Luciana Oranges Cezarino

Strategy for sustainability in a Brazilian sugarcane industry

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to suggest the application of systemic methodologies, such as Soft Systems Methodology (SSM), to develop sustainability strategies and solve problems involving the sustainability of organizations and their operations. The sustainability paradigm implies the need for changes in current production systems, societal organization and use of the natural resources that are essential to all life forms. Sustainability, as a new paradigm, modifies the way in which organizations operate to make companies responsible for sustainable development and ensure that resources are available for future generations. Sustainable development requires a broad new development strategy that encompasses political, economic, social, technological and environmental dimensions. Design/methodology/approach – As a method of analysis the research will use the application of SSM in a case study from the sugarcane industry. The basic scientific thought paradigm, inherited from Bacon and Descartes, no...

Beyond the law: additional corporate sustainability practices of Exame's sustainability guide

Environmental legislation system in Brazil requires corporate actions to attend conservation of natural resources, labour legislation and social practices. On the other hand, the additional practices are voluntary actions, which are not restricted to fulfil the legal compliance. In this context, this study aims to list, categorise and analyse the sustainable practices of the companies selected in the Exame Sustainability Guide. Results listed standard companys practices and verified if these companies take proactive practices or only comply with established law. The research resulted in the listing of 1854 practices; only 5.33% of actions listed were law compliance actions. The majority of practical are proactive proposes actions in addition to those provided by law, reflecting the increasing engagement of companies with socio-environmental responsibility.

Resilience for sustainability as an eco-capability

Purpose This paper aims to identify the dynamic capabilities that foster organizational resilience towards sustainability. Design/methodology/approach The study is a qualitative multi-case study with Brazilian manufacturers of different industries that provides an in-depth exploration of underlying dimensions towards resilience for sustainability. Findings The results indicate that to develop organizational resilience towards sustainability, both in theory and in practical terms, the actions required are long-term plans, regular meetings, benchmarking, communication between areas and distinct hierarchies, partnerships and eco-efficient actions. Regarding human aspects, the leader’s behaviour and shared culture are the means to encourage, educate and exemplify sustainability for all in the organization. Research limitations/implications The study has limitations in the form of a small sample size. The implications indicate a relationship between resilience and dynamic capability for sustainability. In other words, resilience develops organizational, human and technological capabilities for sustainability. Such results can improve the organizational strategy construction methods towards sustainability development. Practical implications The study has two practical implications for companies to continue working for sustainability. The first practical implication is the need to work the processes that are aimed at the exchange of information both internally and externally to the organization. It has been seen in managers’ speeches that creating ways to listen to employee suggestions could make important resource-saving discoveries and release waste. Another important source of information for improvement of operations is to listen to civil associations and industry and non-governmental organizations, as well as participate in events, lectures and discussion forums. The second practical implication is the need to work with the human side of the organization; sustainability needs to be a part of the worker’s daily life, and it needs to become common to them of the need to reflect on how to improve sustainability of processes for which they are responsible. To achieve this goal, companies need to work the pillar of cohesion resilience, emphasizing the behaviour of leaders (role models) and organizational culture. Social implications The comparative case analysis shows some practices that are able to induce good environment and provide social and organizational benefits, namely, long-term plans, regular meetings, benchmarking, communication between areas and distinct hierarchies, partnerships, eco-efficient actions, behaviour of leaders and shared culture among members of the organization. These practices are the means to encourage, educate and exemplify sustainability for all in the organization. Originality/value The originality of this paper is to bring together two streams of the literature, namely, resilience and dynamic capabilities, in the context of sustainability. Drawing on this approach, the study provides a new conceptual model with empirical evidence of key aspects of resilience for sustainability as an eco-capability.

CERTIFICAÇÃO PARA FINS DE EXPORTAÇÃO: UM CASO DE PEQUENA MANUFATURA DO RAMO MÉDICO HOSPITALAR-ODONTOLÓGICO

O artigo investiga as condicoes em que a certificacao para fins de exportacao tem ocorrido no meio industrial de pequeno porte tomando como exemplo uma manufatura do ramo medico hospitalar-odontologico de Ribeirao Preto. Exploratoriamente e por meio de estudo de um caso foram observadas que as principais causas para esse processo foram externas a organizacao. O mercado internacional, câmbio e outros fatores favoraveis a venda deste produto induziram a certificacao. Todo o processo foi conduzido por agentes externos de mudanca: consultorias e foi trabalhado como diferencial para a organizacao atingir novos mercados. Como consideracao percebeu-se que a exportacao ocorreu de forma reativa e sem maiores alinhamentos a estrategia organizacional , porem responsavel por mudancas relevantes nos processos internos da organizacao .

GUATCHUP: O CASO DE UMA INOVAÇÃO DE PRODUTO POR UMA ASSOCIAÇÃO DE PEQUENAS EMPRESAS

Manter o crescimento de acoes empreendedoras e ainda ordenar as mesmas a utilizacao responsavel dos recursos naturais e um desafio global. Em funcao da busca da sobrevivencia e crescimento que fundamente a competitividade de seus empreendimentos, muitos empreendedores acabam protelando as acoes em prol da conservacao ambiental. Durante esse periodo de crescimento, varios sao os indicadores de impactos negativos resultantes desse contexto, e a maioria dos empreendedores sabe da necessidade de equacionar a utilizacao dos recursos com a conservacao ambiental. Contudo, pouco se faz de concreto neste sentido. Entender que as particularidades da responsabilidade ambiental sao essenciais para uma gestao mais eficiente e qualificada permitiria que os empreendedores se tornassem mais participantes e profissionalizados em relacao a questao ambiental. Igualmente importante e saber que muitas acoes desse tipo poderao reduzir, alem dos prejuizos ambientais, os prejuizos e custos empresariais. Neste contexto, esta pesquisa teve como objetivo desenvolver diretrizes para o empreendedorismo com responsabilidade ambiental por meio da percepcao e conduta dos empreendedores turisticos. Para atingir tal objetivo utilizouse como metodologia a pesquisa exploratoria, que possibilitou, por meio de entrevistas estruturadas com 136 empreendimentos, uma interatividade com a realidade do empreendedorismo turistico de Blumenau, SC. Os resultados do estudo demonstram que a maioria dos empreendedores locais compreende a importância da responsabilidade ambiental, mas nao possui conduta que evidencie a participacao e comprometimento dos mesmos com essa questao. Para colaborar com a melhoria deste contexto, este artigo propoe que seja inserida no Plano de Negocios, dentre outras politicas fundamentais ao funcionamento do empreendimento, uma Politica Ambiental que possa nortear as acoes empreendedoras a atender este quesito. Construir um negocio sustentavel e um desafio que envolve riscos e sacrificios e que, alem de contribuir com a minimizacao dos impactos ambientais, pode colaborar com a competitividade do negocio.A competitividade, para muitas empresas, e mesmo para paises, depende da manutencao de um lancamento constante de novos produtos. O objetivo do presente trabalho e apresentar um caso de inovacao de produto, resultado da busca de uma associacao de produtores de goiaba por aplicacoes e novos usos da fruta. Por meio de um modelo proprio, a associacao, dada conjuntura economica e institucional retratada no presente trabalho, produziu o primeiro dos seis novos produtos derivados de goiaba vermelha. Em conclusao, verificou-se que a forma encontrada para inovar foi possivel devido ao correto gerenciamento das pequenas empresas que trouxe escala permitindo aumento da capacidade tecnica, mercadologica e financeira. Isso facilitou as interacoes e interdependencias entre os produtores, o que permitiu a eles um ganho de competitividade via tecnologia.