Made available in DSpace on 2016-03-15T19:26:07Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Fabiana Vieira da Costa.pdf: 1490415 bytes, checksum: 1d5d8c0f16fa83e287f1d87b51826d86 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-08-30 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / Through the analysis of securities brokers in the highly turbulent Brazilian Market, the dissertation aimed to identify and analyze dynamic capability elements and evidences in processes and routines of innovation. The literature on dynamic capabilities is still inconclusive and controversial, especially with regard to the understanding of how companies develop this kind of capability. In this sense this work is a contribution to the discussion of the processes involved in the development of dynamic capability. The method used in the research has a qualitative, exploratory and descriptive approach, which involved the use of a semi-structured questionnaire. There were nine interviews with executives from firms with diversified ages: some founded in the 1930s, others in the 1960s, another group from 1990s, along with some that have less than 5 years in the market. On top of those interviews, additional documents have complemented the data set. The technique used for data analysis was content analysis, according to interpretative analysis of Gil Flores (1994). Three meta-categories were analyzed: environment dynamics, dynamic capability evidence, and processes and routines of innovation. The former category is related to research s first specific aim, which was the identification of the environment dynamics and the factors that explain this dynamism, such as technological and other relevant resources, threats and opportunities, adaptation to environmental changes. The meta-category that follows is related to research s second specific aim, which was the analysis of dynamic capability evidences in accordance with technological resources used, new business segments, innovation practice, and opportunities for innovation. The latter meta-category is related to research s third specific objective, which was to identify and analyze the elements of processes and routines that search for innovation. For this aim, six categories were identified: frequency of new processes, organization s memory, operating routine changes, implementation of innovation, organizational structure and innovation, and motivation for innovation. The research has found that the development of dynamic capabilities in securities brokerage depends on how they respond to environmental changes, how they make investments in technology, and also which routines are implemented for innovation and implementation of their products and services. Despite acting in the same market, differences in the business management were identified among them, so it was possible divide the brokers into three distinct groups: i) brokers who present the development of dynamic capability, have well-defined strategies, are pro-active, and continuously invest in technology and innovation of products and services, ii) firms in which managers are already reflecting on their actions and strategies in order to develop dynamic capability that can cope with changes in the environment; and iii) firms that are lagging behind, a bit far in dynamic capability development. / Esta dissertação visou, através da análise das corretoras de valores mobiliários no mercado brasileiro, inseridas em um ambiente altamente turbulento, identificar e analisar os indícios e os elementos de capacidade dinâmica por meio de processos e rotinas de busca e inovação. A literatura acerca de capacidade dinâmica ainda é inconclusiva e controversa, principalmente no que se refere à compreensão de como as empresas desenvolvem essa capacidade. Nesse sentido, este trabalho é uma contribuição à discussão a respeito dos processos envolvidos no desenvolvimento da capacidade dinâmica. O método empregado na pesquisa seguiu uma abordagem qualitativa, exploratória e descritiva, o que envolveu a preparação de roteiro semiestruturado. Foram realizadas nove entrevistas com executivos de corretoras fundadas em diferentes épocas, algumas na década de 1930, 1960, 1990 e outras com menos de 5 anos de mercado. Além das entrevistas, foram utilizados registros documentais. A técnica adotada para análise dos dados foi a análise de conteúdo, segundo análise interpretativa de Gil Flores (1994). Foram analisadas as seguintes metacategorias: dinamismo do ambiente, indícios de capacidade dinâmica e processos e rotinas de busca e inovação. A primeira metacategoria está relacionada ao primeiro objetivo específico, que consistiu em identificar o dinamismo do ambiente e os fatores que explicam esse dinamismo, como recursos tecnológicos, relevância de outros recursos, ameaças e oportunidades, e adequação às mudanças no ambiente. A segunda metacategoria está relacionada ao segundo objetivo específico, que consistiu em analisar os indícios de capacidade dinâmica de acordo com os seguintes aspectos: recursos tecnológicos utilizados, busca de novos segmentos de atuação, prática de inovar e oportunidades de inovação. A terceira e última metacategoria está relacionada ao terceiro objetivo específico, que consistiu em identificar e analisar os elementos de processos e rotinas de busca e inovação. Nesse objetivo, as categorias identificadas foram: frequência de novos processos, memória da organização, mudanças nas rotinas operacionais, implementação da inovação, estrutura organizacional e inovação e motivação da inovação. Os resultados encontrados sinalizam que o desenvolvimento da capacidade dinâmica nas corretoras de valores mobiliários depende da maneira como elas respondem às mudanças do ambiente, dos investimentos em tecnologia e, ainda, das rotinas implementadas para a inovação e implementação de seus produtos e serviços. Apesar de atuarem no mesmo mercado, foram identificadas diferenças na gestão do negócio, de modo que foi possível agrupar as corretoras em três distintos grupos: i) grupo das corretoras que apresentam o desenvolvimento de capacidade dinâmica, possuem estratégias bem definidas, são corretoras proativas e realizam quase que continuamente investimentos em tecnologia e inovação de produtos e serviços; ii) este grupo vem fazendo um esforço em apresentar características evidenciadas de capacidade dinâmica, em alguns momentos percebem-se as transformações realizadas por essas corretoras, nota-se que os gestores já estão refletindo sobre suas ações e suas estratégias, e que as mudanças no ambiente já estão sendo readequadas no dia a dia de suas rotinas; iii) o terceiro grupo está um pouco distante em realçar características de capacidade dinâmica.

The topic of this thesis is Innovation Management in the Chosen Organization. The aim of this work was to evaluate the actual state of innovation management, to identify possible weaknesses of this and to propose changes which can improve the present state. The thesis is divided into two parts. In the theoretical part there is a literary review of term connected with the topic of the thesis. There are descriptions of the terms like innovation, innovation management or innovation process. The practical part begins with the introduction of chosen organization. Then there is described a current state of innovation management in detail. The analysis of actual state of innovation management is based mainly on information obtained in interviews with the director of company and other staff. After that part, there are given some recommendations to improve current situation.

處於競爭激烈、產品生命週期短暫和快速變動的時代裡，製程創新活動成為廠商競爭優勢的關鍵因素之一。Pisano（1995）研究指出廠商藉由製程創新活動來強化競爭優勢，包括：加速產品上市時間、加快爬坡速度、提高使用者接受性、強化專利產品地位等，其他學者也認為廠商應該重視製程創新活動，以因應未來的環境趨勢。國內製造業向來以製造能力見長於國際舞台，近年來半導體產業和資訊電子產業的表現更顯示廠商優異的製造實力。儘管如此，有關這方面的研究仍然非常少，因此本研究的目的是探討我國廠商製程創新活動之重要關鍵因素，期望能對這方面進行較為整體性的分析。 根據技術創新相關理論，本研究以技術網路、人員、組織和制度四構面探討半導體產業和主機板產業製程創新活動之重要因素和差異性，所得到的研究發現如下： 1. 製程創新活動可區分為四類型：獨立型、依賴型、主導型和協調型。獨立型廠商傾向於獨自開發新製程技術，依賴型廠商則傾向於透過技術網路提升製程技術水準；在對內和對外的製程創新活動上主導型廠商的整合能力較強，協調型廠商則較弱。 2. 不同製程創新類型有不同的製程知識來源。在來源方面，半導體產業（流程產業）顯示出較集中的現象，主機板產業（非流程產業）則顯得較分散。 3. 與設備供應商的互動關係為製程創新活動之重要影響因素，不同類型的廠商與設備供應商的互動關係不同。 4. 主機板廠商（非流程產業）藉由製程知識輸出來提高外包廠商的製程品質，製程創新程度越高的廠商與外包廠商的關係越密切。 5. 人員的技術和經驗為製程創新活動中重要的因素之一，半導體廠商（流程產業）特別強調研發人員的量產經驗。 6. 製程創新程度越高，廠商的製程技術單位之主導權越大。 7. 製程創新程度越高，廠商越傾向於設立製程技術協調單位。 目錄 / Abstract In highly competitive, short product life cycle and quickly changing environment, process innovation is one of a firm’s key competitive advantages. Pisano & Wheelwright (1995) consider that firms which do their best in process innovation can enhance their competitive advantages, including shortening time to market, increasing ramp-up speed, enhancing users’ acceptance, increasing product’s patent status and so on. Hayes & Wheelwright (1984) point out the concept of manufacturing strategy, consider that firms should escalate the role of the manufacturing division to decision-making on top management level, and claim that competitive advantages which are based on manufacturing capabilities will direct the decision-making process of marketing and engineering in future. To catch up adaptability for the trend of the future environment, other scholars also suggest that firms should actively make efforts to execute process innovation activities. Manufacturing firms in Taiwan display their manufacturing competence on international status, especially in IC industry and in information technology industry. Therefore, Taiwan is always named as “manufacture kingdom”. In the past, industrial firms’ process innovation is mainly thinking about employing cheaper labors and buying newer equipment. However, now they pay more attention to research and develop process technology, to enhance production process integration capabilities, to increase production flexibility and so on. For example, TSMC and UMC in Taiwan have more advanced process technology, which is about at the same technological level as IC industrial leading firms oversea. Their advanced process technology not only creates many benefits but also drives the development of other related industries. Their success shows us that process innovation will bring firms continuously high growing rate and take long-run competitive advantages. By forgoing observation, this paper wishes to discover what makes Taiwan the manufacturing kingdom and how do firms increase process advantages and execute process innovation activities. So the purpose of this paper is to find out what influences a firm’s performance of process innovation and how foregoing factors affect new process innovation and existing process innovation. Utterback (1994) finds assembled product and non-assembled product have different characteristics in innovation activities. Skinner (1992) explores how stakeholders are within their cognizance about a firm’s process innovation, and finds that there are different focuses between process industry and non-process industry. Therefore, this paper will go further to study how foregoing factors influence process performance in process industry and in non-process industry. According to some related technology innovation theories and innovation theories, this paper is conducted based on four key dimensions: technology network, people, structure and management. Then, this paper infers some important items of forgoing dimensions from past studies to build the research framework of the paper. These items in technology network dimension are equipment suppliers, material and component suppliers, satellite factories, group/strategic leaguer/consumer and research institutions. In people dimension, this paper mainly wants to explore how personnel’s skills and experience influence process performance. Structure dimension contains three items, which are organizational structure, task allocation and strategy. This paper lists important items in management dimension, including rewarding system, training & education, information system and coordination mechanism. Because related studies in the past explore only a part of process innovation, this paper employs case study to examine process innovation more systematically and completely. To explore a firm’s process innovation of high-tech industry in Taiwan, this paper chooses four IC manufacturing firms (process industry) and four motherboard firms (non- process industry) as research samples, which have better performance than others in their industry. Moreover, this paper classifies these samples into four groups according to the industrial characteristics and the process innovation level. In the field of IC industry (process industry), Fab-T and Fab-U are famous for advanced process technology and continuous research on advanced process technology. So this paper explores the development of the new process technology in Fab-T and Fab-U, and the improvement of existing process technology in Fab-M and Fab-K. In the field of motherboard industry, MB-A is the only motherboard firm in Taiwan, which has process patents in Taiwan now. And MB-G actively executes process innovation recently, including package and product vibrating tests. So this paper properly classifies MB-A and MB-G as a group with higher process innovation level, and explores their advanced process innovation activities. Then MB-T and MB-E are classified as lower process innovation on lower level group, and this paper explores how they improve existing process innovation. By a series of analysis about primary and secondary data of eight firms, the conclusions of this paper are: 1. There are four types in process innovation: Independent Firms, Dependent Firms, Directing Firms and Coordinating Firms. In IC industry, the Independent Firms almost develops new process innovation alone; the Dependent Firms tend to properly aided by members of technology network to enhance process innovation level. In motherboard industry, the Directing Firms have stronger relationship with menders of process innovation activities, which actively respond to the process technology unit, the Coordinating Firms have weaker relationship. 2. Different types in process innovation have different sources of process-related knowledge. The sources of IC Firms are more convergent, however the sources of motherboard firms are more divergent. 3. One of the key factors in process innovation is equipment suppliers, with which different types have different interaction. 4. Motherboard firms actively enhance the production quality of satellite factories through process knowledge output. Motherboard firms with higher process innovative level have more closely cooperating relation with their satellite factories. 5. The people is one of the key factors in process innovation. IC firms put more emphasis on the mass-production experience of engineers. 6. Whether it is in IC industry (process industry) or in motherboard industry (non-process industry), firms with higher process innovation level tend to give the process technology unit more power to integrate activities among different departments. 7. Whether it is in IC industry (process industry) or in motherboard industry (non-process industry), firms with higher process innovation level tend to set up the technology coordination unit. Finally, this paper has some advises from forgoing conclusions, and wishes to efficiently enhance a firm’s performance and production yields. These advises are: 1. The Depending Firms should do their best to improve relations with members of technology network. 2. To efficiently use resources and to increase performance in short terms, the first thing of the Coordinating Firms should do is to enhance process capabilities, instead of building good cooperative relation with members of technologic network. 3. Firms should set up a special technology-coordinating unit, which can efficiently increase interaction among different departments. 4. Firms should give more power to the process technology unit, so that it can cooperate with other departments more efficiently.

The master thesis is dedicated to the use of innovation management in small and medium-sized enterprises. The theoretical part contains explanation of terms related to the innovation management, inventions, innovations, classification of innovations, measurement and effectivity of innovations. According to the opinions of many authors, the company that does not innovate is doomed to fail. That is why the often-used motto of companies is "Innovate or die". The chosen company which does not want to be named is described in the practical part. The enterprise is an important printing company with more than 20 years-long history. The aim of the master thesis is to describe and evaluated the realized innovation of the company. The output of the thesis contains plan of the processing map of the innovation, evaluation of the innovation by innovation index KLII and creation of the innovation benefits pyramid. The results of the thesis may contribute to lower costs of realization of future innovations, strengthening of the vision of the company and an increase of competitiveness.

Cette thèse traite d’un type d’innovation largement négligé jusqu’à aujourd’hui : l’innovation organisationnelle (IO), également connue sous le nom « d’innovation management » ou « innovation managériale ». L’objectif est d’expliquer le phénomène d’adoption de ce type d’innovation en identifiant non seulement ses antécédents internes et externes, mais aussi ses relations avec l’innovation technologique de procédés, avec laquelle elle partage un certain nombre de caractéristiques. Le modèle proposé est fondé sur la vision intégrative de l’innovation (the integrative view of innovation) qui présente un triple intérêt : (1) contrairement à la vision distinctive et linéaire de l’innovation, elle ne relègue pas l’IO au statut d’innovation de second rang ; (2) elle élargit le champ des antécédents au-delà des seuls efforts en R&D et envisage leurs effets d’interaction ; (3) elle enrichit l’explication du phénomène d’adoption d’une IO en faisant l’hypothèse que des innovations de différents types sont adoptées de manière complémentaire. Notre démarche repose sur quatre articles empiriques et une multi-méthodologie, qualitative basée sur six études de cas d’entreprises industrielles, et quantitative faisant appel à différentes méthodes économétriques. Le Lean Management représente la forme concrète d’IO à partir de laquelle les confrontations empiriques sont réalisées. Au final, cette thèse est à l’origine de trois contributions majeures. Tout d’abord, au-delà des antécédents traditionnels privilégiés dans les recherches, d’autres antécédents internes (les pratiques de mobilisation des ressources humaines et la capacité d’absorption des entreprises) et externes (les sources de connaissances) jouent un rôle crucial sur l’adoption d’une IO. Ensuite, la prise en compte des interactions entre ces antécédents s’avère essentielle pour une meilleure compréhension du processus d’adoption, certains étant complémentaires (ex : les pratiques de mobilisation entre elles ou la résistance au changement et le manque de soutien managérial) alors que d’autres sont substituables (ex : les sources externes de connaissance et la capacité d’absorption des firmes). Enfin, conformément à la vision intégrative, l’adoption de l’IO n’est pas indépendante de l’adoption d’une innovation technologique de procédés et est régie par des antécédents similaires. Toutefois, leur relation n’est pas d’ordre complémentaire au sens strict dans la mesure où il y aurait un effet d’ordre. Ces résultats débouchent sur des recommandations managériales utiles pour un meilleur pilotage de l’adoption d’une IO. / This research deals with a type of innovation largely neglected in the literature: organizational innovation, also called "innovation management" or "managerial innovation." The objective is to explain the adoption of this type of innovation by identifying not only its internal and external antecedents, but also its relationship to technological process innovation, with which it shares common characteristics. The model is based on the integrative view of innovation which presents three main advantages: (1) contrary to the linear view of innovation, it does not consider organizational innovation as a second-order innovation; (2) beyond R&D efforts alone, it allows for the integration of new antecedents and their interaction effects, and (3) it enriches the explanation of organizational innovation adoption assuming that innovation is adopted synchronously or complementarily. We used a multi-methodological approach, a qualitative study based on six case studies of industrial firms and a quantitative study using different econometric methods. Lean Management is the concrete form of organizational innovation we studied in the four empirical articles. The contributions of this research are threefold. Firstly, beyond the traditional internal and external antecedents, we show that human resource management practices, firms’ absorptive capacity and external knowledge sources play a crucial role in organizational innovation adoption. Secondly, this research demonstrates that it is essential to take into account the interactions between internal and external antecedents in order to better understand adoption processes, some of them being complementary or substitutes. Thirdly, the study shows that organizational innovation adoption is consistent with the integrative view of innovation since it is dependent of the adoption of technological process innovation, without being strictly complementary. These two types of process innovations, organizational and technological, are also found to be driven by similar antecedents. These results lead to managerial recommendations for a better management of organizational innovation adoption.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-03-15T19:26:38Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Maria Cristina Zampieri Sellmann.pdf: 4121399 bytes, checksum: 764161e93a9e33a69a1ec08162e7221c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006-08-09 / This study concerns the relation between change management and the efficacy of process innovations implementation in a highly dynamic and competitive environment the Telecommunication s segment. As prime objective, it intended to discover the most relevant aspects in this relation. For this reason, a process innovation inductive micro-environment was selected aiming to observe the implications of the change management practices in the efficacy of its implementation, generated by the adoption of the Recof (Regime Aduaneiro de Entreposto Industrial sob Controle Informatizado). An exploratory nature research was carried out, with the application of the qualitative method and the utilization of in-depth interviews with persons responsible for the implementation of this special regime and also with its main participants, in three major companies in this segment Siemens, Motorola and Ericsson Telecommunications. The collected data was treated by means of content analysis obtaining categories related to the characterization of the change and its management, to the kind and efficacy of process innovations implementation and to the relevant aspects of the influential relation between these two subjects. The analysis of the results revealed that the planning of activities, the commitment, the engagement of the participants and the support from the top management were the aspects of the change management that most contributed for the efficacy of the process innovations implementation that were essentially incremental. These were the most relevant discoveries in the influential relation. Additionally it was observed that, although all the phases of the changing process preconized in the literature were not followed, highly significant level of efficacy was obtained. Considering this, it was concluded that the changing process phases assume distinct relevance when related to efficacy in an environment such as the telecommunications. / Este estudo trata da relação entre a gestão da mudança e a eficácia na implementação das inovações de processo em um ambiente altamente dinâmico e competitivo - o segmento das Telecomunicações. Como objetivo principal, buscou-se descobrir os aspectos mais relevantes nessa relação. Para tanto, foi selecionado um micro-ambiente indutor de inovações de processo para se poder observar as implicações das práticas da gestão da mudança na eficácia da sua implementação, geradas pela adoção do Regime Aduaneiro de Entreposto Industrial sob Controle Informatizado (Recof). Foi realizada uma pesquisa de natureza exploratória, com aplicação do método qualitativo, e a utilização de entrevistas em profundidade com as pessoas responsáveis pela implantação desse regime especial e com os seus principais participantes, em três empresas de grande representatividade no segmento Siemens, Motorola e Ericsson Telecomunicações. Os dados foram tratados por meio da análise de conteúdo tendo sido obtidas categorias relacionadas à caracterização da mudança e sua gestão, ao tipo e eficácia da implementação das inovações de processo e aos aspectos relevantes da relação de influência entre os dois fenômenos. A análise dos resultados revelou que o planejamento das atividades, o comprometimento, o envolvimento dos participantes e o suporte da alta direção foram os aspectos da gestão da mudança que mais contribuíram para a eficácia da implementação das inovações de processo que foram essencialmente incrementais. Essas foram as descobertas mais relevantes na relação de nfluência. Adicionalmente observou-se que, apesar de não ter sido seguido todo o roteiro das fases do processo de mudança conforme preconizado pela literatura, obteve-se um nível significativo de eficácia. Com isso, se concluiu que as fases do processo de mudança assumem importância distinta quando relacionadas à eficácia em um ambiente como o das telecomunicações.

Companies attempt to overcome their competitors by creating and sustaining competitive advantage. Innovation, understood as the introduction of a new good or service in the economic system by the producers, who educate consumers to look for new things that differ from those already on the market (SCHUMPETER, 1989) is configured as one of the most important means to achieve advantage over the rivals. Allied to this, the need for preservation of natural resources and the growing environmental appeal in recent years has motivated organizations to think green during the process and manufacture of its goods or services. Inserted in this scenario, the present study aimed to verify how the adoption of green innovation influences the achieving competitive advantage of companies in the electrical and electronic sectors Brazilian. Using a quantitative/descriptive model, the study adopted the conceptual model proposed by Chen, Lai and Wen (2006), which are presented two research hypotheses: (H1) green product innovation has a positive effect the pursuit of competitive advantage of organizations and (H2) green process innovation has a positive effect the pursuit of competitive advantage of organizations. Using a target population of the companies linked to the Brazilian Association of Electrical and Electronics Industry (ABINEE), the sample consisted of 113 organizations representing 20.62% of this population. Data collection occurred between the months of October to December 2011 and used a Likert-type questionnaire with five-point scale. The results showed that the level of adoption of green innovative practices, as well as the level of adoption of factors that lead to competitive advantage between the firms is high, because all the variables measured presented averages above the midpoint of the scale (3.00). Also it was verified by means Regression Analysis, that the relationship between green product innovation and achieving competitive advantage, and the relationship between green process innovation and achieving competitive advantage is considered significant, but at the moderate level, because the value of R2 was found 0.274, indicating that 27.4% of the variation of competitive advantage can be explained from the green innovation. Thus, it was found that both the green product innovation and green process innovation affect positively the pursuit of competitive advantage, and innovation process with greater intensity. / As empresas buscam superar suas concorrentes por meio da criação e sustentação de vantagens competitivas. A inovação, entendida como a introdução de um novo bem ou serviço no sistema econômico por meio dos produtores, que educam os consumidores a buscarem coisas novas que diferem daquelas já existentes no mercado (SCHUMPETER, 1989) configura-se como um dos mais importantes meios para alcançar vantagem frente às rivais. Aliado a isso, a necessidade de preservação dos recursos naturais e o apelo ambiental crescente dos últimos anos tem motivado as organizações a pensarem de maneira verde durante os processos e fabricação de seus bens ou serviços. Inserido nesse cenário, a presente pesquisa teve por objetivo verificar como a adoção de inovações verdes influencia na obtenção de vantagem competitiva das empresas dos setores elétrico e eletrônico brasileiro. De natureza quantitativa/descritiva, o estudo adotou o modelo conceitual proposto por Chen, Lai e Wen (2006), onde são apresentadas duas hipóteses de investigação: (H1) a inovação de produtos verdes afeta positivamente a busca por vantagem competitiva das organizações e (H2) a inovação de processos verdes afeta positivamente a busca por vantagem competitiva das organizações. Utilizando como população-alvo as empresas vinculadas à Associação Brasileira da Indústria Elétrica e Eletrônica (ABINEE), a amostra foi composta por 113 organizações que representaram 20,62% dessa população. A coleta de dados ocorreu entre os meses de Outubro a Dezembro de 2011, por meio de questionário do tipo Likert, com escala de cinco pontos. Os resultados apontaram que o nível de adoção de práticas inovativas verdes, bem como de fatores que conduzem à vantagem competitiva entre as empresas participantes é elevado, uma vez que todas as variáveis mensuradas apresentaram médias acima do ponto intermediário da escala (3,00). Também constatou-se, por meio da Análise de Regressão, que a relação entre a inovação de produtos verdes e a obtenção de vantagem competitiva, bem como a relação entre a inovação de processos verdes e a obtenção de vantagem competitiva é considerada significativa, mas ao nível moderado, já que o valor encontrado de R2 foi de 0,274, indicando que 27,4% da variação da vantagem competitiva podem ser explicados a partir da inovação verde. Assim, verificou-se que tanto a inovação de produtos verdes quanto a inovação de processos verdes afetam positivamente a busca por vantagem competitiva, sendo que as inovações de processos com maior intensidade.

The objective of the study was to quantify the evolving scope of quality management as practiced in a sample of companies in South Afiica, and to correlate this with corporate profitability. The empirical data in this study suggests that a more extensive scope of application and practice of quality management and related management practices is related to better organisational profitability. The significant correlations which were demonstrated are: • A focus on results by companies is inversely correlated with Operating Profit Margin. • Quality training, employee communications and internal coordination correlates positively with Net Profit Margin. • The rigorous use of quality standards correlates positively with Net Profit Margin. • Quality control and monitoring correlates positively with Return on Equity. Recommendations flowing from this study include that a broader paradigm of quality management is required, expressed as an integrated model for innovation and change which is holistic rather than fragmented. / Economics / M. Com. (Business Economics)

Following Toyota's dramatic rise to prominence within the automotive industry in the late 1980's, firms around the globe have widely sought to adopt Lean Six Sigma (LSS) as a means of reducing costs, improving quality, and gaining an overall competitive advantage. While the operational benefits of LSS are largely undisputed, there are criticisms of the movement with regards to its effect on firm innovation capability. Prior academic studies investigating the relationship between LSS and innovation are largely conceptual in nature, rely heavily on qualitative data, and display a high degree of variability in results. The objective of this work was to empirically confirm whether LSS adoption had a positive, negative, or neutral impact on firm innovation performance.Financial data was collected for 151 publicly traded firms over the period from 1985 to 2018. The year of company-wide adoption of LSS was identified for each sample firm. Firms were paired with industry rivals using Coarsened Exact Matching (CEM), and statistical regressions were performed to show correlations between LSS implementation (as measured by inventory turns) and innovation performance (as measured by Total Factor Productivity, Research Quotient, and Tobin's Quotient). Regression results indicated that LSS implementation had a positive correlation with firm process innovation performance and the overall market perception of firm innovation and value, and a negative-to-neutral correlation with firm product innovation performance. Additional regressions performed at the industry-sector level revealed that the LSS-innovation relationship varies greatly by industry environment and is subject to unique industry effects and management implementation decisions.

Submitted by Aelson Maciera (aelsoncm@terra.com.br) on 2017-08-07T19:09:22Z No. of bitstreams: 1 DissCLG.pdf: 1961386 bytes, checksum: 4f4c104b8de66d6468ef02dfd76b6148 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Ronildo Prado (ronisp@ufscar.br) on 2017-08-09T13:23:40Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 DissCLG.pdf: 1961386 bytes, checksum: 4f4c104b8de66d6468ef02dfd76b6148 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Ronildo Prado (ronisp@ufscar.br) on 2017-08-09T13:23:47Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 DissCLG.pdf: 1961386 bytes, checksum: 4f4c104b8de66d6468ef02dfd76b6148 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-08-09T13:29:14Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 DissCLG.pdf: 1961386 bytes, checksum: 4f4c104b8de66d6468ef02dfd76b6148 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-04-07 / Não recebi financiamento / The practices of Continuous Improvement (CI) and the Innovation of products and processes get competitive advantage for organizations, in relation to competitors, whether in positioning by low cost or differentiation strategy. These practices need to be managed and integrated in order to ensure, in the long run, the desired results. Although seen as significant for the strategic goals of the organization, often are managed independently and with different goals. There is little consensus in the literature if the use of Continuous Improvement Practices has positive or negative impact on the processes and outcomes of Innovation in firm. However, are observed recurring statements about the necessity of coexistence and integration of CI programs and Practices and Innovation. There is interest in examining what existing relations in the context of organizations that make it possible to identify whether a greater intensity of use of CI practices influences the perceived performance in innovation of products and processes. In order to analyze the possible relations, the study was conducted by survey on a sample of 102 companies of Auto parts, Pharmaceuticals, Electric-Electronics appliances the State of São Paulo in Brazil. The sample data were analyzed by descriptive and multivariate statistical methods (cluster analysis). The descriptive analysis showed significant evidence on integration relations between CI and Product and process innovation, as well as, the IC contribution in creating a fertile environment for Innovation. Multivariate analyzes revealed existence of associations between the intensity of use of IC practices and perceived performance in Innovation, mainly in processes. The findings contribute to a better understanding of the topic and management application in organizations, besides indicating opportunities for further studies. / As práticas de Melhoria Contínua (MC) e de Inovação de produtos e processos geram vantagem competitiva para as organizações, seja em posicionamento por baixo custo ou em estratégia de diferenciação. Essas práticas precisam ser gerenciadas e integradas de forma a assegurar, no longo prazo, os resultados desejados. Apesar de vistas como significativas para os resultados estratégicos da organização, muitas vezes são gerenciadas de forma independente e com objetivos distintos. Há pouco consenso na literatura sobre se o uso de práticas de Melhoria Contínua tem impacto positivo ou negativo nos processos e resultados de Inovação nas empresas. Entretanto, são observadas afirmações recorrentes sobre a necessidade de coexistência e integração das práticas e programas de MC e da Inovação. Há interesse em analisar quais as relações, existentes no âmbito das organizações, que possibilitam identificar se uma maior intensidade de uso das práticas de MC influencia o desempenho percebido em Inovação de produtos e processos. Com o intuito de analisar as possíveis relações, foi conduzida uma pesquisa survey em uma amostra de 102 empresas industriais dos setores de Autopeças, Farmacêutico e Eletro-Eletrônico do Estado de São Paulo. Os dados obtidos foram analisados por métodos estatísticos descritivos e multivariados (análise de cluster). As análises descritivas de dados mostraram evidências significativas sobre as relações de integração entre a MC e a Inovação de produtos e processos, bem como, a contribuição da MC na criação de um ambiente propício a Inovação. As análises multivariadas revelaram a existência de associações entre a intensidade de uso de práticas de MC e o desempenho percebido em Inovação, principalmente em processos. Os resultados contribuem para uma melhor compreensão sobre o tema e aplicação gerencial nas organizações, além de indicar oportunidades de desdobramentos para pesquisas futuras.