The developmental model of technological capability in the Iranian medical equipment industries: A multi-case study

Abstract

In recent decades, many countries have selected the industrialisation path and adopted different strategies to improve economic conditions. In addition, wealth creation from science and technology has been welcomed by many theorists of development. Thus, developing countries have tried to develop technological capabilities of their own. This issue has not been ignored in Iran where many companies have tried to form bedrocks for technological capabilities and local technologies. This multi-case study aimed to investigate the methods of technological capability formation in five companies active in the medical equipment field and to model their modes of operation. The findings indicated that the surveyed companies focused on three aspects entailing activities within the organisation, activities outside the organisation and learning styles in order to develop technological capabilities. Further analysis illustrated firstly a co-evolutionary relationship between activities aiming to boost technological capabilities and ‘learning’ and secondly, the ultimate goal of activities related to improve technological capabilities is to promot learning flow within the organisations.