This article identifies the main critical variables of success for the implementation of strategies, and carries out an empirical analysis of the system of agrochemical distribution in Brazil. The theoretical framework used is an innovative one, in that it incorporates approaches of the Economy of Organizations and Transaction Cost Economics (TCE), in order to analyze a problem of corporate governance, thereby complementing the traditional management approaches. The article identifies the following variables of critical success: i) the presence of contracted management in complex organizations; ii) the existence of mechanisms of adaptation to the process of implementing strategies; iii) the existence of contractual safeguards in view of the need for investments in specific assets; and iv) the existence of contractual safeguards in view of the uncertainties of the business environment. The empirical research was carried out by means of a survey, to analyze the process of implementing strategies in 32 agrochemicals distribution channels in Brazil. In terms of results, with the exception of the restriction to/on the residual value of the decision-maker for non-complex companies, all the critical success variables identified in the theoretical review show a direct and positive relationship with the performance of the process of implementing strategies. The variable of contracted management did not present any statistical significance.