_{Thesis Title: Presenting a Framework for Gap Analysis in the Capability of System Architecture}

_{Complex systems have a high economic as well as strategic importance and a distinguish role in development and growth of countries. Technological innovation is necessary for improving firms active in the value chains of such systems. Technological innovation is based on appropriate motivations, external opportunities, organizational context and related capabilities. Among these determinants, this thesis is focused on innovation capabilities in complex systems. Integration challenge is the most important due to the nature of the system and complexity of the product or its production system (Langford, 2012). This is why a branch of strategic management literature- which has categorized these complex systems and firms developing them under the “CoPS” (Complex Product Systems) category (against basic goods and firms with mass production system)- has investigated the necessary capabilities for development and innovation in complex systems under the title of “system integration capability” (Prencipe et al., 2003; Davies & Hobday, 2005). The integration concept is applicable to different dimensions and aspects of innovation projects in complex systems such as 1- different players of innovation network 2- different stages of system development and 3- different technologies embedded in the system (Langford, 2012). A clear and acceptable history of success in detail design, implementation, production and commercialization, suggests that Iranian large firms may have higher levels of integration capability in the final stages of system development (Kiamehr et al., 2013; Kiamehr et al., 2015). This is compatible with the catch up literature which suggests that late comer firms in their evolutionary catch up path, approach their value chains from downstream (Kim, 1997) which contains activities with lower technical and financial risks (Katz, 1987). Iranian Vice Presidency for Science and Technology granted a research project in 2014 to investigate technological learnings in Iranian firms. This study suggested that Iranian firms should devote the highest priority of their technological learning to product design. An emphasize on appropriate government policies to improve it is also necessary. Although initial stages of product development include less costs, they have large impacts on achieving the aims of innovation projects. So, these stages may have a considerable added value (Stoll, 1986; Iansiti, 1998; Crawley et al., 2015). However, technological integration in these stages, as a capability, has not received proper attention (Muller and Cloutier, 2008). It’s also noticeable that in initial stages of product development, product technologies (in comparison with process technologies), are usually the center of focus. Thus, this thesis focuses on technological integration between product technologies or just technologies of production system (not the integration between product and process technologies), at the stage of system level design. Technological integration in complex systems is challenging and needs system integrator firms to have a broad and deep knowledge base (more than merely architectural knowledge), to keep their competitive advantage and innovation capability in the long term (Prencipe, 2000). Gap analysis, as the basis for Planning and decision making in order to improve system level design (system architecting) capability and achieving technological integration, is a prerequisite of creating more added value by firms. Gap analysis generally includes formulating appropriate measures, clarifying intended situation, measuring current status, identifying gap creating factors and evaluating the firm’s capacity to decrease the gap (Panda and Ramanathan, 1997; Arasti, 2004). Due to above discussion, the main aim of this thesis is to provide a framework which brings us a deeper understanding of system level design (system architecting) capability. Such a framework, may provide a basis for more integrated, better aimed and deeper policy plans (at macro level), as well as strategic plans (at firm level) in order to improve these capabilities and decrease the gap. Thus, the main research question is:}

• _{What is the appropriate framework for gap analysis in system level design (system architecting) capability, with the aim of achieving technological integration?}

_{To answer this question, we should select an appropriate approach and form for analyzing integrated system level design (system architecting) capability as an organizational capability. This thesis could have different secondary goals. Having research limitations and specially limitations of research context in mind, secondary questions of this research are as follow:}

• _{What is integrated system level design (system architecting) capability as an organizational capability? What are its constituent components?}

• _{Which approach is appropriate for gap analysis in integrated system level design (system architecting) capability?}

• _{What relations are there between main constituents of integrated system level design (system architecting) capability?}