Measuring innovation in travel agencies from Recife (Brazil): an analysis focused on the supply dimension of the innovation radar

Abstract

Diagnosing the innovation degree of firms derives from a need towards the improvement of organizational performance. However, this practice is still underdeveloped in tourism micro and small firms as well as there is a lack of related academic research. Thus, this paper seeks to analyze the performance regarding the degree of innovation of travel agencies located in Recife (PE - Brazil) focusing on the supply dimension, as defined by a tool called Innovation Radar, applied in the context of Local Innovation Agents Program (LIA). Data were collected from August 2012 to March 2014. The research is characterized as exploratory and descriptive. Data processing and analysis is conducted under quantitative and qualitative approaches. Considering Bachmann and Destefani (2008)’s classification, it was found that the majority of the analysed firms demonstrate an increase in the scores, moving from a ’little or not innovative” to "occasional or systemic innovative", both based either on the results of the Global Innovation Degree, as well as on the scores of the supply dimension of Innovation Radar. Despite the registered progress, there are still barriers that limit the innovative capacity of these firms.