A Dynamic Model of Effective Factors on Open Innovation in Manufacturing Small and Medium Sized Companies

Open Innovation is a key to improve SMEs' performance in a dynamic marketplace. This article aims to present a dynamic model based on causal relationships among the most important effective factors on Open Innovation in manufacturing SMEs by using system dynamics modelling approach. To study the most important factors, the data collected by questionnaires filled by 275 experts, and analyzed by SPSS and PLS. Causal relationships among studied factors and efficacy coefficients of each factor were identified by fuzzy DEMATEL technique, the data collected from 12 experts and analyzed by MATLAB and EXCEL. Finally, the dynamic model was plotted by VENSIM. According to the results, only strategy of organization has a single loop of causality and effects on itself directly. Economic factors are the most important causal factor that has the highest influence on the other factors. Strategy of organization takes the highest effect from the system and organizational learning is in the next rank. Besides, partners are the most important effected factor and ecological issues as an effected factor has no influence on the others.