Document Type : Research Paper
Abstract
The present study aimed at identifying the most important internal strengths and weaknesses and the most significant opportunities and threats regarding the knowledge and information science department of Shahid Chamran University.It was also intended to compile a strategic program for this department using SWOT analysis. In order to identify internal and external factors, the library method, check list, and Delphi study were employed. The participants consisted of university teachers and professors, PhD candidates, MS students, experienced professors at the faculty of education and psychology and other professors at the knolege and information science major and which were, in one way or another, related to this department. In order to analyze the factors, SWOT matrix and weight ratings were applied. The results showed that there were good and weak points providing opportunities and threats to this department. Among the opportunities, having PhD and MS students with a weight of 0.55 could be mentioned. The shortage of space and facilities of university library, lack of financial resources in the department with a weight of 0.20 were among the threats. The scientific pole of Knowledge Management with a weight of 0.40 and the imminent retirement of most scientific board members of the department with a weight0.35 were, respectively, the most important opportunities and threats to the department. It appears that the present study is the first attempt to compile a strategic program for the information science and universology department in Iran (Case study: Shahid Chamran University) using SWOT analysis and weight ratings.
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