Gesinaldo Ataíde Candido

Inter-Organizational Knowledge Conversion and Innovative Capacity in Cooperative Networks

In the current business and management environments, organizations are challenged to search for new ways of working focused on findings and practical innovation. In this sense, knowledge management constitutes a tool to support the practices of innovation, which are facilitated by the existence of physical, virtual or mental spaces, called Bas, where knowledge can be better used. The objective of this paper is to analyze the dynamics of inter-organizational knowledge conversion into existing Ba spaces in a cooperative network. The data analysis was performed from the triangulation of primary and secondary data and from the non-participant observation, within specific variables. The results point that the network displays an unfavorable configuration regarding the favorable characteristics to dynamics of knowledge conversion, which influences negatively its performance, especially the intensity and quality of information.

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION AND SOLAR SALT PRODUCTION

Along the Brazilian shoreline, on the northern coast of Rio Grande do Norte State Brazil) are located the largest solar saltworks of the country. The present research aims to evaluate the sustainability of the consumption of estuarine water and the area required for salt production in Brazilian solar saltworks situated along the estuary of the River Apodi-Mossoro (Rio Grande do Norte State). The analysis of the total area of production values, water volume estuary used and annual salt production was carried out, relating to the area required for this production in a solar saltwork located upstream (lower estuary) and another downstream (high estuary) in this estuary. That due to high salinity values of estuarine water upstream, the downstream saltworks require a production area three times larger than those located upstream, which obtain a production only twice superior. It was verified that the saltworks located downstream utilize the largest area and require more water volume for salt production.