University of Tehran Press Iranian Journal of Agricultural Economics and Development Research 2008-4838 48 3 2017 09 23 Network Analysis of Organizational Actors Interactions in Sustainable Innovation System of Iranian Dairy Industry Network Analysis of Organizational Actors Interactions in Sustainable Innovation System of Iranian Dairy Industry 477 490 63967 10.22059/ijaedr.2017.63967 FA Zahra Fozuni Ardekani Phd. Student Tarbiat Modares University Homayoun Farhadian Faculty Member Tarbiat Modares University Gholamreza Pezeshki Raad Faculty Meber Tarbiat Modares University Habibolah Tabatabaeian Faculty Member Shiraz University Habibolah Ranaei Kord Sholi Faculty Member Shiraz University Journal Article 2016 11 22 At the moment, using Social Network Analysis (SNA) has applied in Agricultural Innovation Systems and their sustainability studies. Therefore, the aim of this study was to qualitative and exploratory investigate of Iranian dairy industry innovation system network by network analysis of its organizational actors, semi-structured and in-depth interviews of key informants (at macro and meso level analysis (n=26)) and subject matter specialists (at micro level analysis (n=20)). Also, ORA and Atlas. ti softwares used for data analysis. Like the categorization tool of organizational actors in the previous studies, research findings showed that organizational network of dairy innovation system includes: business organizations, government policy institutions, higher education institutions, research and technology organizations, intermediate institutions, venture capital organizations, non-profit organizations, abroad sector, and their interactions. Also, this network follows a different organizational interactions. Based on the results, in order to achieve a higher level of sustainability, this network needs some structural corrections by two goals include: a) improving of the knowledge, information, and ideas flow in the system, and b) decreasing main network centralization and increasing nodes dynamics through creating smaller networks within the main network to expand local flow of information, speed up interactions, and access to all system actors. At the moment, using Social Network Analysis (SNA) has applied in Agricultural Innovation Systems and their sustainability studies. Therefore, the aim of this study was to qualitative and exploratory investigate of Iranian dairy industry innovation system network by network analysis of its organizational actors, semi-structured and in-depth interviews of key informants (at macro and meso level analysis (n=26)) and subject matter specialists (at micro level analysis (n=20)). Also, ORA and Atlas. ti softwares used for data analysis. Like the categorization tool of organizational actors in the previous studies, research findings showed that organizational network of dairy innovation system includes: business organizations, government policy institutions, higher education institutions, research and technology organizations, intermediate institutions, venture capital organizations, non-profit organizations, abroad sector, and their interactions. Also, this network follows a different organizational interactions. Based on the results, in order to achieve a higher level of sustainability, this network needs some structural corrections by two goals include: a) improving of the knowledge, information, and ideas flow in the system, and b) decreasing main network centralization and increasing nodes dynamics through creating smaller networks within the main network to expand local flow of information, speed up interactions, and access to all system actors. https://ijaedr.ut.ac.ir/article_63967_85739682b975c0bd0f60ddf4c0d26bf4.pdf