Journal of Improvement management
Year:2020 | Volume:14 | Issue:1 (47)|Papers Count:6

This paper aims to analyze the historical evolution of solar photovoltaic technology development in Iran with an emphasis on the role of physical and hard Institutions in the period from 1991 to 2020. To this end, while examining the concept of Institution and its implications in the backgrounds and experiences of other countries, we has been analyzed the role of physical (organizations) and hard Institutions (laws, policies, and regulations) in the development of solar photovoltaic technology in Iran during the three main periods of development of this technology. The present study is of applied purpose and qualitative research method. Data gathering tools are semi-structured interviews and secondary data and the method of data analysis is through content analysis and axial coding. The statistical population for the expert interview is experienced in solar energy in Iran and 18 experts have been selected and interviewed by the snowball technique. Its temporal territory is between 1991 and 2020, and its spatial territory is Iran. According to the findings of this study, in the first period (1991-2006) the institutional focus was on familiarizing authorities with renewable energies and promoting this energy. While in the second period (2006 to 2015) the institutional focus has been shifted towards supporting the development of solar photovoltaic technology and in the third period (2015 to 2020) the institutional orientation has been directed towards creating a renewable and solar energy market in Iran.

This study seeks to identify intra-firm capability infrastructures by examining the historical trends of countries: Canada, Brazil, China, and Japan. As we look at the historical trajectory of aircraft technology acquisition in these countries and their entry into this complex field, it is clear that each of these countries first reached a threshold level of capability. In other words, they created the development capacity in their country. It was necessary to develop the capacity to build capability infrastructures. By examining the historical course of capability building in these countries and comparing them with Iran's capabilities in this area and analyzing them, Iran's technology gap with the target countries was identified. And finally, by aligning and comparing the historical trends of these countries, the necessary infrastructure at the enterprise level has been formulated as a prelude to technology catching up. It should be noted that the spectrum capability infrastructures are an extended spectrum, but we focused on firm-level capabilities in this spectrum, and filling them all is beyond the capacity of a single paper.

Innovation system studies have increased significantly over the past decades and various approaches have been presented in the literature; consequently, innovation policies have undergone substantial changes in the context of each period. Most of these approaches have focused on the development of technological innovation for purely economic purposes. Resolving macro-level societal problems based on the innovation system, called “ Problem-oriented Innovation System (PIS)” , has recently been introduced in the related literature and has opened a new path for economic and social development of countries. Implementation of this framework by policymakers will serve as the basis for developing problem-oriented innovation policy for the problems or challenges facing society. To this end, this paper, while presenting the historical evolution of innovation policies, introduces analytical framework of “ Problem-oriented Innovation System” as a comprehensive approach to analyzing technical and social innovation processes for resolving large scale problems with the aim of providing a basis for problem-oriented innovation policy. In the following, we analyze two case studies (the problem resolution systems of US earthquake and the digital divide in South Korea) based on the “ Event History Analysis” strategy. Finally, we will discuss the application of the Problem-oriented Innovation System in the “ Iran's drought problem” .

Maintaining competitive position and survival is one of the most important challenges for companies in the condition of high environmental uncertainty. In such a situation, it is very difficult for corporates to analyze and predict the dynamics of cooperation and competition. However, coopetition is a strategy that has attracted the attention of many corporates in the last two decades in order to gain, maintain and improve its competitive position. Given the uncertainty surrounding sanctions in the country's business environment, a coopetition strategy is beneficial for many corporates to overcome this situation. But studies show that no pattern of coopetition strategy has not yet been presented in the condition of high uncertainty. In this regard, the aim of this study is to provide a comprehensive model of coopetition strategy based on a systemic approach in the condition of sanctions. In this study, in order to explain a comprehensive model of coopetition, all dimensions of coopetition strategy including 13 dimensions and 80 indicators have been identified by a systematic review of literature and with help of meta-synthesis qualitative research method. This include three section: driver, process, and outcome. Based on the model, drivers include intra-organizational (individual and organizational) and extra-organizational factors (environmental and industrial), processes include selection management, communication management, operations management, sustainability management and tension management, and the outcomes of coopetition also include micro-level (customer and organization) and macro-level (inter-organization and industry). The proposed model can be used by managers and policymakers as a basis for planning in conditions of high environmental uncertainty.

Background: In the new economy, due to the increasing competition among e-businesses, it is important to have a proper business model in e-businesses for success in business. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the factors affecting the e-business model in Iranian startups. Method: The statistical population of this study consisted of ten Iranian startups. Given the size of population, sample was selected through the census of 113 individuals. Main variables of the study include key partners, key activities, key resources, value proposition, customer relationship, communication channels, cost structure, revenue streams, e-business culture, supply chain. Data were collected through interview, questionnaire and documentation. After extracting the dimensions of e-business model, a questionnaire was developed. The questionnaires were distributed to Delphi experts and then according to Delphi experts, final questionnaire was prepared and distributed to the managers and stakeholders of e-businesses. Delphi hourly method was used to determine the validity of questionnaire and Cronbach's alpha method was used to determine the reliability. Data analysis technique was performed through structural equations. Results: In this study, the impact of key partners, key activities, key resources, value proposition, customer relationship, communication channels, cost structure, revenue flow, e-business culture, supply chain on e-businesses was proven. Conclusion: Dimensions of e-business model increase productivity and success in Iranian startups by affecting Iranian startups.

While evidence shows a significant effect of absorptive capacity on innovation around the world, no policy for improving absorptive capacity of defense firms has been adopted. As a result, a question arises that how increasing absorptive capacity of defense firms leads to increase their innovation performance. Defense customer’ s needs made defense firms to incline more toward exploitation, but the owner of these firms-defense ministries is more inclined to exploration. The purpose of this study is to understand this duality and how absorptive capacities of these firms affect their parallel moves towards exploitative and explorative innovations. This study is an applied research on purpose and from data gathering point of view is a mixed one. In qualitative part using 12 interviews with experts of university and industries, a model and framework came up. In quantitative part based on 10 hypothesis on the study framework, 60 questionnaires has been gathered from different defense firms and its data went under analysis. Realized absorptive capacity affects exploitative and explorative innovations and ambidexterity, and that potential absorptive capacity mediates their relations. It was also shown that potential absorptive capacity is a prerequisite of realized absorptive capacity and ambidextrous defense firms have higher performance compared to other defense firms. Policy makers should emphasize more on exploitation and realized absorptive capacity for firms in their maturity and decline life cycle. In other hand they should focus and invest on exploration and potential abortive capacity for firms in introduction and growth stage.