Proficiency in management activities undertaken in product development processes is regarded as a key competitive advantage for companies, particularly for small and medium sized technology-based firms that have the offering of high-tech products as their main market differential factor. The present study aims to promote an analysis of the practices carried out in the management of product development processes of small and medium sized technology-based companies of process control automation. The data was obtained through a survey, among the main results observed, it was verified that the management techniques incorporated in the project and pre-development phases, especially those implemented to obtain the product characteristics, the synchrony between the company strategy and projects, technical and economic characteristics those products will have, and the development of the project manager managerial skills.
Management product development process; Technology-based companies; Process control automation
