Práticas de inteligência competitiva e a compreensão de indicadores econômicos para a decisão baseada em dados em pequenas e médias empresas de Caxias do Sul

Abstract

Social and economic indicators consist on behavior signs on different social and economic variables, primordial to improve the understanding of the current situation of short-term economy. In organizational context, the indicators support the process of strategic decision making, allowing the company to establish techniques and practices consistent with its external environment, as in the competitive intelligence. Thereby, the study aims to examine the practices of competitive intelligence, understanding of economic and social indicators, with the decision-making process in small and medium enterprises in Caxias do Sul. Therefore, it was conducted a quantitative research approach characterized as its purpose as exploratory and descriptive, adopting survey as technical procedures. The 204 participants were managers of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Caxias do Sul. The results indicated that, in different levels, managers understand economic and social indicators, use data for decision making, and practice competitive intelligence. A correlation was identified in the dynamic aspect of the information, its sharing and its dissemination.