Cristiano de Oliveira Maciel

Práticas estratégicas em uma rede de congregações religiosas: valores e instituições, interdependência e reciprocidade

In this article, we discuss the relationship between the values of managers, strategic practices and social embeddedness in a network of confessional evangelical congregations that is established in the city of Curitiba, Parana state, Brazil. The theoretical frame of reference on which the study is based is the institutional theory, with the social network analysis methodology and the perspective of strategy as practice. We examined sixty religious organizations while collecting the data. The network analysis revealed two components that represent a central-peripheral type of configuration of relationship patterns among the social actors. In general, the relationship between institutional context, relationship structure and strategic activities points to the notion of interdependence and reciprocity. We found that values resulting from different logics of action are strengthened by the leadership of the network, concerning its normative potential, to influence the interpretation of its members and its strategic activities. Nevertheless, the central-peripheral configuration of the relationship network reveals the need for both the dynamic and the fragmented character of the institutional context to be recognized, since the social relationships operate recursively in the construction and reconstruction of organizational actions that move towards institutional homogenization.

Identificando os condicionantes socialmente construídos (Enacted) das práticas estratégicas em ambientes altamente institucionalizados

Abstract This article‟s objective was to investigate the relationship between strategic practices and context properties enacted by directors of a Protestant Church in Curitiba. Churches are considered highly institutionalized environments. Data collection was conducted through in-depth interviews to compose a body of text, which was then analyzed by content analysis using the software ATLAS.ti. The empirical findings show that there is equifinality of strategic practices, because different actions are employed to reinforce the same properties of a collectively enacted context. These practices were centered mainly in: (a) communication and (b) relationships with congregants. It can be concluded that these strategic practices support and are recursively sustained by the relationships among three main socially constructed (enacted) properties: (a) Contextual pressures; (b) the Bible, and (c) Denominational Offices. Key words : environment; practices; strategy; Protestant Churches; content analysis.

Sobrequalificação no trabalho e sua influência sobre atitudes e comportamentos

In the organizational studies field, interest in the notion of competence has contributed to keeping the concept of overqualification at work outside of the mainstream. The research objective of this investigation intends to fill this gap: to verify the influence an individuals Perceived Overqualification at work has on Satisfaction, Intention to leave an organization, and Cooperation within an organization. After developing hypotheses, 331 workers from 8 organizations were investigated via survey and the hypotheses were tested using Structural Equation Model. The results point out that, between the two Overqualification dimensions - Mismatch (having more skills than necessary for a function) and No Growth (restrictions to the development and use of skills), it is the No Growth factor that more significantly influences Satisfaction, Intention to leave an organization and Cooperative behavior. We further verified that the Mismatch dimension positively influences an individuals cooperation within an organization.

Capacidades dinâmicas e rituais de interação entre alta e média gerência: proposta de um framework

This article was developed considering environmental uncertainty, in which the agenda or strategic issue (strategic issue) is the innovation of resources, i.e., upgrading, renovation or development of a new functional capacity (ordinary). The aim of this work is to develop a framework to encompass the role dynamic capabilities plays in the innovation of organizational assets in such environmental context. We propose an alternate perspective of analysis from a microsociological strand, which uses the interaction rituals components from Collins (2004). This perspective offers possibilities to investigate the influence of strategic talks on the organizational innovation capacity which take place amid ritual practices of interaction between top and middle managers of an organization. To create the theoretical articulation in the paper we present an analytical framework that brings the uncertainty on the macro variables and organizational behavior, at the micro level, as the most salient elements of ritual interaction. Aiming to stimulate further studies and better understanding, we present the propositions about the relations of the model after detailing the analytical framework.

Confiança e possibilidade de conflitos em redes estratégicas hierárquicas

It has become increasingly common for companies to participate in strategic networks as a means for obtaining the advantages associated to this kind of arrangement. However, another dimension of this arrangement has surfaced, i.e. the occurence of conflicts deriving from the close relationship in such networks. But trust emerges as a possible way of mitigating these conflicts. Thus, the aim of this research is to verify, according to the view of shopping center store owners, which are the most significant dimensions of trust in order to reduce the possibility of conflicts with the management of a strategic network. The theoretical references present the concepts of strategic networks, trust, and conflict, as well as their rapports. With regard to trust, its three dimensions are discussed: 1. trust in capacity; 2. trust in benevolence; and 3. trust in integrity. A survey with 79 store-owners was carried out, all of them participating in networks. This survey measured their perception of trust and possibility of conflict. The data analysis was done through a Factorial Exploratory The data analysis was performed through the Exploratory Factorial Analysis, in order to validate the constructs and their dimensions, as well as through a Multiple Regression Analysis to test the proposed hypotheses. Only the trust in benevolence presented statistical significance. Three findings are worth highlighting. The first refers to the validation of the three dimensional trust model proposed by Mayer, Davis, and Schoorman (1995). The second was the corroborated hypothesis that trust in benevolence contributes to the mitigation of possible conflicts. Thus, the store owners belief that the network management is interested in their well being decreases the possibility of conflicts. The third one indicates that other variables not included in this model are important for the mitigation of conflicts, since its explanatory power was about 15%. These findings are important to the understanding of the networks, because they point to the complexity of the concept trust, highlighting the importance of solving conflicts. Among the main constraints for this research are the sample size and the impossibility of generalization.Tem sido cada vez mais comum para as organizacoes a participacao em redes estrategicas como um meio de obter as vantagens associadas com esse tipo de arranjo. Entretanto, outra dimensao dessa forma de arranjo tem emergido, isto e, a ocorrencia de conflitos em funcao da proximidade no relacionamento em tais redes. Mas a confianca surge como uma possivel forma de atenuar esses conflitos. Assim, o objetivo desta pesquisa e verificar, de acordo com a avaliacao dos proprietarios de lojas de shopping centers, quais sao as dimensoes mais significativas da confianca para reduzir a possibilidade de conflitos com a gestao de uma rede estrategica. No referencial teorico, sao apresentados os conceitos de redes estrategicas, confianca e conflito, bem como a relacao entre eles. Em relacao a confianca, sao discutidas suas tres dimensoes: 1. confianca na capacidade, 2. na benevolencia e 3. na integridade. Foi realizado um survey com 79 proprietarios de lojas, todos inseridos em redes estrategicas. Esse survey serviu para medir a percepcao de confianca e da possibilidade de conflito. A analise dos dados ocorreu por meio da analise fatorial exploratoria, para validar os construtos e suas dimensoes, bem como por meio de uma analise de regressao multipla para testar as hipoteses propostas. Somente a confianca na benevolencia foi estatisticamente significativa no teste das hipoteses. Tres consideracoes merecem ser destacadas. A primeira se refere a validacao do modelo com tres dimensoes proposto por Mayer, Davis e Schoorman (1995). A segunda foi a hipotese corroborada de que a confianca na benevolencia contribui para a atenuar a possibilidade de conflitos. Assim, a crenca dos lojistas de que a gestao da rede esta interessada no seu bem-estar diminui a possibilidade de conflitos. A terceira indica que outras variaveis nao incluidas no modelo sao importantes para mitigacao de conflitos, uma vez que o poder de explicacao do modelo testado foi de aproximadamente 15%. Esses achados sao importantes para o entendimento das redes, porque destacam a complexidade do conceito de confianca e a importância da solucao de conflitos. Entre as limitacoes centrais para esta pesquisa, estao o tamanho da amostra e a impossibilidade de generalizacao.

The influence of the Overqualification and Learning on Individuals’ job Satisfaction

The purpose of this work was to check the influence of overqualification and individual’s learning at work about their satisfaction. In order to achieve this objective, a survey was conducted that featured a final sample of 238 observations. The hypotheses held negative influence of overqualification and exploitation learning on satisfaction. Another hypothesis presented the positive influence of the exploration learning on satisfaction. Before the hypotheses checking, the scales were subjected to exploratory factor analysis and their internal consistency and dimensionality were assessed. With the construct validity and consistency of measurements guaranteed, the Multiple Regression Analysis was applied to test the hypotheses. Results showed, as expected, that overqualification and exploration learning influence the satisfaction indeed, but the exploitation learning does not influence satisfaction, as supported by the third hypothesis.

Capacidades organizacionais e desempenho em um setor geograficamente concentrado e com baixo potencial de diferenciação

This articles objective was to investigate the relationship between capabilities and performance in a geographically concentrated sector, with numerous and neighboring competitors, in a group of small organizations and, therefore, with high resource constraints and frequently without professional management capabilities compared to large firms. The theoretical framework of the paper is the Resource Based Theory. The context chosen for the study was a collection of retail clothing stores in a main avenue downtown Curitiba, Parana. Initially, managers and owners of the retail stores were interviewed to verify the most important capabilities in this geographical market segment, which are: image, customers, prices and financial management. Considering this taxonomy, hypotheses were elaborated and tested using Structural Equation Modeling. The results allow us to conclude that price and financial management capabilities are more important to produce positive effects over performance. The discussion of results highlights contingent aspects of the association between resources and performance in these organizations and also the reason for retail stores managers and owners to suggest some capabilities that not have a direct impact over performance as source of the competitive advantage. It is possible to conclude, due to the low potential of differentiation of the organizations that participated in the study, that the capabilities named Price and Finance are the only ones with significant influence on performance variation when compared to capabilities Image and Clients. Another finding that deserves note it was the fact that retailers interviewed pointed the capabilities Clients and Image, that empirically are not related to performance variation, as sources of competitive advantages. It is argued here that this happens because of the causal ambiguity that marks the relation between resources and performance in strategist judgement.ABSTRACT This article’s objective was to investigate the relationship between capabilities and performance in a geographically concentrated sector, with numerous and neighboring competitors, in a group of small organizations and, therefore, with high resource constraints and frequently without professional management capabilities compared to large firms. The theoretical framework of the paper is the Resource Based Theory. The context chosen for the study was a collection of retail clothing stores in a main avenue downtown Curitiba, Parana. Initially, managers and owners of the retail stores were interviewed to verify the most important capabilities in this geographical market segment, which are: image, customers, prices and financial management. Considering this taxonomy, hypo-theses were elaborated and tested using Structural Equation Modeling. The results allow us to conclude that price and financial management capabilities are more important to produce positive effects over performance. The discussion of results highlights contingent aspects of the association between resources and performance in these organizations and also the reason for retail stores mana-gers and owners to suggest some capabilities that not have a direct impact over

Praticantes da estratégia e as bases praxeológicas da indústria do management

This paper goes beyond traditional explanations about the managerial fads that shape the management industry. Therefore, a praxeological perspective was adopted to examine the bases underlying this industry. Data were collected during a seven-month period through observation, documental research and interviews that were conducted within an organization in the emerging sector of online discount coupon selling. We analyzed the social construction process of strategy practitioners in different hierarchical domains and found that the ordinary dynamics within organizations – which are at the base of the management industry – occur through the articulation of central and peripheral strategy, discourse, and social trajectory praxes, and through the stratification of three organizational role categoriesThis paper goes beyond traditional explanations about the managerial fads that shape the management industry. Therefore, a praxeological perspective was adopted to examine the bases underlying this industry. Data were collected during a seven-month period through observation, documental research and interviews that were conducted within an organization in the emerging sector of online discount coupon selling. We analyzed the social construction process of strategy practitioners in different hierarchical domains and found that the ordinary dynamics within organizations – which are at the base of the management industry – occur through the articulation of central and peripheral strategy, discourse, and social trajectory praxes, and through the stratification of three organizational role categories.

Organizational capabilities and performance in a geographically concentrated sector with low differentiation potential

This articles objective was to investigate the relationship between capabilities and performance in a geographically concentrated sector, with numerous and neighboring competitors, in a group of small organizations and, therefore, with high resource constraints and frequently without professional management capabilities compared to large firms. The theoretical framework of the paper is the Resource Based Theory. The context chosen for the study was a collection of retail clothing stores in a main avenue downtown Curitiba, Parana. Initially, managers and owners of the retail stores were interviewed to verify the most important capabilities in this geographical market segment, which are: image, customers, prices and financial management. Considering this taxonomy, hypotheses were elaborated and tested using Structural Equation Modeling. The results allow us to conclude that price and financial management capabilities are more important to produce positive effects over performance. The discussion of results highlights contingent aspects of the association between resources and performance in these organizations and also the reason for retail stores managers and owners to suggest some capabilities that not have a direct impact over performance as source of the competitive advantage. It is possible to conclude, due to the low potential of differentiation of the organizations that participated in the study, that the capabilities named Price and Finance are the only ones with significant influence on performance variation when compared to capabilities Image and Clients. Another finding that deserves note it was the fact that retailers interviewed pointed the capabilities Clients and Image, that empirically are not related to performance variation, as sources of competitive advantages. It is argued here that this happens because of the causal ambiguity that marks the relation between resources and performance in strategist judgement.ABSTRACT This article’s objective was to investigate the relationship between capabilities and performance in a geographically concentrated sector, with numerous and neighboring competitors, in a group of small organizations and, therefore, with high resource constraints and frequently without professional management capabilities compared to large firms. The theoretical framework of the paper is the Resource Based Theory. The context chosen for the study was a collection of retail clothing stores in a main avenue downtown Curitiba, Parana. Initially, managers and owners of the retail stores were interviewed to verify the most important capabilities in this geographical market segment, which are: image, customers, prices and financial management. Considering this taxonomy, hypo-theses were elaborated and tested using Structural Equation Modeling. The results allow us to conclude that price and financial management capabilities are more important to produce positive effects over performance. The discussion of results highlights contingent aspects of the association between resources and performance in these organizations and also the reason for retail stores mana-gers and owners to suggest some capabilities that not have a direct impact over

Capacidades y rendimiento en una industria concentrada geográficamente y con menor potencial de diferenciación

This articles objective was to investigate the relationship between capabilities and performance in a geographically concentrated sector, with numerous and neighboring competitors, in a group of small organizations and, therefore, with high resource constraints and frequently without professional management capabilities compared to large firms. The theoretical framework of the paper is the Resource Based Theory. The context chosen for the study was a collection of retail clothing stores in a main avenue downtown Curitiba, Parana. Initially, managers and owners of the retail stores were interviewed to verify the most important capabilities in this geographical market segment, which are: image, customers, prices and financial management. Considering this taxonomy, hypotheses were elaborated and tested using Structural Equation Modeling. The results allow us to conclude that price and financial management capabilities are more important to produce positive effects over performance. The discussion of results highlights contingent aspects of the association between resources and performance in these organizations and also the reason for retail stores managers and owners to suggest some capabilities that not have a direct impact over performance as source of the competitive advantage. It is possible to conclude, due to the low potential of differentiation of the organizations that participated in the study, that the capabilities named Price and Finance are the only ones with significant influence on performance variation when compared to capabilities Image and Clients. Another finding that deserves note it was the fact that retailers interviewed pointed the capabilities Clients and Image, that empirically are not related to performance variation, as sources of competitive advantages. It is argued here that this happens because of the causal ambiguity that marks the relation between resources and performance in strategist judgement.ABSTRACT This article’s objective was to investigate the relationship between capabilities and performance in a geographically concentrated sector, with numerous and neighboring competitors, in a group of small organizations and, therefore, with high resource constraints and frequently without professional management capabilities compared to large firms. The theoretical framework of the paper is the Resource Based Theory. The context chosen for the study was a collection of retail clothing stores in a main avenue downtown Curitiba, Parana. Initially, managers and owners of the retail stores were interviewed to verify the most important capabilities in this geographical market segment, which are: image, customers, prices and financial management. Considering this taxonomy, hypo-theses were elaborated and tested using Structural Equation Modeling. The results allow us to conclude that price and financial management capabilities are more important to produce positive effects over performance. The discussion of results highlights contingent aspects of the association between resources and performance in these organizations and also the reason for retail stores mana-gers and owners to suggest some capabilities that not have a direct impact over