Discuss how to increase export of Saudi Arabia by using innovation to expand GDP.

Chapter 1: Introduction
1.1: Background the effectiveness of innovation in the international companies
Nowadays, the majority of companies around the world tend to concentrate in implementing a new model of innovation in order to achieve competitive advantage with competitors, whether firms consider themselves high- or low- tech. However, the majority of advanced countries have oriented to invest in development of a new technology after the Second World War. For instance, the national labs in U.S, applied a new model which copied the innovation in other countries, such as CNRS in France or the institutes of the Russian National Academy of sciences (Baird, 1999). Therefore, the international organizations always strive to drive a new idea towards the correct path during measure of the level of satisfied customers about a new innovation. Whereas, the majority of companies spend a lot of money to R&D which assist the companies to recognize if a new innovation will ensure the company’s position in the marketplace. As well as, they emphasis to reduce the intellectual challenges of providing a protection for inventors which consider a high level of motivation to engage with companies (Keathly, Merrill, Owens, Meggarrey, & Posey, 2013).

1.2: The main obstacles of innovation in Saudi Arabia
Indeed, international companies are always searching to support new ideas of innovation that definitely lead them to achieve a high profitability. The international companies can maintain the intellectual property for inventors that incentive them to engage with other companies. In contrast, Saudi government aims to build up a strong system of innovation in order to expand Saudi exporter. Consequently, this term will increase the resource of GDP for Saudi Arabia beside oil exporter of course.
There are four obstacles should be taken into account to bridge a current gaps in Saudi Arabia to insure improvement movement:
1- Private investment and loans for startup are limited whereas no access to equity-backed financing.
2- Existing linkages for technology transfer between foreign and local stakeholders are weak due to the lack an efficient framework.
3- Coordination and cohesion between various departments is lacking.
4- Vibrant entrepreneurship culture

1.3: Why the location of thesis in Saudi Arabia
According to Aranca report (2014) Saudi Arabia is ranked at the lower end of the global technology value chain, but can move up if Saudi Arabia implementing the rapid strides which had been made in the recent years. However, Saudi Arabia should recognize how to secure capital for innovation project. Whereas, Saudi Arabia is considered the best countries who have moved up on World Bank’s knowledge economic. For this reason, private companies in Saudi Arabia are not interesting to adapt a local innovation because they realize that Saudi position in innovation streams is not as strong as. Whereas, the stage of Saudi innovation planning includes four levels to be leader in innovation.
Year Objective
2010 Establish infrastructure for science technology & innovation.
2015 Become a leading country in science, technology & innovation in the region.
2020 Become a leading country in science & innovation in the Asia.
2025 Transform to knowledge based economy global.

1.4: Research question
To explore how the processes of strategic innovation can be used in the Saudi companies to achieve a sustainability competitive advantage in the international marketing? How to improve transfer technology in Saudi private companies by using Saudi Universities?

1.5: Research Aim
The aims of this thesis accelerate innovation strides in Saudi Arabia to achieve a sustainability competitive advantage in the international marketplace through development the R&D centers, and education system. These two elements will provide a suitable environment to start up a new project.
1.6: Research Objective
• Increasing export of Saudi Arabia by using innovation to expand GDP.
• Building a comprehensive system of education to support innovation environment at school and Universities.
• Exploiting available resources such as oil, people and technology to lead innovation.
• Building an effective strategic partnership with experts international companies.
• Investigating why private companies sometimes refuse to adopt a new innovation.

1.7: Scope of Research
The scope of this thesis will discuss how Saudi Arabia can drive innovation, and how as a country can create a new resource to achieve sustainable competitive advantage by using innovation.

1.8: Limitation of Research
The weak linkages to adapt innovation in Saudi Arabia will be examined especially in technology transfers.

1.9: Outline of Chapter
Chapter 2: Literature Review
Chapter two consist of a literature review which is a critical analysis of existing literature review in the field of strategic innovation in Saudi Arabia. It includes details of summary of these points: the effectiveness of strategic innovation in the international companies, the processes of strategic innovation, the relationship between strategic innovation and knowledge management, knowledge as a source of a competitive advantage, the Michel porter theory in a competitive advantage, the effect of innovation to expand GDP for the country, managing innovation network between public and private companies, the impact of lack communication between them, the importance of strategic partnership to improve innovation environmental, the difficulties of adapting a new innovation, approaches to improve education system and evolution R&D program.

Chapter 3: Research Methodology
The current a chapter involves details of summary these points: proposal research, scope of study, research strategy, and research method, sample size, research ethics, limitation of research methodology, and conclusion. Whereas, this methodology in this thesis is only using survey.

Chapter 4: Finding & Analysis
This chapter highlights introduction, the consequences of the survey. As well as, Analyzing will be involved the information from responses and analysis the data of survey.

Chapter 5: Conclusion & Recommendation
This chapter provides a findings, comparisons and summary of the main points of the whole dissertation such as: introduction, thesis aim and objectives, recommendation of the future innovation in Saudi Arabia, and how the strategic innovation should be applied to ensure a sustainability a competitive advantage in innovation stream such as petroleum stream.

Chapter 4: Finding & analysis
4.1: Introduction
4.2: Questionnaire Survey
4.3: Conclusion

1. How many students of your University?

Answer Choices– Responses–
–
From 2000 to 4000 10.67%
8
–
From 4000 to 6000 9.33%
7
–
From 6000 to 8000 10.67%
8
–
More than 8000 44.00%
33
–
I do not know 25.33%
19
Total 75

2. How many students of IT collage? or Engineering collage?
Answer Choices– Responses–
–
From 200 to 400 17.57%
13
–
from 400 to 600 24.32%
18
–
from 600 to 800 21.62%
16
–
More than 800 14.86%
11
–
I do not know 21.62%
16
Total 74

3. What is your stream?
Answer Choices– Responses–
–
Software development 32.00%
24
–
Data analytic 20.00%
15
–
Information and knowledge management 32.00%
24
–
Responses
Other (please specify) 16.00%
12
Total 75
4. What are strategic tools does your University use?
Answer Choices– Responses–
–
Global partnership 33.78%
25
–
creativity 37.84%
28
–
Entrepreneurial research 43.24%
32
–
Graduate training 48.65%
36
–
Knowledge transfer 40.54%
30
–
I do not know 17.57%
13
–
Responses
Other (please specify) 1.35%
1
Total Respondents: 74

5. Do you consider these tools are being sufficient?
Answer Choices– Responses–
–
Nor 0.00%
0
–
Poor 10.81%
8
–
Fair 20.27%
15
–
Good 33.78%
25
–
Very good 16.22%
12
–
Excellent 8.11%
6
–
I do not know 10.81%
8
Total 74
6. Do you consider these tools are being effective?
Answer Choices– Responses–
–
Nor 0.00%
0
–
Poor 9.59%
7
–
Fair 16.44%
12
–
Good 39.73%
29
–
Very good 20.55%
15
–
Excellent 4.11%
3
–
I do not know 9.59%
7
Total 73

7. In which level of capabilities do you consider your university providing an environment of innovation?

– Nor – Poor – Fair – Good – Very Good – Excellent – Total– Weighted Average–
–
Open access 10.96%
8 9.59%
7 15.07%
11 36.99%
27 16.44%
12 10.96%
8
73
3.71
–
Computer rooms 1.33%
1 9.33%
7 17.33%
13 29.33%
22 26.67%
20 16.00%
12
75
4.19
–
Projectors 1.35%
1 5.41%
4 10.81%
8 29.73%
22 31.08%
23 21.62%
16
74
4.49
–
Class rooms with IT 4.00%
3 13.33%
10 12.00%
9 36.00%
27 22.67%
17 12.00%
9
75
3.96
–
Library with IT resource 8.11%
6 12.16%
9 18.92%
14 24.32%
18 17.57%
13 18.92%
14
74
3.88
–
Lecturer IT 4.05%
3 10.81%
8 18.92%
14 27.03%
20 27.03%
20 12.16%
9
74
3.99
–
Speed of the internet 8.00%
6 10.67%
8 17.33%
13 22.67%
17 24.00%
18 17.33%
13
75
3.96

8. To what extent do you agree that your University written guidelines for innovation the following?

– Strongly agree – Agree– Neutral – Disagree – Strongly agree – Total– Weighted Average–
–
Vision 19.18%
14 34.25%
25 35.62%
26 8.22%
6 2.74%
2
73
2.41
–
Mission 9.59%
7 41.10%
30 38.36%
28 9.59%
7 1.37%
1
73
2.52
–
Strategy 12.50%
9 29.17%
21 40.28%
29 12.50%
9 5.56%
4
72
2.69
–
Action plan 9.59%
7 31.51%
23 31.51%
23 20.55%
15 6.85%
5
73
2.84

9. Who is involved in your innovation processes?
Answer Choices– Responses–
–
CEO of R&D 32.00%
24
–
Lecturer 77.33%
58
–
Head office of department 52.00%
39
–
Director 38.67%
29
–
Manager of computer rooms 30.67%
23
–
Responses
Other (please specify) 0.00%
0
Total Respondents: 75

10.How often does your university improve its Software?
Answer Choices– Responses–
–
Every year 16.00%
12
–
2 years 30.67%
23
–
3 years 6.67%
5
–
4 years 9.33%
7
–
No strategic plan 12.00%
9
–
I do not know 25.33%
19
Total 75

11.How does your University improve its infrastructure?
Answer Choices– Responses–
–
Every year 14.67%
11
–
2 years 26.67%
20
–
3 years 13.33%
10
–
4 years 0.00%
0
–
No strategic plan 6.67%
5
–
I do not know 37.33%
28
–
Responses
Other (please specify) 1.33%
1
Total 75

12. How important is a strategic innovation to the University?
Answer Choices– Responses–
–
Not important 5.41%
4
–
Somewhat important 31.08%
23
–
Important 27.03%
20
–
Very important 22.97%
17
–
I do not know 13.51%
10
Total 74

13. To what extent do you agree that it is important to implement strategic innovation in order to meet the future demand of development the technological education system in KSA?
nswer Choices– Responses–
–
Strongly agree 26.67%
20
–
Agree 37.33%
28
–
Neither 17.33%
13
–
Disagree 8.00%
6
–
Strongly disagree 2.67%
2
–
I do not know 8.00%
6
Total 75

14. Does your University implement strategic in systematic and deliberate manner?
Answer Choices– Responses–
–
Yes 15.07%
11
–
Yes (but informally) 39.73%
29
–
Not sure/ Not applicable 38.36%
28
–
No 6.85%
5
Total 73

15. How do you think University can improve innovation practices? Think about it if you want.

8/10/2015 9:44 AM View respondent’s answers
By make the training with the efficient companies as Aramco.
8/9/2015 4:08 PM View respondent’s answers
I like this way
8/9/2015 2:48 PM View respondent’s answers
Competitive grants. Quality improvement and measuring in general. Researches. Advisers.finally which is the most important thing is motivate them.
8/6/2015 4:47 PM View respondent’s answers
Using tools for a high performance, and establish them on their way while foucsing on the weaknesses of each student they have.
8/5/2015 3:57 PM View respondent’s answers
Make more training programm
8/5/2015 1:33 PM View respondent’s answers
Send students abroad to study
8/5/2015 11:12 AM View respondent’s answers
I don’t know
8/4/2015 9:36 AM View respondent’s answers
Improv black boards , plagiarism law, student work independently
8/2/2015 7:52 AM View respondent’s answers
To give more lectures about innovation
7/27/2015 7:34 PM View respondent’s answers
Nothing
7/11/2015 10:35 PM View respondent’s answers
no
7/11/2015 7:27 PM View respondent’s answers
Make plan and strong strategy to main there goals
6/28/2015 6:54 PM View respondent’s answers
.
6/28/2015 3:37 PM View respondent’s answers
I guess it’s not enough to do that very well
6/28/2015 2:40 PM View respondent’s answers
I don’t know
6/28/2015 1:51 PM View respondent’s answers
Support student for innovating
6/28/2015 1:10 PM View respondent’s answers