Innovación empresarial y productividad de las PYMES textileras de la provincia de Tungurahua

Abstract

The study analyzed the low productivity of textile SMEs in Tungurahua, affected by operational inefficiency, unfair competition, lack of innovation and technological limitations. Its objective is to identify how business innovation strategies impact productivity and propose solutions that improve their competitiveness and sustainability. The methodology combines a mixed, exploratory and descriptive approach, evaluating 39 companies using tools such as SWOT and PESTEL, and analyzing financial data with the support of statistical programs. The results show significant disparities in operational performance between microenterprises, small companies and large companies, with the latter standing out in productivity and efficiency due to their access to advanced technologies and economies of scale. Business innovation strategies are essential to improve the productivity and competitiveness of the sector. Their implementation promotes more efficient processes, optimizes resources and fosters a culture of continuous improvement. However, external factors such as unfair competition, lack of tax incentives and technological limitations restrict the development of the sector. The proposal focuses on designing strategies based on modern leadership, digitalization and sustainability. It is recommended to integrate ICT into business management, offer training programs in textile production and promote sustainable production. It is also suggested to strengthen strategic alliances between companies and facilitate access to international markets through digital platforms. These measures seek to reduce competitiveness gaps and position the textile sector of Tungurahua in an increasingly demanding global environment. KEYWORDS: COMPETITIVENESS, DEVELOPMENT, DIGITAL, INNOVATION, PROCESSES, PRODUCTIVITY, STRATEGIES, SUSTAINABILITY, TEXTILE SMES, TECHNOLOGY. ABSTRACT The study analyzed the low productivity of textile SMEs in Tungurahua, affected by operational inefficiency, unfair competition, lack of innovation and technological limitations. Its objective is to identify how business innovation strategies impact productivity and propose solutions that improve their competitiveness and sustainability. The methodology combines a mixed, exploratory and descriptive approach, evaluating 39 companies using tools such as SWOT and PESTEL, and analyzing financial data with the support of statistical programs. The results show significant disparities in operational performance between microenterprises, small companies and large companies, with the latter standing out in productivity and efficiency due to their access to advanced technologies and economies of scale. Business innovation strategies are essential to improve the productivity and competitiveness of the sector. Their implementation promotes more efficient processes, optimizes resources and fosters a culture of continuous improvement. However, external factors such as unfair competition, lack of tax incentives and technological limitations restrict the development of the sector. The proposal focuses on designing strategies based on modern leadership, digitalization and sustainability. It is recommended to integrate ICT into business management, offer training programs in textile production and promote sustainable production. It is also suggested to strengthen strategic alliances between companies and facilitate access to international markets through digital platforms. These measures seek to reduce competitiveness gaps and position the textile sector of Tungurahua in an increasingly demanding global environment.