Relative to employees also differences in the standard behaviours are verified. While
the two less innovative groups have less than 20 employees (about 49% of cluster 1 and
55% of cluster 2), only 26% of the companies of the most innovative group have less
than 20 employees. Relatively to the employees with higher qualification and the
number of computers in the company, also it is the more innovative cluster that presents
greater average, 6 and 20 respectively, while in cluster 1, 1 and 6 respectively.
Curiously cluster 2, not involved in innovation, presents superiors averages for theses
variables then cluster 1 (2 people with higher education degree and 6 computers in
average). Thus, in average, in cluster 1; 4,8% of the employees have higher education
degree, in cluster 2; 6,2% and in cluster 3; 9,8%.
In the cluster 3, all the companies (100%) have access to Internet and computerization
of data. The others clusters do not reach 86% for Internet a. Also it is the cluster 3 that
has more companies with WEB Page, 52% against 42% of cluster 1 and 39% of cluster
2. Moreover, cluster 3 continues to be distinguished relatively to the use of the new
information technologies for electronic commerce and to be related with the customers.
Relative to director’s characteristics in those clusters previously defined were detected
distinct standards. In the cluster 3, predominate clearly the qualifications of the director
with higher education degree 59% (against 42% in cluster 2 and 40% in cluster 1), for
opposition in groups 1 and 2 the qualifications of the director are inferior to the
12°degree, for about 40% of entrepreneurs and 27%, respectively.
A- Sources of Innovation
The sources of information are important to innovate it gives suggestions for projects of
innovation and it contribute for the implementation of innovations. Thus, it is necessary
to identify the main sources of information of the company and to determine the
importance degree that is attributed to it. Using the terminology of the Community
Innovation Survey (CIS III) and of Conceiçao and Avila (2001) the main sources of
information to innovate can be grouped in Interns to the company, of Market (supplies,
clients and competitors), Institutional (Institutions of Higher Education and R&D and
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