Programa Transforma Minas: um estudo dos estilos de liderança na Secretaria de Desenvolvimento Social de Minas Gerais (Sedese)

Abstract

Leadership in the public sector plays an essential role in the effective management and implementation of public policies that meet the needs of society. Therefore, to offer quality services, it is fundamental that public leaders demonstrate adaptability and innovation, adjusting their strategies and processes to new social, technological, and economic demands. In this context, the Transforma Minas Program is an initiative of the Government of Minas Gerais that aims to attract, select, develop, and monitor the performance of public managers in the Executive Branch, with a merit-based selection process. This dissertation addresses the theme of leadership, highlighting its relevance and complexity in the organizational context, especially in the public sector. Based on various theories and approaches to leadership, the research investigated whether the leadership styles developed by the program are aligned with the styles presented by the directors of the Secretariat of Social Development of Minas Gerais (Sedese), analyzing the effectiveness and influence of these styles on organizational dynamics and the leadership competencies of the managers. In order to answer the research question, a qualitative case study was adopted in 12 regional directorates of Sedese, with data collection carried out through semi-structured interviews and questionnaires applied to managers. The central result of this research is the panorama of hybrid leadership found in the participants, composed mainly of Transformational and Democratic styles, with a lower incidence of Situational and Transactional styles. It is noteworthy that this leadership pattern is in line with the model proposed by the Sedese program, which defines a set of expected competencies that fits precisely into this hybrid style (combining transformational, democratic, situational, and transactional elements). These results are promising, as they demonstrate a significant advance in merit and competency-based management practices in the public sector. Consequently, this will enable continuous improvement and the provision of excellent public services for the citizens of Minas Gerais.