Title: Competencies for sustainable regional development: the experience of a public financial institution in Brazil

Authors: Adriana Costa Barbosa; Janette Brunstein; Herbert Kimura

Addresses: CCSA, Predio T, Mackenzie Presbyterian University, Rua da Consolacao, 930, Sao Paulo, SP, CEP 01302-907, Brazil ' CCSA, Predio T, Mackenzie Presbyterian University, Rua da Consolacao, 930, Sao Paulo, SP, CEP 01302-907, Brazil ' Departamento de Administracao, ICC, University of Brasilia, Campus Universitario Darcy Ribeiro, Brasilia, DF, CEP 70910-900, Brazil

Abstract: The objective of this study is to understand the development of competencies of corporate actors with regards to implementing sustainable regional development (SRD) projects. A qualitative case study was performed to examine the experience of a Brazilian public bank that develops a training strategy for managers to operate SRD projects. The results of this research show that managers who have undergone training have begun to reconsider their traditional competencies, expanding the definition of work beyond quantitative indicators such as maximising shareholders' profit. Additionally, managers also started to evaluate results of SRD initiatives under a qualitative perspective, aiming at the development of communities. Thus, this study plays a part in shedding light on a new outlook on competencies in a little-explored dimension, the social-political dimension. Since establishing SRD measures is leveraged through participatory processes, both the collaboration of social actors and professionals' socially responsible actions are required.

Keywords: sustainable regional development; SRD; sustainable development competencies; public financial institutions; qualitative case study; Brazil; training strategies; managerial development; sustainable development initiatives; social-political dimension; community development; social actors; social actor collaboration; Brazil; sustainability; public banks; banking industry; social responsibility.

DOI: 10.1504/LAJMSD.2014.067385

Latin American Journal of Management for Sustainable Development, 2014 Vol.1 No.4, pp.271 - 289

Received: 08 May 2013
Accepted: 16 Jun 2013
Published online: 14 Feb 2015 *

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