Identifying the information management process and knowledge creation in technology-based companies: a Brazilian comparative case study

Information and knowledge have been cited over the last two decades as competitive advantage tools. Recently, the use of them has been discussed to promote innovation. The premise indicates that human interaction, information sharing and knowledge creation are vital for the success of organizations that need to constantly learn and innovate. The aim of this study is to point out contributions in a dynamic environment of acquisition, dissemination and the use of information to create subsequent knowledge, observing how these two processes take place in technology-based companies. A comparative method of case studies and qualitative research was used, conducted in nine technology-based companies, which were incubated or had recently been through the incubating process in a Technological Park in Brazil. Among the main results, it was found that in graduated companies, information management and its procedures were identified as being more conscious and structured. Moreover, it was also observed that the incubated companies had an organizational environment providing better conditions for knowledge creation.