THE SOCIOLOGICAL INSTITUTIONALISM IN IMPLEMENTATION OF POLICY AND ATTENTION TO THE PUBLIC FUNCTIONARIES’ HEALTH CARE IN A FEDERAL HIGHER EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION AT MINAS GERAIS STATE

Abstract

In this study, the exploratory and descriptive research was adopted to analyze how the implementation of the federal public functionary’ health care policy is institutionalized in the Universidade Federal de Viçosa - MG, in representation of the high level technicians at health care occupational area. The classification of this research was determined by the impossibility to identify, in the available literature, studies broaching the implementation of this policy under the institutional theory approach. Although all agencies of the federal government are subject to the policy, a federal institution of higher education was adopted as a case study, that is UFV, one reason why thequalitative approach was predominant, since it was presented with the possibility for subjective understanding of the symbolic activities that higher-level technicians employ in the construction and representation of the social reality. The case study was the strategy adopted, since it allows an investigation that preserves the systemic and significant characteristics of the real events, such as this study was conducted. Interviews and focus group techniques were used for data collection. In evaluating those, ODEMIR VIEIRA BAETA, CARLA BEATRIZ MARQUES ROCHA E MUCCI, NATHÁLIACARVALHO MOREIRAAPGS, Viçosa, v3. n.2, pp. 48-65, abr./jul. 2011 Pag.234the content analysis was used in order to obtain an objective and systematic description of the content manifested in communication. The application of this technique allowed the quantitative approach, when establishing the frequency of the characteristics that were repeated in the textual content. The QSRN6 program contributed to better visualization of the results quantified by analysis. The institutional theory provided the theoretical foundation, that enabled better understanding of the data. This confirms the applicability of the institutional theory in analysis of the implementation of the policy and attention to the public functionaries’ health care. The results showed that all isomorphic homogenization processes that helped to analyze the reality portrayed by servers are present in the institutional environment in Viçosa. Also, issues that will contribute to a better understanding of the implementation phase of a public policy were identified, when verifying the profile and role of the high-level technicians directly affected by the policy at UFV. Besides the theoretical characterization of the policy, some practical aspects providing information that can assist those processes were also identified, as maximizing the level of this policy continuation. The main factors facilitating this implementation rather include the superior administration’ participation in the actions, beyond the discourse of humanization, as providing support and legitimacy, therefore being extremely important to influence and make conscientious the other members of the institution.

Keywords: Reuni, public management policies, access to public higher level