Sustentabilidade económica das organizações de economia social

: estudo de caso da Misericórdia de S. Bento de Arnoia: Celorico de Basto

Abstract

This final Master´s thesis aims to analyze factors that may contribute to the sustainability of a social economy organization, based on the theoretical approach of Mendes (2011) and taking as the object of its empirical work the Holy House of Mercy of São Bento de Arnoia - Celorico of Basto. In this empirical study, was adopted the methodology of historical analysis and case study, focusing on the most critical moments in which the economic sustainability of this organization was at risk. We concluded from this analysis that several factors which are proposed in the theoretical framework adopted for this study helped to overcome those critical moments, namely the following: identity and fidelity to the mission of providing services primarily to persons who otherwise could not have access to them, quality of human resources and of the services provided, combativeness, gratuity, instrumental rationality, democratic mode of government, affectivity, creativity and proactivity. These findings are an indication of the relevance that these factors may have on the sustainability of social economy organizations and the adequacy of the theoretical framework adopted here to study this issue, but further work is needed to sustain any firm conclusions on this matter.

Date of Award	6 Mar 2015
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Américo Mendes (Supervisor)