ABSTRACT
Defining and supporting a set of beliefs that support knowledge management is a critical prerequisite to implementing knowledge management processes. There are many organizational beliefs that affect a knowledge management environment, however, the most significant address: knowledge sharing and reuse, organizational learning, use of best practices, and communities of practice. Beliefs, on the other hand, establish the ground rules for organizational behavior. Each person needs to recognize his contribution to the organization’s knowledge pool and the importance of reusing existing knowledge. When the individuals within an organization gain new knowledge, the organization gains new knowledge. Most important, people should be encouraged to apply new skills while their new knowledge is fresh. To obtain knowledge and skills in selected best practices, organizations often send staff members to specialized training or encourage them to participate in professional societies.
