Universities and colleges operate as knowledge-centered organizations, where knowledge is treated as a vital resource for growth and innovation. This research explores how top management backing, the sense of collegiality, and the organizational culture (OC) influence trust among faculty members and shape their personal readiness to embrace knowledge management (KM) practices. Data were gathered from academic staff working in Indian higher education institutions and analyzed using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, followed by structural equation modeling (SEM) in AMOS. The results indicate that both collegiality and organizational culture strongly contribute to building trust, which in turn enhances individuals’ willingness to participate in KM initiatives. Encouraging trust is therefore key to improving KM efforts across institutions. The outcomes of this research offer actionable insights for decision-makers and administrators in HEIs and present an original framework for understanding KM adoption in academic environments.
