The impact of different leadership styles in successful implementation of knowledge management in organizations by structural equation modeling

In an era that in which the economy is in the core of knowledge aspect, knowledge is considered as a vital factor in maintaining the sustained competitive advantage of organizations. Today, the art and skill of management in organizations is moving towards changing into the art of "knowledge management"; and, leadership means providing suitable conditions and grounds in producing valuable knowledge via human force thought, and performing this task in a way that would encourage individuals in undertaking personal responsibility. The leadership factor plays a key role in successful implementation of knowledge management in enterprises and organizations; thus, in the present research, the authors have studied the relationship between knowledge management and leadership style as well as defining empowerment leadership style in knowledge management. The statistical population considered in this research consists of employees of Iran Export Credit Insurance Institute. The present research is applied in term of goal and description and correlation in terms of nature and methodology adoption. To study the relationship between variables, the regression analysis based on SPSS software, factorial analysis, modeling structural equations based on variance by using PLS software has been used. In line with research hypotheses, the correlation coefficients showed the positive and significant relationship between transformational and transactional leadership with knowledge management; and on Laissez-Faire leadership style, no significant relationship was confirmed between this variable and knowledge management variable. Ultimately, transactional leadership style was recognized as empowerment leadership style in knowledge management at this institute.