Title: Improving knowledge sharing, creation, and innovation performance in nanotechnology firms: an application of the hybrid model of Kano and QFD

Authors: Azam Sazvar; Mahmood Yahyazadehfar; Hassanali Aghajani

Addresses: Faculty of Economics and Administrative Science, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Mazandaran, Iran; Nima Higher Education Institute, P.O. Box 46315-315, Mazandaran, Iran ' Department of Business Management, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Mazandaran, 13534-47416, Iran ' Department of Industrial Management, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Mazandaran, 13534-47416, Iran

Abstract: Despite previous studies that consider the sharing and creation of knowledge as a prerequisite for innovation, we believe that in companies with high technologies such as nanotechnology, these three variables are in an interactive line and improvement of the scope of each variable will result in the improvement of the scope of other two ones. For this reason, after designing the questionnaire based on the literature and determining the sample size, finally, 134 questionnaires were collected from the activists of nanotechnology companies in Tehran, which constituted the final sample of the study. As a contribution to the present research, in-depth interviews of quality function deployment (QFD) model were conducted with seven managers of the study companies, who had agreed to participate in the study. Finally, 10 strategies including development of venture capital firms, introducing benefits of nanotechnology to society, adoption of the laws of intellectual property, and tax exemption were introduced for nanotechnology companies.

Keywords: knowledge sharing; knowledge creation; innovation performance; nanotechnology companies; QFD model.

DOI: 10.1504/IJKL.2017.088184

International Journal of Knowledge and Learning, 2017 Vol.12 No.1, pp.59 - 73

Accepted: 14 Jul 2017
Published online: 27 Nov 2017 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article