Sustainable Management at a University in Light of Tensions of Sustainability Theory

Abstract

Drawing on the theory of tensions of sustainability management, this original work aims at analysing tensions that emerged during the process of inserting sustainability at core processes of an important Brazilian university. Eleven interviews were conducted and analysed through the thematic categorisation and the Atlas ti software was used. A documental analysis was also carried out. The results suggested that: (a) there was a predominance of tensions originating from the organizational dimension; (b) the performance dimension was associated with the plurality of outcomes expected by stakeholders; (c) the existing asymmetry between the expectation of the subjects and the concrete results visualized in the Unisul University as contributed to the fact that the points of tension converged towards the performance dimension. And it challenged managers to find mechanisms to minimize the dilemmas and conflicts that emerged and to align the expectations of the different stakeholders of the Unisul Sustainable enterprise.

Tensions in the Sustainability of Higher Education—The Case of Finnish Universities

“…In Finland, the Universities Act law reform professionalized university management from 2009 onward, and tensions arose from, for example, the increased distance between the university community and management [22] and the structural development measures incentivized by public funding [46] (pp. [15][16][17]. Although universities gained more budgetary freedom, the Ministry of Education remained in the steering position of the university system [42].…”

Discourses and Educational Initiatives for Developing Sustainability Competences of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development

“…On the other hand, deconstructing the discourse of the educational actions allows us to observe the ambiguity that is established in this context (Derrida, 2001). Although we verify an advance in the knowledge on sustainability and its different perspectives, there is difficulty in developing competences focused on changing statutes, rules systems, and business models (Sehnem et al, 2019). That is, there is a diversity of sustainability discourses embedded in the formative approach, but the conflicts and sociocultural plurality are not valued as strategies for problematizing the relationship between ecosystemic services and business (Castillo et al, 2019).…”

“…In the logic more anchored in the critical studies, in turn, the concern lies with the content of that competence and its impact on the way business is conducted (which organizational or societal model these competences serve; what organizational nature is of interest to a sustainable society). Sehnem, Martignago, Pereira, and Jabour (2019), Munck and Borim-de-Souza (2012), Jamali (2006), andGarlet et al (2019) argue that one of the challenges of organizations is to develop management models that favor an alignment between the organizational objectives and missions geared toward sustainability and stakeholders. In this sense, competence management assumes the role of relating the goals of different interest groups.…”

Discursos e Iniciativas Educacionais de Desenvolvimento de Competências para a Sustentabilidade do World Business Council for Sustainable Development

“…Por outro lado, o exercício da desconstrução do discurso das ações educativas permite observar a ambiguidade que se estabelece nesse cenário (Derrida, 2001). Ainda que se verifique um avanço no conhecimento sobre sustentabilidade e suas diferentes perspectivas, há uma dificuldade em desenvolver competências com foco em mudanças de estatutos, sistemas de regras e modelo de negócios (Sehnem et al, 2019). Ou seja, acolhe-se a diversidade de discursos sobre sustentabilidade no percurso formativo, mas não se valoriza os conflitos e a pluralidade sociocultural como estratégias para problematizar a relação dos serviços ecossistêmicos com os negócios (Castillo et al, 2019).…”