Developing a core competency model of innovative culinary development

This research investigates core competencies of innovative culinary development (ICD) by deep interviews, Delphi and Analytic Network Process (ANP). Stage I of this research employs a Delphi study that involves 16 participants to provide initial innovative culinary competencies based on 20 interviews of executive chefs, R&D managers and culinary artists. After gaining the consensus from the experts, dimensions and items of competencies are identified during Stage II. Also, ANP is adopted to determine the relative weights among the competency criteria and emphasize the interdependent relationships, thus increasing the accuracy of the results. Results of the deep interviews suggest that there are 156 items of ICD competencies. Results of DNP (Delphi and ANP) reveal 31 ICD core competencies in seven dimensions such as innovative product, culture, management, service, aesthetics, creativity and technology competencies. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.