Journal of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences

Background and Objective: Social capital may help organizational knowledge management via providing necessary platforms and facilitating the interchange of knowledge. So this research aimed to determine the relationship between social capital and effectiveness of knowledge management from the viewpoints of the teaching hospitals of Ahvaz managers.

Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study which was carried out in 2015. The research population contained 120 Ahvaz teaching hospitals managers. Data collection tools incorporated demographic questionnaire, the effectiveness of knowledge management processes questionnaire, and social capital questionnaire. Non-parametric Spearman’s correlation coefficient as well as Mann–Whitney and Kruskal–Wallis tests were used for data analysis.

Results: No significant correlation was seen between social capital and effectiveness of knowledge management practices (P>0.05). However, Organizational network showed a significant poor correlation with organizational understanding (r_s=0.307, p=0.001), people-oriented approach (r_s=0.185, p=0.043), and the effectiveness of knowledge management practices (r_s=0.333, p=0.011). Furthermore, Organizational trust demonstrated a significant poor correlation with organizational understanding (r_s=0.229, p=0.012) and innovative culture development (r_s=0.201, p=0.027). Finally, social capital showed a weak correlation with organizational understanding (r_s=0.230, p=0.012).

Conclusion: Managers of teaching hospitals in Ahvaz estimated knowledge management practices as relatively efficient and social capital as appropriate. It seems, in teaching hospitals, managers may need to emphasize on development of organizational networks, educating proper communication and increasing organizational confidence for effectiveness of knowledge management practices.

Key words: Social capital, Practices effectiveness, Knowledge management, Teaching hospital, Ahvaz

Funding: This research was funded by Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences (AJUMS).

Conflict of interest: None declared.

Ethical approval: The Ethics Committee of Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences approved the study.

How to cite this article: Faraji-Khiavi F, Sharifi S, Moradi-Joo E. The Relationship Between Effectiveness of Knowledge Management Practices and Social Capital from Managers' Viewpoints in Teaching Hospitals of Ahvaz in 2015. J Rafsanjan Univ Med Sci 2017; 15(11): 1049-60. [Farsi]