Designing a model for evaluation of knowledge management level in industrial organizations of Iran (Auto industry)

In todayʹs world, knowledge is the only way of gaining wealth in organizations and societies. Natural and human investments may result in wealth only when coordinated and incorporated with knowledge investments. Knowledge, information, spiritual assets, specialization, and occupational qualifications are the required instruments for gaining wealth, and those societies deprived of such instruments are regarded as poor. Nowadays, capability relies heavily on knowledge, and it is the application of creative mentality that effectively makes promotion and development possible. Organizations have realized that no investment benefits them in todayʹs world of competition as much as knowledge does. That is why above all other factors, the personnel of an organization (being the source of knowledge) have been considered as the most critical investments of that organization. Accordingly, knowledge management, as the instrument by which the available knowledge can be collected, classified, and disseminated throughout the organization, has received special attention. However, the efforts of many organizations in the field of knowledge management have ended in failure. This has been mostly due to the fact that these organizations have not taken advantage of the proper model of knowledge management evaluation, and they have looked upon it as a temporary and short term task. In this article, in accordance to the research done in this regard, the effective factors involved in knowledge management have been determined, and based on these factors; a model of knowledge management evaluation in industrial organizations (automobile industry) of Iran has been presented. In addition to that, using the presented model, we can assess the level of knowledge management. These factors are recognizing knowledge, acquiring knowledge, application of knowledge, sharing of knowledge, expansion of knowledge, and maintenance of knowledge. Each of these factors has been subdivided into other factors as well. Two organizations of the automobile industry of Iran, which have had the highest level of production in the automobile market of Iran among all other organizations, have been studied in this research. After collecting the data, applying the necessary statistical procedures, and analyzing the outcome, the results have been presented in the form of a final model so that it will be tested on its effectiveness in practice.