Strategy as social practice: a study on the implementation of strategies at acafe universities

This study aimed to understand the process of implementation of strategies in three Institutions of Higher Education in light of the Strategy as Social Practice. The theoretical approach adopted was the Practical Strategy - EPS - articulated with the discursive practices. EPS seeks to understand the process of formulating and implementing strategies, based on the activities carried out by practitioners in their daily lives, as well as, through culture, processes and the integration of their actors. Methodologically the research was characterized as qualitative and descriptive, regarding the ends; documentary, as to the means. The research data were collected through semi-structured interviews with those responsible for the strategic planning of the institutions, and documentary research, based on the Lattes of the respondents and IDPs of the institutions. As for the data analysis, it occurred qualitatively considering the assumptions of the Strategy as Practice. It was verified that the interviewees have training and knowledge about the strategic process. The HEIs adopt the methodology of the BSC in the integrated or adapted, besides realizing the formulation of the strategy in a participatory and collective way. And as implications, the organizational culture, discourse and practitioners influenced the implementation of the strategy. However, positively the fact that they are educational institutions and have practitioners of wide area of knowledge, both benefited and hindered the strategic process. The main contribution of this work was the articulation of discursive practices with EPS.