The knowledge-based view of the firm points knowledge as the main resource able of generating competitive advantage for organization. This competitive advantage is the result of the innovative process, which requires knowledge exploration and exploitation. Several studies have aimed to analyze factors that support the knowledge management (KM) process and generate taxonomies related to the practice of KM. However, there is a gap in the literature on organizational knowledge regarding the relationship of contextual factors with the knowledge exploration and exploitation process as well as with the generating of a typology that considers these two processes. To achieve this goal, this study uses a quantitative approach, based on a survey with 234 companies in the automotive industry. Our results show that the knowledge exploration and exploitation process are differently impacted by five contextual factors considered in this research-human resources management, supportive leadership, learning culture, autonomy and systems of information technology (IT). While exploration is more impacted by learning culture, autonomy and IT systems, exploitation is more associated with supportive leadership and learning culture. Considering innovation for knowledge exploration and exploitation and contextual factors, this research also identifies three clusters in the automotive industry, named innovative companies, exploitative companies and passive companies.

Purpose This study aims to analyze the relationship between the intrinsic characteristics of the teams that perform specialized industrial services in multi-units and dynamic capability. Design/methodology/approach This study was developed from a survey conducted in 188 multi-unit industrial service providers and data were analyzed using the structural equation modeling technique of partial least squares. Findings The results indicate the two constructs act differently on dynamic capability. While the infrastructural construct influences the capability of knowledge absorption, generation and adaptation, the construct related to the willingness to share and integrate knowledge has a positive impact on the capability of knowledge generation and storage. Research limitations/implications This research is limited by the choice of only one industrial sector – in the case of this study, the service industry. Future studies will include other industries and a more diverse sample of firms. Originality/value This research analyzes the process of dynamic capability development in the context of multi-unit service provision. The context of multi-unit industrial service provision is peculiar when compared to other organizations. In the context, knowledge is absorbed, generated and adapted by individuals organized into teams that work in customer’s units. Service providers play a key role in the development of dynamic capabilities regarding knowledge storage, acting as knowledge repositories.

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ResumoEste artigo discute uma dimensão central da política industrial em economias modernas e globalizadas: a política de inovação. A partir da abordagem evolucionista, é abordada a relação entre hiato tecnológico e competitividade. A seguir, a proposição central do texto é formulada, mostrando a relação entre política industrial, acumulação de competências tecnológicas e competitividade internacional. Esta orientação da política industrial, porém, deve ir além do fomento e da oferta de recursos (financeiros e humanos) para as atividades inovativas e ocupar-se dos determinantes do baixo esforço inovativo das empresas brasileiras.Palavras-chave | Política Industrial; Inovação; Capacitações; Competitividade códigos Jel | O25; O31; O32 * Os autores agradecem o apoio financeiro recebido do CNPq, o trabalho do corpo editorial e da secretaria executiva da RBI e os comentários de três pareceristas anônimos.