Research Paper
Intelligent Recovery Systems
Faramarz Sahraei; Seyed Majid Ebnoreza
Abstract
IntroductionIn recent years, the development and digitization of various government sectors and the necessity for smartening processes have garnered significant attention. These transformations have led to the evolution of smart government as a subsequent step to e-government, mobile government, or open ...
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IntroductionIn recent years, the development and digitization of various government sectors and the necessity for smartening processes have garnered significant attention. These transformations have led to the evolution of smart government as a subsequent step to e-government, mobile government, or open government. One of the components that holds great importance in smart government is the utilization of modern metadata standards. Data management standards in smart government are deemed essential to ensure stability, interoperability, and security within digital government systems and services. One of these standards is the Government Information Locator Service (GILS), the applicability of which in smart government has been examined.Research Question(s)In this research, the following questions were considered:- What are the main components of smart government?- What elements and layers do the Government Information Locator Service (GILS) have?- What is the applicability of the Government Information Locator Service (GILS) in smart government?Literature ReviewMany studies have been conducted regarding GILS, each examining various aspects of this standard. Notable works include those by Kalantari and Shahpari (2016); Karimi Isfahani and Khani (2022); Torabzadeh and Poureisa (2022); Irhamni et al. (2015); Pasek (2017); Guo et al. (2017); Battista et al. (2017); Kaplan and Gunter (2020); and Andrews and Duhon (2021). For instance, in their research, Torabzadeh and Poureisa (2022) examined the role of the National Information Exchange Model in smart government. Likewise, Anders and Duhon 2021) focused on the integration of location-based public information services with new data from the U.S. government in their study.MethodologyThis research is applied in nature and was conducted using qualitative content analysis. The statistical population of this study consisted of the components of smart government and the elements of location-based public information services. For gathering the necessary data, both documentary and observational methods were utilized. In the documentary method, relevant research and documents were reviewed to identify the components of smart government. By consulting reliable citation and information databases such as Web of Science, Scopus, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, the Iranian Scientific Journals database (Magiran), and searching for keywords like smart government, government modernization, smart government components, innovation, digitization, smart city, and others, combined with Boolean operators, relevant studies were identified. Initially, 178 articles were identified. After filtering the identified research, removing duplicates, and applying inclusion and exclusion criteria (such as the relevance of the article's subject, eliminating non-research sources, reviewing article abstracts, etc.), suitable sources for extracting the components of smart government were identified, resulting in 43 articles being analyzed. In the observational phase, by examining various sections and components of GILS, the main and detailed elements of this standard were identified. Subsequently, using a checklist tool, the alignment between the elements of GILS and the components of smart government was established.ResultsThe findings of this research showed that the main components of the smart government are grouped into 18 axes with 75 partial components. To create a smart government, components such as information technology, cyber security, transparency and access, digital identity, privacy and data security, interoperability, ethical and legal considerations, appropriate policy, technical infrastructure, and digital empowerment have been proposed. The elements used in the GILS standard are placed in eight general categories, which are: simple description elements, subject description elements, URIs, resource formats and technical features, administrative details, administrative metadata, source/reference, and access/copyright conditions. Each of these categories consists of several main and sub-elements. Also, the findings of the research revealed that the Government Information Locator Service can be used in the development of a smart government in various dimensions. One of the strengths of this standard, which increases its functionality in the smart government, is the use of appropriate descriptive and management metadata to access government data. Determining and describing the required metadata (such as the title, creator, format, data type, etc.), using metadata, storing metadata, managing and maintaining metadata, and determining access and permissions are among the most important applications of the Government Information Locator Service in the smart government. Since registering appropriate metadata and facilitating access to information needed by citizens is one of the main components of a smart government, the government information service finder can play a significant role in data management and identification of related data and their protection.DiscussionThe findings of this research indicated that GILS has a high functionality in data management, and metadata management, employing uniform methods for metadata registration, enabling access to necessary data, maintaining privacy and data security, as well as ensuring data transparency. On the other hand, the research findings revealed that GILS, by increasing transparency and facilitating easier access to government information, can enhance the communication between the government and citizens and build public trust in smart systems. The GILS standard plays a significant role in improving access to government data. Furthermore, the findings of this study highlighted that privacy is a crucial aspect of GILS; one of the objectives of this standard is to protect individuals' privacy and safeguard personal information. Under this standard, governments are required to provide access to public and governmental information while paying special attention to individuals' privacy. Authentication is another vital factor in GILS. It involves verifying the identity and credentials of an individual or organization seeking access to government data or information. This is crucial because ensuring that the individual or organization in question is authorized to access government information holds high importance.ConclusionOverall, it can be stated that the structuring of government processes through the use of metadata standards can facilitate and expedite the development of smart government. The findings of this research indicated that providing efficient technological infrastructure and establishing appropriate information systems for government communications and service delivery to citizens, as well as developing security systems to protect sensitive governmental data and information, are among the essential requirements of a smart government. This is because a smart government needs a strong digital infrastructure to support online service delivery, data management, and communication with citizens. Another component of a smart government is transparency and access to information. To this end, creating systems to enhance transparency and ensure easy access to government information for citizens and the media, along with providing online services, plays a significant role in smart governance.
Research Paper
Semantic Web and Ontology
Seyyed Mahdi Taheri; Elham Hooshmand; Esmat Momeni; Negin Shokrzadeh Hashtroudi; Mehdi Alipour Hafezi
Abstract
IntroductionOrganizational ontologies are a type of ontology that focuses on identifying and documenting organizational entities. These tools provide a common conceptualization of organizational entities and are utilized for representing organizational knowledge, describing organizational structures, ...
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IntroductionOrganizational ontologies are a type of ontology that focuses on identifying and documenting organizational entities. These tools provide a common conceptualization of organizational entities and are utilized for representing organizational knowledge, describing organizational structures, identifying entities, and revealing the features and relationships of entities. They also, support the dissemination of organizational data, generated reports, organizational history, human resources, and the roles of each of these through a linked data approach. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to design the business ontology of Ehya Sepahan Company based on semantic web data models.Research Question(s)In the present research, the following questions have been addressed:- What are the internal and external entities of the Ehya Sepahan Company and their attributes?- To what extent do the entities and attributes of the Ehya Sepahan Company align with the Schema.org data model?- How is the organizational ontology of the Ehya Sepahan Company structured based on the organizational ontology of the World Wide Web Consortium?Literature ReviewResearch related to ontology design can be divided into two main categories:2.1. Studies that examine the application of ontologiesThe first category includes studies that examine the application of ontologies or the design of ontologies in specific contexts. Research by Sharif (2008), Bavakhani (2015), Hassanzadeh, Kahani, and Pourmasoumi (2016), Mardpour and Dehghan-Tafti (2017), Akbari and Rajabi-Bahjat (2018), Fuchs-Kittowski and Faust (2008), Cavaliere et al. (2019), and Outa et al. (2020) fall into this category. In this context, Bavakhani (2015) explored the interrelationship between ontologies and knowledge management. Cavalier et al. (2019) designed an ontology design model for analyzing video content captured by drones in their study. The findings of the studies in this group indicate that in contemporary organizations, there is a necessity to utilize ontologies in processes related to existing knowledge. 2.2. Studies that specifically address the design of organizational ontologiesThe second category includes studies that specifically address the design of organizational ontologies for various organizations. Research by Delavari (2018), Rajabi and Alineghizadeh Ardestani (2019), Gualtieri and Rafolu (2005), Santos et al. (2013), and Elnagar et al. (2022) are included in this group. Rajabi and Alineghizadeh Ardestani (2019) presented a data-driven approach to develop an architectural model using organizational ontology. Elnagar et al. (2022) offered a framework for the automatic production of ontologies from an organizational perspective in their research.MethodologyThis study was developmental-applied research in nature and qualitative research in terms of approach, conducted using qualitative content analysis and design methods. The statistical population includes all entities of the Ehya Sepahan Company (data entities, human resources, organizational positions), as well as the classes and attributes present in the organizational ontology.The research was conducted in several sections; initially, by examining the organizational ontology, the classes and attributes needed for modeling the entities and attributes present in the Ehya Sepahan Company were identified. Subsequently, through reviewing organizational documents, the organizational structure, job descriptions, and various departments of the company, the organizational entities and the characteristics of each were identified. With the identification of the entities and main concepts of the company, the necessary classes and attributes were determined. Since the aim of this study was to design a company ontology based on a semantic web data model, alongside the main classes and attributes of its organizational ontology, standard metadata classes and attributes from the Schema.org data model were used. In this research, Observation and documentary methods and a checklist are utilized for gathering the required data.ResultsThe findings of this research revealed that the entities of Ehya Sepahan Company are divided into internal and external entities. In total, 9 main entities and 3 external entities were identified for the company’s ontology. Various attributes were provided for each of these 12 entities. A total of 152 attributes were identified for the 12 entities of the company, and these attributes were assigned to different entities. For the internal entities, 147 attributes were used, while for the external entities, 21 attributes were utilized.The findings revealed that most of the attributes considered for company entities are presented in the schema.org standard. So, all the mentioned attributes for Organization, Person, Website, and Product entities in schema.org are consistent with the attributes needed to describe the company entities. the investigation of organizational ontology showed that this ontology has 9 entities and all these entities were used to design the ontology of Ehya Sepahan company. Likewise, the results showed that there is a good alignment between the attributes of the organizational ontology and the schema.org metadata standard. DiscussionBased on the finding it could be said that the entities of the company each possess unique characteristics. Accordingly, specific attributes were considered in the organizational ontology based on the features of each of these entities to provide an accurate and appropriate description of the company and its entities. For a large number of attributes considered for the company’s entities, suitable attributes are provided in schema.org. All the attributes mentioned for organizational entities, such as person, website, and product, align with the necessary attributes needed to describe the company’s entities in schema.org. The reason for this suitable alignment between entities and the attributes of the organizational ontology and schema.org is the comprehensive perspective of schema.org as a semantic web data model for describing various types of data entities.ConclusionIn general, it can be stated that organizational ontologies are one of the efficient tools for accurate description and knowledge discovery of data entities of organizations that can be used to facilitate and speed up processes and decisions in the organization.
Research Paper
Knowledge Management
Yousefreza Ahmadi; Amir Zakery; Fatemeh Razavi; Mohammad Sadegh Saremi
Abstract
IntroductionIn the modern business environment, the importance of knowledge as a strategic asset has significantly increased, as organizations recognize its crucial role in achieving efficiency and competitive advantage. Knowledge sharing, a fundamental aspect of knowledge management, is greatly enhanced ...
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IntroductionIn the modern business environment, the importance of knowledge as a strategic asset has significantly increased, as organizations recognize its crucial role in achieving efficiency and competitive advantage. Knowledge sharing, a fundamental aspect of knowledge management, is greatly enhanced by the use of information technology (IT). IT improves the speed and accuracy of knowledge dissemination both within and between organizations. Inter-organizational knowledge-sharing systems are essential for fostering collaboration among organizations. However, these systems face challenges not only from individual and organizational factors but also from social, technical, and political factors that span across organizational boundaries. The effective use of IT in knowledge sharing allows organizations to leverage their collective expertise and resources, thereby improving decision-making processes and innovation capabilities. Furthermore, the integration of IT systems in knowledge sharing facilitates real-time communication and collaboration, enabling organizations to respond swiftly to changes in the market and other external environments. This underscores the strategic importance of developing robust inter-organizational knowledge-sharing systems that can navigate the complexities of various influencing factors. Literature ReviewExisting research on inter-organizational knowledge sharing has primarily concentrated on specific contexts such as supply chains, virtual organizations, and multinational corporations. These studies have provided valuable insights into the mechanisms and benefits of knowledge sharing in these settings. For example, in supply chains, effective knowledge sharing can lead to improved efficiency, reduced costs, and enhanced customer satisfaction. In virtual organizations, it supports seamless collaboration despite geographical distances. In multinational corporations, it helps in harmonizing operations across different regions and cultures. However, these studies have largely overlooked the dynamics of knowledge sharing within collaborative processes where organizations work together towards shared objectives. This research aims to address this gap by exploring the factors influencing knowledge sharing in collaborative settings. By focusing on collaborative processes, this study seeks to uncover the underlying dynamics and identify the key factors that can enhance or hinder effective knowledge sharing among organizations working towards common goals. MethodologyThis research is quantitative with correlational techniques, conducted within the "Namad" inter-organizational communication system. The target population includes all users of the Namad system in Alborz Province, with a sample size of 338 out of 2800 users, calculated using Cochran’s formula. Stratified proportional sampling was employed, with questionnaires distributed to randomly selected members from various groups. Questionnaire content validity was ensured by expert review, and reliability was confirmed with a Cronbach's alpha above 0.7. The SRMR index was 0.091, indicating model fit, and confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling were performed using SmartPLS version 3. This methodological approach ensures a comprehensive analysis of the factors influencing knowledge sharing and provides robust and reliable results that can be generalized to similar contexts. ResultsThe results confirm the impact of knowledge workers, peers, systems, organizations, and coalitions on knowledge sharing through inter-organizational knowledge-sharing systems. Among these factors, knowledge workers and peers had the most significant impact on inter-organizational knowledge sharing. Knowledge workers' influence is significantly shaped by their technical self-efficacy and mindset, while peers' impact is largely driven by trust and relationships. The analysis revealed that knowledge workers, due to their expertise and experience, play a crucial role in facilitating knowledge sharing. Their ability to effectively use IT tools and their willingness to share knowledge significantly contribute to the overall success of inter-organizational knowledge sharing. Similarly, peers influence knowledge sharing through established trust and strong interpersonal relationships. Trust between peers ensures the reliability and accuracy of shared knowledge, which is critical in collaborative environments. DiscussionThe analysis shows that knowledge workers have the most significant impact on inter-organizational knowledge sharing, influenced by factors like technical self-efficacy and mindset. Colleagues also play a crucial role, with trust and relationships being key. While trust is important, it has less impact in structured participatory processes. Systems for knowledge sharing are vital, as are organizational factors like infrastructure and leadership. Regulatory frameworks have the highest impact, while IT integration has the least, due to the use of a unified system by all members. ConclusionThe findings highlight the necessity of prioritizing measures to enhance knowledge transfer functions within the system. Creating a supportive environment for knowledge workers and fostering peer interactions are vital for improving knowledge-sharing practices. By addressing these key factors, organizations can enhance their collaborative efforts and achieve better outcomes in delivering social services to students. This research provides valuable insights for both scholars and operational managers, contributing to the advancement of inter-organizational knowledge sharing in collaborative settings. The main recommendations of this research include training employees for effective use of the system, designing a user-friendly system, securing managerial support and utilizing reward systems, and obtaining legal and financial support through lobbying to facilitate knowledge sharing. These actions are expected to enhance the system's performance and increase collaboration between organizations.
Research Paper
Knowledge Management
narges movagharpour; Zahra Abazari; Zohre Mirhosseini
Abstract
IntroductionIn today's era, public libraries have become one of the largest knowledge production bases with various sources and references, whose efficient management can have a significant impact on the development of users' information literacy. In addition, the problems and challenges caused by the ...
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IntroductionIn today's era, public libraries have become one of the largest knowledge production bases with various sources and references, whose efficient management can have a significant impact on the development of users' information literacy. In addition, the problems and challenges caused by the accelerated speed of production and distribution of knowledge and information in the last two decades have prompted public libraries to use the knowledge of organizations to develop new and appropriate tools.. In this regard, what has attracted the attention of information science and epistemology experts is the knowledge management system, which has found a prominent role and importance in libraries. In this context, it is concluded that knowledge has been accumulated in a wide way in the sources and references of libraries as well as in the experiences of librarians; therefore, the necessary ground for exploiting this knowledge and experiences in order to improve the information literacy of users should be provided. In this way, the question of the present research is what is the efficient model for establishing knowledge management in public libraries in order to improve users' information literacy?Literature ReviewDalkir (2011) collected the different cycles of knowledge management that have been identified, confirmed, and practically implemented by different researchers and summarized them in four general stages, which are: 1- acquiring and creating knowledge, 2- sharing and disseminating knowledge, 3- applying and reusing knowledge, and 4- evaluating and retrieving knowledge. Because the knowledge management cycle offered by Dalkir has empirical support and has been successfully used by different libraries, the current research has also used the mentioned cycle.Several models have been introduced to measure information literacy, but since the model of eight enablers was more compatible with the cultural situation and local conditions of developing countries, including Iran, therefore, in the current research, it is practical to measure the information literacy of library users. Public funds of Khuzestan province were used. This model includes eight steps of identification, exploration, selection, organization, creation, presentation, evaluation and application of knowledge and information.MethodologyThe current research has been done using the metacomposite technique and the Delphi technique. By implementing the six meta-composition steps, 94 components of knowledge management and 80 components of information literacy were extracted from 150 articles and categorized by content analysis technique. With the formation of the expert group and the three-step implementation of the Delphi technique, a consensus was reached among the expert members on 45 components of knowledge management and 40 components of information literacy, and based on the approved components, two separate questionnaires were created for data collection. Data were compiled and collected from librarians and users of public libraries in Khuzestan province. To measure the validity of the questionnaires, the agreement coefficient of the expert group was estimated at 0.772 for the knowledge management questionnaire and 0.794 for the information literacy questionnaire. Cronbach's alpha method was also used to measure reliability. The alpha value of the knowledge management questionnaire was estimated at 0.979 and the alpha value of the information literacy questionnaire was estimated at 0.982. The statistical population of the research included 284 librarians on the one hand, and 45,582 active users over 18 years old of public libraries in Khuzestan province on the other hand. To determine the sample size, using Cochran's formula, 181 librarians and 497 users were selected. ResultsThe results of the research showed that the average implementation of knowledge management in the public libraries of Khuzestan province was %60.10, which is higher than the average. Also, the average information literacy of public library users in Khuzestan province was %54.57, which was also higher than the average. The results of the research hypotheses test showed that the implementation of the "knowledge acquisition process" in public libraries with a coefficient of 0.84 has been effective in improving the information literacy of users. The implementation of the "knowledge sharing" process in public libraries has had an impact on the information literacy of users with a coefficient of 0.92. Implementation of the process of "use of knowledge" in public libraries has had an effect on the information literacy of users with a coefficient of 0.88. The implementation of the "Knowledge Evaluation" process in public libraries has had an effect on the information literacy of users with a coefficient of 0.84. Finally, the "Implementation of knowledge management technology" in public libraries of Khuzestan province has had an impact on users' information literacy by % 51.DiscussionPublic libraries need to use new and appropriate tools in order to achieve their most important goal of existence, which is to develop knowledge and information literacy skills of the society. Because now these libraries have become important learning centers; where knowledge management is one of the main activities related to their new role. In the growing space of knowledge management, public libraries can no longer limit their activities to organizing collections; rather, with efficient and effective management, research and development of knowledge, creation of knowledge base, exchange and sharing of knowledge between employees and users, providing users access to information resources and especially online resources, explicit knowledge processing and tacit knowledge acquisition and realization focus on sharing them.ConclusionThe present research has shown that knowledge management technology in public libraries can be effective in improving the information literacy of users. Therefore, the current research has proposed the four-stage model of Dal-Kir, which had successful experimental records, in order to properly implement and establish knowledge management. Also, in order to accurately measure the level of information literacy of users in public libraries, the current study has proposed an information literacy model of eight enablers that is more compatible with the cultural environment of our country.AcknowledgmentsThe authors of this study express their gratitude to all the managers and officials of the public libraries of Khuzestan province who have cooperated in conducting this study.
Research Paper
Mehdi Ajalli; Sahebeh Rahmati
Abstract
IntroductionOverall, this study conceptually and empirically contributes to the literature to show that top management's brand-oriented leadership indirectly affects employees' brand commitment through three very important mediators. The results of this research also add to a more comprehensive understanding ...
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IntroductionOverall, this study conceptually and empirically contributes to the literature to show that top management's brand-oriented leadership indirectly affects employees' brand commitment through three very important mediators. The results of this research also add to a more comprehensive understanding of brand-oriented leadership, because it is related to the brand commitment of employees in the field of banking. By benefiting from the experiences and expertise and valuable scientific and practical knowledge of economic experts, and monetary and banking operators of the country, Bank Sarmayeh is trying to improve banking policies and the position of the banking system of Capital Bank among other banks. In this regard, this research seeks to answer the question of whether the brand-oriented leadership of senior managers has a significant effect on brand commitment among employees in the presence of mediating variables of employees' knowledge of the brand, psychological contract and fit between the brand and the employees of the Capital Bank of Karaj?Research QuestionsWhat is the effect of managers' brand-oriented leadership on employees' brand commitment by mediating employees' brand knowledge?What is the effect of managers' brand-oriented leadership on employees' brand commitment through the mediation of a perceived psychological contract?Question 3: How does the brand-oriented leadership of managers mediate the perceived fit between the brand and employees on employees' brand commitment? Literature ReviewIn a research, Li (2022) investigated the perception of justice and brand equity of employees in the service sector by providing evidence from the education industry. The results of the path analysis show that justice perception promotes brand approval and brand loyalty, while the relationship between justice perception and brand-friendly behavior is not statistically significant. In addition, it has also been found that justice perceptions give employees confidence that their psychological contract has been fulfilled. In addition, psychological contract implementation has been found to be a mediating mechanism between justice perceptions and three dimensions of employee-based brand equity. Akrout & Nagy (2018) conducted a research entitled "Virtual community brand trust and commitment: the mediating role of brand equity". The results obtained from the research show that trust in the brand has a positive and significant effect through the mediation of the special value of the brand. Terglav et al. (2016) conducted a research titled "Internal Branding Process: Exploring the Moderating Role between Top Management Leadership and Commitment Communication". The results obtained from the research show that the leadership of senior management in internal branding and its role in achieving the emotional attachment of employees to the brand helps. It also suggests that leadership leads to increased commitment and leaders should force employees to have brand-related knowledge, and understand brand values and psychological contracts.MethodologyThe current research is individual in terms of the number of researchers, the type of applied goal, and the descriptive-survey research approach. Also, in terms of cross-sectional time and data collection method, it is field-library.DiscussionIn the study of the first hypothesis, it was found that the path coefficient (0.807) was estimated and the value of the T statistic was equal to 19.330 which is more than the critical value of 1.96. In the examination of the second hypothesis, it was found that the path coefficient (0.717) was estimated according to the value of the T statistic which was equal to 11.654, which is more than the critical value of 1.96; In examining the third hypothesis, it was found that the path coefficient (0.615) was estimated and the value of T statistic was equal to 4.976, which is more than the critical value of 1.96. In the investigation of the fourth hypothesis, it was found that the path coefficient (0.193) was estimated and the value of the T statistic was equal to 1.980, which is more than the critical value of 1.96; In examining the sixth hypothesis, it was found that the path coefficient (0.497) was estimated and the value of the T statistic was equal to 2.934, which is more than the critical value of 1.96. In the examination of the seventh hypothesis, it was found that the coefficient of significance between the brand-oriented leadership variables of senior managers and commitment to the brand due to employees' knowledge of the brand is greater than (1.96) and indicates the significance of the mediating effect of employees' knowledge of the brand in the impact brand leadership is based on the commitment of senior managers to the brand. In the examination of the eighth hypothesis, it was found that the coefficient of significance between the variables of brand-oriented leadership of senior managers and commitment to the brand due to the fit between employees and the brand is greater than (1.96) and indicates the significance of the mediating effect of fit between employees and the brand in the effect of brand-oriented leadership of senior managers on the commitment to the brand; Therefore, the first, fourth, sixth, seventh, and ninth hypotheses are confirmed. In examining the fifth hypothesis, it was found that the path coefficient (0.264) was estimated and the value of the T statistic was equal to 1.520, which is less than the critical value of 1.96. In examining the eighth hypothesis, it was found that the coefficient of significance between the variables of brand-oriented leadership of senior managers and commitment to the brand through psychological contract is less than (1.96) and indicates that the mediating effect of psychological contract in the effect of brand-oriented leadership is not significant. Senior managers are committed to the brand. Therefore, the fifth and eighth hypotheses are not confirmed.ConclusionThe conclusion of the data analysis showed that brand-oriented leadership of senior managers has a positive and significant effect on brand commitment due to employees' knowledge of the brand. Brand-oriented leadership of senior managers has a positive and significant effect on brand commitment through the psychological contract. Brand-oriented leadership of senior managers has a positive and significant effect on brand commitment due to the fit between employees and the brand.
Research Paper
Knowledge Management
Masume Amiri; Mohammad Reza Farhadpour
Abstract
IntroductionThe long-standing efforts of companies to maintain success by using price and quality strategies along with important dimensions affected by continuous global communication such as agility, flexibility, innovation, and sustainability have caused knowledge to appear as the main competence ...
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IntroductionThe long-standing efforts of companies to maintain success by using price and quality strategies along with important dimensions affected by continuous global communication such as agility, flexibility, innovation, and sustainability have caused knowledge to appear as the main competence of success (Lin, Chang & Tsai, 2016). The life of organizations in the knowledge economy is based on information, knowledge, and learning and beyond conventional resources such as capital, labor, and land (Stephen, 2016 & Joshi, Farooquie & Chawla, 2016) as a valuable and effective element in performance (Ahmad Kassim, Fazli Baharuddin & Abdul Samad, 2016) and its maintenance is stable. Knowledge preservation is the process of absorbing and storing valuable knowledge for future use (Ramona & Alexandra, 2019) and preventing its wastage through leaving the job of specialist employees (Alameri et al, 2019) and preventing the effective negative consequences of knowledge loss in performance and competition (Schmitt, Borzillo & Probst, 2012; Lin et al., 2016; Massingham, 2018; Rashid, Clarke & O’Connor, 2019). Despite the increasing importance of knowledge preservation in creating a competitive advantage, ignoring the factors affecting it makes it difficult to achieve the goals of knowledge management. Therefore, the current research aims to answer the question of whether information technology capabilities have an effect on the relationship between individual, group and organizational factors with knowledge retention in Khuzestan Steel Company by focusing on the employees of Khuzestan Steel Company.HypothesisAccording to the review of previous studies and the existence of sufficient research support regarding research variables, the following hypotheses were proposed.H1) Information technology capabilities have a significant effect on the relationship between individual factors and knowledge retention in Khuzestan Steel Company.H2) Information technology capabilities have a significant effect on the relationship between group factors and knowledge retention in Khuzestan Steel Company.H3) Information technology capabilities have a significant effect on the relationship between organizational factors and knowledge retention in Khuzestan Steel Company.Literature ReviewThe results of the review of the research background showed that there is a necessary theoretical support for the research hypotheses. At the individual level, for reasons such as trust, habits, and cultural influences, existing knowledge may prevent the retention of new knowledge. To accept and absorb new knowledge, trust is a fundamental issue; because people generally have to trust the provider of knowledge. According to McDowell (2002), the factors related to trust in knowledge include epistemic trust (trust of the receiver of the message to the communicator because he has corrected and accurate information) and social trust (the value of communication and the reliability of the source from a social point of view), and the inferential effects of communication means the effect of the receiver's perceptions of the conformity of the socially acceptable behavior of the communicator and his inference of trust). Another individual factor is functional stability (individuals' tendency to represent objects as conventional problem-solving functions, resulting in an inability to see their new functions) (Anderson, 2000; Ashforth & Fried, 1988; Cohen, 1991; Cohen & Bacdayan, 1994; Leonard-Barton, 1992; Leonard-Barton, 1995; Nonaka & Reinmoeller in O’Toole, 2010). The result of the review of the research history shows that knowledge retention is one of the concerns of knowledge management (Lin et al., 2016), it requires the preservation of skills, abilities, experience and knowledge vital for the organization (Mishra & Uday Bhaskar, 2011; Schmitt et al., 2012) and refers to extracting tacit knowledge and storing it in organizational memory in order to retrieve and use it in the future (Mishra and Udi Bhaskar, 2011). Therefore, the review of the studies shows that the retention of knowledge as a macro goal has been given less attention in the studies.MethodologyIn terms of the purpose of this research, it was applied research that was conducted using the causal-correlation method. The statistical population of the research was all the employees of Khuzestan Steel Company, totaling 15,000 people, of which 555 people were selected as a sample. A questionnaire with a five-point Likert response scale was used to collect data. The questionnaire was developed based on the tools of previous studies. For this purpose, the 25-item questionnaire of Rohman, Eliyana, Purwana & Hamidah (2020) regarding individual, group and organizational factors, the seven-item questionnaire of Lin et al. (2016) for the knowledge retention variable, and the five-item questionnaire of Trieu, Van Nguyen, Nguyen, Vu & Tran (2023) were used. In this research, a qualitative method was used to determine the face validity, and Cronbach's alpha coefficient was also used to check the reliability of the questionnaire, and the results indicated the appropriate reliability of the research questionnaires.ResultsThe results of the bootstrapping analysis show that the effect of information technology capabilities on the relationship between individual factors and knowledge retention in Khuzestan Steel Company is confirmed. Also, in the results of the second hypothesis test, the claim of the researcher about the effect of information technology capabilities on the relationship between group factors and knowledge retention in Khuzestan Steel Company is confirmed. The results of the third hypothesis test also showed that the effect of information technology capabilities on the relationship between organizational factors and knowledge retention in Khuzestan Steel Company is confirmed.ConclusionBased on the results and from an organizational point of view, the culture and structure of the organization should be such that, on the one hand, it values knowledge activities and encourages employees to engage in knowledge activities. On the other hand, the organization should establish a link between work processes and knowledge by developing information technology infrastructure. In addition, storing and organizing people's knowledge will reduce the organization's dependence on external resources. Therefore, it is suggested that the managers of Khuzestan Steel Company implement human resources strategies in the direction of motivation, trust building, encouragement and reward, participation and cooperation, individual development and empowerment, strengthening the sense of organizational belonging, succession planning, maintaining human dignity, developing knowledge culture, working group, team atmosphere, organizational structure and information technology strategies should be reviewed and strengthened in the form of identifying the capabilities and capacities of existing technologies, creating the required technological infrastructure.
Research Paper
HamidReza Mahmoodi; Nazila Mehrabi; Azra Daei
Abstract
IntroductionPerformance evaluation systematically investigates a subject to improve program effectiveness using appropriate, ethical, feasible, and precise methods (Tootanchi et al., 2006). It measures outcomes against indicators to evaluate goal achievement, efficiency, resource effectiveness, process ...
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IntroductionPerformance evaluation systematically investigates a subject to improve program effectiveness using appropriate, ethical, feasible, and precise methods (Tootanchi et al., 2006). It measures outcomes against indicators to evaluate goal achievement, efficiency, resource effectiveness, process quality, and program execution (Parker, 2000; Gholami & Noralizadeh, 2002). Knowledge, a vital organizational asset, enhances competitiveness by facilitating decision-making and performance improvement. As society shifts towards information-driven environments, knowledge technologies become essential, leveraging AI to solve complex issues and enhance decision-making. Effective implementation of these technologies provides competitive advantages by efficiently storing, protecting, processing, and utilizing knowledge, contributing to sustained performance, growth, and innovation. They offer benefits like increased accessibility, cost reduction, time savings, improved communication, innovation, enhanced data storage, reliability, and swift knowledge transfer (Arab-Mazari Zadeh et al., 2007). Thus, evaluating knowledge technology performance is crucial to ensure quality, customer satisfaction, and informed decision-making. Without it, organizations risk inefficiency and resource wastage. This study aims to identify and rank key components for evaluating knowledge technologies to ensure effective assessment and utilization.Literature ReviewHamidizadeh (2016) found a significant positive correlation between expert decision systems and decision-making efficiency, including improved speed, reduced interdepartmental information gaps, and lower organizational costs. Musivand et al. (2015) discovered that knowledge management systems enhance job quality in Iran's Ministry of Sports and Youth by positively impacting knowledge utilization, management, creation, storage, and organization. Naqib et al. (2013) identified the customer aspect as the most influential in knowledge management systems using a balanced scorecard model, with the financial aspect being the most affected. Fazli and Aghshalouei (2008) recommended a hybrid model for assessing decision-making units' performance. Latifi and Mousavi (2008) highlighted four key processes—identification and creation, registration and maintenance, sharing, and internalization—as crucial for effective knowledge management in Iranian software companies. Samimi and Aghaei (2005) proposed a performance evaluation model for knowledge management systems, emphasizing its role in system efficiency enhancement. Internationally, Kumar (2018) emphasized the critical role of knowledge technology in organizational knowledge management, particularly in data accessibility and user services. Mysore et al. (2018) highlighted digital tools like BIM and IoT in the construction industry. Simon and Georgi (2017) developed a framework integrating knowledge search behaviors and tools for asynchronous environments. Kumar et al. (2016) found that organizational culture and leadership, especially democratic styles, significantly influence knowledge absorption, with soft factors outweighing hard factors. Ngugi et al. (2016) demonstrated that knowledge technology positively impacts small enterprises' growth in Nairobi by facilitating skill transfer and process improvement. Milton et al. (1999) highlighted knowledge technology's role in supporting key knowledge management activities such as personalization, innovation, and monitoring. These studies collectively underscore the vital role of knowledge technologies and management systems in improving organizational efficiency, decision-making, and overall performance across various sectors.Methodology This applied research utilized a mixed exploratory approach, employing Delphi and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) methods. Data was collected through library-documentary and field methods. The Delphi phase involved an open and closed questionnaire, the latter based on the open questionnaire findings, encompassing 10 components and 39 questions on a Likert scale. The study population included 18 purposively sampled faculty members from Tehran's public universities, with theoretical saturation determining the sample size. The subsequent AHP-designed questionnaire was distributed among 60 academic members and PhD students, achieving a numeric saturation with consistent mean values indicating data adequacy. Validity and reliability were ensured via consistency rates below 0.1 and analyzed using MAX QDA, SPSS 25, and Expert Choice 11 software.ResultsThe dual Delphi rounds in this study reached consensus among panel members, starting with 73 initial codes refined to 38 unique codes across 10 indices: financial costs, system quality, system infrastructure, technology and knowledge service quality, knowledge technology architecture, user interface, user satisfaction, value of results, perceived benefits, and up-to-dateness. A Likert-scale questionnaire in the second round confirmed all 38 components. Table 4 indicates that the financial component, with a weight of 0.178, significantly influences knowledge technology performance evaluation. The consistency rate of 0.09 ensures the reliability and stability of the findings. Other components, ranked by weight, include system quality (0.156), system infrastructure (0.154), user interface (0.125), and others, down to perceived benefits and up-to-dateness (0.038).Discussion Evaluating the performance of knowledge technologies in knowledge-based organizations is vital for identifying learning pathways and creating competitive advantages. Organizations require tools to enhance performance and continuously assess the effectiveness of their knowledge technologies, addressing strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. This research identified ten key components for performance evaluation: financial, system quality, system infrastructure, knowledge technology service quality, knowledge technology architecture, user interface, user satisfaction, value of results, perceived benefits, and up-to-dateness. The financial component, deemed most critical, includes startup costs, infrastructure and equipment costs, human resources training costs, and AI processing costs. System quality, ranked second, involves flexibility, effectiveness, use of expert systems, ease of access, and support for open access. System infrastructure, third in importance, covers physical and electronic spaces, application modernization, and elimination of outdated infrastructure. User interface, ranked fourth, focuses on usability, accessibility, user-friendliness, and visual appeal. Knowledge technology service quality, sixth in rank, includes information processing quality, metadata management, content volume, and content quality. User satisfaction, seventh, involves automated knowledge management, system efficiency, prediction of user needs, and satisfaction with system effectiveness. Value of results, eighth, includes continuous improvement, enhanced decision-making through AI, alignment of results with needs, and reliability. Perceived benefits and up-to-dateness, both ranked ninth, cover monitoring performance changes, goal achievement assessment, opportunities for new knowledge creation, and performance improvements. These evaluations highlight the operational quality within organizations and the challenges in successful knowledge management implementation. Previous research, such as Hamidizadeh (2016) and Musivand et al. (2015), supports these findings, emphasizing the role of knowledge technologies in decision-making and operational efficiency. International studies also affirm their importance in service delivery, knowledge structuring, and performance enhancement. Thus, evaluating knowledge technologies using these key components is essential for effective utilization and to avoid resource wastage and operational inefficiencies.ConclusionIn the Delphi phase, 10 indicators including the financial component, system quality, system infrastructure, knowledge technology service quality, knowledge technology architecture, user interface, user satisfaction about the system, the value of work results, perceived benefits and benefits from the system, up-to-dateness and 39 items were identified, Each of these indicators also has its own sub-indicators, whose degree of importance has also been examined. Based on the hierarchical analysis method, the financial component is in the first degree, the system quality component is in the second degree, the system infrastructure component is in the third degree, the user interface component is in the fourth degree, the knowledge technology architecture component is in the fifth degree, and the knowledge technology service quality component is in the sixth degree. The user satisfaction component about the system was ranked seventh, the value component of the results obtained from the card was ranked eighth, and the perceived benefits and benefits of the system and the component of being up-to-date were ranked ninth.Acknowledgments The authors consider it necessary to acknowledge and thank all the loved ones who helped us in this research.
