A new graphic format to facilitate the understanding of technological innovation models: the seesaw of competitiveness

Abstract

Many models exist in the literature to explain the success of technological innovation. However, no studies have been made regarding graphic formats representing the technological innovation models and their impact, or on the understanding of these models by non-specialists in technology management. Thus, the main objective of this paper is to propose a new graphic configuration to represent the technological innovation management. Based on the literature, the innovation model is presented in the traditional format. Next, the same model is designed in the graphic format – named ‘the see-saw of competitiveness’ – showing the interfaces among the identified factors. The two graphic formats were compared by a group of graduate students in terms of the ease in understanding the conceptual model of innovation. The statistical analysis shows that the seesaw of competitiveness is preferred.

Keywords:

• technological innovation models
• technological innovation learning
• graphical representation of innovation models
• success of technological innovation

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to express their recognition for the valuable contribution of the research assistants, Miriam Oishi and Ailton Conde Jussani, graduate students in Business Administration at the University of São Paulo (USP), Brazil. The authors thank the collaboration of the faculty of the Graduate Program in Business Administration of the University of São Paulo for allowing interruptions of their lectures to conduct the survey.

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