Cláudia Sousa Silva, Cláudia Pereira and José Magano
The contribution of project success and the organisation's efficiency is consensual in the literature. However, the value of project management (PM) brings to the organisation's…
Abstract
Purpose
The contribution of project success and the organisation's efficiency is consensual in the literature. However, the value of project management (PM) brings to the organisation's effectiveness through the alignment with strategy, contributing to its competitiveness and business success, is yet little explored. This study addresses the literature gap that concerns the relationship between PM and the organisation's competitiveness, proposing a holistic conceptual model to understand of how PM brings value to the organisation. This work also aims to demonstrate the practical implications of theoretical contributions to the value of PM. For this, a detailed action research (AR) was planned to show how researchers and practitioners could work and collaborate in a real problem and prove the AR approach's adequacy to the PM field.
Design/methodology/approach
The methodology starts with a systematic literature review (SLR), followed by content analysis to develop a conceptual model of PM's value. To validate the theoretical constructs and transfer the results to real context, an AR plan is then carried out to support a specific PM problem presented by an automotive industry company.
Findings
The results have theoretical and practical implications. An original conceptual model is developed–the value of PM: Key factors–defending a multidimensional and holistic perspective to understand the PM's value. A set of key factors was identified, structured, interrelated and exemplified their practical implementation in a single company. In addition to the technical key factors identified in the literature review, the AR plan unveils crucial social aspects to improve PM's value, such as leadership, strong communication and open processes. This work shows the central role of PM methodologies in integrating and interconnecting the key factors, emphasizing the projects' strategic level.
Research limitations/implications
The present work was developed in a specific and particular organisational context and industry.
Practical implications
The AR plan presents a company's original programme–Hyper Competitiveness (HC) Temple–implemented in an automotive company. Project management professionals could understand how this company implemented each key factor, defended in a conceptual model and lead the project's results to the business value.
Originality/value
The research originality lies in rethinking PM's value to organisations from a holistic perspective: multi-dimensional, temporal, life cycle, multi-organisational, pointing out a set of technical and social key factors.
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Jorge Oliveira, Cláudia Pereira and Ana Oliveira
This study aims to investigate the footwear industry’s resilience to external changes in an attempt to provide insights into strategies that can define effective organizational…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate the footwear industry’s resilience to external changes in an attempt to provide insights into strategies that can define effective organizational responses to environmental stimuli. In this sense, it is important to understand how companies have adapted to the exogenous shocks. Thus, this paper addresses the impact of the exogenous shocks like COVID-19 pandemic, the Russia–Ukraine war and energy crisis in the European Union and focuses on the potential resilience strategies implemented by the footwear industry.
Design/methodology/approach
Through a qualitative approach, 3 interviews were carried out on the structural basis of the footwear industry, namely at an associative and technological level, and 11 in footwear companies.
Findings
This study shows that the exogenous shocks forced changes in the nature of business, namely: (1) manufacturers entered the B2C segment, shortening the supply chain; (2) it provided changes at the strategic level (greater focus on the development of operational and logistics strategies) and digitization (digital transformation to support the execution of essential activities); (3) development of new products (emergence of a market opportunity that combines the concepts of sporty and classic shoes).
Research limitations/implications
This study is limited to the footwear industry, does not address how cultural, social or behavioral differences in specific markets may impact adaptation to exogenous shocks, and focuses on recent exogenous shocks, without analyzing similar past events for historical comparisons. It also does not explore the direct financial impact of the suggested strategies.
Practical implications
This study focuses on strategic business adaptation in crisis scenarios, showing the importance of flexibility and resilience, suggesting specific practices to improve supply chain resilience. This can help companies reduce vulnerabilities in the face of global disruptions.
Social implications
This study provides an important contribution to contingency theory, by demonstrating that companies need to adjust their structures and strategies in response to exogenous shocks.
Originality/value
This study focuses on the concept of resilience to find out what strategies should be adopted to respond to external changes.
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Marta Santos, Cláudia Pereira, Daniel Silva, Maria Antónia Cadilhe and Liliana Cunha
The purpose of this paper is to analyse a programme designed to welcome and train new employees, implemented in a chemical industry, privileging the transmission of know-how as a…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to analyse a programme designed to welcome and train new employees, implemented in a chemical industry, privileging the transmission of know-how as a dynamic process where learning is co-constructed in the course of the activity.
Design/methodology/approach
The design of the programme was based on the analysis of the work performed in real context by operators and supervisors. The data about the programme’s evaluation were collected by questionnaire, assessing the trainees’ global development and the impact of the training programme (after six months).
Findings
This paper involves designing, planning and implementing “4 × 4 Training”, a training programme for young trainees. Combining in-class training with an extensive component of on-the-job mentoring, the programme involved trainees, mentors and internal trainers, monitored by work psychologists. The results show both the trainees and the mentors evaluate the programme positively. The professional transmission stands out as an activity that is thought through and defined in group, assisted by a mentoring relationship of mutual learning.
Practical implications
When planning and developing intergenerational transmission processes, it is crucial to consider the organisational conditions, to involve from an early stage the key players of each work situation and to guarantee that the mentoring activity and the productive activity overlap coherently.
Originality/value
It is an innovative process to integrate trainees in the chemical industry in Portugal. The methodological approach and the findings provide a first framework that justifies the relevance of the transmission of know-how through a real work situation.
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Albertina Paula Monteiro, Cláudia Pereira and Francisco Manuel Barbosa
This study aims to construct two environmental disclosure indices (EDI), one obtained from the mandatory reporting (annual report) and the other from the voluntary reporting…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to construct two environmental disclosure indices (EDI), one obtained from the mandatory reporting (annual report) and the other from the voluntary reporting (sustainability report), to compare their evolution. In addition, the authors developed and evaluated a conceptual model that aims to analyse if the two EDI are affected by industry, environmental certification, lucratively and corporate governance attributes. The legitimacy, signalling and voluntary disclosure theories are used to support the theoretical relationship between the company’s characteristics, corporate governance and environmental disclosure.
Design/methodology/approach
Using the content analysis technique, the authors have developed two indices to assess the level of environmental disclosure in the companies’ mandatory and voluntary reporting. In addition, to analyse the determinants of EDI, the authors applied the technique of multiple linear regression using panel data.
Findings
Based on Portuguese listed companies (Euronext-Lisbon), the results, from 2015 to 2017, exhibited an increase of 14.6% and 25.8% for the EDI obtained from the annual reports and for EDI obtained from the sustainability reporting, respectively. In addition, the results revealed that the environmental certification, lucratively, number of members on board and number and proportion of women of the board directors tend to affect the annual reporting EDI. Regarding the sustainability reporting EDI, the results showed that the environmental certification, lucratively and proportion of independent members of the board of directors have an impact on it.
Research limitations/implications
The study focuses on quantitative rather than qualitative disclosures and it brings some insights to the theoretical field.
Practical implications
The results obtained can assist corporate decision-making processes regarding the improvement of environmental disclosure, both on the mandatory annual report and on voluntary sustainability reports.
Originality/value
This study brings new perspectives to this topical issue in accounting. Originally, this study is applied to Portuguese listed companies and it shows different trends and determinants of environmental disclosure when included in the annual reporting or sustainability reporting.
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Marcio Pereira Basilio, Valdecy Pereira, Max William Coelho Moreira de Oliveira, Antonio Fernandes da Costa Neto, Orlinda Claudia Rosa de Moraes and Samya Cotta Brandão Siqueira
The database of the Web of Science (WoS) was searched for publications from January 1945–May 7, 2020 on the topic of domestic violence in titles, abstracts and keywords. The…
Abstract
Purpose
The database of the Web of Science (WoS) was searched for publications from January 1945–May 7, 2020 on the topic of domestic violence in titles, abstracts and keywords. The references were analyzed using the R bibliometrix package, and abstracts were analyzed using latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA) with collapsed Gibbs sampling to obtain topics related to domestic violence.
Design/methodology/approach
The aim of the study is to explore and provide an overview of research carried out on domestic violence, in its various aspects, over the past fifty years.
Findings
As a result of the research, the authors can assert that in the last fifty years, 32,298 authors have produced 19,495 documents on the theme of policing strategy and related subjects in 111 countries. Scientific production in this area grows at a rate of 12.81 per year. The United States of America is the leading country in publications with 48.14%, followed by the United Kingdom with 7.57% and Australia with 6.05%. Regarding universities, the highlight is the University of California with 664 publications, followed by the University of London with 515 and the University of North Carolina with 484. As for journals, the highlight is the Journal of Interpersonal Violence, Journal of Family Violence and Violence Against Women, which account for more than 14.32% of all indexed literature. Regarding the authors, the highlight is Campbell J.C and Feder G. Probabilistic topic modeling revealed that 18% of the topics concentrate 90% of all tokens. Topic 1 accounts for 27.9% of the sample and conducts research related to intimate partner violence.
Practical implications
As a practical implication of using the LDA in the bibliographic review, we infer that its capacity to explore large masses of data allows the researcher to explore an infinitely greater amount than the traditional methods of systematic literature review.
Originality/value
The value of these studies is summarized in the presentation of an overview on the theme in the last fifty years, offering the opportunity for other researchers to use this research as a starting point for other analyses.
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Moema Pereira Nunes, Claudia Natali Alba Malagri, Fernanda Kalil Steinbruch, Dusan Schreiber and Claudio Damacena
To identify and analyze the relevant themes in the literature on digital transformation and internationalization, revealing opportunities for future studies.
Abstract
Purpose
To identify and analyze the relevant themes in the literature on digital transformation and internationalization, revealing opportunities for future studies.
Design/methodology/approach
A systematic literature review was developed using the Scopus and Web of Science databases. Initially, 156 publications were identified. Based on inclusion/exclusion criteria, a final sample of 74 articles was reached. A bibliometric and qualitative analysis were developed.
Findings
Eight main themes related to internationalization, such as internationalization strategy, internationalized companies, marketing-related issues, export, global supply chain, entrepreneurship and new ventures, SMEs internationalization and internationalization of educational institutions, were identified. Eight main themes related to digital transformation were also identified, including internationalization drivers, digital technologies, business model innovation, digitalization, Industry 4.0, digital platforms and e-commerce, people and digital transformation and digital institutional environment.
Originality/value
In recent years, the term digital transformation has become part of the daily lives of many organizations and of life in society itself. For internationalized companies, this discussion has also become present. Although a relationship between digital transformation and internationalization is often presented, the dimensions of analysis of this relationship are still very fragmented, and this study presents a systemic view of the themes. These themes represent opportunities for future studies.
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Ana Cláudia Azevedo, Rafael Morais Pereira, Camilo Angel Peña Ramirez and Ronaldo de Oliveira Santos Jhunior
This study aims to propose and validate a framework for analyzing management activities in regional strategic networks. It addresses the knowledge gap regarding network management…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to propose and validate a framework for analyzing management activities in regional strategic networks. It addresses the knowledge gap regarding network management and the lack of focus on specific activities and management modes employed by network actors.
Design/methodology/approach
The research methodology involves a literature review to identify essential network management functions, which academic experts and field specialists then evaluate. Based on their feedback, an instrument is refined to assess these activities’ strategic importance and frequency. Data is collected from 86 regional strategic network managers, meeting the required criteria for factor analysis. Principal component analysis with varimax rotation measures the “Network Management” construct and identifies underlying dimensions summarizing observed variables.
Findings
The analysis reveals two dimensions within the framework: one encompasses early-stage network development activities (ex ante activities), and the other includes activities associated with more advanced stages (ex post activities). This framework contributes methodologically to measuring and analyzing network management.
Research limitations/implications
This research addresses the need for robust conceptual frameworks in network governance, advancing the understanding of governance drivers and their impact on network outcomes by aligning network phenomena with performance.
Practical implications
The framework provides valuable insights for network managers, enhancing their understanding of management activities’ strategic importance and frequency. This knowledge can inform managerial decisions and improve network management practices.
Originality/value
This study introduces an original framework for analyzing network management activities in regional strategic networks, filling a significant research gap. Despite limitations like specificity to certain network types and subjective responses, the study maintains validity and reliability criteria. Future research opportunities involve applying the framework to different network contexts and conducting longitudinal studies to track network management evolution.
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Miriam Borchardt, Marcelo Souza, Giancarlo M. Pereira and Claudia V. Viegas
Branded car dealerships with best revenue by serviced car also have the best after-sales customers’ satisfaction level. The purpose of this paper is to present the analysis of the…
Abstract
Purpose
Branded car dealerships with best revenue by serviced car also have the best after-sales customers’ satisfaction level. The purpose of this paper is to present the analysis of the after-sales quality management practices adopted by dealerships with the best performance in terms of customer’s satisfaction and revenue and how such practices contribute to these results.
Design/methodology/approach
A multiple case study was performed with nine leader branded car dealerships in an emerging country, considering the entrance car. The performance indicators to evaluate customers’ satisfaction, revenue and operational indicators related to product support, brand manifestation and relationship with customers were identified. Quality management practices that support the best results achievement were analyzed.
Findings
The three dealerships that represent Asiatic brands have best customers’ satisfaction and revenue performance. These dealerships typically have different processes comparing with dealerships that represent European and American brands concerning to: continuous improvement management; warranties and stock management; services scheduling; offer bonuses to customers; and customers service that emphasizes focus on technical and commercial expertise.
Originality/value
This research considered indicators performance and, based on that, analyzed the dealerships’ practices that support the best performance. Such aspect has room for academic literature since the quality management research related to car industry focuses mainly on manufacturer and generates managerial insights to the car industry and its dealerships.
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Giancarlo Medeiros Pereira, Mauro Rocha, Fabiano L. Nunes, Miriam Borchardt and Claudia Viviane Viegas
This study aims to investigate the internal elements that influence service offering. A better understanding of these elements can improve interaction between organizational…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate the internal elements that influence service offering. A better understanding of these elements can improve interaction between organizational structure, corporate culture and human resource management, and can leverage interdepartmental collaboration.
Design/methodology/approach
In total, 12 global manufacturers that sell products and services to the automotive or to the chemical supply chains were investigated on multiple case studies.
Findings
The lack of interdepartmental processes and indicators may induce other departments to not prioritize the demands of the service department, thus lowering the service level. Service professionals who do not combine technical and commercial skills may hinder sales increase (product + service). The isolation of service professionals prevents the dissemination of knowledge among departments, thus reducing manufacturer’s innovativeness.
Research limitations/implications
Further research must focus on how to manage/redesign processes to improve sales and innovativeness; how to hire, qualify and motivate service professionals who possess commercial skills; and how to mitigate the isolation of service professionals.
Originality/value
New interdepartmental processes and indicators can turn on new and better organizational structures, improve the service management and reduce internal conflicts. Service professionals who possess and use only technical skills can hamper the incorporation of the new demands presented by the customers. Isolated professionals may negatively affect the efficacy of the market strategy.