عوامل مرتبط با نوآوری در کسب و کار شرکت کننده در برنامه آژانس ها
Abstract
Introduction
Innovation and learning in the small business environments
Method
Analysis and discussion of results
Conclusions
Conflicts of interest
References
Abstract
This study aimed to present the most relevant cognitive factors that influence innovation in activities of small businesses participating in the Local Innovation Agents program in Rondônia (Amazon, Brazil). Cognitive maps were used as a methodological approach for the study of a group of small businesses within the context of the project. The results indicated the existence of 14 relevant factors mentioned by the businesses assessed, highlighting two influence factors mentioned by all participants in some casual relationship, therefore, a consensus: “need for survival” and “knowledge and experience”. These factors indicate, respectively, motivation and innovation process management of the companies studied. The different relations among the factors allowed identifying two groups within the program. They differed primarily in regard of willingness to innovate and development of learning levels that influence innovation activities resulting from the interaction with the program's agents.
Introduction
Innovation that results in an endogenous economic development is an alternative paradigm to the neoclassical mainstream economic theory. It is very effective in explaining inequalities between nations. It has grown in importance also for the theory of organizations, whose main objective is to understand the sources of innovation within organizations (Bastos, Souza, & Costa, 2008; Goodhew, Cammock, & Hamilton, 2005; Pundt, 2015; Swan, 1997), and support organizational and institutional environments in which innovations occur (Braga & Forte, 2016; Conceic¸ão, 2008; Mais,Carvalho, & Amal, 2014; Possas, 2008). Discussions involving relationships between institutions and entrepreneurial and innovation activities are still a fertile field for discussion due to the evident existing gaps. However, recent studies on innovation (Carvalho, Silva, Póvoa, & Carvalho, 2015; da Silva Néto & Teixeira, 2011, 2014; Desidério & Popadiuk, 2015; Rodrigues et al., 2014) have focused on presenting the types of innovations performed, their development processes or measurement mechanisms, but neglected to discussthe reasons why a business decides whether or not for the development of innovation activities. Moreover, this lack of debate is even more evident when the study locus are micro and small businesses (MSBs), which have received little attention in innovation studies despite political and economic incentives and the important role they play in economic and social development (Forsman, 2011; MDIC, 2013). An example of such political and economic incentives to MSBs in Brazil is the Local Innovation Agents program (LIA program). It was created in 2009 by the Brazilian Support Service for Micro and Small Businesses (Sebrae) to promote innovation in the business sector and consolidate a culture of innovation through a continued practice of innovation activities in small businesses under the monitoring of selected and trained agents for such purpose. From 2012, the program has expanded due to the support of the National Scientific and Technological Development Council (CNPq). According to CNPq (2015), over 90,000 businesses in Brazil were served up to the end of 2014. The program has an investment forecast of R$ 320 million for the period.