Sustainable Management at a University in Light of Tensions of Sustainability Theory

Abstract

Drawing on the theory of tensions of sustainability management, this original work aims at analysing tensions that emerged during the process of inserting sustainability at core processes of an important Brazilian university. Eleven interviews were conducted and analysed through the thematic categorisation and the Atlas ti software was used. A documental analysis was also carried out. The results suggested that: (a) there was a predominance of tensions originating from the organizational dimension; (b) the performance dimension was associated with the plurality of outcomes expected by stakeholders; (c) the existing asymmetry between the expectation of the subjects and the concrete results visualized in the Unisul University as contributed to the fact that the points of tension converged towards the performance dimension. And it challenged managers to find mechanisms to minimize the dilemmas and conflicts that emerged and to align the expectations of the different stakeholders of the Unisul Sustainable enterprise.