Editorial

ID: 17637

Authors: Tomás de Aquino Guimarães.

Source: Revista de Administração Contemporânea, v. 9, n. n.spe1, p. 7-8, June, 2005. 2 page(s).

Document type: Editorial (Portuguese)

Unlocking the institutionalization process: insights for an institutionalizing approach

ID: 17638

Authors: Clóvis L. Machado-da-Silva, Valéria Silva da Fonseca, João Marcelo Crubellate.

Source: Revista de Administração Contemporânea, v. 9, n. n.spe1, p. 9-39, June, 2005. 31 page(s).

Keyword: agency , institutionalization , institutional theory , interpretive schemes , social structure

Document type: Article (Portuguese) Show Abstract

The neoinstitutional theory has been characterized by some scholars in the field of organizational studies as a supposedly deterministic approach. We will demonstrate in this paper that this characterization cannot be impinged on the neoinstitutional perspective in a generalized way, but only to a dichotomic reading of it, that is typical of monoparadigmatic views of the process of institutionalization. With this demonstration, we defend the idea of the institutional theory as a multiparadigmatic theory. To this end, we present arguments for a recursive approach of the institutionalization process, highlighting that the notions of structure, agency and interpretation are more suitably dealt with when defended as fundamental elements of institutionalization as a recurrent, guaranteed process that is conditioned, not determined, by a certain degree of stabilization of social systems. We conclude the essay with methodological considerations on the consequences of the use of the proposal for a recurrent systemic-process approach of institutionalization for the development of research in the field of organizational studies.

Unpacking firm effects: modeling political alliances in variance decomposition of firm performance in turbulent environments

ID: 17639

Authors: Rodrigo Bandeira de Mello, Rosilene Marcon.

Source: Revista de Administração Contemporânea, v. 9, n. n.spe1, p. 41-64, June, 2005. 24 page(s).

Keyword: firm heterogeneity , firm performance , political strategies , turbulent environments , variance decomposition

Document type: Article (English) Show Abstract

In this paper, firm heterogeneity in turbulent environments is addressed. It is argued that previous studies have not taken into account effects of a turbulent environment, like the Brazilian context, in which firms must face a weak and erratic government. In such an environment, the large portion of variance usually attributed to firm effects may be explained, not by the usual assumptions of mainstream scholars, but by a more political view of firm differences, namely, the ability to manage valuable political alliances. To account for these differences, a multivariate performance measure was construed and a new factor, politics effects, has been introduced to the usual model. Company donations for campaign funds in elections was used as a proxy for this factor. A sample of 607 observations, of 177 firms in 15 sectors was used. Results suggest that the presence of politics effects were found to be not significant (using COV and Hierarchical ANOVA). However, different from previous studies, transient industry effects appear to be more important than stable effects. Findings also indicate that a better model specification for turbulent environments is needed and highlight the importance of the cost of capital.

Desempenho das empresas brasileiras: efeitos ano, ramo de negócios e firma individual

ID: 17640

Authors: Luiz Artur Ledur Brito, Flávio Carvalho de Vasconcelos.

Source: Revista de Administração Contemporânea, v. 9, n. n.spe1, p. 65-85, June, 2005. 21 page(s).

Keyword: Brazilian firms , performance , strategy , variance components

Document type: Article (Portuguese) Show Abstract

Performance varies. The simple statement hides many intricacies of strategic management. Because performance varies among individual firms, researchers can explore factors that differentiate these firms and explain why some firms are consistently outperforming others. Because performance varies among industries, researchers can explore structural characteristics of different branches accounting as a source of explanation. Because performance varies with time, researchers can explore environmental and internal dynamic elements that drive strategic decision-making. In reality, measuring and analyzing performance is a very complicated issue when performance varies simultaneously from firm to firm, from industry to industry and from year to year. The theoretical discussion behind this question is the relative importance of the industrial organization derived approach to strategy versus the resource-based view. This paper analyzes the composition of performance variance of a set of Brazilian firms during 1998 to 2001. Results demonstrate that firm effects are still dominant, with year and industry effects being smaller as previous studies with North American firms have indicated.

Post-acquisition changes beyond the dyad: power at the net level in cross-border acquisitions

ID: 17641

Authors: Sérgio Fernando Loureiro Rezende, Roberto Gonzalez Duarte.

Source: Revista de Administração Contemporânea, v. 9, n. n.spe1, p. 87-108, June, 2005. 22 page(s).

Keyword: dyad , network , post-acquisition changes , relational power

Document type: Article (English) Show Abstract

A common feature of the literature on post-acquisition changes is its dyadic feature, i.e. the emphasis is placed on the actors directly involved in the acquisition, often represented by the acquiree and the acquirer. Accordingly, actors outside the dyad, such as suppliers and buyers, are usually disregarded. There is, however, a relevant exception in this literature. Recently, some Nordic authors have claimed that if actors other than the acquiree and the acquirer are not taken into account, the existing literature may only present a partial view of changes following acquisitions. Consequently, they have suggested that changes following this type of operation can be analysed fruitfully at the network level. Our article adds to the efforts of these scholars to understand post-acquisition changes at a broader level by bringing to the fore two issues that have received scarce attention in the literature: i) nets rather than the network level appears to be the locus where post-acquisition changes beyond the dyad take place; ii) relational power can be regarded as an independent variable in post-acquisition changes beyond the dyad. These arguments are illustrated by three brief case studies of cross-border acquisitions.

Aprendizagem tecnológica compensa? Implicações da acumulação de competências tecnológicas para o aprimoramento de performance técnico-econômica em uma unidade de aciaria no Brasil (1997-2001)

ID: 17642

Authors: Eduardo Côrtes de Castro, Paulo Negueiros Figueiredo.

Source: Revista de Administração Contemporânea, v. 9, n. n.spe1, p. 109-133, June, 2005. 25 page(s).

Keyword: latecomer firms , learning processes , technological capability accumulation

Document type: Article (Portuguese) Show Abstract

This paper focuses on the implications of learning processes for technological capability accumulation and performance improvement. These relations are evaluated through a single case study in the steelmaking unit of Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional (1997-2001). Recently developed frameworks in literature on technological capability accumulation and learning processes have been used, but adapted to the unit studied. The technological capability is assessed in levels of competence to process, product and equipment functions. The learning processes are analysed in processes (inner and outer knowledge acquisition, socialization and codification) and examined in the light of their key-features (variety, intensity, functioning and interaction). The study has found that the technological capability accumulation through learning processes had positive implications to the improvement of the unit's performance.

Technological strategies of Transnational Corporations Affiliates in Brazil

ID: 17643

Authors: Eliane Franco, Ruy de Quadros Carvalho.

Source: Revista de Administração Contemporânea, v. 9, n. n.spe1, p. 135-157, June, 2005. 23 page(s).

Keyword: developing countries , technological strategies , transnational corporations

Document type: Article (English) Show Abstract

This paper presents an analysis of the technological efforts made by Transnational Corporations' (TNCs) affiliates in Brazil. Many studies have indicated that most TNCs concentrate their main technological activities in their home, developed countries. However, empirical investigation has shown TNC affiliates in Brazil have presented a higher profile than local firms in terms of both innovative performance and R&D efforts. This study is an attempt to examine the technological efforts of TNC affiliates in Brazil and their main determinants, considering the recent changes in TNC strategies for global organization of production and technological activities. The study is based on data analysis from 450 firms controlled by foreign capital operating in São Paulo State in 1996. The database was taken from the first PAEP - Pesquisa da Atividade Econômica Paulista -, which comprises not only economic indicators, but also includes an innovation survey based on OECD guidelines. Using multivariate techniques, we have identified distinct strategies of TNCs subsidiaries in regard to technological activities, which reflect different technological effort patterns. In addition, the article reveals that such diversity of technological strategies has been influenced by the size of firms, the industrial sector to which the firm belongs and the nationality of foreign capital, in this order.

Learning curve? Which one?

ID: 17644

Authors: Paulo Prochno.

Source: Revista de Administração Contemporânea, v. 9, n. n.spe1, p. 159-176, June, 2005. 18 page(s).

Keyword: knowledge development , learning curves , new settings

Document type: Article (English) Show Abstract

Learning curves have been studied for a long time. These studies provided strong support to the hypothesis that, as organizations produce more of a product, unit costs of production decrease at a decreasing rate (see Argote, 1999 for a comprehensive review of learning curve studies). But the organizational mechanisms that lead to these results are still underexplored. We know some drivers of learning curves (ADLER; CLARK, 1991; LAPRE et al., 2000), but we still lack a more detailed view of the organizational processes behind those curves. Through an ethnographic study, I bring a comprehensive account of the first year of operations of a new automotive plant, describing what was taking place on in the assembly area during the most relevant shifts of the learning curve. The emphasis is then on how learning occurs in that setting. My analysis suggests that the overall learning curve is in fact the result of an integration process that puts together several individual ongoing learning curves in different areas throughout the organization. In the end, I propose a model to understand the evolution of these learning processes and their supporting organizational mechanisms.

Who are the relevant stakeholders to the local government context? Empirical evidences on environmental influences in the decision-making process of English Local Authorities

ID: 17645

Authors: Ricardo Corrêa Gomes.

Source: Revista de Administração Contemporânea, v. 9, n. n.spe1, p. 177-202, June, 2005. 26 page(s).

Keyword: local government , public management , stakeholder analysis , strategic management

Document type: Article (English) Show Abstract

This article presents empirical evidence of stakeholding in the local government context. It is the result of a survey carried out with English Local Authorities in 2001. It outlines the arena in which local government make decisions by pinpointing the relevant stakeholders in the process as well as the amount of power they are perceived to represent by chief executives. The investigation has its theoretical basis in resource dependence and institutional theories, which are commonly used for explaining an organization's behaviour and performance as influenced by its environment. As an empirical contribution, the article proposes a stakeholder map for any kind of local government organizations that will help in identifying strategies for managing stakeholders.

Sobre os autores

ID: 17646

Authors: Revista de Administração Contemporânea.

Source: Revista de Administração Contemporânea, v. 9, n. n.spe1, p. 203-208, June, 2005. 6 page(s).

Document type: Other (Portuguese)