The innovative profile of agri-food companies. Analysis of cases in the province of Santa Fe.

Abstract

Considering the current environment of organizations in the agri-food sector, progressively more complex, competitive and marked by rapid technological developments, the innovative capacity of companies becomes a fundamental factor for their survival, growth and consolidation. This places innovation as one of the main strategic aspects on which organizations must work if they aspire to compete in the market. This paper aims to analyze the innovative profile of two companies in the agri-food sector selected as case studies located in the province of Santa Fe, Argentina. The instrument used for the evaluation was the questionnaire proposed by Tidd, J. et al. (2009) that investigates the most important aspects that allow describing the pattern of behavior regarding how the organization approaches the areas related to innovation management. The core of the questionnaire includes questions grouped categories considered key: innovation strategy, organization, learning, innovation processes and external links. In relation to the cases analyzed, it is suggested to organizations that if they aspire to continue and strengthen their orientation towards innovation as a growth strategy, they should continue working on creating and maintaining areas that give rise to reflection on it, enabling spaces to deepen the discussion regarding the routes followed and to draw to improve their competitive position in the market based on innovation.