Abstract Public sector managers and researchers have emphasized the importance of performance measurement. Nevertheless, few theoretical and empirical studies are found in Brazilian Judiciary Courts’ literature. In order to empirically identify which variables (IT investments, own or outsourced human capital) are more relevant for improving productivity, the current research proposes a model using secondary data extracted from the Justiça em Números (Justice in Numbers) report, using structural equation modeling for the analysis. The results suggest that: (a) all variables are relevant for improving productivity in Brazilian Courts, confirming our first three theoretical hypotheses; and (b) own human capital has a greater impact on productivity than outsourced, confirming the fourth. For those who are responsible for reforms, this finding indicates that IT is not the most important investment. However a question remains: Seen as a cure for almost all problems in the public sector, is it possible to improve performance without hard IT investments? For future research there are some additional questions: Why is own human capital more relevant than outsourced? Which variables should be included in the model for improving the general significance? The answers can help improve Brazilian court productivity.

RESUMO O estudo investiga o efeito das escolhas estratégicas genéricas e dos sistemas de controle gerencial (SCG) no desempenho organizacional de empresas de médio e grande porte localizadas no Espírito Santo, tendo a teoria da contingência como plataforma teórica. Trata-se de uma pesquisa quantitativa, com a utilização de um survey como técnica de coleta de dados. Foram validados 73 questionários, respondidos pelos responsáveis pela controladoria ou área afim dessas empresas, no período de fevereiro a abril de 2014. A análise dos dados foi feita usando a técnica da modelagem de equações estruturais. Os principais resultados indicam que: (i) as forças competitivas moldam a estratégia adotada pelas organizações pesquisadas, porém, de forma contrária à prevista na literatura, ou seja, as empresas que atuam em ambientes com maior competição escolhem como estratégia a busca pela liderança em custo, ao invés da diferenciação; (ii) o desenho do SCG é influenciado pela estratégia escolhida, sendo que o uso de práticas gerenciais contemporâneas está associado a uma estratégia de diferenciação; (iii) as escolhas estratégicas e o SCG possuem impacto positivo no desempenho organizacional. Além disso, empresas que combinam estratégia de diferenciação com práticas gerenciais contemporâneas possuem desempenho superior às demais empresas analisadas.

ABSTRACT The study investigates the effect of generic strategic choices and management control systems (MCS) on the organizational performance of large and medium-sized companies located in Espírito Santo, using Contingency Theory as the theoretical framework. It is a quantitative study, using a survey as the data collection technique. 73 questionnaires were validated, after being completed by those responsible for the controlling or related area of these enterprises over the period between February and April of 2014. The data analysis was performed using the structural equations modeling technique. The main results indicate that: (i) competitive forces shape the strategy adopted by the organizations surveyed, however, contrary to what the literature predicts, those companies that operate in more competitive environments choose a strategy of cost leadership instead of differentiation; (ii) the design and use of the MCS is influenced by the strategy chosen, and the use of contemporary management practices is associated with a differentiation strategy; (iii) strategic choices and the MCS have a positive impact on organizational performance. In addition, those companies that combine differentiation strategy with contemporary management practices perform better than the other companies analyzed.