The Relationship between Organizational Knowledge and Alavi Meritocracy with the Mediating Role of Human Resource Management: Universities of the Eastern of Iran

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the mediating role of human resource management in the relationship Alavi meritocracy and organizational knowledge. Methodoloy: This descriptive-correlational study was applied in terms of purpose. The statistical population consisted of 1050 employees of public, Payam-e-Noor and Islamic Azad universities in eastern Iran in academic year 2018-2019, of whom 275 were selected as a sample size by a multi-stage (cluster) sampling according to Krejcie and Morgan's table. Research instruments included Naghipurfar's (2013) Meritocracy Questionnaire and Knowledge Management Questionnaire, and Martin's (2011) Human Resource Management Questionnaire.  The validity of the questionnaire was assessed by formal validity and its reliability was measured by Cronbach's alpha as 0.81. Also, Data were analyzed by correlation tests and structural equations using the SPSS 22 and Amos 20. Findings: Data analysis showed that there was a significant relationship between organizational knowledge and human resource management with the Alavi meritocracy of the staff (r = 0.61 and r = 0.5, respectively; P <0.01). The results of structural equations also revealed that the effect of organizational knowledge of the staff on Alavi meritocracy was indirectly significant. On the other hand, there was a positive and significant relationship between organizational knowledge and the mediating variable (human resource management) (r = 0.58, P <0.01). Moreover, human resource management directly affected Alavi meritocracy (r = 0.57, P <0.01). Conclusion: Organizational knowledge and human resource management of the staff affect Alavi meritocracy and Alavi meritocracy can be improved by promoting organizational knowledge and human resource management.