Original Article
Hadi Alhaei; zohreh Cheraghi; Mansour Koohi Rostami
Abstract
Background and Objectives: The aim of the current study was to Identify and group the effective factors on the implementation of knowledge management in the water production and transmission exploitation company in the southeast of Ahvaz. Today, one of the most crucial success factors for organizations ...
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Background and Objectives: The aim of the current study was to Identify and group the effective factors on the implementation of knowledge management in the water production and transmission exploitation company in the southeast of Ahvaz. Today, one of the most crucial success factors for organizations to gain a competitive advantage is the identification, sharing, and use of organizational knowledge, or knowledge management. As a result, organizations are constantly searching for solutions to successfully implement knowledge management processes in their working environment. Gaining this competitive advantage is obviously reliant on the organization's capacity to efficiently transform current information into new knowledge assets (Ou et al., 2016). Despite the fact that many organizations have invested in and implemented knowledge management at various organizational levels, many of them have also failed (Chua & Lam, 2005). Therefore, one of the biggest problems in every organization is figuring out the essential and efficient components of knowledge management implementation.Methodology: The current study uses an applied approach to its goal and a descriptive-analytical methodology to its implementation. Ten experts—five university professors in the subject field and five senior industry managers—make up the research community. The target population was sampled and chosen using a targeted non-random technique, and the necessary data were gathered using structured interviews and questionnaires. The Interpretive Structural Modelling (ISM) method was used to conduct the final analysis of the study data. An effective method for examining how one element affects other elements is interpretive structural modelling. According to Kannan et al. (2009), this technique looks at the direction and order of intricate interactions between system components.Findings: The results indicated that the cornerstone of this model, which influences all other aspects, is engagement in corporate affairs, knowledge activities, and information exchange. In other words, it is important to pay close attention to the fact that the fundamental component in the implementation of knowledge management is the involvement of all employees in the organization-level sharing of information. As long as all employees do not actively participate in the knowledge affairs of the organization, the rest of the processes will not be done properly. According to the findings, the most influential factors are the mechanism of group discussions, organizational position and use of resources. In the second level, there is the factor of existence of resources, which affects the factors of the first level and is affected by the factor of the third level. At the third level is the concentration factor. At the fourth level, there are four factors of technological infrastructure, trust, leadership and knowledge sharing, and finally at the fifth level is the factor of participation. According to the obtained model, this factor is the most effective factor in the correct implementation of knowledge management.Discussion: Factors affecting the implementation of knowledge management, according to the level of influence, play a key role in the correct implementation of related processes. According to the final model of the research, it can be seen that all the ten factors that were investigated in this research, although they are at different levels of influence, but they are related to each other. This model has identified the factors affecting the implementation of knowledge management in the studied company and discovered the relationships between these factors and leveled them. According to this model, it is suggested to apply the findings of this research and use them in the real work situation, to increase the participation in knowledge affairs and knowledge-building activities in the company, and the company managers to create solutions for Create participation opportunities for all employees. Also, the leaders of the organization, by strengthening the spirit and culture of trust in the organization, create the ground for creating a fluid flow of knowledge and knowledge sharing among different departments of the company, and for this they can use appropriate and up-to-date technological infrastructures. It is also suggested to act in a centralized way in maintaining and producing knowledge content in different work environments so that repetitions and rework can be avoided and previous experiences can be used to solve future problems; In other words, "testing the tested is a mistake, and this will not be achieved without focusing on the creation and access to knowledge treasures.
Original Article
Public Libraries
Mohsen Jafari; Amin Zare; mahmood moradi
Abstract
Background and Objectives: In the nature of all people, there is a desire for beauty and order and discipline. People are tired of being unconsciously tired of bedbugs, as well as confused. Tidy and orderly as well as beautifying the environment can make the environment happier and therefore more pleasant ...
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Background and Objectives: In the nature of all people, there is a desire for beauty and order and discipline. People are tired of being unconsciously tired of bedbugs, as well as confused. Tidy and orderly as well as beautifying the environment can make the environment happier and therefore more pleasant for the staff and clients, and this makes the mobility, learning and passion for work and service and service more and more. Ultimately, it will satisfy both parties. Libraries are no exception. The library should be so attractive that it will attract people. In the meantime, there appear to be a number of factors that have prevented this attraction and, as a result, the appeal to public libraries. The exterior and interior of the library appear to be very effective in this appeal, though the primary responsibility for designing and implementing decent and convenient buildings for public libraries is not borne by librarians, but the chief authority is delegated to civil engineers but staff and librarians. Public libraries can also make use of the criteria and parameters obtained in this applied research to make the most of the limited opportunities available to them and to the extent possible to make the public library environment happier. In this regard, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of juvenile public libraries on attracting users among public librarians in Kermanshah.
Methodology: This research is a kind of applied research that has been done in descriptive-survey method. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of the juxtaposition of public library environments on user attraction. The study population consisted of the public libraries of Kermanshah which according to the statistics of the Kermanshah Public Libraries Office by the end of September 1977 consisted of 24087 people including 9884 men and 14203 women. A stratified random sampling method was used to select the samples (each library was considered as one class). The data collection tool was a researcher-made questionnaire. The required sample size was 378 based on Cochran's formula with 5% error rate. The questionnaires were then distributed to the public libraries of Kermanshah. It was collected directly by the researcher on site and finally 378 questionnaires were collected. Data were analyzed by SPSS software using descriptive statistics (frequency distribution table, minimum and maximum score, mean and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (simple and multiple regression).
Findings: The results of this research in the field of testing hypotheses are as follows:
The adjusted coefficient of determination for environmental sourcing is 0.103, which can account for 10.3% of the variation in the amount of users' absorption rate using the environmental sourcing variable. As a result, the first sub-hypothesis of the research is confirmed.
The adjusted coefficient of determination for environmental makeup is 0.144, which can account for 14.4% of the variation in the amount of user absorption using the environmental makeup variable. As a result, the second sub-hypothesis of the research is confirmed.
The adjusted coefficient of determination for the environmental space is 0.087, which can account for 8.7% of the variation in the amount of user absorption by using the environmental variable. As a result, the third sub-hypothesis of the research is confirmed.
The adjusted coefficient of determination for the welfare dimension is 0.224, which can be predicted by 24.7% of the variation in the amount of user absorption using the welfare sector variable. As a result, the fourth sub-hypothesis of the research is confirmed.
The adjusted coefficient of determination for environmental elements is 0.099, which can account for 9.9% of the variation in the amount of users' absorption by using environmental variables. As a result, the fifth sub-hypothesis of the research is confirmed.
Discussion: From the results of this study, it can be concluded that the factors affecting the attractiveness of public libraries among the public librarians of Kermanshah affect the attractiveness of public libraries. Therefore, public librarians should aim to enhance the vibrancy of library environments. Some of the operational recommendations derived from the results of this study are:
Managing book volumes on shelves, reducing congestion on the desk, increasing the number of desks and chairs, removing unused equipment and more.
Proper layout of shelves, convenient access to the library repository, placing pots and decorative objects in the library, arranging sofas and chairs in the right place, signboard readability and more.
Consider a convenient location for users to relax, appropriate library access conditions and the green space around the library.
Original Article
Marzieh Golabian Moghadam; Iraj Radad; Hassan Behzadi
Abstract
Background and Objectives: With the spread of library software and the need to use it in libraries, the issue of evaluating their capabilities, the way users interact with them, and the factors influencing acceptance or non-acceptance, has become an important challenge and a fundamental aim, and researchers ...
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Background and Objectives: With the spread of library software and the need to use it in libraries, the issue of evaluating their capabilities, the way users interact with them, and the factors influencing acceptance or non-acceptance, has become an important challenge and a fundamental aim, and researchers in the field of information technology and even librarians have become interested in this field of research. To investigate this interaction, researchers use different models that called technology acceptance models. Among the various models used in this field, the expectation-confirmation theory is the most important and practical one. Based on this, since the most important factor for determining the success or failure of a library software is the users, and since determining the level of user satisfaction in interacting with computer systems is one of the important aspects of determining the efficiency of those systems, the purpose of present study is determining the gap between the librarians' expectations of the capabilities of the system and their perceived usefulness, based on the expectation-confirmation theory. Methodology: This research is applied in terms of purpose and in terms of implementation method, it is a survey with a descriptive-analytical approach. The statistical population of this research is all the librarians working in public libraries of Khorasan Razavi province who use the “Saman” system. The number of librarians who use the “Saman” system in Khorasan Razavi province is 220, and the sample size was determined using Cochran's formula. Therefore, the sample size of 141 people was selected and finally 130 questionnaires were completed and returned. The data collection tool in this research is a researcher-made questionnaire in which questions with a five-point Likert scale from “very little” to “very much” are included. This questionnaire was prepared by reviewing literature of the researches and from the items of questionnaires and checklists that previous researchers had used in the evaluation of library software and information systems. In this questionnaire, the investigated capabilities including information display, help, search and retrieval, general capabilities, and loan section were evaluated. For the validity of the research questionnaire, in all stages of the questionnaire preparation, the opinions of experts in the field of information science from different universities of the country who specialized in the field of library software were used. Cronbach's alpha coefficient was used to measure the reliability of the data collection tool. Findings: The findings of the research showed that the average level of librarians' satisfaction with the functioning of the Saman system is higher than the average number of 3 (3.519); Therefore, librarians are highly satisfied with the performance of Saman system. Another finding of the research showed that the average expectations of librarians is equal to 3.935 and more than the average number of 3. Therefore, it can be said with 95% certainty that the expectations of librarians from the capabilities of the Saman system are also high. Also, the gap between librarians' expectations of the capabilities of the system and their perceived usefulness based on the expectation-confirmation theory is significant. Another finding of the research showed that there is a small gap between the average level of expectation and perceived level. The least gap was seen in the abilities of the loan section (-0.235) and the biggest gap was seen in the search and retrieval capabilities (-0.554). In general, the gap between the expectations of librarians from each of the features of the Saman system (information display, help, search and retrieval, general capabilities and loan section) and the perceived usefulness was also significant. Discussion: The results of the research show the appropriate efficiency of different capabilities of the Saman system, but in order to improve the reduction of the gap between the expectations and the perceived usefulness of the users of the Saman system, it is suggested that the designers and the support group of the Saman system, for bring the level of satisfaction and the level of expectations as close as possible, among active librarians interested in cooperation, select people and investigate and inquire about expectations and other components that can help the evolution of the Saman system. It is suggested that the designers of the Saman system periodically check and evaluate the expectations of the users so that they can move in line with the expectations of the users and gain their satisfaction.
Original Article
Knowledge Management
asghar zamani
Abstract
Background and Objectives: In today’s knowledge society, it is vital to use the experiences gained by directors and chancellors of organizations and their experts for success and educate new directors. But unfortunately, in higher education and especially in research centers and institutes, despite ...
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Background and Objectives: In today’s knowledge society, it is vital to use the experiences gained by directors and chancellors of organizations and their experts for success and educate new directors. But unfortunately, in higher education and especially in research centers and institutes, despite the important role of experience, documentation of experiences and the tacit knowledge are neglected for several reasons such as: lack of culture of writing, vagueness of the concept of organizational experience, lack of a proper method for documentation and sharing it, and lack of legal and supportive infrastructure. Accordingly, efforts should be made to extract accumulated knowledge in the minds of Chancellors and deputies of research centers and institutes, by documentation of experiences. So, it will be possible to share knowledge and experience among new Chancellors and deputies. Therefore, the knowledge stored in research centers and institutes become a permanent usable resource. This study aimed to provide a model for establishing and improving of tacit knowledge sharing network in higher education.
Methodology: This research was developmental and applied research. In this research, according to the subject and nature of the research, the research method was exploratory mixed method and. Therefore, this research began with a qualitative method and continued with the quantitative method for the generalization of the findings to the statistical population. In qualitative section, interview was used for data gathering. The questions of interview selected through literature review and consultation with some experts. It is notable that the interviews were semi-structured. Participants in qualitative section were experienced experts (Chancellors and deputies of research centers and institutes), theoretical experts (experts in the field of higher education), and experts in the field of experiences documentation. Some participants were experts in two or three fields of expertise. After implementing the interviews, an open coding method was used to analyze the qualitative data. Then, by calculating the reliability and validity, based on the gathered data, a questionnaire was developed. In the next phase, validity and reliability (by calculating Cronbach’s alpha) of questionnaire were confirmed and the questionnaire sent to the statistical population of the study (including all Chancellors and deputies, Heads of Offices of Chancellors and deputies, and Heads of Public Relations in research centers and institutes affiliated by the Ministry of Science and Technology and Research). Also, in quantitative phase, descriptive statistics and inferential statistics were used to analyze the collected data.
Findings: One objective of study was to establish and improve the tacit knowledge sharing network in higher education. The other objective was to develop a model for documentation of experiences of chancellors and deputies of research centers and institutes in Iran. The findings indicated that four basic steps were involved in the process of establishing a knowledge sharing network and experiences and documenting organizational experiences of research institutes chancellors, which were the main pillar of the model. According to the results, the model had four factors including: documentation policy-making, documentation planning, documentation implementation, and monitoring, control, and sharing. The factors divided to 11 steps and 31 activities. Each activities complete one-step in the process. The model had a circle form to show that there was no stopping point in documenting experiences and at the moment the documentation of the experiences was completed and shared, a new stage of documentation of experiences begin to complete the previous experiences.
Discussion: To document experiences in higher education, organizational and extra organizational policies should be reviewed and amended as necessary. Also, the documentation cycle of an experience never ends and is always reviewed and modified. In the issue of documenting experiences and sharing them, we are confronted with two related issues. But both have common prerequisites. The prerequisite for documenting organizational experiences and sharing tacit knowledge and experience in Iranian research institutes and centers includes: academic policy, legal support, organizational climate, academic culture, and individual culture. Research institutes and centers need policy and legal infrastructure to create contexts for documenting experiences and implicit knowledge sharing. Accordingly, efforts should be made to extract accumulated knowledge in the minds of Chancellors and deputies of research centers and institutes, by documentation of experiences. So, it will be possible to share knowledge and experience among new Chancellors and deputies. Therefore, the knowledge stored in research centers and institutes become a permanent usable resource. If Ministry of Science, Research and Technology would like to document organizational experiences, and to avoid trial and error at research institutions, it is suggested that the real will for documentation of experiences be developed in Higher Education Directors. Also, policy and legal and judicial issues in this regard be developed. It is suggested that the issue of documentation of organizational experience be included in the appointment of all chancellors of research institutions. Through the Board of Trustees, the subject of documentation of organizational experiences is cited as mission or vision. Finally, it is suggested to set up supportive and incentive laws (such as financial or spiritual, promotion laws, etc.) to support documentary makers and users of experiences.
Original Article
hadi harati; Fahimeh Babalhavaeji; Nadjla Hariri
Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of the present study is to investigate the relationship between demographic factors and unplanned behavior of users in the use of academic libraries resources and services. Method: The present study is an applied research using a survey method. The data gathering tool was a researcher-made ...
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Purpose: The purpose of the present study is to investigate the relationship between demographic factors and unplanned behavior of users in the use of academic libraries resources and services. Method: The present study is an applied research using a survey method. The data gathering tool was a researcher-made questionnaire. The face and content validity were employed to measure the validity of the questionnaire. Cronbach's alpha for the variables was calculated and obtained higher than 0.7, so the reliability of the questionnaire was also confirmed. 69351students who were members of the central libraries in Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Pardis of Tehran University, Tabriz, and Shiraz Universities composed the research population. The sample size was estimated 382 people according to Krejcie and Morgan tables. A stratified sampling with randomized strata proportional to the population was used to collect data. The data were analyzed implementing SPSS software. Findings: According to research findings, age, educational grade and rate of referral to academic libraries have a significant relationship with their unplanned behavior in using the resources and services of this type of libraries. There was also no significant difference between gender, university and student educational groups with their planned behavior in utilizing university library resources and services. Conclusion: The academic libraries must, in order to optimize use of resources and services, attracted audiences, and increased level of awareness and information of users pay special attention to be effective demographic factors on the unplanned behavior of users.
Original Article
Simin Rezaee
Abstract
Purpose: This study examined the relationship between the properties and use of office automation system with the mediated role of system quality.Methodology: The tudy is applied research and has done by using analytical survey methods. Research population included all 10082 users of automation system. ...
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Purpose: This study examined the relationship between the properties and use of office automation system with the mediated role of system quality.Methodology: The tudy is applied research and has done by using analytical survey methods. Research population included all 10082 users of automation system. Using stratified sampling method by Morgan table 384 employees was selected. Data were collected using the questionnaire with validity (α =% 94). Findings: The results showed that the observed values of attitudes in terms of users (90%), pleasure (94.4 %), confidence (76%) and expectations from information technology (91%); in terms of the quality system. (79%), Information quality (81%) and quality of service (73%) and the use of automation system (83%) at the P value level (P
Original Article
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 ...
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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.
Original Article
Laleh Foroutan Rad; Hajar Zarei; Esmat Momeni; Seyed Javad Mortazavi Amiri
Abstract
AbstractObjective: Creating knowledge in the organization and transforming it depends on the skill and ability of the skilled manpower. The success of employee empowerment also depends on factors and obstacles. The present study seeks to empower librarians of Iran and Tehran University of Medical Sciences ...
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AbstractObjective: Creating knowledge in the organization and transforming it depends on the skill and ability of the skilled manpower. The success of employee empowerment also depends on factors and obstacles. The present study seeks to empower librarians of Iran and Tehran University of Medical Sciences to create and transfer knowledge.methodologyThis research is one of the applied research that has been done by survey-correlation method. The study population consisted of two universities, Iran University of Medical Sciences with 76 librarians and Tehran University of Medical Sciences with 61 librarians, which totaled 137 librarians. According to Morgan's table, 104 people were selected. Data were collected randomly. Two standard questionnaires, Spritzer Empowerment (1995), and Newman & Conrad Knowledge Management (1999), were used for data collection. The Spritzer Questionnaire has five components (competence, affectivity, sense of meaning, choice, trust), and the Newman and Conrad model has four components (knowledge creation, knowledge retention, knowledge transfer and transfer, and knowledge utilization). In this study, two components of knowledge creation and knowledge transfer are considered. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for data analysis with Pearson (for normal explanatory data) and Spearman (for nominal qualitative data) tests. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software version 23, and the impact of empowerment factors on knowledge creation and transfer of community librarians' knowledge to the structural model of Amos software was used.FindingsThe findings of the present study indicate that there is a significant relationship between individual factors and knowledge creation. There is a significant relationship between gender and education with knowledge transfer. There is a significant relationship between group factors (sense of trust and sense of meaning) and knowledge creation and transfer. There was no significant relationship between group factors (competence, choice, and affectivity) and knowledge creation and transfer. As empowerment increases, knowledge creation and transfer among librarians increases, and empowerment decreases as knowledge creation and transfer among librarians decreases. Many factors affect empowerment, but according to the results of the present study, individual and group factors (gender, level of education, sense of trust, and meaningful feeling) had the greatest impact on empowering librarians to create and transfer knowledge.Results: Findings showed that there is a significant relationship between individual factors and knowledge creation. But there is no significant relationship between individual factors and knowledge transfer.Keywords: Empowerment success factors, Knowledge creation, Knowledge transfer, Librarians, University of medical sciences.
Original Article
Faramarz soheili; sargol rahimi
Abstract
Introduction: Information growth and recognition of its values is important in personal and professional life for everyone. Thus, it is important to learn special skills in information seeking process during formal education. This study aimed to examine Information behavior of users of public libraries ...
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Introduction: Information growth and recognition of its values is important in personal and professional life for everyone. Thus, it is important to learn special skills in information seeking process during formal education. This study aimed to examine Information behavior of users of public libraries on the World Wide Web.Method: The present research was conducted qualitatively, with a phenomenological approach, taking individuals as units of analysis. The research population was all users of public libraries in Saqez city. The sample size of this study was based on the saturation criterion of 25 people.Result: Analyzing the data revealed five main themes for users of public libraries in Saqez city experiences of the internet, each having some sub-themes.Conclusion: The results of this research can be of benefit to the individual, families and authorities. An important issue in this research is the need to educate users to understand the positive and negative aspects of the World Wide Web to make informed choices about resources and information. As well as the necessity of increasing the speed of the Internet and computer systems in public libraries and sending current awareness services, listing the contents of specialized journals and ... to the users' mail.
