فصلنامه بهبود مدیریت
پیاپی 51 (بهار 1400)

Abstract In complex product and systems development strategies, technological catch-up is one of the most important strategies to reduce the technological gap between latecomer countries and technology leaders, in which latecomer countries can reduce their distance from the leaders by imitation, leap and investment. In the last decade, this strategy has been considered by many researchers, but studies show that many of these experiments have failed due to the lack of attention to all the components that affect the technology ecosystem. Due to the complexity of the economic environment, uncertainties and environmental changes, the actions of the factors affecting the ecosystem are different and it is necessary to consider the effect of these factors on the catch-up process. The results of this study show that the occurrence of successful technological catch-up in complex products and systems, requires the development of technological capabilities, adaptation of governance policies at the national level and proper use of the country's comparative advantages. In this research, focusing on technological capabilities and reviewing the literature and field research, using the combined research method, the factors affecting technological catch-up have been identified, analyzed and prioritized. Findings show key factors including technical and infrastructural capabilities, global value chain integration, governance, technological regimes, social capital, accumulation of wealth and financial resources, physical resources and geographical, economic sanctions, market factors and components, and institutionalization ,they are effective in the occurrence of technological catch-up in the Iranian petrochemical industry.

The present study aims to identify the factors affecting technological collaboration between large and technology-based firms (KBFs). In this regard, using multi-case study method, 9 collaborations cases in the period 2006 to 2016 between 3 large firms and 9 KBFs in the field of nanotechnology and biotechnology in Iran have been studied. Data gathering tool is 19 semi-structured interviews with key people of large and KBFs involved in collaborative experiences and has been done from autumn to spring 2016. the method of data analysis is through content analysis and axial codin. Based on the results, the factors affecting the collaborations are presented separately for specific challenges and drivers for large and KBFs, as well as in the field of technology. Based on the results, the factors affecting collaborations are divided into two types of specific challenges and drivers. Challenging factors include the complex procedures of large firms and the unfamiliarity of KBFs with business rules. The dominance of KBFs over technical knowledge and the access of large firms to the market have also been the main drivers of collaborations. These factors can help policymakers, large firms and KBFs to overcome challenges and strengthen the collaboration drivers.

Technological innovation is the backbone of New Technology Based companies and one of the main factors for survival and gaining a competitive advantage for these companies. Creating a continuous flow of innovations in these companies requires the formation of innovation capabilities. This research has been done with an in-depth study of eight new technology based companies in the medical equipment sector of Fars province with a historical approach with the aim of discovering the path of formation and development of this capability in these companies. Using structured interviews and observing and studying the available documents, the required data were collected and using thematic analysis method, semantic expressions were classified in the form of conceptual codes and then sub-main and main themes. Finally, the thematic map of the research is drawn. The results show that the path of formation of technological innovation capability in these companies includes four stages of focusing on finding solutions to solve customer problems, technical and engineering knowledge, regulating management functions and creating internal discipline.

The aviation industry is considered as a critical strategic industry in complex product systems for the national economy and security. The main purpose of this paper is the institutional analysis of the actors’ roles in the implementation process of two national technology megaprojects in Iran aviation industry. By examining the backgrounds and experiences of late comer countries in megaprojects of designing and developing products, a framework of actors and their measures in each stage of these megaprojects has been presented. The present study strategy is dual case study, its orientation is applied, its purpose is descriptive and its approach is qualitative. The primary data gathering tool is interviews with 14 experienced experts who were involved in two studied megaprojects in the field of aviation which was conducted in the second half of 2019. In order to collect secondary data, the whole available documents and evidence regarding to Iran aviation industry, and especially the two studied megaprojects have been used. The method of data analysis is through content analysis and axial coding. According to the findings of this study, national technology megaprojects are complex and multi-stage processes. Therefore, their implementations require cooperation and coordination among an extensive network of different institutions such as public and private sectors, universities and research centers. The results of this research could be used by policy makers and responsible institutions for better planning and effective management of national megaprojects in the field of aviation.

This study is a historical narrative focusing on a specific period between the early 1970s to the present day in the automotive parts industry of Iran. During this period, there have been changes in this industry which can be marked as changing contexts and texts. The development of the auto parts industry in this period is an example of the processes of development in Iranian industries, which, regardless of its intended and unintended consequences, requires a real analysis to provide a basis for common understanding. This research seeks to answer the question of what narrative of industrial development in the automotive parts industry of Iran can be yielded and what are the lessons learned from this narrative. To this purpose, by conducting an exploratory study, we seek to provide a narrative of the evolution and development of this industry. The basic evolutionary trends of the automotive parts industry have been extracted through in-depth interviews. In the final analysis, it was argued that cognition of social reality, regardless of political views, provides a deeper and more comprehensive understanding and acts as a barrier to descriptions derived from the short-term and everyday perspectives that are discontinuous in social terms. The scourge of this kind of look is like an ax to the root and ignores the vast efforts in this industry. Accordingly, an alternative discourse has been proposed to describe the industry as it is, in order to be a stimulus for re-growth of this industry.

Policy, science, and innovation policy indicators are important to provide the information needed to support evidence-based policy, as well as to provide effective monitoring and evaluation capabilities for policies. Also, due to the great complexity of the system of science, technology and innovation, designing a comprehensive model for policy-making in this area is one of the major concerns of policy makers and decision makers. The main purpose of this study is to design a linking model between the factors affecting the appropriate policy-making of the phenomenon of science, technology and innovation, as well as how the factors affect. By comprehensively reviewing the research background, a conceptual framework was extracted from the effective and shaping factors of science, technology and innovation policy. The current status and importance of these factors were questioned using a 56-item questionnaire. Using the data obtained from the questionnaire and SPSS software, Pearson simple correlation matrix was extracted and used as input of FCMapper software. Then, by entering the output of FCMapper software in Pajek software, a fuzzy cognitive map is drawn. According to the obtained results, the employment factor in the field of policy-making was identified as the most important factor among other factors. Finally, the most important forward and backward scenarios for science, technology and innovation policy-making in the science and technology corridor of Yazd province are examined.