Older Restaurant Managers 'More Risk Averse', Study Finds
UFSC study shows prolonged tenure leads managers to favour conservative actions.
Tempo previsto
16/4/2025
Berne's method aids people and firms reinventing, facing inner truths.
When Eric Berne popularized Transactional Analysis, he introduced, among a host of theoretical and practical innovations, the possibility of accelerating voluntary processes of change. That is, given an okay position for both the client and the analyst, to make intentions for improvement a reality. A few days ago, I heard from a mentor: "You will never regret being kind". Or, from a supervisor: "In the end, what remains is the relationship between two people, between two human beings".
But despite this, Transactional Analysis sessions can and probably will disrupt things a bit before helping to resolve them. My perspective on this matter is that the simple act of ordering thought and action; the very simple act of repositioning what is more or less important; looking at how a day is divided as a portrait of how life is being divided; these elements already represent a considerable amount of work. Changing the order of things is like cloud seeding to induce rain. Truth, the very thing that compels us to be the best version of ourselves, is a force of nature, just like rain.
One cannot negotiate with floods and landslides, ask the volcano to wait a little longer because we haven't finished building the barrier. One cannot bargain with the gale to wait a while longer so that we can gather the laundry from the clothesline. One cannot hold back tears in the face of a Yanomami child with their ribs showing from hunger. Truth has the nature of natural tragedies. It doesn't ask permission to be true. It shows us life as it is, the world as it is, it shows you and me as we are when we are alone on our paths. All that darkness, which is the fear of abandonment, of aggression, of cruel words, all that darkness that makes us less divine in our relationships with others, all that darkness is dispelled by the truth.
Throughout my life, I have met some criminals (from a legal standpoint). Once, I asked one of them: "Why did you decide to go to jail?" He paid attention, and answered that he needed to find that answer. Our friendship began at that moment. They don't lie to me, and I don't lie to them either. With this, we are protected from each other. The truth, a force of nature, changes the landscape, cleanses the "viscous and dirty trail left by the impure sowers of hatred" (ESCRIVÁ DE BALAGUER, 2019, p. 25).
When truth manifests itself, one can expect an impressive amount of acid rain and thunder, like a violent eruption, or a most serene breeze accompanying the flight of a dandelion seed. But, whatever the case, it will occupy the appropriate space and definitively change the landscape. To improve is to face this force, to love it, to pray a novena asking for it to come soon.
Want to know more about how Transactional Analysis sessions can help you, your family, and your business finally find what you are looking for? If this is truly your moment of courage, schedule a time to talk about it.
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UFSC study shows prolonged tenure leads managers to favour conservative actions.
A recent study published in the *Revista Turismo, Visão e Ação* (RTVA) reveals that older managers with longer tenures in restaurants tend to be more risk-averse in their corporate decisions. The research, conducted by researchers at the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), analyzed data from over 2,000 restaurants in Europe between 2014 and 2016.
The study, titled "Influence of Management Team Characteristics on Risk Decision-Making: Evidence from the Restaurant Sector," utilized the Amadeus database and employed the least squares method to analyze the relationship between manager characteristics – age, tenure, gender, and team size – and the companies' level of financial leverage, used as a risk-taking indicator.
The results showed a significant negative correlation between the age and tenure of managers and their propensity for risk. Older managers and those who had held the same position for a longer period demonstrated a preference for more conservative decisions, opting to maintain the status quo rather than adopting innovative or risky strategies.
Contrary to some expectations, the study found no significant relationship between the size of the management team or female participation and risk-taking. Although previous research has suggested a possible influence of these factors, the data analyzed did not confirm this hypothesis in the specific context of the restaurant industry.
The authors suggest that the risk aversion demonstrated by more experienced managers may be related to the prioritization of stability and the reputation built throughout their careers. Familiarity with the sector and a concern to preserve accumulated gains may lead them to avoid decisions that represent potential threats to the business.
The study's findings have significant implications for restaurant management. The research suggests that the composition of the management team can directly influence the strategy and performance of companies. Restaurants with younger managers may be more willing to innovate and take risks, while those led by more experienced managers may prioritize stability and financial security.
The researchers highlight the need for further studies to deepen the understanding of the relationship between manager characteristics and decision-making in restaurants. Investigating psychological factors, such as individual risk tolerance, and analyzing data from a longer period could enrich the discussion and provide more precise insights for the sector.
Lack of updates and context erodes reader trust.
A journalistic suite is the continuation of a news story in new articles that update previous ones. Something like: "Two people were injured in an accident"; then, "Men injured in accident undergo surgery"; further, "Men injured in accident discharged from hospital"; and finally, "Company responsible for accident involving injuries fined." All these sensational headlines relate to the same original event.
Not every type of news warrants a continuation. Some events and accomplishments have the momentum for a single appearance. However, to appear once or several times in the newspaper, the "thing" must truly be news, which basically means it's not advertising or propaganda – but that's a topic for another time.
In terms of format, a suite is no different from a new news story. After all, a continuation only exists when a new fact is revealed. But it's in style, from what I've observed, that the "marmita das suítes azedou" – meaning why they've lost momentum in recent years. ("Marmita das suítes azedou" is an idiom meaning roughly that the suites have gone stale or lost their appeal).
Let's take a police investigation as an example. Journalism of both good and poor quality is interested in criminal stories. However, in both types of quality, a flavor of vice remains, perhaps originating from the pleasure of "scooping" (when a journalist is the first to report something). It's a haste that hinders more than it helps: not infrequently, versions are presented that collaborate with a story one wants to tell, which may have nothing to do with what actually happened.
In the case of Armed man threatens Black youth in São Paulo, and police officer refuses to act because she's 'off-duty'; watch video (sense-based translation), for example. This is a story that quickly captured the attention of journalists and the public because a video proves not only the omission of a police officer but also her aggression against a young man. Here, whether the police officer was right or wrong is not under discussion. At the same time, due to the lack of suites, the broader context of the three-minute video was missing.
A story told because of its intriguing nature can yield minutes of viewership and an increase in website visitors. However, without continuity, it's shooting oneself in the foot. In 2023, the Reuters Institute's Digital News Report identified that Brazilians' trust in journalism is 43%, a decrease of 19 percentage points since 2015. Statistically, the downward trend may reach 41% in 2024. In this scenario, all resources of intelligence and integrity are welcome to improve these numbers.
Suites are an opportunity to assure the public that editorial choices represent, even if against the majority view, the vehicle's commitment to a story told from beginning to end, with all its nuances. For this, the editorial line as a whole, and even more so the reporters and editors, must approach investigative activity with the detachment of recounting things as they are, and not as they should be.
