Gestão social sob a ótica da teoria da estruturação

Abstract

The scientific field in Social Management counts on an increasing academic production aimed at the discussion of alternative management forms, characterized by dialogical management actions. The review of larger impact papers indicated four distinct theoretic approaches: 1) frankfurtean criticism; 2) inter-organizational development management; 3) societal public administration and; 4) “puquian” approach. Regarding the extent of these approaches, the use of the Structuring Theory is not verified. To base on this theory is the concept of structure duality: the structure (set of rules and resources constituting the social systems which allow or inhibit the agency) is, simultaneously, means and result of the action and the social practices are reflexive and recursively (re) produced by cognitive agents. Thus, the objective of this thesis is to analyze the duality of the structure established between the dialogical management action and the structural components present in the contexts of social interaction existent in the Colegiado do Território da Cidadania Sertão de Minas. In order to do this, we propose a theoretic framework based on that of Whittington (1992). This theoretic frame reveals that the action is subjected to the influence of structuring properties of various systems and is overlapping. The theoretic framework of this thesis aggregates, to this frame, a deliberative system which, influenced by Mansbridge (1999), establishes as a basic rule the dialogical participation and, as main resource, the deliberative argumentation. The empirical investigation served to employ the framework’s definitions as sensitizing resources for the comprehension of dialogical management actions. The main perceptions indicate that, while employing rules and resources typical of the deliberative system, the actors are (re)producing the practices of social management and, consequently, contributing to its structuring. The reality observed confirmed, however, that the agents resort to the structural properties of various social systems. Thus, the (re)producing process of real social management practices may be configuring a set significantly distinct from that commended by the academy, of ideal social management practices. Evidences of the incorporation of technical language from Social Management theorists are also observed in this study, in an indication of the occurrence of double hermeneutics suggesting that the agents might be modifying the “object of study”, defined here as social management practices, and revealing the reflexive and recursive character of Social Management.