The Relationship between the Production Strategy and Innovation Technology Practice: A Study in a Company of Aluminum Production

Authors

  • Márcia Regina Neves Guimarães Universidade Federal de São Carlos campus Sorocaba
  • Felipe Ferreira de Lara Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia de São Paulo campus Boituva
  • Raissa Oliveira Peroba Trindade Universidade Federal de São Carlos campus Sorocaba

Keywords:

Competitive strategy. Production strategy. Competitive priorities. Decision areas. Innovation.

Abstract

Innovation has been considered crucial for organizations competing in dynamic environments. There is a close relationship between organizational strategies and practice of organizational innovation. Regarding the competitive strategy, it is known that it can either stimulate or inhibit the practice. The production strategy, in turn, must be aligned with the competitive strategy and own your content (formed by the competitive priorities and decision areas) defined in order to sustain the competitive position of the organization. In this context, this paper aims to analyze how technological innovation (product and process) fits into the content of the production strategy of an aluminum company in Sorocaba. It is a descriptive and exploratory research, qualitative in nature, using the case study as a method of procedure. The company analyzed in this research works in metal, cement, power, steel, pulp, agribusiness and finance industries, besides investing in early-stage companies with high growth potential. The business unit selected for the case study restricts its production in aluminum items, operating in the industries of transport, packaging, electrical, construction and consumer goods. Among the key findings, it follows that in this case, there is a greater incidence of process innovation than product innovation. As competitive priorities, there was an emphasis on flexibility and cost priorities. The innovation is not seen in the company as a competitive priority, however, it was noted that it often occurs in order to a better development of the priorities flexibility and cost. While some features related with decision areas facilitate the practice of innovation, such as vertical integration, others (mainly organizational) might be best developed to better support to innovation.

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Published

2015-06-23

Issue

Vol. 16 No. 3 (2015): Thematic Special Forum on Innovation

Section

Thematic Special Forum on Innovation

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