Unveiling the knowledge-sharing culture
by Paul H.J. Hendriks
International Journal of Learning and Intellectual Capital (IJLIC), Vol. 6, No. 3, 2009

Abstract: It is generally acknowledged that organisation culture affects how knowledge processes such as knowledge-sharing evolve. Despite the growing attention to the aspects of culture, the knowledge management debate has not paid systematic attention to the assessment or measurement of a knowledge-sharing culture. This article discusses how such an assessment could be conceived. To support and illustrate the argument, it presents a case study involving the diagnosis of a knowledge-sharing culture at a government institution. The assessment framework used in the case study consists of two elements: 1 an assessment of the organisations' group culture and individuals' commitment to that culture using standard culture measurement methodologies interpreted in the light of knowledge-sharing behaviour 2 an inspection of the relationships between culture and knowledge sharing that materialise as potential barriers to knowledge sharing as cultural behaviour. As illustrated in the case research, this procedure allows educated guesses of which aspects of future knowledge-sharing behaviour may prove unproblematic and which aspects involve the risk of specific barriers (e.g., the not-invented-here barrier and resistance to seeking out new opportunities for knowledge sharing).

Online publication date: Sun, 10-May-2009

The full text of this article is only available to individual subscribers or to users at subscribing institutions.

 
Existing subscribers:
Go to Inderscience Online Journals to access the Full Text of this article.

Pay per view:
If you are not a subscriber and you just want to read the full contents of this article, buy online access here.

Complimentary Subscribers, Editors or Members of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Learning and Intellectual Capital (IJLIC):
Login with your Inderscience username and password:

Username:        Password:          Forgotten your password?

Want to subscribe?
A subscription gives you complete access to all articles in the current issue, as well as to all articles in the previous three years (where applicable). See our Orders page to subscribe.

If you still need assistance, please email subs@inderscience.com