Sustentabilidade Organizacional em Ongs: Os Casos do GAPA - Ba e do Grupo Brasil a partir das Contribuições da Teoria da Dependência de Recursos

Abstract

This paper aims to reflect on the distinctive way in which NGOs are susceptible to external environment, from the perspective of the Resource Dependence Theory, highlighting the need for organizations continuously adapt to uncertainties of the external environment in order to deal with the challenges of maintaining and actively manage the flow of resources they need to survive. In order to do that we used a comparative case study in two Brazilian NGOs, the Support Group for AIDS Prevention in Bahia (GAPA-BA) and the Brazil Group to Support the deafblind and the Multiple Sensory deficient (Grupo Brazil), which have historical performance and different goals, but in common the fact they suffer with the high level of centralization of resources flow on international donors. The findings show that the two NGOs have used similar strategies to deal with the dependence as they are identified by the Resource Dependence Theory, namely the diversification of funding sources and the search for counter-balance the power of the sources on which they depend. GAPA / BA has managed to balance the more favorable cooperation with their sources and their autonomy, while Group Brazil ended up increasing their dependence. This work brings a contribution to the field organizational analysis using the resource dependence Theory. It is believed that in addition to the use of a specific analytical tool of organization theory, the study may also bring contributions to social management and management of NGOs with regard to resource mobilization and organizational sustainability.