Abstract
This chapter analyzes the importance of Information Management for the phenomenon of University-Enterprise (U-E) interaction, based on the Directory of Research Groups (DGP) in Brazil, of the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq). The methodology used consisted in analyzing, by the empirical-analytic research and descriptive-analytical approach, the data available on this database. The data is about the activities of the research groups of the Federal University of Bahia (UFBA), interacting with companies from 2002 to 2010. Results show information management is important for this occurrence because it contributes to the recognition of interest and the conditions of interaction of the actors, enhancing the transfer of knowledge and technologies.
TopBackground
Because of economic globalization and, consequently, the diffusion of technological advances, the economy and the social structure underwent a structural reorganization (BORGES, 2008). In this sense, one of the aspects that have had most influence on the world framework was the relative capacity to innovate, spread and apply new knowledge, and, secondarily, capital, natural resources or cheap labor force, with the purpose of improving competitiveness (QUANDT, 2004).
These changes demanded of man the expansion of freedom and human capacity, constituting a new society that was called the Information and Knowledge Society. Although the terms information and knowledge are used interchangeably, Carvalho (2000) understands that the Information Society directs the information object as a product or input, whereas, in speaking of the Knowledge Society, the focus is on the use of information by the individual as part of the process of knowledge formation.
For Albagli (2007), the Information Society is usually associated with the development and diffusion of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), providing applications and innovations in various fields of economic, political and social life, particularly the formation of networks of all kinds, connected by electronic and digital means. The Knowledge Society, for its part, refers to the capacity to generate and use knowledge relevant to innovation and development.
It is necessary here to distinguish information and knowledge. Information is a message, which may be in the form of a written or spoken document or communication. Knowledge, however, is designed to shape the person who receives it in the sense of making some difference in their perspective or insight (DAVENPORT & PRUSAK, 1998).
Key Terms in this Chapter
Directory of Research Groups in Brazil of CNPq (DGP / CNPq): Inventory of scientific and technological research groups active in the country, maintained by the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq).
Information and Knowledge Society: A model of organization of societies that has information as the central element of wealth production, source of power and guarantee of the well-being of people, supported by technology and characterized by easy access and exchange of information and their use for knowledge construction and decision making.
Information Management: A set of strategies and actions that comprise a process that involves searching, identifying, processing, storing and disseminating information to support decision making.
Innovation: Process of creating or perfecting a product or process to make it more efficient or introduce it to the market.
University-Enterprise-Government Interaction (Triple Helix): A model that considers the establishment of partnerships between universities, companies and government as a means to promote innovation in a country and serves as an approach to understanding and developing innovation strategies.
Research Groups: Group of researchers and students who organize themselves around one or more lines of research in a field of knowledge, to develop scientific research.