M.A. Thesis:

The role of knowledge management processes in knowledge-base innovation of companies operating in Razavi Khorasan Province through knowledge workers productivity

Innovation is a critical factor for companies in order to create value and to gain the competitive advantage in nowadays highly competitive environment. In addition, the most stable kind of innovation is that of based on knowledge that must necessarily be realized through the implementation of knowledge management processes. Thus, the main purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of knowledge management processes on knowledge-based innovation. In doing so, the employees’ productivity is also considered as the mediator variable. At the time of the survey, the statistical population was comprised of 5621 active companies in Khorasan-e-Razavi Province from which a sample of 359 was selected by conducting convenience sampling. Data gathering tool was a 28-item questionnaire having 5-point Likert scale. Data was collected in person from the sample respondents, and after evaluating its validity and reliability, was analyzed by conducting structural equation modeling in Amos software based on which the mediation of employees’ productivity in the relation between knowledge management processes and knowledge-based innovation was confirmed. The other results were as follows. The direct effects of knowledge management processes on knowledge-based innovation (0.43 knowledge management processes on employees’ productivity (0.68), and employees’ productivity on knowledge-based innovation (0.36) were statistically significant. Accordingly, the strongest direct path coefficient was 0.68 and the weakest was 0.36. In addition, according to obtained results, the direct effect of knowledge management processes on knowledge-based innovation was 0.43, its indirect effect was 0.24, and its total effect was 0.67.

Keywords: Knowledge management,Knowledge management processes,Employees’ productivity,Knowledge-based innov