and information systems; it embodies…
Abstract
This study focuses on knowledge management in relation to its organizational context. It argues that knowledge management is not just computer and information systems; it embodies organizational processes that seek to augment the creative, innovative capacity of human beings. Specifically, the study regards the compatibility between the organizational structure and corporate culture essential for activating a knowledge base culture in modern organizations. The study sets a proposed framework on how to transform Arab bureaucracies into knowledge creating cultures by means of designing the right structure in which information sharing, learning, and knowledge formation should be parts of the organizational norm.
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The purpose of this paper is to propose a conceptual model for understanding the impact of organisational culture on knowledge management processes and their link with…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to propose a conceptual model for understanding the impact of organisational culture on knowledge management processes and their link with organisational performance. It is suggested that organisational culture should be assessed as a multi-level construct comprising artefacts, espoused beliefs and values and underlying assumptions. A holistic view of organisational culture and knowledge management processes, and their link with organisational performance, is presented.
Design/methodology/approach
A comprehensive review of previous literature was undertaken in the development of the conceptual model. Taken together, the literature and the proposed model reveal possible relationships between organisational culture, knowledge management processes and organisational performance.
Findings
Potential implications of organisational culture levels for the creation, sharing and application of knowledge are elaborated. In addition, the paper offers possible new insight into the impact of organisational culture on various knowledge management processes and their link with organisational performance.
Research limitations/implications
A number of possible relationships between organisational culture factors, knowledge management processes and their link with organisational performance were used to examine such relationships.
Practical implications
The research model highlights the multi-level components of organisational culture. These are: the artefacts, the espoused beliefs and values and the underlying assumptions. Through a conceptualisation of the relationships between organisational culture, knowledge management processes and organisational performance, the study provides practical guidance for practitioners during the implementation of knowledge management processes.
Originality/value
The focus of previous research on knowledge management has been on understanding organisational culture from the limited perspective of promoting knowledge creation and sharing. This paper proposes a more comprehensive approach to understanding organisational culture in that it draws on artefacts, espoused beliefs and values and underlying assumptions, and reveals their impact on the creation, sharing and application of knowledge which can affect the overall organisational performance.
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