The Influence of Knowledge Management Factors on Food Exports in Iran

The present study aims to investigate the effective variables of knowledge management in food exports in Iran. A new model was designed in thisresearch on the basis of achieved statistical data from production associations and export firms. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was applied to assessthe impact of effective variables of knowledge management in food exports. Suggested model of the research is comprised of eight dimensions which are asfollows: specialized relations, coordinated knowledge, knowledge tools, organizational knowledge, knowledge process, knowledge chain, knowledgehardware, and knowledge feasibility. Target population of the study was consisting of 57 production associations which export food from Iran. Thesales staffs and business departments formed the target population, and 317 questionnaires were validly obtained to test the research model. Exploratoryfactor analysis and Amos software were utilized for modeling. This study indicates that knowledge management is positively effective in the process offood exports in Iran, and all effective factors of knowledge management significantly affect the efficiency and performance of exporting. Eightdimensional model which is suggested in this research introduces a practical strategy of evaluating the effective factors of knowledge management in food exports.

Keywords:

Knowledge management , food exports , Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) , Iran