This thesis aims to contribute to a better understanding of the overall magnitude of intangible investment and the impact of this intangible investment on the behavior of the capital stock and on the value of capital goods. I begin by constructing a data set to document firms’ expenditures on an identi- fiable list of intangible items in Canada. I then examine the implications of treating intangible spending as the acquisition of final (investment) goods on estimates of GDP growth for Canada. I find that investment in intangible capital by 2002 is almost as large as the investment in physical capital. Furthermore, the growth in GDP and labor productivity may be underestimated by as much as 0.1 percentage point per year during this same period. I proceed by measuring the size of the stock of the intangible capital in Canada using newly released data on the market value of all securities in the economy. The approach taken relies on a quantitative application of the q-theory of investment to generate the quantity of capital owned by firms. I find that the intangible capital stock accounted for approximately 30% of overall capital since 1994. Of this, the R&D reported by national accounts makes up only 23%. These results imply that official Canadian statistics failed to account for 26% of the value of the capital stock in their 2005 quarterly data collection. Finally, I extend the q-theory of investment to model explicitly the decision of firms to invest in intangibles. I then use the model to measure the contribution of intangible goods to the overall capital stock in the U.S. The model departs from the one mentioned earlier in that it highlights the embodiment of intangible goods in tangibles and the role of relative price movements in the measurement of the contribution of each type of investment to the overall capital stock. I find that the growth in the overall capital stock from the late-80s until 2000 was driven mainly by an increase in the contribution of intangibles. However, the contribution of intangibles fell consistently after 2000. These results underscore the importance of accounting for the movements in the price of intangibles rather than focusing only on their rising share in overall investment. / Thesis (Ph.D, Economics) -- Queen's University, 2008-06-26 09:32:06.389

No description available.

O segmento de fornecedores de máquinas e equipamentos para a indústria do setor sucroenergético brasileiro desempenha um papel significativo na atividade inovativa da cadeia do etanol. Ao mesmo tempo, o segmento é constituído basicamente por empresas nacionais, sendo o Brasil o principal pólo de desenvolvimento do setor. Por essas razões, este trabalho visa abordar duas áreas intrinsecamente ligadas: a de processo de desenvolvimento de novos produtos no segmento, que o permite assegurar e criar vantagens competitivas possibilitando, assim, uma posição competitiva de liderança no mercado internacional do etanol, e a questão de como o mercado externo afeta essa dinâmica. Para tanto, foram realizados dois estudos de casos em empresas nacionais do segmento, por meio de entrevistas em profundidade conduzidas por meio de um roteiro semi-estruturado de perguntas. Os resultados apontaram três modelos de desenvolvimento de novos produtos, todos orientados para o mercado. Os dois primeiros referem-se a uma única organização e se diferenciam em função da forma como são concebidos, o que, por sua vez, é resultado das diferentes concepções estratégicas de seus projetos; enquanto um visa desenvolver uma nova rota tecnológica para o etanol, tendo um caráter mais radical, o segundo atende as necessidades pontuais dos clientes, caracterizando-se como incremental. O terceiro é adotado pela outra empresa pesquisada; apesar de se assemelhar ao modelo incremental citado, apresenta distinções relevantes nos processos decisórios, o que traz a necessidade de uma caracterização específica. Também se constatou que em nenhum modelo adotado o mercado externo atua ativamente como fonte de idéias, uma vez que o mercado interno mostra-se mais lucrativo. Mesmo com os baixos preços do petróleo, o cenário mostra-se favorável à expansão da produção mundial de etanol, visto que diversos países estão adotando programas de biocombustíveis como forma de diversificar a matriz energética, o que vai ao encontro da continuidade da principal motivação à atividade exportadora pontuada pelos entrevistados, qual sejam, de aproveitamento das oportunidades do mercado externo. No entanto, o alto preço do aço no mercado interno, a falta de incentivos governamentais à atividade exportadora no segmento, as legislações de segurança e ambiental e a baixa disponibilidade de crédito em importantes mercados de exportação surgem como barreiras a esse cenário. As dimensões identificadas da distância psíquica foram o ambiente institucional/legal, a instabilidade política, a existência de fabricantes locais e as diferentes rotas tecnológicas existentes nos mercados de exportação. As competências organizacionais técnicas mostraramse decisivas para a atividade de exportação, colocando o know how e a expertise brasileira na produção de etanol como fundamentais para as vendas externas. Por fim, a forma de seleção dos mercados alvo das exportações em conjunção com os canais de exportação via parceiros, denotam um envolvimento ainda tímido com o mercado externo. Ao mesmo tempo, as inovações também não se mostraram significantes para a atividade exportadora, uma vez que a escolha dos produtos, em função de sua natureza, se dá em torno da produtividade alcançada e não em termos de diferenciação, podendo-se inferir que as organizações não possuem uma estratégia estruturada de internacionalização. / The segment of suppliers for machinery and equipment for the biofuel sector industry has a significant role in the ethanol chains innovative activity. At the same time, the segment is basically constituted of national enterprises, Brazil being the main pole of development in the sector. For such reasons, this thesis seeks to approach two areas intrinsically linked: the process of development of new products in the segment, which allows it to assure and create competitive advantages, thus making possible a position of competitive international ethanol market leadership, and the issue of how the external market affects this dynamic. For such, two case studies of national enterprises have been accomplished by interviews in profundity carried out through a semi-structure script of questions. The results indicated three new products development models, all of them market-oriented. The first two are concerned to a single organization and are set apart for the way they are conceived, which, in its turn, is the result of the different strategic conceptions of their projects: whereas one seeks to develop a new technologic rout for ethanol, presenting a more radical nature, the other addresses the specific need of the clients, characterizing itself as incremental. The third is adopted by another researched enterprise; and despite presenting similarities to the incremental model cited, this model presents relevant distinctions in the decision-making process, which brings the necessity of a specific characterization. It has also been noted that in no adopted model the external market acts actively as a source of ideas, once the internal market appears more lucrative. Even with petroleums low prices, the scenario appears favorable to the expansion of global ethanol production, given that many countries are adopting biofuel programs as a mean to diversify their energetic pattern, which goes in favor of the continuality of the main motivation to the exporting activity pointed by the interviewees, whichever it may be, of profiting from the external market opportunities. However, steels high price in the internal market, the lack governmental investments to the exporting activity in the segment, the security and environmental legislations and the low credit availability in main exporting markets appear as obstacles to this scenario. The identified dimensions of the psychic distance were the institutional/legal environments, the political instability, the existence of local manufactures and the different technological paths existing in the exporting markets. The technical organizational abilities appear decisive to the exporting activity, situating the knowhow and Brazilian expertise in the ethanol production as fundamental to the external sales. At last, the manner of selection of the exporting target markets, in conjunction with the exporting channels thru partners, denotes a still timid involvement with the external market. At the same time, the innovations still do not present significance to the exporting activity, once the choice of product, in result of its nature, occurs around the productivity reached and not in terms of distinction, allowing to deduce that the organizations do not possess a structured strategy of internationalization.

The principle of effective demand states that given endogenous expenditure patterns, the level of exogenous expenditure determines the level of employment. If investment represents the sole form of exogenous expenditure, employment adjusts to the level of investment. If exogenous expenditure changes, equilibrium is restored via the equilibrating variable, employment. If employment is linked in a unique way to income, we have what is referred to as the income adjustment process. The income adjustment process is investigated in a closed and a small open economy (SOE) which imports consumption and capital goods. If a SOE imports its capital goods, the causal link between investment and employment is weakened. When capital goods are imported, investment adjusts to the balance of payments and animal spirits are constrained. Certain South African data are analysed within the framework of the income adjustment process. / M.A.(Economics)

This thesis is an analysis of technology diffusion and the long-run institutional impact of the nature of that diffusion. It examines how a growing commercial trading relationship with Lancashire-based millwrights enabled textile industrialisation in late 19th century Bombay, and reflects upon the evolving character of Indian manufacturing and organisational behaviour within and beyond the colonial context, and into 21st century industrial strategy. Drawing upon primary archival material from sources in Britain and India (including historical company records, trade association records, transactional correspondence between Lancashire and Bombay, and administrative records of the India Office in Whitehall), and upon 27 elite interviews with prominent Mumbai-based businessmen and their families, a technological and cultural dependence by manufacturing elites upon the commercial agent is identified. The emplacement of colonial business norms and particularly the use of informal networks, in turn bolstered by a culture for clubbability, appears to influence the distinctly tight-knit, ‘gentlemanly’ character of Indian family business houses established during the late 19th and early 20th century. Applying a mixed-methods approach to technology theory and analysis, the data chapters are split into two parts, respectively concerning info rmation flows and knowledge flows from the UK to Western India. The former explores patterns in technological transactions and decisions governing the diffusion of textile technology that enabled industrial establishment. The latter focuses on the replication of managerial, cultural and business practices following and reflecting upon Bombay’s textile industrialisation; this establishes the observed presence of British ideals of gentlemanly business conduct within informal networks, familial and community ties. Overall, this research highlights how business history may be used as a lens to understand the process of technology diffusion and analyse the reinforcement of culturally-hybrid social norms in peripheral regions via technical or commercial links. In terms of developmental trajectory, moreover, this case study considers how given limited capacity for innovation or capital goods production, strategic supply-side decisions may garner early cumulative value by replicating industrial production, albeit with long-term institutional consequences. This research has implications for future understanding of the development of UK-Commonwealth trading relationships, and how these might foster structural transformation in the so-called Fourth Industrial Revolution. While this thesis focuses on the diffusion of physical capital and technology-driven industry, such a narrative exploration of networks and business norms surrounding structural transformation might be pursued based on alternative factors of production including capital investment and flow, or else feasibly extend into other post-colonial regions.

The principle of effective demand states that given endogenous expenditure patterns, the level of exogenous expenditure determines the level of employment. If investment represents the sole form of exogenous expenditure, employment adjusts to the level of investment. If exogenous expenditure changes, equilibrium is restored via the equilibrating variable, employment. If employment is linked in a unique way to income, we have what is referred to as the income adjustment process. The income adjustment process is investigated in a closed and a small open economy (SOE) which imports consumption and capital goods. If a SOE imports its capital goods, the causal link between investment and employment is weakened. When capital goods are imported, investment adjusts to the balance of payments and animal spirits are constrained. Certain South African data are analysed within the framework of the income adjustment process. / M.A.(Economics)

Submitted by Livia Mello (liviacmello@yahoo.com.br) on 2016-09-28T19:01:15Z No. of bitstreams: 1 DissNGC.pdf: 2769660 bytes, checksum: fed4a63a83c3d31c36b783f9c91ef798 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Marina Freitas (marinapf@ufscar.br) on 2016-10-04T18:57:37Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 DissNGC.pdf: 2769660 bytes, checksum: fed4a63a83c3d31c36b783f9c91ef798 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Marina Freitas (marinapf@ufscar.br) on 2016-10-04T18:57:44Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 DissNGC.pdf: 2769660 bytes, checksum: fed4a63a83c3d31c36b783f9c91ef798 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-10-04T18:57:51Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 DissNGC.pdf: 2769660 bytes, checksum: fed4a63a83c3d31c36b783f9c91ef798 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-10-16 / Não recebi financiamento / With more advanced marketing relations, various changes are taking place in regard to competitive factor markets, among which, the importance of quality processes and goods supplied to the society, stand out. Therefore, diverse programs and methods have been developed to monitor indicators of production processes and the characteristics of roduct quality, many of which are supported by statistical concepts. This process encourages understanding and the use of Statistical Thinking (ST), Statistical Engineering (SE), and Statistical Techniques (STe) in businesses, highlighting their importance to quality management and the efficiency of organizational processes. This thesis’s aim was to analyze the use of ST and STe in a sample of industries in the sector of serial capital goods located in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. For that, an exploratory-descriptive survey was conducted with 42 medium and large companies from different segments of the sector. Data were statistically analyzed using descriptive and multivariate methods (cluster analysis, association and correlation). These analyses revealed there is considerable space to diffuse Statistical Thinking and Statistical Techniques in these companies, as well as revealed a lack of training in statistical principles and techniques, the main obstacles to the systematic application of these techniques, and the lack of support on the part of top management. There is evidence that the successful implementation of Total Quality Management (TQM) and Total Productive Maintenance in the industries of sector significantly influences the diffusion of ST and the application of STe; while the use of Six Sigma program especially impacts the application of more complex STe; and ST has the potential to promote the application of STe. / Com a evolução das relações mercadológicas, diversas mudanças vêm ocorrendo a respeito dos fatores competitivos do mercado, dentre os quais se destaca a importância da qualidade dos processos e produtos disponibilizados à sociedade. Dessa maneira, diversos programas e métodos têm sido desenvolvidos com o objetivo de acompanhar os indicadores dos processos produtivos e monitorar as características da qualidade do produto, utilizando para isso técnicas, muitas delas suportadas por conceitos estatísticos, o que, consequentemente, estimula a compreensão e uso do Pensamento Estatístico (PE), da Engenharia Estatística (EE) e das Técnicas Estatísticas (TE) nas empresas e destaca sua importância para a gestão da qualidade e eficiência de processos organizacionais. Essa dissertação tem por objetivo analisar o uso do PE e de TE em uma amostra de empresas industriais do setor de bens de capital seriados, localizadas no estado de São Paulo. Para isso, foi conduzida uma survey exploratória-descritiva em 42 empresas de médio e grande porte de diferentes segmentos do setor. Os dados obtidos foram analisados estatisticamente por métodos descritivos e multivariados (análise de cluster, associação e correlação). Tais análises revelaram a existência de um grande espaço para difusão do Pensamento Estatístico e das Técnicas Estatísticas nessas empresas, bem como a ausência de treinamentos em princípios e técnicas estatísticas, os principais obstáculos para a aplicação sistemática dessas técnicas e a falta de suporte da alta administração. Há evidências de que a implantação bem-sucedida dos programas TQM (Total Quality Management) e TPM (Total Productive Maintenance) nas empresas o setor exerceu significativa influência sobre a difusão do PE e aplicação das TE; de que o Programa Seis Sigma impacta especialmente na aplicação das TE de maior complexidade; e de que o uso do PE tem potencial para promover maior aplicação das TE.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T19:50:14Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 4067.pdf: 1964909 bytes, checksum: 20668b126678ef263e1b39495a60baa3 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-11-28 / Projects of capital goods with Engineering-to-Order (ETO) productive typology are usually complex due to its size and level of customization and technology. Because of these aspects the achievement of success demands a management effort and can be conditioned by several elements, among which are the Critical Success Factors (CSF). In this sense, the proposal for this research involves the identification and analysis of the relationship of these factors with the success obtained in ETO projects using a multidimensional concept that involves efficiency, organizational learning, preparing for the future and customer satisfaction. From these principles a survey was conducted involving 67 companies and 182 projects with above characteristics. Data analysis was initially performed by the technique of Factorial analysis, whose results led to combine 38 Critical Success Factors identified in the literature on 12 new factors with better ability to explain the observed phenomenon, namely: Uncertainty management, Organization and Planning, Productivity management, Robustness of the team, Management of technical performance, Learning and adaptation, Integration with external stakeholders, Reliability of the team, Schedule optimization, Precaution against technical failures, Guidance capacity and Precaution against supply failure. These new factors led to an analysis by multinomial logistic regression technique, which identified significant factors to explain each of the success dimensions. For the efficiency dimension this factors are Planning and organization, Reliability of the team, the Guidance capacity, Integration with external stakeholders, the Technical performance management and Schedule optimization, to the extent organizational learning are the optimization schedule, Productivity management and Precaution against technical failure. To the preparing for the future dimension this factors are the Management of the technical performance, the Reliability of the team, Schedule optimization, the Precaution against technical failures, the Learning and adaptation, and the Organization and Planning, the Guidance capacity. For the customer satisfaction are the Reliability of the team, the Learning and adaptation, Precaution against failure of supply, Organization and planning, Precaution against technical failures and Contingency management. Thus, from a scientific standpoint, the results obtained in this thesis extends the understanding of the topic studied and provide from the managerial point of view a framework that can guide and support decision making by managers of this type of project. / Projetos de bens de capital com tipologia produtiva Engineering-to-Order (ETO) são usualmente complexos devido a seu porte e nível de customização e tecnologia. Devido a estes aspectos a obtenção de sucesso pode ser condicionada por diversos elementos, entre os quais estão os Fatores Críticos de Sucesso (FCS). Neste sentido, o recorte proposto para esta pesquisa envolve a identificação e a análise das relações destes fatores com o sucesso de projetos ETO de forma multidimensional, envolvendo a eficiência, o aprendizado organizacional, a preparação para o futuro e a satisfação dos clientes. Para tanto, foi conduzido um survey que envolveu 67 empresas e 182 projetos com as características supracitadas. A análise dos dados foi realizada inicialmente por meio da técnica de Análise fatorial, cujos resultados permitiram conjugar 38 Fatores Críticos de Sucesso identificados na literatura, em 12 novos fatores com melhor capacidade de explicar o fenômeno observado, sendo eles: Gestão de incerteza, Organização e Planejamento, Gestão da produtividade, Robustez da equipe, Gestão de desempenho técnico, Aprendizado e adaptação, Integração com Stakeholders externos, Confiabilidade da equipe, Otimização de cronograma, Precaução contra falhas técnicas, Capacidade de orientação e Precaução contra falhas de fornecimento. A partir destes novos fatores conduziu-se uma análise por meio da técnica de Regressão logística multinomial, que permitiu identificar fatores significativos para explicar cada uma das dimensões de sucesso. Assim, para a dimensão eficiência estes fatores são a Organização e planejamento, a Confiabilidade da equipe, a Capacidade de orientação, a Integração com stakeholders externos, a Gestão de desempenho técnico e a Otimização de cronograma, para a dimensão aprendizado organizacional são a Otimização de cronograma, a Gestão de desempenho técnico e a Precaução contra falhas técnicas, para a dimensão preparação para o futuro são a Gestão de desempenho técnico, a Confiabilidade da equipe, a Otimização de cronograma, a Precaução contra falhas técnicas, o Aprendizado e adaptação, a Organização e planejamento, a Capacidade de orientação e para a dimensão satisfação do cliente são a Confiabilidade da equipe, o Aprendizado e adaptação, a Precaução contra falhas de fornecimento, a Organização e planejamento, a Precaução contra falhas técnicas e a Gestão de contingências. Assim, do ponto de vista científico, os resultados obtidos nesta tese ampliam a compreensão sobre o tema estudado e oferecem do ponto de vista gerencial um framework que pode orientar ou apoiar a tomada de decisão por parte de gerentes deste tipo de projeto.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T19:50:21Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 5495.pdf: 4155994 bytes, checksum: 887c3faaf6608479ba4365ee3dddf8d9 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-09-20 / Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais / The main objective of this thesis is to present proposals to improve the integration between Product Development (PD) and Production Planning and Control (PPC) in production systems that operate in Engineering-to-Order (ETO) environment. The specific objectives are: to develop a theoretical framework which identifies concepts and management tools applicable in business process studied that helps to explore integration opportunities; to map the studied scenario in order to understand it comprehensively in what it refers to interactions between PD and PPC; to identify the information technology tools used on studied companies, as well as ways to maximize their usage and to evaluate the proposals with the assistance of professionals who work at PD and PPC on the studied companies. The integration is critical for the production system operations performance, looking to reduce the time and costs for product placement in the market and to increase the quality of the products and services offered. To reach that goal, a literature review on the interest topics and case studies was performed to support the development of the proposals to improve the integration between PD and PPC. The case studies were carried out in large metal-mechanical companies that develop and manufacture capital goods on demand, located in the state of São Paulo. Among the proposals, models which attempt to describe, prescribe and represent aspects that can contribute to improving the integration between PD and PPC are presented, as well as a set of steps to be followed to achieve the process of improving the functional integration. It is expected that the results will contribute to a better understanding of the factors that enable a better integration between PD and PPC in this type of company as well as creating knowledge to the researched theories lines related to the topic and contribute to the management of the studied companies. / O objetivo geral desta tese é apresentar propostas para melhorar a integração entre Desenvolvimento de Produto (DP) e Planejamento e Controle da Produção (PCP) em sistemas de produção que atuam em ambiente Engineering-to-Order (ETO). Como objetivos específicos, tem-se: construir um referencial teórico que permita identificar os conceitos e ferramentas de gestão aplicáveis ao processo de negócio estudado de modo a explorar as oportunidades de integração; mapear o cenário estudado a fim de entendê-lo de forma abrangente no que se refere às interações entre DP e PCP; identificar as ferramentas de tecnologia de informação utilizadas nas empresas estudadas, assim como formas de potencializar sua utilização; avaliar as propostas apresentadas com auxílio de profissionais que atuam no DP e PCP das empresas. A integração é fundamental para o desempenho das operações de um Sistema de Produção, objetivando a redução do tempo e custos para colocação de produtos no mercado e aumento da qualidade dos produtos e serviços oferecidos. Para atingir o objetivo proposto, foram realizados uma revisão bibliográfica sobre os temas de interesse e estudos de casos para subsidiar a elaboração das propostas para melhoria da integração entre DP e PCP. Os estudos de casos foram realizados em empresas metal-mecânicas de grande porte que desenvolvem e fabricam bens de capital sob encomenda, localizadas no estado de São Paulo. Dentre as propostas são apresentados modelos que buscam descrever, representar e prescrever aspectos que possam contribuir para a melhoria da integração entre DP e PCP, assim como um conjunto de passos a serem seguidos para consecução do processo de melhoria da integração interfuncional. Espera-se que os resultados obtidos contribuam para um melhor entendimento dos fatores que possibilitam melhorar a integração entre DP e PCP nesse tipo de empresa, assim como gerar conhecimentos às linhas de pesquisa relacionadas ao tema e contribuir para a gestão das empresas estudadas.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T19:51:21Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 1020.pdf: 1335644 bytes, checksum: 112131170f5e0e3ee17ffa3fb7bc9a1e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006-05-15 / The strong competition, prominent by the globalized dispute, stipulate that the organizations establish innovations much more frequent and rapid in order to attend the technological, economic and political changes which the society goes through. In this context, the continuous improvement of products and productive processes, which determines incremental and constant changes, is necessary to maintain the competitive company. The need of the organizations to emphasize the customers satisfaction makes the ISO 9001 (International Organization for Standardization) quality system to overview its approach, considering in its requirements this subject with the continuous improvement as well as management for processes. In spite of the norm demands a systemic and structured practice, the continuous improvement activities needs initiatives development, on behalf of the organizations, which goes further than programs and techniques, considering also cultural and behavioral aspects which allows the supported continuous improvement of products and processes. In conclusion, it can be pointed out that the norm ISO 9001:2000 relates only what to do and not how to proceed in order to ensure that the company really accomplishes the continuous improvement of its processes. Therefore, the main goal of this research is to analyses the practice of the continuous improvement, identifying the aspects that promote it, related to the individual culture and behavior as well as the organization as a whole. This work describes the results of an exploratory qualitative research accomplished in supplier companies of capital goods and automotive sectors, certified by the norm ISO 9001, analyzing how they promote its continuous improvement programs, considering the cultural development. Afterwards, considerations are accomplished through the examined companies to evaluate the differences identified among the sector organizations presented, concerning the practice of the continuous improvement and the cultural development which support it. / A acirrada competição, ressaltada pela disputa globalizada, exige que as organizações estabeleçam inovações cada vez mais freqüentes e rápidas a fim de atender às mudanças tecnológicas, econômicas e políticas que a sociedade atravessa. Nesse contexto, a melhoria contínua dos produtos e processos produtivos, que impõe alterações incrementais e constantes, é necessária para manter a empresa competitiva. A necessidade das organizações enfatizarem a satisfação dos clientes fez com que o sistema da qualidade ISO 9001 revisasse sua abordagem, passando a considerar em seus requisitos esse tema por meio da melhoria contínua e do gerenciamento por processos. Apesar da norma exigir uma prática sistêmica e estruturada, as atividades de melhoria contínua necessitam do desenvolvimento, por parte das organizações, de iniciativas que vão além de programas e técnicas, sendo necessário, também, considerar aspectos culturais e comportamentais que permitam a realização da melhoria contínua sustentada dos processos e produtos. Pode-se afirmar que a norma ISO 9001:2000 relata apenas o que fazer e não como proceder para que realmente a empresa realize a melhoria contínua de seus processos. Assim, a presente pesquisa tem como objetivo principal analisar a prática da melhoria contínua, identificando os aspectos que a promovam, relacionados à cultura e comportamentos dos indivíduos e da organização como um todo. Para tanto, este trabalho descreve os resultados de uma pesquisa qualitativa exploratória realizada em empresas fornecedoras dos setores de bens de capital e automobilístico, certificadas pela norma ISO 9001, analisando como essas promovem seus programas de melhoria contínua, considerando o desenvolvimento cultural. Posteriormente, são realizadas considerações acerca das empresas estudadas, para, em seguida, avaliar as diferenças identificadas entre as organizações dos setores em questão, no que diz respeito à prática da melhoria contínua e ao desenvolvimento cultural que a sustenta.