Brazilian Enterprises Research Articles

Competencies developed by students while working in nutrition junior enterprises

Introduction: Reflections arise on how junior companies have been structuring themselves alongside the teaching dynamics in Brazilian universities and their effective contributions to the professional training and development of skills of their members. Thus, this study aimed to identify competencies perceived by students in nutrition junior enterprises in Brazil and compare them according to their profile (time of participation, number of positions and weekly workload). Methods: Cross-sectional study, carried out with a representative sample of students working in nutrition junior enterprises. Self-reported variables were collected on sociodemographic, occupational, technical-scientific performance data, aptitude for entering the job market, intention of professional activity and perception of the skills developed. Pearson's Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test was used to determine differences in the perception of acquired skills between the performance profiles. Results: Participation in junior enterprises influenced the development of various entrepreneurial skills that change according to the student's performance profile in junior enterprises. The greater dedication of time and activities in junior companies provided recognition of significant skills such as leadership (p<0.001), problem-solving ability (p<0.01), and social responsibility (p=0.05). On the other hand, only a quarter of students took courses on entrepreneurship and only two in ten were willing to become an entrepreneur after academic training. Conclusion: This study presents which entrepreneurial skills are most developed through participation in a junior enterprise. This research can contribute to promoting scientific data on entrepreneurship education, which is still scarce in developing countries. Furthermore, it can encourage the participation of students in junior enterprises and promote support for this activity among professors and universities.

Design Practices for Sustainability in Micro Enterprises in Brazil Through the Innovation Route

Objective: The research aims to map the concept of Design for Environment (DfE) and propose a plan of guidelines for implementation and use in Research, Development, and Innovation (RD&I) teams focused on packaging. It also aims to identify DfE elements, where they are being used and results produced, as well as proposing a checklist to guide sustainable practices in product and/or packaging designs. Method: The research is qualitative, developed through a bibliographic review, when evaluating the scenario of micro-enterprises that use DfE practices in Brazil through innovation processes. As for nature, it is applied by proposing a checklist to guide best practices to position micro-enterprises in the sustainability scenario. In relation to the objectives, the approach is exploratory in explaining the scenario in which micro-enterprises in Brazil are involved in innovation for Sustainability. Results and Discussion: It was found that for most authors, companies have difficulty innovating due to the challenges and uncertainties that surround them. The study finds a panorama that shows fear on the part of micro and small companies regarding take risks inherent to the innovation process. In this context, it is suggested that in future studies, the approach for knowledge of causes that corroborate this scenario, especially those that are directly related to the innovation process for Sustainability. Research Implications: This study collaborates by sharing the scenario that permeates among micro-enterprises in the national scenario, with regard to investments in innovation for sustainability, fears and risks, signaling to those active microentrepreneurs current projects as well as for those with plans for future micro-enterprises. Originality/Value: At the end, a check list was proposed suggesting the main practices based on DfE based on Product Life Cycle Assessment (LCA).

ISOTRIZ: an approach to support SMEs in implementing ISO 9001:2015 using the TRIZ methodology

Quality and innovation are increasingly closer due to the pressures faced by organisations in the management of operational excellence. Currently, companies around the world are facing the consequences of the economic crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). In the context of SMEs, investments in quality and innovation contribute to increased productivity and competitive capacity. One of the factors to increase the competitive capacity of SMEs is to encourage quality and compliance certification through the ISO 9001. SME managers in general have difficulty with the certification process because there are several barriers faced during this process. Considering the importance of SMEs to the economy, this paper proposes an approach to implement the requirements of ISO 9001:2015 standard in SMEs using the TRIZ methodology. This research is exploratory and qualitative. A case study was carried out in two Brazilian enterprises. As a result, the main critical factors of ISO 9001:2015 and the most appropriate inventive principles to assist in the implementation of these critical factors are presented. This study is innovative for the literature and provides important conclusions for SME managers in the implementation of ISO 9001:2015 requirements.

The adoption of good Corporate Governance practices by small and medium-sized

This study examines the adoption of good practices of corporate governance and the intensity of such practices in family small and medium enterprises (SMEs). We developed and tested our theoretical framework using survey data from Brazilian enterprises and factorial analysis and logistic regression. The results suggest that knowledge of benefits from corporate governance drives family enterprises to employ high levels of good practices of corporate governance while some managers features drives family enterprises to employ low levels of such practices. On the other hand, managers features can contribute to family enterprises employ low levels of good practices of corporate governance. We extend the discussion regarding antecedents of good practices of corporate governance employed by family enterprises and why some of them intensify corporate governance adoption more than others do. Likewise, we offer a wider perspective, theoretically and empirically, of antecedents of corporate governance mechanisms in family firms and the intensity of this adoption. Also, the study provides subsidies to managers make decisions regarding the employment of good practices of corporate governance in family enterprises and contributes to the improvement regarding the indexes of family enterprises mortality.

Quality in education - foundation for sustaining competitiveness

The undertaking of this study was justified by the undeniable need for the enhancement of knowledge concerning the current status and future evolution of the quality standards in our education system. Its current performance underscores the necessity for the implementation of teaching methodologies that facilitate learning based on technological innovations. Additionally, the study explores perspectives for the improvement and enhancement of teacher development programs, coupled with considerations of meritocracy and salary improvement. The overarching objective of this research is to illustrate the correlation between the quality of Brazilian education and the structural maintenance of competitiveness among Brazilian enterprises. It is asserted that without this quality, it is not feasible for Brazil to sustain its competitiveness in the current global business landscape. This research clearly highlights the urgent need for our education system to accelerate the implementation and use of technological resources and modern teaching techniques. The implementation of an Integrated Quality Management System in Education is crucial to achieving a positive leap in quality, thereby providing positive impacts on the performance of teachers, future generations, society, and the trinity of quality, productivity, and competitiveness.

Analysis of the Diversity of Social Business Approaches in Brazil: A Review Based on Brazilian Journals

Objective: The objective of this research was to analyze the approaches related to social business existing in Brazilian scientific productions from 2013 to 2022, in order to establish contributions to the topic in Brazil. Method: For this study, a systematic literature review of articles indexed on the Periódicos CAPES platform was used. Result and conclusion: It was found that most studies address the lack of definition of the concept of social business and its related concepts as well as its relationship with social entrepreneurship. Furthermore, it was possible to observe that there are still uncertainties regarding the possibility of sharing profits with investors or not and that the legal framework for the treatment of social enterprises in Brazil is non-existent and unexplored. Implications of the research: It is understood that the Systematic Literature Review made it possible to investigate the scarcity of social businesses described in the literature outside the southeast region, as well as the intimate relationship between social impact actions and the environmental aspect. Originality/value: The results, which demonstrate the uncertainties present in the context of social business, enable the development of guidelines for resolving these problems.

Does green innovation promote trade credit activities? New empirical evidence from BRICS

In the recent wake of the Sustainable Development Goals introduced by the United Nations, the topic of green innovation has achieved much attention. This study aims to explore the impact of green innovation on trade credit activities. The empirical analysis was conducted by sampling ten years of financial data (2010–2019) of publicly listed enterprises in Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. To overcome endogeneity, we utilize the system generalized method of moments technique for regression analysis. The empirical analysis reveals that green innovation has a positive and statistically significant relationship with both trade receivables and trade payables. The analysis offers a valuable reference for devising multiple policies on environmental sustainability and the management of trade credit activities. This study enriches the literature by highlighting the propensity of green innovation in trade credit activities.

Impact Investing: Determinants of External Financing of Social Enterprises in Brazil

Social impact investing and social entrepreneurship have great potential for solving global problems. However, practitioners and researchers know little about the entrepreneurial process and the investors’ criteria. Therefore, we identify the determinants of access to external finance for social enterprises in an emerging economy using a quantitative approach in a large sample (N = 601). We found that impact sector, business model, entrepreneurial support, development stage, and the adoption of technologies impact access to finance by social enterprises. We also show that green technologies have greater funding access than other enterprises and that social impact investors are more aware of environmental issues and less concerned with financial returns. To raise more funding, we suggest that social entrepreneurs include environmental issues in their business, quickly validate their idea, add an intermediary company between the enterprise and the consumer, seek the support of incubators or accelerators, and adopt emerging technologies in the product or service offered.

Sustainability performance of small and medium dairy enterprises in Brazil

The sustainability performance of dairy enterprises can be improved using specific assessments indicators and indices. However, selecting a set of indicators and creating a specific sustainability index for dairy enterprises is challenging. This study aimed to assess the sustainability performance of small and medium dairy enterprises using an indicator set and indices encompassing the three dimensions of the triple bottom line approach. Hence, a specific indicator set was selected based on the literature, and a sustainability index was structured based on the process of normalisation, mean weight, aggregation, and sensitivity analysis. Empirical validation was carried out with 32 small and medium dairy enterprises in Brazil using a questionnaire to evaluate sustainability performance. The results demonstrate that the indicator set, sub-indices (environmental, social, and economic), and index are adequate and consistent for diagnosing and identifying areas of improvement in the sustainable performance of small and medium dairy enterprises. In our sample, the highest efficiency regarding sustainability performance was related to economic sub-index indicators, whereas the lowest efficiency appeared in environmental and social sub-index indicators. The application of the sustainability index delivered essential information to consultants and managers of dairy enterprises to improve resource use and minimise the environmental and social impacts of their companies. The study posits that the specific sustainability index for small and medium dairy enterprises is a powerful management resource that can diagnose positive and negative points in a company related to the triple bottom line dimensions. Furthermore, the study provides suggestions for the use of the sustainability index, contributions to sustainability performance improvement, and limitations.

An investigation of the drivers of the intensity of the interaction between small and medium-sized Brazilian enterprises and universities and public research institutes

Resumo O objetivo deste trabalho é investigar os fatores direcionadores (drivers) da intensidade da interação entre pequenas e médias empresas (PMEs) brasileiras e universidades e institutos públicos de pesquisa. Informações do Diretório dos Grupos de Pesquisa no Brasil referentes às áreas de Engenharia e Ciências Agrárias e da Relação Anual de Informações Sociais foram utilizadas na estimação de quatro modelos econométricos que exploram os drivers relacionados às características estruturais e comportamentais das empresas interativas, aos seus relacionamentos com grupos de pesquisa e à política de ciência, tecnologia e inovação. Os resultados mostram que o porte, a experiência prévia em colaboração e a capacidade de absorção, que refletem capacitações e recursos internos das empresas para cooperar, em adição ao acesso ao financiamento público, são fatores que influenciam a intensidade da interação das PMEs. Ademais, é possível identificar especificidades dos fatores direcionadores da intensidade da interação quando essas empresas são separadas por faixas de porte.

POLÍTICAS PÚBLICAS DIRECIONADAS ÀS MICRO E PEQUENAS EMPRESAS NO BRASIL NA PANDEMIA DA COVID-19 / Public polices directed at micro and small enterprises in Brazil at the covid-19 pandemic

O artigo analisou as políticas públicas elaboradas com a finalidade de auxiliar e manter as atividades econômicas das micro e pequenas empresas no Brasil no período da pandemia de covid-19. O estudo apresenta abordagem qualitativa, exploratória e descritiva, e tem como instrumento de coleta de dados secundários a pesquisa documental, com recorte temporal dos anos 2020 e 2021. Constatou-se que várias políticas públicas foram elaboradas e implementadas com a finalidade de auxiliar na continuidade das atividades das micro e pequenas empresas durante a pandemia de covid-19, a curto prazo, em caráter emergencial. Estas consistiram, especialmente, em medidas de prorrogação dos prazos de pagamento de taxas e impostos e de acesso ao crédito. Apesar de essas medidas terem alcançado uma parcela das micro e pequena empresas, algumas barreiras inviabilizaram um acesso mais amplo dessas empresas a estas políticas públicas governamentais, que não foram capazes de equalizar oportunidades entre empreendedores mais vulneráveis. ABSTRACT: This paper analyzed public policies designed to help maintain the economic activities of micro and small companies in Brazil during the covid-19 pandemic. The study presents a qualitative, exploratory, and descriptive approach as an instrument for collecting secondary data for the documentary research, with a time frame of 2020 and 2021. It was found that several public policies were developed and implemented with the purpose of assisting in the continuity of the activities of micro and small companies during the covid-19 pandemic in the short term, on an emergency basis. These consisted especially of measures to extend the deadlines for payment of fees and taxes and access to credit. However, although these measures have reached a portion of micro and small companies, some barriers made it impossible for these companies to have broader access to these government public policies, not being able to equalize opportunities for the most vulnerable entrepreneurs.

Stochastic economic feasibility assessment and risk analysis of a quarry mine focusing on the Brazilian tax system

An economic feasibility study must consider the uncertainties inherent to a mining project, whose risks must be quantified properly to enable accurate decision-making. Studies previously carried out through the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) methodology in the project evaluated here - a quarry whose operations are currently interrupted, located in Pernambuco, Brazil, formerly taxed under the presumed profit regime - indicated a positive Net Present Value (NPV) in the deterministic scenario, therefore projecting a profitable project. However, a probabilistic analysis using Monte Carlo simulations indicated only a 49.98% occurrence probability for this NPV. An assessment focused on the company's taxation was never carried out, which is a gap that the present study intends to fill, in addition to evaluating the feasibility of immediate investment in this project. Furthermore, this is a gap in Brazilian literature in general, which does not take into account the taxation system in their economic assessments. In this context, considering scenarios whose taxation was based on real and presumed profit regimes, we reassessed the cash flows of this quarry and performed deterministic and probabilistic economic analyses, and compared the results of both scenarios. The sensitivity analysis indicated that the production rate would be the most impactful variable in the project's NPV, considering the six variables assessed. Hence, it was verified in both deterministic and probabilistic analyses that taxation under real profit, results in a higher economic return with a 56.08% probability of the NPV being positive and with the Internal Rate of Return (IRR) higher than infation (SELIC rate) at 4.81%; the taxation under the presumed profit, on the other hand, obtained respective probabilities of 46.54% and 3.23%. However, with the chances of obtaining some profit (NPV greater than zero) at the order of 50% and a minimal chance of the IRR being greater than the SELIC rate adopted at the time of this study, we would advise against investing in this venture. Moreover, even if the current moment is not the most suitable for investment in this sector, regardless of the production rate assessed in the probabilistic analysis, taxation on the real profit regime presented a greater economic return than taxation on the presumed profit regime., indicating that, for the parameters considered in this study, the first would be the most appropriate choice of tax system for this type of enterprise in Brazil.

The design brief as a pivotal tool: A study of Centro Brasil Design’s practices to promote design

In the early stages of the design and innovation processes, stakeholders often develop a design brief. As a document gathering all design requirements, it is adopted as an agreement and a roadmap to facilitate communication throughout the project. This study expands the current literature about design brief tools by delving into the briefing process within design interventions conducted by design promotion organisations. We investigated the strategies and practices of Centro Brasil Design to nurture design among Brazilian enterprises. Particularly, we focused on its Design Export program, which aims to insert design in export-oriented businesses. Supported by the Design Quality Criteria framework, our study probed the program’s development and its design briefs, as well as the designers involved in the projects. The findings revealed how a design brief could lever the design advisory service. We further identified a new approach to briefing procedures and a design brief model for design interventions.

Public Governance as a Factor in the Effectiveness of the Constitutional Rules Applicable to State-Owned Enterprises in Brazil

Public Governance as a Factor in the Effectiveness of the Constitutional Rules Applicable to State-Owned Enterprises in Brazil

Earnings thresholds among the listed Brazilian enterprises: A strategy to avoid earnings loss or earnings decreased

Earnings thresholds among the listed Brazilian enterprises: A strategy to avoid earnings loss or earnings decreased

What does caring HRD look like in practice? A case study of two social enterprises in Brazil

ABSTRACT Impacts of COVID-19 pandemic, combined with an array of other severe threats to societal well-being (e.g. inequality, systemic racism, and environmental degradation), have shed light on the importance of ethics of care as a guiding normative for HRD. However, the current understanding of care as HRD practice is limited and primarily studied in the context of leaders’ behaviours towards employees. This study addresses this shortcoming by conducting a case study of social enterprises located in impoverished communities surrounding the UNESCO World Heritage Site Serra da Capivara National Park, Brazil, to examine what caring HRD looks like and how it can be operationalised in organisations. We conducted a qualitative study based on interviews and documentation analysis to map the flow of care practices implemented by these social enterprises. Our findings suggest that caring HRD entails a reciprocal and systemic approach highly relevant to organisations operating in collaborative and complex social contexts. We observed that moral values are critical requirements for a caring approach and must be embedded in the organisation’s mission, culture, and processes. Our work expands the range of care interventions proposed in HRD literature by offering strategies that target the whole organisational system, including the surrounding environment and community.

Perceptions on the effectiveness of environmental education programs as environmental licensing tools for port-related enterprise in Brazil.

Environmental Education Programs (EEPs) are considered environmental management tools in Brazilian environmental licensing processes, within the scope of mitigatory and compensatory measures to the social, environmental, and economic impacts caused by development projects or new enterprises. Here, we assess the perceptions and expectations regarding environmental education programs of three groups of actors (communities, environmental managers, and environmental agency technicians) involved in the licensing processes of port activities in the region of Paranaguá, in the State of Paraná, Brazil. Paranaguá is the largest coastal municipality of the state of Paraná, in the southern region of Brazil, and is home to Brazil`s second largest port. Since this is environmental conservation area, the conflicts between the port activities, environmental protection and needs of the local communities require efficient environmental management practices, with EEPs as one of their main implementation tools. The evaluation was based on semi-structured interviews which were analyzed using the methods of content analysis and discourse of the collective subject. The actors understand that environmental education is a potentially effective tool to promote the mitigation or compensation of environmental impacts generated by port developments undergoing licensing processes. The groups considered that the continuity, promotion of social organization, and correlation with the actual environmental impacts related to each enterprise are essential qualities for good EEPs. The evaluated perceptions were complementary and indicate a complex but effective ideal scenario for EEPs in the region.

The Rise of the Brazilian Fact-checking Movement: Between Economic Sustainability and Editorial Independence

ABSTRACT This study addresses the expansion of Brazilian fact-checking enterprises, focusing on their funding sources and challenges to ensure editorial autonomy. The research is mainly grounded in semi-structured interviews with 16 fact-checkers from 13 active organizations, and includes complementary data collected from the initiatives’ websites. The findings show that the organizational milieu in which fact-checking firms flourish influences their revenue streams. Fact-checkers face different economic and editorial challenges depending on their organizational environment. Nevertheless, their chief business strategy to gain economic viability mainly translates into a solid presence on digital platforms. It involves reaching niche markets on social media and attracting users to their websites. Last, the limited staff of most fact-checking initiatives and their growing dependence on big tech money have led them to modularize their corrections to different platforms and publish debunking at the expense of political fact-checking. In short, this study contributes to the growing scholarship on fact-checking by evidencing that this professional reform movement is dealing with power dynamics familiar to the journalism they want to reform.

Perceptions about Internationalization Barriers in the Creative Economy: a Multiple-Case Study with Brazilian SMEs

Objective: to explore perceptions that stakeholders of Brazilian firms from the Creative Economy have regarding internationalization barriers.Method: a multiple-case study was carried out involving three small- and medium-sized Brazilian enterprises (SMEs), producers and experienced exporters of creative goods.Main findings: internal barriers, mainly those functional- and price-related, are perceived as the most important, while product-related barriers seem to be irrelevant. Among external barriers, economic and governmental constraints seem to stand out, which indicates the need for some regulatory and export incentive improvement.Relevance/ originality: while exports of creative goods from emerging economies have grown since beginning of this century and even surpassed those from developed economies, Brazil has gone in the opposite direction, reducing its exports of this kind of goods. This suggests the existence of relevant barriers to the internationalization of local firms belonging to the Creative Economy. This study adds to the literature about export barriers, most of it centered in large manufactures from developed economies.Teorethical/ methological contributions: the identified preponderance of internal barriers to internationalization, mainly due to the scarcity of human and financial resources, also makes it harder for the firms to deal with external barriers imposed by governments and competitors. On the other hand, low product-related and socioeconomic barriers suggest that creative products are most valued exactly by their originality and differentiation.Keywords: International business; Internationalization barriers; Export barriers; Creative economy; Creative industries.

Os dois lados do Atlântico: o impacto da pandemia nos Empreendimentos Turísticos Imobiliários no Brasil e nos Conjuntos Turísticos (Resorts) em Portugal

Esse artigo tem por objetivo apresentar um estudo do comportamento dos Empreendimentos Turísticos Imobiliários (ETIs) no Brasil e seu equivalente em Portugal, os Conjuntos Turísticos (Resorts) (CTR), frente à pandemia da Covid-19. A metodologia empregada envolveu, para além da revisão bibliográfica, levantamento primário de ETIs, no caso brasileiro, e consulta e georreferenciação do Registro Nacional de Empreendimentos Turísticos (RNET) e de informação constante do Sistema de Informação Geográfica do Turismo (SIGTUR), no caso português. Os resultados da pesquisa demonstram que, em Portugal, a pandemia da Covid-19 significou uma oportunidade para o turismo residencial e para estes empreendimentos turísticos, que registraram um aumento significativo do volume de comercialização de residências integradas nos conjuntos turísticos, provocando subida dos seus preços. Já no caso brasileiro, os ETIs sofreram com o impacto da pandemia, resultando em unidades hoteleiras fechadas e troca de bandeiras, o que sinaliza para uma possível retração deste mercado.