HISTóRIA DE VIDA: SUAS POSSIBILIDADES PARA A INVESTIGA O DE PROCESSOS DE APRENDIZAGEM GERENCIAL

The main objective of this essay was to present and discuss the possibilities of applying the life history method for the research of management learning processes. Since the distinctive character of this methodological approach is to contextualize personal, historical, social, institutional and / or political narratives,in order to uncover these forces that shape, distort and change experiences (HATCH, WISNIEWSKI, 1995; BERTAUX, 1980), the paperexamines the potential for using this research strategy tounderstand the complex and dynamic process of managerial learning.The syntheses of the life history of a manager as well as the analysis of the learning processes identified from his narratives arepresented, illustrating the potential of applying the method.Besides enabling a deeper understanding of the theme, the use of this research approach can contribute to the rescue of human value, uncovering understandings of collective phenomena from thenarratives of these professionals’ experiences.