Purpose Organizations need to find ways to survive in unpredictable, dynamic and rapidly changing environments. The development of organizational capabilities, such as relational, is a dynamic process of adaptation, which seeks to adjust to an unstable environment. Within this context, the purpose of this paper is to analyze, through a systematic review (SR), 36 articles, which discuss the influence of strategic alliances on the dynamic capabilities (DCs) process. Design/methodology/approach Through this systematic literature review, articles published in international journals were categorized in terms of their objectives, thematic axes and the research methodologies applied and evidences, to explore their methodological, theoretical and organizational practice contributions. Findings The results clarified the antecedents, implications and relevance of the relationship between strategic alliances in different countries and their DCs. The findings make it possible to determine directions for new studies that may support the advancement of this field of research. Research limitations/implications Studies from this SR point out that alliance is: a flexible vehicle of learning; a way to transfer effective knowledge in partner firms and to generate combinations of resources; and a superior means of access to technological capabilities and other complex capabilities. Those aspects would be difficult to be developed in the firms without the help of partnerships. This can encourage the reconfiguration of existing resources and capabilities. These reconfigurations can lead to deliberate evolutionary adaptations in these firms, which will build relational DCs. Practical implications As managerial implications, an alliance allows for the development of capabilities to detect new opportunities, and for the development of the reconfiguration or expansion of the existing resource base in the firm. Thus, alliances, once properly managed and with well-defined structure and purpose, can help firms achieve a sustainable competitive advantage. Alliances can serve as a type of strategic choice or an alternative that can enable companies to cope with unstable, global and competitive environments permeated by (new) threats and opportunities. Originality/value This SR paper highlighted, in a specific and consistent topic, the suggestions for future research related to the process of DCs and its relationship with strategic alliances, motivating new research works.

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This study aimed to analyze how improvisation activities take place within the management of a higher education organization, by examining practices and related constructs, such as innovation, intuition, bricolage and learning. This is a case study on a large private university, located in Sa ˜o Paulo, Brazil. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, non-participant observation and document analysis. The results showed that improvisation in academic management is characterized by constant pressures that challenge their managers toward adaptations, reorganization in crisis situations, the sense of urgency and coping with the unexpected. Minimal structures, flexibility and competence have proved to be essential elements for improvisation. Decisions and actions, practiced by academic managers, were characterized by spontaneity, creativity and managerial flexibility. Dynamic and complex environments make improvisational practices that emerge in the day-to-day of academic management. The existence of a culture favorable to experimentation, to the autonomy of managers, contributes to reviewing processes and disseminating practices of improvisation. The incorporation of bricolage as a way to better use limited resources proved to be promising for managerial effectiveness. Originality is demonstrated in the relationship between the practices of improvisation and academic management, seen as a unique context in a flexible and complex system. This paper highlights suggestions for managerial practice related to improvisation practices as one of the ways to cope with organizational dynamics.

PurposeBy exploring “what is strategic improvisation in organizations?” the authors respond to advances in strategic improvisation (SI) conceptualization with an emphasis on the challenges of combining unplanned but deliberate responses to relentlessly changing environments, in which strategy becomes increasingly improvised.Design/methodology/approachAn integrative review was conducted with the potential to develop new theoretical approaches to research problems. This literature review resulted in an introductory SI framework.FindingsThe authors propose a SI conceptual framework combining foundation, structuration and capillarization. While foundations comprise extemporaneity, novelty and intentionality, considered as triggers for the manifestation of SI, in this study structuration refers to the combination of a minimal structure and a reassessment process in response to unexpected situations. Capillarization means interaction patterns characterized as spontaneous, dynamic and collaborative. This framework leads to the definition of SI as an impromptu deliberate action stream, combining unplanned responses with intentional actions sustaining the convergence of strategy and operation, to integrate and reconfigure resources at the strategic level.Practical implicationsSI in practice considers reconfiguring the internal and external forces to deal with unexpected events and impromptu deliberate responses to face rapidly changing environments. This would enable practitioners and managers to prepare for eventualities that evolve dynamically and spontaneously, and unpredictable imminent global crises.Originality/valueThe authors conducted the first study mapping improvisation as a strategic organizational level phenomenon. SI is recognized as operating across levels, from the tactical and functional to the strategic.

PurposeThis study aimed to contribute to the field of project management (PM) by exploring the elements of project complexity and how individuals respond to such complexity. Multiple dimensions were examined, including technical, human and political dimensions, with a significant impact on project implementation.Design/methodology/approachAn in-depth case study was conducted, focusing on the implementation of a Brazilian hospital. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, participant observation and document analysis. Bridging the research gap involved unraveling the project complexity elements and how to manage them, more specifically in the hospital context.FindingsThe findings revealed that project complexity challenges managers to deal with uncertainties, emergencies and unexpected situations. It implies coping with multiple factors of technical, human and political dimensions. Divergent interests contributed to the formation of coalitions, triggering relevant individual and group learning. Strategic improvisation had a potentially significant response from managers regarding project complexity to make adjustments and changes, focusing on project effectiveness and performance.Practical implicationsThe challenge of managing project complexity is to deal with the balance between structure and improvisation in response to complexity. Flexibility, adaptability, self-organisation and strategic improvisation are key elements in managerial practices that address complexity, especially in hospital projects.Originality/valueThe differentiated approach lies in the proposed model of project complexity, with elements that make up the technical, human and political dimensions, with significant results for complex projects.

PurposeThe focus of this study was to analyze crisis management in a context of high-reliability organizations (HRO) evidenced in two cases of Brazilian air disasters. Aspects of human and technological natures were examined, addressing the complex sociotechnical system.Design/methodology/approachThis in-depth case study addressed the two most serious air disasters on Brazilian territory. The first case involved a midair collision between Gol Flight 1907 and the Legacy jet. In the second case, TAM flight 3054 had difficulty braking when landing at the airport and crashed into a building. Data were collected from official disaster documents.FindingsThe results revealed that the management and operational activities aimed to maintain the necessary conditions that prioritize a high level of reliability. High reliability mainly involves concern over failure, reluctance to accept simplified interpretations, sensitivity to operations, commitment to resilience and detailed structure specifications.Practical implicationsThe implications are based on alerting highly reliable organizations, emphasizing the focus on managing more reliably, resiliently and conscientiously. Changes will be required in the operations of organizations seeking to learn to manage unexpected events and respond quickly to continually improve the responsiveness of their services.Originality/valueIn the perspective of an intrinsic case study for crisis management in a context of HRO and disaster risk management, the originality of this study lies in its examination of the paradoxical nature of control within the systems of dangerous operations in complex organizations, as well as their contradictions in a high-reliability system.

Purpose Understanding social organisations requires considerable effort because of their complex reality. The purpose of this paper is to analyse the performance and amateur form of management of an organisation of scavengers, with significant results for society. Design/methodology/approach This study is a qualitative in-depth case study. Data were collected through ethnographic interviews, non-participant observation and document analysis. The association of scavengers in question was identified as being strongly representative of the 23 similar associations in Curitiba. The city is the first Brazilian capital to create conditions for direct disposal of selective waste collected by waste pickers, as recommended by the National Solid Waste Policy. Findings Three main aspects of evidence are highlighted in the proposed model: unique features, performance management and multiplicity of practices. The findings showed a strong presence of utilitarian behaviour due to the need of the members of the organisation to generate income for survival, forcing social and environmental concerns into the background. The combination of community values, informal practices, collective learning and amateur management has had a positive effect on the social organisation’s performance. Social implications The outcomes were identified for individuals, the community and society by contributing to social inclusion, economic growth and environmental care. Originality/value The differentiated approach lies in the convergence between performance and amateur management in social organisations, with relevant environmental, economic and social results. A model is proposed to demonstrate the complex relationship between unique features, multiplicity of practices and performance with regard to the amateur management analysed in this study.