Changing Knowledge Audit Factors in Project-Based Organizations:From Present to Future

The creation and flow of knowledge in the Project-Based organizations has unique characteristics, Also the audit of the created knowledge in these organizations significantly differs from other organizations. On the other hand, knowledge audit plays a key role in the success of knowledge management these organizations, the purpose of this study is investigating the importance and compliance of identified knowledge audit factors in these types of organizations.

The present study is an applied research that follows a quantitative approach using case study and survey in order to investigate the status and importance of knowledge audit factors in four PBOs: ICT Research Institute, Research Institute of Petroleum Industry, Niroo Research Institute; and, Iranian Space Research Center. The research data were collected through a survey of 220 project managers, project control and knowledge management managers in these four research institutes. The data were collected and analyzed in two available and ideal conditions.

At present, the knowledge valuation factor with a mean of 2.61 and the knowledge need analysis factor with the mean of 2.56 have the highest attention, while in the ideal state, the factors of knowledge inventory (4.287) and knowledge valuation (4.28) should be considered. In all four research institutes, there is a significant difference between the mean of knowledge audit factors in both the current and the ideal situation.

The emphasis on knowledge valuation, knowledge needs analysis and knowledge inventory indicate the importance of knowledge assets in the Project-Based Organizations. Therefore, it is necessary to pay attention to the importance and weight of the knowledge audit factors in designing the knowledge audit model in the PBOs.Keywords: Knowledge audit, knowledge audit factors, knowledge management, project- based organizations.