Proposing a model of technological innovation enablers in small and medium enterprises using structural-interpretive modeling

Small and medium enterprises are the main place of growth, entrepreneurship, employment, innovation, and risk taking. One of the basic ways to upgrade the competitiveness of these industries is to improve the status of technological innovation. Therefore, in view of the specific characteristics of these industries, identifying and upgrading the status of enablers can be very effective and promising in order to succeed in improving technological innovation. Thus, the purpose of this research is to present a structural model of the technological innovation enablers in the small and medium industries. In this research, after studying theoretical foundations of research and experts’ views, 8 dimensions and 32 related components were identified as technological innovation enablers. In the next step, using structural-interpretive modeling, relations between dimensions of the enablers of technological innovation were determined, and by leveling them the research model was drawn. The results showed that the dimensions of "technological factors", "knowledge management", and "external links" respectively have the highest priority in achieving technological innovation in the small and medium enterprises. The presented model in this research, while offering the dimensions and components of the technological innovation enablers and their priorities, can be used as a systematic and integrated native model for long-term promotion of the technological innovation level in the small and medium enterprises.