DOES BUSINESS GEOGRAPHICAL ACTING AREAS IMPACT ON INTRAPRENEURSHIP AND SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGIES?

Nelson DUARTE

School of Management and Technology, Polytechnic of Porto, CIICESI, Portugal

nduarte@estg.ipp.pt

Francisco DINIZ

CETRAD, Vila Real, Portugal

fdiniz@utad.pt

Abstract

The present paper aims to analyze the positive or negative impact of local integrated firms on strategies of intrapreneurship and sustainability. The study was developed in the region of Tâmega e Sousa, located in the north of Portugal. For that 283 firms from manufacturing and construction industries were analyzed. By local integrated firm were considered those firms that are doing all their business activities within the region where they are established. Most of firms (83.2%) in this region present very good results in the adoption of sustainable strategies, while 80.9% present a weak adoption of intrapreneurship strategies. Crossing variables on local integration and sustainability it was found a light tendency in favor of local firms, i.e., local firms apparently are more concerned with the regional sustainable development, than those that are acting outside the region borders. On what regards the relation between local integration and the adoption of intrapreneurship strategies, those firms that are doing business beyond the region are adopting more intrapreneurship strategies.

Keywords: Local Business, Intrapreneurship, Sustainability

JEL classification: L2, O1, R1

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CHALLENGES OF A SUSTAINED AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: A STUDY-CASE

Zenólia ALMEIDA

PhD. Governador Valadares Academy of Letters, Minas Gerais, Brazil

zenalmeida@gmail.com

Inguelore SCHEUNEMAN

PhD. Assistant Professor retired from Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Brazil

inguelore@gmail.com

Teresa SEQUEIRA

PhD. Assistant Professor at Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), and Senior researcher at Centre for Transdisciplinary Development Studies (CETRAD), Vila Real, Portugal

tsequeir@utad.pt

Francisco DINIZ

PhD. Associate Professor with Abilitation retired from UTAD, and Senior researcher at CETRAD, Vila Real, Portugal

fdiniz@utad.pt

Abstract

The town of Governador Valadares went through several economic cycles throughout its history which led to the destruction of its forests and the depletion of its soil, causing poverty and stagnation. Socioeconomic indicators point out the actual stage of the town’s development. In order to fully understand what its inhabitants think about this reality, two separate researches were conducted: a) with students and teachers of both public and private secondary schools to assess their social awareness regarding the environment, their attitudes, values and social practices towards Rio Doce, as well as the town’s natural and cultural heritage; b) with stakeholders, opinion makers and other inhabitants to understand what they think about “the town we have” and their view of a suitable future for Governador Valadares; in other words, “the town we want to have in a near future”. The information gathered made it possible to make a SWOT analysis that can serve as an important basis for public policies targeting the town’s sustainable development. The final goal of the current study is to make a Master Plan for the Integrated Territory Management – ITM methodology.

Keywords: Territory, Social Perception, Integrated Management, Governance, Sustainability

JEL classification: R58, Q01, 021
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