Resumo

Innovation is one of the main factors that positively impact the competitiveness and economic development of nations. Information that contributes to the understanding the process of generation and incorporation of innovation by the productive apparatus and the institutional conditions that influence it, are of vital importance for the design of public and private policies. The present study seeks to deepen the theme of innovation, producing information through the investigation and characterization of the evolutionary path of a technology-based Alfa company with a focus on health.

The objective of this study was to analyze the capabilities required for innovation in information technology companies, identifying characteristics regarding the type of innovation and how resources are articulated to develop strategic structuring capacities. Thus, the following research question was formulated: how has the Alfa company articulated resources and developed capacities along its trajectory to foster innovation?

Innovation can be conceptualized as a continuous process of searching, discovering, experimenting, developing, imitating and adopting new products, new processes and new organizational forms (DOSI, 1988). Innovation it is a complex and non-linear process, involving multiple interactions between economic agents (LEMOS, 1999). The dynamic capabilities approach has examined how firms identify and develop new opportunities, how they coordinate their assets, and how they develop new business models and new forms of governance to exploit them and remain competitive (TEECE, 1994; TEECE et al., 1997).

To answer the research question a qualitative investigation was developed, through a single case study. The data were collected using the technique of semi-structured interviews in depth, documental analysis and direct observation, favoring the triangulation of the data collected. As theoretical subsidy for the development of the analyzes, the economic development theories were used.

The present study sought to investigate and characterize the evolutionary path of the Alfa company and to deepen the theme of innovation producing information on: spending on innovative activities; sources of funding for these expenditures; impact of innovations on company performance; sources of information used; established cooperative arrangements; role of government incentives; obstacles encountered in innovation activities; organizational and marketing innovations; among others.We highlight the ability to create knowledge, technological capacity and capacity to market

The analyzes made possible to realize that Alpha has reinvented itself along its trajectory and prospected new scenarios, in a process of constant evolution. The innovation and the human factor have an essential character. This posture makes the company not be hostage to path dependency and lock-in situations. Its technological and strategic trajectories have determined the processes of learning and innovation. We suppose that the discussion of these issues can contribute to an understanding of the factors driving innovation in the context of technology-based companies with

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