Journal of Applied Sciences1812-56541812-5662Asian Network for Scientific Information10.3923/jas.2010.2290.2296ValmohammadiChangiz 1220101019Based on an in-depth review and comparative study of existing studies on Critical Success Factors (CSFs) of Knowledge Management (KM) and by considering the characteristics of small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs), twelve CSFs were identified, namely management leadership and support, organizational culture, information systems, KM strategy, performance measurement, organizational infrastructure, processes and activities, rewarding and motivation, training and education, removal of resources constraints, human resources management and benchmarking which is believed to be suitable for SMEs. The importance of the proposed CSFs was theoretically discussed and justified. An instrument, which consists of all CSFs and their related elements, was developed to evaluate the appropriateness of the proposed CSFs from experts point of view. The experts were asked to express their views and perceptions on the extent of appropriateness of the CSFs and their related elements for Iranian SMEs using a six-point Likert scale, ranging from not successful to extremely successful. This scale was then grouped into three levels-poor, satisfactory and good. The overall results from this assessment show that experts endorsed the proposed CSFs and their related elements as being at least eighty percent satisfactory for their intended purpose. The set of CSFs can act as a list of items for organizations, particularly for SMEs to address when implementing KM. This helps to ensure that essential issues and factors are covered when planning and developing KM. Also, it can provide a basis for them to evaluate their KM practices. For academics; it provides a common language for the discussion and study of factors underpinning the success of KM in SMEs.]]>Ahmed, P.K., K.K. Lim and M. Zairi,199911304311Akhavan, P., M. Jafari and M. Fathian,20061897113Alavi, M. and D.E. Leidner,200125107136Al-Busaidi, K.A. and L. Olfman,20058627APQC,1999Bhatt, G.D.,200041526Bozbura, F.T.,20072209221Brelade, S. and C. Harman,200032629Chait, L.P., 1999202326Chong, S.C.,200613230256Wei, C.C., C.S. Choy and W.K. Yew,2009136987Davenport, T.H., D.W. de Long and M.C. Beers,1998394357Davenport, T.H. and S.C. Volpel,20015212222Davis, T.R.V.,1996226886Day, J.D. and J.C. Wendler,199811925Drew, S.A.W.,199730427441du Plessis, M.,20071191101Frey, R.S., 2001203854Goh, S.C.,200262330Hasanali, F.,20022002Holsapple, C.W. and K.D. Joshi,20009235261Horak, B.J.,200121817Hung, Y.C., S.M. Huang, Q.P. Lin and M.L. Tsai,2005105164183Jafari, M., M. Fathian, P. Akhavan and R. Hosnavi,200737207218Jeffcoate, J., C. Chappell and S. Feindt,200073187195King, W.R.,200714226236Liebowitz, J.,199963740Lim, D. and J. Klobas,200018420433Luan, J. and A.M. Serban, 2002200285104Anantatmula, V.S. and S. Kanungo,201014100113Massey, A.P., M.M. Montoya-Weiss and K. Holcom,200132155170McAdam, R. and R. Reid,20015231241McDermott, R. and C. O'Dell,200157685Mentzas, G.,200141011Moffett, S., R. McAdam and S. Parkinson,20037626Metaxiotis, K., K. Ergazakis and J. Psarras,20059618O'Dell, C. and C.J. Grayson,199840154174Okunoye, A. and H. Karsten,200251231Ribiere, V.M. and A. Sitar,200313948Saraph, J.V., P.G. Benson and R.G. Schroeder,198920810829Skyrme, D. and D. Amidon,199712737Tseng, S.M.,200834734745Valmohammadi, C.,20102010Valmohammadi, C.,20104915924Wong, K.Y.,2005105261279Wong, K.Y. and E. Aspinwall,200596482Yahya, S. and W.K. Goh,20026457468Zack, M.H.,199941125145Akhavan, P. and M. Jafari, 2006365266