Fellipe Silva Martins, Wagner Cezar Lucato and Dirceu Da Silva
The purpose of this paper is to integrate Brazilian agro-industrial co-operatives’ horizontal, lateral and vertical integration diversification and expansion strategies, such as…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to integrate Brazilian agro-industrial co-operatives’ horizontal, lateral and vertical integration diversification and expansion strategies, such as operation area and membership, with financial models. Several studies have tried to assess the importance of diversification on the financial outcomes in agricultural co-operatives with limited success.
Design/methodology/approach
The three main concepts were combined in a working model. A survey was developed to gather data on financial, diversification and expansion strategies from 67 co-operatives (44 per cent return rate). Data were processed using a partial least squares structural equation model.
Findings
The findings suggest that expansion is directly responsible for both the financial output and diversification strategy; however, no hard evidence supports the view that the diversification of production in some agro-industrial co-operatives leads to positive financial results.
Research limitations/implications
Only larger Brazilian co-operatives (>$50m in annual revenues) were considered. Co-operatives facing other scenarios or smaller co-operatives could have different outcomes.
Practical implications
Besides diversifying their co-operatives for financial reasons, managers should also consider risk aversion and adapting to new farmers’ portfolios as probable reasons.
Originality/value
Extant literature asserts that diversification leads to financial growth; as the co-operatives studied show no such causal relationship, it follows that they diversify their portfolios for other purposes.
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Fellipe Silva Martins, Leonardo Vils, Fernando Antonio Ribeiro Serra, Wanderley da Silva Junior and Domingos Márcio Márcio Rodrigues Napolitano
Supply chains (SCs) depend on interorganizational relationships (IORs) to function optimally, yet crises may lessen the knowledge flows therein. This paper aims to address this…
Abstract
Purpose
Supply chains (SCs) depend on interorganizational relationships (IORs) to function optimally, yet crises may lessen the knowledge flows therein. This paper aims to address this issue by proposing a mediation effect between knowledge generation and market orientation by crisis perception in SC.
Design/methodology/approach
Partial least square structural equation modeling was used to test the hypotheses. Data collection comprised 279 full answers of business-to-business organizations in global SCs.
Findings
The data provide evidence that, contrary to the extant literature, knowledge generation during a crisis in a SC does not mitigate crisis perception. In addition, findings suggest there are no significant differences between manufacturing and service SCs in sensemaking during crises and that during crises, SC links diminish cooperation in terms of knowledge generation and sharing and focus on individual performance.
Originality/value
The authors have found a conflicting theoretical issue – while extant literature posits setting IORs lead to high sunk cost, making IOR channels costly and reliable for information flows during crises, the behavioral perspective posits that when crises hit, exogenous shocks induce inwards focus diminishing information flows. The results provide insights on this seemingly inconsistent scenario and point to future avenues of research.
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Fellipe Silva Martins, Wagner Cezar Lucato, Leonardo Vils and Fernando Antonio Ribeiro Serra
This study aims to explore the effect of crises on multinational companies’ (MNC) subsidiaries’ performance. It is hypothesized that crisis-led business underperformance will lead…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to explore the effect of crises on multinational companies’ (MNC) subsidiaries’ performance. It is hypothesized that crisis-led business underperformance will lead subsidiaries to choose market oriented or entrepreneurial oriented strategies (or both, “ambiorientation”). Finally, this study explores the idea that subsidiaries address market orientation (MO)-based strategies will address both exploration and exploitation outcomes, whereas those that choose entrepreneurial orientation (EO)-based strategies will focus on exploration only.
Design/methodology/approach
Partial-least square structural equation modelling was used to test the hypotheses. Data collection consisted of 280 full answers regarding MNC subsidiaries in Brazil.
Findings
The data provide evidence that crisis perception affects firms’ business performance. MNC subsidiaries in emerging economies, when confronting crises, take two different paths and use both market orientation, as well as entrepreneurial orientation (what the authors call “ambiorientation”). MO-based strategies cause both exploration and exploitation outcomes, and their combined result is comparable to EO-based strategies that focus only on exploration.
Research limitations/implications
Data collection was performed only in MNC subsidiaries in Brazil, and the results may differ depending on the area and the origin of the multinationals. Second, the sample concentrated on industrial activities, where there is space for both exploration and exploitation strategies.
Originality/value
This paper contributes to the literature by discussing the role of crises in shaping the possible strategic reactions multinational companies’ subsidiaries may undertake in emerging countries and their possible outcomes.
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Fellipe Silva Martins and Wagner Cezar Lucato
Studies on the performance of agribusiness cooperatives in Brazil focus on economic and financial aspects. The purpose of this paper is to further delve into such studies by…
Abstract
Purpose
Studies on the performance of agribusiness cooperatives in Brazil focus on economic and financial aspects. The purpose of this paper is to further delve into such studies by investigating which commonly measurable structural production factors (horizontal, vertical and lateral diversification; operating area; number of associates; and time in operation) have greater impacts on the financial performance of such cooperatives.
Design/methodology/approach
To achieve such a goal, a survey was conducted with a sampling pool divided by size (annual net revenues of US$ 50 million or higher), and the questionnaire was employed as a method of data collection. The sample was concentrated in the southern, south-eastern and mid-western regions of Brazil; classified by size; and deemed adequate after several adequacy tests.
Findings
The results were analysed using Spearman’s correlation, which showed that there were no significant correlations between the structural production factors considered in this study and the economic-financial performance of agricultural cooperatives, which leads to questions about the effectiveness of employing diversification strategies with a conjoint approach. Nonetheless, it was possible to identify several relationships not mentioned in the original hypotheses that might be addressed further in future studies.
Research limitations/implications
The data obtained should be interpreted with caution because heteroscedasticity was detected. Although the cause could not be clearly identified, the presence of heteroscedasticity could mean that smaller and similar cooperatives present similar variation in their diversification and production base strategies.
Originality/value
This work sought to generate knowledge regarding operations management, which was achieved by demonstrating that production diversification in a dynamic and relevant economic sector, that is, agricultural cooperatives, is limited in terms of financial return when performed in an isolated mode. Hence, cooperatives’ production managers should take into account the totality of structural production factors during their planning activities.
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Izabelli Rocha Alves, Eduardo Mesquita, Nairana Radtke Caneppele and Fellipe Silva Martins
This study aims to investigate how perceived environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors influence employee retention, with a focus on the mediating roles of pride and…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate how perceived environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors influence employee retention, with a focus on the mediating roles of pride and satisfaction and the moderating role of employees’ pro-environmental behavior.
Design/methodology/approach
Set in Brazil, an emerging market with complex socioeconomic and environmental challenges, this study used survey data from 237 employees. And structural equation modeling was used to analyze the relationships among ESG perceptions, satisfaction, pride and retention.
Findings
The results highlight that ESG perceptions significantly enhance employee retention through increased satisfaction and pride. In addition, employees’ pro-environmental behaviors strengthen the positive relationship between ESG perceptions and retention.
Originality/value
This study provides insights into the intersection of ESG factors and employee behaviors in shaping retention strategies, offering implications for both scholars and practitioners, especially in emerging market contexts like Brazil.
Objetivo
Este estudio investiga cómo los factores percibidos de Gobierno Ambiental, Social y Corporativo (ESG) influyen en la retención de empleados, con un enfoque en los roles mediadores del orgullo y la satisfacción, y en el rol moderador del comportamiento proambiental de los empleados.
Diseño/metodología/enfoque
Situado en Brasil, un mercado emergente con complejos desafíos socioeconómicos y ambientales, este estudio utilizó datos de encuestas de 237 empleados. Se empleó Modelado de Ecuaciones Estructurales (SEM) para analizar las relaciones entre las percepciones de ESG, la satisfacción, el orgullo y la retención.
Resultados
Los resultados indican que las percepciones de ESG aumentan significativamente la retención de empleados a través de una mayor satisfacción y orgullo. Además, los comportamientos proambientales de los empleados refuerzan la relación positiva entre las percepciones de ESG y la retención.
Originalidad/valor
Este estudio proporciona valiosos conocimientos sobre la intersección entre los factores ESG y los comportamientos de los empleados en la formulación de estrategias de retención, ofreciendo implicaciones para académicos y profesionales, especialmente en contextos de mercados emergentes como Brasil.
Objetivo
Este estudo investiga como os fatores de Governança Ambiental, Social e Corporativa (ESG) percebidos influenciam a retenção de funcionários, com foco nos papéis mediadores de orgulho e satisfação e no papel moderador do comportamento pró-ambiental dos funcionários.
Projeto/metodologia/abordagem
Situado no Brasil, um mercado emergente com desafios socioeconômicos e ambientais complexos, este estudo utilizou dados de pesquisa de 237 funcionários. A modelagem de equações estruturais (SEM) foi empregada para analisar as relações entre percepções de ESG, satisfação, orgulho e retenção.
Resultados
Os resultados indicam que as percepções de ESG aumentam significativamente a retenção de funcionários por meio do aumento da satisfação e do orgulho. Além disso, os comportamentos pró-ambientais dos funcionários fortalecem a relação positiva entre as percepções de ESG e a retenção.
Originalidade
Este estudo fornece uma visão sobre a interseção entre fatores ESG e comportamentos dos funcionários na definição de estratégias de retenção, oferecendo implicações para acadêmicos e profissionais, especialmente em contextos de mercados emergentes como o Brasil.