Abstract
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyze the organizational structure and R&D management alignment in an internationalized public company. Design/methodology/approach The authors performed a descriptive qualitative research using the single case method of EMBRAPA. Findings The results indicated that EMBRAPA organizational structure provides a structural framework for R&D management, promoting knowledge and infrastructure sharing. The internationalization, especially through LABEX, allows researchers to interact with research centers of excellence abroad. This makes strategic planning (Sistema de Inteligência Estratégico da EMBRAPA – Agropensa, portfolios and project arrangements) results in R&D projects, through macro programs, generating innovations for Brazilian agriculture. Research limitations/implications It should be noted that this study presents some limitations, among them, the fact that only one company is being analyzed. Practical implications Therefore, EMBRAPA’s organizational structure provides a structural framework for R&D management, promoting knowledge sharing and infrastructure. This makes the strategic planning (Agropensa, portfolios and arrangements) to result in R&D projects, via macro programs, generating innovations for the Brazilian agriculture. On the contributions to the advancement of knowledge with regard to the professional management of public research institutes, it is worth synthesizing, therefore, the following practical evidence in the field and that they were key to the successful management of R&D activities in EMBRAPA. Originality/value The choice of this company is due to its importance for the Brazilian agricultural development, to the innovations generated for the modernization of agriculture and due to it being a public, internationalized R&D company, and with a trajectory of four decades of existence.
Highlights
Agriculture is one of the economic sectors that has presented positive results, whose investments in research and innovation in Brazil have contributed significantly (Dossa & Segatto, 2010)
This study proposes to analyze the alignment of the organizational structure and the R&D management of EMBRAPA, describing and analyzing its organizational structure and its R&D management systems
It is the largest public company of Brazilian agricultural research, with more than 40 years’ existence, offering technological innovations to rural producers enabling the advance of agricultural production
Summary
Agriculture is one of the economic sectors that has presented positive results, whose investments in research and innovation in Brazil have contributed significantly (Dossa & Segatto, 2010). Between 1970 and 2016, Brazilian grain production increased by 555.6 per cent, and considering the cultivated area, the increase was of 148.81 per cent of the productivity (EMBRAPA, 2017a) These data reveal the relevance of this sector to the productive structure of Brazil, which aims to become one of the leaders in the sector. Support for science has been crucial for productivity gains In this scenario, EMBRAPA stands out, acting nationally and internationally. An important generator of agricultural innovations, the company has units strategically located in all regions of Brazil and has Virtual Laboratories Abroad (LABEX), distributed in several countries. In this way, it presents a very broad organizational structure, contemplating these research centers. To generate innovations, it has an R&D management system that covers the entire structure of the organization
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