list of 17 factors which were scored on the basis of a 1-5 scale indicate the relative importance
that ascribe to them as hindered the realization of innovation in their firm: (1) no significant;
(2) slightly significant; (3) moderately significant; (4) very significant; (5) crucial.
For each factor the sum awarded by those interviewed and the mean score were calculated.
The higher a factor's score the greater its influence on the final score. In addition, a Mann-
Whitney a-parametric test was conducted to examine the inter-regional differences in the
importance allocated by the plants to each of the 17 factors. The study included two testing
phases:
a. In the first stage, the importance conferred by the firm to each of the barrier factors were
examined by calculating the mean score, thus ranking the 17 factors according to the
relative final score allocated to them by the firm’s directors. In addition the inter-regional
differences in the relative importance allocate to the 17 factor among the firms were
examined.
b. In the second stage inter-sectorial differences were tested by calculating the mean score of
the 17 factors separately in each of the industrial sector included in the survey. It was also
possible than to identify the inter-regional differences that exist in each of the industrial
sector.