An Examination and Assessment of Knowledge Management Maturity in Karaj Municipality

Abstract

As organizations gain more knowledge-based processes, they need more realistic and practical programs to manage the organizational knowledge as a strategic resource for future continuous improvements. The main aim of the present study was to assess the status and maturity of knowledge management in Karaj Municipality based on a codified and applied model in order to clarify the role of assessing knowledge management maturity and explain an approach through which knowledge management can be evaluated and improved in a strategic way, and constant improvements can be made in the municipality. With regard to its methodology, the present study was an applied descriptive survey. In so doing, the employees of Karaj Municipality were considered as the statistical population. To determine the sample size, Krejcie and Morgan decision making model was used, and the sample size was determined to be 154 individuals. However, since there was the possibility of incomplete questionnaires, 160 questionnaires were distributed among 160 randomly selected employees. Content validity was used to determine the validity of the questionnaire. In so doing, the questionnaires were reviewed by professors and experts in the field of knowledge management, and the final questionnaire was compiled after necessary modifications were made. In order to examine and assess the variables available in the model, SPSS and Excel were utilized. After the data collected using the questionnaires, interviews, and related documents and checklists vvere analyzed, the maturity assessment combined model for Karaj Municipality was presented in 8 fields in order to lome up with a better view on strengths and weaknesses of Karaj Municipality. At last, strategies to improve knowledge management in Karaj Municipality were presented.