ISSN 2736-1721
Global Journal of Business Management ISSN 6731-4538 Vol. 6 (12), pp. 001-010, December, 2012. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Explanation of knowledge management enabler as a latent variable: A case study of SMEs in Iran
Rahmatollah Gholipour1, Gholamreza Jandaghi1* and Seyed Ali Akbar Hosseinzadeh2
1University of Tehran, Iran.
2Industrial Management in University of Mazandaran (UMZ), Iran.
Accepted 15 September, 2012
Abstract
Attention to organizational knowledge is important for sustaining competitive advantage for companies. The factors that consider as knowledge management enablers are very important in process of knowledge management, because that can be affecting on knowledge creation processes. The aim of this research is to explain the knowledge management enablers in small and medium size enterprises (SMEs) of Mazandaran province industries and Mines organization using an empirical examination. To this purpose, after extensive studying about literature of knowledge management enablers and selecting standard questionnaire, research team distributed the questionnaire among managers of SMEs. The data was gathered from 300 active SMEs. The results demonstrate the proposed structural equation model have best-fitting comparison with data of real world and show the amount effects of any observed independent variables on latent independent variable (KME). Results showed variables of firm’s culture such as collaboration and trust had more effect on structural equation model (SEM) of KME and IT support is not affected as one of knowledge management enablers on SEM of SMEs. Innovation aspect of this article is considering amount of direct and indirect effects of observed variables using SEM of KME as a latent variable. Manager of small and medium size enterprises can use the structural equation to measure KME and ability of their firm in this area.
Key words: Iran, explanation, knowledge management enabler, latent variable, small and medium size enterprises.