Paulo N. Figueiredo

Does technological learning pay off? Inter-firm differences in technological capability-accumulation paths and operational performance improvement

Abstract This paper focuses on the practical implications of technological capability-accumulation paths for inter-firm differences in operational performance improvement in the late-industrialising context. This relationship is examined over the lifetime of two large steel firms in Brazil: USIMINAS (1956–1997) and CSN (1938–1997). The study has found that the technological capability-accumulation paths followed by the two case-study companies were diverse and have each proceeded at differing ways and rates over time across different technological functions. The different ways and rates at which the two companies have improved their key operational performance indicators were strongly associated with their technological capability-accumulations paths. This paper suggests that the rate of operational performance improvement can be accelerated if deliberate and effective efforts to accumulate and sustain capabilities for different technological functions-through the underlying learning processes-are made within the firm. This paper also suggests that these efforts are likely to generate financial benefits for the firm.

Processos de aprendizagem e acumulação de competências tecnológicas: evidências de uma empresa de bens de capital no Brasil

This paper focuses on the implications of the intra-firm learning processes for technological capability accumulation. Drawing on a single case study methodology, this relationship is examined in Kvaerner Pulping do Brasil (1980-2000). The framework for capability accumulation, tailored to the capital goods industry - supplier of equipment and complete plants for pulp and paper mills - identifies three technological functions: engineering activities and project management, operational processes and practices, and process equipment. The framework for learning identifies four learning processes (external and internal knowledge acquisition, knowledge socialization and codification), examined in the light of four features. The study has found different types and levels of innovative capability in the case-study firm. In line with previous studies, this article suggests that the way and speed at which the firm accumulated these capabilities can be explained by the way it managed its learning processes over time. On the other hand, the evidence in this study argues against certain common generalizations relative to technological development in the capital goods industry in Brazil.

Dinâmica da acumulação de capacidades inovadoras: evidências de empresas de software no Rio de janeiro e em São Paulo

There still is a scarcity of studies examining the dynamics of the accumulation of innovative capabilities. This paper examines such issue in eight software companies in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, finding that: there were inter and intra-company differences in terms of speeds of capability accumulation for specific technological functions; younger companies have accumulated capabilities more rapidly; speeds of capability tended to decrease as companies accumulated more innovative levels of capabilities, offering a prospect for the acceleration of the innovation process. Such evidence is to deepen our understanding of the firm-level technological accumulation process,= and provide some notion of the time needed to obtain the benefits from efforts on learning and innovative capability building.

Learning processes features: how do they influence inter-firm differences in technological capability- accumulation paths and operational performance improvement? (1)

The focus of this paper is how key features of the underlying learning processes influence inter-firm differences in technological capability-accumulation paths and, in turn, operational performance improvement in the latecomer context. This set of relationships is examined in two large steel companies in Brazil over their lifetimes of 40 and 60 years. The framework for learning identifies four processes: external and internal knowledge-acquisition, knowledge socialisation and knowledge codification. These processes are examined on the basis of four features: variety, intensity, functioning, and interaction. The study has found that the paths of technological capability accumulation followed by the two case-study companies were diverse and have each proceeded at differing rates over time across different technological functions. These differences were strongly associated with the four features of the learning processes. In addition, the different rates at which the two companies have improved their key operational performance indicators were strongly associated with their rate of technological capability accumulation and, in turn, the key features of their learning processes. The study suggests that the rates of technological capability accumulation and operational performance improvement can be accelerated if deliberate and effective efforts on knowledge-acquisition and knowledge-conversion processes are made within the company.

The dynamics of technological learning inside the latecomer firm: evidence from the capital goods industry in Brazil

This article focuses on the implications of the intra-firm learning processes for the direction and rate of latecomer firm-level technological capability accumulation. This relationship is examined in a capital goods firm – producer of equipment and complete plants for pulp and paper mills – during its lifetime of 24 years. Using a single case study design, this article draws from first-hand empirical evidence gathered through one-year fieldwork. The framework for capability identifies three technological functions: engineering activities and project management, operational processes and practices, and process equipment. The framework for learning identifies four learning processes. These are examined on the basis of four features: variety, intensity, functioning, and interaction. In addition to clarifying how learning processes work within the latecomer firm, this article contributes to providing a concrete notion of the time-frame to materialise the returns, in terms of innovative capability building, expected by managers from their learning efforts over time.

Aprendizagem tecnológica compensa? Implicações da acumulação de competências tecnológicas para o aprimoramento de performance técnico-econômica em uma unidade de aciaria no Brasil (1997-2001)

This paper focuses on the implications of learning processes for technological capability accumulation and performance improvement. These relations are evaluated through a single case study in the steelmaking unit of Companhia Siderurgica Nacional (1997-2001). Recently developed frameworks in literature on technological capability accumulation and learning processes have been used, but adapted to the unit studied. The technological capability is assessed in levels of competence to process, product and equipment functions. The learning processes are analysed in processes (inner and outer knowledge acquisition, socialization and codification) and examined in the light of their key-features (variety, intensity, functioning and interaction). The study has found that the technological capability accumulation through learning processes had positive implications to the improvement of the units performance.

Aprendizagem tecnológica e acumulação de capacidades de inovação: evidências de contract manufacturers no Brasil

RESUMO A despeito da profusao de estudos sobre aprendizagem como fonte de construcao de competencias tecnologicas em empresas, a maioria tem examinado esse relacionamento pela perspectiva intraempresarial. Neste artigo, examina-se o papel dos fluxos interempresariais de conhecimento na construcao de capacidades de producao e de inovacao em empresas subsidiarias de multi-nacionais do setor de tecnologias de informacao e de comunicacao (TICs) do Brasil, no periodo de 1996 a 2007. Baseando-se em evidencias de primeira mao, colhidas por meio de trabalho de campo, constatou-se que as empresas pesquisadas se engajaram ativamente nos ultimos dez anos em um processo de acumulacao de capacidades tecnologicas. Porem, encontrou-se no estudo alto grau de variabilidade entre as empresas estudadas, em termos da profundidade de acumulacao de capacidades tecnologicas para atividades de producao e de inovacao. Grande parte dessa variabilidade e explicada pela natureza e pela intensidade dos processos interempresariais de aprendizagem desenvolvidos pelas empresas. Este artigo contribui, portanto, para avancar no entendimento do processo de acumulacao tecnologica em subsidiarias de empresas multinacionais em um contexto de economia emergente. Tambem contradiz generalizacoes comuns que atribuem a esse tipo de empresa um papel passivo quanto as atividades tecnologicas no contexto de economias emergentes.

Aprendizagem corporativa e acumulação tecnológica: a trajetória de uma empresa de transmissão de energia elétrica no Norte do Brasil

Based on an intra-company standpoint, this article examines the implications of underlying learning processes in the accumulation of technological capability in an electrical energy transmission company in Northern Brazil from 1990 to 2004. The framework for examining the accumulation of technological capability distinguishes between routine (the use or operation of existing technologies and production systems) and innovative capabilities (the innovation of technologies and/or production systems). These capabilities are examined for three technological functions: i) engineering, design and equipment; ii) operation and maintenance; and iii) operational processes. The framework for technological learning identifies four processes examined in the light of four key characteristics: variety, intensity, functioning and interaction. The study is based on first-hand empirical evidence compiled from extensive field work. The quality of the management of the various learning processes within the company of this case study has contributed to the accumulation of different types of technological capabilities, especially from the early 1990s on. Although the discourse in Brazil on the macro-economic and macro-political levels espouses the importance of technological innovation for industrial growth and development, knowledge about the real process of innovation at a business level is still inadequate. Studies such as this one may therefore contribute to aid and support business and government strategies aimed at accelerating development in key industrial sectors of Brazils economy.

Does technological learning pay off?: implications of capability accumulation for techno-economic performance improvement in a steelmaking unit in Brazil (1997-2001)

This paper focuses on the implications of learning processes for technological capability accumulation and performance improvement. These relations are evaluated through a single case study in the steelmaking unit of Companhia Siderurgica Nacional (1997-2001). Recently developed frameworks in literature on technological capability accumulation and learning processes have been used, but adapted to the unit studied. The technological capability is assessed in levels of competence to process, product and equipment functions. The learning processes are analysed in processes (inner and outer knowledge acquisition, socialization and codification) and examined in the light of their key-features (variety, intensity, functioning and interaction). The study has found that the technological capability accumulation through learning processes had positive implications to the improvement of the units performance

Technological learning and the accumulation of innovation capabilities: evidence from contract manufacturers in Brazil

A pesar de la profusion de estudios sobre aprendizaje como fuente de construccion de competencias tecnologicas en empresas, en general se ha observado dicha relacion desde el punto de vista intraempresarial. En este articulo se examina el papel de los flujos interempresariales de conocimiento en la construccion de capacidades de produccion y de innovacion en filiales de empresas multinacionales del sector de tecnologias de la informacion y la comunicacion (TIC) en Brasil, en el periodo 1996-2007. Con base en evidencias de primera mano, recogidas por medio de trabajo de campo, se comprobo en el estudio que las empresas investigadas se involucraron los ultimos diez anos en un proceso de acumulacion de capacidades tecnologicas. Sin embargo, se encontro un alto grado de variabilidad entre las empresas en terminos de la profundizacion de acumulacion de capacidades tecnologicas, para actividades de produccion y de innovacion. Gran parte de esa variabilidad es explicada por la naturaleza e intensidad de los procesos interempresariales de aprendizaje desarrollados por las empresas. Este articulo, por tanto, contribuye al entendimiento del proceso de acumulacion de capacidades tecnologicas en filiales de empresas multinacionales, en economias emergentes. El articulo tambien contradice generalizaciones comunes que atribuyen a ese tipo de empresa un papel pasivo, en terminos de actividades tecnologicas, en el contexto de economias emergentes.