This article is the result of a preliminary exploratory study carried out by the author as part of a doctorate degree. The theme of the article deals with innovation as the result of the synergy between various management practices which, when added to the activities of research and development, result in innovative products, processes or services. The objective of this article is to identify the management practices adopted by leading companies in terms of innovation. The method used was content analysis. Institutional data were collected from 12, specially selected companies. Content analysis enabled the management practices to be classified into six categories: strategy; technology management; organizational structure; management of people; strategic alliances; and the environment. The results indicate an influence of specific techniques in the capacity to innovate, as demonstrated in the companies in recent years. This reveals that management practices, together with other factors which stimulate innovation, are responsible for the efficiency of creating and launching innovations both in management and technology.