Editorial

ID: 409

Authors: Rogério H. Quintella, Philippe Steiner.

Source: Revista de Administração Contemporânea, v. 12, n. 1, p. 1-3, January-March, 2008. 3 page(s).

Document type: Editorial (Portuguese)

RH policies: instruments of consensus and ambiguities

ID: 400

Authors: Alfredo Rodrigues Leite da Silva, Gelson Silva Junquilho, Alexandre de Pádua Carrieri.

Source: Revista de Administração Contemporânea, v. 12, n. 1, p. 11-34, January-March, 2008. 24 page(s).

Keyword: corporate culture , HR policies , integration , social practices

Document type: Article (Portuguese) Show Abstract

This paper proposes to discuss: at work place, could be Human Resources (HR) policies be thought by integrated organizational view or something can make dissent on it? The integration proposal from authors like Deal and Kennedy (1982) and Schein (1985), difficulty the knowledge of heterogenic constructions, existent at HR. Otherwise, authors like Reed (1989), Martin (1992) and Aktouf (1994) think HR policies as a fragmentation maker of organization. That discussion was supported by the study of HR policies at a Regional from a Brazilian Mail Enterprise. The basis to research was collected from documents and semi-structured interviews with 26 actors in some management levels. The content analysis was applied (Bardin, 1977). Repetitions of words, sentences, ideas and interest topics was looked for (Bogdan & Biklen, 1994). As conclusion, the study shows that HR policies should be recontextualized in terms of the recognition that they are linked to integration and to organizational fragmentation, inserted in a mediation process of differences socially constructed.

People's management using holistic models

ID: 401

Authors: Cristina Mori Maciel, Arlindo Fortunato da Silva.

Source: Revista de Administração Contemporânea, v. 12, n. 1, p. 35-58, January-March, 2008. 24 page(s).

Keyword: cartesian paradigm , holistic perspective , mechanicism , transformer change

Document type: Article (Portuguese) Show Abstract

This article considers to establish correlations between models directed to the management of people in the post-modern organizations, through the description and the identification of the models found in literature, as well as to offer elements for the reflection on the concepts based on these archetypes. The assay is fit as a study of descriptive nature, where the potentialities related to the use of the holistic approach in the management of people are carried out through documentary and bibliographical research. The accomplishment of the article on the basis of documentary and bibliographical research results in the possibility to glimpse actions that result in a continuous exercise of corporative citizenship, actions that contribute to extend the conscience of respect and contribution among people, in a way to benefit all the involved ones. As a limitation of the study it can be mentioned no possibility of generalizations of the concepts and models for small business companies; as it was not carried out empirical research for this specific situation. There is also, as a contribution of the work, the viability to congregate diverse models found in previous studies, as well as presenting the common denominators that exist between them.

Information asymmetry and trust in cooperative interactions

ID: 402

Authors: Rosangela Violetti Bertolin, Antônio Carlos dos Santos, Juvêncio Braga de Lima, Marcelo José Braga.

Source: Revista de Administração Contemporânea, v. 12, n. 1, p. 59-81, January-March, 2008. 23 page(s).

Keyword: agency , asymmetr , cooperative , information , trust

Document type: Article (Portuguese) Show Abstract

This paper results from a case study that shows the problem of information asymmetry in an agricultural marketing cooperative. After identifying aspects of the information asymmetry in the agent (managers) and principal (members) relationship, an attempt was made to understand the effects coming from transaction and trust relations from the members towards the cooperative business. The research is made by using interviews, document analysis, file records and non-participant observations. The Analysis of Content was undertaken based in the qualitative perspective, showing the significances of the information asymmetry and trust through the analysis of the perceptions and satisfactions of the investigated subjects referring to information management classified as internal and external information. The existence of high internal and external information asymmetries is verified among managers and members. Findings suggest that this asymmetry effects has a negative impact on members' trust in their transactions with the cooperative. The research explores new implications about agency theory analysis applied to cooperatives.

A model of evaluation of the efficiency of the public sector through the method Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA)

ID: 403

Authors: Carlos Rosano Peña.

Source: Revista de Administração Contemporânea, v. 12, n. 1, p. 83-106, January-March, 2008. 24 page(s).

Keyword: data envelopment analysis , efficiency , evaluation , public administration

Document type: Article (Portuguese) Show Abstract

The objective of this work was to present a powerful tool, still little used in Brazil, called Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). This Method can be used to evaluate the technical efficiency of productive units that use multiple inputs to produce multiple goods and services measured in different units. It is recommended in the study of the efficiency of the public administration, of institutions without lucrative purposes and organizations that accomplish your activities through units as hotel nets, franchises, school units, agencies of mail and banks. The Method compares the inputs and outputs of each unit and determines the index of relative efficiency of each analyzed unit. These indexes allow to determine the best practices, the inefficient units and the necessary changes in the levels of inputs and outputs, so that the last units become efficient. It can be used in the identification of idle resources or disabled and in the formulation of politics of reduction of costs associated to an expansion that optimizes the potential of growth and the ideal load of the enterprise. Therefore, it is a valuable tool for the benchmarking research that allows the continued improvement process.

Resource based view and the collleges in Fortaleza: an analysis before and after the LDB/96

ID: 404

Authors: Maise Soares Pereira, Sérgio Henrique Arruda Cavalcante Forte.

Source: Revista de Administração Contemporânea, v. 12, n. 1, p. 107-129, January-March, 2008. 23 page(s).

Keyword: competences , dynamic capabilities , resource-based view , strategy , teaching and researching in administration

Document type: Article (Portuguese) Show Abstract

Colleges in Fortaleza have been through major changes in its competitive market, mainly after the institution of the "Diretrizes e Bases" regulation law in 1996. Considering the two distinct periods of competitive environment (before and after 1996), this research tried to evaluate the Resource Based View theory in strategics contexts as it was investigated by Miller and Shamsie (1996) in the Hollywood studios. Aiming to identify which resources were important to Fortaleza colleges before 1996 and those which still are core after that, 10 Deans were interviewed from the most traditional and biggest colleges in town. The questionnaire, adapted from Thompson and Cole's (1997), allowed to identify the seven more and the three less relevant resources to different context environments. Results showed that, despite a number of common core competencies to those distinguished moments, the competitive characteristics of each period required specific and differentiated resources, indicating the need of RBV theory to fit external environment.

Competitive strategy in the health care sector: an exploratory study

ID: 405

Authors: Moisés Ari Zilber, Luiz Carlos Lazarini.

Source: Revista de Administração Contemporânea, v. 12, n. 1, p. 131-154, January-March, 2008. 24 page(s).

Keyword: agility , competitive advantage , health care , service , strategy

Document type: Article (Portuguese) Show Abstract

This is an exploratory study and its main objective was to evaluate strategies adopted in the Brazilian health care sector. It was developed under a quantitative sample based on application of a structured questionnaire with questions determined on a Likert model. Based on a probabilistic sample selected among people that have health care plans in São Paulo city the research had the objective to identify competitive advantages that usually have more influence in the chosen process of Health Maintenance companies by consumers. Multivariate and descriptive statistics techniques were used and the study concluded that Agility, Attendance, Brand, Pioneers and Size of the company would be the most important factors. This article discusses the theory about strategy, competitive advantage, sources of competitive advantage and sustainability of the competitive advantages. It also includes the methodology procedures, the results and the limitations and recommendations for future studies. Considering the new rules for health care business and how these modifications are reflecting on the competitive scenario this study have discussed strategic questions that should be reevaluated in the future.

Product development in the context of the automotive industry supply chains

ID: 406

Authors: Aline Lamon Cerra, Jonas Lucio Maia.

Source: Revista de Administração Contemporânea, v. 12, n. 1, p. 155-176, January-March, 2008. 22 page(s).

Keyword: automotive industry , product development , supply chain management

Document type: Article (Portuguese) Show Abstract

In the Brazilian Automotive Industry, the Product Development activities have been influenced by changes on supply chains resulting from the investments made by new assemblers in order to install new assembly plants in the country, consolidation and denationalization of the auto-part industry, as well as the impacts of phenomena specific to the Brazilian scenario like the 1000cc and bi-fuelled engines. This work aims at comparing the degree of technological autonomy conquered by the engine assemblers installed in Brazil, as well as analysing the Product Development activities that those branches accomplish together with their suppliers. In this sense we try to verify how the relationships between the companies inside these chains are, how the Product Development activities and competencies are distributed along them, and how it is managed by the assemblers. Generally, the Product Development activities of these assemblers are very similar and oriented to local competitiveness. The differences take place as a result of their supply chain structures and of their supplying policies.

Testing alternative theories on the capital structure of Brazilian firms

ID: 407

Authors: Otávio Ribeiro de Medeiros, Cecílio Elias Daher.

Source: Revista de Administração Contemporânea, v. 12, n. 1, p. 177-199, January-March, 2008. 23 page(s).

Keyword: Brazilian firms , capital structure , pecking order , static tradeoff

Document type: Article (Portuguese) Show Abstract

The paper documents results of empírical tests involving two models applied to the capital structure of Brasilian firms. The models tested were developed under the two theories competing for the determination of the capital structure of firms in the academic literature: the Static Tradeoff Theory and the Pecking Order Theory. The methodology involves the utilization of panel-data econometric techniques, aiming to establish which of the two theories has higher explanatory power for the Brazilian firms. The analisis utilized three types of models: common coeficients, fixed effects, and random effects. Additional statistical tests were also employed to confirm the robustness of results. The sample consists of non-financial firms listed in the Sao Paulo stock exchanges (BOVESPA and SOMA) from 1995 to 2002. The analysis of the results obtained led to the conclusion that the Pecking Order Theory in its semi-strong form provides the best explanation for the capital structure of Brazilian firms.

Analysis of the debt structure: a comparative study between brazilian and american companies

ID: 408

Authors: Ariádine de Freitas Silva, Mauricio Ribeiro do Valle.

Source: Revista de Administração Contemporânea, v. 12, n. 1, p. 201-229, January-March, 2008. 29 page(s).

Keyword: Brazilian and American companies , capital structure , indebtedness , long term debt

Document type: Article (Portuguese) Show Abstract

This paper analyzed total and long term indebtedness of Brazilian and American companies pertaining to various sectors of economy, between 1999-2003. Besides the comparative study, some hypotheses about the determinants of corporate debt maturity structure, based on main authors' studies found in literature for companies from different countries, were tested using ordinary least squares (cross-sectional regressions). Also, a comparative analysis among the sectors was achieved using mean comparison tests. The results showed that Brazilian and American companies presented, respectively, a greater and increasing proportion of short and long term debts during the period. Relating to the long term debt, it was verified the superiority of American companies to the Brazilian ones. But, relating to the total debt, Brazilian companies showed they were higher indebted than the American ones. The regressions indicated that companies with a greater proportion of assets to be given as collateral, obtained greater levels of total and long term debts. There were also evidences that companies with higher profits and higher depreciation expenses tend to show both less long term and total indebtedness. Finally, it was verified that total debt is positively related to a company's size.

Stupid white men: uma nação de idiotas - (Michael Moore - 2003)

ID: 17404

Authors: Armindo dos Santos de Souza Teodósio.

Source: Revista de Administração Contemporânea, v. 12, n. 1, p. 209-209, January-March, 2008. 1 page(s).

Document type: Bibliographical Note (Portuguese)

Constança Basto

ID: 651

Authors: Renato Cotta de Mello, Angela da Rocha.

Source: Revista de Administração Contemporânea, v. 12, n. 1, p. 231-252, January-March, 2008. 22 page(s).

Keyword: international business , international entrepreneurship , international marketing

Document type: Teaching Case (Portuguese) Show Abstract

The case portrays the initial steps in the internationalization process of Imelda Calçados, a Brazilian firm that markets the Constança Basto brand name. The firmoperates in a traditional Brazilian exporting industry, but it has adopted an international growth strategy which substantially differs from most other players in the industry. Implementing a differentiation strategy, whose major element is the development of brand image, and targeting the upper segment of the footwear market, the company was successful in entering the demanding U.S. market. The core issue in the case is the sustainability of the internationalization model adopted and the alternatives available to a small firm in its process of international expansion.

Consumer behavior and managerial decision making

ID: 654

Authors: Valter Afonso Vieira.

Source: Revista de Administração Contemporânea, v. 12, n. 1, p. 253-255, January-March, 2008. 3 page(s).

Document type: Book Review (Portuguese)

Resenha: - Empreendedorismo, Inovação e Incubação de Empresas – Lei da Inovação - (Emanuel Leite - 2006)

ID: 655

Authors: Marina Dantas de Figueiredo.

Source: Revista de Administração Contemporânea, v. 12, n. 1, p. 257-259, January-March, 2008. 3 page(s).

Document type: Book Review (Portuguese)

A sociologia econômica

ID: 653

Authors: Magnus Luiz Emmendoerfer.

Source: Revista de Administração Contemporânea, v. 12, n. 1, p. 261-261, January-March, 2008. 1 page(s).

Document type: Bibliographical Note (Portuguese)

Gestão da inovação: a Economia da Tecnologia no Brasil.

ID: 652

Authors: Elizangela Gomes Camargo.

Source: Revista de Administração Contemporânea, v. 12, n. 1, p. 261-261, January-March, 2008. 1 page(s).

Document type: Bibliographical Note (Portuguese)