A internacionalização de uma empresa brasileira de serviços de saúde na década de 1990: estudo de caso sobre AMIL

Estudo de caso sobre uma empresa do setor de prestação de saúde que inicializou um processo inédito de internacionalização para os mercados americano e argentino no início da década de 1990.No intuito de explicar este movimento, contextualizamos esta expansão em um cenário econômico, político e cultural peculiar à época tanto no Brasil, quanto nas localidades em que a mesma se implantou. Através de uma pesquisa de cunho qualitativo, pretende-se elucidar a razão da escolha de uma estratégia de internacionalização inédita para a época, tendo em vista o setor específico de negócios, seguindo-se a análise dos resultados obtidosThis paper is a case study of a Brazilian company in the provision of health sector, Amil, which held its process of internationalization to different markets of Brazil at the beginning of the 1990s. In order to contextualize this movement,we will relate this expansion in economic, political and cultural scenes peculiar to that age in Brazil , as in where it was implemented . Through a qualitative study, we intend to elucidate the reason for choosing an unprecedented internationalization strategy for the time, considering the specific business sector, followed by analysis of the results. The data collected through interviews, documents and correspondence on the literature showed that the internationalization of Amil in the 1990s was a result of the growing need for stable currency markets due to the stagnation of business at the national level and that the strategy was sedimented in exploratory research based recognizing the intended markets . However , by limiting both the relevant time, as the inexperience in the process , there was an initial barrier dictated by unpreparedness to expatriation . There was still a lack of diligence in researchs to not detect at an early stage mergers of the U.S. market, which consolidated the operators in large enterprises and small was annulleted, as well in the Argentine market , not to predict the opening of Social Works , limiting the business in private health. Even having been discontinued, the process of internationalization of Amil brought to the company the work experience in a stable and regulated environment, as well the perception that cultural and psychological differences can be major barriers to business. This learning has proved useful in the growth of the Brazilian market and highlighted the Amil as a vanguard company in operations , offering new products and in dealing with the authorities . Another advantage of the internationalization process was the proximity to the U.S. market in building hospitals partnerships, a factor that provided updates course program in medical centers with cutting-edge technology to insured members