Processo de transferência de conhecimento e práticas organizacionais para o sucesso da implementação de um programa de melhoria corporativo: um estudo em uma subsidiária nacional e seus fornecedores locais

Abstract

In order to increasing the understanding of the factors that influence the implementation multi-plant improvement programs (XPS), this study aimed to analyze the knowledge and organizational practices transfer process on XPS implementation among a subsidiary and its local suppliers. In order to accomplish this, a structured literature review was conducted to identify the factors that influence the process of knowledge and organizational practices transfer. Based on this review a framework was proposed with twelve theoretical propositions. The framework was applied conducted in a multiple-case study with four local suppliers and an automotive multinational subsidiary, all of them located in Pernambuco/Brazil. The empirical data was gathered from semi-structured interviews, direct observation, organizational documents and published papers. The data analysis was conducted by using a computer-aided qualitative data analysis assistant (software Atlas.ti), for management and categorize the collected data. The results highlighted the positive influence of the motivation and transfer ability of the source unit to share the XPS; the value and the type of knowledge and practice stock; the richness of personal, socials and organizational transmission mechanisms on XPS implementation; the motivation of target unit to receive the XPS and the organizational and relational context between the units on XPS implementation. However, the empirical data provide partial support to the influence of the social context and the absorptive capacity of the target unit on XPS implementation. Furthermore the results show that some subfactors were interrelated. This is an exploratory qualitative study limited to analyze four local suppliers and an automobile industry with a theoretical framework potentially testable in larger scale. This study provides an overview of multi-plant improvement programs. Moreover, also can help managers in knowledge and practice transfer process on XPS implementation and contributes to the recent and fragmented literature about multi-plant improvement programs and XPS implementation.