Evaluating the Possibility of Establishing Knowledge Management in State Welfare Organization of Iran

Abstract

Today, knowledge is seen as the only assuring source of a competitive constant merit for organizations. Organizations have realized that their knowledge of methods for accomplishing tasks and of providing services is an important asset to be managed like their other valuable assets. Before exercising knowledge management, vast studies on the field seem necessary. In doing so, this research has been done with the purpose of evaluating the possibility of establishing the knowledge management in State Welfare Organization of Iran (SWOI). Methodology: For this study, descriptive research method was used for gathering data. In doing so, 208 managers and experts from SWOI were selected using stratified random sampling method; and, they answered 80 question questionnaires. Its Content Validity has been approved by the experts. Results: The Reliability (Cronbach's Coefficient Alpha) of all the factors was more than 0.7 which is in an acceptable limit. After performing Shapiro and Wilk test and after being sure that data are normally distributed, results from data analysis using One Sample t Test showed that from 7 factors of Bukowitz and Williams knowledge management model, conditions of 6 factors (finding, use, learning, evaluation, development /maintenance, and the removal of the knowledge) of the research hypotheses are not acceptable and only knowledge sharing and exchanging calculated average, 3.18, is above the average line. Moreover, there is no significant difference, (p>0.05), observed among subjectsʼ averages based on cognitive factors of sex, position, etc. But there is a significant difference, (P<0.05), in education level variable in indices of knowledge finding, knowledge learning, and removal of knowledge. Effect size index, too, shows that the biggest difference is related to subscale of removal of knowledge. Conclusion: Finally, we can evaluate conditions of processes necessary for establishing knowledge management in Iran as not acceptable which makes it as a necessity for those in charge to pay attention to it. At the end of the research, applied suggestions are provided too.