BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION: THE STRATEGIC ROLE OF THE INNOVATION RADAR IN MICRO AND SMALL ENTERPRISES

Sep 8, 2026

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The SEBRAE ALI Productivity Program is a strategic initiative designed to strengthen innovation and competitiveness of micro and small enterprises in Brazil. This article evaluates the Innovation Radar’s effectiveness as the program’s core instrument in driving productive transformation through guidance by Local Innovation Agents. Grounded in an MIT model and adapted by SEBRAE, the Radar provides a diagnostic view spanning managerial controls to innovative practices. By analyzing Radar use in Cycle 1, the research links attention to deficit areas such as ESG and managerial controls with improved revenue, costs, and productivity outcomes. The findings also show that weak alignment between Radar-identified gaps and companies’ action priorities reduces impact, highlighting the need for entrepreneur commitment and close ALI-company partnership for implementing action plans.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages14

Reading Time35 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Program objective

Innovation Radar methodology

Cycle 1 evaluation and outcomes

Key findings and implications

BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION: THE STRATEGIC ROLE OF THE INNOVATION RADAR IN MICRO AND SMALL ENTERPRISES TRANSFORMAÇÃO EMPRESARIAL: O PAPEL ESTRATÉGICO DO RADAR DEINOVAÇÃO NAS MICRO E PEQUENAS EMPRESAS TRANSFORMACIÓN EMPRESARIAL: EL PAPEL ESTRATÉGICO DEL RADAR DE INNOVACIÓN EN LAS MICRO Y PEQUEÑAS EMPRESAS [https://doi.org/10.56238/sevened2025.036-058](https://doi.org/10.56238/sevened2025.036-058) Allan Elias da Silva1, Guilherme Moreira de Sousa2 ABSTRACT The SEBRAE's ALI Productivity Program is a strategic initiative focused on boosting the innovation and competitiveness of micro and small enterprises (MSEs) in Brazil. This article analyzes the effectiveness of the Innovation Radar, the program's central tool, in the productive transformation of MSEs assisted by Local Innovation Agents (ALIs) . Based on an MIT model and adapted by SEBRAE, the Radar is a comprehensive diagnostic tool that assesses everything from managerial controls to innovative practices, providing a complete business overview. By examining the Radar's application in Cycle 1, this research aims to prove its importance in the final evaluation of revenue, costs, and productivity. Companies that prioritized deficit areas such as ESG and Managerial Controls achieved success, maximizing their productivity. However, analyses of negative results revealed a critical disconnect between the deficiencies pointed out by the Radar and the action priorities chosen by the MSEs, emphasizing the need for greater awareness of essential practices. In summary, the success of the ALI Productivity Program does not depend solely on the quality of the tool, but on the commitment of the entrepreneurs. The program, combined with the strategic use of the Radar, can catalyze the positive transformation of MSEs, provided thereis an active partnership between ALIs and companies for the effective implementation of action plans. Keywords: SEBRAE. ALI Productivity. Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) . Innovation Radar. Innovation. RESUMO O Programa ALI Produtividade, do SEBRAE, destaca-se como uma iniciativa estratégica visando fortalecer a inovação e competitividade das micro e pequenas empresas (MPEs) no Brasil. Este artigo focaliza a análise da eficácia do Radar de Inovação, ferramenta central do programa, na transformação produtiva das MPEs assistidas pelos Agentes Locais de Inovação (ALIs) . Originado no MIT e adaptado pelo SEBRAE, o Radar é um diagnósticoabrangente que aborda desde controles gerenciais até práticas inovadoras, proporcionando uma visão completa do ambiente empresarial. Ao explorar a aplicação do Radar no ciclo 1 do ALI Produtividade, a pesquisa visa compreender a importância dessa ferramenta na 1 Doctoral student in Agribusiness and Development. Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) . E-mail: [allan.elias@unesp.br](allan.elias@unesp.br) 2 Undergraduate in Business Administration. Universidade Virtual do Estado de São Paulo (UNIVESP) . E-mail: [guilhermemoreira.sousa@gmail.com](guilhermemoreira.sousa@gmail.com) Expanded Science: Innovation and Research BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION: THE STRATEGIC ROLE OF THE INNOVATION RADAR IN MICRO AND SMALL ENTERPRISES avaliação final de faturamento, custos e produtividade. Empresas que priorizaram áreas deficitárias, como ESG e Controles Gerenciais, alcançaram sucesso na maximização daprodutividade. Contudo, algumas empresas enfrentaram desafios ao não correlacionaradequadamente deficiências identificadas pelo Radar e prioridades de ação. Análises deempresas com resultados negativos destacaram uma desconexão entre deficiênciasapontadas pelo Radar e as prioridades escolhidas pelas empresas, enfatizando anecessidade de conscientização sobre práticas essenciais para a produtividade. O sucessodo ALI Produtividade não depende apenas da qualidade da ferramenta, mas também da compreensão e comprometimento das empresas atendidas. Em síntese, o programa, combinado ao eficaz uso do Radar, pode catalisar a transformação

FAQs

What is the main goal of the SEBRAE ALI Productivity Program?

To boost innovation and competitiveness of micro and small enterprises in Brazil through a structured support process.

How does the Innovation Radar support business transformation?

It provides a comprehensive diagnostic assessment, covering managerial controls and innovative practices, giving an overall view of the business environment.

What determines whether companies achieve better productivity results in Cycle 1?

Prioritizing deficit areas identified by the Radar—such as ESG and managerial controls—helps companies succeed, while a lack of alignment between Radar findings and chosen action priorities leads to weaker results.

Sep 8, 2026

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