Mohammad Hassanzadeh

Identifying knowledge management problems using a process‐based method (a case study of process 137)

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to develop, test and improve a method that draws upon business process improvement literature and combines it with knowledge management approaches for modeling and analyzing knowledge‐intensive business processes.Design/methodology/approach – Analyzing and integrating previous meta models served in knowledge oriented business process researches, a preliminary meta model was developed for modeling knowledge‐intensive business processes. Then an initial version of Proper Arrangement of Knowledge Management Processes (PAKMP) framework was developed according to the knowledge management processes approaches. Third round of interviews with process 137 members were conducted in order to test applicability and completeness of both preliminary meta model and initial version of PAKMP framework in order to improve them. In addition, a five‐steps analysis method achieved through case study which is based on the application of both final Meta model and PAKMP framework. In fact this ...

Select-and-Fill-In Concept Maps as an Evaluation Tool in Science Classrooms

Much research has been done on the application of concept maps as means for learning assessment. Similarly, different types of Concept-Map Based Assessments (CMBA) and their validity have been examined as well in many studies, but to a far less extent. The present study uses a descriptive quantitative method and mainly aims to put forward the idea that the select-and-fill-in (SAFI) concept maps could be used as a valid instrument to assess the conceptual understanding of science among thermodynamics students. For this purpose, the concurrent validity of the SAFI concept map was evaluated according to the last version of the Thermodynamic Concept Survey (TCS) in order to develop a standard conceptual survey in thermodynamics. The TCS has a total KR-20 of approximately 0.78, an acceptable value, which could be employed as a valid test to assess teacher-made SAFI concept maps. The study population includes 60 students from two physics classes. An evaluation of the conceptual understandings of thermodynamics students were made concurrently using two assessment tools. Based on the study findings, there is a moderate to strong correlation (0.6) between the Teacher-made SAFI concept map and TCS. This leads us to the conclusion that SAFI concept maps are valid tools, at least, for evaluating conceptual understanding in thermodynamics. Moreover, the results of this study are confirmed a significant relationship between a student’s ability to read and comprehend a given question and his/her ability to solve it.

Chapter 6 – A Conceptual Framework for Information Security Awareness, Assessment, and Training

Information security has become a key issue. Human resources, including all people working with information technology, play a significant role in information security issues. The key factor for human resources in relation to information security is awareness about threats, challenges, and risks lurking in the information exchange environment. Improving staff awareness of information security should be one of the significant, permanent goals in an organization’s information security policies. This chapter investigates information security awareness in terms of knowledge, attitude, and behavior. Research was carried out using a survey method. To evaluate the information security awareness of staff, we developed nine components. Seven independent variables—gender, education level, IT awareness, working experience, occupation, field, and job category—were also selected for developing the conceptual model. Results showed that, among the investigated variables, gender, IT awareness, occupation field, and job category had significant correlations to information security awareness.

Organizational knowledge documentation in project-based institutes: A case study at the satellite research institute

Purpose Employees, as the most important assets of an organization, acquire a great deal of experience, skills and knowledge throughout the time period they work for the organization. If their skills and technical knowledge are not documented properly, these will be lost once the employees leave the organization. Therefore, documentation is necessary for preserving this invaluable knowledge, avoiding duplication and preventing repeated mistakes that occurred in the past and, providing the junior staff with experiences gained by their predecessors. Thus, this research aims to elaborate on the role of organizational knowledge management (KM) as an essential tool for turning tacit knowledge into explicit knowledge and sharing the gained experiences with others. Design/methodology/approach This research is developmental applied research with qualitative approach and it was conducted using thematic analysis method. This method includes a semi-structured interview with 18 researchers conducting research projects at the Satellite Research Institute under the supervision of the Iran Space Agency. Findings The projects contain knowledge that is a combination of “know why”, “know what”, “know who” and “know how”. A large amount of this knowledge is, indeed, the tacit knowledge. Most of this tacit knowledge is not reflected in the project documents. Generally, the documents contain results only and they do not include experience, technical details, methodology, analysis and mistakes that were made during research activities. Documentation challenges fall into three major types: technical, human resources and administrative. Originality value Considering the necessity of documentation within the knowledge transfer process and its important role in KM; and, with respect to the lack of technical knowledge and experience transfer observed in the documents of Satellite Research Institute, this research proposes some steps that need to be taken to turn the knowledge sharing into an organizational culture.

Knowledge management components in petrochemical industry: A case study

The purpose of present research is to measure the status of knowledge management in petrochemical companies at southern pars special energy economic zone in terms of employees. In terms of type, this is an applied research while it is a descriptive survey in terms of data collection method. Research population consists of 370 employees of active petrochemical companies in southern pars special energy economic zone. Relevant data were gathered by using Prost et al knowledge management questionnaire which were gathered with reliability ratio of 0.89 and analyzed by descriptive and inductive statistics (Kolmogorov – smirnov test, student T and freedman test). Research findings indicate that knowledge management in studied petrochemical companies enjoy a relatively proper status. Likewise, among knowledge management aspects, these companies have the best status in using knowledge and have the weakest status in knowledge development.

National libraries and regional cooperations: a framework for ECO national libraries

– The purpose of this paper is to study the cultural integration, the role of national libraries in regional and international cooperation, Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) national libraries’ barriers of cooperation and drivers of their cooperation and to propose a framework (conceptual and operational) for their cooperation. , – Data collection tool of this survey was a researcher-made questionnaire, sent to 30 individuals and experts involved in cooperation of ECO National Libraries from eight institutions. The reliability of the questionnaire was calculated using Cronbach’s alpha. It was 0.91. In this study, for awareness of activities between ECO national libraries and extraction of drivers, some documents were studied, and preliminary data were collected by informal interviews with meeting stakeholders and participants. , – The lack of stability in management positions was one of the major barriers in cooperation of the ECO national libraries. Other major obstacles in this context were lack of continuous communication, lack of common protocols and standards, lack of planning, lack of a central coordinating organization, bureaucracy, etc. Geographical proximity, common history and heritage, common resources, Islamic and cultural factors, importance of information and knowledge, requirements of the international system and political and security requirements were considered as drivers. An information centre was proposed for their active cooperation. Iran is better to host the information centre. , – National libraries as the scientific and cultural memory of nations and heirs of written heritage should cooperate and share their valuable scientific and cultural heritage to the future generations.

Teaching Science for Understanding: The Positive Impact of Simultaneous Use of Concept Mapping and Computer Simulations

Concept map as an effective tool allows learners to deal with an in depth analysis rather than keeping more information which is transferred through lecture based teaching. Concept map also improves the efficiency of computer assisted simulation techniques in learning environments. This research especially focuses on effectiveness of a computer simulated environment and concept mapping and its effect on conceptual understanding of science. In this study, we selected 60 high school students and divided them into two groups (30 students in Group A and 30 students in Group B). The goal of this research is to investigate how the concept maps influence the learning of Direct Current (DC) concept in electric circuits. We collected data by using Determining and Interpreting Resistive Electric Circuit Concepts Test (DIRECT). Covariance analysis indicates significant difference between two groups. Adjusted pretest scores also approve the significant effect of learning with simulation plus concept map in comparison with the sole simulation among learners (Partial eta Squared = 0.08; F = 4.84; p < 0.03). We conclude that students who used simulation along with a concept map (group B) showed better learning than students who used only a simulation software.

Impact of common innovation infrastructures on the national innovative performance: mediating role of knowledge and technology absorptive capacity

Today, innovative performance is one of the key factors in the study of countries’ competitiveness. Innovative performance is the result of cooperation and interaction among the constituents of innovation systems. This paper aims to investigate the relationship among Common Innovation Infrastructures (CII), Knowledge and Technology Absorptive Capacity (KTAC) and innovative performance at the national level, considering their time lag. For this purpose, a model has been presented. The model consists of the above three mentioned dimensions and nine constructs. The validity of the model was measured, using the empirical data of 81 countries collected from various databases. The structural equation modeling and the AMOS software were used to analyze the relationships. The results of this study showed that goodness of fit of the conceptual model is indicated by the empirical data. The results also revealed that GDP per capita, strength of intellectual property system and policy stability have a positive impact on the KTAC, and that KTAC has a positive impact on the value-added of the industry and service sectors, high-technology exports, international patents and consequently on innovative performance.

Thirty years of Evidence-based Librarianship (EBL):Citation analysis and review

The main objective of this study was to visualize the trend of scientific production on Evidence Based Librarianship (EBL)and identify the active authors, the top institutes, the leading countries and accordingly, to articulate the contribution of Iranian authors on EBL in comparison with other countries. Utilizing advanced search strategy using related terms Scopus database was searched. Queries were formulated based on SPICE, limiting the searches to “title”,”abstract” and “keywords”. Then searched was narrowed to the time span 1985–2014 with no language limitation. A manual search was also carried out on references to drill down more in bibliographical information. The search results provided us with 512 records, 392 of them were original papers and 120 theoretical and narrative reviews. The USA, England and Canada were leading countries in publishing the EBL papers. Journal of Health Information and Libraries with 92 records was the core and active journal in Evidence Based Librarianship. Findings indicated that,Iranian authors have a small contribution to world’s publications on EBL, in comparison with other countries. This study suggests that, EBL has a potentiality to establish a wide research front. For that it is eligible to more concentration in curriculum of library science education. This will support And empower the practice of library education and services based on evidence, especially in countries out of the three leading countries and in developing world.

Relationship between Development Indicators and Contribution to the Science: Experiences from Iran

This paper aims to investigate the relationship between selected development indicators and provincial level contribution to the global knowledge. The research has focused on Iranian papers published in Thompson Reuters in 2012. Data was collected running an advanced search limiting the results to the papers published with their address belong to the Islamic Republic of Iran. Nearly, 28,000 scientific papers were analyzed. The separate analysis on the provincial affiliation of the authors was made. Contribution of each province was analyzed against selected developmental indicators such as human development indicator (HDI), family size, healthcare centers, population, universities and students. Findings showed that there is significant relationship between science infrastructure and developmental indicators and also their contribution to the knowledge. But amongst them relationship between family size and science production was negative. Based on findings it is concluded that scientific progress has its grassroots in developmental programs and in turn, developmental achievements will flourish the science in societies.