Aprendizagem interorganizacional em cooperativas

Abstract

This thesis aimed to analyze how the characteristics of Cooperativism influence interorganizational learning in cooperatives. The cooperativism in this thesis is understood as a way of thinking and acting that is guided by values and principles of its own and sees the cooperative as the organizational manifestation of this way of thinking. Interorganizational Learning (AIO) is seen as a continuity of organizational learning and the fact that it is a learning process between organizations, the elements of the hierarchy do not affect these relationships. This study ended up finding a theoretical gap that is to analyze the AIO of cooperatives by the theoretical lens of cooperativism, thus jousting its theoretical relevance and as the most appropriate means for the interorganizational actions of cooperative agents. Thus, it was possible to construct the theoretical Framework for interorganizational learning analysis in cooperatives, which served as a theoretical balizer. The context used were the electricity distribution cooperatives of Rio Grande do Sul, which have an average of twenty years of permission to continue providing this service. If you do not show good results your permissions may be cancelled. This thesis intends to contribute to the management improvement in the pursuit of the continuity of these organizations that are relevant to the development of the regions served. For this purpose, a qualitative study of multiple cases was performed, with data source triangulation, using the mapping of social networks, interviews and documents. Analysis of social networks, content analysis and documentary analysis was performed. Four cases were defined, the network of electrical network technicians, the accounting and financial network, the commercial network and the communication-marketing network, analyzing the interaction between agents and understanding about cooperativism and about AIO. The results indicated that the agents with the highest level of understanding of the cooperativism are also the intermediary agents of the learning networks. In other words, there is a positive relationship between the agents that comprise cooperativism and the creation and maintenance of learning networks. However, there is no positive relationship between the understanding of cooperativism with specific elements of learning. In the analysis in light of the theory it was clear that the cooperative dimension of the proposed framework influences the construct of the interorganizational relations of the AIO dimension, but does not influence the construct of learning. As final considerations, the research presents some managerial opportunities relevant to the representative system of cooperatives that would support the teaching of cooperativism as a means of creating a positive substrate for the potentialization Of the AIO between cooperatives. This will encourage agents to learn from one another even if they teach more than they learn, because the concern of the agents who understand and advocate cooperativism cooperated with other cooperatives as well as a defense strategy of the sector itself. As a theoretical contribution, this thesis presents that the studies of AIO in cooperatives should take into account the level of understanding of the cooperativism of the studied agents and consider that the rationality of this agent is not exclusively based on economic gain and/ or knowledge, but also as a means of field development.