A hybrid multi-criteria decision making model for technological innovation capabilities measurement in automotive parts industry

Technological innovation capabilities (TICs) are currently one of the essential factors to enhance the competitiveness of enterprises. The measurement of TICs is a complicated decision making process and quite difficult to perform because its assessment involves multi-attribute criteria and the subjective judgements of experts. To solve these problems, this study provides a TICs evaluating model by employing a hybrid multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) technique. This method is an integration of four approaches, consisting of: 1) fuzzy Delphi; 2) fuzzy DEMATEL; 3) analytical network process; 4) technique for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution (TOPSIS). The final results showed the measurement criteria, the interrelationship and the relative important weights among criteria and the ranking of TICs of firms. An empirical study is also illustrated in Thai automotive parts firms as a case study. Furthermore, this study could assist industrial managers to efficiently evaluate TICs and its direction of improvement.