ORGANIZATIONAL VALUES: CRITICAL FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE INTERNATIONALIZATION OF ENTERPRISES THAT SEEK A COST LEADERSHIP STRATEGY

Abstract

This research aimed at identifying which organizational values of the Survey of Organizational Profiles’ Values (IPVO) are most closely related to the strategy of cost leadership for Brazilian companies seeking to internationalize. The literature suggests that organizational values are factors that influence the behavior of companies and therefore the strategy adopted by them to compete. For this reason, this article is based on exploratory research through personal interviews with executives of the Human Resource area from companies affiliated with SINDIPEÇAS, which are inserted in the market by adopting a cost leadership strategy. The interviews were analyzed through content analysis technique, and the findings of this analysis provide evidence that organizational values that consist of roles, norms and values aimed at people, not only at physical parts or technical equipment, have a strong influence on these companies. The research provides evidence that organizational values most important for the internationalization of these companies are respectively: (1) welfare, (2) community, (3) domain, (4) autonomy and (5) realization. These results indicate that working in a pleasant and even enjoyable work environment can provide competitive advantage for the company.