The effect of knowledge management system on organizational creativity in knowledge-based institutions

Dissertation for Master's Degree

Department of Executive Management

(Strategic Management Orientation) (

Abstract

Creativity is one of the most important and fundamental characteristics of a human being, which affects almost all dimensions and aspects of his life and civilization. In the era of rapid transformations and changes, organizations are placed in the Jirga of successful institutions that regularly produce new knowledge, and use it at the organization level. expand and use it at high speed in the products and services they provide. Knowledge management is a collective ability to increase accountability and innovation. In order for knowledge management to be the main capability of the organization, the existence of three important components is necessary. By combining these components, a knowledge management system is created. That is, creativity is one of the main goals of this research by determining the impact of the knowledge management system on it. For this purpose, the impact of the main types of knowledge management systems on organizational creativity in knowledge-based organizations was measured through interviews with managers of all management consulting companies active in the field of knowledge management as the most prominent knowledge-based institutions in Iran. The findings of the research show that the implementation of knowledge management system has a direct effect on creativity, especially organizational creativity in knowledge-based institutions.

Keywords: knowledge management, organizational creativity, knowledge-based institution, knowledge management system

Chapter 1: General research

1-1- Introduction

In the current era, which is called the age of knowledge, organizations are witnessing environments that They become more dynamic and challenging day by day. Change is an integral part of today's world, in other words, it is the only constant part of change. Today, intangible and spiritual capitals, which are called knowledge, are viewed as an important and vital factor. In other words, organizations will be victorious against changes and transformations that can improve and develop their intangible and spiritual capital (knowledge) (Melkinia, Bejani, 2018). Intangible assets also as intellectual capital include human capital, structural capital and communication capital or customer capital. Human capital is the brain power and information of employees in the organization. Structural capital also refers to intellectual assets that cannot be easily taken home by employees (Liebowitz[1], 1957).

The main knowledge management systems are: document management systems, decision support systems, group support systems, executive information systems, work flow management systems, and customer relationship management systems (Jashapara, 2004).

Without a doubt, "creativity and innovation" is one of the most important and fundamental characteristics of a human being, which affects almost all dimensions and aspects of his life and civilization. In fact, all sciences, techniques and arts and in general all human civilization is a product of creativity and in this regard it has a formative and evolutionary role (Ziminpardaz, 2009). The systematic transfer of knowledge generally affects the entire activity of the organization and specifically the work of its individual members and employees, benefiting all of them and increasing effectiveness, efficiency and productivity. In this way, creativity is rooted in the application of existing knowledge and the creation of new ideas in the systematic transfer of knowledge, and the transmitters, receivers and mediators of the required knowledge, due to the sharing of knowledge, receive an appropriate price in the form of progress in work or gaining a better position (Abdul Karimi, 2012). Implementation of knowledge and its implementation in the organization, because other things related to it are all used as an introduction to the foundation and use of them for the practical realization of knowledge management. In order for knowledge management to become the main capability of the organization, the existence of three important socio-cultural, organizational and technological components is necessary.By combining these components, a knowledge management system is created (Adli, 2013). Many knowledge management systems have been developed by designing and integrating different technologies. All knowledge management systems seek to meet the expectations of senior management, such as the rate of return, investment and increasing effectiveness. In organizations whose challenge is to produce goods and provide services according to the changing needs of customers, the improvement of management processes is associated with the organization's ability to acquire, distribute and use new knowledge (Jashapara, 2004).

On the other hand, creativity is one of the most important and fundamental characteristics of a human being, which affects almost all dimensions and aspects of his life and civilization. All sciences and arts and in general all human civilization is the product of creativity. With creativity, man can make himself more capable, dominate nature with greatness, know the mysterious world and solve many problems and problems of his life. Therefore, creativity is considered the center of the global movement of the current century (Ziminpardaz, 2019).

Since knowledge-based institutions are formed for the expansion and application of innovation and invention, this research tries to clarify the dimensions of creativity and knowledge management system in knowledge-based institutions, determine the impact of the knowledge management system on organizational creativity and provide suggestions regarding increasing this level of influence.

1-3- Importance and necessity Research

Knowledge has always been and is important, but now it has become more important and interesting. And it is caused by applying the power of knowledge to gain a sustainable competitive advantage (Adli, 2013). Knowledge management has certain foundations that are rooted in different principles. In terms of fundamental principles, it is rooted in sociology, management, human resource management, information science, strategy, philosophy and anthropology. In terms of content, it has a close relationship with the topics of organizational learning, change management, culture, and intellectual property. In terms of activity, it is also related to the transformation of tacit and explicit knowledge, discussion and negotiation, and conversation. As can be seen, the topic of knowledge management is one of the topics that can be investigated in an interdisciplinary manner, and the strengths and challenges of knowledge management are derived from its interdisciplinary nature (Jashapara, 2004). According to the explanations presented, it is clear that any progress in this field requires a coherent, interdisciplinary and strategic review.

In this way, by researching the impact of the knowledge management system on creativity in knowledge-based institutions as leading institutions in terms of knowledge, by clarifying the dimensions of these effects, we will help to strengthen the subject of knowledge management.

1-4- Research objectives

1-4-1- Objectives Main

The main goal of this research is to investigate the impact of the knowledge management system on organizational creativity in order to use it to justify senior managers of knowledge-based institutions. For this purpose, concepts related to the field of knowledge management and creativity were studied and investigated, and then by conducting interviews with managers of knowledge-based organizations, the impact of knowledge management components and subsystems on creativity was measured.

1-4-2- Sub-objectives

One of the secondary objectives of the research is to link knowledge management science with one of the important concepts of organizational behavior, i.e. creativity, by determining the extent of the knowledge management system's impact on it.

1-5- Research hypotheses

1-5-1- Main hypotheses

Knowledge management system has a positive effect on creativity in knowledge-based institutions.

1-5-2- Secondary hypotheses

Knowledge management system has a positive effect on individual creativity.

Knowledge management system has a positive effect on collective creativity.

Most types of systems Knowledge management has a positive effect on creativity in knowledge-based institutions.

1-6- Research type and method

In this research, the research method is qualitative. Qualitative research to understand and explain social phenomena from qualitative data such as data obtained from interviews, documentation, participatory observation, questionnaires, etc.

Examples of qualitative research strategies include research in practice (action research), case study research, ethnography, grounded theory approach. The sources of qualitative data collection are participatory observation (field work), interviews and questionnaires, documents and texts, and the states and reactions of the subjects.