Journal of Contemporary Administration

What We Want to Publish in RAC - the Journal of Contemporary Administration

Marcelo de Souza Bispo — 2024-05-10

This editorial’s primary aim is to provide an overview of the initiatives carried out within the Journal of Contemporary Administration (RAC) during my tenure from May 2021 to May 2024. Secondly, this piece offers guidance on submitting articles to RAC, elucidating the journal’s focus and scope while delving into the main reasons for desk rejection.

Cultural Capital and Professional Earnings of Quota and Non-Quota Students from Brazilian Federal Universities

José Roberto Abreu de Carvalho Junior — 2024-04-10

Objective: compare the levels of cultural capital inherited from the family among quota and non-quota students from Brazilian federal universities and analyze its influence on the occupation and remuneration of graduates. Theoretical framework: the sociological literature points out that students from low-income families (such as quota holders) lack cultural capital inherited from the family and this can negatively affect their opportunities in the job market. Methods: we applied an electronic questionnaire to 11,458 graduates from 248 undergraduate courses and 18 Brazilian federal universities. We created the levels of cultural capital of graduates based on a factor analysis, carried out through a combination of variables such as parents’ education and frequency of consumption of cultural goods by students before entering university. We compared the averages obtained for cultural capital between quota and non-quota students through Student’s t-test, and through multinomial logistic regression, we analyzed the influence of this cultural capital on the occupation and remuneration of graduates. Results: the results suggest that quota student graduates have lower levels of cultural capital before entering the federal university than non-quota student graduates. However, the results suggest little influence of this cultural capital for occupational and salary gains in the labor market. Conclusions: the results highlight the relevance of the quota policy of federal universities for the sociocultural and socioeconomic inclusion of quota students.

Education by the Escola Nacional Florestan Fernandes as Transmodernization from Capitalist Consumerism

Marcus Wilcox Hemais — 2024-04-29

Objective: to analyze the critical debates raised by the Escola Nacional Florestan Fernandes (ENFF) in one of its courses, in order to highlight how this education fosters self-defense initiatives that marketing should acknowledge in consumerist discussions. Theoretical approach: the decolonial concept of transmodernity and Paulo Freire’s pedagogy of the oppressed are used to base our analysis. Methods: with a decolonial perspective as our guiding epistemology, we collected data from an online course offered by ENFF. Initially, the authors viewed all videos individually, and subsequently, discussed the pre-analyses. The second round of analysis included coding the data, so we could reach categories of analysis. Results: an approach aligned with the pedagogy of the oppressed is adopted by ENFF’s, since it: raises awareness of its students about the hegemonic structure that oppresses them; criticizes the illusion this oppressive structure creates about benefiting all, emphasizing that a rupture is only possible if the oppressed are behind it; and proposes a path beyond this oppressive structure, specifically through agroecology. The education by ENFF can thus be interpreted as a transmodernization from capitalist consumerism, given it foments, from subalternized settings, self-defense awareness among its students, who come from oppressed contexts. Conclusions: consumerism has been scantly questioned in marketing. However, its activism has been hardly able to deal with the racism, sexism, and coloniality associated to this concept. By presenting a form of educational perspective that resides outside of capitalist principles, a new self-defense model can be considered in the search to protect individuals from market forces.

Discourse on the Method in Finance: Between Epistemological Dominance and Possible Resistance Strategies

Daniel Pereira Alves de Abreu — 2024-05-02

Objetive and Provocation: work in finance has historically had a great affinity with positivist and functionalist approaches, as well as alignment with utilitarian and neoliberal ideologies. The objective of this provocation is to reflect on the predominant epistemes in the field of finance, as well as the limitations of such approaches for the development of studies in the area, provoking about the emergence of a movement that has been establishing resistance strategies that can change the status quo of the finance field. Conclusion: bringing new epistemological and methodological approaches, in addition to pointing out more critical approaches and supportive, sustainable and cooperative alternatives to financial and economic issues.

Open Data Standards for Public Procurement and Contracting: A Collaborative Construction

José Francisco Salm Junior — 2024-05-02

Objective: this research examines the collaborative development of a standard for publishing open data in public procurement and contracting, drawing on regional and international initiatives. The study posits that disseminating such a standard can potentially enhance the municipalities’ ability to disclose data for citizens and control agencies, complying with open data principles. Method: the study started with an examination of a specific issue encountered within a municipality, engaging a network of stakeholders possessing diverse perspectives and insights into the problem and potential solutions. A proposal to resolve the issue was formulated and subjected to a pilot test in a municipality, evaluating its capacity for interoperability and scalability to other municipalities and public agencies. Result: alongside the proposal for an open data standard comprising three classes of data — public notice, adjudication, and contracting —, the study yielded two additional outcomes: the development and systematization of a co-production methodology to address public issues, and the initiation of a project to establish a statewide network for open data standardization. Conclusion: the development of the open data standard involved the integration of diverse knowledge, resources, and stakeholders. In addition, it encountered challenges, underwent iterations, and imparted valuable lessons. The emphasis on problem-solving and collaborative engagement among municipalities, academia, civil society, and government agencies was an aspect that stood out. Constructed collaboratively, the open data standard demonstrated potential for replication and is recommended for adoption by other organizations seeking to promote open data initiatives. The technopolitical and ontological aspects of the process, along with the perspectives and challenges for its sustainability, contribute to advancing knowledge and enhancing the practice of collaborative governance.