Information technology as competitive factor : a study in the harvest apl metal-mecanich Santa Rosa/Horisontina, rs, Brazil

Abstract

The present article approaches the use of Information Technology (IT) as competitive factor in a Local Productive Arrangement(LPA) Harvest Metal-Mechanic in the state of Rio Grande del Sur, Brazil and has as objective to look for the understanding of how the use of IT contributes to the increase of the competitiveness. In order to reach this objective, a research was carried out in the enterprises that make up the LPA. The results of the research indicated that the enterprises perceive the importance of the use of IT, but that, actually, its use is limited, mainly concerning the planning of IT. Another one of the results that was that the enterprises, although forming part of the LPA, still do not collaborate to among each other, be it through the exchange of information, or through Information Systems. The main recommendations due to these results are that the enterprises try to act actively for the fortification of the LPA. Concerning the use of IT, it becomes necessary to plan and invest in the acquisition of integrated systems for the best management of the information, which will contribute to the increase of competitiveness of the enterprises that belong to the arrangement.