Formação e difusão de redes de cooperação: a análise de uma política pública a partir da lente teórica do trabalho institucional

Abstract

This dissertation presents the process of constitution and diffusion of cooperation networks in a context of micro and small firms through public policies. With a starting point in an analytical literature review of inter-organizational relations, institutional theory and institutional work, it sought to understand the role of individual actors in institutional changes capable of easing the development of these firms. The theoretical evidences induce to the research question of how a public policy stimulated the constitution and the diffusion of cooperation networks as a new organizational phenomenon among micro and small firms. To address the resolution of this question, it is proposed, through empirical observations, a theoretical-conceptual framework to support the understanding about this institutional change process. The empirical research conducted a case study about the trajectory of stimulation to cooperation among micro and small firms in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil, through the institutionalization of the cooperation network as a new organizational form. The results highlight the following evidence: a) the institutional change process starts with the recognition of intern and extern motivation inherent to the institutional actor; b) institutional artifacts composed of ideas, materials and identity are important conducers to the institutional change trajectory; c) the connection to local actors enhance contextuality, legitimacy and power necessary to the effective implementation of actions proposed by a centralized institutional actor; d) field-configuring events create spaces in every level of institutional work to support the acceptance of new institutional practices and limits; e) the practices of institutional work hold complementary sets of political work, reconfiguration of belief systems, alteration of abstract configurations, disclosure and adaptation of the new institution. These evidences indicate that practices of institutional work must be underpinned in institutional artifacts, connection to local actors and field-configuring events in order to promote thorough institutional changes.