Implementing strategies: barriers and facilitators in the specialized Brazilian literature Implementa o de Estratégias: Barreiras e Facilitadores Evidenciados na Literatura Brasileira Especializada

This article aggregates empirical evidence of the main barriers to and facilitators of the implementation of different strategies at organizations in Brazil. It is a theoretical study that uses as its starting point those studies that regard strategy as a social practice, with conclusions based on research found in the main Brazilian publications from 2000 to 2007. The authors’ intent is to answer three questions on strategy studies in Brazil simultaneously: Has the publication of theoretical studies dropped considerably in the specialized meetings in our country, with the risk of falling into empiricism devoid of theoretical thinking? Does the area have a colonized position vis-à-vis Anglo-Saxon studies? In addition, is there a shortage of studies on strategy implementation processes, given that the research tends to focus on the formulation of strategies? Though thoughts and references from international literature are not disregarded in this study, especially concerning the theoretical input of strategy as practice, the authors aim to gather domestic knowledge capable of illustrating the reality of Brazilian organizations on the issue in question. This article concludes that certain factors that facilitate the effective implementation of strategies may actually constitute barriers, depending on how the strategy is conducted by the individuals and the groups that interact constantly within organizations. Key words: Strategy implementation. Strategy as practice. Strategy in Brazil. Nesse artigo busca-se reunir as evidências empíricas das principais barreiras e facilitadores da implementa o de diferentes estratégias nas organiza es no Brasil. Trata-se de um ensaio teórico que parte da corrente de estudos que concebe a estratégia como uma prática social, com conclus es baseadas em pesquisas nas principais publica es brasileiras de 2000 a 2007. No trabalho busca-se responder simultaneamente a três quest es colocadas pelos estudiosos de estratégia no Brasil: a publica o de estudos teóricos tem diminuído consideravelmente nos encontros especializados em nosso país, podendo assim cair em um empirismo sem grandes reflex es teóricas; a área possui posi o colonizada frente aos estudos anglo-sax nicos e; há uma carência de estudos sobre os processos de implementa o de estratégias, já que o foco de pesquisas é predominante em rela o a formula o de estratégias. N o se descarta reflex es e consultas a literatura internacional nesse estudo, em especial nos aportes teóricos da estratégia como prática, mas busca-se reunir conhecimento nacional que ilustre a re