The dynamics of technological learning inside the latecomer firmevidence from the capital goods industry in Brazil

Resumo

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.

Ficha do documento

Tipo

Artigo científico

Ano

2006

Instituição

Inderscience Enterprises Ltd

Fonte

Repositório da FGV

Idioma

Inglês

Acesso

Acesso restrito

DOI

10.1504/IJTM.2006.009962

Identificador

oai:repositorio.fgv.br:10438/23070

Temas

EconomiaTecnologia

Palavras-chave

Rate of technological learningTechnological learningLatecomer firmInnovative capabilityCapability accumulationEconomiaTecnologia - Brasil