Gerenciamento de projetos de inovação: uma proposta transdisciplinar e integradora à luz do pensamento complexo

Abstract

Innovation projects are fundamental to the survival and growth of organizations. However, managing these projects is challenging due to the uncertainty, contradictions and multiple interactions between internal and external factors. The complexity of these projects makes it difficult to use traditional management methods, which prioritize planning and control. Historically, project management has evolved from the pursuit of performance to a greater concern with cost-effectiveness, causing a disconnect between management practices and the needs of innovation. Literature recognizes the need to address complexity with flexible, learning-based paradigms, but research into this integration in innovation project management remains limited. This research therefore seeks to answer the following question: What knowledge is needed to understand innovation project management and how can it be integrated from a complexity perspective? Three studies were carried out: the first revealed the disconnection between the fields of project management and innovation; the second analyzed the professional training and curricular differences of the main certifications in project management and for innovation professionals, highlighting the use of distinct knowledge; and the third proposed a theoretical model integrating the identified knowledge, based on complex thinking, which considers multidisciplinarity and transdisciplinarity, essential to represent complexity. This model contributes to a deeper understanding of the area of innovation projects, both for those who manage them and for professionals involved in project management and innovation in organizations. It also contributes to educational institutions by offering references that help train professionals who are better prepared in these fields, giving greater relevance and applicability to the learning process in real contexts. The research is relevant to academia by expanding the theoretical framework that uses the multilevel perspective, recognizing the importance of the individual and their context. By adopting a complex view of innovation projects, it breaks down disciplinary boundaries, values their multiple dimensions and emphasizes the need to integrate knowledge. In this way, it deepens and advances academic discussions on innovation project management in organizations.