Proposing a Qualitative Model for Competitive Advantage in High Tech Industries

Abstract

With regard to competitive advantage complexity and specific characteristics of high tech industries, in this research by a cognitive mapping methodology we develop a qualitative model for interpreting the competitive advantage in company level for high tech industries. In first, after describing the research problem, we present a comparative review of four recent theories of firm and competitive advantage that has been applied by different researchers in the high tech and knowledge intensive organization filed. In second, with a detailed review of literature and previous research, an initial research framework has been proposed, and applied research method for it. Different tools and techniques from cognitive mapping and social network analysis have been used in developing a qualitative model for competitive advantage. The main and final section of paper assigned to describing the result of research in different steps of qualitative modeling process.

Keywords

• Causal Mapping
• Competitive Advantage
• Entrepreneurial Theory of Firm
• High Tech Industries
• Qualitative Modeling