Document Type : Original Article

Authors

• Ehsan Geraei ¹
• Saeed Farahbakhsh ²
• Masoumeh Tayyebi Asl ³

¹ Associate Professor, Knowledge and Information Sciences, Department of Educational Sciences, Faculty of Literature and Human Sciences, Lorestan University, Khorramabad, Iran.

² Associate Professor, Educational Management, Department of Educational Sciences, Faculty of Literature and Human Sciences, Lorestan University, Khorramabad, Iran

³ Master's student, Educational Management, Department of Educational Sciences, Faculty of Literature and Human Sciences, Lorestan University, Khorramabad, Iran.

Abstract

Purpose: The role of knowledge and specialized human resources is undeniable for organizational success. The education sector, as a mega-organization, is no exception to this rule, as evidenced by the emphasis on the development of general, professional, and specialized competencies in teacher ranking regulations. This study primarily aims to analyze the relationship between knowledge management (KM) and organizational creativity (OC), considering professional development (PD) as a mediating variable.
Methodlogy: This applied research employed a descriptive-correlational design and used structural equation modeling (SEM). The population comprised 140 education staff in Khorramabad City. A stratified random sampling method was employed, and 103 participants selected based on the Krejcie and Morgan table. Data were collected via questionnaires and analyzed using SPSS and SmartPLS software.
Findlings: KM had a significant positive effect on OC (β = 0.357). KM significantly and positively influenced PD (β = 0.531). PD demonstrated a significant positive impact on OC (β = 0.241).
Conclusion: KM significantly enhances OC both directly and indirectly, with a total effect of β = 0.485, with PD serving as a mediator.
Value: Organizational creativity is fostered by (1) converting employees’ tacit knowledge and experiences into explicit knowledge for organizational dissemination, (2) aligning knowledge-enhancement programs with employees’ professional needs. These mechanisms jointly enable PD and subsequent OC.

Keywords

• Knowledge Management, Organizational Creativity, Professional Development, Education Staff
• Structural Equation Modeling

Main Subjects

• Educational and Psychological Dimensions of Data, Information and Knowledge Studies