Na tentativa de compreender como ocorre um processo de autogestão no cotidiano, este estudo parte da abordagem metodológica da Teoria Ator-Rede para acompanhar as atividades de uma cooperativa de trabalho. Sem definições prévias, nem quadro teórico pré-estabelecido, descreve como a autogestão se constrói e é construída nas práticas do dia-a-dia e como é enactada através da articulação de diversos elementos heterogêneos. Considerando humanos e não-humanos como actantes na apresentação de uma experiência autogestionária em que movimentações, relações, tensões, híbridos estão em um constante organizando. Para a Teoria Ator-Rede realidades são enactadas no limite da noção de rede, sendo assim, pode-se questionar: qual a participação da Administração nessa construção? / In order to understand how the process of autogestion happens, this research, in agreement with the methodological approach of the Actor-Network Theory, follows the activities of a work cooperative. Without previous definitions neither a predetermined theory framework, the research describes how the autogestion is constructs and is constructed within day-to-day practices and how is enacted through the articulation of different heterogeneous elements. Considering humans and nohumans as actants in an autogestionary experience in which movements, relations, tensions and hybrids are in constantly organizing. Actor-Network Theory suggests that realities are enacted in the bound of network concept, so, it is possible to ask: what is the participation of the Management in this construction?

A partir da visão de organização como processo busca-se compreender como e por que ocorre o organizar na bioconstrução. A metodologia utilizada segue os pressupostos da Teoria Ator-rede e Depois que traz como conceito central o enactment aliada a discussão de coletivo para iniciar a pesquisa de campo. Os dados empíricos preliminares, obtidos com observação participante em três locais diferentes que trabalham com bioconstrução a partir da visão da Permacultura e analisados a partir da ótica da TAR e Depois que enfatiza as relações de humanos e não-humanos, destacaram a contribuição para o entendimento de prática e cooperação em termos do fazer/pensar indissociáveis. Assim, acrescenta-se na discussão teórica a noção de prática de Schatzki (2005) e a noção de cooperação a partir da proposta de Sennett (2013). Além de observação participante – usada durante toda pesquisa - os dados empíricos foram coletados – em um segundo momento - por entrevistas, questionário e observação não-participante resultando em uma análise temática baseada no entendimento de prática de Schatzki (2005). O texto se desenvolve através de descrição detalhada dos acontecimentos, intercalado com trechos de incursões teóricas que apresentam a assemblege do método conforme pressupõe a TAR e Depois. Com isso, entende-se e descreve-se a bioconstrução como prática de cooperação através das relações entre todos que enactam a bioconstrução – pessoas e a materialidade. Pela ótica da prática, embasada nos dados empíricos, a cooperação está na inteligibilidade prática do organizar da bioconstrução, assim o barro enacta a cooperação, que enacta a bioconstrução, que enacta o barro. Para existir cooperação não é suficiente uma visão comum ou uma moral social, é preciso o fazer/pensar que constitui e reflete, como processo, essa visão. A tese, através de casos empíricos, contribui para as discussões em Estudos Organizacionais sobre o organizar e em Gestão de Pessoas sobre como ocorrem relações de trabalho horizontais, ambos entendendo processo como o que está em constante mudança. Busca também fortalecer o uso da TAR e Depois como prática metodológica e lente de analise inicial, além de discutir a cooperação em termos de prática. A contribuição para o campo social está na sua ontologia política que dá visibilidade à bioconstrução como uma possibilidade de contrapor o senso comum estabelecido para construção de habitações em nossa sociedade atual. Assim como a bioconstrução nos ensina construir algo único com o que temos disponível, sua prática poderá nos ajudar a pensar criticamente a “monocultura da gestão”. / Considering the organization as a process, this thesis seeks to understand how and why is the organizing in the bioconstruction. The methodology follows the assumptions of Actor-Network Theory and After, that brings as a central concept the enactment combined with collective discussion to start the fieldwork. Preliminary empirical data obtained through participant observation in three different locations, working with bioconstruction from the vision of permaculture, and analyzed from the TAR and After optics, emphasizes the relationship of human and non-human, it highlighted the contribution to understanding the concepts of practice and cooperation in terms of doing / thinking inextricably linked. Thus, it was added to the theoretical discussion the notion of practice Schatzki (2005) and the notion of cooperation Sennett (2013). In addition to participant observation - used throughout research - the empirical data was collected - in a second stage – by interviews, questionnaires and non-participant observation resulting in a thematic analysis based on the Schatzki (2005) concept of practice. The text is developed through a detailed description of the events, interspersed with excerpts from theoretical incursions presenting the method assemblege as presupposes the TAR and After. Thereby, it is understood and described bioconstruction as practice of cooperation through the relationships between all that enact bioconstruction - people and materiality. From the perspective of practice, based on empirical data, cooperation is the practical intelligibility of bioconstruction organizing, so the clay enact cooperation, which enact bioconstruction that enact clay. To be cooperation, a common vision or a social morality is not enough, it is needed doing / thinking represents and reflects this view, as a process. The thesis, through empirical cases, contribute to the discussions in Organizational Studies on organizing and Human Resources about how horizontal working relationships occurs, understanding the process as it is constantly changing. It also seeks to strengthen the use of ANT and After as a methodological practice and initial analysis lens, and discuss cooperation in terms of practice. The contribution to the social field is in its political ontology that gives visibility to bioconstruction as a possibility to counter common sense established for housing construction in our present society. As bioconstruction teaches us build something unique with what we have available, this practice can help us thinking critically about the "monoculture of management."

Sustainability assurance (hereafter ‘SA’) has been a significant area of development in corporate reporting during the last two decades, but one that so far has been subject to limited research. Existing studies in this field have mainly focused on SA opinions, and have tried to understand the characteristics of, and the elements included in, assurance statements, instead of enquiring beyond such outputs to obtain evidence from SA providers themselves. This thesis aims to provide insights into the SA process regarding how decisions in the process are made and what could influence such decisions. It aims to understand what SA practice actually is by examining SA providers’ understandings of the meaning of the practice and the influences that such understandings have on the actual assurance process. Hence, the study focuses on the development of SA practice from the perspective of the assurance providers. It focuses on issues beyond the content of the SA statements to explore the processes leading to the actual delivery of such statements and a wide range of factors that influence the production of such statements and the development of SA practice in general. This study employs a qualitative research approach, using semi-structure interviews as the main data collection method supplemented by various textual data sources. Research participants are SA providers in the UK, including accounting and non-accounting assurance providers. Drawing on the perspective of actor-network theory (ANT), the thesis focuses on the associations involving both human (e.g. assurance providers, reporting organisations, and stakeholders) and non-human (e.g. reporting guidelines, and assurance standards) elements shaping the assurance practice. The theoretical framework based on ANT allows the flexibility in exploring important issues by following the actors, their associations, and their influence on the practice. The findings show that assurance providers’ understandings of the assurance practice vary significantly and that such variation has a major effect on how the assurance practice is conducted. The assurance providers may perceive their roles as independent assurance providers but also adopt other roles to match with the interests and demands of various constituencies. The study shows, in particular, that the providers’ perceived roles vary between what can be termed an ‘independent verifier’, a ‘sustainability consultant’ and a ‘sustainability promoter’, depending on the way in which they place importance on assurance- as against sustainability-related elements of the assurance process. Their different perceptions of their roles influence the internal dynamics of how assurance engagements are conducted. In particular, the study identifies four types of SA engagements, namely ‘social assurance’, ‘integrated assurance’, ‘formative assurance’ and ‘compliance assurance’. Such a categorisation provides a broad-based understanding of the SA as a practice field and the degree of heterogeneity within it. This study provides methodological and empirical contributions by providing evidence on the process associated with SA practice through interviews with different types of organisations providing SA services. Moreover, basing the theoretical framework on ANT highlights the interactions between different actors as a part of the development of SA practice and offers a new perspective to explore the practice and factors influencing its development.

Na tentativa de compreender como ocorre um processo de autogestão no cotidiano, este estudo parte da abordagem metodológica da Teoria Ator-Rede para acompanhar as atividades de uma cooperativa de trabalho. Sem definições prévias, nem quadro teórico pré-estabelecido, descreve como a autogestão se constrói e é construída nas práticas do dia-a-dia e como é enactada através da articulação de diversos elementos heterogêneos. Considerando humanos e não-humanos como actantes na apresentação de uma experiência autogestionária em que movimentações, relações, tensões, híbridos estão em um constante organizando. Para a Teoria Ator-Rede realidades são enactadas no limite da noção de rede, sendo assim, pode-se questionar: qual a participação da Administração nessa construção? / In order to understand how the process of autogestion happens, this research, in agreement with the methodological approach of the Actor-Network Theory, follows the activities of a work cooperative. Without previous definitions neither a predetermined theory framework, the research describes how the autogestion is constructs and is constructed within day-to-day practices and how is enacted through the articulation of different heterogeneous elements. Considering humans and nohumans as actants in an autogestionary experience in which movements, relations, tensions and hybrids are in constantly organizing. Actor-Network Theory suggests that realities are enacted in the bound of network concept, so, it is possible to ask: what is the participation of the Management in this construction?

A partir da visão de organização como processo busca-se compreender como e por que ocorre o organizar na bioconstrução. A metodologia utilizada segue os pressupostos da Teoria Ator-rede e Depois que traz como conceito central o enactment aliada a discussão de coletivo para iniciar a pesquisa de campo. Os dados empíricos preliminares, obtidos com observação participante em três locais diferentes que trabalham com bioconstrução a partir da visão da Permacultura e analisados a partir da ótica da TAR e Depois que enfatiza as relações de humanos e não-humanos, destacaram a contribuição para o entendimento de prática e cooperação em termos do fazer/pensar indissociáveis. Assim, acrescenta-se na discussão teórica a noção de prática de Schatzki (2005) e a noção de cooperação a partir da proposta de Sennett (2013). Além de observação participante – usada durante toda pesquisa - os dados empíricos foram coletados – em um segundo momento - por entrevistas, questionário e observação não-participante resultando em uma análise temática baseada no entendimento de prática de Schatzki (2005). O texto se desenvolve através de descrição detalhada dos acontecimentos, intercalado com trechos de incursões teóricas que apresentam a assemblege do método conforme pressupõe a TAR e Depois. Com isso, entende-se e descreve-se a bioconstrução como prática de cooperação através das relações entre todos que enactam a bioconstrução – pessoas e a materialidade. Pela ótica da prática, embasada nos dados empíricos, a cooperação está na inteligibilidade prática do organizar da bioconstrução, assim o barro enacta a cooperação, que enacta a bioconstrução, que enacta o barro. Para existir cooperação não é suficiente uma visão comum ou uma moral social, é preciso o fazer/pensar que constitui e reflete, como processo, essa visão. A tese, através de casos empíricos, contribui para as discussões em Estudos Organizacionais sobre o organizar e em Gestão de Pessoas sobre como ocorrem relações de trabalho horizontais, ambos entendendo processo como o que está em constante mudança. Busca também fortalecer o uso da TAR e Depois como prática metodológica e lente de analise inicial, além de discutir a cooperação em termos de prática. A contribuição para o campo social está na sua ontologia política que dá visibilidade à bioconstrução como uma possibilidade de contrapor o senso comum estabelecido para construção de habitações em nossa sociedade atual. Assim como a bioconstrução nos ensina construir algo único com o que temos disponível, sua prática poderá nos ajudar a pensar criticamente a “monocultura da gestão”. / Considering the organization as a process, this thesis seeks to understand how and why is the organizing in the bioconstruction. The methodology follows the assumptions of Actor-Network Theory and After, that brings as a central concept the enactment combined with collective discussion to start the fieldwork. Preliminary empirical data obtained through participant observation in three different locations, working with bioconstruction from the vision of permaculture, and analyzed from the TAR and After optics, emphasizes the relationship of human and non-human, it highlighted the contribution to understanding the concepts of practice and cooperation in terms of doing / thinking inextricably linked. Thus, it was added to the theoretical discussion the notion of practice Schatzki (2005) and the notion of cooperation Sennett (2013). In addition to participant observation - used throughout research - the empirical data was collected - in a second stage – by interviews, questionnaires and non-participant observation resulting in a thematic analysis based on the Schatzki (2005) concept of practice. The text is developed through a detailed description of the events, interspersed with excerpts from theoretical incursions presenting the method assemblege as presupposes the TAR and After. Thereby, it is understood and described bioconstruction as practice of cooperation through the relationships between all that enact bioconstruction - people and materiality. From the perspective of practice, based on empirical data, cooperation is the practical intelligibility of bioconstruction organizing, so the clay enact cooperation, which enact bioconstruction that enact clay. To be cooperation, a common vision or a social morality is not enough, it is needed doing / thinking represents and reflects this view, as a process. The thesis, through empirical cases, contribute to the discussions in Organizational Studies on organizing and Human Resources about how horizontal working relationships occurs, understanding the process as it is constantly changing. It also seeks to strengthen the use of ANT and After as a methodological practice and initial analysis lens, and discuss cooperation in terms of practice. The contribution to the social field is in its political ontology that gives visibility to bioconstruction as a possibility to counter common sense established for housing construction in our present society. As bioconstruction teaches us build something unique with what we have available, this practice can help us thinking critically about the "monoculture of management."

Na tentativa de compreender como ocorre um processo de autogestão no cotidiano, este estudo parte da abordagem metodológica da Teoria Ator-Rede para acompanhar as atividades de uma cooperativa de trabalho. Sem definições prévias, nem quadro teórico pré-estabelecido, descreve como a autogestão se constrói e é construída nas práticas do dia-a-dia e como é enactada através da articulação de diversos elementos heterogêneos. Considerando humanos e não-humanos como actantes na apresentação de uma experiência autogestionária em que movimentações, relações, tensões, híbridos estão em um constante organizando. Para a Teoria Ator-Rede realidades são enactadas no limite da noção de rede, sendo assim, pode-se questionar: qual a participação da Administração nessa construção? / In order to understand how the process of autogestion happens, this research, in agreement with the methodological approach of the Actor-Network Theory, follows the activities of a work cooperative. Without previous definitions neither a predetermined theory framework, the research describes how the autogestion is constructs and is constructed within day-to-day practices and how is enacted through the articulation of different heterogeneous elements. Considering humans and nohumans as actants in an autogestionary experience in which movements, relations, tensions and hybrids are in constantly organizing. Actor-Network Theory suggests that realities are enacted in the bound of network concept, so, it is possible to ask: what is the participation of the Management in this construction?

Hare’s psychopathy construct as defined by the Psychopathy Checklist- Revised has been utilized internationally as a risk assessment instrument for quite some time. Despite this, since its inception it has and continues to raise criticism from the academic community. There is ongoing debate over what the construct entails and how it should be used. Most recent developments in the construct revolve around it being defined as a neurological manifestation. To explore the psychopathy construct’s connection with neuroscience, this thesis focusses on one foundational experiment by the most prominent team of researchers in the field. The exploration borrows from Science and Technology Studies, more specifically Actor-Network Theory and the semiotic of scientific texts. The goal of this analysis is not to criticize nor defend the psychopathy construct, but rather explore the facticity of psychopathy as a neuroscientific fact. Considering the widespread use of the construct across criminal justice systems and mental health practices, understanding the facticity of psychopathy is imperative. Our contention is that psychopathy as defined by neuroscience was not merely a pre-discovered fact of nature, but rather it is a fact that is hybrid; it is both built by researchers and a part of our natural world, social and real. Our findings reveal that the facticity of psychopathy as a neuroscience construct is reliant on it being a Boundary Object: a scientific object that is able to intersect multiple social worlds through its adaptability (Star & Griesemer, 1989). We show how the construct is a boundary object by detailing the many translations it undergoes while it connects with a variety of heterogeneous actors. For each translation, the construct is rendered qualitatively different, yet it proves to be robust enough to maintain the identity of psychopathy and transform it into a neuroscientific fact.

Cette recherche traite du phénomène immersif dans les mondes virtuels accessibles « grâce à » internet. Second Life sert de terrain d'analyse car il permet de discuter trois régimes immersifs : le perceptif, le narratif et le lien social. Au traversd'une approche formelle (Simmel) et de la théorie de l'acteur-réseau (ANT, Latour), nous analysons diverses médiations conditionnant ces régimes : les villes modélisées dans Second Life sont étudiées de façon approfondie comme le lieu duvivre ensemble et de l'hétérogénéité des publics et des usages.Notre thèse qui s'appuie sur la sociologie a également recours aux sciences de l'information et de la communication, à la philosophie, à la géographie de l'espace social et aux digital humanities. Il s'agit d'une approche transdisciplinaire sollicitant des matériaux variés : observations participantes, entretiens, questionnaires. Nous développons une techniqueautomatisée de « tracking » pour générer des « Big Data » permettant l'analyse des pratiques spatiales des avatars dans l'univers digital.Nous montrons que l'immersion dépend des choix de l'utilisateur (point de vue visuel, choix des activités, etc.) et des qualités et possibles de Second Life (architecture technique, carte du monde, forme du cadre bâti, etc.). Des phénomènes d'appropriation et d'attachement entre des acteurs et des lieux sont décrits et permettent de constater la formalisation d'un« chez-soi ». Les diverses étapes de ce travail contribuent à une théorie de l'habiter dans les mondes virtuels / This research deals with the phenomenon of immersion in virtual worlds which are accessible "thanks to" the internet. Second Life is used as fieldwork because it allows to discuss three immersion regimes: perceptive, narrative andsocial ones. Through a formal approach (Simmel) and actor-network theory (ANT, Latour), we analyze various mediations which condition these immersion regimes: cities modeled in Second Life are studied in depth as the place to live togetherand as heterogeneous audiences and uses.Our thesis which is based on sociology also uses information and communication sciences, philosophy, geography of social space, and digital humanities. It is a transdisciplinary approach using various methods: participant observations,interviews, questionnaires. We develop an automated tracker to generate "Big Data" for the analysis of spatial practices of avatars in the digital world.We show that the immersion depends on the choice of the user (visual point of view, choice of activities, etc.) and on qualities and potentialities of Second Life (technical architecture, world map, shape of the built environment, etc.).Appropriation and attachment phenomena between actors and locations are described and allow us to observe the formalization of a "home". The various steps of this work contribute to a theory of habitat in virtual worlds

Wearable technologies are being adopted in increasing numbers and the market space appears poised for continued growth in virtually all areas, from medicine, to self-quantification, to sports. While the overwhelming majority of work on wearables has been done on their medical applications and their role in shaping identity, this dissertation examines the roles that wearable technologies play on the decision-making processes in athletic contexts. Using new materialism and Actor Network Theory as lenses, I attempt to break from the Cartesian model that places human subjectivity and intentionality at the center of a rhetorical situation and, rather, allow that non-human actants are agentive. I examine the interactions that age-group triathletes have with their wearable technologies and the shifting agencies that accompany those interactions. These interactions call on disparate human and non-human actors in forming a series of temporary, shifting networks that utilize a distributed agency in the decision making process.

This study explores the social, technological economic, and environmental development of single-family residential water conservation programs at the Austin Water Utility and asks: What makes a conservation program successful? I hypothesize that water conservation programs will be successful if both institutional-producer goals and citizen-consumer goals are satisfied. While the findings suggest that this may be partially true, it also has become clear that my original actor-network model was too simple to predict the various types of influences on program success. Not only did I find other significant ‘actors’ involved in water conservation, I also found that utility and participant groups themselves represent a wide variety of interests. This study seeks to answer the research question by creating a series of narratives that critically explore water infrastructure and water conservation programs in Austin, Texas. Through a methodological lens referred to as ‘critical constructivism,’ I use mixed methods to analyze and interpret historic documents, interviews, and quantitative data as primary sources. Literature from Science and Technology Studies (STS) are used as secondary sources. This study will add to a body of knowledge that describes how and why we manage our environmental resources. The subject of conservation is especially relevant as urban growth continues with fewer affordable opportunities to increase regional water supplies. As we enter an era of expected water conflict, knowing how to conserve water effectively will help provide more opportunities for sharing a common resource amongst communities, industry, agriculture, and the environment. / text