Márcio Lopes Pimenta

Continuous improvement: critical factors in Brazilian industrial companies

Purpose – The objective of this article is to identify and analyze critical factors in the development of continuous improvement (CI) activities in Brazilian companies.Design/methodology/approach – A conceptual model of the relationship between practices and results was tested to identify the critical factors using a survey conducted in 46 industrial companies. Non‐parametric tests were used to test some hypotheses developed based on the literature.Findings – The results indicate the importance of staff training in problem solution tools, incentives for suggestions, face‐to‐face communication and regular shop floor visits such as critical factors for the success of continuous improvement activities (CI). Operational practices of CI contribute to company performance in relation to improvements in productivity, quality, lead time, cost, customer satisfaction and development of employees’ skills to solve problems.Research limitations/implications – Although the detected constructs are fairly accurate, they a...

Characteristics of cross-functional integration processes Evidence from Brazilian organizations

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to characterize the cross-functional integration processes between marketing and logistics, while considering five basic elements: boundary spanning activities, integration factors, level of integration, formality/informality and impacts of integration. Design/methodology/approach – After an extensive literature review, five case studies were performed and in-depth interviews conducted. Both within-case and cross-case analysis was performed to better understand the cross-functional integration processes between marketing and logistics. Findings – A characterization of cross-functional integration in the form of a managerial framework was proposed. This framework presents the elements in a process view, instead of disconnected parts of the integration processes. The framework and process perspective helps to explain the integration process, the roles and impacts of integration within organizations, while considering cultural formality and informality. Research limitat...

Organizational Issues for Integration of High-Technology in New Product Development: Framework Proposal and Case Studies in Brazilian Companies

Transference of new technological solutions requires integration between different functions and specialists involved in new product development (NPD). This paper examines management practices for integration between research and development (R&D) with others involved in NPD and proposes a framework based on organizational variables. An organizational framework (ONPD) is constructed based on an analysis of the literature and evidence of case studies in Brazilian high-tech companies. It was observed that apart from the traditional use of cross-functional teams, these companies adopted integration practices including the use of employees from marketing with experience previously gained from R&D, knowledge of the technology roadmap, and the project office structure. According to the interviewee perceptions, these initiatives may generate positive impacts on functional and organizational performance.

Characteristics of relationships, types and strategies in a Brazilian cluster

Purpose - – The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the theoretical development of the theme by the proposition of an industrial cluster typology method considering that the set of local variables related to the firms characteristics are essential for the strengthening of the interfirms’ relationship and consequently their performance. Design/methodology/approach - – The theoretical basis of this study are the types of clusters found in literature and the research. A survey with several types of actors were performed with companies from footwear production chain in the region of Franca, Brazil. Data were analyzed through descriptive statistics techniques as well as multivariate exploratory methods. Findings - – This study highlight multiple characteristics derived from different cluster typologies within the same productive chain. Originality/value - – From a theoretical standpoint, the research results extended the perspective about the strategic role played by the local cooperation and also offer to managers and representative institutions a possibility to reflect on different types of governance principles adopted in collective actions.

Innovation and cross-functional teams: Analysis of innovative initiatives in a Brazilian public organization

Purpose The aim of this paper is to characterize how innovation may happen through cross-functional teams (CFT) in an organization of the public sector. Design/methodology/approach A case study helped to characterize several behavior patterns, team structures and respective links with generating innovation in internal processes and public answering contexts. Findings The results highlight that formal-temporary teams present a higher capacity to generate incremental innovation in products, whereas permanent-informal teams have a higher capacity to generate innovation in the internal processes and public answering contexts. Research limitations/implications The limitations of this research relate to the fact that this is a single case study, and although it is an important case to examine innovation and CFTs, by its very nature, it is not possible to extend and generalize the obtained data to other organizations. The evaluation of its propositions was merely qualitative, and future research is needed to validate its characteristics. Practical implications Several settings of CFTs are presented, as well as their ability to generate different types of innovation, such as the computerization of documents, petitions and papers, which decreases the time to answer the taxpayer. Moreover, CFTs can help to create products, such as computer programs that can be used not only locally but also in several public organizations related to tax management. Originality/value The field research provides the perceptions of the respondents regarding CFT characteristics that can lead to specific types of innovation, as well as the types of products or services that can be generated by these processes.

Cognitive relationships between automobile attributes and personal values

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to present an analysis of the cognitive relationship between personal values of buyers and attributes of automobiles. Design/methodology/approach In total, 60 interviews were performed with buyers of sporty and compact cars. The qualitative laddering technique guided data collection and analysis, resulting in two cognitive value maps (HVM). The results were interpreted based on three theoretical approaches: Schwartz (1994), Allen (2000) and Gutman (1982). Findings The dominant chains from the two models indicate connection between “design and hedonism,” “internal finishing and hedonism” and “security items and safety as a value.” Therefore, these customers are predominantly characterized by individualistic values: by the pursuit of personal pleasure and concern for personal safety. Research limitations/implications Due to qualitative techniques having been used, future research could validate some presented results through surveys based on the connections between the set of attributes and values presented in this research. Practical implications Results from this study can help to develop segmentation and advertising strategies, as well as marketing aftermarket actions based on the psychographic profile provided by the HVMs. They may also assist integration between the initial and final phases of new vehicles’ development which have concepts similar to those studied here. Originality/value The extant literature provides few studies with the specific objective of identifying connections between vehicle attributes and the personal values of the consumers. This paper presents an interpretation of the cognitive relationships between vehicle attributes and personal values through three theoretical perspectives, providing multidimensional profiles to explain consumers’ values.

Integração entre logística e marketing: fatores críticos na perspectiva de interação e colaboração

Many researchers highlight the existence of a close relationship between Marketing and Logistics functions. It is perceived that the integration of these functions influences positively the performance of organizations. The literature about inter-functional integration suggests informal and formal strategy configurations, aiming to study the synergy within the organizations. The aim of this paper is to identify and characterize elements that facilitate or inhibit the integration between Logistics and Marketing functions, in the internal ambit of dairy manufacturers. The article consists in a bibliographic research about the theme and a multiple case study that aimed to evidence concepts from the literature. In depth interviews were conducted with four managers, based upon the critical incident technique (FLANAGAN, 1954), that also contributed to the data analysis and interpretation. It was realized that the Logistics and Marketing managers reveal the existence of elements that inhibits the integration, as well as, elements that facilitate the integration. Moreover, it was evidenced formal (hierarchy structures between Marketing and Logistics) and informal (trust and synergy relationships between the managers of each area), situations of integration that, according to the literature, are adopted in reason of the need of higher levels of interaction or collaboration, respectively. The integration inhibitors and facilitators mentioned, as well as their definitions, may contribute with further research in the field of interfunctional integration between Marketing and Logistics, and also, among many internal areas of organizations.