Flavia Luciane Scherer

Company Size Effect in Innovative Performance

The study presents the result of a research that had the objective of evaluate the influence of the size of the company in the practices of management of external sources of technological information and the correspondent impacts of these practices in the innovation performance of the enterprise.. The survey was carried based on data collected from a set of Brazilian industrial companies that are considered innovative The analysis of the relation between the management of external sources of technological information and the performance, according to the size of the companies disclosed that although being limited to a smal number there are some significant differences in aspects related to the access to technology and the types of external sources of technological information used by the firms. Some significant differences between small and larger firms on how these managerial practices affect the innovative performance were also detected

The Internationalization Process of Brazilian Companies: a Study of Multiple Cases in the Heavy Construction Industry

The aim of this article is to describe and to analy ze how the consolidation in the international marke ts of Brazilian construction companies occurred. The methodological procedures had been classified as descri ptive conclusive research and data was collected under a qualitative orientation. A study of four companies was conducted: Andrade Gutierrez, Mendes Junior, Norberto Odebrecht and Queiroz Galvao. A theoretical model with four analytical levels was considered: the mac ro context, the institutional environment, the indu stry and the firm. The results indicate that consolidation in in ternational markets occurred largely as a result of factors concerning strategic management in response to the institutional processes and the appropriateness of the sector’s competitive conditions. In theoretical ter ms, this article makes progress when understanding internationalization processes is concerned in that it proposes a model that integrates knowledge from the fields of study of administration, organizations and inter national business. Although the model may be refine d in future research, we believe that it reflects an important step toward the development of a broad theoretical frame of reference capable of covering the wealth and divers ity that are typical of international activity.

Gestão das fontes externas de informação: uma análise dos fatores que influenciam o desempenho inovador

The aim of this study is to understand the different processes for managing outside sources of technology information with a major focus on practices that companies actually adopt. The specific goal of the study is to construct a theoretical and practical frame of reference for developing processes of sustainable technological innovation. Managing sources of information not only helps an organization harmonize the potential inside and outside sources of information but also helps organizations broaden their activities geared to stimulating and bringing about innovation. Companies today are setting up more and more alliances in order to make use of outside sources of information for innovation, but they still lack explicit management strategies. A survey was carried out in Brazilian industrial companies with innovative characteristics, and the aim was to provide new inferences on the relationships between the management of outside sources of technology information and the innovative performance of the companies studied. The objective of the research presented in this paper is to study the relationship between practices for managing external sources of information and the innovative performance of the enterprise. The research can be characterized as quantitative. The data were collected through questionnaires from enterprises seen as having substancial technological innovation activities. The bivariate and multivariate independent and dependent variables suggest the existence of an association between the management of outside sources of technology information and innovative performance. Especially important here is how the different types of sources of information influence the indicators related to products innovation and how the type of access to technology affects the indicators related to processes innovation. The findings of the study suggest many significant relationships between the innovation performance of the enterprise and the types of sources of technological information used and the access modalities to their external sources of technolgical information. The results indicate a trend towards increased use of external sources of information.

Os desafios do processo de expatriação no cenário sino-brasileiro: o caso da Weg S.A. na China

This article aims to analyze the process of internationalization and expatriation of WEG Electrical Equipment S.A in China. The recent movement of internationalization of Brazilian companies is characterized by cases of multinationals such as WEG, which performs Foreign Direct Investments in search for increasing their participation in international business and gain of competitive advantage. This study has a descriptive character and qualitative nature, using the case study as research method, in which the objects of observation were the processes of internationalization and expatriation of WEG in China. First, secondary data was used aiming to characterize the decision of entry mode in China and their process of internationalization. Later, a semi-structured interview was held, whose questions attempted to understand how the process of expatriation of employees of WEG in the Chinese mission happened. The results show the challenges faced by the company with their inclusion in the Asian market, the determining aspects of the expatriation process and its relation to theoretical models. It is expected that this work contribute to generate knowledge about the internationalization of Brazilian companies and the leading of their expatriations, since those themes demand for conclusive research for clarification of the theoretical models on the Brazilian reality.

Strategies for Sustainable Business and Performance in Brazilian Industrial Companies

The study looks to analyze the adoption of strategies for sustainable business and the performance of Brazilian industrial companies. The quantitative character research has involved the execution of a survey. The results have permitted to conclude that the Brazilian companies are enlarging their participation in the international market. However, one must observe that some factors still limit this performance in terms of innovation management and socio-environmental management. Concerning the technological innovation management, one observes that, in spite of the growth of use of external sources of innovation over the last few years, one must still go a long way in the sense of developing a corporate culture that may value the partnership and the collaboration between the companies. Concerning socio-environmental management, the research data confirm the studies by authors mentioned in the literature review who maintain that most Brazilian companies still adopt a reactive stance in relation to these issues.

Gestão estratégica e as competências gerenciais no departamento de marketing: estudo de uma indústria de bebidas

This work presents the study in a beverage industry, in the city of Santa Maria in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, that uses strategic planning in its activities. The research aimed to identify the managing competences of the marketing manager at the studied company. In order to achieve this goal, we studied the Estrada (2007) strategic management model, where we analyzed the present and expected roles and the competences of the marketing manager. In order to collect data, we applied a semi structured interview to the marketing manager, his/her boss and his/her subordinates. We analyze the managing competences that this professional has and should have, for an efficient performs at its functions and the optimization of the company strategic management.

Technological innovation management for sustainable development and competitiveness in the internationalisation context

The study seeks to understand how management practices of technological innovation that take social and environmental responsibility into account influence the internationalisation process of companies. The case study approach was chosen as our research method. The data were obtained by means of semi-structured interviews held at a Brazilian firm operating in the machinery and equipment sector. We sought to identify the main technological management practices that showed commitment to sustainable development. The results suggest that the companys international success and high degree of competitiveness are based on its offering innovative technology solutions that show a commitment to the environment. The study identifies important elements to an emerging knowledge area in the field of management sciences.

Analysis Of The Relationship Between Practices Of Managing External Sources Of Technology Information And Indicators Of Innovative Performance

This study has the aim of understanding the different processes for managing outside sources of technology information, with a major focus on practices that companies actually adopt. The specific intention of the study is to construct a theoretical and practical frame of reference for developing processes of sustainable technological innovation. This study, of a quantitative nature, involved carrying out a survey on Brazilian industrial companies with innovative characteristics. to identify how the management of sources of information, influences the innovative performance of the companies that participated in the survey. The independent and dependent variables suggest the existence of an association between the management of outside sources of technology information, and innovative performance. Especially important here is how the different types of sources of information influence the indicators related to innovation in products and how the type of modality of access to technology affects the indicators relating to innovation of processes.

Performance exportadora: uma análise da produção científica brasileira

The development of the scientific production sets an important database for studies. In that way, this study aims to analyze the articles published about export performance on the main vehicles for disseminating of Brazilian academic production. As a form of analysis, this present article was based on a proposed guide for Hoppen, Moreau and Lapointe (1997), through of a verifying of utilization of basic elements on an investigation, focusing on the research strategies and methodologies. Was analyzed 17 articles in the period of 1993 to 2008, on the major journals, such as: Revista de Administracao Contemporânea (RAC), Revista de Administracao de Empresas (RAE) e Revista de Administracao (RAUSP) and on EnANPAD. The articles were analyzed for types, approach, plane, data source and instruments for collecting. The results pointed that the publications about the subject are sparse on the studied period, showing, however, more publications since 2004. The results present too, the predominance of empiric studies and quantitative methods and techniques. Was possible to confirm yet that the theme export performance is emergent on the Brazilian scenario.

Strategies Of Sustainable Management And Business Performance: An Analysis In Innovative Companies

The main objective of the study was to understand how sustainable business strategies relate to business performance considering different sectors, sizes and levels of international integration. Thus, we identified the major social and environmental management practices of Brazilian companies and the leading indicators that make up the performance of the companies surveyed. The research was characterised as a quantitative research. Among the main aspects highlighted in the analysis one should mention the supremacy of the environmental variable in the relationship with the business performance. With less intensity arise the variable reputation/image, showing that this variable is among the priorities in the socio-environmental agenda of companies. The social variable seems to be among the least concerns of firms, or it is not yet seen by managers as a strategic element to their business competitiveness. The methodological procedures adopted allow us to confirm the existence of a relationship between socio-environmental management practices and business performance.