Designing a Knowledge-Based Internet Business Model for Knowledge Brokers

Purpose: The present research aims to develop a knowledge-based internet business model for knowledge brokers.
Method: The current research employed a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative techniques—specifically, the meta-synthesis method and the fuzzy Delphi method—with quantitative methods, including a survey-analytical approach. This exploratory study aimed to identify the components and indicators of knowledge-based internet businesses for knowledge brokers, utilizing the meta-synthesis method in the initial phase. The statistical population in this section comprises a substantial collection of 10,617 documents pertaining to the research topic, sourced from both domestic and international databases. From this collection, a selection of 65 documents specifically related to the research topic has been identified. The second part of this qualitative research utilized the fuzzy Delphi method and was conducted in two stages. The statistical population for the quantitative portion of the study consisted of 20 individuals who held doctoral degrees and were subject matter specialists with over five years of experience in knowledge management, technology management, and business. Initially, these individuals were targeted, and subsequently, they were selected using the snowball sampling method. Out of the 20, 10 participants responded to the questionnaire. The third part consists of a survey-analytical research study that quantitatively ranks and measures the status of the indicators obtained from the qualitative analysis. This is achieved through the method of structural equations, resulting in a model that will be evaluated using confirmatory factor analysis and presented with SmartPLS software. The statistical population for the quantitative portion of the research consisted of 155 technology and knowledge brokers supervised by the Presidential Vice President for Science and Technology, Iran's National Fan Market, and the Nanotechnology Exchange Network. These individuals were selected using a census method.
Findings: The knowledge-based internet business model for knowledge brokers consists of
three levels, encompassing nine dimensions and thirty components. These include various types of income models, pricing mechanisms, knowledge monitoring and evaluation, and coordination and communication between knowledge producers and end users. Additionally, the model addresses
the creation of knowledge and innovation, contract management, marketing, and the discovery
and understanding of market opportunities and needs. It also involves the search, acquisition, and collection of knowledge, as well as the establishment of legal infrastructure and human resource development. Key components include the application, availability, and storage of knowledge, the preparation of statistical and knowledge collections, and the identification and assessment of existing conditions. Furthermore, the model emphasizes the development of technical infrastructure and security, the integration, interpretation, and translation of knowledge, and the combination of research efforts. Networking is also a critical aspect, facilitating the sharing, transfer, and exchange of acquired knowledge. The model values knowledge by justifying its worth to customers and providing consulting services, while also offering value propositions to knowledge users, producers, and stakeholders. It encompasses human resources, funding, physical resources, and intellectual resources, as well as the roles of knowledge users and producers. The analysis reveals that the absolute value of the t-statistic exceeds 1.96, indicating a significant relationship between the components in the conceptual model of the research.
Conclusion: The knowledge-based internet business model, along with its functions and features, can play a vital role in today's competitive landscape by facilitating and accelerating the process of knowledge sharing. Meanwhile, knowledge brokers, as a type of mediator, facilitate the creation, sharing, and utilization of knowledge within an organization or among different organizations. By interpreting and analyzing data from various sources, knowledge brokers can offer valuable assistance to individuals and organizations in identifying the experiences and skills they require. The absence and ineffectiveness of knowledge brokers will disrupt the flow of information among individuals, organizations, and various businesses, leading to a significant information gap between them. The results of this research indicate that knowledge brokers can enhance the flow of information, foster communication between policymakers and researchers, transfer knowledge and experiences, and facilitate decision-making and policy development by implementing a clear and transparent business model. Investments in acquired knowledge can help increase the utilization of research in the policymaking process by leveraging useful, dispersed, and previously hidden information. This approach provides solutions to address problems and meet knowledge needs, accelerates the acquisition of products and services, and offers a platform for obtaining the necessary information in a safe, consistent, and reliable manner.