Journal of Contemporary Administration

Epistemological Reflections and Doing Science in Contemporary Administration

Carolina Andion — 2023-02-03

RAC has prioritized studies that advance the scientific debate in the field of contemporary administration, favoring original and interdisciplinary studies with epistemological approaches expanding conceptual boundaries and innovatively connecting theory and practice. RAC values responsible knowledge production that contributes in and out of academia. Given this, it is vital to reinforce a research agenda for administration, broadening the horizons of epistemological and metatheoretical discussions on the content of the knowledge produced and on how this knowledge is produced. Such a research agenda must focus on the field’s scientific practices, the scope and limits, and the consequences of these practices in academia and beyond. This editorial presents some reflections and contributions to thinking about new epistemological paths and supporting the use of new praxeological avenues in the field. The intention is to help consolidate a research agenda on epistemology and practices in the scientific work of administration oriented toward the most prominent societal challenges.

Open Government in São Paulo: An Analysis of Open Public Policies

Daniel José Silva Oliveira — 2022-07-22

Objective: to identify how and when the open government principles, specifically transparency, participation, and collaboration, are being incorporated into the public policy cycle phases in local governments. Theoretical framework: theories related to public policy analysis and open government. Method: a single case study with an incorporated focus on the open government initiative of the São Paulo City Hall, where three distinct public policies were analyzed from a theoretical-analytical framework built by integrating the approach of the public policy cycle with the three open government principles. Results: the study showed that in none of the analyzed policies there was the full incorporation of these principles in the five phases of the policy cycle and that little progress was made regarding the requirements for them to be considered open policies. Conclusions: the study contributes to narrowing the theoretical-methodological gap concerning the effectiveness of open government initiatives. The method offers conditions to be applied in different realities and can be used in future research to better understand how open government principles are being incorporated into public policies of governments that have signed open government commitments.

Conscious Capitalism and Construction of Humanized Relationships: A Study in a Credit Cooperative from the Sensemaking Perspective

Célia Dorigan de Matos Furlanetto — 2022-08-30

Objective: this study aims to understand how the purpose of a credit union organization focused on humanizing financial relations can be institutionalized from the stakeholder’s interpretation and action. Theoretical Framework: this purpose was analyzed based on the concepts of an integrated perspective in terms of sensemaking, construction of humanized relations, conscious capitalism, and organizing, which allowed for a contextualized and non-linear reflection on the studied phenomenon, going beyond formal and tangible parameters of the manifested expectations of the cooperative’s strategic guidelines. Methods: the research strategy is a case study for presenting the uniqueness of a specific phenomenon, using content analysis as a technique from the data triangulation of semi-structured interviews, participant observation, and document analysis. Results: as a result, it was possible to conclude that the legitimacy of the cooperative’s strategic purpose goes through an interpretative process of individuals and their different roles that, when interacting among themselves, provide a basis for actions toward incorporating the purpose with a focus on humanized relations because it is a process of social construction and retrospective re-signification of strategic parameters that delineate behaviors. Conclusions: this study provides an expanded look at a specific phenomenon (humanized financial relations) in organizations guided by particular and universal principles (credit unions) that, while competing with non-cooperative financial institutions (banks), need to balance economic and social interests, without ceasing to be competitive.

Information Transparency, Location, and Stakeholder Pressure on the Socially Responsible Partner Selection

Rosana da Rosa Portella Tondolo — 2022-10-17

Objective: the purpose of this paper is to explore the effect of information transparency on the selection of a socially responsible partner, taking into account the role played by signal send by the location of the partner and stakeholder pressure. Theoretical approach: this study is based on the premise that information transparency is a central element in the buyer-supply relationship and can play a key role in the selection of a socially responsible partner. The location of a partner can also affect the feeling of transparency if the country where the partner is located is not recognized for its reputation. The stakeholder pressure for socially responsible practices can also affect the decision to choose a business partner. Methods: we employed a 2 x 2 full-factorial between-subjects, scenario-based role-playing experiment. In Study 1, we simulated a situation in which the buyer is asked about their likelihood of selecting a socially responsible supplier, while in Study 2 we simulated a situation in which the socially responsible supplier is asked about the likelihood of selling products to a buyer. Results: the results indicate that information transparency affects the decision to select socially responsible partners. Stakeholder pressure partially moderates this relationship, while location does not moderate this relationship in either study. Conclusion: we conclude that information transparency throughout the supply chain is a relevant factor in negotiations within a socially responsible context. Information transparency is a key aspect for both the buyer and the supplier when selecting a socially responsible partner.

There’s so Much Life Out There! Work-life Conflict, Women, and Accounting Graduate Programs

Camilla Soueneta Nascimento Nganga — 2022-10-26

Objective: this article discusses women’s experiences during their doctoral education in accounting, focusing on the work-life conflict. Theoretical framework: we adopted feminist theories to discuss the imposed social role on women through the sexual division of labor and how this social role relates to the search for balance between personal and professional life. Method: we adopted constructionism as the epistemological strand and feminist post-structuralism as a theoretical perspective. We conducted in-depth interviews to construct the research corpus. We analyzed the evidence through template analysis and ordered codes according to the research characteristics and purpose. Results: due to the fact that the academic structure replicates the sexual division of labor found in society, imposed dichotomies were found as ‘abandonment or postponement’ of personal life to the detriment of academic life, mainly by issues related to motherhood and the high demands of graduate programs. Conclusions: as a result, we conclude that female doctoral students play several social roles traditionally attributed to women. Therefore, they relegate their personal lives, deciding to postpone marriage and maternity or entering doctoral studies. Thus, considering both the personal relationships built with peers and teachers and the academic institutional environment, the academy still needs to advance to contemplate the trajectory of women so that the difficult choices do not fall on them. The paper contributes to the literature by offering insights and reflections specific to the accounting Brazilian academia.

Social Entrepreneurship Measurement Framework for Developing Countries

Valéria Gonçalves Vieira — 2022-10-26

Objective: this study aims to propose and validate with experts a framework with elements for measuring social entrepreneurship for developing countries. Theoretical framework: social entrepreneurship is approached based on elements from the three main schools of thought: European, American, and of developing countries. Methods: the proposed framework was designed based on a literature review of entrepreneurship models indexed in Web of Science and Scopus databases. The dimensions associated with social entrepreneurship and their potential analysis categories were identified, composing a preliminary framework of indicators validated by a panel of experts using the Delphi technique. Results: the model includes elements of entrepreneurship measurement related to the individual and organizational levels, composing four dimensions, namely: social entrepreneurial intention, social entrepreneurial orientation, processes, and outcomes. It shows that social entrepreneurship in developing countries depends on an orientation toward the social, which is reflected in the desire to solve society’s problems. Thus, in addition to economic value, it generates social and environmental value. Conclusions: among the study’s contributions, the development of a form of assessment for social entrepreneurship in a specific context stands out, since no models for measuring social entrepreneurship were found within this context. The results also tend to contribute to the advance of the field, given that it can become a tool, a measurement model that includes the main characteristic elements of both the entrepreneur and the social enterprise.

The Regulation of the New Bidding Law: Definition of the Institutional Logic Prevalent in a Field

Rosana Ramos Cotrim — 2022-10-27

Objective: the present research analyzes how regulatory definitions occur in a field, in which participants defend multiple logics in the public procurement of large-scale engineering works and services, with a focus on the requisition of guarantee insurance. It also discusses a take-back clause and the percentage of the contract value to be insured. Theoretical approach: this work is part of the discussion about how an institutional logic is constituted, given the competition between multiple logics in a field. Method: the research is focused on discussions relevant to the field. Data collection was carried out through a documentary survey of the analysis of speeches in Congress, as well as interviews with relevant actors in the field using a semi-structured script. Results: the conflicts between logics are resolved through combinations with elements from other field logics. They emphasize the power of actors’ coalitions to define regulatory issues. The study, thus, pointed out how the participants managed to reduce the influence of the logic defended by the insurance market, in favor of the interest of construction companies in the drafting of the project, showing that different market logics can contradict one another. Finally, elements exogenous to the logic under construction are fundamental in its formulation. Conclusions: the theoretical contribution of the study indicates that the institutional logic that becomes prevalent in a complex field is the result of the imposition of a coalition of actors combining elements from distinct logics. However, the coalitions may be different for each of the questions examined.

Who Is Management Research For?

Fabio Vizeu — 2022-09-14

Objective: this paper was written as an essay in a proposition from Adorno, as well as a text influenced by critical and Philosophical hermeneutic. It presents a fundamental question that we have rehearsed: Who is Management research for? Provocations: we take as a basis the reflection on the discursive and social differences between the academic field and the world of meaning of management practitioners, to realize how contradictory our practices and institutionalized structures of communication become, as they do not meet the fundamental objective of science, that is, the transformation of the reality in which it focuses. Conclusions: the hermeticism of our area is not an unsolvable problem, it is enough to see that in other fields the applicability of scientific knowledge happens. Our community needs to wake up to this, before society realizes that, as it is, we are expendable.

Like, Share, and React: Twitter Capture for Research and Corporate Decisions

Djeison Siedschlag — 2022-09-13

Context: social media have an immense amount of information, being a space for its dissemination. Individuals, online connections, are able to filter or give visibility to certain information, to the detriment of others. The central problem lies in monitoring posts and reactions aimed at corporate actions and strategies. In addition to this monitoring, companies can make decisions based on the data collected. Objective: to develop and structure a social media management tool. Methods: to achieve the general objective, the article was developed in three main steps. The first was to suggest a free software script for capturing and initial analysis of Twitter posts. The second step was to categorize this analysis and identify resources and competencies needed by companies. Finally, actions to be taken by companies for social media management were suggested. Results: the developed script enabled the automated extraction of data, which were stored in a database for analysis and management of online interactions. The actions were proposed based on the case study developed. Conclusions: in the practical field, this study contributes to the process of extracting data from Twitter by proposing a new script for capturing data, identifying the main categories of influence of digital activists and monitoring social media through strategic actions. By demonstrating that the script is effective in extracting data, it is possible to carry out further studies and implement the social media management monitoring process.