Interpretive structural modelling for critical success factors of R&D performance in Indian manufacturing firms

Purpose – In order to enhance the performance of R&D in manufacturing organizations, the R&D managers need to identify the internal as well as the external factors that affect the R&D performance of manufacturing organizations in India. They need to understand the inter‐dependencies of these factors. This paper seeks to identify the critical success factors for R&D in Indian manufacturing firms. Design/methodology/approach – There may be a number of factors that are critical for achieving acceptable R&D performance and these factors have been identified by a number of instruments or means, such as questionnaire surveys, brainstorming, and consolidation by Principal Component Analysis (PCA). A total of 14 factors have been identified by using principal component analysis and finally we have developed a structure of interrelationship among the identified critical success factors using an interpretive structural model. Findings – The results show that R&D vision and direction and R&D oriented culture are the most important critical success factors (CSFs) and they have a great influence on the other CSFs. Though R&D vision and direction and R&D oriented culture are the short‐term objectives, Indian manufacturing firms should be equipped with proper R&D management strategy to achieve the long‐term objectives, such as achievement of revenue and profitability within a quick time frame. Practical implications – Although R&D managers of Indian manufacturing firms are aware of various critical success factors, a systematic approach is required for identifying them, and as these factors may have complex interrelations between them for analyzing R&D performance in a manufacturing firm, it is essential that such an approach is in place. The hierarchy based ISM further defines those factors which are really critical and need more focus on the root causes of the success. In addition to that, the proposed ISM model acts as a good guideline in order to improve the performance of the manufacturing R&D organizations in India. Originality/value – The paper provides an interpretive structural model to develop a map of the complex relationships and magnitude among identified critical success factors.