Segments for the understanding of worker’s self management: the case of Belo Horizonte housing department

Abstract

The relevance of the worker’s self management has inspired studies and debates in the scope of the academy, mainly in respect to its proposal of social change. From a revision of the literature and the analysis of some worker’s self management experiences, it is supported the idea that it has three segments: 1) autonomy and power equality in the decision making process; 2) humanistic values and 3) technical-management knowledge available for the members of the organization. The objective of this article is to analyze the experience of the worker’s housing self management program, of Belo Horizonte Housing Department, through these segments defined. It was observed that these segments were not fully exercised which was an obstacle for the worker’s self management process. However, it is perceived that such process creates an emotional identity bond between workers, which contributes for the development of citizenship, what is interpreted as a positive aspect of the program.