Brazilian Multinational Research Articles

SUSTAINABILITY-ORIENTED INNOVATION AND CSR: A QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH IN BRAZILIAN MULTINATIONALS

Objective: The purpose of this study is to analyze the relationship between Sustainability-Oriented Innovation (SOI) and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in Brazilian multinationals. Theoretical Framework: The theoretical framework provides relevant information on CSR and SOI, which forms the basis for the development of hypotheses. Method: To collect data, an e-survey was conducted with Brazilian multinationals operating in various industries and segments, resulting in 60 valid questionnaires. The data was analyzed through multivariate analysis, employing canonical correlation and multiple linear regression procedures. Results and Discussion: The results of the multivariate analysis empirically supported five hypotheses (h1, h2, h3, h4, and h5). However, the results did not support the hypothesis that predicted a positive correlation between SOI practices and CSR as a differentiation strategy. Research Implications: The practical and theoretical implications of this research are significant, particularly in shedding light on emerging market multinationals, with a specific focus on Brazilian companies. By specifically examining Brazilian multinationals, this research fills a crucial gap in the literature, offering insights into the unique challenges and opportunities faced by firms from an emerging market like Brazil. Originality/Value: The findings of this study provide valuable guidance for Brazilian multinational corporations seeking to enhance their CSR initiatives and SOI practices. By understanding the relationships between CSR, SOI, and other key variables, these companies can develop more effective strategies to navigate global markets while simultaneously addressing social and environmental concerns.

Sustainability-oriented strategy and Sustainable Development Goals

PurposeSustainability-oriented strategies involve considering all possible environmental, social and economic factors that impact stakeholders and sustainable development. They could be a crucial contribution of the private sector to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The study’s objective is twofolded. First, the authors want to discover if enterprises doing business in Brazil are contemplating the SDGs in their strategies. Second, the authors want to identify the external and internal factors that motivate them.Design/methodology/approachThe authors collected data through an online survey with employees from Global Compact signatories in Brazil. From a list of 335 for-profit enterprises, the authors got back 132 answers. The sample comprises Brazilian enterprises that only operate in the Brazilian market, Brazilian multinational enterprises (MNEs) and foreign multinationals operating in Brazilian and international markets. For this study, the MNEs’ group comprises Brazilian multinationals and foreign multinationals (MNEs). To characterize the sample and identify the motivating factors, the authors conducted a descriptive analysis. To compare the domestic and MNEs’ mean differences regarding the factors that influenced their strategies and the SDGs, the authors performed Mann–Whitney's U-test.FindingsThe results of the study show that enterprises are addressing the SDGs in their strategies. All internal and external driving factors are similar for domestic and MNEs, except for the value chain's negative externalities. MNEs are more prone to consider their negative externalities, which is a positive trend. Finally, results suggest that both groups of enterprises consider the 17 goals in their strategies, contrary to the theoretical argument that multinationals suffer more pressure because of their broad geographic scope.Research limitations/implicationsThe database of the study involves data collected through a self-response survey. Thus, the authors cannot discuss the effectiveness of real SDGs' strategies once enterprises' discourse on sustainability does not always correspond with practices. Therefore, the authors suggest that researchers address the results of implemented strategies on the SDGs over time to check for improvements and new developments.Practical implicationsThe authors suggest frequent materiality assessment of domestic enterprises' supply chain and articulation of explicit purposes around the selected SDGs, including setting key performance indicators (KPIs) and monitoring progress.Social implicationsThe authors believe that enterprises and decision makers should recognize their essential role to bend the curve on SDGs and shift their behavior toward strategic choices that could contribute to their positive performance over time, without contributing to environmental degradation and socioeconomic chaos.Originality/valuePublication on how enterprises address the SDGs in Brazil is relatively scarce. This study provides some answers to that by focusing on the factors influencing sustainability-oriented strategies on the SDGs. Besides, most previous studies consider a small sample of enterprises and are industry specific or focus on the effects of the SDGs in public policy. The sample of this study is diverse and represents 42% of the for-profit signatories of the Global Compact in Brazil.

Parcerias Estratégicas no Processo de Internacionalização de Empresas

Internacionalizar-se tem sido uma das estratégias de expansão utilizadas pelas empresas na busca de alcançar ganhos de competitividade e desempenho. Este estudo teve como objetivo analisar a contribuição das parcerias estratégicas para o processo de internacionalização e obtenção de vantagem competitiva das multinacionais brasileiras do setor de tecnologia da informação. A pesquisa caracteriza-se como qualitativa, de caráter descritivo. Tratou-se de estudo de caso único, cuja coleta de dados se deu por meio de dados documentais e da aplicação de questionário semiestruturado com os gestores de uma empresa multinacional brasileira do setor de tecnologia. A análise dos dados possibilitou constatar que o setor de tecnologia da informação tem especificidades que demandam parcerias estratégicas e que estas foram fundamentais no processo de internacionalização da empresa. Conclui-se que as parcerias estratégicas são tão importantes no processo de internacionalização das empresas, como para obtenção de vantagem competitiva para as organizações.

Antecedents of cost innovation: the combined impact of strategy and organisational culture

The main goal of this paper is to verify the combined impact of organisational culture and organisational strategy on cost innovation development in Brazilian multinational enterprises. The research has quantitative approach performing a survey questionnaire to Brazilian multinationals. From a universe of 253 multinational enterprises a response was obtained from 60 of them. The multiple regression technique was used considering cost innovation as dependent variable, measured through a construct based in three dimensions, which verifies the enterprise's effort to get cost innovation. In regards the independent variables, the approach was cultural profile and generic internationalisation strategies of emerging enterprises. The results showed that the competition for cost innovation depends on the alignment between cultural profile and strategy.

International adjustment of Brazilian expatriates in the United States of America

ABSTRACTThe adjustment of expatriates to host countries has been identified as a determinant of their success in international assignments. The literature on expatriates is largely based on cases of expatriates from developed economies; however, given the current global market scenario, companies from developing countries are also assigning expatriates to international assignments. The purpose of this study was to understand the international adjustment of Brazilian expatriates working for Brazilian multinational subsidiaries in the United States of America (USA). The study used an exploratory approach of in-depth interviews with open-ended questions conducted with 11 Brazilian expatriates working for 11 different Brazilian multinationals in the USA. The contributions of this study are twofold: (1) exploration of the adjustment perspectives of expatriates of Brazilian multinational companies, and (2) exploration of the effects of variables from the USA context, as host country, on the international adjustment of expatriates. Findings show that Brazilian expatriates perceived that rules and laws of the USA had a great effect on their international adjustment, while cross-cultural differences influenced leadership styles and interpersonal relationship.

Influências da experiência internacional e da diversificação de negócios no grau de internacionalização das Multinacionais Brasileiras

Este artigo posiciona-se na literatura sobre o processo de internacionalização de empresas multinacionais brasileiras. Como algumas empresas multinacionais se internacionalizam com maior velocidade e possuem melhor desempenho do que outras, neste estudo foram examinados os impactos de duas dimensões - o tempo de experiência internacional e a diversificação de negócios - no grau de internacionalização de multinacionais brasileiras. Para a realização da pesquisa foram utilizados dados secundários do Índice de Transnacionalidade de Empresas Brasileiras da Fundação Dom Cabral (FDC), dados do Observatório de Multinacionais Brasileiras, abrigado pela Escola Superior de Propaganda e Marketing (ESPM), além de informações da BM&FBovespa e dos domínios da internet das 43 empresas pesquisadas e de suas subsidiárias. Os resultados indicam que a diversificação de negócios da empresa está positivamente relacionada com o grau de internacionalização. A experiência internacional prévia não parece ser preditora do grau de internacionalização, o que pode se relacionar ao processo de internacionalização das multinacionais brasileiras ser um fenômeno relativamente recente.

Technological Factors Determining the Dynamics of Innovation and Skills Development: A Study with Brazilian Multinational

The overall objective was to evaluate the technological elements that determine the results of the Brazilian Multinationals cooperability (MNB). Regarding research methodology, we carried out a survey among the universe of MNB, with a final sample of 60 companies answered a structured questionnaire. The quantitative data analysis was conducted using the software SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) version 17.0., Statistical tests were performed Cronbach's alpha, factor analysis, Correlation, the Principal Component and Multiple Regression. The results of the study showed the profile of the MNB and enabled the evaluation of the elements of the technological trajectory and technological inputs that affect the results of cooperability.

Innovation in the strategies of Internationalization of Brazilian Multinationals: Evaluation of the Cultural National Dimensions: A Study Case of the Meat Processing Sector

This article sketches the evolution of Brazilian multinational companies, from the perspective of the development of Latin-American multinational companies, with respect to the process of globalization. With this article, we looked to characterize the typical profile of these enterprises in agreement with the Dunning Model to confirm if this typology is adequate for the characterization of internationalization strategies. We also explored the Theory of the Cultural Dimensions of Hofstede. While doing this, we analyzed which model measures the strategic alignment and is more orientated in terms of: (i) exploration of natural resources and advantages of costs of labor not qualified (resource seeking), advantages; (ii) location and synergies of market (market seeking), investments; (iii) search of strategic assets of the type efficiency seeking (for what they look to rationalize the production and to explore savings of specialization and location), investments; and (iv) type of strategic asset seeking (turned to the acquisition of resources and competences with the objective to develop competitiveness through of the innovation and growth of strategic capacities). We also summarize the referential system that makes possible the development of future inquiries for the delineation of the principal strategies, of the public politics of the National States, and also the financial strategies of these enterprises. Keywords: Strategic innovation; Brazilian multinationals; foreign investment; globalization; Latin American multinationals and multinationals from emerging countries

The role of home country political resources for Brazilian multinational companies

This paper aims to analyze the interactions between home country governments and Developing Country Multinational Companies (DMNCs). Drawing on evidence from the Brazilian political environment and Brazilian multinationals we investigate the mechanisms governments use to influence the internationalization process of domestic companies and firms' political strategic responses to shape the political institutional environment in which they operate. We argue that foreign direct investment (FDI) outflows from developing economies need to be explored given specific country level contextual factors, such as high levels of government involvement. Our main findings support this idea and indicate that home country governments use a series of formal and informal mechanisms in order to drive the international expansion of DMNCs in both the entry and consolidation phases. Moreover, DMNCs political behavior in the home country political environment accounts for an important part of their strategy to develop political resources and obtain above average returns from governmental benefits.

The Cultural Challenges of Managing Global Project Teams: A Study of Brazilian Multinationals

The internationalization of Brazilian companies brings a new reality: the need for implementation of global projects that bring, in turn, the challenge of managing multicultural teams. Since this is a recent phenomenon with little theoretical development, this study sought to understand the relationships between cultural characteristics and management teams of global projects in Brazilian multinationals. To carry this discussion forward, we studied six cases of Brazilian multinational companies, with the aim of deepening the understanding of the management of global teams, involving the planning, deployment, development and management of human resources. Among the projects studied, it was found that there is very little concern with the specific issue of multiculturalism and little inter-cultural incentive to the development of team members, which ends up hindering the construction of a global mindset, important for the Brazilian multinational companies to perform successfully abroad. Faced with this situation, each of the managerial processes mentioned were presented with a number of actions to be undertaken by the project manager in three different dimensions: the project itself, the organization and the global environment. The work contributes, thus, to enable Brazilian multinational companies to manage their global teams in order to maximize the advantages of global teams, such as increased creativity and innovative capacity, but avoid the problems that multiculturalism can bring, ranging from conflicts between people to project failure.

The role of subsidiaries from emerging economies—A survey involving the largest Brazilian multinationals

AbstractSeveral research projects have been devoted to the study of the internationalization of Brazilian firms; however there is a lack of research related to the strategy and management of subsidiaries of Brazilian multinational corporations in other countries. This article seeks to contribute to filling this gap. An academic research study was conducted involving 30 Brazilian multinational corporations. Of the 93 subsidiaries involved, 66 foreign subsidiaries answered the questionnaires. The main results concern the identification of three factors and the proposition of a typology of Brazilian subsidiaries of multinational corporations: implementing subsidiaries; market‐exploiting subsidiaries, and aspirants to strategically relevant subsidiaries. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

GESTÃO DA COOPERAÇÃO EMPRESA-UNIVERSIDADE NAS MULTINACIONAIS BRASILEIRAS - DOI:10.5585/RAI.2010462

A cooperação empresa-universidade e o acesso a fontes internacionais de conhecimento e tecnologia não podem mais ser desconsiderados pelos segmentos empresarial, acadêmico e governamental, pois além de acelerarem a aprendizagem tecnológica e o crescimento corporativo, também são capazes de reverter, a longo prazo, o atraso tecnológico não só das empresas, mas de países que buscam o desenvolvimento, como o Brasil. Diante desse contexto, o artigo se propõe a verificar como as multinacionais brasileiras gerenciam a cooperação empresa-universidade. Para atingir este objetivo, realizou-se uma pesquisa qualitativa de natureza descritiva e como método utilizou-se o estudo de múltiplos casos, no qual foram pesquisadas as multinacionais brasileiras Embraco, Alfa (nome fictício), Beta (nome fictício), Tigre e WEG. Utilizou-se dados primários e secundários que foram coletados, respectivamente, por meio de entrevistas semiestruturadas e em fontes secundárias de evidência. Os resultados revelaram as práticas administrativas adotadas na gestão da cooperação empresa-universidade, mostraram como estão estruturadas as atividades de cooperação nas matrizes e nas subsidiárias das multinacionais brasileiras estudadas e indicaram de forma genérica estágios gerenciais da cooperação empresa-universidade.