STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT OF AGRICULTURAL-RESEARCH - THE EMBRAPA EXPERIENCE

The Brazilian Corporation for Agricultural Research (EMBRAPA) is building a new institutional paradigm to lead it into the twenty-first century. More than 9,500 research managers, scientists and research support staff from EMBRAPA's Headquarters and 41 research centres, as well as research users and partners, are involved. The process includes developing future scenarios for agricultural research, a broad evaluation of EMBRAPA structure and programmes and strategic planning for the organization as a whole and for each research centre. This paper presents the rationale guiding EMBRAPA's search for institutional sustainability for the 1990s and beyond. It summarizes the strategic steps under way in EMBRAPA's change process and it synthesizes success factors and major obstacles influencing the process. It then outlines EMBRAPA's new institutional paradigm: 'Enterprise with social accountability'.