Abstract:
The discussion surrounding the rationale guiding the actions of organizations has highlighted the duality between instrumental and substantive rationalities. “Beyond rationality” seeks to understand other dimensions of action in the context of the organization of agricultural production, through the meanings shared by family organizations of farmers. A qualitative study was carried out involving the participation of 13 families, living in locations characterized by a strong presence of descendants of immigrants who settled in southern Brazil. The authors performed the observation of family organizations, whose members shared agricultural production activities in small rural holdings in the south of Santa Catarina State. In the three modes of organizing agricultural production identified as integrated, semi-integrated and nonintegrated. The shared meanings showed evidence of action guided by affection and tradition, extending beyond the dimensions of action guided by rationality of an instrumental and/or substantive nature. It was noted that affective relations and productive practices based on traditions play an important role in the modes of organizing and are associated with the substantive character of social relations, according to the adopted theoretical frameworks. It is understood that the dimensions of action, rejected in the discussion on rationality, are in fact relevant and should be considered with regards to family organizations involved in agricultural production activities.
Keywords:
action orientation; organizations; affection and tradition; agricultural production; families