Identifying and Prioritizing Barriers to Knowledge Management Implementation in the Air Defense Force of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army: A Mixed-Methods Study

Chegeni, Masoud, Haseli, Davoud and Riahinia, Nosrat Identifying and Prioritizing Barriers to Knowledge Management Implementation in the Air Defense Force of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army: A Mixed-Methods Study. Academic Librarianship and Information Research, 2024, vol. 58, n. 4, pp. 1-21. [Journal article (Paginated)]

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English abstract

Objective: This study aims to identify and prioritize the challenges, issues, and barriers associated with the implementation of knowledge management within the Air Defense Force of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army (NPAJA). Method: This research is applied in nature and employs an exploratory mixed-methods approach. In the qualitative phase, data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using qualitative content analysis to extract main categories and subcategories. The research population consisted of all commanders, deputies, managers, university faculty members, and knowledge management experts within the NPAJA who were familiar with knowledge management concepts and processes and well-acquainted with the organization’s structure and mission. Sixteen participants were purposefully selected for the interviews. In the quantitative phase, a questionnaire developed from the interview data was used as the research instrument. Quantitative data were analyzed using the Friedman test in SPSS. Results: The analysis of the interview data led to the identification of eight main categories and thirty-eight subcategories representing the barriers to knowledge management implementation in the NPAJA. Based on the results of the Friedman test, the main categories were ranked in terms of their impact on implementation as follows: managerial and leadership barriers; cultural and organizational barriers; human resource-related barriers; financial and budgetary limitations; legal and regulatory obstacles; technical and infrastructural barriers; content- and knowledge-related issues; and environmental and external challenges. Conclusions: Utilizing a mixed-methods approach and grounded in field data, this study offers a comprehensive and realistic depiction of the primary barriers to knowledge management implementation in the NPAJA. The results indicate that the most significant barriers are primarily soft in nature—managerial, cultural, and human-related—rather than purely technical or infrastructural. This underscores the importance of establishing a supportive cultural, managerial, and human framework prior to undertaking technological initiatives.

Item type: Journal article (Paginated)
Keywords: Knowledge Management, Barriers to Knowledge Management Implementation, Air Defense Force of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army, NPAJA
Subjects: F. Management. > FJ. Knowledge management
Depositing user: Maliheh Dorkhosh
Date deposited: 18 Jul 2025 08:52
Last modified: 18 Jul 2025 08:52
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10760/47012

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