Flávio Carvalho de Vasconcelos

Vantagem competitiva: os modelos teóricos atuais e a convergência entre estratégia e teoria organizacional

This article analyzes the convergence between business strategy and organizational theory, by making a detailed comparative study of four theories focusing competitive advantage phenomena. These theories include the strategic positioning school, the resource-based view, the market processes and the dynamic competencies theory. We conclude the convergence between organizational theory and business strategy is a promising research opportunity for both disciplines.

INOVAÇÃO E SUSTENTABILIDADE: NOVOS MODELOS E PROPOSIÇÕES

This theoretical paper has as main objective to analyze the relation between sustainability and innovation, taking as reference the institutional theory. Thus, the paper initially examines the issue of sustainable development, from a historical dimension of evolution of the topic. After that, we explored the theme of institutionalization of sustainable development, suggesting that the prominence of sustainable development can be explained by institutional theory, more specifically by the concept of symbolic efficiency of Meyer and Rowan (1991). The paper then analyzes the concept of sustainable innovative organizations. Finally, the relationship between sustainability and innovation is analyzed, highlighting the importance that the company innovates considering the three dimensions of sustainability - social, environmental and economic.This theoretical paper has as main objective to analyze the relation between sustainability and innovation, taking as reference the institutional theory. Thus, the paper initially examines the issue of sustainable development, from a historical dimension of evolution of the topic. After that, we explored the theme of institutionalization of sustainable development, suggesting that the prominence of sustainable development can be explained by institutional theory, more specifically by the concept of symbolic efficiency of Meyer and Rowan (1991). The paper then analyzes the concept of sustainable innovative organizations. Finally, the relationship between sustainability and innovation is analyzed, highlighting the importance that the company innovates considering the three dimensions of sustainability - social, environmental and economic.

O efeito do país sobre o desempenho da firma: uma abordagem multinível

This paper analyses country effects on fi rm performance. Empirical analysis was based on a sample of 83,641 observations and 10,927 fi rms in 37 countries and 224 industries, in a 10 year time span. A cross-classifi ed 3-level hierarchical linear model allowed the estimation of country, industry and country-industry interaction effects, which had approximately the same relative importance. Altogether, these effects were nearly as important as fi rm effect. The influence of each specific country on the performance of its fi rms was also studied and a ranking of countries based on fi rm profitability was developed.

Vantagem competitiva: o construto e a métrica

Despite ubiquitous in strategy and related fields, the concept of competitive advantage continues to be under debate in the academy still lacking a precise and widely accepted definition. A manifestation of this situation is the current debate about its philosophical grounds, and the questioning of its own existence. This paper offers a constitutive definition that allows an operationalization of the concept and the development of metric for the competitive advantage. This metric is applied to a sample of 2,805 firms in 16 countries, with a total of 13,259 observations. The analysis indicates the occurrence of competitive advantage in 10% to 12% of the firms with a similar percentage showing a competitive disadvantage. It demonstrates that the occurrence of competitive advantage is not a rare event. A statistical test is proposed to verify its statistical significance.

ISO9000, consultants and paradoxes: a sociological analysis of quality assurance and human resource techniques

This article analyses ISO9000 normalization processes as sources of organizational isomorphism according to the new institutional theory. We present two in-depth case studies in the French computer industry showing that there are two manners to implement ISO9000 standards: an in-depth procedure (concerned with organizational effectiveness and with external legitimacy) and an instrumental one (only concerned with external legitimacy). Our findings show that resistance to change is a common phenomenon in ISO9000 implementation programs having high impact on organizational power games and informal structures. In order to face these issues we suggest that consultants must go beyond engineering consultation methods that are only concerned with the structural fit between the organizational standards and the ISO9000 requirements. The paradox HRM model shows that information that threatens an organizations collective self-concept is often ignored, rejected, reinterpreted or hidden. The manifestation of social defenses - the ways of groups of people deal with non-contained forms of anxiety and fear, can be seen as sources of behaviors blocking organizational change.

Gestão de recursos humanos e indentidade social: um estudo crítico

In this article we explore the interconnections between social identity and human resource management. We present the Instrumental and the Political HRM models, showing how different HRM practices shape social actorsidentity in organizations. We describe and analyze a case study elaborated in a French computer company to illustrate the theoretical considerations we develop. Our study shows that autonomous social actors, those whoare used to more participative political HRM practices, resist to the implementation of more restrictive HRM instrumental practices. In these situations, collective resistance may threaten the organization’s change process.

Produção científica brasileira em Administração na década de 2000

Presentation of the forum: scientific production in Business Administration in the period 2000-2010 with reflections and ideas in the area.

A influência do país de origem no desempenho das empresas

Performance dispersion of North American firms has been analyzed, in the strategy field, using the variance components technique. Firm effects have been identified as the most relevant ones, followed by industry and year effects. This research expands this line of study considering a sample of firms from 78 different countries. A new type of effect was created: the country effect reflecting the influence of country of origin in performance. A Compustat global sample of 12,592 firms with 60,092 observations (1997/2001) was used. Results indicate that country effects do exist and are relevant. Variance composition varies by economic sector. In Mining, Construction and Transport, total country effect (adding pure country effect to country x industry interaction) is the largest variance component, being more important than firm effects. In most remaining economic sectors it is the second most important effect and only in Services it does not show up. Results demonstrate empirical evidence of the influence of the institutional context in performance and indicate that transposition of theories and conclusions derived in particular contexts may need relevant adaptations to be applied to different countries and settings.

Desempenho das empresas brasileiras: efeitos ano, ramo de negócios e firma individual

Performance varies. The simple statement hides many intricacies of strategic management. Because performance varies among individual firms, researchers can explore factors that differentiate these firms and explain why some firms are consistently outperforming others. Because performance varies among industries, researchers can explore structural characteristics of different branches accounting as a source of explanation. Because performance varies with time, researchers can explore environmental and internal dynamic elements that drive strategic decision-making. In reality, measuring and analyzing performance is a very complicated issue when performance varies simultaneously from firm to firm, from industry to industry and from year to year. The theoretical discussion behind this question is the relative importance of the industrial organization derived approach to strategy versus the resource-based view. This paper analyzes the composition of performance variance of a set of Brazilian firms during 1998 to 2001. Results demonstrate that firm effects are still dominant, with year and industry effects being smaller as previous studies with North American firms have indicated.

A institucionalização das estratégias de negócios: o caso das start-ups na internet brasileira em uma perspectiva construtivista

The objectivist approach to the social reality is not the only acceptable methodological approach, despite being the dominant research strategy in the Business Strategy field. Interpretive approaches to business Strategy have been suggested by many authors since the 1960s and 1970s. This article aims at reviewing the most important elements of a construtivist approach to business strategy, focusing on the consequences of such approach to the decision-making practice. Those consequences are: (1) Abandoning the prescription that organizations should adapt to their environment. (2) Redefining opportunities, threats and strategic constraints from a cognitive perspective, and (3) the possibility of thinking differently about business strategy giving more emphasis to the decision making process. In this article the strategic styles of Brazilian internet start-ups are evaluates from a neo-institutional perspective, illustrating some practical aspects of a strategy research based on a construtivist approach.