Explaining the Structural Model of the Dimensions of the Mission-Oriented Innovation System (MIS) Toward Completing the Value Chain in the Iron and Steel Industry (Case Study: Ghadir International Industries and Mines Development Company)

The objective of the present study was to explain the structural model of the dimensions of the mission-oriented innovation system (MIS) with the aim of completing the value chain in the iron and steel industry within Ghadir International Industries and Mines Development Company. The statistical population consisted of managers and experts from the subsidiary companies of Ghadir International Industries and Mines Development Company, including Gohar Zamin Iron Ore Company, Golgohar Iron and Steel Development Company, Ghadir Mines and Industries Exploration Company, Shahroud Steel Company, Ghadir Iranian Iron and Steel Company, Neyriz Ghadir Steel Company, and Iran Alloy Steel Company. Given that these companies collectively employ around 4,500 individuals, a minimum sample size of 351 was selected using available sampling based on the number of latent variables. Data collection was conducted using a researcher-made questionnaire developed from the qualitative study by Koreshi et al. (2023), through which the dimensions of the mission-oriented innovation system were identified. Data analysis was performed using the structural equation modeling (SEM) method via SmartPLS software. The validity and reliability of the research dimensions were confirmed based on the measurement model within the SEM framework. The findings revealed that the observed correlations between all research dimensions were statistically significant, except for the following relationships: between the creation of mission-oriented innovation opportunities and the enhancement of technological policies; between the creation of mission-oriented innovation opportunities and the development of mission-oriented policies; between the creation of mission-oriented innovation opportunities and the cultivation of human resources; between the foundations for group learning and the development of mission-oriented policies; between the development of steel industry infrastructure and the enhancement of technological policies; and between research challenges and the cultivation of human resources. A GOF (Goodness of Fit) value of 0.613 indicates a strong overall model fit in the present study.