Microfundações das capacidades dinâmicas: análise sob a perspectiva da média gerência

Abstract

Brazil has faced, since 2014, a severe economic crisis. This situation increased the scenario of uncertainty, sharply reducing the consumption and investments in the economy of the country. This situation has led to an intense impact on Brazilian organizations, especially in industries and private service providers, leading to structural adjustments such as reducing staff, or even the closing of businesses. In addition to facing the problems imposed by the current economic scenario, Brazilian companies face other challenges, among them are the excessive tax burden and factors related to technological changes in recent years. In such a scenario, characteristic of hostile environments, such as those called "hypercompetitive" and VUCA-volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous, decision making and managerial action receive even more attention in attempts to leverage the competitive potential of the companies. Acting with wisdom and dexterity in a proactive way in such environments is considered a form of dynamic capacity when using tools, insights, external contacts, among other forms of obtaining information to support the decision-making process, in addition to skillfully articulating resources and capabilities, so as to boost companies performance. In this context, the strategic influence of middle managers gains more prominence in organizations. Despite downsizing and restructuring processes with a reduction of hierarchical levels, observed in many organizations around the world, especially after 1990, the remaining middle managers have contributed more strategically to organizations. In fact, the success or failure in strategic change and renewal is influenced by both senior and middle management in their interactions, conversations and daily activities. More decentralized management forms have been emphasized, especially in organizations in competitive environments, on the basis of possible limits and the cognitive biases of senior management for agile and effective decision making. This thesis falls precisely in this context. It aims to investigate how middle managers influence the development of the dimensions of dynamic capabilities. To do this, the present thesis uses two theoretical aspects from the field of strategy, linking them together. The first, the approach of dynamic capabilities, deals with the ability of organizations to construct, combine and renew resources, processes and routines in order to respond and conduct changes in their operation market, adapting to the external environment. The second, called middle manager perspective, refers to functions of entrepreneurship, knowledge creation and organizational change initiated by middle managers. The research method used was multiple case studies, qualitative in nature. Data collection, carried out in four companies located in Minas Gerais, was conducted using semi-structured in-depth interviews and non-participant observation. The technique of content analysis allowed the identification and understanding of micro-practices, carried out by middle managers, related to the conceptual dimensions of awareness, exploitation and reconfiguration, and its implications to the development of dynamic capabilities of organizations. The results obtained indicate that, in the context studied, the development of dynamic capabilities is seen as a result of micro-practices carried out by middle managers and senior management, especially the interaction between them. Therefore, the theoretical approach resulting from the association of dynamic capabilities literature and the perspective of middle managers, allowed the analysis and shedding of light on important issues of the micro-foundations of dynamic capabilities, so far little studied.