This study aims at identifying the innovative maturity in industries sited in the industrial district of Santa Maria/RS, Brazil. To this end, was developed a descriptive research, qualitative approach, through a multi-case study. It was used the framework proposed by Sawhney, Wolcott and Arroniz (2006), called the Innovation Radar, which addresses the opportunities for innovation in twelve dimensions: Offerings, platform, solutions, costumers, costumer experience, value capture, process, organization, supply chain, presence, networking and brand. It was identified the presence of innovative practices in all dimensions proposed in the conceptual model, and it was possible to see how is the development of such activities in each of the companies studied. Moreover, it was verified the importance of innovation to these industries and the difficulties they face in this process.

The aim of this study was to analyze the sugarcane industry of the northeast with the intention of identifying variables that describe the alignment process, if any, between business strategies and IT strategies. It sought to fill a gap in the literature where most of the investigations into alignment in the country have focused on more dynamic branches with special emphasis on banking segment, where the relationship between IT investments and productivity is more evident. The research is based on recent works on the assessment of the technological development benefits, ie, how funds invested in ICT promote support to companies giving them (or not), competitiveness (productivity paradox). For this purpose, interviews were conducted with managers of strategic areas in 14 plants of this sector in Pernambuco (total 19), referenced by the alignment model of Henderson and Venkatraman and endorsed by Albertin (2009). And also the maturity analysis of this alignment defined by Luftman (2000). The strategic alignment was characterized with a group identified as modern practicing the IT use with greater intensity and a more traditional group that cares about IT, but in a less active way. In the alignment process was evident the importance of a proficient team of managers (IT and Business) that excel in dialogue, seeking to implement IT solutions in line with the company’s business strategies. As further study, it is suggested the research for expanding the sample, extending the research universe to the national sugarcane market. O objetivo do estudo foi analisar o setor sucroalcooleiro da Região Nordeste com a intenção de identificar variáveis que descrevam o processo de alinhamento, se houver, entre estratégias de negócio e estratégias de TI. Buscou-se suprir uma lacuna existente na literatura, onde a maioria das investigações sobre alinhamento no país tem privilegiado ramos mais dinâmicos, com especial ênfase ao segmento bancário, onde a relação entre investimentos em TI e produtividade é mais evidente. A pesquisa está fundamentada em trabalhos recentes sobre avaliação dos benefícios do desenvolvimento tecnológico, como os recursos aplicados em TIC, que proporcionam suporte às empresas conferindo-lhes (ou não) competitividade (paradoxo da produtividade). Para isso, foi aplicado um questionário, além de realizadas entrevistas, para aprofundamento de alguns pontos, junto aos gerentes de áreas estratégicas em 14 usinas do setor sucroalcooleiro em Pernambuco (total de 19), referenciadas pelo modelo de alinhamento de Henderson e Venkatraman (1993), referendado por Albertin (2009) e, também, pela análise da maturidade desse alinhamento, definida por Luftman (2000). O alinhamento estratégico ficou caracterizado com um grupo identificado como moderno, que pratica a utilização da TI com maior intensidade, e um grupo mais tradicional, que se preocupa com a TI, porém de maneira menos ativa. No processo de alinhamento, ficou evidenciada a importância de uma equipe de gerentes proficiente que se esmera em dialogar, buscando soluções de TI em sintonia com as estratégias de negócio da firma. Como extensão do estudo, é sugerida uma pesquisa que inclua o mercado sucroalcooleiro nacional ao universo de investigação.

Qualitative approach research, case-study, whose objective was to understand the organic community praxis performed in the workplace of a Brazilian company, and its relationship towards the quality of life of their employees. The data were collected from 125 employees of the company through participating observation and interview. The data analysis, following qualitative guidelines, was conducted with the aid of a class identification technique. The first analysis shows the dynamics of the work atmosphere as a praxis built on the various daily interactions of work. The process analysis-reflection-synthesis of this praxis gives proof to a set of technical-humanistic dimension classes which are characterized as an “organic community construct”. This praxis reverberates through the improvement of the employees’ quality of life, within the workplace and outside of it, and also in the life of the company itself. The theoretical-methodological conceptions shown in the study make up a bench mark to analyze the work contexts, aiming at checking the work atmosphere conditions and to also provide reflections within the academic and organizational context in order to carry out researches on the topic and the use of the organic community construct into the daily activities of companies to promote health for the population involved. Abordagem de pesquisa qualitativa, estudo de caso, cujo objetivo foi compreender a práxis da comunidade orgânicos realizadas no local de trabalho de uma empresa brasileira e sua relação para com a qualidade de vida de seus empregados. Os dados foram coletados a partir de 125 funcionários da empresa através da observação e entrevista participar. A análise dos dados, de acordo com orientações de qualidade, foi realizada com o auxílio de uma técnica de identificação de classe. A primeira análise mostra a dinâmica do ambiente de trabalho como práxis construído em várias interacções diárias de trabalho. O processo de análise-reflexão-síntese dessa práxis dá provas de um conjunto de classes de dimensão técnico-humanísticos que são caracterizadas como um "constructo comunidade orgânica". Essa práxis reverbera através da melhoria da qualidade de vida dos funcionários, no local de trabalho e fora dele, e também na vida da própria empresa. As concepções teórico-metodológicas apresentadas no estudo constituem um ponto de referência para analisar os contextos de trabalho, com o objetivo de verificar as condições do ambiente de trabalho e também proporcionar reflexões no âmbito acadêmico e organizacional, a fim de realizar pesquisas sobre o tema eo uso da comunidade orgânica construir nas atividades diárias de empresas para promover a saúde para a população envolvida.

This article is the result of a research that examined the scientific production in international management from 2001 to 2010, focusing on the methodological aspects adopted, especially with regard to the nature of qualitative methods. We analyze the articles published in the Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the National Association of Graduate Studies and Research in Administration in the last ten years. First, we identified the themes developed by the authors, the number of authors involved in the area for years, and was subsequently undertaken an analysis of the methodological procedures of the studies. It was found that the International Management while research area is still in formation. Not observed replication of previous studies, and the application of models experienced by other authors is already still incipient. The results of this research can be used to provide recommendations on international management research in Brazil.

This paper aims to describe the dimensions that characterize the opportunities for micro and small entrepreneurs of the Mossoró. The Entrepreneur is primarily responsible for identifying a favorable opportunity in the midst of business. Thus, it is necessary to study the change agent as an identifier of occasions ideal for the beginning of a project. The identification of a suitable opportunity is essential for the consolidation of a business in the market. The methodology is supported by a qualitative approach through a case study. The sample was selected randomly, where semi-structured interviews were conducted with various micro and small entrepreneurs in various business sectors. Among the main results, we have an innovative product that is important for the consolidation to the customer, the intimate relationship with the business is necessary for success. In addition, respondents also indicated that the affinity and knowledge in the area of ​​operations are critical to the success of the venture. Therefore, we conclude that the ideal opportunity arises, from the perspective of micro and small entrepreneurs, as a moment in which innovation can be crucial to the success of the company presente artigo objetiva descrever as dimensões que caracterizam as oportunidades para os micro e pequenos empreendedores do município de Mossoró (RN). O Empreendedor é o principal responsável pela identificação de uma oportunidade favorável no meio dos negócios. Assim, faz-se necessário um estudo do agente da mudança como um identificador de ocasiões ideais para o início de um empreendimento. A identificação de uma oportunidade adequada é essencial para a consolidação de um negócio perante o mercado. A metodologia, então, foi suportada por uma abordagem qualitativa por meio de um estudo de caso, e a amostra foi selecionada de modo aleatório, onde foram realizadas diversas entrevistas semiestruturadas com os micros e pequenos empreendedores, de vários setores comerciais. Entre os principais resultados, tem-se que um produto inovador é importante para a consolidação perante o cliente, e que a relação íntima com o negócio é necessária para o sucesso. Além disso, os entrevistados também indicaram que a afinidade e o conhecimento na área de atuação são fundamentais para o sucesso do empreendimento. Portanto, conclui-se que a oportunidade ideal surge, sob a ótica dos micro e pequenos empreendedores, como um momento em que a inovação possa ser determinante para o êxito da empresa.

A lot of researchers and managers have been trying to find the factors that affect the success of organizational change processes. One of the most mentioned factors in literature about this theme is the ‘resistance’ to change on the part of some organizational actors, in special the ones belonging to the lower hierarchical levels. How these individuals realize themselves and the other in organizational change processes? How they realize the content and management of the change? What is the role of communication in a change context? This work aims to contribute to a better understanding about the meaning construction process for individuals and groups in planned organizational changes and its relationship with the communication and behavior aspects presented for them. For this purpose, it was conducted a case study in a Brazilian public organization that was performing an organizational change in the Technology of Information area: implantation of an electronic management system of documents and workflow. The results show that organizational change is sensitive to the relational aspect. Action and human behavior in organizations should be considered as products of communication process and determining factor in the construction of meanings and of individual and collective identities.

The quality education is an extremely important factor to be considered in all countries who aspire to a more just and developed. In Brazil, the goods and services focused on education may be offered either by public or private. For public entities, the Federal Constitution of 1988 (CF/88) sets out the responsibilities of each level of government in the provision of educational services. Based on this context, this article aims to analyze the behavior of spending on education budget function and maintenance and development of education (MDE) in the municipality of Santa Maria - RS, in the period 2007-2011. For this, we used the functional classification established by Ordinance nº 42/1999 of the Ministry of Budget and Management, in order to track aggregate spending on education and the percentage of revenues specifically applied in MDE, pursuant to article 212, the CF/88 and the Organic Law of the municipality. The main results can be verified compliance with the Organic Municipal Law and Article 212 of CF/88, providing investing at least 25% of tax revenues and transfers applied in education in MDE. In the analyzed period, the Index of Basic Education Development (IDEB) of 4th and 8th graders achieved an increase of approximately 17% and 13%, respectively, which shows an improvement in the quality of basic education offered by the municipal sphere. A educação de qualidade é um fator extremamente importante a ser considerado em todos os países que almejam uma sociedade mais justa e desenvolvida. No Brasil, os bens e serviços voltados à educação podem ser oferecidos tanto por entes públicos como privados. No caso dos entes públicos, a Constituição Federal de 1988 (CF/88) estabelece as responsabilidades de cada esfera de governo na prestação de serviços educacionais. Com base nesse contexto, este artigo tem como objetivo analisar o comportamento dos gastos com a função orçamentária voltada para a educação e manutenção e desenvolvimento do ensino (MDE) do município de Santa Maria (RS), no período de 2007 a 2011. Para isso, utilizou-se a classificação funcional estabelecida pela Portaria nº 42/1999, do Ministério do Orçamento e Gestão, com a finalidade de acompanhar os gastos agregados em educação e o percentual das receitas aplicadas especificamente em MDE, conforme artigo 212, da CF/88 e Lei Orgânica do município. Como principais resultados, pode-se constatar o cumprimento da Lei Orgânica Municipal e do artigo 212, da CF/88, que prevê o investimento de, no mínimo 25% das receitas de impostos e transferências aplicadas na educação em MDE. No período analisado, o Índice de Desenvolvimento da Educação Básica (IDEB) da 4ª e 8ª séries obteve um aumento de, aproximadamente, 17% e 13%, respectivamente, o que demonstra uma melhora na qualidade do Ensino Fundamental oferecido pela esfera municipal.

mmersed in a set of interactions between different stakeholders in the market, the business can contribute to a new pattern of sustainable consumption. With this, the purpose of this study is to identify the contribution of Wal-Mart Brazil to sustainable consumption in retail supermarkets in Recife/PE under the perspective of social interactions presented by Michaelis (2003). With focus exploratory and qualitative approach to research conducted in the form of a case study considers sustainable consumption as a background of search, to recognition of relations between the actors selected, thus we identify a positive contribution of the company in eight criteria reviewed with most other developing for a change in the sector. Among the findings, we feature the need to add the third sector organizations to network influences, considering the influence and importance this actor to social interactions. With this, the greatest contribution of paper is at show the possibility of implementation of sustainable consumption.

The aim of the research is to analyze publications on the topic of sustainability as a competitive advantage and identify the main areas of study on this topic. The question that guided the study was: what is the context in which the current academic research that underlie sustainability as a competitive advantage fall? The research method was bibliometric and data collection occurred in the Web of Science platform, which sought to identify key thematic areas, authors, document types, sources of title, year of publication, language and country of these publications. According to the results, the publication of articles about sustainability as a competitive advantage has increased considerably in the last five years. From a theoretical construct, further discussions can be generated, especially those that discuss the effects of the financial impact in promoting sustainable practices, and those who seek to analyze the balance between sustainability and competitive development of organizations in different sectors.

The objective of this paper is to analyze under the accountant perspective the determining factors for early mortality of micro and small enterprises in the city of Florianopolis, Brazil. In order to learn more about the aspects that lead companies to succumb, it was conducted a quantitative research. For data collection, a questionnaire was applied to 141 accountants from the metropolitan region of Florianopolis. It was possible to identify that most of the factors cited by the specialized literature is equally important from the accountant perspective. Even so, two factors cited in the specialized literature were not crucial under the perspective of the accountant to the failure of MSE, namely, the education level of the entrepreneur and the tax burden.