Gestão & Produção
https://www.gestaoeproducao.com/article/doi/10.1590/1806-9649-2023v30e4223
Gestão & Produção
Original Article

Dynamic capabilities and sustainability-oriented innovations in higher education institutions: a case study

Capacidades dinâmicas e inovações orientadas à sustentabilidade em instituições de ensino superior: um estudo de caso

Cláudia Fabiana Gohr; Carlos Rodrigo de Souza Torres; Walleci Gabeu Lira

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Abstract

Abstract: This paper aims to analyze the Dynamic Capabilities (DC) from their micro-foundations (sensing, seizing, and reconfiguration) that help in sustainability-oriented innovation (SOI) activities (organizational optimization, organizational transformation, and systems building) and that lead to the development of innovations in the context of higher education institutions (HEIs). This research has a descriptive and exploratory nature, developed through a case study in an HEI located in the northeast region of Brazil. The study was based on interviews with key sustainability managers within the institution and on research of institutional documents related to the subject. As a result, the existence of specific sensing, seizing, and reconfiguring microfoundations for HEIs that can enable SOI in the three levels of activities studied was verified, highlighting important relationships between them. This work contributes to the advancement of knowledge about SOI activities in HEIs by identifying the microfoundations that drive such activities and addressing a gap in studies on microfoundations of SOI dynamic capabilities and activities in higher education institutions. In practical terms, this article can serve as a basis for HEIs managers to understand what they need to do to drive SOI activities, especially in building systems for the development of innovations with social and economic impact for territories beyond institutional boundaries.

Keywords

Microfoundations, Dynamic Capabilities, Sustainability-Oriented Innovation, Higher Education Institutions

Resumo

Resumo: Este trabalho busca analisar as Capacidades Dinâmicas (CD) a partir de seus microfundamentos (sensing, seizing e reconfiguring) que auxiliam nas atividades de Inovação Orientada a Sustentabilidade (do inglês sustainability-oriented innovation - SOI) (otimização organizacional, transformação organizacional e construção de sistemas) para o desenvolvimento de inovações no contexto de Instituições de Ensino Superior (IES). Esta pesquisa possui natureza descritiva e exploratória, desenvolvida através de um estudo de caso em uma IES pública federal localizada na região nordeste do Brasil. O estudo baseou-se em entrevistas com gestores-chave de sustentabilidade na IES e na pesquisa em documentos institucionais sobre o tema. Verificou-se a existência de microfundamentos de detecção, captação e reconfiguração específicos para IES que podem habilitar SOI nos três níveis de atividades, ressaltando relações importantes entre elas. Este trabalho contribui com o avanço do conhecimento sobre as atividades de SOI em IES, na identificação de microfundamentos impulsionadores, abordando uma lacuna sobre microfundamentos e atividades de SOI em IES. Em termos práticos, este artigo serve como base para gestores de IES compreenderem o que necessitam fazer para impulsionar as atividades de SOI, especialmente de construção de sistemas para o desenvolvimento de inovações com impacto social, ambiental e econômico para além das fronteiras institucionais.

Palavras-chave

Microfundamentos, Capacidades Dinâmicas, Inovação Orientada a Sustentabilidade, Instituições de Ensino Superior

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