Gestão do conhecimento e fatores críticos de sucesso em agtechs

Abstract

The overall objective of the study was to analyze how startup managers in the agribusiness sector in Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, use Critical Success Factors (CSFs) in knowledge management (KM). To this end, a qualitative descriptive approach was adopted, with 11 semi-structured interviews conducted with managers, owners, and those responsible for KM at eight local startups. The data were processed using content analysis, resulting in five categories: Impact of KM; Role of Leadership; Influence of Organizational Culture; IT Infrastructure; and Measurement and Evaluation. The results indicate that KM is perceived as an essential strategic resource for innovation, scalability, and sustainability, and is strongly associated with competitiveness. Transformational leadership emerged as decisive in institutionalizing a culture of knowledge, while organizational culture proved capable of either favoring or hindering collaborative practices. IT infrastructure was recognized as indispensable support, but its effectiveness depends on strategic alignment and user engagement. Measuring KM, in turn, remains a challenge, given the absence of consolidated standards and the difficulty of relating its effects to business results. It is concluded that FCSs act interdependently and are indispensable to the effectiveness of KM in AgTechs. This research contributed to academic knowledge, supporting decision-making and strengthening the startup ecosystem in the city of Uberlândia.