Intranets em subsidiárias brasileiras de empresas transnacionais de software e hardware

Abstract

The text discusses the diffusion of Intranets in Brazil. For this purpose, it points out the concept of network firm and organization models of transnational firms operating according to this concept. Field research comes next, including interviews undertaken in five transnational software and hardware enterprises subsidiaries. Main conclusions are (1) the network firm model seems to be useful to explain the Intranet impact in these enterprieses as it helps the consolidation of local groups (2) but the diffusion of Intranets may lead to a wider concentration of know how and decision making inside the firm, at least in developing countries subsidiaries (the network model implies a decentralization of the decision making process and of knowledge intensive tasks), (3) as Intranets contribute to consolidate and may lead to a wider concentration of the intrafirm know how, a decrease in average internal work force qualification in developing countries may be expected (4) it is expected that Intranets will contribute to bring out new opportunities for Brazilian firms qualified in the suppliers and client network of these enterprises.