Export Activity as Joint Source Between Organizational Structure and Sustainability: The Case of a Global Company Adami S/A Madeira

Abstract

Organizations operating in contexts that include providing services to international markets through export activities should consider the extent to which their organizational structures and sustainability strategies complement each other. This is especially important when the exported products are derived from natural resources. With this in mind, the aim of this study is to analyze how export activities together with organizational structure can facilitate sustainability practices in a particular company. Adami S/A Madeira, the organization that we examine in this case, exports raw timber, wood moldings, and wooden ornaments to international markets, including the United Arab Emirates, the United States, and Canada. This research is qualified as a case study and involves a qualitative approach. The data were collected through a semi‐structured interview script recorded in audio with the Wood Business Unit Production Supervisor as well as document analysis based on the company's responses under the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) indicators G4 model. The results of this research showed that, despite the importance of formal structures focused on the areas of export and environmental management that are fundamental for the coordination of sustainability practices, the company does not have such structures. In addition, customer sustainability requirements show indifference to certification depending on the countries to which exports are made.