Lara is an Associate Professor at Ivey Business School, Western University, Canada. She holds a joint appointment at the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil with a fellowship research position at the Bertalanffy Center in Austria. Her expertise is in strategy and sustainability, and her investigation sheds light on how collaborative systemic change can shape strategy toward innovation and sustainability. She has been publishing cutting-edge research in several highly cited journals and conferences.
Lara has been working to integrate systems thinking and sustainability in management education to develop responsible leaders. She is the author of the book “Systems Thinking and Systems Theory for Management” which addresses this research topic in depth. She has supervised several Ph.D. theses and has designed and coordinated numerous academic and executive programs.
In Brazil, Lara founded the Center for Innovation, Systems and Sustainability (CISS) and has worked to improve management research in Latin America. She is the executive editor of the Latin American Journal of Management for Sustainable Development and is the founder of the Latin American Society for Systems and Sustainability.
Meanwhile, she was a consultant to several firms and organizations, such as PWC, UNICA(Brazilian Sugarcane Industry and Bioenergy Association) and UNCTAD-UN (United Nations Conference on Trade and Development). She has also worked with non-profit organizations, such as Carolinian Canada, PICE Entrepreneurship and Lar de Euripedes Foundation.
With a consolidated academic career and a consultancy background, Lara has sat on different private board councils, developing important bonds between research and practice in strategic sectors, such as IT and agri-food. She has coordinated several cross-sector projects to promote systemic change and innovative strategies toward sustainability.
-
Martins, F.; Lima, A.; Diep, L.; Cezarino, L.; Liboni, L. L.; Tostes, R.; Parikh, P., (Forthcoming), "COVID-19, SDGs and public health systems: Linkages in Brazil", Health Policy OPEN, December 4: 100090 - 100090.
-
Liboni, L. L.; Cezarino, L. O.; Alves, M. F. R.; Chiappetta Jabbour, C. J.; Venkatesh, V. G., 2023, "Translating the environmental orientation of firms into sustainable outcomes: the role of sustainable dynamic capability", Review of Managerial Science, May 17(4): 1125 - 1146.
-
Donaires, O. S.; Cezarino, L. O.; Liboni, L. L.; Ribeiro, E. M. S.; Martins, F. P., 2023, "Multivariate data analysis of categorical data: taking advantage of the rhetorical power of numbers in qualitative research", Quality & Quantity
-
Ferraresi de Araujo, G. J.; Ronquim Filho, A.; Cezarino, L. O.; Liboni, L. L., 2023, "Sugar-energy bioelectricity in energy trading environments: reasons for the lack of competitiveness", International Journal of Energy Sector Management, January 17(1): 63 - 81.
Abstract:
Purpose
Renewables such as sugar-energy biomass can contribute to national electrical security, job creation and mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions. However, after the auction of reserve energy, in 2008, exclusive biomass, in the regulated contracting environment (RCE), the authors observe that this energy environment has lost competitiveness in the auctions. Thus, a study on the present theme is justified, based on the problem: What are the reasons for the lack of competitiveness of sugar-energy bioelectricity in the Auctions of the RCE of the National Electric Energy Agency? The purpose of this study is to understand the situation of sugar-energy bioelectricity in the Brazilian market.
Design/methodology/approach
Literature review was conducted through the Scientific Electronic Library Online database, as well as the survey of primary documents at Sugarcane Industry Union and Electric Energy Trading Chamber.
Findings
The reasons for lack of competitiveness in RCE electricity auctions are: distant location of transmission lines; difficulties in obtaining licensing; delay in responses from environmental agencies; difficulties in securing financing for electricity generation projects for distilleries; non-pricing of positive environmental externalities as adequate disposal of waste; and the non-recovery of the cost of retrofit of the plants. The present situation may create economic, social and ecological circumstances adverse for Brazilian development, such as a lack of employment and income generation, loss of international currencies from imports of technologies not developed and produced in the country and more significant inefficiency greenhouse gas mitigation.
Originality/value
The originality of this study is in the contribution to the scarce literature on the understanding of the reasons for the lack of competitiveness of the Brazilian sugarcane sector in auctions of the regulated energy environment, based on SWOT analysis and, based on this understanding, to propose solutions for the expansion of this important matrix energy.
Link(s) to publication:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/ijesm-09-2021-0018
-
Liboni, L. L.; Donaires, O.; Cezarino, L. O., (Forthcoming), "Systems approach to Dynamic Capabilities", Systems Research and Behavioral Science
-
Elias, M.; Liboni, L. L.; Cezarino, L. O.; Pinheiro Martins, F.; Pimenta, M. L.; Hilletofth, P.; Hilmola, O-P., 2022, "Shedding Light on the Brazilian Amazon Biotrade: A Study on Sustainable Development in Native Communities", Sustainability, October 14(19): 12826 - 12826.
Abstract: The Amazon is a biodiversity hotspot. Around 90% of its territory is inhabited by native communities, who spontaneously organize themselves into groups of extractivists and small producers, relying on biodiversity as their primary means of sustenance. This paper aims to discuss how the biotrade of Amazonian biodiversity goods affects native communities with respect to environmental, social, and economic sustainability. Based on a sample of 178 native extractivists in four communities, we concluded that biotrade enabled native communities to market their products by adapting to existing conditions, considering the difficulties and the expectations of traditional residents, and contributed to the three dimensions of sustainable development.Link(s) to publication:
http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su141912826
-
Martins, F. P.; Cezarino, L. O.; Liboni, L. L.; Botelho Junior, A. B.; Hunter, T., 2022, "Interdisciplinarity-Based Sustainability Framework for Management Education", Sustainability, September 14(19): 12289 - 12289.
Abstract: Business education faces shortcomings that can be mitigated through the broad perspective of interdisciplinarity, fulfilling a call for a greater orientation toward Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). Despite the relevance and urgency, current frameworks cannot embed context-related problems into their design, increasing the detachment of wicked problems and management education, and falling short of the goal-oriented prerogative. Interdisciplinarity is up to this task as an educational attitude and behaviour rather than a toolkit of cross-disciplinary classification. This paper aims to propose a framework for interdisciplinarity-based sustainability management for business education. We established the framework via a literature review analysis, and then we validated it through discussions with specialists from the United Nations Principles for Responsible Management Education (UN-PRME) to introduce a model with 49 evidence-driven, interdisciplinarity practices. We grouped results in three main dimensions of analysis connecting the 16 categories. We gave special attention to spaces of discomfort that ought to be fostered in business schools under a critical thinking perspective and the student’s role in the relevance of sustainability education. The work harbours practical implications for developing better practices for management education by blending an interdisciplinary approach to sustainability in the management education literature.Link(s) to publication:
http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su141912289
-
Cezarino, L. O.; Liboni, L. L.; Hunter, T.; Pacheco, L. M.; Martins, F. P., 2022, "Corporate social responsibility in emerging markets: Opportunities and challenges for sustainability integration", Journal of Cleaner Production, August 362: 132224 - 132224.
-
Liboni, L. L.; Oliveira, B. G.; Cezarino, L. O., 2022, "Time Perspective Shaping Sustainability: Lessons from Indigenous Amazon Communities", Academy of Management Proceedings, August 2022(1)
-
Pimenta, M. L.; Cezarino, L. O.; Piato, E. L.; da Silva, C. H. P.; Oliveira, B. G.; Liboni, L. L., 2022, "Supply chain resilience in a Covid-19 scenario: Mapping capabilities in a systemic framework", Sustainable Production and Consumption, January 29: 649 - 656.
-
Goulart, A. R.; Liboni, L. L.; Cezarino, L. O., 2021, "Qualification as a societal challenge and the role of higher education from a system approach", Higher Education, Skills and Work-Based Learning, October 11(5): 1002 - 1019.
Abstract: PurposeLooking at the planet as our main and unique asset, the authors encounter fragile zones needing special attention more than others, such as emerging countries. One of their most urgent problems is the qualification gap of the workforce and the consequent increasing poverty and social exclusion. Their backward education system is partially responsible for this disparity, especially in technology-related sectors. In this sense, higher education institutions (HEIs) play a fundamental role in shortening this gap and solving this dichotomy. The purpose of this study is to conduct a systemic study to address the qualification gap of emerging countries, offering a framework to minimize this grand societal challenge, taking Brazilian economy as example.Design/methodology/approachUsing the soft system methodology (SSM), the authors propose systemic solutions to the qualification gap in Brazil by analyzing different stakeholder perceptions and developing a feasible-change framework to transition to an enhanced higher education (HE) model in Brazil.FindingsResults show three main aspects that draw the framework: the education of social and emotional skills, internship support during the first experience in the job market and a closer relationship with employer companies.Research limitations/implicationsAs a future direction, the framework proposes positive changes focused on soft skills-based education and the partnership between companies and HEIs.Originality/valueThe contribution relies on an original application of a system methodology to propose solutions to the qualification gap, involving different stakeholders, their salience and perceptions. The use of SSM to analyze complex problems from stakeholders' perspectives demonstrated how a system approach could empower the stakeholder theory in addressing grand societal challenges.Link(s) to publication:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/heswbl-06-2020-0118
-
Cezarino, L. O.; Liboni, L. L.; Oliveira Stefanelli, N.; Oliveira, B. G.; Stocco, L. C., 2021, "Diving into emerging economies bottleneck: Industry 4.0 and implications for circular economy", Management Decision, August 59(8): 1841 - 1862.
Abstract: PurposeIn this paper, the authors aim to explore the relationship between the concepts of Industry 4.0 and circular economy (CE) as a contribution to the management decision on emerging countries. By analyzing the trends of scientific production to ascertain the interface of both constructs, the purpose of this paper is to identify limitations for Industry 4.0 and CE implementation in Brazil, as well to present an original framework and strategic pathways to overcome limitations for emerging countries.Design/methodology/approachSupported in the Brazilian case, the authors draw a framework using the structuralism approach to indicate pathways for the strategic positioning of emerging economies that consider their limitation and potential for competitive advantage. By understanding country-related limitations such as social and economic contingencies, the authors conceive a structure of implications for Brazil’s capacity to develop CE in the digital era.FindingsResults show that Brazil has a reasonable, institutional and stable environment, as well as strong regulatory policies for solid waste that can stimulate CE in the country. However, it requires more communication between actors, especially public and private institutions, performing long-range relationships. Also, the country requires consolidation of industrial policies and investments in the remanufacturing process in the supply chain. Likewise, despite Brazil’s ability to take advantage of CE’s benefits, the country presents a huge lack of qualification to fulfill the competences that the digitization process demands. Economically, Brazil has been fighting against an economic crisis since 2014 that has limited general investments, especially in the industrial sector. Industry presents low performance and decreasing GDP participation, which leads to constant overseas production transfer as a consequence of the workforce’s high costs.Research limitations/implicationsThe authors can affirm that Brazil is far behind developed countries in searching for the capacity to provide CE through technological industrial change. The main problems are related to the lack of articulation of public and private spheres to promote new digital business models. Therefore, the structured framework enables managers and public agents to provide solutions and to properly address supply chain bottlenecks in emerging economies.Originality/valueExploring the relationship between the concepts of Industry 4.0 and CE through the specific lens of the structuralist method, this work can contribute to the management decision on emerging countries, looking into four important perspectives: political, economic, social and technological.Link(s) to publication:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/md-10-2018-1084
-
Kennedy, S.; Grewatsch, S.; Liboni, L. L.; Cezarino, L. O., 2021, "A Systems Approach to Business Sustainability Education", Academy of Management Proceedings, August 2021(1): 15644 - 15644.
-
Eustachio, J. H. P. P.; Caldana, A. C. F.; Liboni, L. L.; Martinelli, D. P., 2019, "Systemic indicator of sustainable development: Proposal and application of a framework", Journal of Cleaner Production, December 241: 118383 - 118383.
-
Cezarino, L. O.; Alves, M. F. R.; Caldana, A. C. F.; Liboni, L. L., 2019, "Dynamic Capabilities for Sustainability: Revealing the Systemic Key Factors", Systemic Practice and Action Research, February 32(1): 93 - 112.
For more publications please see our Research Database
