Analysis of managers' mental patterns towards management innovation in knowledge-based companies using Q method

Today, innovation, performance improvement and maintaining competitive advantage are the main goals of knowledge-based companies and management innovation can play a significant role in achieving these goals. In this context, the purpose of this study is to achieve different mental patterns of managers towards management innovation in knowledge-based companies and to identify key factors resulting from the explanation of these mental patterns. This research is paradigmatic, interpretive and positivist and based on the purpose of applied research, According to the purpose of the present study, the combined Q method was used to perform it. The participants of this research are managers in knowledge-based companies and their selection was based on their expertise and close relationship with the research topic. Thus, 20 managers with the mentioned characteristics were selected in order to sort the Q ranking table through purposive sampling, which is expected to have more diverse mindsets. In the next step, after sorting the factors in the form of Q cards on the Q ranking table, the obtained data were processed and analyzed by SPSS software. The results of this study show six different subjective patterns resulting from scoring participants' Q options, which Accordingly 27 factors include; Organizational Strategy, Employee Ability, Higher Education Workforce, Partnership, Information and Communication Technology Systems, Market Focus, Community Wealth, Senior Management Commitment, Managerial Education, Transformational Leadership, Tireless Leadership, Formalization, Organizational Policy, Knowledge Management, Organizational learning, absorption capacity, perceptibility, innovative culture, human resources, competitive pressure, rapid technological change, environmental dynamics, government effectiveness, senior management participation, managers 'attitudes toward innovation, managers' personality traits and strategic leadership. are the result of explaining these mental patterns.