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The purpose of this paper is to analyze the management practices that contribute to single and double cycles of organizational learning in the vocational education of the Brazilian higher education technology courses (HETC), and to study the learning outcomes that result through the Brazilian Ministry of Education SINAES indicators.

It consisted in both participant observation and quantitative phases. The participant observation phase included a benchmarking activity at École de Technologie Supérieure (ÉTS) de Montréal, to analyze and delimitate their practices for the preparation of the second phase, test the hypotheses by means of modeling of structural equations.

The key practices that contribute to organizational learning in the Brazilian HETC were identified through a benchmark activity at ÉTS by using a quantitative research scheme of single cycles of organizational learning, and further in correspondence with the Brazilian criteria (SINAES-Ministry of Education).

The extent of the sample is concentrated in the southern region of Brazil (Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina and Paraná), limiting its representativeness to a regional basis.

Practices that contribute to organizational learning are a counterpoint and a complement of the Brazilian Ministry of Education SINAES indicators, which value the formalization of those courses and the future actions in the Brazilian universities.

The study re-inforces the importance of organizational learning for the development of excellence in Brazilian HETC.

The results contribute to build analysis frameworks on the relationships between management practices, organizational learning, benchmarking and organizational outcomes, particularly in the management of the technology courses and for Brazilian universities.

The purpose of this paper is to propose a framework for analyzing the relationships between the antecedent factors, mediators and consequences of sustainable operations (SO), which can be applied for empirical studies in the manufacturing industry.

Based on the importance of identifying the determinants of SO, a qualitative and exploratory research was developed through an extensive review of the literature.

The main theoretical contribution of this research on organizational studies is the SO analysis proposition framework, which allows the elaboration of scales, based on observable variables of each factor, as well as evaluating the influence intensity of the relations between the constructs.

The proposed framework of this research was developed to analyze companies of the manufacturing industry. In order to use the proposed framework in other industries (commerce, services), it will be necessary to make adaptations and adjustments on the observable variables and constructs.

The paper has an important theoretical value in proposing scales for the SO factors and can be useful for future quantitative approach and surveys. Consequently, the researcher will be able to evaluate the scales of the factors and the intensity of the relations between observable variables in the formation of the constructs, as well as the intensity of influence among the constructs.

The purpose of this paper is to analyze and understand the condition that lead to a constitution’s path of Brazilian Science Parks, in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, and consequently to propose a new dimension of analysis to the Triple Helix.

A qualitative approach was used to elaborate a descriptive and exploratory research design, where a case study method was applied on six science parks.

The use of the Triple Helix model could not explain the Brazilian Science Park development realities. A new element, related to the innovation model, was considered as a determinant in the constitution of the Brazilian parks, and is represented as the community leadership category, as the Fourth Helix.

Since it is a qualitative study, the results obtained have a strong relation with the local, cultural and historically constructed contexts. Bias from the researchers’ subjectivity in the data collection procedures is present, although the validity and reliability measures were performed.

The construction of designed and implemented specific “fertile models,” which are capable of developing the necessary conditions for the constitution and the consolidation of science parks in Brazil.

Such empirical contribution comes from data referring to spontaneous and endogenous local community development movements.

The identification of a new element of the Triple Helix innovation model is represented as the community leadership category and is considered as a key determinant in the constitution of the Brazilian Science Parks.

As few studies have explored the causal relationship between both the triple bottom line (TBL) of sustainability and the lean practices in higher education institutions (HEIs), the purpose of this paper is to analyze the relationships between lean practices and sustainable practices in Brazilian HEIs.

A survey was conducted with 454 public and private HEIs workers in Brazil. Confirmatory factor analysis and structural equations modeling were used for data analysis.

The results support the hypotheses of the study that HEI lean practices are positively related to environmental, economic and social practices in HEIs.

HEI managers must evaluate the use of lean practices in the organizational processes, to identify their weaknesses and to improve the aspects that influence a balanced TBL of sustainability practices.

The findings highlight the importance of leadership as a support for the workers, as a continuous improvement practice on a daily basis and a focus on the student as a basic principle of HEI success.

This article provides new measurement and structural models to analyze Lean thinking practices as the predictors of sustainability practices. The work could assist any HEI in prioritizing its strategies and actions and to contribute to excellence in decision-making. This study could contribute as a source of empirical data for transferability in other contexts for HEIs.

This study aims to examine the influence of lean management practices on organizational process effectiveness and maturity. The underlying assumption of this paper is that lean management practices may have a positive relation with the initiation and the adoption of a process management approach and be a first step to process management success.

Through a quantitative perspective, a survey was carried out in the Brazilian Federal Police with a valid sample of 991 participants. Data analysis was executed with confirmatory factor analysis and structural equations modeling.

Lean management practices have a positive influence on the Brazilian Federal Police process maturity and on process effectiveness. Process maturity has a positive impact on process effectiveness. The results extend the applicability of lean management practices in the public service scenario. The results will decrease the high failure rates in process transformation projects.

The main limitation of this study is that the researchers could not maintain full control of the research respondents because the data collection was carried out online.

Considering a scenario of increased pressure to upgrade organizational decisional process in the public sector and to offer better public services, the lean management practices can effectively contribute to the development of strategies and actions that will enhance a more effective public service management reality.

This study may contribute as a source of empirical data for future research in other national public organizations and may assist others to redesigning its strategies and actions to achieve excellence in decision-making, by adopting a more agile quality public service with less costs and waste.

New measurement and structural models were defined to analyze lean management practices in the public service as the predictors of organizational process maturity and effectiveness. The discussion on lean management practices, as a first step in process approach applicability, enhances a new process-based management perspective.

The practice of field burning has been used for many years in the south regions of Brazil as an ideal way to maintain pastures. The purpose of this paper is to understand if such activity is logically explicable or if it is the result of a cultural reality, being “prisoner” of this technique because of path dependence, within the paradigm of the path dependence theory.

This present research is exploratory. The use of cases study was the most appropriate technique to explore the field burning practices and their impact in this specific region of Brazil, while describing its context, for which limits are not clearly defined. Thus, this research carries out a multi-case study that provides a greater perception than a single case and has an identical methodological structure.

This paper analyzed the reasons why the producers insist with the procedure and identified these reasons are not merely economical. The study demonstrates a clear path dependent process and it became obvious that once the technique is part of the family use history, it anchors a strong conviction that field burning is actually the best technique to be used for land maintenance.

This work suggests a need for other specific researches to substantially complement field burning practices to other phenomenon.

The fact that alternative techniques are rejected, giving priority to field burning, it may suggest that other situations and practices may be tied to inadequate or less profitable technologies as well (milk, confined raising, pasturing). The study raises the question on the validity of such practice as a paradigm of reason and pragmatism, or as a “Platoons Cavern” in which they are “trapped” in their decision process developed over time.

Presence and implications of environmental laws, which tend to be observed by the producers much more because they fear punishment than because they really understand the benefits of its application; showing the government’s failure in teaching and informing the producers about environmental laws.