Com base na relação entre a literatura de capacidades dinâmicas e os estudos de inovação, argumenta-se nesse trabalho que a capacidade de inovação é sustentada pelo desenvolvimento constante das diferentes capacidades da empresa: de desenvolvimento tecnológico; de operação; de gestão e de transação. Sendo assim, essa pesquisa teve como objetivo investigar de que forma uma decisão estratégica de mudança voltada para a inovação influencia a reconfiguração destas capacidades das empresas. Para tanto, foi realizado um estudo de casos em empresas dos setores moveleiro e têxtil, considerados como de baixa intensidade tecnológica. Os dois casos foram analisados separadamente e depois comparados, buscando semelhanças que ampliassem a compreensão do fenômeno da reconfiguração nas capacidades a partir de uma decisão estratégica que buscava a inovação. Os resultados sugerem que a integração entre as diferentes capacidades e a reconfiguração estratégica das capacidades substantivas explicam as inovações produzidas pelas empresas. As principais conclusões são: que há uma relação entre as capacidades de desenvolvimento e de transação; que na reconfiguração decorrente de decisões estratégicas orientadas para a inovação a capacidade predominante na empresa é a menos alterada; e que as capacidades substantivas da empresa exercem influências positivas entre si na reconfiguração dos seus recursos internos. A contribuição deste estudo está em relacionar as capacidades substantivas com as decisões estratégicas que são características das capacidades dinâmicas, operacionalizando este conceito pela junção com um modelo que explica a capacidade de inovação. A limitação da pesquisa reside na concentração em apenas um tipo de inovação. Estudos futuros que incluam a análise de decisões estratégicas que resultem em inovações tecnológicas, gerenciais e de produção podem ampliar a compreensão do fenômeno. Estudos setoriais qualitativos usando as conclusões como proposições teóricas podem possibilitar generalizar os resultados. / This research relates the literature of dynamic capabilities with the studies on innovation capability, and assumes that innovation capability is supported by the constant development of the different capabilities of the company and, therefore, seeks to identify the influence of a strategic decision focused on innovation in the process of changing enterprises´ different capabilities: technology development; operation; managerial and transactional. A multiple case study in firms of the furniture and textile industry, considered low- technologic intensity firms was conducted to reach the research goals. The two cases were analyzed separately and then compared, looking for similarities that would broaden the understanding of the phenomenon. The results suggest that the integration between the different capabilities and strategic reconfiguration of substantive capabilities explain the innovations produced by firms. The main conclusions are that there is a relationship between technology development and transaction capability, due to the reconfiguration of innovation oriented to prevailing capacity in strategic business decisions is the least influenced, and that the substantive company's capabilities exert positive influences between itself in the reconfiguration of its internal resources. The contribution of this study is to relate the substantive capabilities with the strategic decisions that are characteristics of dynamic capabilities, operationalizing this concept in combination with a model that explains innovation capability. The limitation of the research is the concentration on only one type of innovation. Future studies including the analysis of strategic decisions that result in technological, managerial and production innovations can broaden the understanding of the phenomenon. Sector studies using qualitative conclusions as theoretical propositions can enable to generalize the results.

A conjunção das recentes tecnologias de mídias sociais, mobilidade e computação em nuvem coloca à disposição das empresas um grande volume de dados variados e recebidos em grande velocidade. Muitas empresas começam a perceber neste fenômeno, conhecido como Big Data, oportunidades de extração de valor para seus negócios. A literatura aponta diversos mecanismos pelos quais Big Data se transforma em valor para a empresa. O primeiro deles é pela geração de agilidade, aqui entendida como a capacidade de perceber e rapidamente reagir a mudanças e oportunidades em seu ambiente competitivo. Outro mecanismo é a utilização de Big Data como facilitador de capacitações dinâmicas que resultam em melhorias operacionais, por meio do aprofundamento (exploit) de alguma capacitação específica. Por fim, Big Data pode ser facilitador de capacitações dinâmicas que resultem em inovação (explore de novas capacitações) e no lançamento de novos produtos e serviços no mercado. Dentro deste contexto, o presente estudo se propõe a investigar a abordagem da utilização de Big Data por empresas inseridas em diferentes contextos competitivos e com diferentes níveis de capacitação de TI. Faz parte também do objetivo da pesquisa entender como as empresas adequaram seus processos de negócio para incorporar o grande volume de dados que têm à disposição. Por meio de estudos de caso realizados em empresas de grande porte de diferentes segmentos e com grande variabilidade na utilização de Big Data, o estudo verifica utilização de Big Data como viabilizador de capacitações dinâmicas atuando no aperfeiçoamento de capacitações operacionais, na diversificação de negócios e na inovação. Além disso, verifica-se a tendência de acoplamento de machine learning às soluções de Big Data, quando o objetivo é a obtenção de agilidade operacional. A capacitação de TI também se mostra determinante da quantidade e complexidade das ações competitivas lançadas pelas empresas com o uso de Big Data. Por fim, é possível antever que, graças às facilidades trazidas pela tecnologia de cloud, recursos de TI serão crescentemente liberados para atuação junto ao negócio - como, por exemplo, em iniciativas de Big Data - fortalecendo as capacitações dinâmicas da empresa e gerando vantagem competitiva. / The combination of the technologies of social media, mobility and cloud computing has dramatically increased the volume, variety and velocity of data available for firms. Many companies have been looking at this phenomenon, also known as Big Data, as a source of value to business. The literature shows different mechanisms for transforming Big Data in business value. First of them is agility, herein understood as the ability of sensing and rapidly responding to changes and opportunities in the competitive environment. Other mechanism is the usage of Big Data as an enabler of dynamic capabilities that result in operational improvements, through the deepening (exploit) of determined operational capability. Finally, Big Data can be the facilitator of dynamic capabilities that result in innovation (explore of new capabilities) and in the launching of new product and services in the market. Within this context, the goal of this study is to investigate the approach for Big Data usage in companies from different competitive scenarios and with different levels of IT capability. It is also part of the objectives to investigate how companies changed their processes to accommodate the huge volume of data available from Big Data. Through case studies in companies of different industries and with different Big Data approaches, the study shows Big Data as an enabler of dynamic capabilities that result in the improvement of operational capabilities, in the diversification of business and in innovation. It has also been identified the trend of association of machine learning to Big Data when the objective is operational agility. IT capability shows to be determinant of the quantity and complexity of the competitive actions launched from Big Data. To conclude, it is valid to anticipate that due to simplification coming from cloud technologies, IT resources will be increasingly released to working close to business - as, for example, in Big Data initiatives - strengthening dynamic capabilities and creating value to business.

desenvolvem capacidades dinâmicas. Um tipo de inovação é a inovação gerencial que trata de mudanças na maneira de gerir a empresa. As capacidades dinâmicas são responsáveis pela percepção de oportunidades e ameaças e ajustamento da organização respondendo a elas. Tais capacidades causam o desenvolvimento de flexibilidade. Assim, o objetivo deste trabalho é relacionar a adoção de práticas de inovação gerencial à sua contribuição para o desenvolvimento de capacidades dinâmicas, medidas por meio da flexibilidade. O estudo é importante pela pequena atenção dada aos fatores organizacionais nos estudos de inovação, do pequeno número de pesquisas empíricas sobre capacidades dinâmicas e do desconhecimento dos mecanismos que atuam nessas capacidades. Para atender ao objetivo foi realizada uma pesquisa descritiva com etapas qualitativa e quantitativa. Na etapa qualitativa foram listadas práticas de inovação gerencial encontradas na bibliografia. Um painel de especialistas classificou essas práticas de acordo com os tipos de inovação gerencial. Na etapa quantitativa foi feito um levantamento usando questionário estruturado aplicado online no qual se mediu a adoção das práticas de inovação gerencial e uma escala pré-existente mediu a flexibilidade. A lista de respondentes foi obtida da Brasscom, do prêmio Great Place to Work, do Anuário Informática Hoje e Anuário Telecom. Compuseram a população da pesquisa 343 empresas escolhidas por conveniência. O questionário foi enviado para indivíduos do nível estratégico e foram obtidas respostas de 102 empresas. Os dados foram analisados por meio de estatística descritiva, análise fatorial exploratória e modelagem de equações estruturais. Os resultados mostram que entre as empresas do setor de TIC as práticas de organização do local de trabalho são as mais adotadas, e que as empresas que mais adotam inovação e são mais flexíveis são empresas entre 13 e 21 anos de idade, de capital estrangeiro ou misto, e que atuam também no Exterior. Verificou-se ainda que a flexibilidade estratégica, estrutural e operacional compõem as capacidades dinâmicas que por sua vez são afetadas pela adoção de inovação gerencial, especialmente das práticas de negócio. Para as empresas recomenda-se cuidado na adoção de práticas, para que estas não precisem ser abandonadas causando perda de flexibilidade. Nesse processo a atuação proativa dos gestores contribui para manter o ciclo de inovação gerencial funcionando. Como contribuição para a academia, destaca-se uma maior compreensão de como as capacidades dinâmicas são colocadas em prática e a medida dessa capacidade por meio da flexibilidade. Para pesquisas futuras recomendam-se estudos que identifiquem causas e consequências do abandono de práticas de inovação gerencial e a comprovação do modelo com dados de outros setores. Conclui-se que maior atenção deve ser dada ao estudo da inovação gerencial e seus efeitos sobre as capacidades dinâmicas. / Looking for answer to changes in environment, the enterprises adopt innovation and develop dynamic capabilities. A type of innovation is the management innovation that deals with changes in the way which the firm is managed. The dynamic capabilities are responsible for the perception of opportunities and threats and the fit of the organization responding to them. These capabilities cause the development of flexibility. Therefore, the aim of this research is to relate the adoption of management innovation to its contribution to development of dynamic capabilities, measured by the flexibility. This study is important because of the small attention given to the organizational factors in innovation research, because of the small number of empirical research dealing with dynamic capabilities and because the lack of comprehension about the mechanisms that act on these capabilities. In order to answer this aim it was performed a descriptive research with quantitative and qualitative stages. In qualitative stage it was listed management innovation practices found in bibliography. An experts panel classified these practices according to the types of management innovation. In quantitative stage it was performed a survey online where the adoption of management innovation practices were measured and a preexisting scale measured the flexibility. The list of the respondents was obtained from Brasscom, from the Great Place to Work award, from the Anuário Informática Hoje and Anuário Telecom. The population was composed of 343 firms chosen utilizing convenience sampling. The questionnaire was sent to individuals pertaining to the strategic level of the firms and 102 responses were obtained. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, exploratory factor analysis and structural equation modeling. The results show that workplace organization practices are the most adopted and that firms adopting more innovation and that are more flexible are enterprises between 13 and 21 years old, having foreign or mixed capital and that operates abroad. It was verified that strategic, structural and operational flexibility compounds the dynamic capabilities which are affected by adoption of management innovation, specially the business practices. To the firms it was recommended caution adopting the practices in order to not to need to abandon them, causing loss of flexibility. In this process the proactive action of the managers contributes to maintain the management innovation cycle working. As a contribution to the academy highlights a larger comprehension of how the dynamic capabilities are put into practice and the measurement of this capacity through the flexibility. For future research, we recommend research that identify the causes and consequences of abandoning management innovation practices and the verification of the model with data from other sectors. The conclusion is that greater attention must be given to the management innovation and its effects on dynamic capabilities.

Abstract Research on software business has, so far, mainly concentrated on the software industry. However, software business has recently also been practised outside the software industry, in so-called industrial companies. This research aims at increasing empirical and theoretical understanding of the development of software business in industrial companies, shedding light on why a company not belonging to the software industry starts to do business involving software, how the company goes about starting such business, and how this in turn affects the company. First, past research on the resource-based approach, capability approach, dynamic capability approach and the concept of strategy is reviewed. Based on this review, four processes that hold the potential to give a company (sustained) competitive advantage – picking resources, exploiting resources, applying capabilities and developing capabilities – and three important dimensions of strategy – the objective of strategy, the process of strategy formation, and the focus of strategy – are identified. A conceptual framework for studying the development of software business in industrial companies is developed which encompasses the processes holding the potential for (sustained) competitive advantage and the different dimensions of strategy, as well as the company’s resource, capability and dynamic capability base. Following that, empirical data collected in two internationally operating industrial companies is analyzed with the help of the conceptual framework. As a result of the empirical data analysis, 23 capabilities and several resources important for software business in industrial companies could be identified. Capabilities are categorized according to their use in and applicability to different types of software business. Factors influencing the application, development and improvement of capabilities, as well as different ways of how industrial companies start to do software business, are identified. The conceptual framework is revised by adding the process of developing capabilities further to the processes which hold the potential for competitive advantage, and clarifying the role of dynamic capabilities in the development of software business in industrial companies.

Mobile information and communication technology (ICT) has the capability to strategically influence and completely transform SMEs. It provides heterogeneous benefits in information sharing, collaboration and corporate interactions. However, mobile resources do not improve competitive performance on their own. Instead, purposeful or tacit strategic actions are required to combine existing resources in innovative ways, to acquire additional valuable resources or to dispose of redundant resources. Companies have to accomplish this quickly and repeatedly if they are to remain competitive. This research project employs the strategic management theory of dynamic capabilities (DCs) in a qualitative case study to analyse the transformational capacity of mobile ICT in each SME from a strategic perspective. Candidates from ten SMEs were interviewed. The data was analysed to identify: a) the DCs that are essential for mobile transformation in SMEs, and b) the practices that develop and maintain the effectiveness of these capabilities. Eight distinct mobile DCs are identified, each contributing to firm performance, profitability or strategic advantage over competitors. The results were consistent with previous research in DCs by confirming a maximised effectiveness of capabilities when they are tautly coupled with business strategy. The dissertation concludes with valuable guidelines and a conceptual framework for SMEs to strategically utilise mobile ICT and achieve mobile transformation. / Dissertation (MCom)--University of Pretoria, 2014. / gm2014 / Informatics / unrestricted

In a rapidly growing and evolving environment, organizations must be able to reconfigure their resource base in order to adapt to changes. Several studies and research findings have already recognized knowledge management as a mean to enhance an organization’s dynamic capabilities and innovation. Effective knowledge management strategies have therefore become essential for an organization to achieve competitive advantage and finally innovate. Among the challenges for an effective knowledge management strategy, the transformation of "tacit" knowledge, that exists only in the experiences and mind of individuals and as such is difficult to be codified and transmitted, into "explicit" knowledge, which instead can be easily expressed and documented, is essential to guarantee continuous organizational learning. Modern software development processes, such as Agile, provide to organizations several knowledge sharing techniques, to aid in the transformation of knowledge from "tacit" to "explicit" one. This study aims at investigating the impact of agile knowledge sharing methodologies on both dynamic and innovation capabilities of a selected case study organization, and further analyses the factors that may be contributing to such relationship. The research is carried out by surveying a representative sample of employees of a German software development company, CompanyX. In total, 15 responses were received and a semi-structured face-to-face interview was conducted with one senior manager. Correlation and reliability testing are used as statistical tools to test both the reliability and validity of the model. Finally, the causality between the factors affecting knowledge sharing methodologies in use at CompanyX and the organization’s dynamic and innovation capabilities are analysed and compared to previous theoretical and empirical research findings. Several important observations are made as a result of our study. In particular, the overall research findings demonstrate that agile knowledge sharing methodologies can act as enhancers of CompanyX dynamic capabilities and enablers of innovation.

The purpose of this study is to examine how the internationalization process in small firms impacts their resource base renewal. The relationships between organizational learning, dynamic capabilities, operational capabilities and resources are empirically examined to determine the impact of internationalization on changes to the firm’s resource base. The empirical analysis follows a multiple case study research methodology and is based on in depth case studies of four internationalized professional service firms in Ontario. Cases include born-global and born-again global firms, exemplifying both location-based and knowledge-based services. The study finds evidence supporting the relationships between internationalization, organizational learning and planned change via dynamic capabilities, as well as internationalization, organizational learning and ad hoc problem solving. Findings also suggest that the firms’ repetitive use of ad hoc problem solving when faced with similar situations leads to the creation of dynamic capabilities. This research adds to the existing body of literature on services, international entrepreneurship and strategy by responding to a call for empirical examination of organizational learning within the RBV and DC constructs. Furthermore, it also applies a novel theoretical framework with which to examine the impact of small firm internationalization and their strategic renewal. By doing so, this thesis extends the RBV and DC perspectives to small service firms. Findings demonstrate a need to further continue this research path to gain greater understanding of the change processes that occur during the evolution of the firm’s resource base, as pertains to small knowledge-intensive service firms.

La capacité dynamique d'une organisation est son aptitude à constamment modifier et faire évoluer ses ressources, ses compétences et ses processus afin de répondre aux exigences de son environnement, et d'être proactive vis-à-vis de celui-ci. Cependant, il est constaté que le lien entre capacités dynamiques et relations inter-organisationnelles reste peu développé dans la littérature. Pour cette raison, notre questionnement est de savoir si l'environnement réticulaire, de par ses caractéristiques structurelles et contextuelles, est propice au déploiement et à la création des capacités dynamiques. Il s'agit de s'interroger sur les processus qui permettent le déploiement, la détection et la création de capacités dynamiques, de voir si elles opèrent individuellement ou en combinaison, et comprendre comment elles évoluent. Aussi, nous nous interrogeons sur le caractère inter-organisationnel des capacités dynamiques. Peuvent-elles être construites ou émerger de l'interaction ? Pour répondre à ces questions, nous avons choisi de mener notre étude dans des réseaux territorialisés dans la région PACA. Les entretiens menés montrent la nécessité de prendre en compte les actions collectives initiées par ces réseaux d'organisations et le rôle de la proximité (au sens large) comme leviers à la mise en oeuvre des capacités dynamiques des entreprises adhérentes ou d'émergence des « capacités dynamiques réticulaires ». Les résultats de recherche nous permettent d'affirmer le rôle des facteurs structurels et contextuels des réseaux sur le déploiement et la création des CD et de caractériser celles-ci dans ce contexte de réseau territorialisé. / The dynamic capability of an organization is its ability to constantly change and develop its resources, skills and processes to meet the needs of, and act upon its changing environment. However, the link between dynamic capabilities (DC) and inter-organizational relationships is rarely developed in the literature. Therefore, our dissertation deals with whether the network environment, through its structural and contextual characteristics, is suitable for the deployment and the development of DC. We question the processes that enable the deployment, detection and the creation of DC to understand whether DCs operate individually or in combination, and try to understand which DCs operate. Also, we question the inter-organizational nature of dynamic capabilities in territorial networks. Can DC be built or emerge from interactions in these networks? To answer these questions, we chose to conduct in-depth interviews in different territorial networks in the PACA region in France. Results of this empirical study show the need to take into account collective actions initiated by these networks of organizations, underline the role of proximity (broadly defined) as a means to deploy dynamic capabilities, and indicate the emergence of "network dynamic capabilities". Research results allow us to confirm the role of structural and contextual characteristics of territorial networks on the deployment and the creation of these capabilities and allow us to identify them in these contexts.

Learning organizations in combination with quality management practices and continuous improvement are well known and have throughout the decades seen many successful implementations. Implying that there are assorted collections of tools, strategies and implementation techniques which are accessible for organizations today. However, what has been seen as a strong and contemporary inclination across many manufacturing industries is to develop and deploy company-specific production system (XPS) in order to obtain a competitive advantage in today’s global and changing business domain. The purpose of this explorative and qualitative study aims therefore to inspect and explore the occurrence of how a tailored company-specific production system (XPS) attempts to assist as an improvement program to contribute to the continuous improvement work and organizational learning in a multinational organization. The study includes a case study conducted at Volvo Group Truck located in Skövde and their tailored XPS called VPS (Volvo Production System). A review of previous literature was conducted and therefore included in order to provide an understanding of the topic as well as the empirical findings for further grasping of how a tailored specific XPS has benefited the company towards an enhanced improvement work thus becoming a learning organization. Interviews and documentation as well as observations from a previous internship at the plant in Skövde were conducted and utilized in order to obtain the employee's perspective on the contribution towards the continuous improvement work and organizational learning. Further on, in order to get a wide-ranging perspective on this matter, interviews were also held with persons with different positions within the plant. Findings from the analysis indicated that the difference with implementing a tailored company specific production strategy in comparison to other systems is that it aids the organization towards developing an organizational culture, which will further assist in enhancing the continues improvement work and organisational learning. Empirical findings also suggested that supporting functions together with XPS makes the transition towards the changes happening in an organization much easier. It also appears that the infrastructure of support with the tools and structures that VPS brings, is an important aspect in how the VPS assists in fostering continuous improvement work. Furthermore these tools, methods and structures are developed and designed to support and encourage every employee to think outside the box in a more creative and innovative way which foster employees learning process. The conclusion is that supportive functions together with a tailored XPS contributes to a joined organisational culture where improving and learning is a natural activity therefore fostering continuous improvement work and becoming a learning organization.

The European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) excellence model is used increasingly in the public sector in the Middle East. This thesis addresses a shortage of empirical research in this field and extends the, so called, dynamic capabilities perspective by investigating how the EFQM model can contribute to developing organisational capabilities. A research model was developed based on the theory of structuration and the dynamic capabilities perspective. A multiple case study design was used in three public sector organisations in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The unit of analysis was the activity configuration involved in the deployment of the EFQM model. This research investigates how activity configurations changed over time, their effect on the organisational social structure and their outcomes in developing new capabilities. In-depth data were collected using interviews and archival sources. The thesis suggests that motives for using the EFQM model represent an important factor in defining the type of activities in its deployment and for its success. It was found that external and internal motives can both have positive impact. The findings showed that organisations experienced with the EFQM model tend to follow similar paths of deployment and achieve comparable results. An indicative model is proposed describing the three stages the organisation can go through in the deployment of the EFQM model. Firstly, the organisation develops the capability to understand the benefits of the model and to plan for its successful deployment. Secondly, the organisation focuses on developing operational capabilities, using the EFQM model. Thirdly, the organisation improves existing capabilities and develops new ones in a recurring cycle, referred to as the cycle of dynamic capabilities. This research contributes to the perspective of dynamic capabilities by investigating the sources of capabilities and how they are shaped through the deployment of the EFQM excellence model. The theoretical background and the research methodology used in this research extend the research application of the structuration theory by linking it with the dynamic capabilities perspective. Suggestions for further research include investigation of the learning cycle of dynamic capabilities through the lens of organisational learning. The research methodology can also be extended to consider strategy formation. An investigation of the EFQM model, which is the basis for assessment in the government award scheme, carries inevitable sources of limitations and bias. A significant proportion of the data collected and analysed was confidential in nature and presented challenges in relation to dissemination of the results.