Knowledge Management
Fatemeh Navidi; Mohammad Hasanzadeh
Abstract
Changing Knowledge Audit Factors in Project-Based Organizations:From Present to FutureAbstractAim: The creation and flow of knowledge in the Project-Based organizations has unique characteristics, Also the audit of the created knowledge in these organizations significantly differs from other organizations. ...
Read More
Changing Knowledge Audit Factors in Project-Based Organizations:From Present to FutureAbstractAim: The creation and flow of knowledge in the Project-Based organizations has unique characteristics, Also the audit of the created knowledge in these organizations significantly differs from other organizations. On the other hand, knowledge audit plays a key role in the success of knowledge management these organizations, the purpose of this study is investigating the importance and compliance of identified knowledge audit factors in these types of organizations.Methodology: The present study is an applied research that follows a quantitative approach using case study and survey in order to investigate the status and importance of knowledge audit factors in four PBOs: ICT Research Institute, Research Institute of Petroleum Industry, Niroo Research Institute; and, Iranian Space Research Center. The research data were collected through a survey of 220 project managers, project control and knowledge management managers in these four research institutes. The data were collected and analyzed in two available and ideal conditions.Results: At present, the knowledge valuation factor with a mean of 2.61 and the knowledge need analysis factor with the mean of 2.56 have the highest attention, while in the ideal state, the factors of knowledge inventory (4.287) and knowledge valuation (4.28) should be considered. In all four research institutes, there is a significant difference between the mean of knowledge audit factors in both the current and the ideal situation.Conclusion: The emphasis on knowledge valuation, knowledge needs analysis and knowledge inventory indicate the importance of knowledge assets in the Project-Based Organizations. Therefore, it is necessary to pay attention to the importance and weight of the knowledge audit factors in designing the knowledge audit model in the PBOs.Keywords: Knowledge audit, knowledge audit factors, knowledge management, project- based organizationsKeywords: Knowledge audit, knowledge audit factors, knowledge management, project- based organizations
Mohammad Hasanzadeh; Behrooz Rasuli; Elmira Karimi
Abstract
Purpose: Considering the importance of theory building in scientific progress and development, the Iranian policy-makers have focused on this issue in policy-documents related to science, technology, and innovation. But it seems that in spite of the importance of this phenomenon in Iran, theory building ...
Read More
Purpose: Considering the importance of theory building in scientific progress and development, the Iranian policy-makers have focused on this issue in policy-documents related to science, technology, and innovation. But it seems that in spite of the importance of this phenomenon in Iran, theory building has not been able to make significant progress. The purpose of this study is to examine the extra-organizational barriers to the growth of theory building capacity in Iran.Methodology: Through a qualitative approach and Miles and Huberman method for analyzing qualitative data, 12 experts at Tarbiat Modarres University have been interviewed, and gathered data were analyzed and coded by MAXQDA software. Thus, extracted codes categorized in major themes to address research questions.Findings: According to the findings, the barriers to the theory building can be categorized into organizational and meta-organizational groups. Since the focus of this study is on extra-organizational barriers, these barriers can be found in seven general categories, namely, the weak link between science and society, country's economic challenges, ineffective management of higher education, inefficient higher education, the difficulty of theory building, inappropriate educational policy, and inappropriate research policy.Originality: Theory building is one of the key phenomena of higher education, which should not be neglected in the scientific progress; the first step towards realizing this phenomenon is identifying obstacles and challenges in this regards. The present study is conducted through a qualitative approach which provides an overview of the barriers of the theory building and allows policy-makers to think differently about the matter.
Mohammad Hasanzadeh; Zeinab Ghayouri
Abstract
Introduction: The term "user studies" refers to the investigations on topics related to the users who deal with a type of user information. The range of studies for general users of the library is extensive and varied, and is associated with the methods and tools used to search for the information required ...
Read More
Introduction: The term "user studies" refers to the investigations on topics related to the users who deal with a type of user information. The range of studies for general users of the library is extensive and varied, and is associated with the methods and tools used to search for the information required by the user, the use of information obtained, user consent or disagreement with the information obtained, the flow of information, and so on. The purpose of public library users' studies is to increase the dynamic interaction between the information source and the user and serve as a tool for systematically reviewing the characteristics and behavior of users in using public library systems and services and in direct connection with the effectiveness of service information and assessment the needs of User’s information. Studies in Iran show that the focus has been on issues and barriers and factors of using public library, library location and library services. Despite the various studies in Iran, there is still no light and adaptive between studies inside and outside the country and there is no study of the causes of the differences in focusing on subjects in internal and foreign studies; therefore, systematic reporting can play a significant role in this field. Therefore, the present study aims to summarize and report systematically and structurally the results of various studies conducted in the field of user studies for efficient and effective planning and policy making. Method: This research is in the field of library research. It’s purpose is to measure the research in the field of user studies. Information needed in the first step is to use the keyword search for user studies, user study, public library user studies, and the importance of user studies among Google Scholar, Scopus, JSTOR, and Science Direct databases and Keywords for user studies, public library users, users of public libraries, audience engagement among SIDs, Magiran's public databases, and the topic of research from the site of the Quarterly Journal of Research on Information Science and Public Libraries In order to identify and cover most of the published articles and documents, a certain timeframe for search was not selected. The criteria for entering the study include all studies conducted, including books, articles presented at conferences, as well as articles published in both Farsi and English. All articles were evaluated by two evaluators using existing checklist after extraction from the databases using the mentioned keywords. Among the foreign article, after the removal of items that had a weak relationship with the study objectives, 18 English articles were identified and 69 Persian sources were identified. Finally, 38 Persian articles were studied. After the study, the extracted information was summarized and analyzed manually. Table 1 and 2 show an overview of the articles under review. Findings:The findings of the review of the studies are presented in four sections, a. Distribution of the areas studied in user studies, b. Components and Sub-Components of User Studies, c. The relationship between variables and d. evolution of user studies. A. Research areas for user studies, Research areas of user studies in 14 areas of barriers to library use, factors of library use and reasons for inclining the library, library service and studies, user satisfaction, introducing effective methods of research into user studies, library resources, studying information needs, bibliography and introduction. The study of published studies, the identification of the local library community, the history of user studies, the study of non-users of the library, the analysis of the use of the library, the habits of studying individuals, the priority of users in the use of information channels were identified. B. Components in user studies The components of foreign history in the form of 16 components, library services, library resources, library location, accessibility Convenience and attractiveness of the library environment, librarians and staff, personal reasons, equipment, space, hours of library use, membership The needs of the audience, need assessment, digitization and technology infrastructure, the use of other types of cadres instead of public libraries, the establishment of user education courses, resource management training, organizational rules and regulations. C. Related variables affecting the use of public libraries Significant relationships reported in the studies were as follows: The relationship between income and the use of public libraries The relationship between education and the use of public libraries The relationship between Gender and the use of public libraries The relationship between age and the use of public library The relationship between leisure time and library use The relationship between the use of the Internet and the use of public libraries The Impact of Educational Institutions (University and School) "and" The Impact of the Family and the Use of the Public Library "on the use of the Library D. The evolution of user studies The evolution of user studies in the two periods before and after 1980 has been grouped among foreign backgrounds. The findings showed that the subjects, the statistical population was studied, the approaches and methods of research used in the period before and after the 1980s were different. In fact, the 1980s have been a turning point in the changes that have occurred in the field of user studies. conclusion: Findings about the relationship between variables in the internal and external studies show great differences, including in the internal studies, there is a negative relationship between increasing age, education, increasing leisure time and using public libraries. By increasing these components, Decreases the use of public library that the public library did not provide adequate resources and services for the elderly, and the people with a high level of education. Also, with increasing leisure time, fewer people go to the public library, which indicates the lack of attractiveness of the library for spending leisure time in the public library. While in foreign studies, with increasing age, the use of public libraries increases. Also, people with higher education are more likely to use the library (indicates the availability of appropriate resources and services for this group of people). Also, in foreign studies, people in their leisure time use more than a public library, and consider the library as a place to spend a quiet day, and also after having a busy day, it is preferable to go to the public library for relaxation elsewhere.
Maryam Parsaeian; Nosrat Riahi nia; Somaye Sadat Akhshik; Mohammad Hasanzadeh
Abstract
Background and Objectives: The EFQM Business Excellence Model is a valuable management model that plays a prominent role in the excellence of the quality of services provided by various organizations and institutions. Certainly, utilizing this pattern in academic libraries can enhance the quality and ...
Read More
Background and Objectives: The EFQM Business Excellence Model is a valuable management model that plays a prominent role in the excellence of the quality of services provided by various organizations and institutions. Certainly, utilizing this pattern in academic libraries can enhance the quality and service of academic libraries and ultimately cause the growth and development of scientific and research in universities. The main purpose of the present study is to provide an organizational excellence model appropriate to these types of libraries by identifying and accurately weighing the nine criteria of organizational excellence model with Iranian academic libraries. This research was conducted to answer the following questions:
1. What is the weight of the enabling criteria of the EFQM Business Excellence Model in Iranian academic libraries?
2. What is the weight of the results criteria of the EFQM Business Excellence Model in Iranian academic libraries?
3. Does the modified EFQM Business Excellence Model fit into the conditions of Iranian academic libraries?
4. What is the status of enabling and results criteria of the model adapted in Iranian academic libraries?
Methodology: This research was an applied research which used a survey method and a combined approach in gathering data (in two qualitative and quantitative stages) using a Delphi panel and a questionnaire. The research community in the qualitative section included 8 members of Delphi panel. The Results of the two-round Delphi technique was the EFQM questionnaire. Validity or credibility of the questionnaire was confirmed by Delphi technique based on experts' opinions. Also, the Cronbach's alpha for the 9 criteria of the EFQM Business Excellence Model Obtained above. /7. The community of the quantitative part of the research were the managers of Iranian academic libraries. The questionnaire was distributed among 126 of the managers of the academic libraries, in order to comment on the importance of each of the sub criteria in assessing the quality of academic library services in a continuum 1 to 5 points. Finally, 93 questionnaires was collected as the basis for data analyzing. Factor Score Regression with Bootstrap-p method used in AMOS v. 23 to analyze the data.
Findings: The findings showed that the modified EFQM Business Excellence Model in this study is well-suited to the requirements of Iranian academic libraries and can be proposed for all Iranian academic libraries as a qualitative model. All the principles necessary to improve the quality of libraries are proportionate according to the situation and conditions of academic libraries in Iran. Also, according to the findings, the enabling criteria make up a total of 62% of the weight structure of the modified EFQM Business Excellence Model, While 38% of the weight structure of the modified model is assigned to the results criteria. Also, according to the findings, the average status of the enabling and results criteria at 95% confidence level have a significant difference with the average level (3). In other words, the criteria of the EFQM Business Excellence Model are at desirable level and can be used to measure the performance of Iranian academic libraries.
Discussion: The results of the research showed that the modified EFQM Business Excellence Model can be recommended for all academic libraries in Iran as a qualitative model because all the principles necessary for improving the quality of libraries are adapted according to to the status and conditions of the academic libraries in Iran. The results also showed that for quality excellence in academic libraries enabling criteria is more important than the results. Among the enabling criteria, provision of appropriate processes, resources and information services for users can have more value in the quality excellence of academic libraries. Also, among the results criteria, achieving and maintaining excellent results by academic libraries along with their mother organization's strategy is important for managers of these libraries and can be of great importance to the quality excellence of the library services. Finally, the correspondence between the status of enabling measures and results in the modified EFQM Business Excellence Model showed that all the enabling and results criteria are essential for achieving a level of excellence in academic libraries and can be used by managers of Iranian academic libraries. Therefore the modified EFQM Business Excellence model, which is developed by the guidance of the professors and Delphi members comment and is weighted by the managers of Iranian academic libraries, can be considered as a functional and comprehensive model for all types of academic libraries.
