Knowledge Gaps Analysis: A Research in the Centre of Research and Technology of Petrochemical Organization

The purpose of this research is to analyze knowledge gaps in the Centre of Research and Technology of Petrochemical Organization and to present a framework to fill these gaps. The researchers have used Lin (2005) Model of Knowledge Gaps as the basis of the research and combining it with Armstrong's (2004) model of learning organization and Sharkie's (2005) model of the factors affecting trust climate of the organization and people's intention to share their knowledge, two other gaps have been added to the original model. The research questions and hypotheses have been developed based on the eight-gap model. Also, a prioritization of variables composing each gap has been conducted based on the opinions of knowledge management experts and the researchers of the organization. AHP method has been conducted to prioritize the variables from KM scholars' viewpoints and Friedman test has been applied to prioritize the variables from the viewpoint of researchers and managers of the organization, Based on the research findings, the first knowledge gap does not exist while the existence of other seven gaps has been confirmed. Also some differences have been observed between the view points of experts and researchers in prioritizing variables.