Among the contributions of knowledge management Wilson (2006, p. 181) has
mentioned the creation of open culture as one of the main areas where it significantly
contributes. He further adds that in such a culture, organizations place a high priority on
mutual support, collaboration, creativity and on constructive relationship. Cascio
comments that a “work force that is knowledgeable and skilled at doing complex things
keeps a company competitive and attracts foreign investments.”(2000).
Here it is worth mentioning that it is a two way process. Knowledge management
contributes to an open culture and an open culture supports in knowledge management.
According to Wilson in such a system, purpose and value statement must be clearly
defined which will ultimately contribute towards gaining competitive edge (2004). Cook,
Staniforth and Stewart have established that in order to promote learning in the public
sector, there is a need to make it effective and link it to the benefits drawn from it (1998).
According to Ashton and Sung (2002, quoted in Wilson, 2006) four core areas
must be attended to achieve high organizational performance. These areas are job design
should utilize full competency of the workers through teams, knowledge must be
disseminated frequently, employee must be provides with leaning opportunities and
employee must be rewarded financially and through other recognition techniques.
According to Jacob (2004), knowledge management is about creating intellectual capital
which helps in gaining the competitive advantage. Cook, Steniforth and Stewart say:
Organizations are made up of people. It is people developed through
learning, who become the asset of the organization. Investing in asset
which has a mind of their own and are likely to be independently mobile
requires a retention process (1998, p. 79).According to Brown in her review of Leading with Knowledge, the
“dissemination of knowledge require overcoming barriers of distance hierarchy and
culture” (1999).