PROFILE PROFILE AND INNOVATIVE ENTREPRENEUR: A CASE STUDY IN INDUSTRY METAL MECHANIC
In the current competitive context, challenges and uncertainties surround organizations and, consequently, challenge their executives. The need to have the ability to identify new business opportunities, new improvements in processes and products, and also they need to know how to work in more effective way, often with limited resources. Moreover, it is expected that executives are able to manage change and to achieve return to the organization and its partners, in order to maintain and improve their relationships in the market. To achieve these goals, executives need to combine entrepreneurial and innovative features in the exercise of their functions. Thus, this study aimed to identify elements that characterize the entrepreneurial profile and the innovative profile in the two largest Metal-Mechanic companies of Caxias do Sul, as well to identify if their executives, linked to innovations areas, have entrepreneurial characteristics. The qualitative and exploratory research was selected, using the case study method. The analysis established a parallel between the theory of entrepreneurial and innovative profile and the behavior of main managers in the innovation process of these companies. It was applied structured and self administered questionnaires, with open questions, to the manager and the director of engineering area of each company. The results showed that these executives, besides having innovative profile, they also have entrepreneurial characteristics, demonstrating that there is evidence of a connection between these two concepts and profiles.