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Abstract Many of the energy systems functioning across the developing world are poorly designed and largely inadequate to meet a country's commercial and domestic energy needs. This is especially so in Latin America, where poverty trends have been exacerbated by limited access to energy, which could be used towards supporting industrial and small-scale commercial activities. This has characterised the widespread trend of energy poverty. This phenomenon poses a major barrier towards achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and addressing climate change, since lack of access to reliable energy generation systems hinders the development of economic activities and limits the comfort of living conditions. This paper reports on a study aimed at catering to a better understanding of the challenges related to energy poverty in Latin America and identifying some of the tools that may be deployed to address them. The methodological procedures used were bibliometric analysis and survey. The main findings of this research evidence that reducing energy poverty in Latin American countries is crucial to alleviating household costs since a considerable part of family income is used to pay the energy needs. Less use of coal, greater access to electricity—including those from renewable generation—as well as the use of technologies and programs subsidized by governments would significantly contribute to increasing the Latin American citizens' quality of life and achieving the SDGs.

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected all Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), leading to setbacks in various Latin American countries. In Brazil, progress in technological development and the adoption of sustainable practices by organizations has been significantly hindered. Yet, there remains a limited understanding of the long-term impacts on the country’s development, and a structured national plan for recovery and resuming progress toward the SDGs is lacking. This paper aims to investigate the repercussions of COVID-19 on SDGs 9 (industry, innovation, and infrastructure) and 12 (sustainable consumption and production) in the context of a latecomer country such as Brazil. This study adopted the Delphi-based scenario and Fuzzy Delphi approach and involved the participation of 15 sustainability experts with extensive experience in the Brazilian industrial sector. The findings elucidate the long-term impacts of the pandemic on these SDGs, focusing on Brazil’s socioeconomic landscape and developmental challenges. The pandemic worsened pre-existing issues, hindering infrastructure modernization, technological investment, and sustainable practices. Insufficient research funding, industry modernization, and small business integration further impede progress. Additionally, the paper identifies implications for research, companies, and public policies, aiming to provide actionable insights for fostering sustainable development in the post-pandemic era.

This paper presents an innovative experience involving students and professors from diverse backgrounds and regions that was designed to integrate corporate sustainability (CS) knowledge into undergraduate programs. An action research approach was adopted, with the course running over one semester. The course involved 146 students with diverse academic backgrounds from universities across Brazil along with eight professors from Brazil, Chile, and South Africa. The proposed approach provides actionable insights into the integration of sustainability concepts in the higher educational setting, thereby contributing to the development of a more environmentally and socially conscious generation of professionals. The learning outcomes are discussed in the light of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Agenda, particularly SDG 7 (affordable and clean energy), SDG 9 (industry, innovation, and infrastructure), and SDG 13 (climate action). In addition, it is important to highlight that the dissemination of the course’s key features can be useful for universities, professors, and researchers engaged in training future professionals capable of addressing real-world problems of innovation and sustainability. By employing an action research methodology and fostering collaboration among students and professors with diverse academic backgrounds and from different countries, including Brazil, Chile, and South Africa, this paper presents a multiregional and interdisciplinary perspective that sets it apart from conventional practices. The emphasis on providing actionable insights and its potential applicability for universities, professors, and researchers involved in training future professionals further underscore its distinctive contribution to education for sustainable development.

Abstract Many higher education institutions around the world are engaged in efforts to tackle climate change. This takes place by not only reducing their own carbon footprint but also by educating future leaders and contributing valuable research and expertise to the global effort to combat climate change. However, there is a need for studies that identify the nature of their engagement on the topic, and the extent to which they are contributing towards addressing the many problems associated with climate change. Against this background, this paper describes a study that consisted of a review of the literature and the use of case studies, which outline the importance of university engagement in climate change and describe its main features. The study identified the fact that even though climate change is a matter of great relevance to universities, its coverage in university programmes is not as wide as one could expect. Based on the findings, the paper also lists the challenges associated with the inclusion of climate change in university programmes. Finally, it describes some of the measures which may be deployed in order to maximise the contribution of higher education towards handling the challenges associated with a changing climate.

The purpose of this paper is twofold: (i) to identify the thematic categories and central topics connecting digitization and operational efficiency in the banking sector; and (ii) to develop a research agenda to guide future research endeavors to advance knowledge related to digital operational efficiency (DOE). Employing a two-stage content-centric review approach, this study comprehensively outlines overarching themes and subsequently delves into specific dimensions. The first stage aimed to provide an overview of research connecting operational efficiency and digitization in the banking sector and to refine the search criteria for content analysis. The second stage employed content analysis concentrated on journal articles published between 2018 and 2023. Central topics include enhancing banking industry performance through industry 4.0 technology and partnerships, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on bank digital transformation, organizational adaptations for embracing new digital business models, and elevating customer experience through novel operational paradigms. The research agenda proposed include the following: DOE conceptual development; digital bank break-even analysis; optimization of the product and service portfolio offered by digital banks; and consumer experience and level of service of digital banks. By delving into the impact of industry 4.0 technologies, pandemic, and digital business models, this paper enriches our understanding of the complex interplay between digitization and operational efficiency. The proposed research agenda offers a roadmap for future scholarly endeavors, contributing to the evolution of theoretical frameworks in this field. This paper offers insights relevant for banking industry professionals, providing them with valuable guidance on how to enhance their performance, optimize their digital product and service portfolio, and elevate the overall customer experience in the rapidly evolving landscape of digital banking.

Applications of deep learning (DL) in autonomous vehicle (AV) projects have gained increasing interest from both researchers and companies. This has caused a rapid expansion of scientific production on DL-AV in recent years, encouraging researchers to conduct systematic literature reviews (SLRs) to organize knowledge on the topic. However, a critical analysis of the existing SLRs on DL-AV reveals some methodological gaps, particularly regarding the use of bibliometric software, which are powerful tools for analyzing large amounts of data and for providing a holistic understanding on the structure of knowledge of a particular field. This study aims to identify the strategic themes and trends in DL-AV research using the Science Mapping Analysis Tool (SciMAT) and content analysis. Strategic diagrams and cluster networks were developed using SciMAT, allowing the identification of motor themes and research opportunities. The content analysis allowed categorization of the contribution of the academic literature on DL applications in AV project design; neural networks and AI models used in AVs; and transdisciplinary themes in DL-AV research, including energy, legislation, ethics, and cybersecurity. Potential research avenues are discussed for each of these categories. The findings presented in this study can benefit both experienced scholars who can gain access to condensed information about the literature on DL-AV and new researchers who may be attracted to topics related to technological development and other issues with social and environmental impacts.

Digital banks have profoundly changed the financial industry’s operations. In this scenario, the study of digital banks has gained increasing attention in the academic community. However, there is still a lot of room to understand how this type of organization functions and impacts different contexts. Considering the information collected, partial findings, and the professional experience of those involved in a larger research project, the main objective of this study is to present the Brazilian scenario related to digital banks from the analytical perspective of the research group. The methodological approach included analysis of partial results of a larger research project, bibliographic research, analysis of public data about digital banks in Brazil, and multidisciplinary discursive approach to conduct debates with the support of academic literature and experience from top managers working in major Brazilian financial institutions. Data on key performance indicators (KPIs), including cost breakdown, net revenue, return on equity (ROE), and cost-to-income ratio, are presented and analyzed for both traditional and digital banks. Furthermore, this study puts forward potential avenues for future research within three main research domains: digital operational efficiency for banks, customer attraction strategies employed by digital banks, and the utilization of digital financial services in the retail industry.

Dentro de um cenário recente para a área da saúde, vem crescendo a utilização de ferramentas previstas na abordagem Lean Manufacturing como forma de trazer benefícios. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo mensurar, sob a ótica da abordagem, boas práticas, barreiras e facilitadores em iniciativas desta natureza. Para tal, foi realizada revisão sistemática da literatura, identificando como o Lean vêm contribuindo para a gestão de estoques da saúde. Os resultados da pesquisa têm implicações importantes pois, concluiu-se que, de fato, o Lean impactou positivamente nas instituições no que tange à gestão de estoques e performance em geral, apesar de ainda não termos uma evolução significativa no número de publicações combinando os três temas: Lean, Saúde e Estoques. Tal fato deixa claro que existe margem para novas iniciativas que possam melhorar o atendimento ao paciente, através de melhorias no gerenciamento dos materiais e medicamentos.

Neste artigo, realiza-se uma análise exploratória de dados coletados em uma pesquisa aplicada a estudantes brasileiros da Universidade Estadual de Campinas (Unicamp) sobre as dificuldades observadas na transição do ensino presencial para o remoto devido à pandemia de covid-19. Conduzimos uma pesquisa bibliográfica e aplicamos a análise fatorial exploratória (AFE) às respostas de 1.776 estudantes, buscando obter um modelo que explicasse a maior parte da variação dos dados. Analisando os resultados da aplicação da AFE, destacam-se dois grupos de dificuldades: as relacionadas ao planejamento do curso e as relacionadas ao acesso e à disponibilização de infraestrutura adequada para o ensino remoto. Essas reflexões podem contribuir para os planos institucionais das instituições de ensino superior. É interessante salientar que não estamos inferindo uma prevalência de dificuldades, mas apontando que essas dificuldades devem ser analisadas e exploradas pelos stakeholders (partes interessadas) universitários.

Abstract This paper aims to understand the main difficulties faced by women throughout their careers in Brazil and abroad. Based on the information gathered from these experiences, it seeks to advance the discussion on women's participation in STEM focusing on SDG 5 (gender equality) and SDG 8 (decent work). The main difficulties experienced by women in STEM as discussed in the academic literature were mapped. This provided input to develop a questionnaire containing qualitative and quantitative questions used to conduct interviews with women working in STEM. The sample consisted of highly qualified professionals working in high positions in the hierarchies of multinational companies in the STEM field with experience both in Brazil and abroad. The data collected was analyzed using a mixed-methods approach, including content analysis for qualitative questions and the Grey Relational Analysis for quantitative questions. The results revealed that the lack of flexible work systems, the scarcity of gender-sensitive organizational policies and labor policies, and the prevalence of traditional cultural models are some of the main difficulties faced both in Brazil and abroad by the women interviewed. The need to discuss issues of gender equality and decent work in the early stages of education is important for increasing women’s participation in STEM, which is a critical factor in the development of inclusive organizations and in fully achieving the sustainable development of society. This paper presents a unique perspective of the perceived difficulties faced by executive women who worked in Brazil and in different countries (i.e., Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Switzerland and the United States). Gender equality in organizations is highly context-dependent, and cross-cultural analysis generates relevant insights to face the challenges and advance the discussion on women’s participation in STEM.

This paper aims to present aspects related to corporate governance, organisational resilience and sustainable practices developed by Brazilian companies during the COVID-19 pandemic. The methodological strategy included documentary research to identify sustainability reports published by companies listed on the Ibovespa index, which were examined through the content analysis technique. The results allowed light to be shed on opportunities for improvement concerning sustainability and corporate governance. Regarding organisational resilience, risk management is central for the development of sustainability practices by organisations. The support to society related to the COVID-19 pandemic was evidenced mainly through the donation of financial resources, equipment and hospital supplies. Practices related to reducing energy consumption and minimising waste generation were those most associated with environmental aspects. The actions identified were mapped according to their relations with the SDGs. Managers can benefit from the information presented in this study to enhance organisational sustainability and resilience, while researchers can use it as a starting point for future studies.

Purpose – The present study aims to identify the most critical elements of resilience in the management of supply chains of Brazilian companies and, in the sequence, debate possible digital technologies mentioned by literature to enhance them. Design/methodology/approach – To identify the most critical elements, the information provided by qualified academics was used. Data analysis was performed through Cronbach’s alpha coefficient, hierarchical cluster analysis and Fuzzy TOPSIS approach. Findings – Comparatively, the results pointed out three elements of resilience as the most critical in managing supply chains. They are the decision-making (understood as the definitions from the layout of the chain’s operations network to the choice of warehouse locations, distribution centres and manufacturing facilities), human resources (understood as management for human resources development and knowledge management through training) and security (understood as issues related to information technology for data security). For each of them, bibliographic research was performed to identify technologies that enhance these elements of supply chain management resilience. Originality/value – The results presented here can significantly contribute to the expansion of debates associated with resilience in managing supply chains of Brazilian companies and directing researchers in the area.

Purpose – This viewpoint aims to present reflections on the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic scenario and the entrepreneurial potential of Brazilian students. Guidelines are proposed to support debates in the academic environment and better prepare future entrepreneurs to the labour market. Design/methodology/approach – Since this is a viewpoint article, some statements presented here are characterised by the authors' opinions. However, for a better foundation, bibliographic research related to the theme was carried out. Findings – In the authors' point of view, the COVID-19 pandemic scenario may negatively influence the decisions of Brazilian students that are characterised as potential future entrepreneurs. Educators can use the guidelines presented here to conduct debates with students in order to clarify aspects related to profile, behaviour and other issues. Originality/value – By understanding better entrepreneurial aspects in the COVID-19 pandemic scenario, Brazilian students can make better decisions. This initiative will contribute to future success in the Brazilian entrepreneurial activity and national economy.

This study examined the practices of innovation management used by Brazilian industries. A survey was carried out with specialists that assessed 27 practices (PR) proposed by ISO 56002, considering two types of firms: small and medium-sized industries (SMI) and large industries (LI). The methodological approach included Hierarchical Cluster Analysis to identify the similarities between the specialists and define levels of specialists, as well as Fuzzy TOPSIS and frequency and sensitivity analyses to examine their responses. PR1 (analysis of internal and external issues that impact innovation management) was deemed the best practice for LIs, whereas PR10 (adequate assessment of potential partnerships) was best evaluated for SMIs. The PR27 (periodic audits to identify opportunities for improvement) received the lowest rating from both LIs and SMIs. In general, SMIs in the Brazilian context have more severe deficiencies in terms of applying innovation management practices than LIs. A broad overview of the innovation practices adopted in the Brazilian industrial scenario is provided. The study’s findings may assist managers and policymakers to develop initiatives and actions to improve the capacity of Brazilian industries to innovate. This research can also support future studies aimed at better understanding specific practices related to the topic.

The purpose of this study is to carry out a critical analysis on Corporate Social Responsibility projects developed by Brazilian companies considering the perceptions of experienced professionals. Brazil is an emerging economy and this study can contribute to improving projects of Corporate Social Responsibility developed by companies in emerging countries. Using this information, a SWOT matrix was structured. The research strategies used were bibliographic research (to establish the theoretical foundation) and semi-structured interviews with 18 experienced professionals on Corporate Social Responsibility projects. Data analysis was performed using a content analysis approach and the findings were used to structure the SWOT matrix. Despite some “Strengths” practices mentioned by professionals, many “Weaknesses” were highlighted regarding Corporate Social Responsibility projects developed by Brazilian companies and they may be improved to obtain better results. Interesting “Opportunities” were mentioned, for example, new business possibilities when companies are recognized as socially responsible. Return of branding and marketing due to sustainable positioning of companies are other possible opportunities to be explored. Finally, related to “Threats”, professionals mentioned aspects that may lead to devaluation of Corporate Social Responsibility practices in the Brazilian context, such as prejudices and political polarization. Despite the exploratory nature of the study, the information presented here can greatly contribute to the expansion of debates on Corporate Social Responsibility practices developed by Brazilian companies. It may be used to address public policies and motivate future studies aligned with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Researchers can use the findings presented here as a starting point to develop studies on Corporate Social Responsibility issues.

This article aims to establish an overview of the sustainable practices developed by the major oil and gas enterprises in Latin America and analyse how these practices are related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 7, 9, 11 and 12. The methodological strategy used was the content analysis of the sustainability reports published by companies in the sector. Considering the ten oil and gas companies with the highest revenue in Latin America, 7 of them published sustainability reports in 2020 (base 2019), and these reports were analysed via content analysis technique. The findings showed that 244 sustainable practices were reported in sustainability reports by these seven companies. These practices were summarised by twenty different keywords (the practice can be represented by more than one keyword) and related with the targets of SDGs 7, 9, 11 and 12. It was found that few practices were related with the following targets: (a) greater access of small-sized companies, especially from developing countries, to financial services (target 9.3), (b) encouragement of companies to use sustainable practices and add sustainability information in their reporting cycle (target 12.6) and (c) the rationalisation of inefficient fossil-fuel subsidies (target 12.c). However, one company stands out amongst its competitors, having practices that, on average, were related with a higher number of targets of SDGs 7, 9, 11 and 12. This research has an exploratory character. The information reported here is of great value in guiding CSR actions of companies in the oil and gas sector and future research in the area to discuss how such companies can contribute to targets 9.3, 12.6, and 12.c.

Goal: This study aims to identify, synthesize and classify the main features explored by current research encompassing training for Industry 4.0 and propose directions for future research. Design / Methodology / Approach: The methodological procedure was oriented by a systematic literature review (PRISMA) methodology and followed by content analysis. After a review of academic databases, 78 papers dealing with training for Industry 4.0 were included and classified based on topics related to the science of training and Industry 4.0. Results: Most of the studies in training for Industry 4.0 are oriented to undergraduate and graduate students (in an educational approach) or industrial employees (in an enterprise approach) and, in general, they explore technical, technological, and human oriented subjects. There is a lack concerning studies targeting managers who deal with Industry 4.0 and few studies consider content related to Industry 4.0 impact on business models, sustainability, corporate social responsibility, and other related concepts. Limitations of the investigation: The main limitation is related to the database selection criteria. Search in non-indexed databases, book chapters, and non-English language are not included in this study. Practical Implications: The findings presented in this paper are relevant for researchers and academics as they can serve as a guide for future research work. Consultants, professionals, and trainers can enhance their courses by including currently less explored content or target audiences. Originality/Value: No similar papers were found in scientific databases and this reinforces this manuscript's originality and contribution.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has moved the world in every way, directly impacting supply chains globally and bringing major challenges to management, decision-makers, and companies of all sizes and sectors. This intensifies when it comes to the Brazilian Amazon region, a place that historically already lives with several maintenance projects focused on supply chain management (SCM). Methods: Thus, this research aimed to understand the main challenges faced by professionals in the supply chain area in the Amazon region through the development of a survey with professionals in the area. This study conducted a structured questionnaire containing 10 challenges related to SCM during the pandemic period to generate a ranking of these challenges using data analysis using means and comparative ordering using the TOPSIS Multicriteria Technique. Results: It was observed that the most relevant challenges for companies in this region were, respectively, distribution, economic problems, and interruptions in supply and demand. These obstacles promote debates with the literature and foster the expansion of knowledge about the insertion of resilience elements in supply chains in the Amazon. Conclusions: From a theoretical point of view and because it is exploratory research, the results serve as a basis for researchers in the area who aim to understand and expand the debates on this topic through future research. From a practical point of view, the results can help supply chain managers in the Amazon region who work directly in its maintenance and aim to maintain its resilience, since they already have the main challenges for the proper functioning of supply chains identified and ranked. Because it is an exploratory study, the results achieved can contribute significantly to the expansion of debates in the area and in a practical way with managers involved in activities that compose supply chains.

This article aims to list environmental practices used by Latin American companies in the pulp and paper industry, to create a list, through a scientific method, that can direct other researchers and managers interested in the subject. The research strategies used were bibliographic research and content analysis. The content analysis used 36 sustainability reports published by Latin American companies in the industry between 2018 and 2019. Although 264 companies were mapped, only 36 of them presented sustainability report possible to be accessed. Through the sample of 36 sustainability reports, 36 sustainable environmental practices were identified that could be grouped into five groups, namely: (1) Reuse of waste, efficiency in the production process and effluents treatment; (2) Preservation and area recovery; (3) Energy efficiency; (4) Initiatives with stakeholders; (5) Control of gas emission. Despite the exploratory nature, the information presented here can be used by managers in the area and researchers interested in improving environmental practices of the pulp and paper industry.

The COVID-19 outbreak caused several negative effects in industries of all sizes and in all parts of the world, leading academic and practitioners to ask whether organizations could have been better prepared to face disruptive situations. This paper aims to analyze business continuity practices performed by Brazilian industries. A survey was conducted with academics who work in the field of organizational resilience and business continuity and are familiar with the reality of Brazilian companies in the industrial sector. The participants assessed 16 practices (P) proposed by the ISO 22301:2020, considering two categories: large industries (LI) and small and medium-sized industries (SMI). Data analysis was performed using Hierarchical Cluster Analysis, frequency analysis, Fuzzy TOPSIS and sensitivity analysis. For LIs, P4 (leaders conduct periodic critical analyses of practices) was considered the practice with the best application rate, while for SMIs, P2 (understand stakeholders’ needs and expectations, and use information in business continuity management) was chosen. In all scenarios tested for LIs and SMIs, P8 (well-structured systematic processes to analyze the impact of abnormal situations on their business and the potential risks of a disruption) and P16 (periodic audits of their business continuity management activities to identify opportunities for improvement, and information record) are in the bottom quartile. When compared to LIs in the Brazilian context, SMIs exhibit more profound deficiencies in terms of applying business continuity practices. The findings of this study can be of great value to assist managers in improving organizational resilience. Organizations should be better prepared to face future disruptive events, whether biological, social, technological, or economic.

Abstract: This article analyses the difficulties observed in adopting the Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) program in production systems. The research strategies used for this purpose consisted of a literature review, a panel of experts and a survey with professionals working in manufacturing companies. Altogether, 69 market professionals took part in the survey and the collected data was analyzed through the PLS-SEM technique. Results indicate that there is a causal relationship between difficulties associated with the planning phase of a TPM program and issues associated with its implementation. This is an original research and the results are valuable to business professionals desiring to properly implement TPM, as well for researchers interested in the mechanics of total productive maintenance system’s adoption.

Goal: The aim of this viewpoint is characterized by emphasizing the importance of the management standards of the International Organization for Standardization as an information base for improvements to Brazilian managers in a scenario of profound changes caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Design / Methodology / Approach: Initially, a brief bibliographic research was carried out to base some information presented in the text. Later, the authors of this viewpoint discussed their ideas and established the reflections presented here, many of them based on their experiences and the Brazilian context. Finally, the final considerations were established. Results: The main reflections are directed in the sense that most Brazilian companies have felt harshly the consequences of the economic crisis resulting from the pandemic of Covid-19 and, in some way, they need to rethink some of their administrative practices. In this scenario of profound organizational changes, we believe that the management standards of the International Organization for Standardization can be characterized as an important knowledge base, since they present information of high credibility, widely debated by experts and that are easily accessible to Brazilian managers in different themes. Limitations of the investigation: Since it is a viewpoint, part of the information presented here are the perceptions and considerations of the authors. Practical implications: This viewpoint shows that the standards of the International Organization for Standardization can be used as an important tool for management systems focused on innovation and employee skills management. Originality / Value: We hope with this viewpoint to advocate for ISO management standards as important instruments of continuous improvement in a scenario of many organizational changes for Brazilian companies.

In a globalized world, organizations are constantly exposed to uncertainties. Therefore, risk management is important. To conduct the risk analysis in projects, six management processes are defined, according to the project management guide of the Project Management Institute, and the focus of this work is the study of the quantitative evaluation process. Through a literature review, we aimed to understand the techniques of quantitative analysis of the risks in projects. It was noted that every application requires major investment, whether it be for computational purposes, or for financial or human knowledge, making the use of this management process in smaller projects almost unfeasible. In the 33 articles analyzed, 8 quantitative methods for risk analysis in project management were collected. The results of this research can be used both by researchers, for future research, and by market professionals, to analyze the tool that best suits their needs.

Background: This study aimed to identify the most widespread performance objectives for the vehicle routing problem, the degree of comparative importance attributed to each of these performance objectives in the opinion of professionals in the logistics area working in Brazil and also relate them to aspects of sustainability considering environmental, economic and social issues. Methods: To this end, a literature review was carried out in the area and a survey was developed with professionals through a structured questionnaire. The collected data were treated using the TOPSIS multi-criteria technique. Results: The results indicate that the performance objectives in route plans “level of service”, “total number of vehicles” and “total distance travelled” are the ones that, in the opinion of the professionals participating in the research, have greater importance in the planning and elaboration of plan routes and that such objectives directly impact the sustainable results of a given organization. Conclusions: The results can serve as a basis for researchers in the area who aim to broaden the debates on this topic and for logistics operations managers who work directly with planning and elaboration of route plans and who aim to make their operations more sustainable. Therefore, this research addresses the literature gap by identifying which performance objectives should be considered in the elaboration of route plans and how they relate to sustainability guidelines. It is noteworthy that no other study with a similar objective was identified in the literature.

This work aims to present a procedure to determine the Project Management Maturity, a procedure based on the NBR ISO 21.500:2012 norm, to be used as a tool to evaluate the project management, and thus contribute to the success of the project. For that purpose, a questionnaire was developed which includes 39 questions related to the above-mentioned norm. This questionnaire was then submitted to companies that have projects as final products, as well as to companies that undertake project management in a systematic way. The research method consisted of an exploratory and descriptive field study through e-survey, which investigated the importance of the processes of project management. The answers were evaluated using statistical methods, namely Principal Components Analysis, which set the relative weights of each process. A parameterization was created to tabulate a score for each question, thus assessing the performance of project management of the organization. Hence the proposed model provides scores and criteria that will enable organizations to improve their processes continuously through systematic evaluations and the compilation of lessons learned.

Goal: this paper performs a literature review to identify and analyze the main themes related to PDP performance measurement and presents the gaps for further exploration. Design / Methodology / Approach: this paper searches the main bases of academic data in order to find scientific papers related to PDP performance measurement and classify them on five main themes: design performance; human resources; knowledge resources; financial performance, and literature review. Results: the results show that more than fifty percent of the papers are associated with knowledge resource issues and the principal gaps to be explored are associated with design performance, human resources, financial performance and literature review. Limitations of the investigation: the main limitation is related to the bases of academic data. Additional papers available on different bases can lead to different results. Practical implications: this paper intends to make a contribution to academia and practitioners as it shows gaps on PDP performance measurement research that can be better explored. Originality / Value: to the best of the authors’ knowledge, there is no study that evaluates a literature review for PDP performance measurement. This work contributes to the literature by presenting the directions for further PDP performance measurement research.

Storage processes have acquired great importance in the modern supply chain, which demands better performance by warehouses in organizing goods in order to achieve high utilization of physical space and to facilitate the movement of materials. Sizing the storage area and organizing items strategically in storage positions ensures better efficiency in picking processes and customer service. In this context, this study aims to propose a method for defining the positions of pallets assigned to fractioned picking orders in a warehouse according to criteria based on popularity and turnover of the products. This method will be presented in a case study, and the pallets will be positioned in the warehouse in accordance with the results obtained. The gains in terms of order picking productivity and optimization of storage positions will then be measured. Research in this area has grown rapidly in recent years, but the combination of sizing items and classifying these items has not been closely explored. Thus, it is believed that the results could contribute to future research, bridging academic researchers and warehouse professionals.

Bearing in mind the intense competition in the current economy and the increasing necessity of having more customers and keeping them loyal, this paper aims to apply the well known Queuing Theory in a bank agency to identify improvement opportunities in customer waiting time, from the assumption that the analyzed lines follow the Poisson’s distribution. This assumption results from the comparison between such distribution to the customers' arrival data in all analyzed lines. It was also found that there are queues with seasonality in demand, while others showed a regular demand. From the study performed, improvements in the management of this bank agency may be made, for example, the reallocation of staff in certain periods for functions with higher demand. It was concluded, therefore, that the application of the theory is feasible and can help to increase the competitive advantages of the agency.

Contribution: This study contributes to understand the current state of electronics education in Brazil, comparing it with market demand for professionals in the context of Industry 4.0 (I4.0). This study can be used to improve and update education programs and disciplines, as well as to assess whether the graduate's profile is aligned with the needs of Brazilian industries. Background: The effects of I4.0 have created an industrial environment that requires new professional skills and knowledge. Electronics was one of the most affected industries, mainly due to the rise of the Internet of Things (IoT). To prepare professionals to act in this new environment, technological education must be constantly updated. Research Questions: How are educational institutions preparing to teach electronics, particularly reconfigurable logic and microcontrollers, in the context of I4.0 and IoT? How does professional education in the field of electronics in Brazil align with market demands? Methodology: To collect and analyze data for this study, survey and multivariate analysis techniques (discriminant, exploratory factorial, and multidimensional scaling) were used. The sample included 89 Brazilian university professors who teach digital systems and have academic backgrounds in electrical, electronics, or related fields. Data from the survey and Brazilian industries were used in joint analyses. Findings: The lack of material in Portuguese for reconfigurable logic and laboratory preparation for IoT training are among the most critical factors in the Brazilian scenario. Despite the fact that professors consider logic is important for students' technical training, 34.8% reported that it is not taught in their institutions. The reality of educational institutions in terms of laboratories for the I4.0 was rated zero (worst level of evaluation on a scale from zero to ten) by 14.6% of respondents.

This article aims to evaluate the moderating effect exerted by students' perceptions of the university support environment on the relationship between their respective entrepreneurial characteristics and entrepreneurial intentions. The subjective norms associated with the university support environment encompass perceptions on teaching activities, research, and outreach that can help shape entrepreneurial behaviour. The empirical assessment was carried out through the estimation of Structural Equations. The sample comprises 1,012 observations with undergraduate students from Brazilian universities across the country's five macro-regions. The results indicate a positive impact of entrepreneurial characteristics on entrepreneurial intention but a negative moderating effect of perceived university support. This result is due to students' negative evaluation of university support, which also reflects negative moderation. Our findings shed light on the complexity of creating an academic environment conducive to entrepreneurial behaviour, especially in Brazilian public universities.

This article aims to analyze the primary criteria used by Brazilian business incubators to select new enterprises. The research method used was a documentary analysis with 124 selection notices available in the websites of business incubators. These criteria were divided into 17 categories, and the most mentioned among them were: innovation level, economic feasibility, and team capability, corroborating the ideas mentioned by other studies. The results presented in this research may be of great value for incubator managers and academics. Incubator managers may use these results to critically analyze their criteria and/or complement them. Academics, in turn, may use these results as a starting point for future research.

In 2016, the Brazilian pet industry had revenue of R$ 18.9 billion and ranked third place worldwide. Thus, it is a sector that is always looking for enhancements in its productivity levels. Based on the previous statements, a case study was conducted in a selected company of the pet care business, with the goal to augment its monthly revenue, identify the bottleneck that impedes reaching this goal, and proposed solutions to bring the production and loading fluxes of merchandise to its optimal state, making the company’s revenue also optimal. The classical tools of the theory of constraints were used in this analysis. The first step was to obtain the undesirable effects of the process to define the bottleneck. After that, some injections were proposed as solutions to eliminate the undesirable effects and bring the production and loading model of the company to its full state. Finally, by means of a computational tool, the current situation of the company (with the bottleneck), and the situation in a virtual state (without the bottleneck) were simulated and compared, showing the potential of the found solution.

The purpose of this study was the development of a theoretical framework integrating concepts of lean construction, sustainability and the life cycle of buildings. It was prepared using a systematic review of the literature through the Prisma method. Findings show that there is scarce scientific literature about lean construction contributions to activities related to the consumption phase of the life cycle of a building. Project and construction activities presented the highest number of lean construction contributions in the production phase. Research limitations are terms used in the search sentences and the choice of surveyed databases. The study contributes with knowledge that can be used by companies to adopt lean construction. It is also useful for researchers who can explore several research lines. The originality of this research is to view in a same table the interrelationship of concepts about lean construction, sustainability and the life cycle of buildings.

Objective: This article aims to report the application of the SERVQUAL model in a public higher education institution from the student body's perspective, in order to assess the Quality of administrative services. Methods: The SERVQUAL Model, which was developed by Parasuraman Zeithaml and Berry, was applied and the "expectation" and the "perception" of respondents were evaluated, resulting in Perceived Quality. Results: The results show that, between five proposed and evaluated dimensions in the Model, the "tangibility" was the only one with positive results. Limitations: The study took place in a Brazilian public higher education unit, whose results cannot be considered to all units. Data were collected by the student body, since these services are exclusively provided to them. Originality/value: The use of the SERVQUAL method to evaluate services provided by education institutions is not trivial, thus their analysis can collaborate with managers in preparing the unit strategic planning as well as demonstrating that the method can be used by other institutions wishing to evaluate the quality of services offered to their students.

The success of Lean Manufacturing does not come down only to its application tools; it is an accomplishment of the entire leadership and workers dedicated to putting the system’s essence into practice, along with its underlying values and philosophy. In this context, the main purpose of this study is to present an analytical research in terms of the obstacles and difficulties faced by Brazilian companies to implement the Lean Manufacturing. Through a literature review of the annals of ENEGEP (the Brazilian Production Engineering Conference), this research concluded that the main obstacles and difficulties of such implementation fall under seven lines: 1) difficulties using the tool; 2) operational resistance; 3) cultural differences; 4) slow response to market; 5) lack of top/senior management involvement; 6) lack of middle management support, 7) lack of resources to invest. This article stands as a useful source for further studies about the Lean Manufacturing system.

Green Supply Chain Management (GSCM) has been receiving increased attention because of the urgent need of organizations to address sustainability issues as a condition for their competitiveness, and the issue of how performance should be measured becomes crucial. This paper performs a literature review on an academic basis in order to identify the main subjects and sustainable dimensions of research studies involving the performance measurement of GSCM and the gaps for further research. Sixty three percent of the analyzed papers are associated with framework, mathematical modelling, empirical research and application, and the principal gaps to be explored are the metrics, measures and integration of the GSCM with existing quality methods. Almost all of these subjects are discussed in an economic and environmental dimension, remaining the social dimension a relevant gap to be explored. Based on this scenario, this paper intends to make a contribution to the academia and professionals of the area.

The representation of business models has been recently widespread, especially in the pursuit of innovation. However, defining a company’s business model is sometimes limited to discussion and debates. This study observes the need for performance measurement so that business models can be data-driven. To meet this goal, the work proposed as a hypothesis the creation of a method that combines the practices of the Balanced Scorecard with a method of business models representation – the Business Model Canvas. Such a combination was based on study of conceptual adaptation, resulting in an application roadmap. A case study application was performed to check the functionality of the proposition, focusing on startup organizations. It was concluded that based on the performance assessment of the business model it is possible to propose the search for change through experimentation, a path that can lead to business model innovation.

The business incubators have an essential role at any global entrepreneurial ecosystem. Through the support offered to entrepreneurs in terms of infrastructure and management, they reduce mortality risk of startup companies and contribute to better performance of the country's economy. In order to make a contribution to the academia and to business incubators, this paper is primarily engaged in performing a literature review on Brazilian and international academic basis in order to identify which are the main themes of research conducted involving Brazilian business incubators. The results show that most of the themes are associated with the services provision by the incubators and its management; however, there are many gaps yet to be explored by academic researchers, such as internal characteristics or the interrelationship between business incubators and triple helix.

This paper analyzes the main difficulties in managing of Micro and Small enterprises of construction sector in Jundiai city. For this, a survey was done with 51 entrepreneurs and the difficulties analyzed in nine categories. Some results stand out among many others presented in this paper, such as 46% of respondents indicated that the tax burden as one of the most problematic aspects in economic and financial management, 41% who reported differences between the theoretical and real inventory and 52% who have problems in the strategic management of their business. Finally, it emphasizes that this research presents a deductive character and their results are valid only focused for entrepreneurs reported sample.

The objective of this paper is to compare the main administrative characteristics of micro and small enterprises present by the literature and observed during the improvement programs implantation in nine companies situated in Jundiaí Business Incubator, São Paulo State. During one year, the authors of this paper have observed administrative deficiencies, such as lacks of strategic planning, confusion between the company and entrepreneur money, influence of family relation in promotion or tasks, and others. On the other hand, good aspects were observed such as flexibility, internal easier communication, good relationship with the clients, and so on. By improvement programs implementation, a lot of deficiencies were reduced or eliminated and the conclusions presented by this paper contribute to the micro and small business literature.