MONITORING TRANSPORTATION IN THE AMAZON: A study on socio-emotional competencies of waterway transportation regulators

Purpose: The study aims to understand how Brazilian waterway transportation regulators use socioemotional competencies to carry out their activities, based on Macedo and Silva's model (2020). Methodology: This qualitative research was conducted through semi-structured interviews with 21 civil servants. Data collected was submitted to content analysis. Findings: The results show that regulators feel the call to public service and demonstrate empathy toward waterway transportation users and regulated operators. Also, they have positive emotions regarding their work, and working in pairs strengthens the sense of partnership. The findings suggest that civil servants are aware of the precariousness of transportation in the Amazon and observe that the central office of the regulatory agency knows little about the reality people experience in the north of Brazil. Finally, the research showed that the showed that the regulatory agency is understaffed to monitor transportation in the Amazon and that regulators are working in challenging - even life-threatening - conditions. Originality: The literature on socioemotional competencies has been mainly quantitative. This study contributes by applying qualitative approach and an in-depth engagement with the participants. The approach allowed us to understand the meaning the regulators attributed to the social and human issues faced in monitoring waterway transportation in the Amazon. Theoretical and practical contributions: As for managerial and political contributions, it was possible to identify the lack of resources, personnel and institutional support to carry out the monitoring the waterway of transportation in Amazon, as well as observe the civil servant's challenging - sometimes life-threatening - work conditions.