Study goals
To propose and apply the Investment Priority Pyramid, inspired by Maslow, to structure CAPEX decisions in industries, integrating regulatory, strategic, financial, and reliability criteria, thereby enhancing governance and transparency in decision-making processes.
Relevance / originality
The study provides an original approach by applying Maslow’s hierarchy of needs to portfolio management, enabling allocative discipline under resource constraints and creating a common language for complex decision-making in industrial environments.
Methodology / approach
Applied research using a case study, based on planning cycles of a multinational petrochemical, combining segmentation by levels of need with capital allocation by asset priority, integrating qualitative and quantitative criteria.
Main results
The pyramid structured four decision levels, enhanced transparency, enabled CAPEX scenario simulations, clarified risks of excluded items, and disciplined capital allocation by balancing mandatory and discretionary investments.
Theoretical / methodological contributions
Integrates portfolio, asset management, and hierarchy of needs theories, proposing a scalable investment decision model that reconciles governance, financial metrics, and qualitative criteria in complex industrial settings.
Social / management contributions
The approach strengthens transparency, governance, and decision discipline in industrial companies, optimizing resource use, reducing risks, and supporting managers in aligning investments with strategy, sustainability, and organizational value creation.