https://doi.org/10.37955/cs.v5i3.146
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eISSN: 2600-5743
Observatories source of
information: Concepts and
theoretical review
Observatorios fuente de información: Conceptos y
revisión teórica
Carlos Eduardo Martínez Albarracín
Master in Organizational Management, graduate of UNAD. Corporación Universitaria Minuto de
Dios, Zipaquirá/Cundinamarca /Colombia, carlos.martinez-a@uniminuto.edu.co,
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0867-8209
William Ernesto Bolívar Salgado
Master in Education, Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia, Corporación Universitaria Minuto de
Dios, Zipaquirá/Cundinamarca /Colombia, wbolivarsal@uniminuto.edu.co, https://orcid.org/0000-
0003-4839-8356
Nohelia Marcela Gutiérrez Salgado
Business Administrator, Graduate of UNIMINUTO, Corporación Universitaria Minuto de Dios,
Zipaquirá/Cundinamarca /Colombia, ngutierre18l@uniminuto.edu.co, https://orcid.org/0000-
0002-8642-2524
Abstract
Nowadays, information is a fundamental tool to improve
competitiveness and success in organizations. Observatories through
technological surveillance and competitive intelligence are a source of
knowledge management. In Colombia, there is a multiplicity of topics
in the observatories as a valuable support for decision makers of
companies and institutions of public or private character and mixed
economy. What criteria do the observatories implement as sources of
information in the search for reliable data to their stakeholders, having
as background that these particularize the variables in the creation of
new knowledge, helping the actors (public, academic and business) to
make the best decisions in the development of the regions in particular
in the area of influence of UNIMINUTO Zipaquirá regional center?
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This paper identifies concepts and makes a theoretical review of
observatories in order to argue the feasibility of creating a competitive
intelligence observatory in UNIMINUTO Zipaquirá regional center.
Resumen
En la actualidad la información es una herramienta fundamental para
mejorar la competitividad y el éxito en las organizaciones. Los
observatorios por medio de la vigilancia tecnológica y la inteligencia
competitiva son una fuente de gestión del conocimiento. En Colombia
se presentan multiplicidad de temáticas en los observatorios como un
valioso apoyo para los tomadores de decisión de las empresas e
instituciones de carácter público o privado y de economía mixta. ¿Qué
criterios implementan los observatorios como fuentes de información
en la búsqueda de datos confiables a sus Stakeholders, teniendo como
antecedente que estos particularizan las variables en la creación de
nuevos conocimientos, coadyuvando a los actores (público, académico
y empresarial) a tomar las mejores decisiones en el desarrollo de las
regiones en particular en la zona de influencia de UNIMINUTO centro
regional Zipaquirá? Esta ponencia identifica conceptos y hace una
revisión teórica de observatorios con el ánimo de argumentar la
viabilidad en la creación de un observatorio de inteligencia
competitiva en UNIMINUTO centro regional Zipaquirá.
Palabras clave/ Keywords
Inteligencia competitiva, observatorio, información, vigilancia
tecnológica, gestión del conocimiento.
Competitive intelligence, observatory, information, technological
surveillance, knowledge management.
Introduction
Nowadays organizations have a dynamic of exponential growth of
permanent and rapid change, inducing the creation of organizations
that compile and require open data or research of their interest, or
organizations that process them as is the case of observatories. Having
the clarity that their function is to capture, process and disseminate
information through a knowledge management system, this statement
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is the axis of development of competitiveness and success of
organizations, where information is a fundamental tool for decision
makers. For the authors Villarroel G, Comai, Karmelic-Pavlov,
Fernández O, & Arriagada V (2015) state that the Design and
implementation of an observatory with a unit of technological
surveillance and competitive intelligence in this society, which
provides data and information for use, which provides a better
understanding of the environment.
However, the lack of knowledge of the different organizations and
individuals of the activities and products generated by the
observatories does not allow them to make assertive and advanced
decisions within the framework of their environment, thus losing the
possibility of using data and reliable transforming information by
making use of new knowledge.
The observatories must generate spaces that allow them to dynamize
their function as a contribution to their stakeholders and to the
knowledge society, in general to those who are interested in the topics
of their lines of research in the use of the data and reports generated.
Giving academic support in the creation of a competitive intelligence
observatory in UNIMINUTO Zipaquirá Regional Center, in addition to
the above, 42 observatories located in Colombia are recognized and
identified, particularly in Bogotá, central savannah in Cundinamarca.
An own methodological proposal is formulated, which facilitates the
construction of knowledge in their daily life, pertinent to the
characteristics of the interests of this new observatory.
Materials and Methods
It began with the search and review of documents on observatory
concepts, was conducted between June 2019 and April 2020, who used
different databases such as Redalyc. Scielo, Dialnet, Scopus, Science
direct, proquest, Ebesco. Using as keywords observatory, information
sources, knowledge management. A study of this type makes it
possible to trace different contexts in which the concept of observatory
is defined. Ferreira, (2002) cited in the study by Lilian, Ferneda, &
Hercules Antonio, (2018).
In addition to the above, we applied the methodology under the
concept of "research that studies research" used by Slongo (2004),
which systematizes and analyzes the academic production and its
different approaches.
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The articles selected in this study were characterized by identifying the
author's credibility or experience in the subject and the
methodological quality in the construction of the information. At the
same time, the web portals of 40 observatories located in Colombia
were searched, particularly in the Central Savannah in Cundinamarca
and Bogotá DC, allowing a characterization of the observatories as
sources of information.
In this sense, García (2010), citing Adam (1973), uses the word
"information" from the classical Latin. The term information is a
substantivation of the verb informare, which, being transitive, finds its
greatest generality in the expression aliquid informare. The latter
literally means to give form to an object and points to the development
of a process, i.e., to management; therefore, in its very genesis there is
a relationship between the two terms.
In their study Eneida and León (2014), point out information as a
strategic resource, which is inherent to any organization. The use of it
is linked to the specificities required by each institution and society in
general to face the dynamics of the economy, the evolution of
technologies and the development of social life. (Contardi 2005)
Similarly, García (2010) defines the concept of information
management, citing Ponjuan (2004), as the process by which basic
resources (economic, physical, human or material) are obtained,
deployed or used to manage information within and for the society it
serves. It has as a basic element the management of the life cycle of
this resource and is developed in any organization.
A matrix was designed where the different observatory concepts are
presented as an object of theoretical analysis. It shows a scarce use of
repositories and observatories as tools to manage knowledge.
Based on this information management model and the proposed
methodology presented by Guerrero and Erichsen. (2017) to identify
the factors that influence social observatories in Brazil, from the
perspective of information management. which we take as a reference
to design a new proposal of information management system where
search tools, analysis, and dissemination of information are
integrated, and facilitates decision making based on useful, relevant
and reliable information. It requires as input variables: the needs and
demands of the target public, the priorities of the organization, the
unstructured information, and the computer supports for its
management.
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Finally, the analysis of the concept matrix and the proposed
information management system model showed how observatories are
sources of data processing, manage knowledge, and provide tools for
senior management decision-makers of their stakeholders.
Results
The definition of observatory according to the study by Pírela Morillo,
Almarza Franco, & Pulido Daza (2018) is related as a set of actions
organized with the purpose of interpreting realities, objects, actors,
reconstructing situations, variables, indicators in order to process and
generate information and data, which fertilize and support decision
making.
It is worth highlighting the contributions of Angulo (2009) who argues
that observatories are a structured and organized system in permanent
search of quality information, validating its origin, making analysis of
the environment, monitoring it, building a new one, motivating its use
in the design of strategies on the other hand Soares, Ferneda, & Do
prado (2018).cite Silva (2014) who complements by stating that
observatories or knowledge centers, must go beyond being databases
or repositories these must assume a proactive and multifunctional
posture in articulation with knowledge. (Tellez and Rodriguez, 2014).
According to De la Vega (2007), observatories are a tool for
technological surveillance, which identifies changes in the data
domain transformed into processed information as a result of the
management and objectives of what is observed. As a result of this
transformation and understanding the phenomena and identifying
trends of the variables, anticipating future behavior and generating
reliable products to the receivers.
In short, the observatories group knowledge or collective learning,
compiling data and experiences, associated with the objectives in the
construction of knowledge Correa and Castellanos (2014), generating
added value by empowering the human being in the organizations
being this a collaborative and cooperative strategy that when put into
practice increases the volume and quality of information for
observatories and stakeholders in the information (Angulo, 2009).
With all and the above, it is evident for knowledge management the
application of a conceptual model, which integrates search tools,
analysis and dissemination of information that facilitate decision
making Moreno-Espino, Carrasco-Bustamante, Rosete-Suárez, &
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Delgado-Dapena (2013), based on Deming's continuous improvement
cycle to create products and services in which value is added to
information, conceptualize on the tools of knowledge management
due to the processing of the tools of knowledge management. Delgado-
Dapena (2013) , based on Deming's continuous improvement cycle to
create products and services in which value is added to information,
conceptualize on the tools of knowledge management due to the fact
that they process, measure, evaluate, project, associate technology in
search of facilitating work through information on specific topics
generating reports as stated by, De la Vega (2007), in his research
Typology of Science and Technology Observatories. The cases of Latin
America, in which findings, summaries, alerts are disclosed in order to
facilitate the understanding of these topics by the interested parties to
make decisions.
Knowledge management according to Jiménez, D et al (2019) states
that it is at a level that does not allow identification and socialization
of tacit knowledge, Godoy Espinoza et al (2017 p. 671) considers it as a
systematic process that enables the conversion of knowledge of
individuals and teams into collective knowledge in a way that allows
obtaining sustainable competitive advantages.
However, for Herrera, Z. D. C. (2019 p.392). there cannot be a
knowledge society in which there is a divorce between the university,
society, private enterprise and the public sector, this interaction
generates according to Gómez-Bayona et al, (2020 p. 15). models of
intellectual capital that stimulate companies to the improvement and
development of new value creation processes, Medina, et al,(2020
p.18) affirm that knowledge has become the most important intangible
asset in the development of organizations.
According to the documentary analysis in the characterization matrix
of the observatories in Bogota and Cundinamarca, as shown in the
following graph.
It is evident that 21% of the observatories are oriented to the subject of
politics and democracy. A 17% corresponds to the social sector and
12% to the business sector. It is also found that the observatories with
themes of communications and astronomy have the lowest
percentages (2 and 5%, respectively). It can be deduced that the topics
of economic development, regional development and business in the
department of Cundinamarca are not widely dealt with in the
observatories under study.
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The following is an analysis of the classification of the thematic areas
of the 42 observatories identified in the geographic environment of
Bogota and central Sabana. Education: these observatories seek to
promote and interact with the actors of knowledge and its transfer, in
accordance with the academic context and the development of the
substantive functions, research, teaching and extension in their work.
The products generated are disseminated through the Academic
Magazine, newsletters, and job boards for students, teachers and
alumni.
Social: These observatories promote the development of social
projects aimed at the most vulnerable communities in order to
transform and improve their quality of life, helping to create and
strengthen public policies in search of the welfare of the general
population with impact projects.
The products generated in this thematic area include: quality of life
reports, trend reports, territorial characterization, technological
surveillance, databases, infographics, georeferenced maps,
presentations, newsletters, systematization of experiences and
structuring of social technologies.
Politics and Democracy: These observatories seek to follow up and
monitor regulations and jurisprudence in the different state bodies in
order to reduce corruption and increase the effectiveness of
government actions in their decisions, these are located at 100%. In
the Special District of Bogota. The products generated in this thematic
area are: Legislative and Judicial Follow-up Report, Analysis of
reports generated by the different entities, Newsletters, quarterly
magazines.
Health: The objective of these health observatories is to formulate,
follow up and monitor the different factors that affect public health,
the environment and their impact on the communities, supporting the
creation of public policies in the Ministry of Health and Social
Protection, in particular, the products generated in this thematic area
are Bulletins, reports, documents, synthesis analysis on topics related
to drug management, inclusion, the disabled, orphan diseases, among
others.
Technology: These observatories characterize and monitor the e-
commerce ecosystem in Colombia. They also analyze the phenomena,
objects, events, relationships, dynamics and effects linked to the use
and application of information technologies in contemporary reality.
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The products generated in this thematic area are documents oriented
to the use of media and technological mediations in articles of indexed
journals.
Business: The business observatories are characterized by compiling
useful, timely and accurate information on the impacts of the country's
economic policies and their impact on companies, monitoring trade
agreements, analyzing pros and cons in the different sectors and
sharing public policy guidelines. The products generated in this
thematic area include employability databases, market studies,
articles, newsletters, reports and events.
Labor: In general, environmental observatories seek to rigorously
monitor biotic systems and their effects of human interaction, to learn
about and participate in cases of socio-environmental conflicts,
corroborating compliance with established norms and the proposal of
government policies in favor of the quality of life of fauna and flora and
the protection of nature in general. The products generated in this
thematic area are documentaries, reports, databases, statistics,
communication between interest groups and public and private
companies.
Communication: The Media observatory is an institutional project
whose purpose is to contribute to the identification, analysis and
discussion of problems inherent to communication (in its
broadcasting, circulation and reception processes) and, above all, the
way in which the informative function is fulfilled in Colombia's mass
media. The products generated in this thematic area are media
analysis, audience formats and bulletins.
Astronomical: The astronomical observatories seek social
appropriation of science and technology through the creation of
training and research strategies in space sciences. The products
generated in this thematic area are training courses in astronomy and
training and disciplinary research seedbeds.
The Centro Progresa EPE is a unit of academic management,
administrative management of UNIMINUTO that contributes to the
social projection. The strategies of the Centro Progresa EPE are
derived from the Educational Project of Uniminuto and the Social
Projection Policy. its purpose is to provide extension services and open
opportunities for the consolidation of the life project of the Students
and Graduates, through more education, more opportunities in
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entrepreneurship, employability and professional practice as the
experience of the first job.
In order to carry out this task, the Zipaquirá Regional Center has been
negotiating a series of inter-institutional agreements with
businessmen in the area with a view to incorporating the needs of the
companies and the training processes taught in the classrooms.
The most important subsectors as strategic allies are the Services
Sector with a share of 20.3%, the Education Sector with a share of
19.2%, the Solidarity Economy Sector with 16.9%, and the Financial,
Health and Transportation Sectors with the lowest share.
The percentage level of companies in the service sector identified as
71%, 20% in the manufacturing sector and 9% in the primary sector,
identifying that the tertiary service sector may be the stakeholders in
the competitive intelligence observatory that is being developed in
UNIMINUTO Zipaquirá Regional Center.
Conclusions
After reviewing the theoretical concepts, it can be affirmed that
observatories are a source of information transformation that gathers
contextual phenomena and generates reports for decision makers.
From the analysis of the 42 observatories in Bogota and the central
savannah, no observatories oriented to the productivity and
competitiveness of small and medium-sized entrepreneurs in terms of
competitive intelligence were identified. It is proposed the creation of
an observatory that meets the interests of small and medium-sized
entrepreneurs and contributes to their permanence over time.
There is no real organizational culture in the region's companies
towards competitive intelligence and innovation by managers in the
organizations, which implies that many of them are not aware of the
existence of observatories or entities that provide key information
inputs for decision making.
The Corporación Universitaria Minuto de Dios "UNIMINUTO" in the
regional center of Zipaquirá has the opportunity to develop with
entrepreneurs and local governments, a competitive intelligence
observatory oriented to regional, economic and business development
starting in the service sector and designing strategies to generate new
knowledge as input for decision makers.
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The United Nations (UN) has proposed sustainable development
objectives in search of reducing poverty and inequality in humanity,
inducing governments and institutions to contribute their grain of
sand with this purpose, which is why the observatories promote
projects that contribute to these within the framework of innovation
and construction of new knowledge.
By their nature, observatories promote multidisciplinary bibliometrics
in their research, making use of statistical, sociological and informatics
tools, managing the fulfillment of research objectives using databases
in open access documents.
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