Analysis of Knowledge Management Network in the New Agricultural Extension System in Iran

Abstract

Knowledge management in the agricultural sector is a goal of the agricultural extension system to ensure farmers’ access to technical knowledge and research findings. This research analyzed the knowledge management network in Iran’s new agricultural extension system (NAES) in which the interaction among contextual (organizational structure, organizational culture, and information and communication technology), process (production, storage, organization, and distribution of knowledge), and performance variables (stakeholders’ access to technical knowledge and research findings) was studied. The research sample included all agricultural extension experts in Zanjan province and the supportive researchers in the research centres, amounting to 143 and 28 people, respectively. A questionnaire was the main instrument for data collection. The questionnaire’s validity was checked using the average variance extracted, and its reliability was determined by calculating composite reliability and Cronbach’s alpha. Data were analyzed by the structural equation modelling technique using Smart PLS software. The results showed that only the relationship between information and communication technology and process variables was significant among the contextual factors. Contextual factors accounted for 28.9 percent of the variance in the process variable. There was a positive and significant relationship between knowledge management and performance. Knowledge management could capture 53 percent of the variance in performance.