Developing a Dilemma Model to Diagnose and Overcome Organizational Cultural Barriers to Implement Knowledge Management

Abstract

Knowledge Management has recently been recognised as a basis of competitive advantage by many organizations around the world. However the rate of success of projects to implement knowledge management has been disappointing based on surveys conducted over the past five years. One of the major reasons for the failures has been identified as the barriers due to organizational culture. Research conducted in identifying cultural blocks to knowledge management using conventional research methods such as surveys has not provided very satisfactory insights. Professor Charles Hampden-Turner and Dr. Fons Trompenaars have successfully used ‘dilemma theory’ to identify dimensions of organizational culture for many years. Their research has helped managers to build cross-cultural competence in organizations in spite of conflicting values to implement successful business strategies. They have recently determined some dimensions of organizational culture, based on dilemmas that can inhibit the implementation of knowledge management in organizations. If a model capable of identifying these dimensions based on dilemmas faced by managers can be developed it would benefit knowledge management practitioners and managers to successfully implement knowledge management projects.