Tomada de decisão em micro e pequenas empresas do setor de serviços em municípios do interior da Paraíba

Abstract

Decision-making is an essential process in organizations and is directly related to the definition of actions, strategies, and organizational direction. In the context of micro and small service enterprises, this process presents specific characteristics, particularly due to the concentration of decision-making in the hands of managers. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the decision-making process in micro and small service enterprises located in municipalities in the interior of Paraíba, Brazil, focusing on the influence of managers on strategic decisions. This is a qualitative, descriptive, and exploratory study conducted through semi-structured interviews with ten managers. The collected data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings indicate that decision-making is centralized and strongly influenced by the managers' experience and perceptions. Decisions are primarily based on practical knowledge, while the use of managerial information and analytical tools remains limited. Furthermore, risk assessment is present, although carried out informally, and intuition serves as a complementary element, especially in situations of uncertainty. It is concluded that the decision-making process is adaptive, combining experience, information, and intuition. This study contributes to a broader understanding of decision-making in micro and small enterprises by highlighting the manager's role and emphasizing the importance of adopting more structured managerial practices.