Determining the Critical Factors of Radical Innovation Using an Integrated Model of Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process-Fuzzy Kano With a Case Study in Mobarakeh Steel Company

Abstract

Understanding which radical innovation factor is of higher priority enables engineering managers to allocate the appropriate resources to innovation processes. The aim of this article is to develop a systematic approach for determining the most necessary factors affecting radical innovation. For this purpose, a model was proposed with the following three steps: (i) a comprehensive set of factors was extracted from the literature and customized for a case study company; (ii) quality attributes of the Kano model were applied and weighted as attributes for a fuzzy analytic hierarchy process; and (iii) the factors derived from the second step were weighted using a fuzzy Kano approach and then the critical or must-be factors were identified and weighted. All three steps have been examined at Mobarakeh Steel Company. Findings indicate that factors such as leadership and knowledge management are among the critical factors of radical innovation and must be improved to positively impact radical innovation. Prioritizing radical innovation factors enables engineering managers to allocate the appropriate resources to innovation processes. © 2017 Taylor & Francis.