Tecnologia da informação: ferramenta eficaz da administração estratégica

Abstract

Information Technology (IT) has established itself as a structural element of strategic organizational management, transcending its original function of routine automation to act as a vector for integration, agility, and competitive advantage. This study aims to analyze the contribution of IT as a strategic tool, based on the implementation of the SAP ERP integrated management system in a forestry organization. The specific objectives were: to describe the implementation process and its operational implications; to evaluate the managerial and strategic impacts of technology adoption; to contrast the results with contemporary trends in data-driven management; and to identify the main challenges and critical success factors in the implementation of integrated systems. The applied research adopted a qualitative approach and descriptive-analytical character, using a single case study as the methodological procedure. Data collection was carried out through bibliographic research and documentary analysis of technical reports and internal records of the ERP implementation project, which took place in 2008. The results show that the adoption of SAP ERP enabled the decentralization of weighing and invoicing operations through mobile scales, the creation of itinerant offices in the forest with satellite communication, the reorganization of logistics and information flows, and the integration of production, purchasing, sales, finance, and transportation modules. These changes generated reduced logistics costs, greater agility in cargo release, efficiency gains in factory supply, expansion of the regional market, a 65% increase in the customer base, and a 35% increase in revenue. The comparative analysis with contemporary trends Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, predictive analytics, Omni channel platforms, and 5G connectivity reveals that the principles adopted in 2008 (decentralization, integration, mobility, and strategic alignment) anticipate the foundations of data-driven management, although current possibilities exponentially expand the analytical and decision-making potential of IT. It is concluded that the effectiveness of technology depends not only on technical infrastructure but, above all, on alignment with strategic objectives, leadership training, and integration with organizational processes. The research reinforces that IT, when treated as a strategic resource rather than a cost center, constitutes an indispensable tool for sustainable competitiveness in dynamic environments, with the progressive incorporation of artificial

intelligence and advanced data analysis as the next horizon for the consolidation of evidence- based strategic management.