Title: Tendency to innovate as the mediator of knowledge management and business performance

Authors: Morteza Raei Dehaghi; Ali Chitsaz Esfahani; Seyed Hasan Hosseini

Addresses: Department of Management, Mobarakeh Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mobarakeh, Isfahan, Iran ' Department of Management, Faculty of Administrative Sciences and Economics, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran ' Department of Management, Faculty of Management Sciences, University of Imam Ali, Tehran, Iran

Abstract: Knowledge management can play an important role in increasing efficiency and success of organisations. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of knowledge management on business performance with the mediating role of tendency to innovate in small and medium-sized industries in Mobarakeh Industrial Town. The present study is applied in terms of purpose and has a quantitative approach, and is descriptive and correlation in terms of method. The statistical population of this study consisted of all managers of small and medium-sized enterprises in Mobarakeh Industrial Town who were from 409 active companies. Sampling was performed by simple random sampling using Morgan table through which 118 people were selected. The knowledge management and business innovation questionnaire was used to collect the data. Data analysis was performed through structural equations. Based on the obtained results, the relationship between knowledge management and innovation and business is positive, meaning that the more is knowledge management and innovation, the more will be business. The impact of knowledge management on business was obtained as equal to 13%, and innovation on business as equal to 32%.

Keywords: knowledge management; business performance; tendency to innovate; small and medium-sized enterprises; SMEs.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSOM.2023.130226

International Journal of Services and Operations Management, 2023 Vol.44 No.4, pp.443 - 459

Received: 01 Jun 2020
Accepted: 05 Jan 2021
Published online: 06 Apr 2023 *

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