Designing a model for determining the level of technological complexity of research and development activities in knowledge-based companies

Today, in developed countries, the research and development department of knowledge-based companies has played a very important role in the production of new and advanced technologies and ultimately the growth of the knowledge-based economy. One of the important reasons for the success of these companies some of which have become the world’s technology giants), conducting research and development activities based on global standards and having a high level of technological complexity. The current research, which is applied research, was conducted with the aim of identifying and classifying the effective factors in determining the level of technological complexity of research and development activities in knowledge-based companies. This research is a type of qualitative research that was conducted using the data-based method. The statistical population of the research was 20 research and development experts and specialists of Iranian knowledge-based companies. Data collection was done through a literature review and semi-structured interviews until theoretical saturation was achieved. By analyzing the data, the first 149 variables were extracted and during the three stages of open, central and selective coding, 98 influential factors were identified in determining the level of technological complexity of research and development activities, then, while identifying the central category, Identified factors were included in the main categories (including: causal, contextual, intervening conditions, strategies and consequences) and the research paradigm model was extracted.  In the current research, during the coding process, the identified factors were classified into 6 categories. Achieving advanced technology was considered as a central category, which includes the variables of the novelty of activity, the creativity of activity, uncertainty of result, systematicity, transferability of results, speed of development, added value of technology, distinctiveness from competitors, and credibility. The result of technology is the potential of learning, and the extent of the application of technology Conclusion: Identifying related factors will provide the possibility for knowledge-based companies to help improve the level of complexity of the country’s own activities.