Managing Innovation in Small High-Technology Firms: A Case Study in Brazil

Mauricio Uriona Maldonado; Norberto Dias; Gregorio Jean Varvakis Rados

doi:10.4067/S0718-27242009000200011

Authors

Mauricio Uriona Maldonado 3Knowledge Engineering Department. Federal University of Santa Catarina
Norberto Dias Cianet Networking Co.
Gregorio Jean Varvakis Rados 3Knowledge Engineering Department. Federal University of Santa Catarina

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4067/S0718-27242009000200011

Keywords:

innovation, SME, high technology companies, performance measurement.

Abstract

Evaluating innovation competence and practices is a significant and complex issue for many contemporary organizations and it presents itself as a challenge for forthcoming initiatives. In this article, we present the case study of a small high-technology firm. Cianet Networking is a digital communication solutions manufacturer in Brazil that went through the implementation of an innovation management assessment system. This article reports the challenges the firm faced through the diagnosing/benchmarking and action plan proposal phases as well as the challenges facing the implementation phase. This system helped the firm to understand their strengths and weaknesses as well as to establish action plans in order to achieve higher performance. Since the beginning of the implementation, the results have corroborated the firm´s positive operational outcomes.

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Author Biographies

Mauricio Uriona Maldonado, 3Knowledge Engineering Department. Federal University of Santa Catarina

He is a Ph.D. candidate in Knowledge Engineering and Management, Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), Brazil. He received a M.Sc. in Knowledge Engineering and Management at UFSC, Brazil, and a bachelor’s in Industrial Engineering from Escuela Militar de Ingenieria (EMI), Bolivia. His research interests include simulation - system dynamics - applied to service operations and knowledge and innovation management. He is a Senior Researcher at the Nucleo de Gestao para Sustentabilidade (NGS) at UFSC. His industry experience include management consultancy with Brazilian and Bolivian companies.

Norberto Dias, Cianet Networking Co.

CEO and founder of Cianet Networking Inc. He currently participates as a member of several Brazilian Science and Technology deliberative councils

Gregorio Jean Varvakis Rados, 3Knowledge Engineering Department. Federal University of Santa Catarina

He earned his Ph.D in Manufacturing Engineering at Loughborough University of Technology, United Kingdom. He works as a Senior Lecturer at the Knowledge Engineering Department, Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), Brazil. His research interests include knowledge management and business process management in service operations.

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