Operational competencies and relational resources: a multiple case study

Purpose – The purpose of this study was to use relational vision as a theoretical support for an investigation of how operational competencies are developed from the interaction of shared relational resources in the supply chain and to verify how these competencies allow the resources to be able to function, unity, integration and direction. Design/methodology/approach – This multihull study was based on semi-structured interviews with 13 representatives of four dyads from companies in the steel, automotive and industrial applications, pulp processing and manufacturing and application of flexible tubes. Findings – The results indicate that information, knowledge and learning are significant constructs to influence the development of operational skills in the supply chain because they represent the ability of the company to promote skills to efficiently use resources and create a barrier to imitation. Research limitations/implications – There are limitations in the use of four companies from different industrial segments because it is possible to generalize the results. However, given the crosssectional nature of the research, new studies may adopt a longitudinal approach to verify the evolution in the area of operations. Future studies may also expand the unit of analysis to understand the role of the relationship between the focus business and its strategic suppliers from the viewpoint of the suppliers. Thus, new research can be expanded to dyads, triads and business networks by investigating the various stages in the supply chain. Practical implications – This study contributes to the literature and adds the dimension of relational operational skills, which is hitherto little explored in previous studies. Social implications – This study contributes to the literature in the area of operations management, in collaborative relationships between buyers and sellers, focusing on the relational view of competitiveness. Originality/value – The growing importance of organizations and the role of collaboration, based on mutual benefits and grouping of skills, tend to increase the competitive benefits of companies operating in this context. The management of this type of arrangement becomes a challenge for researchers, reinforcing the originality of this study

Road transport infrastructure: a longitudinal case study (2009-2017)

This article investigates the economic gains with the reduction of logistic costs after the asphalt pavement of the highway MT 235 for a Brazilian crystal sugar and alcohol industry. Investment in infrastructure is an attribute that increases economic growth and increases the competitiveness of companies. As far as road transport infrastructure is concerned, the problems are not limited to a specific area, but stretches of highways, which link urban transportation and ports to the generation and transmission of electricity, among others. Only 12.2% of Brazilian highways are paved. This work is the result of a longitudinal case study with participant observation, in a time line from 2009 to 2017. It was possible to identify that, after improvements in road transport infrastructure, the asphalt pavement of the highway MT 235 made possible a gain in travel time and a decrease in logistics costs, which led to the closure of the activities of one of the subsidiaries of the company studied, located in Manaus (Amazonas), in 2009. With the benefits of the asphalt pavement of the MT 235, in 2017 we found that sales volume increased 650% in relation to 2011, logistics costs have been significantly reduced in relation to gross revenues, maintaining an average of 11.58%. In 2017, the logistic costs of the company studied were 12.61% versus 20.7% from the group of Brazilian agribusiness companies. The findings show that investments in road transport infrastructure are crucial when it comes to fostering trade and competitiveness of domestic products in international markets, by reducing logistics costs

Dividendos e lucros anormais: um estudo nas empresas listadas na BOVESPA

Investing in stocks requires studies and the formulation of future earnings scenarios to determine possible returns, whether abnormal or not. This research aims to find empirical evidence for the relation between dividend behavior and abnormal earnings, with a view to getting a clearer view on this subject. We realized an empirical-analytical study, using Ohlson's model to calculate abnormal earnings. Next, we applied regression analysis and descriptive statistics. Data for analysis were collected from the database Economática, considering companies whose stocks were traded on the São Paulo Stock Exchange - BOVESPA between 1996 and 2001. The results evidence that there was no relation between yield and abnormal earnings, but that average dividends are higher than average abnormal earnings. However, new research is needed to find better evidence, using longer observation periods and/or applying other techniques.O investimento em ações requer estudos e a formulação de cenários de perspectivas, quanto aos lucros futuros, no sentido de determinar os possíveis retornos, sejam anormais ou não. O objetivo desta pesquisa é buscar evidências empíricas da relação entre o comportamento dos dividendos e os lucros anormais, com o propósito de se obter maior clareza sobre esse assunto. A pesquisa empregada é do tipo empírico-analítica, em que se utiliza o modelo de Ohlson para cálculo do lucro anormal e, em seguida, aplica-se a análise de regressão e a técnica de estatística descritiva. Os dados para análise foram coletados do banco de dados Economática, limitando-se a empresas com ações negociadas na Bolsa de Valores de São Paulo - BOVESPA, no período de 1996 a 2001. Espera-se, com isso, contribuir com o fornecimento de tais evidências empíricas. Nos resultados apresentados, constatou-se que não existe a relação entre o dividendo yield e o lucro anormal, mas a média dos dividendos é superior à média dos lucros anormais. Porém, tornam-se necessárias novas pesquisas, a fim de buscar melhores evidências, utilizando períodos maiores de observação e/ou aplicação de outras técnicas

Uso da programação linear em micros e pequenas empresas: auxílio à tomada de decisão em tempos de pandemia

As tendências e condições de mercado têm impulsionado necessidade de posturas ágeis e, em alguns momentos, audaciosas por parte da gestão de operações das Micro e Pequenas Empresas (MPE’s). Por isso, deve haver uma concentração mais acurada e efetiva na análise e interpretação de dados gerenciais e de produção. Considerando esse contexto, este trabalho propôs uma solução sob a forma de modelo matemático de Linear Programming (LP) que auxilia o contexto gerencial das MPE’s. Os resultados permitem além de subsídios para decisões, parametrizar a solução para necessidades cotidianas. Outra contribuição prática deste trabalho é o modelo LINGO desenvolvido, o qual considera a realidade, características e adaptações às mudanças do mercado

Road transport infrastructure: a longitudinal case study (2009-2017)

This article investigates the economic gains with the reduction of logistic costs after the asphalt pavement of the highway MT 235 for a Brazilian crystal sugar and alcohol industry. Investment in infrastructure is an attribute that increases economic growth and increases the competitiveness of companies. As far as road transport infrastructure is concerned, the problems are not limited to a specific area, but stretches of highways, which link urban transportation and ports to the generation and transmission of electricity, among others. Only 12.2% of Brazilian highways are paved. This work is the result of a longitudinal case study with participant observation, in a time line from 2009 to 2017. It was possible to identify that, after improvements in road transport infrastructure, the asphalt pavement of the highway MT 235 made possible a gain in travel time and a decrease in logistics costs, which led to the closure of the activities of one of the subsidiaries of the company studied, located in Manaus (Amazonas), in 2009. With the benefits of the asphalt pavement of the MT 235, in 2017 we found that sales volume increased 650% in relation to 2011, logistics costs have been significantly reduced in relation to gross revenues, maintaining an average of 11.58%. In 2017, the logistic costs of the company studied were 12.61% versus 20.7% from the group of Brazilian agribusiness companies. The findings show that investments in road transport infrastructure are crucial when it comes to fostering trade and competitiveness of domestic products in international markets, by reducing logistics costs

Aplicación del Analytic Hierarchy Process en la elección de planes de salud

O mundo contemporâneo em que vivemos nos leva a um ritmo de vida de constante movimentação e necessidades diversificadas, com isso, quando se trata de atendimento médico, as necessidades são muito diversificadas. Por esse motivo, quando se está procurando um plano de saúde, é preciso analisar diversos fatores para se tomar uma decisão, como uma cobertura que funcione com o estilo de vida pessoal e familiar, quantidade de unidades de atendimento disponível, localização destas unidades, e, uma relação custo benefício atrativa. Este artigo tem por objetivo apresentar uma proposta de abordagem para identificar fatores que usuários julgam como mais relevantes na escolha de um serviço de plano de saúde. O método multicritério Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) foi utilizado para auxiliar a identificação de fatores relevantes empregados na seleção de planos de saúde. E, como unidade de pesquisa foi realizada uma aplicação com um grupo de pessoas usuárias, com a intenção de compreender as perspectivas enquanto tomadores de decisão. Como resultados, ao ser feita uma análise de sensibilidade dinâmica, observou-se que os fatores considerados mais relevantes no momento da tomada de decisão foram qualidade e a rapidez no atendimento, estas receberam os maiores pesos, 33,9% e 23,6%, respectivamente. Abordagem proposta fornece uma importante ferramenta de planejamento e operação a empresas operadoras de planos de saúde, que, a partir disso, têm possibilidade de examinar quais fatores são considerados mais importantes nas visões do usuário e, assim, formular estratégias competitivas e posicionamento de mercado.The contemporary world we live in leads us to a constant pace of life and diverse needs, so when it comes to medical care, the needs are very diverse. For this reason, when looking for a health plan, several factors need to be considered in order to make a decision, such as coverage that works with personal and family life, number of available care units, location of these units, and , an attractive cost-benefit ratio. This article aims to present a proposed approach to identify factors that users consider as most relevant in choosing a health plan service. The Multicriteria Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was used to help identify the relevant factors used in the selection of health plans. And, as a research unit, an application was carried out with a group of users, with the intention of understanding the perspectives as decision makers. As a result, when a dynamic sensitivity analysis was performed, it was observed that the factors considered most relevant at the moment of decision making were quality and speed of care, these received the highest weights, 33.9% and 23.6% , respectively. The proposed approach provides an important planning and operating tool for health plan operators, who are then able to examine which factors are considered most important in their visions and thus formulate competitive strategies and market positioning.El mundo contemporáneo en que vivimos nos lleva a un ritmo de vida de constante movimiento y necesidades diversificadas, con eso, cuando se trata de atención médica, las necesidades son muy diversificadas. Por eso, cuando se está buscando un plan de salud, es necesario analizar diversos factores para tomar una decisión, como una cobertura que funcione con el estilo de vida personal y familiar, cantidad de unidades de atención disponibles, ubicación de estas unidades, y , una relación costo beneficio atractiva. Este artículo tiene por objetivo presentar una propuesta de enfoque para identificar factores que los usuarios consideran como más relevantes en la elección de un servicio de plan de salud. El método multicriterio Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) fue utilizado para auxiliar la identificación de factores relevantes empleados en la selección de planes de salud. Y, como unidad de investigación fue realizada una aplicación con un grupo de personas usuarias, con la intención de comprender las perspectivas como tomadores de decisión. Como resultados, al ser realizado un análisis de sensibilidad dinámica, se observó que los factores considerados más relevantes en el momento de la toma de decisión fueron calidad y la rapidez en la atención, éstas recibieron los mayores pesos, el 33,9% y el 23,6% , respectivamente. El enfoque propuesto proporciona una importante herramienta de planificación y operación a empresas que operan planes de salud que, a partir de eso, tienen la posibilidad de examinar qué factores se consideran más importantes en las visiones del usuario y, así, formular estrategias competitivas y posicionamiento de mercado

Dividendos e lucros anormais: um estudo nas empresas listadas na BOVESPA

O investimento em ações requer estudos e a formulação de cenários de perspectivas, quanto aos lucros futuros, no sentido de determinar os possíveis retornos, sejam anormais ou não. O objetivo desta pesquisa é buscar evidências empíricas da relação entre o comportamento dos dividendos e os lucros anormais, com o propósito de se obter maior clareza sobre esse assunto. A pesquisa empregada é do tipo empírico-analítica, em que se utiliza o modelo de Ohlson para cálculo do lucro anormal e, em seguida, aplica-se a análise de regressão e a técnica de estatística descritiva. Os dados para análise foram coletados do banco de dados Economática, limitando-se a empresas com ações negociadas na Bolsa de Valores de São Paulo - BOVESPA, no período de 1996 a 2001. Espera-se, com isso, contribuir com o fornecimento de tais evidências empíricas. Nos resultados apresentados, constatou-se que não existe a relação entre o dividendo yield e o lucro anormal, mas a média dos dividendos é superior à média dos lucros anormais. Porém, tornam-se necessárias novas pesquisas, a fim de buscar melhores evidências, utilizando períodos maiores de observação e/ou aplicação de outras técnicas.Investing in stocks requires studies and the formulation of future earnings scenarios to determine possible returns, whether abnormal or not. This research aims to find empirical evidence for the relation between dividend behavior and abnormal earnings, with a view to getting a clearer view on this subject. We realized an empirical-analytical study, using Ohlson's model to calculate abnormal earnings. Next, we applied regression analysis and descriptive statistics. Data for analysis were collected from the database Economática, considering companies whose stocks were traded on the São Paulo Stock Exchange - BOVESPA between 1996 and 2001. The results evidence that there was no relation between yield and abnormal earnings, but that average dividends are higher than average abnormal earnings. However, new research is needed to find better evidence, using longer observation periods and/or applying other techniques

Operational competencies rooted in resource theory: operations strategy and supply chain performance

This study discusses the influence of internal and relational resources on the performance of purchasing companies in which strategic suppliers are involved in their business processes, through interaction with operational competencies. The discussion of competency development has followed an internal focus on the company influenced by the resource-based view. In turn, the relational view proposes strategies of interorganizational cooperation to develop competitive relationships through short- and long-term collaborative actions. This study fills an important gap in the field of resource theory in Latin America. The results show that relational vision categories, when integrated with operational competences, influence business performance

Influence of relational resources on the development of relational operating skills

The debate about relational resources and their influences has followed an internal focus on organizations, and in the literature this has been shown to have a high influence on the ways of the resource-based view. This article aims to analyze the development of operational competencies following the focus of the relational view from the interaction of relational resources shared in supply chains. The research was guided by the strategy of multiple case studies in the steel industry, automotive and industrial applications, pulp production, and engineering for the energy industry. The results of the analysis of the four cases show that deeper relationships in the form of partnerships enable a process of investing in specific assets, knowledge accumulation, learning exchange, and a combination of complementary strategic resources that develop relational operational competencies. And, these competencies that represent the company's ability to promote a skill set to use resources efficiently and to provide a barrier to imitation are further developed by the information and knowledge constructs