Is Your Organization Ready for Knowledge Management?  An Innovation Culture Index

David Henard

doi:10.4067/S0718-27242025000100038

Authors

David Henard North Carolina State University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4067/S0718-27242025000100038

Keywords:

Knowledge management, innovation, organizational culture for technological innovation, organizational structure, non-profit

Abstract

Managing the collective knowledge of individuals has been a dominant business theme for decades, and numerous organizations have launched knowledge management (KM) or innovation-oriented initiatives. This research builds on prior theoretical work on how an organization’s culture and structure influence its KM programs. A 16-item innovation culture index is developed and tested on a large non-profit organization to provide senior managers with empirical evidence that offers an initial baseline assessment of organizational innovativeness and metrics for evaluating continuous improvement efforts.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Aggarwal, S. H., Mandil, A. K., & Banerjee, R. (2022). A study of social success factors of KM for creation of new knowledge in higher education. International Multidisciplinary Research Journal, 7(3), 11–18.

Alavi, M., & Leidner, D. E. (2001). Knowledge management and knowledge management systems: Conceptual foundations and research issues. MIS Quarterly, 25(1), 107–136.

Alkaffaf, M., Muflih, M., & Al-Dalameh, M. (2018). An integrated model of knowledge management enablers and organizational creativity: The mediating role of knowledge management processes in social security corporation in Jordan. Journal of Theoretical and Applied Information Technology, 96(3), 677–700.

Arsawan, I. W. E., et al. (2022). Developing organizational agility in SMEs: An investigation of innovation’s roles and strategic flexibility. Journal of Open Innovation: Technology, Market, and Complexity, 8(3), 149–165.

Arthur, W. B. (1989). Competing technologies, increasing returns, and lock-in by historical events. The Economic Journal, 99, 116–131.

Balachandran, S., & Eklund, J. (2024). The impact of partner organizational structure on innovation. Administrative Science Quarterly, 69(1), 80–130.

Ballantine, D. (2000). Internal relationship marketing: A strategy for knowledge renewal. International Journal of Bank Marketing, 18(6), 274–280.

Bartlett, C. A., & Ghoshal, S. (1998). Beyond strategic planning to organization learning: Lifeblood of the individualized corporation. Strategy & Leadership, January/February, 34–39.

Bezzina, F., Baldacchino, D., & Cassar, V. (2020). Relating knowledge management enablers, knowledge management processes, and organizational effectiveness: The case for the Maltese pharmaceutical sector. International Journal of Knowledge Management, 16(4), 109–124.

Bhatt, G. D. (2002). Management strategies for individual knowledge and organizational knowledge. Journal of Knowledge Management, 6(1), 31–39.

Bryan, L. (2004). Making a market in knowledge. The McKinsey Quarterly, 3, 101–111.

Cardoso, L., Meireles, A., & Peralta, C. F. (2012). Knowledge management and its critical factors in social economy organizations. Journal of Knowledge Management, 16(2), 267–284.

Chang, C., & Lin, T. C. (2015). The role of organizational culture in the knowledge management process. Journal of Knowledge Management, 19(3), 433–455.

Chen, C. J., & Huang, J. W. (2007). How organizational climate and structure affect knowledge management: The social interaction perspective. International Journal of Information Management, 27(2), 104–118.

Chen, C. J., Huang, J. W., & Hsiao, Y. C. (2010). Knowledge management and innovativeness: The role of organizational climate and structure. International Journal of Manpower, 31(8), 848–870.

Cheng, C. H., Li, M. H., Tang, B. J., & Cheng, Y. R. (2024). The impact of knowledge management and organizational learning promotion in small and medium enterprises on the implementation of Industry 4.0 and competitiveness. Administrative Sciences, 14, 161–181.

Choi, T., & Chandler, S. (2020). Knowledge vacuum: An organizational learning dynamic of how e-government innovations fail. Government Information Quarterly, 37, 1–11.

Chong, S., & Choi, Y. (2005). Critical factors in the successful implementation of knowledge management. Journal of Knowledge Management Practice, 5, 253–261.

Cohen, W. M., & Levinthal, D. A. (1990). Absorptive capacity: A new perspective on learning and innovation. Administrative Science Quarterly, 35(1), 128–152.

Davenport, T. H. (1998). Successful knowledge management projects. Sloan Management Review, Winter, 43–54.

De Long, D. W., & Fahey, L. (2000). Diagnosing cultural barriers to knowledge management. Academy of Management Executive, 14(4), 113–127.

Dixon, N. (2000). Common knowledge: How companies thrive by sharing what they know. Harvard Business School Press.

Dobni, C. B. (2008). Measuring innovation culture in organizations. European Journal of Innovation Management, 11(4), 539–559.

Dobni, C. B., & Klassen, M. (2021). The decade of innovation: From benchmarking to execution. Journal of Business Strategy, 42(1), 23–31.

Ferede, W. L., Endawoke, Y., & Tessema, G. (2024). Change management through strategic leadership: The mediating effect of knowledge management in public organizations, Ethiopia. Future Business Journal, 10(1), 93–107.

Garcia Sanchez, E., Garcia Morales, V. J., & Martín-Rojas, R. (2017). Do social networks and technological capabilities help knowledge management? Journal of Technology Management & Innovation, 12(4), 65–69.

Gilmore, D. (2003). How to fix knowledge management. Harvard Business Review, October, 16–17.

Gonzalez, R. V. D., & Martins, M. F. (2014). Knowledge management: An analysis from the organizational development. Journal of Technology Management & Innovation, 9(1), 131–147.

Hameed, M. M. A., Hashem, A. E. A. E., & Ali, T. M. (2025). Knowledge management enablers and innovative capabilities: The mediating role of knowledge transfers. Future Business Journal, 11(1), 20.

Henard, D. H., & McFadyen, M. A. (2006). R&D knowledge is power. Research-Technology Management, May–June, 41–47.

Henriques, P. L., Curado, C., Jerónimo, H. M., & Martins, J. (2019). Facing the dark side: How leadership destroys organizational innovation. Journal of Technology Management & Innovation, 14(1), 18–23.

Hume, C., et al. (2012). KM 100: Introductory knowledge management for not-for-profit organizations. International Journal of Organisational Behaviour, 17(2), 56–71.

Hume, C., & Hume, M. (2016). What about us? Exploring small to medium Australian not-for-profit firms and knowledge management. Journal of Knowledge Management, 20(1), 104–124.

Hussain, I., Mujtaba, G., Shaheen, I., Akram, S., & Arshad, A. (2020). An empirical investigation of knowledge management, organizational innovation, organizational learning, and organizational culture: Examining a moderated mediation model of social media technologies. Journal of Public Affairs, 22(3), e2575.

Ihrig, M., Boisot, M., & MacMillan, I. (2011). Are you wasting money on useless knowledge management? Harvard Business Review, January.

Im, S., et al. (2016). How knowledge management capabilities help leverage knowledge resources and strategic orientation for new product advantages in B-to-B high-technology firms. Journal of Business-to-Business Marketing, 23, 87–110.

Jaworski, B. J., & Kohli, A. K. (1993). Market orientation: Antecedents and consequences. Journal of Marketing, 57(3), 53–70.

Jinjing, M., & Karia, N. (2024). The impact of talent management on public hospital performance based on knowledge management. Global Business and Management Research, 16(4), 1089–1102.

Kareem, J., & Patrick, H. A. (2019). Educational leadership styles scale: Construction, validation, and reliability analysis. IUP Journal of Organizational Behavior, 43(4), 50–67.

Klassen, M., Dobni, C. B., & Hertes, K. (2024). Developing an innovation culture measurement construct for healthcare organizations. Asia Pacific Journal of Health Management, 19(2), 1–11.

Lang, J. (2001). Managerial concerns in knowledge management. Journal of Knowledge Management, 5(1), 43–59.

Lettieri, E., Borga, F., & Savoldelli, A. (2004). Knowledge management in non-profit organizations. Journal of Knowledge Management, 8(6), 16–30.

Liao, C., Chuang, S. H., & To, P. L. (2011). How knowledge management mediates relationships between environment and organizational structure. Journal of Business Research, 64(7), 728–736.

Malhotra, A., et al. (2017). Developing innovative solutions through internal crowdsourcing. Sloan Management Review, Summer, 73–79.

March, A., & Gavin, D. (1997). A note on knowledge management. Harvard Business School Working Paper.

Nelson, R. R., & Winter, S. G. (1982). An evolutionary theory of economic change. Harvard University Press.

Pandey, S. C., & Duta, A. (2013). Role of knowledge management infrastructure capabilities in knowledge management. Journal of Knowledge Management, 17(3), 435–453.

Parolin, S. R., Segatto, A. P., Canto Bonfim, L. R., & Espinola, T. (2020). Organizational culture for cooperation in technological innovation between research institutes and firms. Journal of Technology Management & Innovation, 15(2), 24–40.

Rossi, G., Garlatti, A., & Leardini, C. (2015). How to engage stakeholder knowledge in decision-making: A case study from the non-profit sector. Academic Conferences International Limited, 1–6.

Sanzo-Pérez, M. J., Álvarez-González, L. I., García-Rodríguez, N., & Rey-García, M. (2023). Social innovation in non-profit organizations: A measurement scale. Innovation: The European Journal of Social Science Research, 37(1), 4–32.

Shafique, I., et al. (2022). Demystifying the link between knowledge management capability and innovation ambidexterity: Organizational structure as a moderator. Business Process Management Journal, 28(5/6), 1343–1363.

Spender, J.-C. (1996). Making knowledge the basis of a dynamic theory of the firm. Strategic Management Journal, 17(Special Issue), 45–62.

Strauss, A., & Corbin, J. (1998). Basics of qualitative research: Techniques and procedures for developing grounded theory (2nd ed.). Sage.

Suparwadi, N., et al. (2024). Leveraging intellectual capital and knowledge management to drive innovation and organizational performance. International Journal of Engineering Business Management, 16, 1–18.

Tabachnick, B. G., & Fidell, L. S. (1996). Using multivariate statistics (3rd ed.). HarperCollins.

Taylor, M., & Taylor, A. (2013). Performance measurement in the third sector: The development of a stakeholder-focused research agenda. Production Planning and Control: The Management of Operations, 25(3), 35–61.

Tsai, W. (2002). Social structure of cooperation within a multi-unit organization: Coordination, competition, and intra-organizational knowledge sharing. Organization Science, 13(2), 179–190.

Valentine, M. (2018). Renegotiating spheres of obligation: The role of hierarchy in organizational learning. Administrative Science Quarterly, 63(3), 570–606.

Wenger, E., & Snyder, W. (2000). Communities of practice: The organizational frontier. Harvard Business Review, 78(1), 139–145.

Wilkinson, I., & Young, L. (2006). On cooperating firms, relations, and networks. Journal of Business Research, 55(2), 123–132.

Zheng, W., Yang, B., & McLean, G. B. (2010). Linking organizational culture, structure, strategy, and organizational effectiveness: The mediating role of knowledge management. Journal of Business Research, 63(7), 763–771.