The Study of Knowledge Management Principles in Teaching Hospitals Associated with Iran University of Medical Sciences

Abstract

Introduction: Nowadays, knowledge management is one of the most effective factors in competitive advantages and success among organizations. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the principles of knowledge management in teaching hospitals of Iran University of Medical Sciences. Methods: This applied descriptive cross-sectional study included 30 senior managers in ten teaching hospitals associated with Iran University of Medical Sciences during 2009. In order to gather data, a five-point Likert questionnaire was designed by the researchers. The questionnaire had a reliability of 0.874 (Cronbach’s alpha) and its validity was approved by the experts. Finally, the data was analyzed using descriptive statistics indices (average, median, and variance). Results: The findings indicated that knowledge transfer (3.64), knowledge assessment (3.84), knowledge application (3.41), knowledge sharing (3.34), and finally knowledge creation (3.19) had the highest average scores. At the end, the score of knowledge management was calculated as 3.4. Conclusion: Considering the applied Likert scale, knowledge management scored above average and could be regarded as desirable. Moreover, according to the results, more attention should be paid to knowledge creation and knowledge sharing. Keywords: Knowledge Management; Teaching Hospitals; Universities.