CAPES / O desenvolvimento das organizações, face a um ambiente crescentemente competitivo, se vê diante de desafios que crescem em escala acelerada. Assim, a inovação tecnológica se constitui como um importante instrumento na manutenção de um perfil competitivo para as organizações. Dentro desta questão, existem muitas ferramentas que auxiliam na obtenção de índices de inovação. No entanto, o ponto central é que as empresas sejam capazes de implantar inovações de maneira sustentável e contínua, no sentido de incrementar suas atividades inovativas e assim melhorar seu prospecto competitivo. Observa-se, outrossim, que as empresas de pequeno porte são aquelas que apresentam as maiores dificuldades na sustentação deste processo, devido a uma série de fatores. Neste sentido, o objetivo central deste trabalho é propor uma metodologia de soluções e requisitos para o aumento do grau de inovações em micro e pequenas empresas. O levantamento de dados se traduz pela obtenção do diagnóstico, observando assim qual é o nível de inovação nas empresas pesquisadas, e obedecendo a determinados critérios, que serviram de parâmetro à consecução do objetivo central. Já a proposta de metodologia contempla níveis de comprometimento das organizações de acordo com as atividades de inovação descritas, ou seja, identifica em qual nível a empresa se encontra (Levantamento; Seleção de idéias; Apropriação de recursos e Execução). Para facilitar a obtenção dos resultados, as atividades foram agrupadas em seis (6) dimensões de estudo. Tais atividades foram formuladas seguindo parâmetros descritos pelo Manual de Oslo e pela bibliografia consultada. Por meio de tabelas e figuras indicando a localização das empresas em cada dimensão, é possível identificar quais itens devem ser melhorados dentro dos quatro (4) níveis de atividade e assim oferecer a proposta de requisitos. Os resultados apontaram que as empresas pesquisadas possuem, em grande parte, níveis médios de evolução das atividades descritas, indicando a falta de entendimento da importância das atividades, e a dificuldade em compreender como as atividades descritas se coadunam com os objetivos de inovação. Não obstante, foi possível operacionar a proposta, demonstrando assim como as fases são aplicadas. / The development of organizations, due to an increasing competitive environment, faces challenges which grow in an accelerated rate. Thus, the technological innovation appears as an important instrument in the maintenance of a competitive scenario inthe organizations. When analysing the question, it can be observed that there are many tools tohelp obtaining the innovation indexes. However, the focal point is that companies be capable of developing innovation in a continuous and sustainable way, towards the increase in their innovative activities and the improvement of their competitive performance. It can also be observed that the micro enterprises show the major difficulties concerning the development of such process, due to many factors. Thus, the central objective of this study is to propose a methodology of solutions and requisites, aiming to increase the innovation degree in micro and small enterprises. The data collection is represented by the diagnosis, observing the degree of innovation within the researched companies, obeying to specific criteria, which also served as a parameter to the execution of the main objective. The proposition of the model shows some degrees of commitment of the organizations, concerning the innovation activities described. In other words, it identifies in which level the companies are located. (Looking for ideas, Selection of ideas, Gathering of resources; Execution). To facilitate the data collection, the activities were divided in six (6) dimensions. Such activities were formulated following parameters described by the Oslo Manual –Guidelines for Collecting and Interpreting Innovation Data, and the researched literature. Through the use of tables and figures indicating the localization of the companies in each dimension, it is possible to identify which items must be improved within the four (4) activity levels, then offering the proposition of requisites. The results showed that the researched companies have medium levels of evolution concerning the described activities, highlighting the lack of understanding on the importance of the activities. Notwithstanding, it was possible to operationalize the proposition, showing how the phases are applied.

CAPES / O desenvolvimento das organizações, face a um ambiente crescentemente competitivo, se vê diante de desafios que crescem em escala acelerada. Assim, a inovação tecnológica se constitui como um importante instrumento na manutenção de um perfil competitivo para as organizações. Dentro desta questão, existem muitas ferramentas que auxiliam na obtenção de índices de inovação. No entanto, o ponto central é que as empresas sejam capazes de implantar inovações de maneira sustentável e contínua, no sentido de incrementar suas atividades inovativas e assim melhorar seu prospecto competitivo. Observa-se, outrossim, que as empresas de pequeno porte são aquelas que apresentam as maiores dificuldades na sustentação deste processo, devido a uma série de fatores. Neste sentido, o objetivo central deste trabalho é propor uma metodologia de soluções e requisitos para o aumento do grau de inovações em micro e pequenas empresas. O levantamento de dados se traduz pela obtenção do diagnóstico, observando assim qual é o nível de inovação nas empresas pesquisadas, e obedecendo a determinados critérios, que serviram de parâmetro à consecução do objetivo central. Já a proposta de metodologia contempla níveis de comprometimento das organizações de acordo com as atividades de inovação descritas, ou seja, identifica em qual nível a empresa se encontra (Levantamento; Seleção de idéias; Apropriação de recursos e Execução). Para facilitar a obtenção dos resultados, as atividades foram agrupadas em seis (6) dimensões de estudo. Tais atividades foram formuladas seguindo parâmetros descritos pelo Manual de Oslo e pela bibliografia consultada. Por meio de tabelas e figuras indicando a localização das empresas em cada dimensão, é possível identificar quais itens devem ser melhorados dentro dos quatro (4) níveis de atividade e assim oferecer a proposta de requisitos. Os resultados apontaram que as empresas pesquisadas possuem, em grande parte, níveis médios de evolução das atividades descritas, indicando a falta de entendimento da importância das atividades, e a dificuldade em compreender como as atividades descritas se coadunam com os objetivos de inovação. Não obstante, foi possível operacionar a proposta, demonstrando assim como as fases são aplicadas. / The development of organizations, due to an increasing competitive environment, faces challenges which grow in an accelerated rate. Thus, the technological innovation appears as an important instrument in the maintenance of a competitive scenario inthe organizations. When analysing the question, it can be observed that there are many tools tohelp obtaining the innovation indexes. However, the focal point is that companies be capable of developing innovation in a continuous and sustainable way, towards the increase in their innovative activities and the improvement of their competitive performance. It can also be observed that the micro enterprises show the major difficulties concerning the development of such process, due to many factors. Thus, the central objective of this study is to propose a methodology of solutions and requisites, aiming to increase the innovation degree in micro and small enterprises. The data collection is represented by the diagnosis, observing the degree of innovation within the researched companies, obeying to specific criteria, which also served as a parameter to the execution of the main objective. The proposition of the model shows some degrees of commitment of the organizations, concerning the innovation activities described. In other words, it identifies in which level the companies are located. (Looking for ideas, Selection of ideas, Gathering of resources; Execution). To facilitate the data collection, the activities were divided in six (6) dimensions. Such activities were formulated following parameters described by the Oslo Manual –Guidelines for Collecting and Interpreting Innovation Data, and the researched literature. Through the use of tables and figures indicating the localization of the companies in each dimension, it is possible to identify which items must be improved within the four (4) activity levels, then offering the proposition of requisites. The results showed that the researched companies have medium levels of evolution concerning the described activities, highlighting the lack of understanding on the importance of the activities. Notwithstanding, it was possible to operationalize the proposition, showing how the phases are applied.

O processo de desenvolvimento de produtos é um importante fator para aumentar a competitividade das empresas e tem se tornado cada vez mais crítico devido ao aumento da variedade e à redução do ciclo de vida dos produtos. Um processo de desenvolvimento de produto que agregue valor ao cliente por intermédio da redução do desperdicio torna-se estratégico para a competividade das empresas. Nesse contexto, esta pesquisa tem como objetivo analisar o processo de desenvolvimento de produto em seis empresas moveleiras no polo de Bento Gonçalves. Para tanto, foi desenvolvida uma pesquisa exploratória a partir de estudo de casos multiplos cujos dados foram coletados mediante entrevistas. De acordo com o referencial abordado e a análise realizada, foi utilizado como base o Sistema Toyota de Desenvolvimento de Produto, descrito por Morgan e Liker (2008), o qual discute a eliminação dos desperdícios e o valor agregado para o cliente. O propósito deste trabalho é a apresentação de um estudo para analisar o desenvolvimento de produto nas empresas moveleiras sob a ótica do Sistema Toyota de Desenvolvimento de Produto, uma vez que essas organizações atuam em mercados exigentes quanto à rapidez, variedade e preços competitivos. Dessa forma, o estudo contribui à área da Administração na medida em que sua aplicação pode trazer beneficios quanto ao entendimento do que realmente significa valor para o cliente, identificando o Sistema Toyota de Desenvolvimento de Produto como uma possibilidade factível para analisar o desenvolvimento de produto nas empresas moveleiras. / The process of product development is an important factor to boost a company's competitive edge and has become increasingly critical due to the growing range and reduced lifecycle of products. A process of product development that adds value to the customer by eliminating waste becomes strategic for the competitiveness of companies. In this context, this research aims at analyzing the process of product development in six furniture companies in the Bento Gonçalves hub. Therefore, we developed an exploratory research through multiple case studies in which data was collected through interviews. According to the references and the analysis performed, we based our study on the Toyota Product Development System described by Morgan and Liker (2008), which discusses waste elimination and customer added value. The contribution of this work is the presentation of a study to analyze product development in furniture companies under the approach of the Toyota Product Development System, since these companies operate in demanding markets that require speed, range and competitive prices. Thus, the study contributes to the extent that its application can bring benefits to companies so as to help them understand what customers consider a value, identifying the Toyota Product Development System as a feasible possibility to analyze product development in the furniture companies.

A review of the academic literature related to “strategic leadership” reveals that the performance of an organization will indeed be influenced by the application of this phenomenon. This thesis confines its research to a case study on Ellerine Holdings Limited, a multi-billion rand enterprise that trades in the competitive Southern African furniture retail industry. Following the 2007 acquisition of Ellerine Holdings Limited (EHL) by African Bank Investments Limited (ABIL), a new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) was appointed to develop and to lead the strategic changes that were envisioned for EHL. The research examines how the performance of EHL has been influenced since the appointment of Toni Fourie as the new CEO in February 2008. Boasting a reputation borne from his previous successes in organizational transformation, Fourie was ABIL’s first-choice leader for this challenge. Fourie displays qualities, attributes, behaviours and traits that are characterized by the phenomenon of “strategic leadership”. He has been the focus of media attention for the aggressive strategic changes that he has introduced within the organization. A quantitative analysis of EHL’s financial performance (between 2007 and 2009) indicated that there was a constant decline in the organization’s PBT (Profit Before Taxation) during the period observed. However, the research determined that turbulent conditions in the macro-economic environment (such as the global economic recession in 2008 and 2009) complemented by mitigating micro-economic factors, would have adversely skewed the conclusions in this document if the research was limited to quantitative analysis alone. Hence, the researcher explored a qualitative research framework by collecting and assimilating data from available documentation, and from formal interviews that were conducted with research participants representing the organization’s new leadership. These participants included the new CEO, Fourie, and the new Director of Strategy, Dr. Louis Carstens. Information was also obtained from informal discussions that were conducted with other senior executives, and with an ex general manager of one of EHL’s business units, who was based in the Eastern Cape region at the time. An examination of all of this data concluded that although Ellerine Holdings Limited was not achieving all of its financialperformance objectives, there was general consensus that the CEO’s strategic choices would yield the desired financial results from the mediumterm (namely, year-03 of his tenure) onwards. The CEO’s optimism and conviction that his strategic interventions will address long-term financial sustainability is shared by both EHL’s internal and external stakeholders. It emerged that EHL’s stakeholders were satisfied with the accelerated progress reflected in the organization’s non-financial performance indices. These indicators included the sowing of a new organizational culture; improved cost-base efficiencies; labour productivity; customer satisfaction; employee empowerment; innovation and creative thinking; collaborative and participative engagement; structural rationalization, and the introduction of new processes and procedures. The research from the EHL case study concluded that the phenomenon of strategic leadership can have a positive influence on various qualitative indicators within an organization. The research also determined that despite unforeseen conditions in both the macro and micro economic environments, an effective strategic leadership will remain committed to its vision, and resilient to its critics and competitors. This research further concludes that successful organizational transformation (within a macro enterprise) is ostensibly dependent on the interventions of a strategic leader who displays a specialist set of skills and behaviours. These strategic leaders have the ability to successfully shift the cognitive paradigms of their employees, thereby creating an enabling environment for the implementation of their strategic choices.