Exploring the Relationship between Knowledge Management and Intellectual Capital: An Iranian University Case Study

Abstract

This paper explored the multiple relationships between intellectual capital (IC) and knowledge management (KM) in an Iranian university. For intellectual capital, three components were studied including: relational capital, structural capital and human capital. For knowledge management, five processes were considered, namely creation, acquisition, codification, sharing and application. The relationship of the components and processes were examined through structural equation modeling and test the research hypotheses. The knowledge management processes explain 81% of the changes in dependent variable of intellectual capital. A questionnaire was developed and validated by the experts. The reliability of the questionnaire measured by Cronbach›s alpha was 0.97. A total of 152 questionnaires were completed by faculties of a selected Iranian university. A significant positive relationship among the components was shown by the results. The Friedman test showed that human capital and knowledge creation had the highest priority among the intellectual capital components and knowledge management processes, respectively.

Keywords: Knowledge management; Intellectual capital; Higher education; Iran