O campo científico da governança da tecnologia da informação no Brasil: institucionalização e capital científico

Abstract

The scientific field of Information Technology Governance in Brazil: institutionalization and scientific capital. With more than 20 years of existence, Information Technology Governance (ITG) is an emerging topic in full growth, both at the academy and at the corporate level. Relying on several areas of knowledge, ITG has developed as a constantly changing topic. Considering the various problems and challenges presented in the pertinent literature, from the perspective of the Institutional Theory, the objective of this research is to understand how are the components of the institutionalization and scientific capital of the ITG concerning the consolidation of this area of research as a scientific field in Brazil. The methodological process covered is part of a joint triangulation strategy, based on basic research using mixed methods focused on two major phases of qualitative and quantitative approaches, exploratory and descriptive. In the documentary phase, a survey was carried out based on extensive bibliographical and documentary research, with the support of the content analysis technique, as well as descriptive statistical analysis. For the field phase, the method chosen was the Delphi research, using a questionnaire with the support of the technique of content analysis applied to the researchers of the area in question. It is concluded that ITG establishes itself as a new scientific field, as well as, a reference discipline, within a ‘semi-institutional’ intermediate stage, at least in the Brazilian context. There is a scientific capital constituted, which includes a body of scientists with lines of research inserted in different Graduate Programs scattered throughout the country. There are at least two communities of researchers focused on ITG, namely: ‘Applied Social Sciences’ and ‘Exact and Earth Sciences / Engineering / Multidisciplinary’ comprised in five of the 49 evaluation areas of ‘Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior’ (CAPES), the Brazilian foundation. Such plurality allows its discussion under different approaches, thus forming an area of interdisciplinary research in its essence, but with higher adherence to the areas ‘Public and Business Administration, Accounting, and Tourism’ and ‘Interdisciplinary’. Besides, there was a definite number of completed works, theses, and dissertations, publications in periodicals and scientific events, all of which resulted in more than four hundred productions developed in fourteen years of research. It was possible to verify which are the primary means of publication in ITG, as well as the researchers of greater relevance. However, greater rigor is needed, a definition of borders and basic concepts, as well as constructs and models adapted to each reality and organization. The insertion and interaction of the researchers with the market practitioners for the development of research applied to the real problems and demands of the organizations are other relevant aspects. However, although good practice models are classified as significant theoretical frameworks, studies that are merely based on these frameworks should be attenuated. That said, it is necessary to expand studies based on theories and the development of new theories, especially in conjunction with the international community. These are the significant challenges for identity expansion and legitimacy in this field. Keywords: Information technology Governance; Information Technology;