Treinamento, uma ferramenta estratégica para longevidade dos negócios das micro e pequenas empresas do setor de varejo de vestuário: um estudo de múltiplos casos em Feira de Santana - BA

Abstract

This research has as main objective to investigate if programs of training of employees collaborate as a strategic management tool for the development and longevity of micro and small sized firms in the clothing retail sector in the city of Feira de Santana, Bahia. The theoretical framework addresses issues related to the proposed objective which authors such as Hinrich (1976), Borges-Andrade (2006), Bastos (2006), Schermerhorn Júnior (2007) e Robbins, Judge e Sobral (2010) argue that programs of training are a strategic management tool able to help companies to overcome difficulties and to enhance the performance and longevity of firms. As far as the methological issue is concerned, the research has a qualitative and quantitative approach and exploratory research which uses the multiple case study strategy, through the application of a structured and semi-structured questionnaire with interviews of key respondents: managers and employees of 12 (twelve) micro and small companies of the clothing retail sector in the city of Feira de Santana-BA. The outcome of this study showed that, despite not all firms researched have applied any training program, the average of longevity of firms which had applied training on a regular basis are 29% higher than those which did not applied any training program. Based on the data obtained, we may conclude that training programs as a strategic factor of firm’s development and longevity are an important management tool for the permanence of companies in the market.