Práticas de gestão para otimização da vida útil de computadores pessoais: um estudo de caso no campus de Santo André da Universidade Federal do ABC

Abstract

Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) have a prominent role in society, in training human resources and in developing critical thinking in relation to current issues that present themselves as challenges to be overcome. In order to perform well and to be in line with the continuous transformations of the contemporary world regarding environmental issues, HEIs need to be always attentive to the demands imposed by new situations. In this context, their management practices need to meet certain environmental standards and current regulations, therefore becoming the stage of exemplary situations in dissemination processes and knowledge production. Considering that UFABC is new and still maturing its institutional management processes, it was defined as objective of this study the analysis of UFABC management practices aimed at optimizing the lifetime of personal computers based on the principle of the Three Rs: reduce, reuse and recycle. The research methodology for the development of the present study involved multiple information and evidence sources, including bibliographic and documentary survey, direct observation and interviews with employees (civil servants). The results indicate that the university does not have any systematic procedures for managing computers in order to extend their useful lives. The current practices are focused on the management of new computers in response to standards and regulations pertaining to procurement processes. These practices, however, are not systematic and do not extend to older or obsolete computers. Regarding the obsolete ones as well as the related waste of electric and electronic equipment, the current practice is to send all of them to “computer dumps” for later reuse, donation or elimination. As it concerns to contribution to practice, the results of this study are expected to be helpful to UFABC to reassess its incipient management practices on computers and also optimize their lifetime, considering that the implementation of its computer complex is still in progress.