Transaction cost economics and its impact on interorganizational cost management in Brazilian coffee growing

摘要

Interorganizational relationships, in its more specific context of interorganizational cost management (IOCM), create difficulties for participants in terms of lack of trust, the way in which benefits will be shared, if the information is truthful, among other problems. In this context, the IOCM variables end up being influenced by the Transaction Cost Economics (TCE). Thus, this research aims to verify if and how the configuration of the TCE variables is established in relation to the IOCM variables in the relationship of the rural producer with the cooperatives and investor-owned firms (IOFs) in the coffee value chain. Qualitative research was used, with semi-structured, individual interviews with rural producers, representatives of cooperatives and IOFs, who trade coffee and have a direct relationship, geographically delimited in the states of Sao Paulo and Minas Gerais in Brazil. A pre-test was carried out for subsequent interviews, the answers were transcribed using the Atlas TI and IRAMUTEQ software for counting and word variations, checking which ones were related to each of the variables to organize and analyze contents. As a result, the relationship of the variables was identified, with emphasis on the benefit variable that was related to all the TCE variables, it was noted that the quality-functionality variable is used to increase the price and the future market to minimize uncertainty in the oscillation of the market. Also in specific assets, it was found that cooperatives offer more specifics than IOFs, to the point that the rural producer generates commercial loyalty in a non-exclusive way.