Studying Effect of Communication Skills and Leadership Styles of Manager on Knowledge Management of Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Iran

Abstract

Knowledge management is one of the emerging variables in organizations which has a considerable effect on the progress of organizations. The present research studies effect of communication skills and leadership styles of managers on the establishment of knowledge management in Zahedan University of Medical Sciences in 2013. Methodology: The research population includes all managers of University of Medical Sciences in all levels and a statistical sample of this research includes 180 managers who have been selected with Convenience sampling. The instrument of this research includes knowledge management, communication skills and leadership styles questionnaires and their validities are 0.87, 0.78 and 0.86, respectively, which are confirmed by sociology and training sciences professors. For data analysis in this test, mean and standard deviation have been used in descriptive statistics and correlation test and Kruskal–Wallis test have been used in the inferential test. Results: Findings of this research showed that Relationship oriented leadership style is found in low ranking managers and task-oriented leadership style is manifested more in medium ranking managers. Communication skills in high ranking managers are higher than those in managers of other levels. Low-level managers play more roles in the establishment of knowledge management. One of the other findings of this research is a significant correlation between knowledge management and relationship-oriented leadership style and also communication skills. Conclusion: Therefore, communication skills and leadership styles play an effective role in knowledge management and its establishment considering the obtained results.