Abstract This article empirically investigates the implementation of Lean principles through specific tools and practices in service operations, with a focus on car dealerships. A multiple case study design was adopted to examine the Sales and After-Sales operations at two Brazilian dealerships, purposely selected to observe exemplary applications of lean concepts and methods in different service domains. As findings of the study, the research demonstrates that the application of Lean principles in dealerships can be effectively assessed by examining the integration of lean thinking into daily operations, organizational routines, and employee behaviors. Furthermore, the deployment of Lean principles is shown to occur through the consistent use of specific lean tools and practices, which act as operational enablers of the lean philosophy and support the development of continuous improvement capabilities in both Sales and After-Sales processes. Despite the close relationship between car dealerships and manufacturers, the spread of lean practices in this context remains limited. The cases analyzed offer practical insights and references for companies planning to adopt or improve lean service systems.
Abstract Electricity costs challenge the competitiveness of the supermarket retail sector. This study analyzed the technical and economic feasibility of three strategies in supermarkets in Santa Catarina, Brazil: the Free Electricity Market (FEM), battery energy storage systems (BESS) for peak shaving, and zero-grid photovoltaics. Based on real data from 2024 and a 15-year financial model (LCOE and payback), the analysis took into account Brazilian Law No. 15,235/2025. The results indicated that the FEM with incentivized energy offers the most immediate return, reducing costs by 25% to 28%. Photovoltaic generation proved to be a robust investment, with a payback period of 4.5 to 5.5 years. In contrast, BESS was found to be economically unfeasible under current conditions due to high CAPEX, with a payback period exceeding 8 years. It is concluded that contract management and solar generation are the investment priorities, while energy storage depends on future cost reduction.
Abstract Supplier selection in project environments is a complex multicriteria decision-making problem. Uncertainty, qualitative judgments, and limited data availability make the adoption of robust and flexible decision-support approaches essential. In this context, this study proposes a decision model that integrates Hesitant Fuzzy Linguistic Term Sets (HFLTS) with the Quality Function Deployment (QFD) method to support the selection of project suppliers. The model allows decision makers to express hesitant evaluations using comparative linguistic expressions and considers the difficulty of data collection when defining evaluation criteria. A pilot application was conducted in an energy sector company, involving three decision makers and three supplier alternatives evaluated across 11 criteria. The results of the application indicate that delivery capacity and cost were identified as the most heavily weighted criteria. Sensitivity analysis tests suggest the robustness of the supplier ranking. The proposed approach contributes to the literature by integrating hesitation modeling, criteria structuring, and data availability considerations into a unified decision framework.
Abstract The exponential growth of food delivery applications, accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, significantly transformed food consumption habits, motivating this study to identify the main factors influencing consumer behavior in these applications through systematic meta-analysis. A systematic review followed by meta-analysis of 40 scientific articles (2020-2024) from Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases was conducted, investigating correlations between factors and five behavioral stages: value perception, usage intention, usage behavior, satisfaction, and continued use. The meta-analysis revealed significant heterogeneity among studies from 14 countries, with critical factors varying by stage: price, reliability, and privacy moderately impacted value perception; satisfaction demonstrated strong correlation with usage intention; service quality and delivery time were crucial for usage behavior; dining routine strongly influenced satisfaction; value perception and service speed determined continued use. As its main theoretical contribution, the study advances the literature on technology adoption by consolidating fragmented empirical evidence into a unified five-stage framework of digital consumer behavior. In terms of practical and managerial contributions, the research provides clear guidelines to differentiate customer acquisition from retention strategies, assisting managers in decision-making and in adapting to different contexts of cultural and regional heterogeneity.
Abstract In Industry 4.0, robotics is reshaping supply chain management across sectors such as transportation, logistics, agriculture, and manufacturing. This article delivers the first comprehensive review of robot deployments in these sectors, highlighting their intersection with blockchain and examining both implementation barriers and integration challenges. Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, we analyzed 37 studies across various areas of the supply chain. Key findings highlight the maturity of the “Transportation and Logistics” area, where the most widely utilized robots are Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs), Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs), and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). Regarding blockchain integration with robotics, we observed that the primary use is to secure communication between robots, employing mechanisms such as smart contracts and proof-of-work. Most barriers to robot implementation within the supply chain fall within the technological category. Two recurrent challenges in this domain include limited travel range (by air or land) and difficulties with collision avoidance, particularly for UAVs and AMRs. Finally, regarding the integration of robots with blockchain, the most significant barriers identified are limited storage capacity, response delays, high power consumption, and insufficient computing power in robots to implement blockchain mechanisms effectively.
Abstract This study examines sustainable public procurement (SPP) in the context of Brazilian public administration, mapping the presence of elements of managerial and post-managerial models in the institutional instruments related to the implementation process. Grounded in the theoretical frameworks of these paradigms, the research adopts a qualitative documentary approach, analyzing institutional sources related to management, legal advisory functions, and internal, external, and societal oversight. The findings reveal both normative and operational advances, yet also highlight asymmetries and weaknesses in coordination among public actors. The study contributes to advancing both theoretical and practical understanding of SPP by highlighting the articulation between these practices and the managerial and post-managerial models of Brazilian public administration. This approach helps bridge a gap identified in the literature by framing SPP as a complex and multidimensional public policy, situated at the intersection of distinct administrative rationalities. Finally, the research highlights the development of an analytical matrix for SPP management, which enables the assessment of the consolidation of operational guidelines across various dimensions of public administration, offering valuable input for institutional diagnostics, policy formulation, and the enhancement of sustainable public governance.
Abstract This study investigates the challenges that hinder the broader expansion of connected cars, using the TOE (Technology-Organization-Environment) framework as its theoretical lens. To this end, it draws on data from a systematic review of 65 academic articles and 19 industry reports, as well as interviews with 17 experts from the Brazilian automotive industry. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis techniques and reveal 14 challenges that constrain the expansion of connected cars, categorized into four technological, seven organizational, and three environmental challenges. The study contributes to the literature on digital servitization by extending the perspective of connected car business models. For practitioners in the automotive industry, it highlights the key challenges they face in navigating the transformation brought about by connected cars.
Abstract The paper examines the conceptions of control of large water and sanitation companies in Brazil. Grounded in an approach that emphasizes the historical, political, and cultural constitution of organizational management, this study contributes to the literature on historical transformations in corporate models based on the analyzed cases. To this end, a qualitative analysis based on an abductive research approach is adopted. The analysis focuses on four of the leading companies in the Brazilian sanitation sector, examined comparatively between 2013 and 2023. It draws on the history of sector policies and regulations, as well as data on the companies and their executives collected from institutional websites, earnings results centers, and documents from the Brazilian Securities and Exchange Commission (CVM) and Boards of Trade. The data are reflexively analyzed based on the concepts of the adopted research program and the statistical technique of Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA). The analysis reveals that the way the State influenced corporate conceptions of control in Brazil differs from the patterns observed in U.S. studies. Furthermore, it demonstrates that the relationships between managerial profiles and corporate management models in Brazil are more complex than those described in the literature, requiring more refined data and sophisticated analytical techniques, such as the one used here.
Abstract Digital Transformation has increasingly reshaped public organizations, requiring higher levels of efficiency, transparency, and service quality. Although Business Process Management (BPM) is widely adopted as a managerial approach, empirical evidence on how BPM can strategically converge with Digital Information and Communication Technologies (DICT) in public universities remains limited. This study addresses this gap by analyzing how the integration of BPM and digital certification can improve administrative processes in a Brazilian public university. An action research methodology was employed, structured in sequential phases that included the institutionalization of a BPM program, training of process architects, process mapping and modeling using BPMN, prioritization of critical processes through the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), and redesign and simulation of the selected process using the Bizagi Modeler. The results show that integrating BPM with digital certification enabled a significant redesign of the diploma issuing and registration process, reducing non-value-adding activities, increasing transparency, and shortening lead times. Beyond operational improvements, the study highlights top management support, structured communication, and organizational learning as critical success factors for sustaining BPM initiatives in public-sector digital transformation. The study offers empirical evidence and a replicable methodological pathway for aligning BPM with digital technologies in public organizations and suggests avenues for future research on the integration of BPM with emerging digital technologies in public sector digital transformation.
Abstract Soybean production plays an important role in the Brazilian economy, contributing approximately 7% of its GDP. While existing studies focus predominantly on cultivation issues, they often overlook broader supply chain dynamics. Considering the vast territory of Brazil, logistics poses a potential bottleneck for competitiveness. To overcome this, two major infrastructure projects, Ferrogrão and Norte/Sul, aim at integrating railway, waterway, and highway networks, enhancing connectivity between midwestern soybean-producing municipalities and Brazil's northern ports. The present study evaluates the impact of these multi-mode logistics projects on sustainability, focusing on cost efficiency (economic dimension), CO2 emissions (environmental dimension), and socioeconomic outcomes (social dimension). Using a logistic optimization model, we analyzed strategies that minimize soybean transportation costs and CO2 emissions along the newly constructed northern section of the Norte/Sul railway. Additionally, econometric methods were employed to compare the socioeconomic effects of the Norte/Sul railway on municipalities relative to the highway routes targeted by the Ferrogrão project. Findings indicate that adopting multi-mode transport reduces logistics costs by 13-19% and CO2 emissions by about 10%, although direct impacts on wages at transshipment municipalities show variability, depending on the specific project considered.
Abstract The integration of the SCOR model (Supply Chain Operations Reference) with Social Network Analysis (SNA) is proposed in this study as a strategic, data-driven approach to enhance supplier management in complex supply chains. The research was conducted through a case study in a molecule purification plant using the Roster-Call method, interviews with managers, ERP system data collection, and analysis with UCINET and NetDraw software. Centrality indicators (degree, closeness, and betweenness) allowed the identification of the focal company's critical centrality while also revealing structural weaknesses, such as excessive dependence on a single node and low connectivity among peripheral actors. The SWOT analysis, combined with the SCOR Plan and Source stages, made it possible to relate the network’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, while the proposal of performance indicators such as Order Fulfillment Cycle Time, Supply Chain Responsiveness, and Sourcing Flexibility expanded monitoring and management capabilities. The results demonstrate that the combination of analytical tools (SNA and SWOT) with reference models (SCOR) provides a hybrid framework capable of mapping relational structures, identifying critical points, and proposing practical metrics that strengthen supply chain resilience and efficiency. As a limitation, the study highlights its application to a single case and the absence of practical validation of the proposals, recommending caution in generalizations. Nevertheless, the work contributes both to literature by advancing the methodological integration of analytical models and to managerial practice by supporting decisions grounded in structural and strategic data.
Abstract The aim of the study is to analyze the effect of amotivation and intrinsic motivation regulation on engagement and how engagement influences the performance of individuals in project teams under on-site, hybrid, and remote work regimes (work from home). The research stands out for analyzing the relationship between motivation, engagement, and individual performance in different work regimes, contributing to the understanding of the impact of remote work on project teams and informing the choice of the regime that best fosters the motivation and performance of individuals in project teams. The methodology used was multigroup analysis, using structural equation modeling of partial least squares (PLS-SEM). The proposed conceptual model was validated. The intrinsic regulation of motivation positively influences engagement, while amotivation has a negative relationship with engagement in all work regimes. The relationship between engagement and individual performance was moderate in the on-site and hybrid regimes but weak in the remote regime. The research demonstrates that intrinsic motivation drives engagement across all work arrangements. However, the impact of engagement on performance, significant in the on-site and hybrid models, was considerably reduced in the remote regime, requiring future investigations.
Abstract Gaps remain in the literature regarding the integration between work organization, sociotechnical systems, and the technological solutions of Industry 4.0. From this perspective, this article aimed to conduct a bibliometric analysis of the sociotechnical approach to work in the context of Industry 4.0. To this end, an exploratory and descriptive study was developed, using a quantitative approach and secondary data from Scopus. Findings indicate that the most contemporary view of sociotechnical systems is indeed connected to Industry 4.0 and is on the rise, as evidenced by the increasing number of publications on this topic. The bibliometric indicators identified 299 distinct articles from 216 sources, with five publications surpassing 200 citations. Scientific productivity was higher in the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and Denmark, indicating a European predominance in the publication landscape. The results suggest both the diffusion and the contemporaneity of the research theme, confirming Lotka's Law but not Bradford's Law. Collaboration networks among researchers were identified, along with a dense keyword network.
Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic exposed critical vulnerabilities in hospital supply chains, especially in developing countries with limited procurement agility. This study analyzes how public and private healthcare institutions responded to disruptions in the supply chain of pandemic personal protective equipment (PPE), based on a structured survey conducted with hospital managers and representatives from the regional health authority in southern Brazil. The findings reveal institutional asymmetries in demand forecasting, supplier diversification, and technological integration. Procurement resilience was influenced more by managerial flexibility and inter-institutional collaboration than using digital tools. By addressing local governance in public procurement under emergency conditions, this research offers an empirical contribution from a Global South perspective, highlighting adaptive and collaborative mechanisms as key factors for strengthening hospital supply chains during crises. The results contribute to the literature on humanitarian logistics and disaster preparedness, with implications for decentralized health systems. This study also supports progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), by promoting strategies that ensure equitable access to medical supplies in critical situations.
Abstract Developing and emerging economies (DECs) face persistent challenges, including chronic underinvestment in R&D, outdated infrastructure, and acute skills shortages, that constrain effective Industry 4.0 adoption. Existing reviews often offer static, region- or sector-specific snapshots and do not trace how Industry 4.0 knowledge has evolved in DECs or how these technologies address local business challenges. To address this gap, a Systematic Literature Network Analysis was undertaken, examining 103 peer-reviewed articles published between 2011 and 2023. This method integrates citation-network, main-path analyses and keyword co-occurrence mapping. Analyses were performed using CiteSpace, Biblioshiny, VOSviewer, and Pajek to map intellectual trajectories and thematic clusters. Key directions identified include Industry 4.0’s potential to strengthen innovation and competitiveness, the promise of smart retrofitting as a cost-effective pathway, and the need for a socio-technical systems perspective that aligns technological investments with organisational and societal requirements. The results underscore the imperative for coordinated university-industry-government action and context-sensitive national policies to promote inclusive, scalable Industry 4.0 adoption in DECs.
Abstract The transformation of organizations, driven by new technologies, has been studied in academic and corporate environments. In the procurement area, innovations are aimed at improving processes and increasing productivity. This study aimed to evaluate the developments of the use of Robotic Process Automation (RPA) in procurement, encompassing the financial, processes, and people dimensions and going through the pre-implementation, implementation, and post-adoption phases. The study is justified by the scarcity of literature on RPA in procurement in Brazil. This research has a qualitative approach and used the single case study in a large Brazilian multinational in the petrochemical sector. Both primary data (interviews with buyers, area leader, and developer) - and secondary data (document analysis) were used. The results indicate that: (1) the implementation was feasible; (2) the expected benefits of productivity and operational load relief were perceived, with task selection and process design being the critical points; and (3) there was good acceptance of the technology by users, related to training, support, performance, utility, and ease of use. The results were consistent with the literature and advanced in the studies when addressing a Brazilian case, offering theoretical and practical contributions to evaluate and improve technological adoption in procurement.
Abstract The Amazon, with its vast biodiversity, holds strategic potential for developing a sustainable bioeconomy, particularly through the valorization of non-timber forest products (NTFPs). In this context, digital technologies serve as key tools for building more transparent, inclusive, and environmentally responsible value chains. We carried out this study in a systematic literature review (SLR), based on 56 articles, analyzing how digital platforms can contribute to the economic, environmental, and social valorization of NTFPs in the region. The findings indicate that tools such as blockchain and Internet of Things (IoT) enhance traceability, authenticity, and sustainable standards, while artificial intelligence supports demand planning and market alignment. Drawing upon these insights, we proposed a digital framework, structured around four pillars: traceability and authentication, demand forecasting and market management, community capacity-building, and environmental monitoring with sustainable certifications. The framework aims to reduce inequalities, promote sustainable practices, and drive regional development. However, challenges such as inadequate technological infrastructure and a lack of local capability remain significant challenges to its implementation. Future studies should test the model’s application in specific Amazonian communities, assessing its socioeconomic and environmental impacts as well as its practical feasibility.
Abstract This study aims to analyze the influence of female members of boards of directors (FBOD) on firm performance (FP). The next objective is to examine whether the president commissioner's (EPC) educational background moderates the influence of FBOD on FP. Using the resource dependence theory (RDT) and resource-based view (RBV) approaches, this study views the educational background of the president commissioner as a catalyst for enhancing the effectiveness of the female board of directors (FBOD). The data analysis technique employed involves panel data regression analysis. The first key result of the study is that FBOD had a positive effect on FP with TQ and ROA proxies, whereas the second key result is that EPC was found to strengthen the influence of FBOD on FP. The limitation of this study is that the research sample used involves all sectors of companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange from 2019 to 2022. The results of this study can be used as a reference for shareholders to elect the president commissioners, who will oversee the company's strategy and ensure good corporate governance, with attention to the level of education (EDULEV) and educational background (EDUBACK). This study is the first to highlight the role of EPC in moderating the influence of FBOD on FP. The relevance of this study is even stronger considering the context of Indonesia, which has begun to encourage gender diversity at the board level, even though it has not formally implemented mandatory quotas.
Abstract The article addresses the theme of collaboration in the healthcare supply chain, and specifically, the implementation of collaborative planning known as CPFR (Collaborative Planning, Forecasting, and Replenishment). Through qualitative research, this study compares CPFR practices in the healthcare supply chain with the existing literature. The analysis provides valuable insights into the current state of implementating CPFR and examines how practices align with established theories. The article also addresses the main barriers to successful implementation of collaborative planning in the healthcare supply chain. Additionally, it offers an in-depth view of the observed practices which can benefit academics, professionals, and companies interested in improving collaboration within the healthcare supply chain. The study emphasizes the importance of staying aware of the ongoing evolution of collaborative planning as well as revisiting existing theoretical models in order to account for new demands and emerging solutions in light of current conditions.
Abstract Project management sought levels of improvement with the advancement of production processes, in order to visualize forms of iterative and concrete improvement in agile management. The application of this methodology requires efficient and targeted participation on the part of management, seeking fundamental factors for the success of the project and management, in order to empirically apply the hybrid management methodology. Regarding methodology, this study seeks to answer what makes the hybrid model effective, and how to measure success within organizations that use this methodology. Thus, through bibliometrics, 5 main critical success factors were listed, applying them empirically and creating a success metric based on the parameters Time, Cost and Scope. The results indicate that the actions of hybrid management, based on critical success factors, help in an improvement far above expectations, in order to corroborate the observed parameters, while creating tools for applying hybrid models. Finally, this article contributes to the current debate regarding hybrid management models in mechanical projects, while providing robust results from the application of hybrid management in the Agile-Stage-Gate model.
