A PRÁTICA DA INOVAÇÃO EM MICRO E PEQUENAS EMPRESAS ATRAVÉS DA PARTICIPAÇÃO NO PROGRAMA ALI DO SEBRAE: UMA PESQUISA DE CAMPO

Abstract

This paper presents the study on how the development of the dimensions Innovation Practices and Management by Indicators of the Local Innovation Agents Project (ALI) of Sebrae, could contribute so that micro and small enterprises (MSEs) could face the challenges imposed by the market and at the same time add value and competitiveness to their businesses, during the pandemic scenario in 2021. The research methodology used is characterized, as to the nature, as applied; as to the approach, it is qualitative and quantitative; as to the objectives, it can be classified as exploratory and descriptive, and the technical procedure used was field research. The field research was carried out with 15 MSEs from the services sector, located in Porto Alegre/RS, which participated in the ALI Project, from March to June 2021. The execution of the methodology involved the initial and final application of the ALI Radar and initial and final measurements of the Work Productivity Indicator, as well as the development of an action plan, exploration, and validation of ideas for the implementation of innovation. Considering that the dimensions Management by Indicators and Innovation Practices presented a greater possibility for development of improvements to add in innovation capacity and productivity, the actions of the project were focused on both dimensions. From the final measurements it was found that there was a joint gain in maturity on the order of 32.6% in Management Indicators, 27.6% in Innovation Practices, verified by the ALI Radar. Productivity increased by 70% and the average income of the companies increased by 94%. The results of the survey exceed the national average for the 2020 cycle