Exploring the Relationship Between Organizational Culture Types and Knowledge Management Processes: A Meta-Analytic Path Analysis

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between organizational culture types according to Competing Values Framework (Clan, Adhocracy, Market, Hierarchy) and Knowledge Management Processes (Creation, Dissemination, Storage, Application) using meta-analytic path analysis. To produce the necessary pooled correlation matrix for model testing, we used the univariate (r) approach to carry out two additional meta-analyzes. Based on data collected from several research databases, we extracted the paired correlation coefficients (r) among knowledge management processes (k = 32, N = 6835) then the inter-correlations between knowledge management processes and culture types (k = 7, N = 865). The findings revealed that no particular culture type has a stronger effect on all KM processes. Clan, Adhocracy and Market have significant but varying effects on Knowledge Management processes. Notably, the clan is more associated with knowledge creation, while Adhocracy has a greater effect on knowledge application, and market has a stronger effect on knowledge dissemination and storage. However, hierarchical culture has an insignificant effect on knowledge creation and the lowest effects on the rest of Knowledge Management processes. Therefore, the study concluded that knowledge management success is determined by developing a balanced portfolio of cultural traits from clan, adhocracy and market cultures.