Modeling the Innovation Process in a Defense Research Organization with Interpretive-Structural Modeling Approach

According to some research conducted in the field of innovation, many researchers have pointed to the importance of innovation process in enhancing the competitiveness and productivity of the organization. However, a comprehensive study was not conducted specifically to explain the vital variables in the process of innovation, and how these variables interrelate. So the main question of this research is as follow: what are the stages of the innovation process? What variables does it include? And in what interactions are they engaged? In this research, by studying past studies in relation to the innovation process, attempts have been made to identify the aspects, components and vital indicators of the innovation process in a research organization by utilizing qualitative content analysis method, and then by applying the interpretative strauctural modeling method, the relationship between the indexes of Innovation process, were analyzed and explained. Based on the findings of qualitative content analysis, a total of 3 dimensions, 7 components and 18 indicators were identified as components of the stages of the innovation process in a defense research center, and then based on the results of the interpretive structural modeling method, the mentioned indices were categorized into 8 levels in terms of penetration intensity on each other. The results revealed that the "supply of innovation in the market", "the selection of the best ideas", "the rate of acceptance of innovation" and "the degree of application of innovation" have great influence (independency). Therefore, the defense research organization should pay particular attention to the mentioned indicators in order to achieve innovation.