Characterization of cross-functional integration level: A multi case study in Agribusiness Organizations

Authors

  • Ana Cristina Ferreira Federal University of Uberlândia
  • Marcio Lopes Pimenta Federal University of Uberlândia
  • Franciele Olivo Bertan Federal University of Uberlândia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.12660/joscmv8n2p36-51

Keywords:

Cross-functional integration, Integration level, Operations, R&D, Marketing.

Abstract

A point that has generated discussion in the literature is the level of integration required for the coordination of activities between areas. However, there is a lack of theoretical definitions and field studies that explain this phenomenon in depth. Thus, this study aims to characterize the level of cross-integration, the factors that generate it and the impacts on organizational performance. For this, interviews with managers of Operations, R&D and Marketing/Commercial areas, from two multinational companies based in Minas Gerais were performed. The results indicate that the level of integration can be analyzed as a combination of three factors: 1) absence of overlapping of perceptions about integration factors over the processes, balance between formality and informality, and absence of manifest conflicts of interest. This is a setting that provides a deeper definition than those obtained in the studied literature, which basically present integration mechanisms, without detailing how these should be applied in order to generate higher levels of integration.

 

DOI:10.12660/joscmv8n2p36-51

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.12660/joscmv8n2p36-51

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Published

2015-12-22

Issue

Section

03.Logistics and Supply Chain