Maria José Aguilar Madeira

The epistemological character of isomorphism in the generation of innovation

This paper presents, as its overall objective, an analysis of the epistemological nature of isomorphism in the generation of innovation. To obtain the results in this study, the specific aims are as follows: (1) to raise the theoretical-conceptual basis of isomorphism in the innovation process, with regard to design;(2) to characterize the concepts inherent in the relationship of the innovation process to organizational isomorphism; and (3) to analyze the impact of isomorphism from the perspective of institutional theory. The content analysis method was used for this research, with the support of procedures for design planning. It was preceded by Internet research, bibliographical research in published books and articles, discussion, reflection, preparatory analysis and valid criticism. The results suggest that isomorphism is a common procedure for managers in organizations which seek to copy the structures or actions to obtain greater visibility and competitiveness in a specific organizational field. However, innovation is a prominent feature by which to create distinctiveness in a competitive market; it is an excellent way of changing the organizational process. Regarding the paper’s theoretical contribution, it exposes the conceptual proposals of several selected authors, focusing on creative modelling for new solutions through design planning; diagrams, charts and other suitable elements are included. Given the relevance and coverage of its theme, it is aimed at researchers and others who study innovation,

Absorptive capacity and cooperation evidence in innovation from public policies for innovation

The purpose of this paper is to better understand whether firm cooperation and absorptive capacity foster success in seeking public financial support for innovation activities and, by doing so, how they contribute to innovation output.,The authors therefore extend the existing literature focusing on the effects of cooperation and absorptive capacity on specific public financial support for innovation activities in Portuguese firms from local or regional government, central administration and the European Union by using available data from the Community Innovation Survey CIS 2010 and the application of logistic regression models. The empirical analysis enabled a better understanding of the positive relationship of the variables that determine the form of public financial support in the integration of incentives within firms to stimulate innovation.,Therefore, as the level of absorptive capacity in Portuguese firms increases, so does the demand for benefits from public financial support to stimulate innovation from the European Union also increases. The same analysis, now considering the determinant cooperation, notes the positive effects of institutional sources of information and cooperation, in the propensity for seeking public financial incentives from the Central Administration and the European Union. As for internal information and cooperation sources, they are positively related to the integration of incentive measures from the local or Regional Administration and Central Administration.,The paper presents results that allow us to propose some suggestions that both the firms and those responsible for the implementation of public policies can undertake to increment innovation performance.

Social Innovation by Tourism Strategy in the Western Amazon

This work concerns the strategies of social innovation focused on the concept of inbound tourism and hospitality in Rondonia State, Brazil. The general objective is to study the main strategies for qualifying as a tourist attraction. The specific objectives are to: point out the strategic elements to (1) qualify the facilities for inbound tourism and hospitality in the scenario;(2)examine the perspective on the implementation of the strategic elements in practice; and (3)indicate the elements of social innovation in support of the strategy of qualification to the concepts of inbound tourism and hospitality. This study is supported by the Theory of Planned Behaviour and concepts of inbound tourism, hospitality, creativity and innovation. It adopts the method of a case study which is both qualitative and quantitative in nature. As part of the methodological procedure, workshops were held for 28 stakeholders in Rondonia’s tourism, during which questionnaire data were collected from answers using the Likert Scale, participant observation was conducted and documents were analysed to enable the causal relationship to be critically assessed. A SWOT matrix was imposed upon the survey report. The tourist potential in the scenario has consequently been acknowledged, together with a need for the strategic planning of its attributes; valid elements for social innovation which use qualifying strategies for inbound tourism and hospitality are indicated; Possible public-private partnerships with the third sector and society could together create an ideal form of intervention. This study is of interest to both the public and the private sector, to academia and the community. It can contribute suggestions for the planning and management required for tourism to develop as well as outline strategies for social innovation.

Circular and Collaborative Economies as a Propulsion of Environmental Sustainability in the New Fashion Business Models

The objective of this work is to explore convergence and divergence between business models of circular and collaborative economies in fashion industry and the benefits to sustainable development. The methodological approach is exploratory through bibliographic review and case study of two business models. The first, Rent the Runway, makes use of the Services and Products System (PSS), being a circular model using eco-efficient services with the potential to replicate and to compete with the ‘fast-fashion’ industry. The case study was done using data from Rent the Runway website. The second, Wardrobe, a P2P platform whose study was conducted with personal information with the company co-founder Germanno Teles. Wardrobe business models have a high potential for scalability, as they can be replicated anywhere, have no physical inventory, as users own their clothes. Thus, circular economy is considered to be holistic and adaptive, representing an evolution of the linear economy through the perception and need of a new sustainable strategy in response to the environmental degradation caused by the traditional linear economy. Collaborative economy can be considered an environmentally sustainable socio-economic system, built through the use of digital networks to connect and share goods and products, as well as human, financial and physical capital.

Barriers to innovation activities as determinants of ongoing activities or abandoned

Purpose n n n n nThis paper aims to analyses barriers as a determinant of ongoing or abandoned innovation activities. The literature exploits barriers as the nature of innovation and its influence on firm’s. The main focus is the Portuguese SMEs and the impacts that act as barriers in the development of innovation activities. n n n n nDesign/methodology/approach n n n n nThe database was obtained through the Community Innovation Survey 2010 (CIS 2010) that was coordinated by EUROSTAT. In this sense, a logistic regression model is proposed, which makes it possible to analyse the relations between three or more variables, depending on whether the relationship is one of dependence or interdependence, thus allowing the application of distinct statistical techniques, using 6,160 firms n n n n nFindings n n n n nThere are several sources of information that are associated with the development of innovation projects. n n n n nPractical implications n n n n nThe importance of barriers to the development of innovation activities, as well as it being a decisive factor in the impediment to and abandon of the same, was noted. n n n n nOriginality/value n n n n nThis study also demonstrated that each case is different and that a barrier in one firm can at the same time be a window of opportunity for another firm.

MANAGEMENT STRATEGY FOR SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH THE GREEN MARKETING TOOL

Management strategies have been guided by the organization of entities in response to environmental variables and share the same conditions as the business process in which they exist. Special attention should be given to green marketing as a strategic alternative in achieving organizational sustainability. This research was based on the Contingency Theory, and finds that organizational variables are interrelated in a complex way with external environmental conditions, maintain interchange with them. The research entailed meeting three specific objectives: (1) identifying the environmental variables that influence the decision in Green Marketing; (2) evaluating the perception by social actors of environmental variables; and (3) analyzing the trend in performance by means of the Green Marketing tool. The methodology used was to simulate a qualitative, descriptive and exploratory case study, applying several procedures, with the support of a focus group, so as to produce constructs that would support objective deductions. The variables, competitors, economic, legal and regulatory, socio-environmental and technological variables involved in the marketing mix were identified. The perception of the social actors about the variables was evaluated, reinforcing their importance in the strategic decision making process. Analyzing the applicability of green marketing is a management strategy that confers competitive advantage to achieve organizational sustainability. This study helps those interested in business strategy, since its elements make it possible to construct a tool that can be used by modern organizations with an environmental commitment. It is hoped that this will be a collaborative product to offer to managers concerned with organizational sustainability.