The types of incremental innovations in the enterprises of solidarity economy Project Esperança/Cooesperança of Santa Maria - RS

Abstract

At present, marked by new needs and challenges, the pursuit of innovation by organizations set up as an opportunity and a differential to maintain and grow the market. The initial groups of Project Hope / Cooesperança, with the collaboration of the Course Administration of the Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM), fueled the debate on entrepreneurship in academia. After more than twenty years of activity, can now be highlighted innovations that have occurred in these projects. In this sense, the study aims to verify the key innovations implemented in the projects of Solidarity Economy Project Esperança/Cooesperança Santa Maria - RS. The survey classified themselves as quantitative and qualitative, exploratory and descriptive type and a field study. The data collection was conducted through structured interviews with coordinators in fifty enterprises that excel at performance within the project. As the most significant results was observed innovations in products, markets, customer service, and expertise in technology. It was concluded that most groups not yet reached its full autonomy outside the Project Esperança/Cooesperança. However, enterprises are seeking innovative in their designs to complement the other activities they carry out.