M.A. Thesis:

Identify and prioritize barriers to business start-up units (case study:software and network support companies in mashhad)

This study dealt with the identification and prioritization of barriers to establishing the small business using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). The population of the study included 320 active computer companies, of which 180 companies were responsible in the field of network and software production and 30 companies were selected as sample size. This is an applied research conducted with the aim of identifying and ranking the effective barriers to start-up of the small business unit that the research findings include structural, behavioral and contextual barriers. These barriers are the first to third priorities for obstacles of a small business in software and network support companies. The main structural barriers including the high cost of international trainings and classes, lack of access to appropriate technologies, inadequate legislation related to contracts and the key behavioral barriers including the lack of ability to attract the suitable staff, lack of professional staff, bad mentality to the company and the major contextual barriers including the lack of appropriate cultural infrastructure, volatility of prices and inability of the banking system in the provision of banking facilities were identified.

Keywords: : Small Business, Information Technology (IT), Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) Technique