Proceedings of the 12th European Conference on Knowledge ...

2.5 leadership and strategy
Manouchehr Ansari et al
Knowledge management in any organization is guided by <strong>the</strong> organizational strategy and it originates
from different principles and programs <strong>of</strong> that organization. Leadership depends on <strong>the</strong> concept <strong>of</strong>
knowledge management strategy and applying knowledge management requires top management
supports (in order to allocate resources and time for knowledge management projects and programs)
(Gaffoor 2008). In fact, an essential principle for <strong>the</strong> success <strong>of</strong> knowledge management programs is
creating strategic commitment for continuous management <strong>of</strong> knowledge by top and middle managers
to indicate particular features that lead to knowledge management (Rylatt 2003).
2.6 Delphi process
We used Delphi method in order to collect <strong>the</strong> most important factors in successful implementation <strong>of</strong>
knowledge management about which related experts have consensus. Delphi method was <strong>the</strong> result
<strong>of</strong> studies by RAND Corporation in 1950s. The purpose <strong>of</strong> study was to develop a method to obtain
<strong>the</strong> most reliable consensus <strong>of</strong> expert panel (Okoli & Pawalwski 2004). Researchers use Delphi
method, at <strong>the</strong> first step, where <strong>the</strong> information judgment is essential and usually use a series <strong>of</strong>
questionnaires with controlled feedback comments (Okoli & Pawalwski 2004). In this study we have
taken advantages <strong>of</strong> a panel <strong>of</strong> experts and consultants in <strong>the</strong> field <strong>of</strong> knowledge management
implementation. Experts were selected based on <strong>the</strong>ir work experience in KM. we asked managing
directors <strong>of</strong> companies active in <strong>the</strong> field <strong>of</strong> knowledge management to introduce KM experts <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir
companies or o<strong>the</strong>r experts from <strong>the</strong> outside. Among <strong>the</strong> 20 candidates with whom we contacted, 14
people accepted to participate and complete our questionnaire. 7 out <strong>of</strong> 14 participants were
implementation experts <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> organization under study (Municipality <strong>of</strong> 22th district) and <strong>the</strong> rest were
consultants in information systems and knowledge management.
The former group has average related work experiences <strong>of</strong> eight years, while <strong>the</strong> later has about 20
years work experience.
In <strong>the</strong> first questionnaire, panel members were asked to express factors that <strong>the</strong>y believe are effective
in implementing successful knowledge management based on <strong>the</strong>ir experiences. They also were
asked to mention a brief explanation about each <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> expressed factors to provide a better
classification. 21 components were collected in questionnaires, and <strong>the</strong>n <strong>the</strong> five derived factors were
classified as follows: organizational culture, human resources, IT infrastructure, strategy and
leadership. In <strong>the</strong> second questionnaire, we rewrite <strong>the</strong> factors according to our classifications and
post <strong>the</strong>m to <strong>the</strong> each expert with a copy <strong>of</strong> his or her answers. The experts were requested to
confirm or modify his or her own responds considering comments and if necessary modify or amend
<strong>the</strong> provided classification. According to Schmidt "without leaving behind this stage, it cannot be
claimed that an integrated index is made valid"
Among <strong>the</strong> 21 initial factors, 5 factors were identified as "success factors in implementing knowledge
management" by more than 86 percent <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> experts. In <strong>the</strong> third questionnaire, <strong>the</strong> experts were
asked to mention at least 21 indicators (<strong>the</strong> five categories for <strong>the</strong> presentation <strong>of</strong> various factors)
which <strong>the</strong>y believe are <strong>the</strong> most effective factors for successful implementation <strong>of</strong> knowledge
management (but not scoring) and we did this stage in two rounds.
Terms <strong>of</strong> consensus on selected final factors were defined so that <strong>the</strong> factors which in two
consecutive rounds have 7 votes or more (50% <strong>of</strong> all votes), or those which gained more than 85% <strong>of</strong>
votes were selected.
Finally, 21 indicators were achieved at this stage. It is important to mention that <strong>the</strong> conditions for
achieving consensus in Delphi method is determining by those who conduct <strong>the</strong> research and <strong>the</strong>re is
no specific rule. But <strong>the</strong> more number <strong>of</strong> rounds are, <strong>the</strong> more difficult <strong>the</strong> consensus conditions are,
and <strong>the</strong> results <strong>of</strong> Delphi method have more validity (Fink 1984). In <strong>the</strong> last questionnaire we asked
<strong>the</strong> participants to score each <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se indicators from number 1, means absolutely unimportant to
number 7, means absolutely important. Then <strong>the</strong> average degree <strong>of</strong> importance <strong>of</strong> each index was
calculated. The Condition <strong>of</strong> consensus at this stage <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Delphi method was determined in a way
that indicators with importance degree <strong>of</strong> more than 4 will be selected as <strong>the</strong> final factors. Therefore,
<strong>the</strong> factor <strong>of</strong> "humanitarianism culture" with <strong>the</strong> average <strong>of</strong> 3.95 was removed from <strong>the</strong> list .Final
factors with average degree <strong>of</strong> importance are seen in Table 1.
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