Measuring the Maturity of KM for Establishment of KM in Iran Public Libraries Foundation Based on APO Framework

Measuring the maturity of KM allows the organization to know how to manage its knowledge and provides an infrastructure on which the organization's KM roadmap is created. With libraries and information centers with educational and research environments, the Iran Public Libraries Foundation is one of the most susceptible organizations to establish KM. Requires measuring the maturity of KM to provide necessary grounds for reaching a higher level of maturity in knowledge management development. This study aimed to measure the maturity of KM in the Iran Public Libraries Foundation based on the Asian Productivity Organization framework. The study is an applied survey research. The data was collected using the Asian Productivity Organization (APO) standard questionnaire. The reliability of the questionnaire was 0.9, according to Cronbach's alpha coefficient. The research population consisted of 115 people who were selected by cluster sampling. Excel and SPSS were used to analyze the data. Pearson correlation test, One-sample T-test, and Kolmogorov–Smirnov test were used to measure the mean of the seven knowledge management (KM) maturity criteria, and the Friedman nonparametric test was used to rank the criteria groups. The maturity level of KM in Iran, Public Libraries Foundation, was seven groups below the KM Framework of APO. The readiness of the library for KM was determined the initial stage. The results of ranking the seven groups of KM maturity criteria showed that information technology and leadership stood in the highest and the lowest ranks, respectively. Topdown ranking of other criteria was as follows: knowledge processes, process, learning and innovation, KM results, and staff. Finally, the research proposals were presented based on the results of the studied organization's current situation.