Coordination mechanisms in business groups from creative industry that operate by project

• Grant number: 13/03984-1
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: August 01, 2013
• End date: July 31, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Applied Social Sciences - Administration - Business Administration
• Principal Investigator: Marco Antonio Pinheiro da Silveira
• Grantee: Marco Antonio Pinheiro da Silveira
• Host Institution: Pró-Reitoria de Pós-Graduação e Pesquisa. Universidade Municipal de São Caetano do Sul (USCS). São Caetano do Sul , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Milton Carlos Farina

Abstract

In this study the term "business grouping" comprises different nomenclatures exist for treating joint action among organizations (Local Productive Arrangements (LPA), Clusters, Business Networks and others). The theme LPA has been in evidence in Brazil, especially since the 2000s. Sebrae, a government institution, supports these experiences, but we can say that the results, in general, for these groups is unsatisfactory. Moreover, it is observed that there is little literature dealing with the coordination forms of business groups. The focus of this research will be a specific type of grouping called "business group that acts by project", which is usually comprised of companies of the service sector. An example of it is ABC Brides Polo, which consists of 88 companies from different segments, which operate in the organization of parties, especially weddings. Another example is the ABC Design Center Polo, which consists of 62 tenants located in that region that offer different products from the sector decoration and architecture. Architects and interior designers use registered products of Polo stores in your projects. The third example is the group formed by 14 Big Bands called Elephants Collective, whose projects are mainly cultural events. The examples mentioned, that will be the target of this research project, fall into the category of creative industry, which includes sectors in which creativity is an essential dimension of business (Bendassolli et al, 2008). This project proposes to conduct a study that will seek to identify actions taken jointly by participants from business groups (APLs, Clusters, Business Networks and others) and patterns of relationship established between the participants of these groups. From the identification of joint actions and relationship patterns, we expect to identify possible coordination mechanisms that contribute to the development of the actions, especially those related to the project developed by business group itself. The research will seek to discover further the understanding of the actors in relation to what the goals of the groups, as well as the shapes can be achieved.The finding that there is no a clear vision of the actors in relation to the objectives of the groupo and mostly about how they can act to contribute to the proper functioning of it is the main motivation for this research. Given this characteristic, and exploratory research will be done based predominantly on qualitative analysis of the reported experiences of actors. Data collection will be done through a web survey and interviews. Respondents will also indicate which members of the group they have exchanged relevant information to their work and report at least two of these situations. We will also use the technique of Social Networks Analysis to analyze the relationship between the participants. The relations versus actions identified may provide important elements in order to identify favorable settings for successful grouping, either in terms of knowledge management or new opportunities in market. A first important result expected in this project is list of joint actions considered positive by the participants of the groups. These actions will be classified in terms of groups, hoping to get a more general taxonomy, which can be extended to groups that work by project and others. It is expected to identify the aspects of creativity (creative industry). Social network analysis (SNA), in turn, provides a mapping of social relationships in each group, identifying key players and their characteristics, as well as existing sub groups. We will compare configuration of the three groups. With the use of SNA along with identification of joint actions, it is believed that it will be possible to identify coordination actions that may be applicable in the creative industry business groups which operate by design, and others. (AU)