Phenomenological understanding of humanized leadership in the Jardín Azuayo savings and credit cooperative

Abstract

This study aims to understand the meanings that organizational actors of the Jardín Azuayo Savings and Credit Cooperative construct regarding humanized leadership through their everyday experiences. The research is grounded in the interpretive-constructivist paradigm, with a qualitative approach, and the method developed is based on a phenomenological-hermeneutic analysis of narratives extracted from in-depth interviews with nine employees of the institution. The main findings identified four key phenomenological themes: a) the conceptualization and manifestation of humanized leadership, b) the meaning of humanization in managerial practices, c) the influence of humanized leadership on work climate and institutional performance, and d) how humanized leadership strengthens the values of the Popular and Solidarity Economy. It is concluded that humanized leadership is intrinsic to the Popular and Solidarity Economy, demonstrating that prioritizing human dignity over capital is economically viable. Nevertheless, formal adherence to cooperative principles does not guarantee humanized praxis. Questions remain regarding the scalability of the model and its generational sustainability, evidencing both the viability and the inherent tensions of solidarity-based organizations in competitive contexts.