Organizational Culture and Knowledge Management Systems: The Collaboration-Success Correlation

It has become well recognized that to explore knowledge management solutions information technologydoes not in itself create knowledge or guarantee knowledge creation. Knowledge management is a not justcomputer or IT focused concept rather it has a whole gamut of other parameters as well. The purpose ofthis study was to expand the base of knowledge in that area, and empirically test the relationship betweenintra-community social interaction within an organization and the success of knowledge managementsystem. Two aspects of social interaction were measured: collaboration within departments, andinterdepartmental conflict. Methodology used to measure directionality and relationship was correlation.The results of the study indicate that there is a significant relationship between both factors andknowledge management system success. Interdepartmental collaboration showing a positive impact whileinterdepartmental conflict showing a negative inclination towards KMS success. Additionally, due to thenature of this study, there was no attempt to classify results based on type or size of the organizations.Opportunities for similar research would appear to exist in this area, to determine if the study factorsdiffer based on organization type, makeup, or organizational structure

Keywords:

Organizational Culture , Knowledge Management Systems , Correlation , Structure , Innovation , Collaboration