Relações interorganizacionais no agronegócio do leite em Minas Gerais: análise de uma netchain

Abstract

The present research aimed to understand the inter-organizational relations among the agents involved in a milk netchain in Minas Gerais. For this focused on characterizing the netchain, identifying the agents and links involved; describing and assessing the inter-organizational relations among agents who assemble the netchain; identifying the potential benefits and critical points arise from the interaction of the companies involved in the netchain; and on proposing a theoretical analytical model of inter-organizational relations among those agents involved in this netchain which could improve its efficiency. In the development of the survey the aim was to evaluate the relationships between the various social actors involved in the netchain: farmers, cooperatives, central cooperative, suppliers of packaging and inputs for the production of UHT milk and its main buyers. The study relied on appraising a netchain of milk in Minas Gerais, using qualitative data collection techniques, from document analysis, secondary data analysis, bibliographical research and semi-structured interviews with 44 representatives of the links in the studied netchain, which were all recorded and transcribed using a Semistructured questionnaire drawn up for each link in the netchain, seeking to set up and analyze: the respondents' characteristics, the frequency and the specificity of the relationships, the power and dependency, the types of contracts, the risks and uncertainties and the competitive benefits from the existing relations. For data analysis, a theoretical analytical model was devised, which contemplates the inter -organizational relations, the economy of the transaction costs and the competitive and collaborative strategies. From the search results it was found that the rela tionship between the Central Cooperative with the natural cooperatives is a competition and opportunism one, in which the team growth is not aimed and the officers involved neither seek to develop unified brands nor products, being a purely commercial relationship. The relationship between the natural cooperatives with the cooperative members is weak, and these are not performing effective actions to maintain and/or expand their members (farmers). A weakening of the cooperatives and cooperative members to the multinational companies that operate in the region was perceived. The relationship between the Central cooperative with its suppliers could be better exploited, if Central decreases its concern about the financial gain and value more the existing partnership between them. The relationship with the Purchaser C is narrower due to the production of his own brand by the Central cooperative, however this relationship is governed by a contract that, if unfulfilled, breaks the relationship immediabut this relationship is governed by a contract that, if unfulfilled, immediately breaks the relationship. The relationship with the buyer E (singular cooperative D) is considered critical, because this is one of the largest buyers and, at the same time, the greatest shareholder of the Central cooperative. Such link should have greater benefits, but what is seen is a relationship of opportunism, because the Central knows how this buyer depends on the sale of their products in order to increase his earnings. As the main conclusion from this survey it was observed that the inter-organizational relations existing between the Central cooperative, the natural cooperatives and its members are critical and collaboration and cooperation strategies should be adopted so as to strengthen and achieve joint results.