Designing a Model of Empowerment for Small and Medium-Sized Businesses Knowledge-Based with a DEMATEL Approach

This study aimed at designing a model of empowerment for knowledge based small and medium-sized enterprises. We conducted this study, considering the shortages of previous studies on comprehensive empowerment model of SMEs. We used a mixed method to collect data. The statistic population in both qualitative and quantitative parts of the study included academicians and the experts from SME enterprises.  In qualitative part of the study, we conducted a semi-structured interviews and in quantitative part, pairwise comparison questionnaire was used to be filled by experts.  Data were collected in qualitative part of the study by a semi-structured interviews and in quantitative part; pairwise comparison questionnaire was used for expert survey. We used theme analysis in the qualitative part of the study and the DEMATEL method for quantitative part of the study. The findings of theme analysis showed that the knowledge-based SME empowerment model is consisted of five dimensions; individual, financial, entrepreneurial, marketing and technology empowerment. The quantitative findings indicated that the factors affecting SME empowerment are individual and financial empowerment and impressible factors are entrepreneurial, marketing, and technology empowerment.