Title: Using fuzzy AHP and fuzzy TOPSIS methods for prioritisation of technological competencies to maximise the financial and non-financial performance

Authors: Elham Keshavarz; Tahereh Heydari; Abolfazl Rohani; Seyed Mohammad Bagheri

Addresses: Business Management Department, Payame Noor University, P.O. Box 19395-3697, Tehran, Iran ' Department of Industrial Engineering, Payame Noor University, P.O. Box 19395-3697, Tehran, Iran ' Department of Industrial Engineering, Payame Noor University, P.O. Box 19395-3697, Tehran, Iran ' Business Management Department, Payam Noor University, P.O. Box 19395-3697, Tehran, Iran

Abstract: Over the last few decades, companies have invested in technological competency that such an investment would improve operating efficiency and thus improves financial and non-financial performance. The principle of core competency is the basis of acquiring competitive advantage. Technological competency is the most tangible type of the core competencies in the firm level, which helps the firm to make the best use of its opportunities by producing new products and also by extending new processes inside the firm, relative to the competitors. The firm, whose technology competency level is higher than rivals, will generate and introduce more innovative products. The model of this study is tested on a sample of 12 experts in four coil companies in Iran which own about 90% of the market share in the coil industry. In this research, technological competency factors are prioritised according to the competitive advantage levels and competitive priorities by using fuzzy analytic hierarchy process and fuzzy TOPSIS with the aim of maximising the financial and non-financial performance at coil manufacture industry. The results of using two fuzzy techniques to prioritise competencies indicate that in the coil industry in Iran, process technology is of greater importance than product technology and technology management.

Keywords: technological competencies; core competencies; fuzzy AHP; analytical hierarchy process; FAHP; fuzzy TOPSIS; coil industry; financial performance; non-financial performance; Iran; technological competency; fuzzy logic; process technology; product technology; technology management.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBIS.2014.063769

International Journal of Business Information Systems, 2014 Vol.16 No.3, pp.297 - 320

Published online: 25 Jul 2014 *

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