A cultura da informação e o processo de sensemaking em instituições de ensino superior da Serra Gaúcha

Abstract

The information culture can be characterized as a competitive differential for the knowledge organizations because it bases the behaviors that make possible the interpretation of the signals of the internal and external environment, originating from the information. The culture of information represents a transformation of the intellectual and material resources that make intangible meanings into tangible elements useful for the decision-making process. This transformation occurs through the process of meaning creation that, when organized, defines the interpretation of the signals and contributes to the managers making the right decisions. The general objective of the study was to analyze the perception of the information culture, associated to the processes of sensemaking, from the point of view of the high management, in institutions of higher education of the Serra Gaúcha. As a methodology was carried out a qualitative research, multiple case study. The units of analysis are three Institutions of Higher Education (HEI) of the Serra Gaúcha. The technique of data collection was semi-structured interviews, direct observation and document analysis, followed by content analysis with the help of NVIVO 12 software. The results obtained allowed the proposal of a framework of information flows associated with information culture and sensemaking in the context of decision making in HEIs. From the theoretical point of view, there was a rescue of the studies carried out on the themes of information culture and the process of sensemaking for organizational strategic decision making. From a practical point of view, the study has contributed to the improvement of how organizations interpret the internal and external environment, make sense through the culture of organizational information and make strategic decisions based on information.