Key Barriers to Achieving Innovation in Edible Oil Companies: An Importance–Performance Map Analysis (IPMA) in a Developing Country

Document Type : Original Research Article

Authors

1 Associate Prof., Department of Industrial Management, Faculty of Management and Economics, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.

2 Ph.D. Candidate, Department of Industrial Management, Faculty of Management and Economics, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.

3 Ph.D. Candidate, Ph.D. Candidate, Department of Industrial Management, Faculty of Management and Economics, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.

10.22059/imj.2026.412018.1008295

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to identify innovation barriers in Iranian edible oil manufacturing companies, screen the most relevant barriers, and prioritize them for improvement and resolution.
Methodology: A literature review and expert interviews were conducted to identify 33 innovation barriers. Subsequently, the Content Validity Ratio (CVR) method was employed to screen the barriers, resulting in the retention of 22 relevant items. Finally, a questionnaire survey was administered among Iranian edible oil companies, and Importance–Performance Map Analysis (IPMA) was applied to prioritize the identified barriers. 
Results: The findings revealed that barriers associated with the network and ecosystem dimension required the greatest managerial attention. At the indicator level, low inter-organizational trust, weak ties with research institutions, weak monitoring of global innovation developments, restriction of employees’ freedom in idea development, and organizational resistance to change and innovation were identified as the highest-priority barriers for improvement.
Conclusion: In industries such as edible oil manufacturing, which are characterized by extensive value chains and strong dependence on external knowledge sources, innovation challenges extend beyond financial and resource constraints and are more closely associated with organizational, institutional, and knowledge-network factors. Therefore, external collaborations, knowledge exchange mechanisms, and supportive organizational environments play a critical role in strengthening innovation capabilities.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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Industrial Management Journal
Volume 18, Issue 3
2026
Pages 75-110

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