Uma análise estratégica sobre o mercado brasileiro de chocolates / A strategic analysis about the Brazilian chocolate market

Este artigo objetiva apresentar uma análise estratégica sobre o mercado brasileiro de chocolates. Para tanto, ele se propõe a analisar as seguintes questões: (i) Como a cadeia de valor do setor de chocolates pode ser modelada?; (ii) Quais são os principais pontos de geração de lucro nesta cadeia?; (iii) Qual é o posicionamento competitivo de algumas das empresas que atuam na comercialização de chocolates no Brasil? A pesquisa pode ser classificada como descritiva qualitativa. A coleta de dados foi realizada por meio de entrevistas com altos executivos do setor, bem como pesquisa bibliográfica e documental. Como resultados, explicita uma proposta de cadeia de valor e as oportunidades de lucro no segmento, assim como propõe um mapa de posicionamento competitivo de empresas atuantes no mercado. A cadeia é representada por seis elos verticais e um horizontal. Os elos verticais abordam cinco principais atividades de agregação de valor, além do consumidor final. Esses elos são: (i) Produção agrícola do cacau; (ii) Processamento do cacau; (iii) Processamento de semiacabados; (iv) Fabricação do chocolate e derivados; (v) Canais de distribuição e venda; e (vi) Consumidor final. O elo horizontal corresponde às atividades de regulação. Os principais pontos de geração de lucro ocorrem nas vendas de: (i) Frutos in natura; (ii) Nibs triturados e torrados; (iii) Líquor, torta de cacau e manteiga de cacau, cacau em pó, chocolate industrial; (iv) Produto final e distribuição; (v) Comercialização. O posicionamento competitivo das empresas pode ser representado por quatro segmentos aqui denominados “tradicionais”, “democráticos”, “premium” e “gourmet”

Commercial vehicles development in Brazil: a study about success parameters in products projects management

Esta dissertação tem como objetivo pesquisar a importância de parâmetros de sucesso no processo de gerenciamento do desenvolvimento de veículos comerciais em empresas estabelecidas no Brasil, quarto maior mercado mundial. O referencial teórico tem como base os cinco critérios de avaliação de resultados de projetos descritos no Modelo Diamante de Shenhar e Dvir e os dez fatores críticos de sucesso (FCS) que formam o Modelo de Processo de Implantação de Projetos (PIP) de Pinto e Slevin. Para isto, foi feito um estudo de caso em uma grande montadora tradicional, por meio de um questionário dirigido a participantes de gerenciamento de projetos de produtos. A pesquisa revelou resultados interessantes tais como: (i) o perfil do participante de projetos de veículos comerciais, principalmente engenheiros com grande experiência profissional; (ii) as características principais dos produtos desenvolvidos, como inovação, tecnologia, complexidade e prazo restrito; (iii) a comparação de priorização dos critérios de sucesso segundo as opiniões dos entrevistados e segundo o que pensam ser o que sua empresa adota e (iv) a priorização dos FCS segundo suas próprias opiniões. Nestes dois últimos resultados, obtiveram-se achados que, por um lado, confirmam o referencial teórico e, por outro lado, mostram algumas diferenças como (i) o paradoxo de alguns altos executivos considerarem que a empresa adota critérios diferentes da sua própria priorização e (ii) a relação de importância dos FCS com o perfi do entrevistado e suas principais necessidades próprias para o desenvolvimento de projetos. Por fim, esta pesquisa traz colaborações para a academia, para as empresas e para a sociedade por meio da proposta do Mestrado Profissional em Empreendedorismo da Faculdade de Economia, Administração e Contabilidade da Universidade de São Paulo (FEA-USP), que busca temas de pesquisa baseado no universo profissional, embasa os conceitos teóricos com a metodologia acadêmica e aplica a pesquisa novamente no campo profissional. Isto aproxima a Universidade ao mundo empresarial e colabora com uma melhora sustentável de produtividade da sociedade brasileiraThis dissertation aims to research the importance of success parameters in the management process of commercial vehicles\' development in companies established in Brazil, world\'s fourth largest market. The theoretical framework was based on five criteria of project evaluation results, described in the Diamond Model designed by Shenhar and Dvir, and in ten critical success factors (CSF) that integrate the Projects Implementation Process (PIP) modeled by Pinto and Slevin. For this purpose, a case study in a large traditional automaker was done through a questionnaire addressed to participants of product management projects. This research showed interesting results such as: (i) the profile of commercial vehicles projects\' participants, which are mainly engineers with large professional experience; (ii) the developed products main characteristics, as innovation, technology, complexity and limited term; (iii) the comparison of success criteria prioritization according to the their own opinions and what they think their company adopts and (iv) the prioritization of CSF according to their own opinions. In the latter two results, research has gathered interesting findings that, on one hand, confirm the theoretical framework and, on the other hand, show some differences as (i) the paradox of some senior executives who consider that the company adopts different criteria than their own prioritization and (ii) the importance of CSF relationship with the respondents\' profiles and their own main needs for development projects. Finally, this research brings contributions to academy, to business and to society through the proposal of the Professional Master\'s Degree in Entrepreneurship of the School of Economics, Business and Accounting of the University of São Paulo (FEA-USP), which seeks to research themes based on the professional world, underlies theoretical concepts with academic methodology and applies research findings again into the professional field. This brings the University closer to the business world and collaborates with a sustainable improvement of Brazilian society\'s productivity

NEOTROPICAL XENARTHRANS: a data set of occurrence of xenarthran species in the Neotropics

Xenarthrans—anteaters, sloths, and armadillos—have essential functions for ecosystem maintenance, such as insect control and nutrient cycling, playing key roles as ecosystem engineers. Because of habitat loss and fragmentation, hunting pressure, and conflicts with domestic dogs, these species have been threatened locally, regionally, or even across their full distribution ranges. The Neotropics harbor 21 species of armadillos, 10 anteaters, and 6 sloths. Our data set includes the families Chlamyphoridae (13), Dasypodidae (7), Myrmecophagidae (3), Bradypodidae (4), and Megalonychidae (2). We have no occurrence data on Dasypus pilosus (Dasypodidae). Regarding Cyclopedidae, until recently, only one species was recognized, but new genetic studies have revealed that the group is represented by seven species. In this data paper, we compiled a total of 42,528 records of 31 species, represented by occurrence and quantitative data, totaling 24,847 unique georeferenced records. The geographic range is from the southern United States, Mexico, and Caribbean countries at the northern portion of the Neotropics, to the austral distribution in Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay. Regarding anteaters, Myrmecophaga tridactyla has the most records (n = 5,941), and Cyclopes sp. have the fewest (n = 240). The armadillo species with the most data is Dasypus novemcinctus (n = 11,588), and the fewest data are recorded for Calyptophractus retusus (n = 33). With regard to sloth species, Bradypus variegatus has the most records (n = 962), and Bradypus pygmaeus has the fewest (n = 12). Our main objective with Neotropical Xenarthrans is to make occurrence and quantitative data available to facilitate more ecological research, particularly if we integrate the xenarthran data with other data sets of Neotropical Series that will become available very soon (i.e., Neotropical Carnivores, Neotropical Invasive Mammals, and Neotropical Hunters and Dogs). Therefore, studies on trophic cascades, hunting pressure, habitat loss, fragmentation effects, species invasion, and climate change effects will be possible with the Neotropical Xenarthrans data set. Please cite this data paper when using its data in publications. We also request that researchers and teachers inform us of how they are using these data

NEOTROPICAL ALIEN MAMMALS: a data set of occurrence and abundance of alien mammals in the Neotropics

Biological invasion is one of the main threats to native biodiversity. For a species to become invasive, it must be voluntarily or involuntarily introduced by humans into a nonnative habitat. Mammals were among first taxa to be introduced worldwide for game, meat, and labor, yet the number of species introduced in the Neotropics remains unknown. In this data set, we make available occurrence and abundance data on mammal species that (1) transposed a geographical barrier and (2) were voluntarily or involuntarily introduced by humans into the Neotropics. Our data set is composed of 73,738 historical and current georeferenced records on alien mammal species of which around 96% correspond to occurrence data on 77 species belonging to eight orders and 26 families. Data cover 26 continental countries in the Neotropics, ranging from Mexico and its frontier regions (southern Florida and coastal-central Florida in the southeast United States) to Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay, and the 13 countries of Caribbean islands. Our data set also includes neotropical species (e.g., Callithrix sp., Myocastor coypus, Nasua nasua) considered alien in particular areas of Neotropics. The most numerous species in terms of records are from Bos sp. (n = 37,782), Sus scrofa (n = 6,730), and Canis familiaris (n = 10,084); 17 species were represented by only one record (e.g., Syncerus caffer, Cervus timorensis, Cervus unicolor, Canis latrans). Primates have the highest number of species in the data set (n = 20 species), partly because of uncertainties regarding taxonomic identification of the genera Callithrix, which includes the species Callithrix aurita, Callithrix flaviceps, Callithrix geoffroyi, Callithrix jacchus, Callithrix kuhlii, Callithrix penicillata, and their hybrids. This unique data set will be a valuable source of information on invasion risk assessments, biodiversity redistribution and conservation-related research. There are no copyright restrictions. Please cite this data paper when using the data in publications. We also request that researchers and teachers inform us on how they are using the data