Key research themes
1. How is the administrative act (ato administrativo) conceptualized and interpreted in relation to its ethical, legal, and procedural requirements?
This theme focuses on the normative and conceptual foundations of the administrative act, emphasizing its requirements, ethical dimensions, defects or vices, and procedural guarantees. Understanding these aspects matters because the administrative act is fundamental in public administration, and its legitimacy and legality determine the quality and accountability of administrative governance.
2. What are the critical perspectives on public administration as a discipline and practice, particularly regarding its relation to efficiency, organizational commitment, and bureaucracy?
This theme explores the critical and sociological perspectives on administrative practice, focusing on the appeal and internal logics of bureaucracy, the emotional and normative dimensions of organizational commitment, and conflicts between private-sector management models and public administration values. It matters because it addresses the tensions in administrative professionalism and governance, going beyond technical management to question the role and nature of administrative acts within organizations.
3. How is administrative management and processual administration understood and practiced in public institutions, particularly in educational and health settings?
This theme investigates the emerging perspectives of administrative management as relational, emergent, and dialogical processes in public sector contexts such as schools and healthcare. Such analysis focuses on how administrative acts and processes are co-constructed daily by multiple agents and how these processes affect service quality, autonomy, and organizational dynamics within the framework of public administration.