26th International Association for Management of Technology Conference - IAMOT 2017

Although the themes of dynamic capabilities and performance are abundant in literature of large firms, there is still a research gap regarding the understanding of dynamic capabilities in the context of Small and Medium Sized Enterprises - SMEs, representing a potential subject to be explored. Several researches had already explored dynamic capabilities by the combination with different abilities or capacities, identifying influence models or performance moderators (Macher & Mowery, 2009; Hung, 2010; Drnevich & Kriauciunas, 2011; Hsu & Wang, 2012) in different types of organizations and under the most different contexts (Drnevich & Kriauciunas, 2011; Chien & Tsai, 2012). Although the principles and concepts of dynamic capabilities originate from large firms or multinationals (Prange & Verdier, 2011), we underline that SMEs can also present dynamic capabilities, although at an early stage (Eriksson, Nummela & Saarenketo, 2014). As they develop, SMEs tend to adopt more complex organizational forms and, after the first challenges, can consider innovation and change, such as large firms or even multinationals (Eriksson, Nummela & Saarenketo, 2014). The main objective of this article is to explore the relationship among dynamic capabilities, operational capabilities and SMEs performance, and proposes a theoretical research scheme based on researches synthesis. We used bibliographical research method as a representation of state of evidence from scientific indexed researches regarding terms, pursuing research synthesis precepts (Cooper, 2010). To demonstrate the graphical presentation of relations among terms, we used an analytical display (Miles, Huberman & Saldaña, 2014) that allowed the proposition of a research agenda. Publications quality (Cooper, 2010) was ensured through Boolean searches in international scientific databases (Web of Science, SCOPUS, Science Direct, Brazilian Periodical CAPES and SPELL). As searches result, 126 articles were selected and, among these, six were identified containing the themes 'dynamic capabilities' and 'operational capabilities'. Among the main contributions of selected papers are those directly related to innovation management: a) the relationship among higher level of absorption capacity; b) the development of a learning environment and acquisition of more complex technologies; and c) the consequent creation of a more profitable environment for development of dynamic learning abilities. In general, research papers highlight the importance of interactions among dynamic and operational capabilities and creation of a 'proactive entrepreneurial logic'. The researches synthesis allowed the identification of constituent elements of dynamic capabilities, operational capacities and performance in a context of SMEs, shedding light on a research agenda that considers the specificities of SMEs that can be used as an analytical parameter for future researches. From observing this theory gap, the contribution of this research to dynamic capabilities research field is: a) the identification of current state of the art of literature, b) the identification of themes and approaches on dynamic and operational capabilities themes in SMEs, and c) the proposition of a theoretical schema of dynamic capabilities in SMEs. We underline that this phase is necessary to understand this phenomenon in SMEs to later understand how innovation is given through this concept in this context.