Reading: “Investment Prioritizing in High-Tech Industries Based on SWARA-COPRAS” by Zolfani & Bahrami (2014).
This article presents the SWARA-COPRAS model—a combined decision-making framework used to prioritize investments in high-tech fields by weighing different criteria. SWARA helps rank the importance of various factors, while COPRAS evaluates the performance of each option against those priorities. This framework is particularly useful for portfolio management, as it provides a clear structure for allocating limited resources efficiently.
One of the practical takeaways is how this model can help project managers evaluate trade-offs between profitability, sustainability, and innovation potential. This approach is directly applicable to MENA-region companies looking to balance short-term operational goals with long-term innovation investments. The use of quantitative ranking tools like SWARA-COPRAS ensures that managers focus on high-value projects and avoid being overwhelmed by conflicting priorities.
This article struck a personal chord with me. Sarfaraz Hashemkhani Zolfani was a talented PhD student I met while pursuing my Master’s in Technology Foresight at Amirkabir University of Technology. We attended the same classes in Sustainability, and it’s inspiring to see how his career has flourished—he is now a highly cited professor in Chile with an impressive academic portfolio. I’m also proud to see Professor Dr. Bahrami, my former supervisor at Amirkabir University of Technology (AUT), contributing to this work. Dr. Bahrami was not just my mentor but a central figure in shaping my academic journey. I collaborated with him on my first project in technology foresight, focusing on congruent technologies at the Futures Studies Research Institute—where he was the director. At the time, the Institute was also the Iran node of the Millennium Project, making it an important hub for futures research. Reading this article has sparked a desire to reconnect with Dr. Bahrami. His guidance profoundly shaped my understanding of many foundational concepts including but not limited to the concept of “Paradigm Shift“, and this article reminded me of the importance of staying connected with past mentors.