This is a study of innovation in Knowledge Intensive Business Services (KIBS) and the impact innovation has on employment. The thesis relies on theories within the fields of "innovation in services", in particular KIBS, and "innovation and employment", taking as its point of departure the taxonomy of product and process innovation. The thesis is based on a discussion of innovation in services with a focus on how innovation in services may be understood and delineated. A long discussion is dedicated to the taxonomy of product and process innovation and the extent to which these concepts may be applicable to innovation in services. The thesis also scrutinises the concept of KIBS and how this can be defined. It further discusses features commonly associated with KIBS firms. The thesis is also rooted in the broader issue of innovation as a creator and destroyer of employment and makes a contribution in applying these issues to service sectors. The empirical part of the thesis builds on a database compiled for the research project, comprised of 967 Swedish KIBS firms. The database covers issues of innovation, employment and characteristics of the firm. The findings indicate that innovation was common in Swedish KIBS firms and that innovations often had an impact on employment. However, the thesis did not detect a straightforward relation between type of innovation (technological process innovation, organisational process innovation, goods product innovation and service product innovation) and the impact on employment. Explanations other than type of innovation have to be considered to analyse the impact of innovation on employment. The thesis further suggests that although innovation in KIBS is common, innovation itself is difficult to conceptualise and delineate.

[pt] O objetivo da dissertação é contribuir para o avanço do conhecimento sobre a importância das funções da Tecnologia Industrial Básica (TIB) no ciclo de inovação das micro, pequenas e médias empresas (MPMEs) de base tecnológica no Brasil. Reconhecendo que essas empresas têm um papel fundamental no desenvolvimento econômico e social do país, a motivação da pesquisa é responder como elas percebem a importância das funções da TIB para o ciclo de inovação, na perspectiva de ressaltar os benefícios oriundos da consolidação da infraestrutura nacional de serviços tecnológicos de apoio a MPMEs de base tecnológica. A metodologia utilizada compreende: (i) revisão bibliográfica e documental para a elaboração do referencial teórico sobre os temas centrais da dissertação: MPMEs de base tecnológica; TIB; e inovação tecnológica; (ii) definição do objeto de estudo; da fonte primária de dados – Pesquisa de Inovação Tecnológica (PINTEC) do IBGE; e da grade de análise; (iii) solicitação ao IBGE de tabulações especiais da PINTEC; recebimento, formatação e análise dos dados; e elaboração e análise dos resultados; (iv) formulação das conclusões da pesquisa e de sugestões para a próxima PINTEC e estudos futuros. Destacam-se como resultados: (i) identificação de quatro itens da PINTEC diretamente associados às funções da TIB; (ii) análise da percepção das MPMEs brasileiras de base tecnológica sobre a relevância das funções da TIB para a inovação; (iii) análise comparativa dos padrões de respostas das MPMEs de base tecnológica inovadoras e não inovadoras. Como conclusão, tais resultados permitem afirmar que, em geral, essas empresas consideram as funções da TIB relevantes para suas atividades inovativas. A comparação entre as respostas das empresas inovadoras e não inovadoras reforça essa percepção: as inovadoras percebem melhor a importância de algumas funções da TIB do que as não inovadoras. / [en] The aim of this dissertation is to contribute to the understanding of some basic infrastructural technologies (TIB acronym in Portuguese) supporting innovation of technology-based micro, small and medium size enterprises (MSMEs) in Brazil. Given the critical role played by these firms in Brazil s social and economic development, the work seeks to answer how they perceive the importance of TIB in their innovation cycle. The methodology comprises: (i) a literature survey to elaborate a theoretical outline to characterize the core subjects of the dissertation: technology-based MSMEs; TIB; and technological innovation; (ii) definition of the object of study, of the primary data source – Technological Innovation Survey (Pesquisa de Inovação Tecnológica-PINTEC), of IBGE (Brazilian Statistical Office), and the analytic framework; (iii) to request IBGE to produce special tabulations; receipt, formatting and analysis of data; and analysis of results; and (iv) formulation of conclusions and suggestions for the next PINTEC survey and for future research. The main results can be summarized as follows: (i) identification of four PINTEC items associated with some TIB functions; (ii) identification and analysis of Brazilian technology-based MSMEs perceptions of the relevance of TIB functions for supporting innovation; and (iii) comparative analysis of patterns of response of innovative and non-innovative technology-based MSMEs. As conclusion, it can be said that, in general, these firms positively respond to TIB functions in innovation cycle. In particular, results show that innovative enterprises perceived better some TIB functions than the non-innovative ones.

Submitted by Harlei Vasconcelos Rosa (harleivr@yahoo.com.br) on 2017-07-03T18:21:36Z No. of bitstreams: 1 TESE-HARLEI.pdf: 12166860 bytes, checksum: 528f3bc7b946339e6928da5aed268dab (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Maria Auxiliadora da Silva Lopes (silopes@ufba.br) on 2017-07-07T18:52:37Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 TESE-HARLEI.pdf: 12166860 bytes, checksum: 528f3bc7b946339e6928da5aed268dab (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-07T18:52:37Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 TESE-HARLEI.pdf: 12166860 bytes, checksum: 528f3bc7b946339e6928da5aed268dab (MD5) / Atualmente, as tecnologias digitais, notadamente as tecnologias móveis, fazem parte mais intensamente do cotidiano das pessoas. Atentos a expansão dessas tecnologias na sociedade, os gestores educacionais brasileiros têm buscado sua inserção nas escolas públicas do País, desenvolvendo políticas e programas específicos para este fim. No entanto, os dispositivos móveis disponibilizados pelos projetos de governo possuem características técnicas e conceituais específicas distintas de outros equipamentos disponíveis no mercado, e possuem algumas limitações de uso, comprometendo o desenvolvimento de certas práticas. Nesse contexto, configura-se como problema de pesquisa: quais as concepções de educação presentes nos programas de inserção das tecnologias digitais na educação que determinaram as características técnicas e conceituais dos dispositivos móveis disponibilizados para as escolas públicas? Seriam necessárias características específicas, como as encontradas nos citados dispositivos, tanto de hardware quanto de software, para que estes fossem destinados às escolas? A pesquisa apoiou-se nas abordagens quantitativa e qualitativa, envolvendo a análise das características técnicas e conceituais dos dispositivos móveis que fizeram parte da fase Piloto do Projeto Um Computador por Aluno (UCA) e dos Programas Proinfo Integrado e PROUCA, além do estudo de políticas públicas e programas federais de inserção das tecnologias digitais nas escolas, com foco na compreensão de alguns dos principais documentos que serviram de base para a implementação dos programas e projeto citados. Dentre as constatações, destaca-se que o baixo custo foi fortemente determinante para a caracterização dos dispositivos, prevalecendo sobre outros aspectos, como desempenho, ergonomia, usabilidade e durabilidade, o que denota a necessidade de maior atenção quanto a relação custo-benefício quando da especificação dos equipamentos para as escolas públicas, com o intuito de buscar pela proposta mais vantajosa à gestão pública e a Educação. / ABSTRACT Currently, digital technologies, notably mobile technologies, are part of the daily people lives. Aware of these technologies expansion in society, Brazilian educational managers have sought their insertion in the country's public schools, developing specific policies and programs for this purpose. However, the mobile devices provided by the government projects have specific technical and conceptual characteristics distinct from other equipment available in the market, and have some use limitations, compromising the development of certain practices. In this context, research problems are configured: what are education conceptions present in the insertion programs of digital technologies in education that determined the technical and conceptual characteristics of the mobile devices available to public schools? Would it be necessary to have specific features, such as those found in the hardware and software devices, for them to be used in schools? The research was based on the quantitative and qualitative approaches, involving the analysis of the technical and conceptual characteristics of the mobile devices that were part of the Pilot phase of the One Computer Per Student (UCA), Proinfo Integrado and PROUCA Programs, as well as the study of policies Public and federal programs of insertion of the digital technologies in the schools, with focus in the understanding of some of the main documents that served as base for the implementation of the mentioned programs and project. Among the findings, it should be noted that the low cost was decisive for the characterization of the devices, prevailing over other aspects, such as performance, ergonomics, usability and durability, which indicates the need for more attention regarding the cost-benefit relation when specification of the equipment for the public schools, in order to seek the most advantageous proposal for public management and Education.

No description available.

In higher education institutions, virtual learning systems (VLSs) have been adopted, and are becoming increasingly popular among educators. However, despite this ubiquity of VLS use, there has not been widespread change in pedagogic practice to take advantage of the functionality afforded by VLSs. Knowledge of the actual usage of e-learning systems is limited in terms of what specific feature sets are deemed useful, and how this influences system usage. VLSs have a suite of tools with associated functions/features and properties, as well as non-functional system characteristics. In addition, these systems incorporate pedagogic features to cater for online teaching. Educators in higher education, who are the chief agents of e-learning, are confounded by system-related, pedagogic, organisational, user difference and demographic factors that influence VLS usage. Virtual learning system usage involves system feature usage extent and frequency, total system usage and usage clusters. The aim of this study is to develop a model representing the factors that influence usage of VLSs in higher education. The links between system usage and system-related factors, pedagogic factors, organisational factors, user-difference and demographic factors is researched. This research incorporated a literature study, a pilot study, interviews and surveys. A case study research strategy was combined with a mixed methods research design. The results of the qualitative analysis was triangulated with the findings of the quantitative analysis and compared to the findings of the literature study. The study was conducted at two residential higher education institutions (HEI), namely, University of KwaZulu-Natal and Durban University of Technology. The main contribution of this study is the Virtual Learning System Usage Model (VLSUM) representing the factors that influence VLS usage in residential higher education institutions. The proposed VLSUM is based on the empirical results of this study. VLSUM can be used by managers of educational technology departments and instructional designers to implement interventions to optimize usage. The constructs of VLSUM confirmed existing theories, replicated and synthesised theories from different fields, and extended existing models to produce a new model for understanding the factors that influence VLS usage in higher education. / Computing / D. LITT. et. Phil. (Information Systems)

Made available in DSpace on 2011-05-04T12:36:31Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2009 / Esta dissertação apresenta a proposta de um modelo teórico-conceitual de gestão do processo de desenvolvimento de novos medicamentos, para aplicação na indústria farmacêutica pública, que visa contribuir para o aperfeiçoamento da Gestão Tecnológica e da Inovação doInstituto de Tecnologia em Fármacos (Farmanguinhos) da Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), de forma a possibilitar o alinhamento entre o desenvolvimento de novos medicamentos, o planejamento estratégico e as políticas institucional e de Governo. Inicialmente, é tecida uma abordagem sociológica, considerando as metas e diretrizes das políticas públicas de suporte à inovação e ao desenvolvimento econômico. O emprego do poder do Estado para alavancar o desenvolvimento de novas tecnologias e novas formas de organização da produção é exemplificado a partir da atuação de Farmanguinhos, e de seu papel na regulação do mercado farmacêutico nacional. As principais abordagens teóricas sobre processos de negócio, gestão de processo de desenvolvimento de produtos e gestão da inovação tecnológica na indústria farmacêutica são sistematizadas, o que permite a identificação de conceitos, características relevantes e das melhores práticas da área. Com base na análise empírica das práticas e dos documentos institucionais é apresentado um diagnóstico global do atual cenário da gestão do desenvolvimento de novos produtos, bem como da gestão tecnológica e da inovação em Farmanguinhos. As ações de cunho estratégico e o modelo proposto, se implantados em alguma extensão, poderão contribuir para a consolidação do papel do Instituto de Tecnologia em Fármacos como laboratório farmacêutico oficial e como centro de referência da pesquisa, do desenvolvimento e da produção farmacêutica brasileira. / This dissertation presents the proposal of a conceptual theoretical model of management of new medicines development process, for implementation in public pharmaceutical industry, which aims to contribute to the improvement of management of technology and innovation of the Instituto de Tecnologia em Fármacos (Farmanguinhos) da Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), so as to make possible the alignment between the development of new medicines, strategic planning, and the institutional and governmental policies. Initially, it is presented a sociological approach, considering the political goals and guidelines of public support to innovation and economic development. Employment of power of the State to drive the development of new technologies and new forms of organization of production is exemplified from Farmanguinhos’ work, and its role in national pharmaceutical market adjustment. The main theoretical approaches on business processes, management of product development process and of technological innovation in pharmaceutical industry are systematized, which allows the identification of concepts, relevant characteristics and the best practices in the area. Based on empirical analysis of practices and institutional documents is presented a comprehensive diagnosis of the current scenario in Farmanguinhos regarding new product development, technology and innovation management. The strategic actions and model proposed, if deployed in some extent, may contribute to the consolidation of the paper of the Instituto de Tecnologia em Fármacos as State-owned Pharmaceutical Laboratory, and reference centre of Brazilian research, development and pharmaceutical production.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T19:16:39Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 6008.pdf: 2443534 bytes, checksum: 0bac1e7a31f3dca253b58964090370a6 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-02-24 / Innovation generates business competitiveness and business opportunities. The corporate sector can generate innovative products and processes based on technological progress in the company, developed in academia, or developed in partnership. But as the business sector can meet the technological advances that arise in the gym? What are the relevant details? What sources of information can be found? The sources of information currently available contains relevant and sufficient information? The context of this research is the monitoring of technological advances from academia to facilitate the transfer of such advances to the business sector. Among the objectives proposed for the research are: to identify sources of information publicly available descriptions of the technological advances of the academy, and investigate these sources of information through experimental research involving extraction and analysis of data in a universe of limited research. For the experimental investigation were chosen as sources of information and the Lattes Platform Innovation Agency UFSCAR site. The research universe was defined set of technological advances produced by professors from San Carlos UFSCar campus. The interval between the years 2007 and 2012 was defined as the period of investigation. Results indicate that 907 teachers UFSCar São Carlos campus reported in Lattes 192 technological advances produced between 2007 and 2012, 89 software without registration, 58 patents, 28 technology products, 13 processes and techniques, Industrial 2 drawings 1 software with registration and 1 mark. These data were grouped by department, by district and by year of production, generating statistics. The results of analysis of descriptive information extracted from Lattes showed problems in the reliability of the data: errors, duplicity, vagueness and lack of standardization in the filling. The website of the Agency for Innovation UFSCar reported numerically, 98 patents, 12 computer programs, 12 licenses of technology, 17 international patents, trademark registrations 4, 5 and 17 cultivars protected utility models between 2008 and 2012. Fifty-three of these advances - 49 patents and 4 cultivars - were described on the website of reliable, accurate and inviting manner using textual and audiovisual resources, enabling the identification and contact with researchers. Comparing the information provided in the Lattes Platform and the Innovation Agency site, we identified in the Innovation Agency site descriptions are more reliable and effective, however cover a limited number of technological advances, restricted to patents and cultivars indicators. On Lattes descriptions of advances reported in other indicators (such as software, processes and industrial designs) can be found, but more superficial descriptions and in some cases inaccurate. This work contributes to a better understanding of how the technological advances of the academy are being monitored, it also helps to aim the Lattes Platform and the websites of Technological Innovation Centers as sources of information that can be integrated in order to enhance monitoring technological advances of the academy and encourage technology transfer to the business sector. / Inovação gera competitividade empresarial e oportunidades de negócios. O setor empresarial pode gerar produtos e processos inovadores com base em avanços tecnológicos desenvolvidos na própria empresa, desenvolvidos na academia, ou ainda desenvolvidos em parceria. Mas como o setor empresarial pode conhecer os avanços tecnológicos que surgem na academia? Quais são as informações relevantes? Quais fontes de informação podem ser consultadas? As fontes de informação atualmente disponíveis contém informações relevantes e suficientes? O contexto da presente pesquisa é o monitoramento dos avanços tecnológicos provenientes da academia visando facilitar a transferência de tais avanços ao setor empresarial. Dentre os objetivos propostos para a pesquisa estão: identificar fontes de informação que divulguem publicamente descrições dos avanços tecnológicos da academia; e investigar essas fontes de informação através de pesquisa experimental envolvendo extração e análise de dados em um universo de pesquisa limitado. Para a investigação experimental foram escolhidas como fontes de informação a Plataforma Lattes e o site da Agência de Inovação da UFSCar. Como universo de pesquisa foi definido o conjunto de avanços tecnológicos produzidos por docentes do campus São Carlos da UFSCar. Foi definido como período de investigação o intervalo entre os anos de 2007 e 2012. Resultados apontam que os 907 docentes da UFSCar campus São Carlos reportaram na Plataforma Lattes 192 avanços tecnológicos produzidos entre 2007 e 2012, sendo 89 softwares sem registro, 58 patentes, 28 produtos tecnológicos, 13 processos e técnicas, 2 desenhos industriais, 1 software com registro e 1 marca. Estes dados foram agrupados por departamento, por centro e por ano de produção, gerando estatísticas. Os resultados da análise das informações descritivas extraídas da Plataforma Lattes apontaram problemas na confiabilidade dos dados, tais como duplicidade e falta de padronização. O site da Agência de Inovação da UFSCar reportou, numericamente, 98 patentes, 12 programas de computador, 12 licenciamentos de tecnologia, 17 patentes internacionais, 4 registros de marca, 17 cultivares protegidos e 5 modelos de utilidade entre 2008 e 2012. Cinquenta e três destes avanços - 49 patentes e 4 cultivares - estavam descritos no site, com recursos textuais e audiovisuais, possibilitando a identificação e o contato com os pesquisadores. Comparando as informações disponibilizadas na Plataforma Lattes e no site da Agência de Inovação, identificou-se que no site da Agência de Inovação as descrições são mais confiáveis e efetivas, porém abrangem um número limitado de avanços tecnológicos, restritos aos indicadores patentes e cultivares. Na Plataforma Lattes podem ser consultadas descrições de avanços reportados em outros indicadores (como softwares, processos e desenhos industriais), porém com menor detalhamento. O presente trabalho contribui com uma melhor compreensão do modo como os avanços tecnológicos da academia vêm sendo monitorados; contribui também ao apontar a Plataforma Lattes e os sites dos Núcleos de Inovação Tecnológica como fontes de informação que podem ser integradas, de modo a aprimorar o monitoramento dos avanços tecnológicos da academia, e incentivar a transferência de tecnologia ao setor empresarial.

First-class software engineering is no longer enough for an information system product to gain success on a market. Developing successful information system products has become a challenging practice that requires an understanding of those who are going to use the products. As product innovation has become the lifeblood of companies competing in the fast- paced IT industry, the end users have ultimately become those who determine the success of these type of products. User research is conducted to gather insights of users’ contexts, behaviors and feelings when using products. It can be practiced to explore how to create products and features that end users will find useful. This thesis examines how methods and tools used in user research can expose opportunities for innovation. The study was conducted by a literature study and a case study, where user research methods were put to practice to discover opportunities for creating a concept for a new product. Emphasis was also put on studying how to provide utility when developing a new product. The case study was performed over a four month period at an e- commerce company called Swiss Clinic in Stockholm, Sweden. The study shows that opportunities for innovation in user research occur in the interplay between business, user research discoveries and iterative design and that effective communication and artifacts play essential parts for innovating successfully.

Innovation has been considered the critical driver behind economic growth and value creation for a long time. However, in order to achieve an innovative status, the commercializing of an invention is required by injecting capital and strategy. While capital comes in many forms, this thesis focuses on the field of venture capital and how this type of financial backing can be analyzed and managed. Herein, the company characteristics continuum is presented, where business model innovation and technological innovation represent the two extremities. The purpose was then to investigate if there are significant differences in the venture capitalists' investment models as one moves along the aforementioned continuum. Semi-structured interviews were used and interpreted independently by the authors, with respect to coding units, in order to enhance objectivity. The thesis mainly targeted the information technology industry, where analysis was conducted on four of the largest actors on the Nordic venture capital market. The Nordic focus, combined with the rapidly moving industry, resulted in that significant differences, in the venture capitalists' investment models, were identified; giving implications both for theory and practice. These differences were identified as stemming from the initially adopted risk profiles, which then affected all other areas of the investment models. / Innovation har länge ansetts vara den kritiska drivkraften bakom ekonomisk tillväxt och värdeskapande. Emellertid, för att uppnå en innovativ status, krävs kommersialisering av en uppfinning genom att tillföra kapital och strategi. Kapital existerar i flera olika former, dock fokuserar denna uppsats på området riskkapital, och hur denna typ av finansiell backning kan analyseras och hanteras. Häri presenteras kontinuumet för företagskaraktäristik, där innovation inom affärsmodeller och teknik representerar de två ändpunkterna. Syftet var att undersöka om det fanns signifikanta skillnader mellan riskkapitalisters investeringsmodeller, när ett företag rör sig längs det ovan nämnda kontinuumet. Semi-strukturerade intervjuer användes och tolkades oberoende av författarna, genom att använda kodord, för att förbättra objektiviteten. Uppsatsen berör främst företag inom industrin för informationsteknologi, där analys har gjorts på fyra av de största aktörerna inom marknaden för riskkapital i Norden. Ett Nordiskt fokus, kombinerat med en hastigt utvecklande industri, resulterade i att signifikanta skillnader, i riskkapitalisters investeringsmodeller, identifierades; vilket gav implikationer för både teori och praktik. Dessa skillnader identifierades att härstamma från de initialt anammade riskprofilerna, som sedan påverkade alla andra områden inom investeringsmodellen.

Denna studie undersöker utvecklingen av digitala tjänster och integrationen av innovativ teknik hos försäkringsförmedlingsföretaget Portfolio Försäkra. Under de inledande diskussionerna med VD, Andreas Adolfsson, noterades att företaget hade vissa luckor i sitt digitala tjänsteutbud och saknade användning av innovativ teknik. Bristerna är inte unika för Portfolio Försäkra utan potentiellt förekommande inom hela försäkringssektorn, vilket innebär en stor inverkan på marknadens konkurrens.  I dagens digitala era är expertis inom teknik och innovativa metoder avgörande för försäkringssektorns framgång. Förbättrad digital tjänsteinnovation är nödvändig för att kunderna ska kunna använda information mer effektivt, vilket i slutändan leder till ökad kundlojalitet och kundnöjdhet. Därför är behovet av att förbättra de digitala tjänsterna inom försäkringssektorn absolut nödvändigt.  Syftet med denna undersökning är att fördjupa oss i de digitala möjligheter som finns tillgängliga för Portfolio Försäkra och andra försäkringsbolag som för närvarande saknar de senaste tekniska lösningarna. Vi antar rollen som forskare, genomför intervjuer och kommunicerar med anställda på Portfolio Försäkra. Vår dataanalys och våra intervjuer kommer att hjälpa oss att identifiera problemområden som kan hindra företagets utveckling och kundnöjdhet.  Resultaten tyder på att integrationen av innovation och digital teknik måste bli en integrerad del av Portfolio Försäkra företagskultur för att säkerställa en hållbar och långsiktig tillväxt. Resultaten av denna studie erbjuder värdefulla insikter för andra organisationer inom försäkringssektorn som vill förbättra sina digitaltjänsteinnovation och kundnöjdhet. / This study explores the digital service development and innovative technology integration of Portfolio Försäkra, an insurance brokerage firm. During the initial discussions with the CEO, Andreas Adolfsson, it was noted that the company faced gaps in its digital service offerings and lacked the adoption of innovative technologies. The observed shortcomings are not unique to Portfolio Försäkra but potentially prevalent across the insurance sector, signifying a major impact on market competition.  In today's digital age, expertise in technology and innovative practices is crucial to the success of the insurance sector. Improved digital service innovation is essential for the customers to utilize information more efficiently, ultimately leading to increased customer loyalty and satisfaction. Therefore, the need for digital service improvement in the insurance sector is imperative.  The aim of this research is to delve deeper into the digital opportunities available to Portfolio Försäkra and other insurance companies that currently lack the necessary technological advancements. We adopt the role of researcher, conducting interviews and communicating with Portfolio Försäkra's employees. Our data analysis and interviews will help identify problematic areas that could hinder the company's development and customer satisfaction.  The findings suggest that the integration of innovation and digital technology must become an integral part of Portfolio Försäkra's company culture to ensure sustainable and long-term growth. The results of this study offer valuable insights for other organizations in the insurance sector seeking to enhance their digital service offerings and customer satisfaction.