Strategic Planning for the Automotive Industry of Iran: A Strategic Foresight Approach Focusing on the Field of Science, Technology and Innovation

The automotive industry has a strong role in the Iranian economy due to its extensive communication with other industries and its high production and employment levels. Therefore, it is important to improve policy-making and strategy in this industry. This research tries to provide strategic options for policy making in the Iranian automotive industry based on a strategic foresight approach. First, data on the theoretical foundations of the research were collected through library research method and five types of integrated strategy options were introduced based on the literature review of the research. The overall research methodology is qualitative. Delphi technique was used to identify future industry perspective in 2021. The Inter-Quartile Range was used as an indicator for the consensus of experts. Then, plotting the "distribution chart" based on the two-axis effect rate and probability of occurrence, nine images were selected as priority images. In the end, the research presents some recommendations for improving policy in the automotive industry of Iran, based on the five kinds of strategic options and images extracted in the foresight process. The method of presenting strategic options based on the strategic foresight approach is the innovation of this research.