Assessment of absorptive capacity: a study in Brazilian manufactures of solar panels

Guedes, Helton de Paula; Ziviani, Fabrício; Paiva, Ricardo Viana Carvalho de; Ferreira, Marta Araújo Tavares; Herzog, Matheus de Mendonça

doi:10.1590/0104-530X2666-16

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Articles • Gest. Prod. 24 (1) • Jan-Apr 2017 • https://doi.org/10.1590/0104-530X2666-16 copy

Assessment of absorptive capacity: a study in Brazilian manufactures of solar panels

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

Abstract:

This article aims to assess the Brazilian manufacturers of solar panels based on their absorptive capacity (AC) of new technological knowledge and innovation resulting from the assimilation and transformation of this same knowledge, in order to manufacture air conditioning equipment sourcing energy from high performance solar panels. It is an article of great relevance, given the current situation of Brazilian electricity sector and the need for energy efficiency and the use of alternative sources of energy, specifically solar. The theoretical framework addresses the concepts on AC, as well as how to evaluate and measure them. A quantitative research was performed in order to evaluate the AC of these manufacturers, applying a diagnostic tool adapted to the reality of Brazilian companies. The results of this research concluded that these companies do not yet have mature AC for developing an innovative product, showing a higher tendency for the potential dimension of AC when compared to the realized dimension. This finding corroborates the prospects for future research and development projects if the surveyed companies strengthen their ability to promote interactions with other organizations devoted to that same purpose.

Keywords:
Absorptive capacity; Innovation; Solar panels; Electricity sector

Dimension	Component	Constructs	Propositions
Potential.	1) Acquisition.	a) Positive attitudes toward changing.	1.a) The company highly values the attitudes that promote internal changes.
		b) Cooperation for innovating.	1.b) The company collaborates with different institutions in innovation projects.
		c) Monitoring the knowledge.	1.c) The company constantly seeks relevant external information for its business.
		d) Staff qualification.	1.d) Employees possess proper qualification to work in innovation projects.
		e) Spending on R&D.	1.e) The company heavily invests in research and development activities.
	2) Assimilation.	a) Industry knowledge.	2.a) The company often uses knowledge or technology developed by other companies.
		b) Prior knowledge of the employees.	2.b) Employees mastered the technologies used by the company.
		c) Prior knowledge of the managers.	2.c) Managers have appropriate knowledge for the development of their functions.
		d) Engagement in external environment and knowledge.	2.d) Employees are often encouraged to participate in scientific events (conferences, seminars, courses).
		e) Multidisciplinary teams.	2.e) The company groups multidisciplinary work teams from different areas and or branch offices.
		f) Social integration within the company.	2.f) The company promotes integration and sharing of knowledge between different sectors.

Dimension	Component	Constructs
Realized.	3) Transformation.	a) Internal sources of information for innovation.	3.a) The company promotes exchange of experience and knowledge between its sectors.
		b) Communication networks.	3.b) Information move with ease and agility among the hierarchical levels of the company.
		c) Turnover of functions and tasks.	3.c) The company usually practice the turnover of roles and tasks among employees.
		d) Training of staff related to innovation projects.	3.d) Employees participate in training to facilitate innovation in the company.
		e) Cooperation and integration.	3.e) There is spontaneous cooperation among the employees at all levels.
	4) Exploitation.	a) Using previous experience.	4.a) The company applies its accumulated knowledge to develop technology strategy.
		b) Development of patents.	4.b) The company is capable of incorporating technological knowledge in patents.
		c) Internal R&D.	4.c) The company has structured research and development (R&D) activities.
		d) Exploitation of new knowledge.	4.d) The company responds nimbly to business changes using new knowledge.
		e) Elaborating routines and processes.	4.e) Procedures focused on innovation are driven by clear rules disseminated in the company.
		f) Technological proactivity.	4.f) The company seeks to innovate ahead of its competitors.

Component	Minimum	Maximum	Average	Standard deviation	Coefficient of variation
Acquisition	2.95	4.40	3.76	0.60	15.93%
Assimilation	2.95	4.15	3.54	0.46	12.99%
Transformation	3.15	3.80	3.40	0.26	7.56%
Exploration	2.85	4.05	3.53	0.50	14.08%
Industrial absorptive capacity	3.50	4.30	4.08	0.39	9.46%
Scientific absorptive capacity	3.75	3.80	3.78	0.04	0.93%
Innovation	2.47	4.37	3.46	0.78	22.46%

Dimension	Propositions	Loading extracted	Variance extracted (%)	KMO	Bartlett’s (p-value)	Cronbach’s alpha
Acquisition	P1.a)	0.813	65.83	0.754	25.35 (0.000)	0.818
	P1.c)	0.795
	P1.d)	0.808
	P1.e)	0.830
Assimilation	P2.b)	0.812	63.29	0.633	51.45 (0.000)	0.846
	P2.c)	0.805
	P2.d)	0.813
	P2.e)	0.766
	P2.f)	0.780
Transformation	P3.a)	0.637	52.99	0.680	26.70 (0.003)	0.774
	P3.b)	0.625
	P3.c)	0.730
	P3.d)	0.817
	P3.e)	0.808
Exploitation	P4.a)	0.821	66.70	0.753	66.47 (0.000)	0.893
	P4.b)	0.913
	P4.c)	0.769
	P4.d)	0.715
	P4.e)	0.819
	P4.f)	0.850
Industrial AC	P5.a)	0.911	83.16	0.749	31.79 (0.000)	0.894
	P5.b)	0.923
	P5.d)	0.902
Scientific AC	P6.a)	0.900	81.02	0.500	8.51 (0.004)	0.763
Scientific AC	P6.b)	0.900	81.02	0.500	8.51 (0.004)	0.763
Innovation	P7.a)	0.977	95.41	0.500	28.75 (0.000)	0.952

Placing	Identification	Overall average
1st	Company 7	4.85
2nd	Company 2	4.59
3rd	Company 1	4.52
4th	Company 18	4.48
5th	Company 11	4.33
6th	Company 6	4.15
7th	Company 4	4.11
8th	Company 16	4.00
9th	Company 13	3.81
10^th	Company 12	3.63
11ht	Company 3	3.56
12ht	Company 14	3.56
13th	Company 9	3.52
14th	Company 17	3.52
15th	Company 19	3.52
16th	Company 20	3.33
17th	Company 15	3.00
18th	Company 5	2.96
19th	Company 10	2.67
20th	Company 8	1.70

Universidade Federal de São Carlos Departamento de Engenharia de Produção , Caixa Postal 676 , 13.565-905 São Carlos SP Brazil, Tel.: +55 16 3351 8471 - São Carlos - SP - Brazil
E-mail: gp@dep.ufscar.br

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[1] Source: Cruz (2011)Cruz, M. A. (2011). Mensuração da capacidade absortiva dos parceiros industriais da Cemig: implicações para inovação no setor elétrico (Dissertação de mestrado). Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte..