Wagner Junior Ladeira, Fernando Oliveira Santini, Diego Costa Pinto, Clécio Falcao Araujo and Fernando A. Fleury
This paper aims to analyze how judgment bias (optimism vs pessimism) and temporal distance influence self-control decisions. This research also analyzes the mediating role of…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to analyze how judgment bias (optimism vs pessimism) and temporal distance influence self-control decisions. This research also analyzes the mediating role of perceived control on judgment bias and temporal distance.
Design/methodology/approach
Three studies (one laboratory and two online experiments) analyze how judgment bias and temporal distance influence self-control decisions on consumers’ willingness to pay.
Findings
The findings uncover an important boundary condition of temporal distance on self-control decisions. In contrast to previous research, the findings indicate that individuals exposed to optimism (vs pessimism) bias display more self-control in the future and make choices that are more indulgent in the present. The findings also reveal that perceived control mediates the effects of judgment bias and temporal distance.
Practical implications
The findings help managers to adapt short- and long-term marketing efforts, based on consumers’ momentary judgment biases and on their chronic judgment bias orientation.
Originality/value
This research contributes to the literature on self-control and temporal distance, showing that judgment bias reverses previous research findings on self-control decisions.
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Cristina Lourenço Ubeda and Fernando Cesar Almada Santos
The aim of this paper is to analyse the staff development and performance appraisal in a Brazilian research centre.
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this paper is to analyse the staff development and performance appraisal in a Brazilian research centre.
Design/methodology/approach
The key issues of this case study are: the main organisational changes which have taken place over the last decades; the aspects of the organisational structure that have either contributed to or hindered competence‐based management; the development of necessary researchers' competences related to main projects and processes and the way of appraising the development of their competences. The analysis of this paper was carried out considering the following phases: strategic planning, specifications of projects and processes, competence‐based management and performance appraisal of researchers.
Findings
Although integration was found between the performance measurement and strategic plans defined by the research centre, competence‐based management is still centred on individuals and based on their tasks. The link between researchers' competences and their social context is not considered.
Originality/value
Feedback from the results of research projects and recycling of organisational processes would allow the studied organisation not only to identify the individual competences necessary for each activity, but also to improve the relationship between professional growth and innovation brought about by competitive strategies of companies.
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The purpose of this paper is to introduce the special issue which aims to provide a better understanding of the extent of regional polarization across different economic sectors…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to introduce the special issue which aims to provide a better understanding of the extent of regional polarization across different economic sectors and its impact on the business environment and strategies of firms in Latin America.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper introduces the topic of regional polarization, summarizes the findings from the articles in this special issue, and offers directions for future research.
Findings
The macro studies showed that polarization has impacted the agricultural and sector contributions to economic growth, FDI and remittance flows to the region, and created different competitive business environments in the Brazil and Mexico-led clusters. On the other hand, these studies show uniformity in the contribution of manufacturing to growth and superior women loan repayment performance across the region. The micro level studies showed convincingly that firms have to nurture different sets of competencies in the Mexican and Brazil-led clusters. These pioneer studies show the importance of the environmental context to firm's strategy.
Research limitations/implications
The alignment between firm strategy and environment is a key factor of success. In a polarized Latin America, alignment with the changing global order is a necessary condition for success. Such an alignment requires a configuration of firm strategic resources to respond to the increasing opportunities.
Originality/value
The paper introduces the special issue which lays the foundation for further studies on how firms adapt to regional polarization.
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Maria Alejandra Gonzalez-Perez and Juan Fernando Velez-Ocampo
This paper aims to provide an examination of the ongoing internationalisation processes undertaken by 30 major multinational Colombian-owned firms. It also presents a theoretical…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to provide an examination of the ongoing internationalisation processes undertaken by 30 major multinational Colombian-owned firms. It also presents a theoretical overview and a conceptual framework for the understanding of internationalisation patterns from emerging countries’ multinational enterprises.
Design/methodology/approach
This study is built based both on the results collected from comparative case studies based in the literature and empirical observations of Colombia’s patterns. This study observed the evolution in terms of commitment and investment decisions that 30 major Colombian companies have undergone specially within the past decade.
Findings
Although, it was found that direct exports is the widespread entry mode of Colombian companies to foreign markets, most of the observed firms preferred the consolidation in host markets through Mergers & Acquisitions instead of using Greenfield investments or joint ventures. These observations might suggest similarities with the process of internationalisation of Asian tigers multinationals, which means that they are consolidating their internationalisation process based on their learning, linkages and leverages capabilities. Furthermore, Colombian companies are following the internationalisation pattern of other multilatinas. These companies have first explorer natural markets for them; in other words, they have first attempt to be established in markets that share psychic features, and similar institutional environments, as psychic and physical proximity reduces risk and facilitates foreseen return of investments, and therefore long-term capital accumulation.
Research limitations/implications
This study has some limitations that suggest further research. First, although the observed firms share one main characteristic: being Colombian-owned multinationals, they belong to diverse fields, so this might pose difficultly for the creation of a framework that explains other multinationals drivers to internationalise. A second limitation is that this analysis does not deepen into the internationalisation patterns of multilatinas from countries other than Colombia; this leaves room for further research questions that might deal with the issue of analysing advantages and disadvantages in the internationalisation process of developing country multinational corporations (DCMCs). A third limitation is that this study does not have a longitudinal approach, so this paper does not intent to provide definitive information about cause-and-effect relationship regarding the drivers for DCMCs to internationalize, instead, this study is intended to provide an analysis of the outward foreign direct investment decisions of Colombian multinational firms.
Practical implications
There is limited research based on primary data on accessing the internationalisation process of Colombian multinational companies. This paper offers a research framework and results which could be replicated in other Developing Country Multinational Corporation (DCMNC), and could also be studied longitudinally. This study includes relevant information on the drivers for international expansion, market selection, perceived obstacles, entry modes and consolidation in host markets via acquisitions that could possibly support managerial decisions.
Originality/value
There is limited research based on primary data on accessing the process of internationalisation of Colombian multinational companies. This paper offers research framework and results which could be replicated in other DCMNC, and also could be longitudinally studied. This study includes relevant information on the drivers for international expansion, market selection, perceived obstacles, entry modes and consolidation in host markets via acquisitions that could eventually support managerial decisions.
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Danieli Artuzi Pes Backes, Fernando Antonio Ribeiro Serra and Feris Abdalla Zarour Neto
The purpose of this paper is to identify the structural similarities between stricto sensu post-graduation programs in management through the formation of clusters, with the…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to identify the structural similarities between stricto sensu post-graduation programs in management through the formation of clusters, with the strategy tripod as a backdrop (Peng, 2002; Peng et al., 2009).
Design/methodology/approach
The co-plot method was used as a tool. It was chosen because it simultaneously enables joint and individual observations of comments and variables.
Findings
The results showed the formation of clusters among the programs, identifying a series of similarities between their components. The age and number of lines of research of the programs were the determining variables to identify isomorphism among the clusters.
Research limitations/implications
The main limitation of the study lies in the updating of information at the source of the data collection. All the data were collected from the Sucupira Platform for CAPES Triennial Evaluation of 2013. However, when the authors accessed the portals of the programs, the authors found that some data were outdated. Nevertheless, the authors limited themselves to using official data. Therefore, even if the authors found divergences or inconsistencies regarding the published information, the authors decided to use the official data made available by CAPES on the Sucupira Platform for the period in question.
Originality/value
Understanding that the results through the approaches of the industry-based view, resource-based view and institution-based view were insufficient for a thorough analysis, it is demonstrated in isolation that none of these succeeds in explaining the organizational context that permeates Brazilian stricto sensu post-graduation institutions. In this organizational field, the three views are not at the same theoretical level. The institutional view overlaps with the strategic competitive views. Therefore, the study contributes to reorganizing the strategy tripod and the proposed articulation between the arrangement of theory, method and field research.
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– The purpose of this paper is to study the effect of firm-specific capabilities on performance in regional polarization.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to study the effect of firm-specific capabilities on performance in regional polarization.
Design/methodology/approach
The study develops and tests a theoretical model relating regional economic characteristics and firm-specific capabilities to performance. Based on a survey conducted by the World Bank, data on 17,196 firms in 20 Latin American countries were constructed and analysed.
Findings
The performance impacts of a firm's operations capability, technological capability and marketing capability were all found to be strengthened by operating in the Brazil-group economies – more favorable economic environments.
Research limitations/implications
The findings confirm empirically that regional polarization has an important influence on firm performance. Moreover, these findings suggest a more nuanced understanding of the effects of firm-specific capabilities on firm performance. Some types of economies foster the effects of firm-specific capabilities and offer a favorable economic and institutional environment which can greatly stimulate firms to re-configure and develop their skills and improve their global competitiveness, leading to a better firm performance.
Originality/value
As Robles has noted, “Given that polarization is a recent [development], there is [a] paucity of research on how firms cope with either expansionary or depressed domestic and global market conditions. There is little evidence of effective strategies and [their] performance implications in expansionary and contracting markets in the region.” This study addresses this important gap in the literature by demonstrating that operating in a country grouped with Brazil-type economies was positively related with firm performance.
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Gisele Mazon, Fernando Moreira-da-Silva, Manuel Portugal Ferreira and Fernando Ribeiro Serra
This qualitative study, which is based on multiple cases, aims to analyze the pattern of acquisitions by Brazilian multinationals, such as Gerdau in the steel industry, Petrobrás…
Abstract
Purpose
This qualitative study, which is based on multiple cases, aims to analyze the pattern of acquisitions by Brazilian multinationals, such as Gerdau in the steel industry, Petrobrás in the oil and gas industry and Vale in the mining industry, to infer the likely knowledge motivations underlying the acquisitions of these firms.
Design/methodology/approach
The analyses of the three cases, with secondary data collected for the period from 2003 to 2007, classify the acquisitions according to the extent of the exploration or exploitation of resources and in two dimensions: business knowledge and location knowledge, in accordance with Ferreira’s (2005) model based on March (1991) and Chandler (1962).
Findings
The findings showed that the acquisitions by Gerdau, Petrobrás and Vale favored the exploitation of their resources and capabilities developed in the home market more than the exploration of new resources and capabilities. Regarding the ownership acquired, this study failed to observe the likely expected pattern of acquiring a majority stake for sustaining an exploitation strategy or a minority stake for sustaining an exploration strategy.
Originality/value
This study makes three contributions. First, the need to analyze the potential gains of new knowledge acquisition in domestic and cross-border expansion. Second, considering the opportunity to explore new resources and knowledge even for firms in commodity industries. Third, considering how the equity held is a structural solution that needs to be adjusted to the knowledge strategy.
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Luiz C.R. Carpinetti, Fernando C.A. Santos and M.A. Gonçalves
This paper presents an exploratory research carried out in four manufacturing companies (large to medium size) located in the central region of São Paulo State, Brazil. The…
Abstract
This paper presents an exploratory research carried out in four manufacturing companies (large to medium size) located in the central region of São Paulo State, Brazil. The research was conducted aiming at characterising the companies in regard to quality and human resource management practices. The results show that human resource management may co‐operate with the success of total quality programmes, emphasising the competitive advantages which can be created from this partnership, namely organisational learning, organisational culture management and team‐based management.
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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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The objective of this chapter is to outline an integrating picture of the situation, representativeness, contradictions, and challenges that the treatment of diversity assumes in…
Abstract
The objective of this chapter is to outline an integrating picture of the situation, representativeness, contradictions, and challenges that the treatment of diversity assumes in Brazilian society and in its organizations. The aim is to reply to the research question: “How are public policies and organizational practices constructing ways of inserting and valuing the diversity of Brazilians?” We provide a brief background of the changes in the global and Brazilian contexts over the last few decades and analyze the demographic data presented in the 2010 Census and in studies on diversity that were published in the main periodicals in the Administration area in Brazil, between 2000 and 2014 with regard to the segments most widely studied in the academic literature: Afro-descendants, homosexuals, the elderly, Indians, women, and people with a disability. The conclusion reached is that, in a short period of time, Brazil has made great strides in constructing the mechanisms and legal devices for recognizing the rights of its diverse population and that private companies are in the initial stages of introducing diversity programs.