Americanizing Brazilian management

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to discuss, from a post‐colonial perspective, the context and process of the Americanization of Brazilian management.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper first briefly discusses post‐colonialism and “Latin‐America”. After this, it analyzes the content of US management and its prevalence in the world. The paper then presents the process of the intentional Americanization of Brazil, in order to contextualize this process in management. It follows an essayist style.

Findings

The paper argues that the Americanization of Brazilian management is an intentional process that resembles colonialism.

Originality/value

The paper's contribution is to analyze the establishment and growth of what is one of the largest management academies in the world, showing how it was created under colonial logics. This case may also suggest how these logics have a wider influence on how management knowledge is produced and reproduced in developing economies.

Citation

Alcadipani, R. and Caldas, M.P. (2012), "Americanizing Brazilian management", Critical Perspectives on International Business, Vol. 8 No. 1, pp. 37-55. https://doi.org/10.1108/17422041211197558