Strategic Behavior: Case Study of an Organization from the Brazilian Ethanol Industry

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to understand the strategic behavior of an organization from the Brazilian ethanol industry. Specifically, this paper aimed to describe how the organization’s entrance in the Brazilian ethanol industry occurred, and to identify the organization’s positioning and strategic behavior through the application of Miles and Snow (1978) typology. Using a qualitative research design, a case study was conducted, based on documental research and semistructured interviews with three directors from the studied organization. We also utilized a structured questionnaire elaborated by Conant et al. (1990) and adapted by Gardelin (2010), aiming to categorize the strategies adopted by the organization. The results showed that the organization has a hybrid behavior pattern, varying from investigative to analytical, characterizing its strategic behavior through a dual strategy: on one hand, the organization investigates the environment and its competitive industry, introducing an innovative perspective in its external and internal operations; and on the other hand, the organization analyzes these internal and external contexts seeking a more effective positioning in national and international markets. Thus, Miles and Snow typology presents itself as an important research tool for the analysis and adoption of certain strategic positioning and decision making, establishing itself as a frame of reference for studies that seek to understand the strategic organizational reality.