A study on the application of fuzzy analytic hierarchy process to construct an R and D management effectiveness evaluation index for Taiwan's high-tech industry

The high-tech industry is one of the most important links in Taiwan's economic development. Research and Development (R and D) technology and management is the key to sustainable enterprises. However, the involvement of many difficult quantification factors and the fuzzy character of human subjective judgment on the R and D management content and process makes R and D management effectiveness evaluation more difficult. This study adopted the Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP) from the Fuzzy Theory to develop a set of systematized evaluation indices for R and D management effectiveness. This method is designed to assist enterprises in conducting R and D management effectiveness evaluations to achieve the goal increasing enterprise competitiveness. According to the outcome of this study, the researchers found the importance and weight of these major aspects for Taiwan's high-tech industry's R and D management effectiveness is shown as follows: R and D and Innovation (0.346), R and D Process (0.269), Customer (0.209) and R and D Personnel (0.184). Moreover, among the effectiveness evaluations on implementing the R and D management in certain industries, R and D and Innovation and R and D Process are determined as the important item that revealed how Taiwan's high-tech industries are particular about achieving R and D management through the completed R and D and innovation process. © 2007 Asian Network for Scientific Information.