Thesis (MPhil (Information Science))--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / Organisations find themselves in a world of ever-increasing rate of change. Increasingly organisations operate in what is known as the edge of chaos—that zone which paradoxically might lead to paralysis and disaster or to creativity and innovation. In this area of uncertainty, organisations rely on their ability to create new organisational knowledge. What is unclear is exactly how new knowledge comes into being under these conditions and what would count as new organisational knowledge. The thesis tries to shed light on the process by which new organisational knowledge comes into being by considering the context of complexity as an environment that demands innovation while at the same time being the catalyst for knowledge creation. The debate on the nature of organizational knowledge is revisited and contrasted from individual knowledge. A review of the mainstream theories of organisational knowledge creation led up to Boisot’s Social Learning Cycle as the benchmark theory that is used in the rest of the argument. Thereafter the work of Weick on Organisational Sensemaking is discussed. It is argued that the condition of complexity leads to an increase in occasions that activate and heighten organizational sensemaking processes. Parallels are noted between the process of sensemaking and parts of the Social Learning Cycle. It is shown that under conditions of comlexity, organisational knowledge creation processes and sensemaking processes are not only similar, but that organisational sensemaking can be seen as the mechanism whereby new organisational knowledge is created when organisations operate at the edge of chaos. This has a number of implications. The theory of organisational sensemaking is applied to an area of organisational life where it has not been seen as applicable, organisational knowledge creation processes are shown to be much more fundamental phenomena than the literature suggests, and combining Boisot and Weick leads to greater theoretical elegance.

Thesis (MPhil (Information Science))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / We are in the final stages of a transition from the industrial era to the information era. Some may argue that we are already there. The impact of this transition is felt in all spheres of everyday life, it is present in shifting paradigms and it fuels constant waves of change. In attempting to master this changing world of the last few decades, academics and practitioners focused their attention on the management of knowledge in organisations. The concept of knowledge has been an elusive one for two thousand years and introducing the ideas of management and organisation to this already blurred notion brings about more distortion. This elusiveness is ever-present when organisational knowledge management is written about, presented or discussed. There always seems to be a duality in its nature – on the one end of the spectrum, the manageability of knowledge itemised as “thing” and on the other end the unmanageability of “flows” creating knowledge. There is a distinct discourse equating knowledge to information. These concepts are used interchangeably and there is a strong focus on the use of technology to manage knowledge stocks. In other treatises, we are constantly reminded about the inherent complexities of knowledge, humans, relationships and how people, individually and collectively, create meaning. This thesis sets out to determine whether knowledge should be seen as a manageable item or whether it is more complex, a flow, that might be guided and nurtured but never “managed”; or whether, it is in fact, both a “thing” and a “flow”. With neither theory testing nor theory development in mind, the thesis is a journey into the existing epistemological literature, investigating various views on and typologies of knowledge, aiming to add value through interpretation. As a comparative study, the thesis discusses the views of authors on knowledge management and sense making. Following the comparison of “thing” and “flow”, the thesis concludes by likening the research question to a similar paradox of light – knowledge should always be managed as a “thing” and a “flow” similar to light being both a particle and a wave.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The thesis considers the work of Elliot Jaques through the most recent interpretivist views of organizations and management. As it stands, Jaques does not form part of mainstream management thinking. Jaques is primarily known in organization and management theory for Stratified Systems Theory through his book Requisite Organization. Although undoubtedly influential, his views are generally considered to be either outdated or highly contentious. This assessment is mostly based on his book Requisite Organization. However, Jaques’ work spans fifty years of research in management science and the thesis explores his entire body of work with a view to understanding the research that Requisite Organization is founded upon. It explains Jaques’ divergence from the current determinisms that dominate our current milieu and links his work in Levels of Abstraction in Logic and Human Action with Maturana and Varella’s concept of autopoiesis and Weick's theory of Organizational Sensemaking. It is shown how the roots of Requisite Organization seeks to address similar concerns to that of Organizational Sensemaking. In conclusion various aspects of Jaques work are mapped to aspects of Weick's work, which at first glance would have seemed incompatible. It is argued that, if considered as a whole, Jaques' theory resonates with much more modern understandings of organization and management theory than is widely assumed. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die tesis oorweeg die werk van Elliot Jaques deur die lens van die onlangste interpretatiewe sienings van organisasie en bestuursteorie. Op die oomblik vorm Jaques nie deel van die hoofstroom bestuursdenke nie. Hy is hoofsaaklik bekend vir Gestratifiseerde Sisteemteorie deur sy boek Requisite Organization. Alhoewel hierdie teorie baie invloedryk was, word dit meestal gesien as deel van bestuursgeskiedenis en wat eerder as kontroversieel as relevant beskou word. Hierdie oordeel is gewoonlik gebaseer op sy hoofwerk – Requisite Organization. Sy navorsing is egter op vyftig jaar in bestuurswetenskap gebaseer en die tesis bekyk sy totale bydrae in 'n poging om die navorsing waarop Requisite Organization gebaseer is te probeer verstaan. Dit verduidelik Jaques se afwyking van huidige determinismes wat ons huidige verstaan domineer en haak sy werk in Levels of Abstraction in Logic and Human Action met Maturana en Varella se konsep van autopoiesis en sy totale bydrae met Weick se teorie van Organisatoriese Singewing. Daar word aangedui hoedat die wortels van Requisite Organization dieselfde sake probeer aanspreek as Organisatoriese Singewing. Ten slotte word verskeie aspekte van Jaques se werk in verband gebring met aspekte van Weick se werk wat met die eerste oogopslag teenstrydig skyn te wees. Daar word geargumenteer dat, gesien as 'n geheel, Jaques se teorie baie meer modern voorkom as voorheen aanvaar is.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis investigates the question of organisational knowledge creation in geographically dispersed settings. In Chapter 1, I describe Nonaka’s model of organisational knowledge creation and Weick’s theory of organisational sensemaking in more detail. In Chapter 2, the geographically dispersed organisation is examined in more detail, looking at socialisation, organisational culture and trust. In Chapter 3, communication dynamics within the geographically dispersed organisation are examined, with a focus on Media Richness Theory and the impact this has had on theories of communication across distance. In Chapter 4, the organisation is examined at the level of the team, discussing real world examples of dispersed knowledge creation from the knowledge management and sensemaking perspective, using research on globally dispersed software development teams practicing the Scrum methodology. The thesis comes to the conclusion that it is possible for knowledge creation to occur amongst geographically dispersed individuals, if they have learned how to make sense together. However shared frameworks are quicker and easier to develop in face-to-face settings, but as soon as the basis for it exists, the influence of geographic dispersal is reduced. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die tesis ondersoek die kwessie van organisatoriese kennisskepping in geografies verspreide situasies. Die eerste hoofstuk beskryf Nonaka se model van organisatoriese kennisskepping en Weick se teorie van organisatoriese singewing. In die tweede hoofstuk word die fenomeen van geografies-verspreide organisering van nader beskou en bespreek in terme van die effek wat dit het op sosialisering, organisatoriese kultuur en vertroue. In die derde hoofstuk word die kommunikasie-dinamika in geografies verspreide organisasies ondersoek met 'n fokus op "Media Richness Theory" en die impak wat dit het op teorieë van afstandskommunikasie. In die vierde hoofstuk word die organisasies bestudeer op die vlak van die span. Hier word voorbeelde van verspreide kennisskepping vanuit die kennisbestuurs- en singewingsperspektiewe bespreek aan die hand van 'n oorsig oor navorsing oor globaalverspreide sagteware-ontwikkelingspanne wat die SCRUM-metodologie volg. Die tesis kom tot die slotsom dat dit kennisskepping in sulke kontekste kan plaasvind as die lede van die span saam sin kan maak. Gedeelde raamwerke word egter makliker en vinniger in gesig tot gesig situaties opgebou, maar sodra die basis daarvoor bestaan word die invloed van geografiese verspreiding minder.

Mergers and acquisitions have become very popular in recent decades for firms seeking competitive advantage. The high failure rates of these initiatives make a closer look at the influence of the human factors and their complexity on these change activities necessary. This study traces the development of merger and acquisition activities in four companies, with a particular focus on individuals’ sensemaking over time and on the influence of human functional factors on the process and the outcomes of the mergers reviewed. A qualitative case-study approach is adopted with sixteen in-depth semistructured interviews in four post-merger organisations. The analysis of the collected primary data is done through a descriptive analysis of each individual case and a cross-case analysis of the four investigated cases. The findings show that there is a direct influence of the researched human functional elements and of the individual sensemaking on both the process and outcomes of the reviewed merger and acquisition cases. Based on the findings, a human functional merger and acquisition model – reflecting the interaction and influence of the human functional elements – and a management guideline for adopting this, are developed. This study provides a review of the influence of some significant organisational and individual human functional elements, such as leadership, communication, decision-making, relationship, and individual beliefs, values, attitudes and learning on the process and outcome of mergers and acquisitions. Such an investigation of these elements and their complexity, interaction with and influence on the process and outcome of change initiatives, and more specifically in the context of mergers and acquisitions, has not been undertaken previously.

The thesis explores middle managers sensemaking processes of a University’s social responsibility and sustainability (SRS) strategy during a period of change. Overall the thesis establishes links between middle managers simultaneous sensemaking processes, dynamics of loosely coupled organizational contexts and organizational responses to unexpected outcomes as they impact strategy creation processes in organisations. Three main issues evolve. Firstly, middle managers in loosely coupled organisations consist of two different sets (administrators and academics). Based on their nature of work in particular, administrators and academics select different sets of dominant and subtle sensemaking frames to make sense of organizational strategies. Generally, while administrators select sensemaking frames which emanate from existing strategic processes, academics select autonomous cues which exist outside strategic processes. Administrators and academics sensemaking processes are therefore not a single level or consecutive processes as typically researched, but rather occur as simultaneous sensemaking processes. Six dominant simultaneous sensemaking frames are identified and described. Secondly, the thesis examines less explored aspects of debates on loosely coupled systems. It investigates specific patterns of coupledness in middle managers strategic work and relationships. It identified and described patterns of administrative work which are tightly coupled and patterns in academic work which are loosely coupled. Thirdly, distinct links are identified between middle managers simultaneous sensemaking processes and unexpected strategy outcomes. This further led to exploring how organizations respond to unexpected sustainability initiatives, especially in light of integrating them into already existing strategy outcomes. Three integration strategies are identified and described.

Submitted by Lorena Matos (lorenabmatos@gmail.com) on 2018-03-23T22:00:46Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese_Lorena Matos_EAESP.pdf: 2453987 bytes, checksum: a5e901a808bbd3e36f425bf1bcbf8de8 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Debora Nunes Ferreira (debora.nunes@fgv.br) on 2018-03-26T18:02:44Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese_Lorena Matos_EAESP.pdf: 2453987 bytes, checksum: a5e901a808bbd3e36f425bf1bcbf8de8 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Suzane Guimarães (suzane.guimaraes@fgv.br) on 2018-03-27T12:30:41Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese_Lorena Matos_EAESP.pdf: 2453987 bytes, checksum: a5e901a808bbd3e36f425bf1bcbf8de8 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-03-27T12:30:41Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese_Lorena Matos_EAESP.pdf: 2453987 bytes, checksum: a5e901a808bbd3e36f425bf1bcbf8de8 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-02-28 / Dysfunctional bureaucracy is a major challenge for developing countries like Brazil today. There are innumerable problems, among which the lack of effectiveness, inefficiency, and absurd contexts that lead to stress, suffering and burn-out are highlighted. Although such organizations have received attention from the area of Administration and Organizational Studies, the studies related to coping with absurd contexts are very incipient. More rare are the empirical studies that analyse the daily life of people who face such situations. In order to address such gaps, this research is based on an empirical study carried out in a 15-month period (October 2015 to December 2016) of data collection through 50 interviews, conversations and daily observation of managers of research, development and innovation (R&D&I) projects in the largest company in the electric sector in Brazil. Secondary data and documents were also collected. The goal of this research is to develop theory about the absurd in bureaucratic organizations. This research contributes to the development of academic knowledge in two aspects: first, from the theoretical point of view, when dealing with absurdity in a bureaucratic organizational context, a subject not much discussed; second, from a practical point of view, to deepen the knowledge about the daily life of managers, and to bring elements that allow to rethink several of the daily challenges of these managers. Data was analyzed through an iterative thematic analysis. Through this I identified that the organizational context is complex and involves: (1) Bureaucracy; (2) Multiples cultures; (3) Leadership changes and the lack of sensegiver; (4) R&D&I colliding with organizational routine; (5) Personality in the processes; (6) Informality and non-registration of activities; (7) Politics. The data theory presents that the absurd is understood from the notions of: (a) Environment of contradictions; (b) Fear and guilt; and (c) Loneliness. The consequences of the absurd experience in the context studied involve: (i) Emotional work; (ii). Turnover; (iii) Non-implementation of projects; (iv) Metamorphosis of the sense of innovation; (v) Loss of sense of innovation; and (vi) Inaction. In answering the proposed research question, the contributions of this thesis are: (i) the elaboration of a working definition for absurdity; (ii) contribution to the practice of innovation management in the Brazilian electric sector, based on the reflection of its innovation dynamics. The theory generated is under construction and reflects the interpretation of a particular researcher. The effort of this research is expected to stimulate researchers in the continuity of research into the absurd in bureaucratic organizations. / Burocracias disfuncionais são um grande desafio para países em desenvolvimento como o Brasil hoje. Existem inúmeros problemas, entre os quais se destacam a falta de eficácia, a ineficiência e os contextos absurdos que levam ao estresse, ao sofrimento e ao burn-out. Embora essas organizações tenham recebido atenção da área de Administração e Estudos Organizacionais, os estudos relacionados a lidar com contextos absurdos são muito incipientes. Mais raros ainda são os estudos empíricos que analisam a vida diária das pessoas que enfrentam tais situações. Para abordar essas lacunas, esta pesquisa se baseia em um estudo empírico realizado em um período de 15 meses (outubro de 2015 a dezembro de 2016) de coleta de dados através de 50 entrevistas, conversas e observação diária de gerentes de projetos de pesquisa, desenvolvimento e inovação (P&D&I) na maior empresa do setor elétrico no Brasil. Os dados e documentos secundários também foram coletados. O objetivo desta pesquisa é desenvolver a teoria sobre o absurdo em organizações burocráticas. Esta pesquisa contribui para o desenvolvimento do conhecimento acadêmico em dois aspectos: primeiro, do ponto de vista teórico, ao lidar com o absurdo em um contexto organizacional burocrático, assunto não muito discutido; segundo, do ponto de vista prático, ao aprofundar o conhecimento sobre a vida cotidiana dos gerentes e trazer elementos que permitam repensar vários dos desafios diários desses gerentes. Os dados foram analisados através de uma análise temática iterativa. Através disto, identifiquei que o contexto organizacional é complexo e envolve: (1) Burocracia; (2) Culturas múltiplas; (3) Mudanças de liderança e falta de sensegiver; (4) P&D&I colidindo com rotina organizacional; (5) Personalidade nos processos; (6) Informalidade e não registro de atividades; (7) Política. A teoria dos dados apresenta que o absurdo é compreendido a partir das noções de: (a) Ambiente de contradições; (b) Medo e culpa; e (c) Solidão. As consequências da experiência do absurdo no contexto estudado envolvem: (i) Trabalho emocional; (ii). Turnover; (iii) Não-implementação dos projetos; (iv) Metamorfose do sentido de inovação; (v) Perda do sentido de inovação; e (vi) Inação. Ao responder a questão de pesquisa proposta, as contribuições desta tese são: (i) elaboração de uma definição para absurdo; (ii) contribuição para a prática da gestão da inovação no setor elétrico brasileiro, com base no reflexo de sua dinâmica de inovação. A teoria gerada nos dados está em construção e reflete a interpretação de uma pesquisadora em particular. Espera-se que o esforço dessa pesquisa estimule pesquisadores na continuidade da investigação acerca do absurdo em organizações burocráticas.

L’ONG Surfrider Foundation Europe (SFE) s’interroge sur son modèle d’organisation, le rôle et la place de l’action bénévole après une très forte phase de professionnalisation. Autour de la question de la construction du sens pour les individus et les organisations, nous regarderons comment les processus de professionnalisation sont susceptibles de transformer le projet associatif. Ces transformations et ce changement de nature peuvent être source de sens ou de perte de sens pour les bénévoles. L’étude de ce cas unique nous permettra de proposer un modèle de pilotage qui tient compte de la spécificité et de la complexité des organisations associatives. Ces situations hybridées de travail, entre contributions de travail salarié, inscrites sous le registre de l’échange marchand, et contributions de travail bénévole, inscrites sous le registre du don, sont particulièrement riches d’enseignements pour d’autres « situations de gestion » (Girin, 1990). / The NGO Surfrider Foundation Europe questions its organisational model and more specifically the role and the place of volunteer action after a strong phase of professionalisation within the organisation. Regarding the question of the « sensemaking » both for the individuals and for the organisations, we will study how the processes of professionalisation are likely to transform the project of the association. These transformations and this change of constitution could either be a source of meaning or a loss of meaning for the volunteers. The study of this unique case will allow us to offer a steering model that will take into account the specifics and complexity of the associative organisations. These hybridized work situations, benefitting from paid employment input (registered as trade exchange) and from volunteer work input (registered as donation) are particularly instructive for other management situations (Girin, 1990).

Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais / Encontramos no Brasil a realidade do pluralismo religioso. A partir do final do século XIX, o cenário religioso do país se tornou mais diversificado com o processo (ainda corrente) de aceitação e legitimação de diferentes religiões. Nesse mesmo período, o Terceiro Setor se desenvolveu de maneira mais acentuada, até assumir a forma atual: complexa, ampla e também plural. Nesse contexto, se encontram as organizações sem fins lucrativos que prestam serviços sob uma orientação religiosa. Uma em particular, situada na cidade de Uberlândia- MG, atua sob uma filosofia protestante, tem ares de empresa de grande porte e é hoje a maior em número de colaboradores dentre as entidades que prestam serviços socioassistenciais e recebem subvenção pública: a Missão Luz. Ao pensar na organização, algumas perguntas surgiram: há influência perceptível da orientação religiosa nas práticas? Como os gestores da organização compreendem suas ações e atribuem sentido às suas práticas? Adotando o conceito de modo de gestão de Chanlat (1996), o olhar proposto nos Estudos Baseados em Prática (GHERARDI, 2013) e nos estudos sobre sensemaking (WEICK, 1995), realizei uma pesquisa tendo como objetivo compreender as práticas de gestão da Missão Luz. Utilizei três fontes de dados – documentos, observação do tipo shadowing e entrevistas – com o intuito de compreender, de forma mais completa possível, as práticas de gestão da organização, a partir da perspectiva dos seus gestores. Os resultados apontaram para uma perceptível relação entre fé e gestão. Dez práticas foram identificadas entre os gestores: tomar decisões em conselho, prezar pela excelência, respeitar figuras que representam autoridade, dar chances a colaboradores, desejar ser referência, quantificar resultados, buscar a profissionalização, a organização, a formalização e a padronização. As cinco primeiras práticas apresentaram forte influência de princípios religiosos e as cinco últimas a influência da racionalidade instrumental, mais encontrada no Segundo Setor. Foi observado que a fé também está relacionada a essas práticas, justificando-as por sua contribuição ao alcance da excelência e consequente ato de glorificar a Deus. As práticas são mantidas e repassadas dentro da organização pelo cultivo do DNA da Missão, um jeito de fazer as coisas próprias da organização, e pela crença no papel do líder na manutenção deste DNA. Aliado à análise das práticas, foram observados momentos de sensemaking, situações que romperam a ordem e demandaram que gestores criassem sentido e agissem sobre essa compreensão. Essas situações foram divididas em três temas: “vestir a camisa”, mudanças na gestão das escolas e o propósito e a soberania de Deus. O trabalho é encerrado com algumas sugestões para pesquisas futuras. / We find in Brazil the reality of religious pluralism. From the end of XIX century until now, the religious scenario became more diversified in a process of acceptance and legitimation of different religions. In the same period, the Third Sector was largely developed up until its current form: complex, broad and plural as well. In this context, we find non profitable organizations that provide services under a religious phylosophy. One in particular, placed in Uberlândia-MG, protestant, has the fearures of a big company and is the largest one among the ones that provide social services and receive public funds in the city: Missão Luz. Thinking about the organization, some questions came to mind: is there a noticeable influence of the religious orientation on practices? How do managers understand and make sense of their practices? Adopting Chanlat’s (1996) concept of management mode, the perspective proposed by the Practice Based Studies (GHERARDI, 2013) and the sensemaking studies (WEICK, 1995), I developed a research that intended to understand Missão Luz’ management practices. Three sources of data were used – documents, shadowing and interviews – to understand, in the most complete way, organization’s management practices, using managers’ perspective. Results pointed to a noticeable relation between faith and management. Ten practices were identified among managers: council decisions, appreciation for excellence, respect for authority figures, giving second chances to employees, desire to be a reference, results quantification, search for professionalization, organization, formalization and standardization. The first five practices were heavily influenced by religious principles, and the five last were influenced by instrumental rationality, usually found in the Second Sector. It was noticed that faith was also related to those last practices, justifying them for their contribution for achieving excellence e consequent action of glorifying God. Practices are maintained e passed by the cultivation of the Mission’s DNA, an organization’s way of doing things, and by the belief of the role of the leader maintaining this DNA. Associated to practices, sensemaking moments were analyzed, situations where there order was disrupted and managers had to make sense e act on this understanding. These situations were divided in three themes: “fly the flag of the company”, changes in schools’ management and God’s purpose and sovereignty. The paper is finished with some suggestions for future researches. / Dissertação (Mestrado)

This dissertation aimed at analyzing how is currently theoretically textualized the thematic of sense construction and sense making, while phenomenon and process, within organizations. In short, it deepens into the âsense makingâ category, so it can be better assessed and studied within organizational setting. How could it be processed and under which terms analyzed? How are these studies in Brazil and worldwide? Amidst questions like these, the author elected to perform an explanatory independent bibliographic research, to strength the database that could highlight the state-of-art of this sensemaking category. The diversified range of study sources and the cultural differences between Anglo-American and Brazilian patterns recommended the usage of a transcultural sensibility for understanding issues in Brazil. Analyses were undertaken in connection with phenomenon and process as regarding to sense making, as well a brief review of current usages of sense making, sense-making and sense-making in Anglo-American academic literature. Karl Weickâs Sensemaking in organizations (1995) work was referred with his set of seven properties approach. It is obvious the entan-glement of the subject with themes from philosophy, sociology, psychology, politics, economics, ontology, phenomenology, among other areas. The complexity starts with the explanation of term âconstruÃÃo-de-sentidoâ, a neologism by the author used for sensemaking (while category designated for deeper appreciation in this study), between quotation marks and hy- phenated, distinguished among construÃÃo de sentido e construÃÃo do sentido. In search to furthering the understanding, the sense concept is emerged, paralleled with mean and meaning. An emphasis is placed to sense in its straightforward line to relationship, to communica- tion, and with the possibilities in relationships within organizational life. Links are made between sensemaking and strategic management, learning organizations, knowledge management, organizational theory, and organizational behavior, the later being elected for shelter of the category, despite proven its irrelevant presence it this context. The problematic is tied with abundant controversial and paradoxal situations within organizational contexts, lessened involvement of collaborators with organizational goals, and the disinterest of managers for complex aspects of human behavioral knowledge, the basic problem being the frequent human relational incoherence amidst the component parts of an organizational whole. This research aims at contributing to the discussion of the theme inside academy in Brazil, currently not sufficiently exploited, far way from general public and mangers. In addition, intends to amplify the conditions for empirical researches, diffuse e deepen the knowledge, and favor the vision of âmanage with the senseâ and administrate with sense consciousness the managerial processes. The approach of the seven characteristics compiled by Weick supports the discussion of sensemaking in organizations and is linked to HR Strategic and Technological Management, research line of this theoretical investigation. In the final considerations, the natural- ness of human cognitive process is accentuated, and questioned the expectations whether the phenomenon-process analyzed can be intentionally provoked, with social consciousness of social construction, and as a factor capable of detracting organizational ambiguities. Last, suggestions for empirical approaches are given, taking into account advantages and needs of multidisciplinary interactions, distinguishing philosophy, psychology, and sociology. / Esta dissertaÃÃo objetivou analisar como se textualiza teoricamente na atualidade a temÃtica da formaÃÃo e construÃÃo do sentido, enquanto fenÃmeno e processo, no Ãmbito organizacional. Enfim, aprofundar sobre a categoria da construÃÃo-de-sentido, a fim de que possa ser melhor avaliada e estudada dentro do cenÃrio organizacional. Como poderia se processar e sob que termos ser analisada? Como se encontram os estudos nessa Ãrea no Brasil e no mundo? Diante de questÃes como estas, o autor optou por realizar uma pesquisa bibliogrÃfica exploratÃria independente, para sedimentar uma base de dados que colaborasse na revelaÃÃo do estado- da-arte desta categoria âconstruÃÃo-de-sentidoâ. O espectro diversificado das fontes de estudo e as diferenÃas culturais entre os padrÃes Anglo-Americanos e Brasileiros recomendou a utilizaÃÃo da sensibilidade transcultural para o entendimento dos conteÃdos. AnÃlises foram elaboradas em conexÃo com fenÃmeno e processo, no que diz respeito à temÃtica construÃÃo-de-sentidoâ, assim como uma breve revisÃo sobre os usos correntes de sense making, sensemaking e sensemaking na literatura academia Anglo-Americana. A obra de Karl Weick, Sensemaking in Organizations (1995), foi referida com sua abordagem do conjunto das sete caracterÃsticas. à patente o intricamento do tema com Ãreas da filosofia, sociologia, psicologia, polÃtica, economia, ontologia, antropologia, etnologia, fenomenologia, dentre outros. A complexidade inicia-se com a explicaÃÃo do termo âconstruÃÃo-de-sentidoâ, para sensemaking (enquanto categoria designada para aprofundamento destes estudos) entre aspas e com hÃfens, indicando um neologismo criado pelo autor, distinguindo-o de construÃÃo de sentido e construÃÃo do sentido. Em busca de ampliar o entendimento, o conceito sentido à colocado em paralelo com significado e significaÃÃo. Ãnfase se dà ao sentido com linha direta na relaÃÃo, com a comunicaÃÃo, com as possibilidades nas relaÃÃes nos ambientes organizacionais. VÃnculos sÃo feitos entre sensemaking e as disciplinas de gestÃo estratÃgica, organizaÃÃes de aprendizagem, gestÃo do conhecimento, teoria das organizaÃÃes e comportamento organizacional, optando-se pelo acolhimento e avaliaÃÃo do termo por parte deste Ãltimo, apesar de demonstrada sua irrelevante presenÃa neste contexto. A problemÃtica prende-se a situaÃÃes controvertidas e paradoxais abundantes nos contextos organizacionais, ao reduzido envolvimento do colaborador com os objetivos da organizaÃÃo e o desinteresse dos gestores pelos aspectos complexos do conhecimento comportamental humano, constituindo o problema bÃsico a freqÃente inadequaÃÃo relacional humana entre as partes componentes de um todo organizacional. Esta pesquisa visa contribuir à discussÃo do tema na academia no Brasil, insuficientemente explorado, distanciado do pÃblico geral e dos gestores. AlÃm disso, objetiva ampliar condiÃÃes para pesquisas empÃricas, difundir e aprofundar o conhecimento e favorecer a visÃo de âgerir com o sentidoâ, e administrar com consciÃncia do sentido os processos administrativos. A abordagem das sete caracterÃsticas compiladas por Weick reforÃa o tÃpico âConstruÃÃo-de-Sentidoâ em OrganizaÃÃes e vincula-se à linha de pesquisa GestÃo EstratÃgica e TecnolÃgica de Pessoas. Dentre as consideraÃÃes finais à destacada a naturalidade do processo cognitivo do homem e à colocada em dÃvida a expectativa de que o fenÃmeno-processo analisado possa ser intencionalmente provocado com consciÃncia da construÃÃo social e como fator redutor de ambigÃidades organizacionais. Ao final sÃo apresentadas sugestÃes para abordagens empÃricas ressaltando-se as vantagens e necessidades das interaÃÃes multidisciplinares com destaque da filosofia, psicologia e sociologia.