Developing a Causal Model to Improve Knowledge Management in Knowledge-Based Companies in the Field of Health by Mixed Methods

Background and Objectives: Among the many factors, researchers have pointed to the existence of a wide range of models and tools for knowledge management success, which makes it difficult for companies to choose the right model according to the internal conditions of the company. Given the knowledge of many health businesses, increasing managerial skills will not be possible without considering the success of knowledge management. Accordingly, the purpose of this study was to develop a causal model to improve knowledge management in knowledge-based companies in the field of health by combining themes of analysis methods and structural-interpretive modeling.

Material and Methods: The research method is mixed using the qualitative research method of theme analysis, the success factors of knowledge management in knowledge-based companies in the field of health are identified and in the next step, based on confirmatory factor analysis, the results of the qualitative section in the statistical community of knowledge companies The foundations of the field of health have been examined and in the next step, using the interpretive structural modeling method, the causal model of success factors has been developed.

Results: The results of the research in the qualitative section show nine main themes including knowledge management strategy, industrial environmental factors, cultural factors, IT infrastructure development, individual factors, organizational factors, Knowledge management incentives, subjective norms and central category (knowledge management). It came with forty-two sub-themes. Also, the results of confirmatory factor analysis indicate the appropriateness of the main themes extracted from the qualitative part. The results of structural-interpretive modeling also showed that knowledge management strategy and environmental and industrial factors are considered as the main factors in the success of knowledge management.

Conclusion: The results of this study created a model of knowledge management success and also showed the results of a quantitative part of the exact model's quality.