Diego Rorato Fogaça, Mercedes Grijalvo, Alberto Oliveros Iglesias and Mario Sacomano Neto
This paper aims to propose and assess a framework to analyse the institutionalization of Industry 4.0 (I4.0) through a framing analysis.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to propose and assess a framework to analyse the institutionalization of Industry 4.0 (I4.0) through a framing analysis.
Design/methodology/approach
The framework was developed by combining the institutional approach with orders of worth, drawing insights from a comprehensive literature review. To assess it, the authors conducted a qualitative analysis of annual reports from companies with the largest market capitalization over a six-year period and interviewed union representatives in Spain and Sweden.
Findings
The framework comprises five dimensions (industrial, market, civic, green and connectionist). The empirical results reveal that companies consistently frame I4.0 with an emphasis on industrial and market perspectives. In contrast, unions place a stronger emphasis on civic issues, with Spanish unions holding a more negative view of I4.0, expressing concerns about working conditions and unemployment.
Research limitations/implications
The proposed framework brings interesting insights into the dispute over the meaning of I4.0. Although this empirical study was limited to companies and unions in Sweden and Spain, the framework can be expanded for broader investigations, involving additional stakeholders in one or more countries. The discussion outlined using the varieties of capitalism approach is relevant for understanding the connection between the meso and macro levels of this phenomenon.
Practical implications
In navigating the landscape of I4.0, managers should remain flexible, and ready to tailor their strategies and operations to align with the distinct demands and expectations of stakeholders and their specific institutional environments. Similarly, policymakers are urged to acknowledge these contextual intricacies when crafting strategies for implementing I4.0 initiatives across national settings.
Social implications
Based on the empirical findings, this study underscores the importance of fostering social dialogue and involving stakeholders in the implementation of I4.0. Policymakers and other stakeholders should take proactive measures, tailored to each country’s context, to mitigate potential adverse effects on labour and workers.
Originality/value
The study presents a novel framework that facilitates the systematic comparison of I4.0 framing by different actors. This contribution is significant because the way actors frame I4.0 affects its interpretation and implementation. Additionally, the aggregate analysis of results enables cross-country comparisons, enhancing our understanding of regional disparities.
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Marcio Luis Vila, Silvio Eduardo Alvarez Candido, Gustavo Mendonca Ferratti and Mário Sacomano Neto
This study aims to analyze the configuration of the board of directors of the five largest banks operating in Brazil, which are members of a financial elite that directly…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to analyze the configuration of the board of directors of the five largest banks operating in Brazil, which are members of a financial elite that directly influences the socioeconomic life in Latin America.
Design/methodology/approach
This assessment is inspired by Bourdieu's sociological approach and in the discussion on his work in organization studies and economic sociology. It addresses the organization as a field and investigates its associated field of power. The authors conducted qualitative research and relationally analyzed data related to the trajectory and the social properties of the councilors using the statistical technique called multiple correspondence analysis (MCA).
Findings
The results show that forms of social and cultural capital are particularly influential in the production of distinctions among banks' board members. Moreover, councils' priorities and configurations are diverse: some idealized and based on knowledge, others pragmatic and based on customs, others still anchored in a double logic of market satisfaction and family wealth preservation.
Practical implications
Understanding the objective power relations among these top agents may be crucial for effectively regulating certain aspects of their activities. Furthermore, understanding how different forms of capital affect the relative position of the board members may help us reduce representative bias in what seems today an inner circle.
Originality/value
This study is relevant because it makes an in-depth analysis of the composition of one of the most influential financial elites in Latin America, combining sociological theory and advanced statistical techniques for qualitative grouping (MCA).
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Clarissa Dourado Freire, Mário Sacomano Neto, Herick Fernando Moralles and Luiz Guilherme Rodrigues Antunes
This paper aims to analyze the influence of technology-based business incubators (TBIs) on the resources of technology startups in Brazil. The authors identify which resources are…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to analyze the influence of technology-based business incubators (TBIs) on the resources of technology startups in Brazil. The authors identify which resources are offered and explore the importance of resources for TBIs and startups. The theoretical background is based on the resource-based view, the resource dependency theory and total factor productivity.
Design/methodology/approach
The study is characterized by a descriptive approach. The method includes a multiple case study and a survey. For data collection, we conducted interviews with three managers from TBIs and distributed questionnaires to 30 startup founders. The content analysis supports the identification of the resources, while the quantitative approach explores the relationship between total factor productivity and resources.
Findings
Resources are the linkage between startups and TBIs, promoting the development and continuity of these organizations. Among the resources offered by TBIs, the most representative is physical resources, due to the early stage of startups. TBIs do not offer financial resources directly but facilitate access through networks with other actors.
Research limitations/implications
The research implications depict the importance of resources as a link between TBIs and startups. The results highlight how TBIs play an important role in promoting entrepreneurship and innovation in the context of emerging economies such as Brazil.
Originality/value
This article performs a multi-theoretical analysis, addressing the perspectives concerning resources. No previous study has used this combination of perspectives to analyze the relationship between TBIs and startups in Brazil, filling the gap about this subject in emerging economies.
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Léony Luis Lopes Negrão, Moacir Godinho Filho, Gilberto Miller Devós Ganga, Sunil Chopra, Matthias Thürer, Mário Sacomano Neto and Giuliano Almeida Marodin
The purpose of this paper is to explore the adoption of lean practices by manufacturing companies in regions of low economic and technological development and to compare findings…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore the adoption of lean practices by manufacturing companies in regions of low economic and technological development and to compare findings with previous studies from more developed regions highlighting important contextual differences. The paper uses the contingency theory to explore how contextual variables and scarce resources influence the adoption of lean practices.
Design/methodology/approach
A survey of 233 manufacturing firms was conducted in the State of Pará in the Amazon Region of Brazil.
Findings
The results demonstrate that six internal lean practices (single minute exchange of dies, human resource management, continuous flow, total productive maintenance, pull and statistical process control) and two external lean practices (supplier feedback and customer involvement) are implemented. However, the two external lean practices of just-in-time delivery by suppliers and supplier development were not implemented. Furthermore, from the 36 operating items comprised in eight lean practices that are being used, 13 were not implemented. As such, compared to developed regions, there is evidence for a more fragmented implementation in less developed regions. The results reveal empirical evidence explained by the contingency perspective, such as national, geographical, strategic context and culture.
Originality/value
There is broad evidence on lean implementation in developed and developing countries in the literature. However, little is known about lean implementation in poorer regions of developing counties. This is one of the first studies mapping lean implementation in a region with low economic and technological development. This has important implications for research and practice, especially to cross-country/cultural research on operation management.
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Sílvio R.I. Pires and Mário Sacomano Neto
The paper seeks to ascertain some of the implications of the supply chain configuration for important elements of the chain's management at an automaker using the industrial…
Abstract
Purpose
The paper seeks to ascertain some of the implications of the supply chain configuration for important elements of the chain's management at an automaker using the industrial condominium configuration.
Design/methodology/approach
In an attempt to identify the main motivating factors for the adoption of an industrial condominium configuration, a basic case study framework was built to guide and define the key content of the research. The framework considers simplification, cost reduction, process integration, and shared infrastructure as the four main interdependent factors that impel and drive an automaker's implementation of a condominium. It also considers product and process management, logistics management, performance assessment and relationship management as business processes significantly affected by implementation of the condominium. Using an intentional sampling approach, a case study was made of an automaker that uses the industrial condominium configuration, and of four of its representative suppliers.
Findings
The study confirmed that the supply chain's configuration is indeed a determining element in the way the automaker's relationship with its suppliers is conducted and substantiated the importance of the logistics management process within the context of the condominium.
Research limitations/implications
The research reported involved only one case study.
Practical implications
The paper proposes and discusses four interdependent factors that motivate and drive an automaker's implementation of a contemporary industrial condominium in the auto industry.
Originality/value
The study was conducted in a supply chain with an automaker using an industrial condominium and four suppliers situated in different positions, and contributes mainly to the understanding of new forms of supply chain configuration.
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Charles Kirschbaum and Luiz Ojima Sakuda
The purpose of the article is to explore the perceptions of Brazilian game developers about the power relations between them and the sponsors of digital game platforms. It also…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of the article is to explore the perceptions of Brazilian game developers about the power relations between them and the sponsors of digital game platforms. It also aims to identify forms of collective action that developers can use to counteract the asymmetry of power.
Design/methodology/approach
The research employed an abductive approach, seeking empirical evidence that would challenge consolidated theory. To achieve this, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 25 Brazilian developers. The data were analyzed qualitatively using NVivo software. The aim was to resolve theoretical ambiguities identified in the literature review and to explore unexpected findings.
Findings
The study explores Brazilian game developers' perceptions through interviews, revealing their experiences within the industry’s concentrated structure and their use of collective action to navigate power dynamics.
Research limitations/implications
The study's focus on Brazil limits the generalizability of its findings to the broader game development industry.
Practical implications
The study suggests Brazilian game devs can leverage collective action to counteract power imbalance with platforms, collaborate through events and projects and facilitate internationalization of their games.
Social implications
The study suggests collective action could empower developers to challenge platform dominance and foster a stronger community among Brazilian game developers.
Originality/value
The article’s value lies in examining Brazilian devs' experiences within their specific industry context and highlighting collective action as a potential strategy for developers.