Capacidades da TI para o processo de inovação na empresa: um estudo de casos múltiplos em empresas inovadoras

Abstract

Innovation within a company plays a main role to obtain competitive advantages, differentiation and better results. In this regard, Information Technology (IT) is seen as one of the main company's strategic area and IT is able to support this process. Analyzing the contribution of IT capabilities to company innovation is thus the key issue in this dissertation. The specific objectives here detailed consider how IT capabilities can contribute to innovation, and also indentifying its inhibitory and desirable capabilities. The Literature review found in this paper clarifies some concepts and characteristics about innovation and innovative companies and also elucidates IT resources and capabilities. This theoretical model search has been appliedin an empirical research on the basis of qualitative methodology and multiple cases study using three innovative companies from Rio Grande do Sul/Brazil. The results confirm partially the initial theoretical basis revealing additional capabilities. Seeking factors that could significantly contribute to company innovation, the study shows IT infrastructure capability to provide hardware and platforms, software, networkinfrastructure, mobility and strategic indictors as well as those IT human resources for understanding and involving with business areas and innovative ideas. In this sense, IT enables information and knowledge management and improves governance through planning and controlling. This study also highlights IT’s innovation inhibitor capability in company as, among others, internet blocking, service queue and lack of adequate support and solutions. The results and conclusions here demonstrated discuss and summarize the elements found in the studied companies contributing thereby to academic area and also to business management area. Regarding the Academy some IT capabilities from the original theoretical model search were confirmed and further others localized as innovation inhibitor expanding thus previous studies and contributing to future productions. From the results here shown managers may guide their decisions on continuation, development, improvement and adequation of innovation in company.