Confiança e poder dos stakeholders internos no contexto da economia solidária: uma contribuição para o estudo das associações e cooperativas de recicláveis do grande ABC Paulista e Cotia

Abstract

The problem that triggered this thesis to investigate the relation between trust and power of internal stakeholders belong to cooperatives of collection and treatment of solid residues within the context of the principles of solidarity economy and how they happen. The object of study used a sample of six cooperatives, five ones from ABC region and one from Cotia city, all of them in São Paulo state. Through secondary data and interviews were identified the stakeholders from their cooperatives – internal and external ones. To respond the research question, its objectives and propositions the investigation was conducted by an exploratory and descriptive research, using the multiple case study strategy with three analysis units: organization, managers and collectors workers. The documentary research, interviews, direct observations, semistructured research questionnaire and the social networks analysis (Social Network Analysis) methods were used, to find out the existing typology of trust and of power in the enterprises and the relationship between themselves. The problematic context about solid residue in Brazil was the background scenario to support the development of this study research. The results showed that majority of cooperatives, present trust relationship based on utilitarianism. Only two cooperatives presented the relational trust type which generates long term relations guided on mutual trust. In regards the power typology, two cooperatives were characterized as autocratic, one as an instrument, and one is over transition phase from autocratic to missionary and remaining two are marked as missionary type. Taking in consideration that relational trust and missionary power are expected typologies for solidary enterprises, the conclusion is that just two cooperatives match to solidarity economy principles, even though just one of these cooperatives demonstrated economic sustainability through mutual trust. This cooperative presents managerial skill on its manager as as centric element of trust typology formatting which differentiates it from others. The trust and power relationship study shows that those variables coexist simultaneously. The solidarity economy enterprises do not have in their strategy capital earnings even though they must surviving in the capitalist world and need to maintain their economic sustainability to strengthen their chains through mutual trust and collaboration.