Information and knowledge management for solidarity economy: case NuMI-EcoSol/UFSCar

Abstract

Social innovations can be defined as answers to the needs originated by systematic issues of the social organization. The Solidarity Economy initiatives constitute a new way to think, produce and consume products and services, through the Solidarity Economy Enterprises (SEE), in the form of cooperatives, non-profit associations, recovered companies, etc. In Information Science, the theme and its informational challenges are still little explored, despite being well acknowledged. For this research, the objective is to comprehend the information and knowledge management of a multidisciplinary university center for formation and incubation in Solidarity Economy, considering informational aspects such as needs, retrieval methods, ways of dissemination, and the effective use of information. This research is a descriptive-exploratory case study, having the Núcleo Multidisciplinar Integrado de Estudos, Formação e Intervenção em Economia Solidária (NuMI-EcoSol) of the Universidade Federal de São Carlos as a local of study. Aims to systematize and analyze the information flow with emphasis on the effective use of information and knowledge management to decision making, creating of new social technologies, and supports to SEE, seeking to contribute with a stronger informational environment and the creation of new knowledge. Furthermore, this research wants to contribute to the discussions on the use of Information and Knowledge management theories and methods to non-traditional business organizations. (AU)