Explanation and Evaluation of the Knowledge Creation Input Pattern in Higher Education

This study aims to identify and prioritize individual factors (as inputs) affecting the Knowledge Creation of the faculty members at Tehran University, has been designed and implemented. This study is a mixed exploratory research, which was conducted in two parts: qualitative and quantitative. In the qualitative part, through semi-structured interviews with 14 experts (in terms of knowledge creation in university) who were selected through purposeful sampling, individual factors affecting the knowledge creation of the faculty were identified. In the quantitative part, by descriptive-survey research method, considering the factors identified, and by means of questionnaires, comments and viewpoints about 212 faculty members of Tehran University were gathered in this regard. As a result of qualitative analysis, the factors of creativity, Professional ethics, time management ability, motivation, individual learning, teaching responsibilities and basic skills of knowledge-creation, as individual factors influencing knowledge creation in universities were identified. Then, data obtained through structural equations and partial least squares by using software SmartPLS was analyzed. The results of the data processing showed that, first, the model employed has been a strong theoretical model to predict knowledge creation in university, and secondly, all direct relationships between variables in the model were significant.