Journal of Contemporary Administration

Artificial Intelligence and the Identity of the Researcher

Paula Chimenti — 2024-11-13

The development and large-scale dissemination of generative artificial intelligence (GAI) – understood as technology capable of producing content similar to that created by humans – raises questions about the future of many sectors, including education. The debate around the future of research and researchers has intensified. Will we be replaced? Will we become obsolete in less than a decade?

Environmental Governance that Emerges from Action: Pragmatist Studies in Protected Areas

Jorge Stürmer — 2024-10-14

Objective: the main objectives of this work are to contribute to reducing the gap in studies on the management of protected areas in the field of administration, and to understand how environmental governance is performed in action. Theoretical approach: the theoretical basis was composed of approaches to environmental governance, pragmatistinspired sociologies, and pragmatist analysis of organizations. Methods: the research strategy adopted the general premises of ethnography in organizational studies, with daily in situ monitoring of the situations experienced by the actors in the organizations and their interactions with the other actors in their environment. In-depth interviews, bibliographical research, and document analysis were also carried out. Results: the results of the research primarily indicate that the environmental governance that emerged from the action in the two protected areas is a process characterized by conflicts, controversies, and contradictions. Conclusion: environmental governance can be characterized as processes of creating shared governance and management mechanisms, establishing institutional arrangements and partnerships, building territorial assets, and monitoring actions. What stands out in all these processes is the cross-cutting nature of managing conflicts, controversies, and confronting contradictions.

Examining the Extent of Compliance on Combined Assurance Reporting Quality: Evidence from Namibian State-owned Enterprises

Adeyemi Adebayo — 2024-11-08

Objective: the objective of this paper is to explore the extent of compliance on combined assurance model, which is an innovative corporate governance and management tool that integrates and optimizes all assurance services and functions to support the integrity of organizational external reports. Theoretical approach: based on this premise, this study analyzes the compliance of SOEs in Namibia with the requirements of the combined assurance model or how they have explained their non-compliance in their annual/integrated reports. Methods: we developed a combined assurance compliance reporting quality (CACRQ) checklist, which we applied using content analysis to the publicly available annual/integrated reports of Tier 1, 2, and 3 SOEs in Namibia. Results: the study found that most of the SOEs have not adopted the combined assurance model. Further findings indicate that the SOEs’ report on compliance with the combined assurance model lacks quality in terms of what a combined assurance report should entail, with the exception of the assurance strategy. Their reports may not convince stakeholders that internal controls have been adequately carried out, which is the main goal of a combined assurance report. Conclusions: we conclude by highlighting the policy implications of the findings and pointing to future research areas.

Embracing Fallibility in Quantitative Research: Thoughts and Remarks on Exploratory Factor Analysis and beyond

Marcelo Luiz Dias da Silva Gabriel — 2024-10-22

Objective: errors are inevitable in the scholarly pursuit of truth, yet they are often seen as flaws rather than growth opportunities. This paper examines the tension between scholars’ inherent fallibility and rigorous academic research standards, particularly concerning quantitative methods such as exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The focus is on whether the academic community effectively balances the acceptance of errors as part of the learning process, with the relentless pursuit of truth and how this balance influences the advancement of knowledge within the context of evolving statistical tools needed to improve our understanding of complex global relationships. Provocations: if errors are fundamental to scientific progress, why does the academic community approach them with apprehension? This fear of mistakes may inhibit innovation, especially in fields such as quantitative methods research, where the stakes are high. Another question is whether the accessibility of user-friendly statistical software has led to a superficial understanding of complex methodologies, prioritizing convenience over depth. Conclusions: we advocate for a shift in how the academic community perceives errors toward viewing them as essential to the research process rather than as fatal flaws. Embracing a humble approach to pointing out mistakes and limitations, particularly with quantitative methods such as EFA and SEM, can create a more innovative and progressive research environment. We call for a cultural shift where constructive critiques are balanced with understanding our collective fallibility, with the ultimate goal of producing more impactful scholarship.

Political Administration: Contributions to the Theoretical-Analytical and Empirical Debate of Contemporary Administration

Elizabeth Matos Ribeiro — 2024-10-28

Objective: this paper aims to examine the contributions of Reginaldo Souza Santos' thought to the advancement of Contemporary Administration theory and practice. In doing so, it will consider the evolution of the theory of political administration from its conception to its present form. Thesis: the theory of Political Administration makes relevant contributions to the theory and practices of Contemporary Administration by recovering the possibilities, challenges and limits of Administration science in its subjective and objective aspects — political and technical — which underpin the purpose (intentionality), conception, movement and social purpose of this field of knowledge. Conclusions: (a) efforts undertaken by Reginaldo Santos, as expressed in the theory of Political Administration, contributed to the dialogue and renovation of the thinking of renowned Brazilian and Bahian thinkers, such as Guerreiro Ramos (1940-1982) and João Ubaldo Ribeiro (1968-2014). These thinkers were instrumental in inaugurating a critical debate about the (Social) Sciences of Administration and Organizational Studies; (b) innovations introduced by the theory of Political Administration allow for contending that the Brazilian academic demonstrates an important capacity for renewing the theoretical-critical debate on administrative (social) thought, particularly when defending the inseparability between theoreticalabstract aspects (from strategic management, or gestão) and administrative practices (from operational management, or gerência). In this sense, the theory of Political Administration has enabled production and dissemination of critical technologies and studies in management (public, private and social) committed to putting socially produced administrative-social knowledge and practices in service of promoting social welfare.

Bioeconomy in Amazonia: Tensions and Synergies of Corporate Sustainability

Patricia Taeko Kaetsu — 2024-10-21

Manioca is a successful food-tech company, an entrepreneurial initiative emerging from a desire to share the flavours of the Amazonia globally. The scarcity of typical Amazonian products in the Southeast region of Brazil, coupled with a general interest in Northern cuisine, led Joanna Martins to pursue her vision of commercializing local products. After an unsuccessful venture, her experience paved the way for success in her second business: the Manioca, a food industry based on local raw materials. The industry prioritizes sustainable sourcing and fair stakeholder relationships. Joanna and her co-founder, Paulo Reis, navigated numerous challenges but now face difficulties securing additional supply for the industry due to Amazonia’s limitations. She confronts the decision to either develop suppliers directly or outsource through intermediaries, each impacting the industry’s economic, social, and environmental dimensions differently. This case focuses on the concepts of triple bottom line and sustainability tensions and invites students to consider the factors influencing Joanna’s decision. This analysis is relevant to management, sustainability, operations, entrepreneurship, and agribusiness disciplines. It underscores the complexity of corporate sustainability, advocating for a systemic perspective beyond financial metrics and reevaluating current sustainability frameworks.

Carbon Credit and Macaúba Palm Tree: Advancing ESG in Green Cattle Production

Glaucia Fernandes Vasconcelos — 2024-11-05

This case aims to explore the intersection between the financial sustainability of cattle production, the sale of carbon credits, and the cultivation of macaúba palm trees. The case identifies challenges and opportunities for ESG (environmental, social, and governance) practices in the context of contemporary agribusiness. The account involves a Brazilian rural farmer and presents the planting process and integration of macaúba palm with beef cattle production, the concept of the carbon market, and the social externalities of the project. The case raises the following dilemma: How to balance the economic potential of macaúba palm trees and their byproducts with the mission of producing cattle in an ecologically responsible manner while positioning favorably in the carbon credit market? The pedagogical objectives focus on analyzing the economic, financial, and environmental feasibility of integrating green cattle production and macaúba palm cultivation, understanding the dynamics and implications of carbon credits in the national agribusiness context, and reflecting on the importance and challenges of implementing ESG practices in agribusiness, this way stimulating the decision-making capacity in complex and multidimensional scenarios. The case can be applied in undergraduate and graduate level courses in finance and related fields. The case is recommended to encourage students to reflect on the financial structures and challenges of implementing the sale of carbon credits for small rural landowners.