How national culture on consumers' decision-making styles: a comparative study among Americans, Brazilians, Chinese, and japanese in the purchase of cell phones.

The influence of the national culture on consumer decision-making styles is investigated using a sample of Americans, Brazilians, Chinese, and Japanese consumers who have purchased a cell phone in the past three years. To make the research possible, a survey was used as a method of data collection. It relates Hofstede’s cultural classification typology with Sproles and Kendall’s consumer style inventory (CSI). The multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) results indicate six decision-making styles together with other consumer behavioral characteristics that can be used to distinguish and profile consumers who purchase cell phones. Empirical findings reveal that among Americans, Brazilians, and Japanese; Americans are the most quality conscious, brand conscious, innovative, and hedonistic shoppers; Brazilians are the most loyal, and Japanese, the most confused by overchoice consumers. Conceptual contributions and managerial implications are discussed.

Estilo Gerencial no IRD/CNEN: Possibilidades de Contribuição para a Implantação e Implementação do NBR ISO 9000

This study investigates in the National Commission of Nuclear Energy the Institute of Radiation Protection and Dosimetry in terms of perceptions, actions, and posture of the administrative agents which could facilitate the engagement of the employees of that public organization in the TQM implantation, based on NBR ISO 9000. The central question of this research is: which characteristics of the administrative actions and sense of the managerial posture manifested in the implantation, implementation and maintenance for the achievement of objectives and goals of the Quality System-ISO 9000, could contribute to engage the IRD professionals in the process? The research finds prevalence of the Quality technical knowledge over the attention on professionals' managerial posture, identifies a lack in that Norm about how to deal with its administrative requirements in practical terms, driving the researcher to look for support especially in Deming to face the critical reading of that organizational context. The field research was conceived under the paradigm of constructivism, facilitating the description of beliefs, perceptions, feelings and values manifested in the employees discourses, actions and re-actions to establish relations between Quality theory and that concrete reality. A phenomenologic approach, only as a complementary level, was sufficient to favor the researcher insertion in that institution where he is still working, but in the new and contingent role of researcher. To apprehend the organization managerial stile, to comprehend beyond its characteristics and to grasp the orientation of the managerial posture in terms of possibilities for Quality implementation were the core of this study. The TQM theory was interpreted as a living philosophy, an administrative posture the meaning of which is a permanent Quality improvement in the CNEN/IRD management processes in its internal and external organizational relations. The procedural nature of the CNEN/IRD public service legal regime, political implications and performance evaluation which reveals only partially the organizational reality should not obstruct the Institute drive to assume the spirit of serving the public as a Quality management philosophic commitment. Conclusions show some progress reorienting initiatives in organizational management taking place in three different levels: operational, toward the employees' expectations of values and organizational processes integration; HR administration, in search of better communication; strategic, through expectations on a possible visionary leadership". Finally, at the academic level, the perception that future studies in search of the establishment of relationships between TQM and the organization culture can favor new progress."

Equidade de gênero no âmbito corporativo sob a ótica do executivo

Este trabalho teve como objetivo, abordar o perfil dos homens que conseguiram alcançar cargo de executivo, as trajetórias percorridas no mercado de trabalho e a percepção destes homens em relação à existência de diferenças entre características femininas e masculinas no mundo corporativo e na vida pessoal. Para coleta das percepções, foram realizadas entrevistas individuais de estrutura semi-aberta com executivos (Diretores e Gerentes) de empresas de diversos segmentos. Foi utilizado um roteiro de entrevistas que abrange toda a trajetória do executivo, sua formação acadêmica e suas experiências profissionais até ocupar um cargo de executivo. O roteiro passa por questões do dia a dia, por questionamentos sobre características pessoais ou de gênero que facilitam o trabalho do executivo e à ascensão na carreira, e finaliza com aspectos da vida pessoal, sempre abordando as questões do gênero. Com base em bibliografias e através das declarações coletadas nas entrevistas conclui-se que: com a diversidade de culturas, crenças e a pluralidade de identidades psicológicas, sociais, de gênero e sexuais na contemporaneidade, é simplesmente impossível conceber uma hegemonia frente às nossas identidades, porque elas não são fixas, imutáveis, pelo contrário, elas estão constantemente sofrendo mudanças, e a cada década, podemos perceber que cada vez mais a cultura, os modos de vida, de se comportar, de ser e de estar, vão se alterando, adequando-se às exigências do próprio tempo.

Exploring different social media users from the millennials’ generation: a cross-cultural behavioral analysis of brazilian users of Facebook and chinese users of RenRen

With the increasing importance of digital communication and its distinct characteristics, marketing tools and strategies adopted by companies have changed dramatically. Among the many digital marketing tools and new media channels available for marketers, the phenomenon known as social media is one of the most complex and enigmatic. It has a range that still is quite unexplored and deeply transforms the present view on the promotion mix (Mangold & Faulds, 2009). Conversations among users on social media directly affect their perceptions on products, services and brands. But more than that, a wide range of other subjects can also become topics of conversations on social media. Hit songs, sporting events, celebrity news and even natural disasters and politics are topics that often become viral on the web. Thus, companies must grasp that, and in order to become more interesting and relevant, they must take part in these conversations inserting their brands in these online dynamic dialogues. This paper focuses on how these social interactions are manifested in the web in to two distinct cultures, Brazil and China. By understanding the similarities and differences of these cultures, this study helps firms to better adjust its marketing efforts across regions, targeting and positioning themselves, not only geographically and culturally, but also across different web platforms (Facebook and RenRen). By examining how companies should focus their efforts according to each segment in social media, firms can also maximize its results in communication and mitigate risks. The findings suggest that differences in cultural dimensions in these two countries directly affect their virtual social networking behavior in many dimensions (Identity, Presence, Relationships, Reputation, Groups, Conversations and Sharing). Accordingly, marketing efforts must be tailored to each comportment and expectations.

Gestão de integridade de ativos: aspectos culturais e internacionalização

O presente trabalho de pesquisa, apresentado como dissertação para a conclusão do curso de Mestrado Executivo em Administração de Empresas, teve como objetivo estudar o processo de implantação de um sistema de gestão de integridade de ativos tangíveis na filial brasileira de uma empresa estrangeira com larga experiência no setor de produção de óleo e gás. Embora a empresa matriz esteja presente em inúmeros países, a filial local, chamada neste estudo de Íntegra, é a primeira, fora do país de origem que possui a operação de um campo de petróleo. A análise realizada não foi feita diretamente sobre o processo de implantação do sistema de gestão na prática, mas sim sobre as percepções sobre o tema e os assuntos que este envolve, focando em entender como as partes interessadas entendem a gestão de integridade. O método empregado para o desenvolvimento do trabalho foi o de estudo de caso e a problemática estudada foi a influência dos aspectos culturais e o processo de internacionalização da empresa na implantação dos processos necessários à gestão de integridade de ativos. A fim de reunir material para a elaboração do trabalho, foi realizada pesquisa de campo, onde através de entrevistas com funcionários e prestadores de serviço da Íntegra foram colhidos depoimentos que propiciaram o entendimento da forma como estes viam a condução da implantação de processos na empresa. A confrontação da teoria disponível no meio acadêmico com os dados coletados na pesquisa de campo indicou alguns desafios culturais a serem considerados na implantação do processo de gestão, como os ligados às visões de prazo e aos valores e práticas coletivistas. O trabalho propõe uma discussão especial sobre o papel da liderança para fazer frente a esses desafios.