A model for measuring technology capability in the agrifood industry companies

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to focus on technology capability and develops a model for measuring it applied agrifood industry companies. Design/methodology/approach – Using a combination of literature review, observation research (expert interviews), AHP multicriteria analysis method and case study research, the paper develops an index model. The proposed model was applied to the case of dairy agribusiness complex in Brazil (180 rural units, five fluid milk processing companies and six cheese factories). Findings – The index model developed includes five macroindexes: resources; technology upgrading; processes and routines; learning mechanisms; and coordination and accessibility. Results show that the model was able to identify the different technology capabilities of the companies studied and generated important information to identify bottlenecks and improvement opportunities for these companies. Originality/value – The study contributes to understanding of a technological capability in the agribusiness system companies and how it can measure this capability in an integrated and synthetic model. Literature shows any models but no record of an integrated measurement system composed of a multi-attribute applied to assess the agribusiness system companies.