Corporate culture as a foundation for successful knowledge management

Abstract

The type of culture existing in an enterprise is crucial to the success of knowledge management. Davenport and Prusak (1998:1) highlight that, as enterprises interact with their environments, they absorb information, turn it into knowledge and take action based on it in combination with their experiences, values and internal rules. Each enterprise's specific beliefs, values and norms create a unique culture with identifiable manifestations. This emphasizes the embedded importance of the corporate culture in the success of knowledge management within an enterprise. Enterprises that are serious about knowledge foster an environment and culture that support continuous learning. In this article, the importance of corporate culture in the establishment of a knowledge management programme is discussed.