Janette Brunstein

Social learning for sustainability: supporting sustainable business in Brazil regarding multiple social actors, relationships and interests

Finding solutions for complex environmental, economic and social issues in organisations relies on coordinated actions among several social actors that are involved in the sustainable development web and demands that they learn new business methods. In this scenario, which involves multiple social actors, relationships, contexts and interests, social learning has emerged as a hybrid approach to resolving complex environmental and social problems. Such an approach marks a different situation for organisations whose focus is not only on supporting such problem resolution but also on transforming such crises into opportunities to generate sustainable products and services. Thus, this study discusses how one of the largest companies in Latin America’s chemical segment formed a network with 23 social actors and is socially learning to deal with the dialectic between return on investments for its shareholders and benefits for its stakeholders. Research was conducted based on Boje’s narrative analysis. The data was built through interviews, informal conversations, textual and audio-visual documents and non-participant observation. This paper discusses the concept and describes the social learning process for sustainability (in this case, for sustainable agriculture) from the viewpoint of a for-profit organisation. In this manner, this study contributes to strengthening the connection between social learning and sustainability.

Assessment and evaluation of higher education in business management: an analysis of the Brazilian case in the light of social learning theory for sustainability

This article presents an analysis of Brazilian National System of Higher Education Assessment (SINAES) in the light of social learning for sustainability theory. The aim is to contribute to the advancement of debates surrounding education for sustainability and the improvement of public policy evaluation in higher education. The analysis is divided into two steps: (i) a qualitative study undertaken in 22 higher education institutions regarding the assessment of their Business Administration or Technologist in Management courses; (ii) analysis of the questions from the tests applied to the National Examination for the same courses. The results from the visits show that there are few Brazilian institutions that consistently integrate sustainability in their academic management or educational projects. In the National Examination, sustainability is often present in an underlying manner, and in a very few instances, the student is obliged to assume a protagonist posture when solving problems. Despite this weakness, SINAES has an undeniable merit in inducing and monitoring the presence of sustainability in the formation of management professionals.

Sustainability in Management Education: Contributions from Critical Reflection and Transformative Learning

This theoretical paper discusses how the assumptions of critical reflection (CR) and transforming learning (TL) can help develop reflexive professionals in sustainability within management. The central argument is that a purely pragmatic and technical conception in the teaching and learning of sustainability does not sufficiently contribute to the development of professional managers with strong sustainability principles and standards. Therefore, it is important to employ CR and TL because they provide elements that contribute to advancement from the current teaching and learning approach, an approach based on problem solving, to another approach based on problem-posing. The reflections presented in this paper may provide elements that can help teachers, educators, university deans, and coordinators of management courses to rethink the way in which business schools, which are often the drivers for professional managers in metropolitan areas, are addressing sustainability education.

IMPLICAÇÕES DAS CONCEPÇÕES DE EMPREENDER PARA O DESENVOLVIMENTO DA COMPETÊNCIA EMPREENDEDORA

Esse artigo analisa como as diferentes concepcoes de empreender influenciam o desenvolvimento da competencia empreendedora, tomando como referencia o pressuposto fenomenografico de que um mesmo fenomeno e experienciado de diferentes maneiras pelos individuos. Fundamentada em uma ontologia relacional, pouco presente em estudos da competencia, essa pesquisa fenomenografica foi realizada com um grupo de participantes de um programa de pre-incubacao de uma universidade paulista. Os resultados apontam para a existencia de tres diferentes maneiras de experienciar o empreender, que resultam em formas distintas de desenvolvimento da competencia empreendedora. Com base nessas evidencias, apresenta-se um conjunto de reflexoes sobre o que e a competencia profissional e algumas implicacoes para o seu desenvolvimento.

O gestor e a PcD: reflexões sobre aprendizagens e competências na construção da diversidade nas organizações

This research aimed to study the experience of managers in the inclusion of persons with disabilities (DP) in their teams. The intention was to identify and analyze the processes of learning and skills developed by managers to deal with the universe of DP, based on theoretical models of Sandberg (2000), Cheetham and Chivers (1996, 2005) and Cox and Baele (1997). Following the assumptions of the interpretative paradigm and of the basic qualitative study (MERRIAM, 2002), we analyzed the experience of including six managers and six DP under their direction, with moderate to severe disabilities in five firms in Sao Paulo, multinational ones, from the segments of publishing, energy, diesel technology, automotive and agribusiness. The main instrument for data collection was in-depth interviews, supplemented by documentary analysis and direct observations. Data analysis revealed that, for the managers, the act of including is more related to social justice issues than the idea of DP empowerment. Such interpretation led them to prioritize the development of two types of skills: behavioral and ethics and values. The main learning process identified for developing these skills was the experiential, which led the managers to revise their concepts, interrogate and modify their beliefs and, as a result of this reflection, revise their way of managing. The results are intended to contribute to the discussion on the topic from a new perspective: the manager as agent of inclusion.

Focus empreendimentos: o resgate da credibilidade

This case presents a crisis in an organization after the news of a nationwide political scandal involving the institution broke. It presents the organizations scenario of growth and prosperity before the crisis and its goals for the future. It also describes how the institution was affected by the corruption scheme and its reflections on the organizations business. It reveals the measures taken to reverse the situation that threatened its image and reputation, including reviewed strategic planning and the need to restructure the company. Finally, it encourages the reader to evaluate the measures taken by the organization and propose alternatives, as well as reflecting on the steps to resume growth in the context that this type of political involvement is dealt with in Brazil.

Da estratégia individual à ação coletiva: grupos de suporte e gênero no contexto da gestão da diversidade

This article deals with the formation of support groups within the context of corporate diversity policies. There is very little research that looks at the practice of managing diversity. In an attempt to contribute to filling this gap this work analyses a Women’s Committee in order to understand in what way it is influenced by the diversity policy established by the organization’s management and the influence it has. An ethnographic case study was carried out in a transnational company, the Brazilian headquarters of which are located in Sao Paulo. The results indicate there is a paradox. On the one hand the Committee that was analyzed represents a process of emancipation that point to more inclusive and participative management practices, but on the other it was noted that there are control mechanisms in place, because the management tries to regulate the way it functions.