Title: Brazilian SMEs' innovation strategies: agro-industry, construction and retail industries

Authors: Gustavo Dambiski Gomes De Carvalho; Eduardo Damião Da Silva; Hélio Gomes De Carvalho; Marcia Beatriz Cavalcante; June Alisson Westarb Cruz

Addresses: Pontifical Catholic University of Parana, Rua Imaculada Conceição, 1155, Prado Velho, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil ' Pontifical Catholic University of Parana, Rua Imaculada Conceição, 1155, Prado Velho, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil ' Federal Technological University of Parana, Avenida Sete de Setembro, 3165, Rebouças, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil ' Federal Technological University of Parana, Avenida Sete de Setembro, 3165, Rebouças, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil ' Pontifical Catholic University of Parana, Rua Imaculada Conceição, 1155, Prado Velho, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil

Abstract: The Brazilian micro and small business support service (SEBRAE) developed the local innovation agents program (LIA) mainly to convey the culture of innovation to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). By means of correlational hierarchical cluster analysis of 412 companies' innovation radar, this research aims to identify the main innovation strategies of SMEs in the agro-industry, construction, and retail industries. Among the main results, it is noteworthy that in all industries the platform dimension, which comprises common components for different products, is one of the most developed dimensions among the main innovation strategies. This result reinforces the incremental nature of innovation among SMEs. Moreover, the innovation strategies adopted by SMEs have involved dimensions other than just product development, such as organisational, brand, clients, distribution channels, and supply chain, among others.

Keywords: innovation; strategy; innovation strategies; strategic innovation; innovation radar; business innovation; small and medium-sized enterprises; SMEs; agro-industry; construction; retail; SEBRAE; Brazil; cluster analysis.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBIR.2017.087097

International Journal of Business Innovation and Research, 2017 Vol.14 No.3, pp.397 - 419

Received: 02 Dec 2015
Accepted: 31 Jan 2016
Published online: 06 Oct 2017 *

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