The purpose of this study is to provide empirical evidence about the relationship between Organizational Culture and Knowledge Management in public sector organizations in Colombia. This research is based on information obtained from a survey applied to workers in different positions and areas of four organizations in the Colombian government at the departmental level. A survey of 22 items measured Organizational Culture, and 19 items measured Knowledge Management. The results show that the strongest correlation is between a flexible organizational structure and leadership that foments the development of worker capabilities to register and use knowledge. Furthermore, to achieve efficiency the public organizations should foster adaptability to environment, a well-defined management and value-oriented human behavior and overcome barriers such as bureaucracy, inefficient administration, and make adequate knowledge management.

Abubakar, A. M., Elrehail, H., Alatailat, M. A., et al. (2019). Knowledge management, decision-making style and organizational performance. Journal of Innovation & Knowledge, 4(2), 104–114. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jik.2017.07.003

Adhikari, D. R., & Shrestha, P. (2023). Knowledge management initiatives for achieving sustainable development goal 4.7: higher education institutions’ stakeholder perspectives. Journal of Knowledge Management, 27(4), 1109–1139. https://doi.org/10.1108/jkm-03-2022-0172

Alvarenga, A., Matos, F., Godina, R., et al. (2020). Digital Transformation and Knowledge Management in the Public Sector. Sustainability, 12(14), 5824. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12145824

Andrej, N., Breznik, K., & Natek, S. (2023). Managing Knowledge to Improve Performance: the Impact of Leadership Style and Knowledge Management on Organizational Performance with Moderation Effects via PLS-SEM. Journal of the Knowledge Economy, 14(2), 1672–1701. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13132-022-00957-4

Adeinat, I. M., & Abdulfatah, F. H. (2019). Organizational culture and knowledge management processes: case study in a public university. VINE Journal of Information and Knowledge Management Systems, 49(1), 35–53. https://doi.org/10.1108/vjikms-05-2018-0041

Aladwan, S. A., AL-Yakoub, T. A., & Adaileh, A. M. (2022). Challenges of knowledge management in the public sector: evidence from the King Abdullah Award for Excellence in Jordan. The TQM Journal, 34(6), 1896–1913. https://doi.org/10.1108/tqm-09-2021-0253

Al Dari, T., Jabeen, F., Hussain, M., et al. (2020). How types of organizational culture and technological capabilities contribute to organizational learning. Management Research Review, 44(3), 437–459. https://doi.org/10.1108/mrr-02-2020-0090

Almudallal, A. W., Bakri, N., Muktar, S. N., et al. (2016). Implementing knowledge management in the Palestinian public sector institutions: Empirical study on the presidency of the Palestinian government. International Review of Management and Marketing, 6(4), 101-107.

Azeem, M., Ahmed, M., Haider, S., et al. (2021). Expanding competitive advantage through organizational culture, knowledge sharing and organizational innovation. Technology in Society, 66, 101635. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2021.101635

Bollinger, A. S., & Smith, R. D. (2001). Managing organizational knowledge as a strategic asset. Journal of Knowledge Management, 5(1), 8–18. https://doi.org/10.1108/13673270110384365

Botelho, C. (2020). The influence of organizational culture and HRM on building innovative capability. International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, 69(7), 1373–1393. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijppm-05-2019-0228

Boyne, G. A. (2002). Public and Private Management: What’s the Difference? Journal of Management Studies, 39(1), 97–122. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-6486.00284

Bozeman, B. (2000). Bureaucracy and red Tape. In: Upper Saddle River. Prentice Hall.

Cajková, A., Jankelová, N., & Masár, D. (2023). Knowledge management as a tool for increasing the efficiency of municipality management in Slovakia. Knowledge Management Research & Practice, 21(2), 292–302. https://doi.org/10.1080/14778238.2021.1895686

Chang, C. L., & Lin, T.-C. (2015). The role of organizational culture in the knowledge management process. Journal of Knowledge Management, 19(3), 433–455. https://doi.org/10.1108/jkm-08-2014-0353

Chiem, P. X. (2001). In the public interest: government employees also need incentives to share what they know. Knowledge Management Magazine, 8.

Choudhary, N., Naqshbandi, M. M., Philip, P. J., et al. (2017). Employee job performance. Journal of Management Development, 36(8), 1087–1098. https://doi.org/10.1108/jmd-10-2016-0195

Corder, G., Foreman, D. (2014). Nonparametric statistics: A step-by-step approach. John Wiley and Sons.

Doan, T. T. T., Nguyen, L. C. T., Nguyen, T. D. N. (2020). Emotional intelligence and project success. The roles of transformational leadership and organizational commitment. Journal of Asian Finance Economics and Business, 3(7), 223–233.

Donate, M. J., & Guadamillas, F. (2010). The effect of organizational culture on knowledge management practices and innovation. Knowledge and Process Management, 17(2), 82–94. https://doi.org/10.1002/kpm.344

Ertosun, O. G., Adiguzel, Z. (2018). Leadership, personal values, and organizational culture in Dincer. In: Hacioglu, H., Yüksel, S. (editors). Strategic Design and Innovative Thinking in Business Operations. Springer International Publishing.

Faccin, K., Balestrin, A., Volkmer, B., Bitencourt, C. (2019). Knowledge-based dynamic capabilities: A joint RandD project in the French semiconductor industry. Journal of Knowledge Management, 23(3), 439–465.

Gao, S., Yin, F., Chen, J., et al. (2019). The mechanism of inter-organizational collaboration network on innovation performance: Evidences from east coastal enterprises in China. Journal of Coastal Research, 94(1), 945–949. doi:10.2112/SI94-186.1

Gharieb, D. M. (2021). Critical Appraisal Study of Knowledge Management and its Importance Among Public Sector. International. Journal of Computer Science and Network Security, 21(7), 273–283.

Hoof, F., & Boell, S. K. (2019). Culture, technology, and process in ‘media theories’: Toward a shift in the understanding of media in organizational research. Organization, 26(5), 636–654. https://doi.org/10.1177/1350508419855702

Ionescu, L., Lăzăroiu, G., Iosif, G. (2012). Corruption and bureaucracy in public services. Amfiteatru Economic Journal, 14(6), 665–679.

Jabeen, F., Al Dari, T. (2020). A framework for integrating knowledge management benefits in the UAE organizations. Knowledge Management Research and Practice, 21(2).

Jabeen, F., & Isakovic, A. A. (2018). Examining the impact of organizational culture on trust and career satisfaction in the UAE public sector. Employee Relations, 40(6), 1036–1053. https://doi.org/10.1108/er-02-2017-0038

Jain, A. K., & Jeppe Jeppesen, H. (2013). Knowledge management practices in a public sector organisation: the role of leaders’ cognitive styles. Journal of Knowledge Management, 17(3), 347–362. https://doi.org/10.1108/jkm-11-2012-0358

Janićijević, N. (2012). Organizational culture and strategy. Ekonomika preduzeća, 60(3-4), 127–139.

Kates, A., Galbraith, J. (2007). Designing Your Organization: Using the STAR Model to Solve 5 Critical Design Challenges. Jossey-Bass.

Kaur Bagga, S., Gera, S., & Haque, S. N. (2023). The mediating role of organizational culture: Transformational leadership and change management in virtual teams. Asia Pacific Management Review, 28(2), 120–131. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmrv.2022.07.003

King, W. R. (2009). Knowledge management and organizational learning. In: King, R. (editor). Knowledge Management and Organizational Learning. Springer.

King, W. R., & Marks, P. V. (2008). Motivating knowledge sharing through a knowledge management system. Omega, 36(1), 131–146. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.omega.2005.10.006

Klein, A. (2011). Corporate culture: its value as a resource for competitive advantage. Journal of Business Strategy, 32(2), 21–28. https://doi.org/10.1108/02756661111109743

Lartey, P. Y., Kong, Y., Afriyie, S. O., et al. (2021). Knowledge Management Issues in India: A Public Sector Perspective. International Journal of Public Administration, 44(3), 215–230. https://doi.org/10.1080/01900692.2019.1676778

Leng, C., & Wang, H. (2009). On General Adaptive Sparse Principal Component Analysis. Journal of Computational and Graphical Statistics, 18(1), 201–215. https://doi.org/10.1198/jcgs.2009.0012

Limaj, E., Bernroider, E. W. N. (2019). The roles of absorptive capacity and cultural balance for exploratory and exploitative innovation in SMEs. Journal of Business Research, 94, 137-153.

Mardiana, S., Tjakratmadja, J. H. (2019). Exploring the Linkage between Knowledge Management and Organizational Culture: A Study of Literature. Journal of Advanced Research in Dynamical and Control Systems, 11(3), 1003–1012.

Martinsons, M. G., Davison, R. M., & Huang, Q. (2017). Strategic knowledge management failures in small professional service firms in China. International Journal of Information Management, 37(4), 327–338. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2017.04.003

Massaro, M., Dumay, J., & Garlatti, A. (2015). Public sector knowledge management: a structured literature review. Journal of Knowledge Management, 19(3), 530–558. https://doi.org/10.1108/jkm-11-2014-0466

Matarazzo, J. M., & Pearlstein, T. (2016). Leadership in disruptive times. IFLA Journal, 42(3), 162–178. https://doi.org/10.1177/0340035216658911

Mayer, C., Sivatheerthan, T., Mütze-Niewöhner, S., et al. (2023). Sharing leadership behaviors in virtual teams: effects of shared leadership behaviors on team member satisfaction and productivity. Team Performance Management: An International Journal, 29(1/2), 90–112. https://doi.org/10.1108/tpm-07-2022-0054

Mc Evoy, P. J., Ragab, M. A. F., & Arisha, A. (2019). The effectiveness of knowledge management in the public sector. Knowledge Management Research & Practice, 17(1), 39–51. https://doi.org/10.1080/14778238.2018.1538670

Millar, C. C. J. M., Lockett, M., & Mahon, J. F. (2016). Guest editorial. Journal of Knowledge Management, 20(5), 845–857. https://doi.org/10.1108/jkm-07-2016-0296

Molina, A. D. (2009). Values in public administration: the role of organizational culture. International Journal of Organization Theory & Behavior, 12(2), 266–279. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijotb-12-02-2009-b007

Mora, H., Signes-Pont, M. T., Fuster-Guilló, A., et al. (2020). A collaborative working model for enhancing the learning process of science & engineering students. Computers in Human Behavior, 103, 140–150. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2019.09.008

Muhammed, S., & Zaim, H. (2020). Peer knowledge sharing and organizational performance: the role of leadership support and knowledge management success. Journal of Knowledge Management, 24(10), 2455–2489. https://doi.org/10.1108/jkm-03-2020-0227

Naqshbandi, M. M., & Jasimuddin, S. M. (2018). Knowledge-oriented leadership and open innovation: Role of knowledge management capability in France-based multinationals. International Business Review, 27(3), 701–713. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ibusrev.2017.12.001

Naqshbandi, M. M., & Kamel, Y. (2017). Intervening role of realized absorptive capacity in organizational culture-open innovation relationship. Journal of General Management, 42(3), 5–20. https://doi.org/10.1177/0306307016687984

Naqshbandi, M. M., Kaur, S., & Ma, P. (2015). What organizational culture types enable and retard open innovation? Quality & Quantity, 49(5), 2123–2144. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11135-014-0097-5

Naqshbandi, M. M., Meeran, S., & Wilkinson, A. (2023a). On the soft side of open innovation: the role of human resource practices, organizational learning culture and knowledge sharing. R&D Management, 53(2), 279–297. https://doi.org/10.1111/radm.12566

Naqshbandi, M. M., Meeran, S., Kim, M., et al. (2023b). The role of AMO HR practices and knowledge sharing in developing a learning organizational culture: evidence from the United Kingdom. Journal of Knowledge Management, 28(4), 920–946. https://doi.org/10.1108/jkm-01-2023-0032

Naqshbandi, M. M., & Tabche, I. (2018). The interplay of leadership, absorptive capacity, and organizational learning culture in open innovation: Testing a moderated mediation model. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 133, 156–167. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2018.03.017

Nel, D. (2019). Risk management in the South African local government and its impact on service delivery. International Journal of Management Practice, 12(1), 60. https://doi.org/10.1504/ijmp.2019.096683

Nowak, R. (2020). Does employee understanding of strategic objectives matter? Effects on culture and performance. Journal of Strategy and Management, 13(4), 477–493. https://doi.org/10.1108/jsma-02-2020-0027

Nonaka, I., Toyama, R., Konno, N. (2000). SECI, BA and leadership: A unified model of dynamic knowledge creation. Long Range Planning, 33, 4-34. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0024-6301(99)00115-6

Ononye, U. H., Igwe, A. (2019). Knowledge Sharing Process and Innovation Success: Evidence from Public Organisations in Southern Nigeria. Interdisciplinary Journal of Information, Knowledge, and Management, 14, 183–198. https://doi.org/10.28945/4358

Paais, M., Pattiruhu, J. (2020). Effect of Motivation, Leadership, and Organizational Culture on Satisfaction and Employee Performance. The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business, 7(8), 577–588. https://doi.org/10.13106/jafeb.2020.vol7.no8.577

Paoloni, M., Coluccia, D., Fontana, S., et al. (2020). Knowledge management, intellectual capital and entrepreneurship: a structured literature review. Journal of Knowledge Management, 24(8), 1797–1818. https://doi.org/10.1108/jkm-01-2020-0052

Pirkkalainen, H., Pawlowski, J. (2013). Global social knowledge management: from barriers to the selection of social tools. Electronic Journal of Knowledge Management, 11(1), 3–17.

Rafi, N., Ahmed, A., Shafique, I., et al. (2021). Knowledge management capabilities and organizational agility as liaisons of business performance. South Asian Journal of Business Studies, 11(4), 397–417. https://doi.org/10.1108/sajbs-05-2020-0145

Ravichandran, N., Bano, R. (2016). A review of antecedents, correlates and consequences of HR practices: a conceptual model of organizational development. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 15(4), 76-127

Rukh, H., Qadeer, F. (2018). Diagnosing culture of public organization utilizing competing values framework: A mixed methods approach. Pakistan Journal of Commerce and Social Sciences, 1(12), 398–418.

Saif, M. R., & Yeop, N. K. B. (2020). The Effect of Organizational Culture on Knowledge Management and Managerial Performance of Government Department in Dubai. European Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies, 5(1), 47. https://doi.org/10.26417/915bag69u

Santoro, G., Thrassou, A., Bresciani, S., et al. (2021). Do Knowledge Management and Dynamic Capabilities Affect Ambidextrous Entrepreneurial Intensity and Firms’ Performance? IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, 68(2), 378–386. https://doi.org/10.1109/tem.2019.2907874

Schein, E. H. (2004). Sense and Nonsense about Culture and Climate. Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Schein, E. H. (2004), Organizational Culture and Leadership, 3rd ed. John Wiley and Sons.

Shamim, S., Cang, S., & Yu, H. (2017). Impact of knowledge oriented leadership on knowledge management behaviour through employee work attitudes. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 30(16), 2387–2417. https://doi.org/10.1080/09585192.2017.1323772

Sheskin, D. J. (2020). Spearman’s Rank-Order Correlation Coefficient (Nonparametric Measure of Association/Correlation Employed with Ordinal Data). In: Handbook of Parametric and Nonparametric Statistical Procedures. Chapman and Hall/CRC. https://doi.org/10.1201/9780429186196-39

Tamsah, H., S.E, A., Ilyas, G., et al. (2020). Training, Knowledge Sharing, and Quality of Work-Life on Civil Servants Performance in Indonesia. Journal of Ethnic and Cultural Studies, 163–176. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejecs/514

Titi Amayah, A. (2013). Determinants of knowledge sharing in a public sector organization. Journal of Knowledge Management, 17(3), 454–471. https://doi.org/10.1108/jkm-11-2012-0369

Ugwu, C. I., & Ejikeme, A. (2022). Knowledge management, organizational culture and job performance in Nigerian university libraries. IFLA Journal, 49(1), 99–116. https://doi.org/10.1177/03400352221103896

Vallejo, C. (2018). Organizational learning and knowledge management (Spanish). Departamento Administrativo de la Función Pública.

Warrick, D. D. (2017). What leaders need to know about organizational culture. Business Horizons, 60(3), 395–404. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bushor.2017.01.011

Zapata-Cantu, L. (2020). Boosting innovation in emerging markets: the moderating role of human capital. International Journal of Emerging Markets, 16(3), 604–624. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijoem-01-2019-0015

Zhang, X., Chu, Z., Ren, L., et al. (2023). Open innovation and sustainable competitive advantage: The role of organizational learning. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 186, 122114. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2022.122114

Zheng, J., Wu, G., & Xie, H. (2017). Impacts of Leadership on Project-Based Organizational Innovation Performance: The Mediator of Knowledge Sharing and Moderator of Social Capital. Sustainability, 9(10), 1893. https://doi.org/10.3390/su9101893

Zia, N. U. (2020). Knowledge-oriented leadership, knowledge management behaviour and innovation performance in project-based SMEs. The moderating role of goal orientations. Journal of Knowledge Management, 24(8), 1819–1839. https://doi.org/10.1108/jkm-02-2020-0127