Applying the operations strategy construct to rural grain-producing enterprises: a theoretical framework

Abstract A firm’s Operations Strategy is responsible for key decisions about the production function activity. Although a significant number of research studies have been conducted about this construct in industrial and service companies, only a few addresses the agricultural sector, specifically the grain production and export industry, which is an important contributor to the Brazilian economy. This study focuses on the operational decisions of grain-producing farms affected by the endogenous and exogenous factors of the grain supply chain. Based on a literature review of the operations strategy, this study aims to present conjectures relating the production decisions of grain-producing enterprises to their Operations Strategies. The results support the applicability of the construct to rural properties. Therefore, future research should address Operations Strategies in agricultural companies and the development/adaptation of tools and management methods applicable to such enterprises.摘要 企业运营战略（Operations Strategy）负责与生产职能活动相关的核心决策。尽管学界已针对工业与服务企业中的该构念开展了大量研究，但聚焦农业领域——尤其是对巴西经济具有重要贡献的粮食生产与出口产业——的相关研究仍寥寥无几。本研究聚焦受粮食供应链内外生因素影响的粮食生产农场的运营决策。基于运营战略领域的文献综述，本研究旨在提出粮食生产企业的生产决策与其运营战略之间关联的假说。研究结果证实了该构念在农村经营主体中的适用性。因此，未来研究可聚焦农业企业的运营战略，以及适配此类企业的工具与管理方法的开发与适配。