A leader’s approaches to fostering a culture of knowledge sharing in an information organization
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/LM-11-2018-0083 |
| Date | 11 November 2019 |
| Published date | 11 November 2019 |
| Pages | 593-600 |
| Author | Zhixian Yi |
| Subject Matter | Library & information science,Librarianship/library management,Hr in libraries,Library strategy,Library promotion |
A leader’s approaches to fostering
a culture of knowledge sharing in
an information organization
Zhixian Yi
School of Information Studies,
Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, Wagga Wagga, Australia
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to look at organizational culture and knowledge sharing, and to
explore how a leader fosters a culture of knowledge sharing in an information organization.
Design/methodology/approach –The literature survey is used. It indicates that little is known about how
to foster a culture of knowledge sharing from a leadership perspective in an information organization.
Findings –This study finds that the main approaches that a leader need to use to foster a culture of knowledge
sharing are to set the mission, short-term, middle-term and long-term goals and objectives of fostering a
culture of knowledge sharing, master as many leadership styles as possible, adjust and choose a leadership
style that is appropriate to fostering a culture of knowledge sharing in a given situation, lead by example,
develop messaging, make a communication plan, reward and recognize knowledge-sharing behaviors and make
knowledge management fun.
Research limitations/implications –The limitation is that this study is solely focused on the literature
survey and opinions.
Practical implications –This paper provides a useful overview of the approaches used to foster a culture
of knowledge sharing in an information organization.
Originality/value –The views, approaches and suggestions will be useful and valuable to improve the
success of knowledge sharing in information organizations in the digital age.
Keywords Organizational culture, Culture, Knowledge sharing
Paper type Viewpoint
Introduction
Currently, the nature of change in information organizations have been enhanced because of
the globalization, digitization and knowledge economy and changes occur more quickly and
unpredictably owing to the numerous challenges such as the changing information and
communication technologies, the dominant form of recorded knowledge from print to digital
and clients’increasing expectations (Yi, 2016, p. 3). In order to meet the challenges and to
ensure the success of an information organization’s operations, there is a need for an
information organization to foster a culture of knowledge sharing which helps to provide
effective resources and servicesand improve sharing of internal and externalinformation and
knowledge among information professionals and various types of information agencies. The
culture of knowledge sharing doesnot occur automatically inan information organizationand
a leader plays a criticalrole in making it happen (Srivastava et al.,2006, p. 1241). However, the
literature survey indicates that little is known about how to foster a culture of knowledge
sharing from a leadership perspective in an information organization. This study will fill the
gap. The purposeof this paper is to look at organizational cultureand knowledge sharing, and
to explore howa leader fosters a culture of knowledge sharing in an information organization.
Organizational culture
There are numerous definitions of organizational culture which can be defined from many
perspectives. One definition describes organizational culture as “apowerfultoolforinterpreting
organizational life and behavior and for understanding the processes of decay, adaptation
and radical change in organizations”(Allaire and Firsirotu, 1984, p. 216). Organizational culture
Library Management
Vol. 40 No. 8/9, 2019
pp. 593-600
© Emerald PublishingLimited
0143-5124
DOI 10.1108/LM-11-2018-0083
Received 1 November 2018
Accepted 21 March 2019
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:
www.emeraldinsight.com/0143-5124.htm
593
Culture of
knowledge
sharing
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