This study aims at bringing to light aspects of the organizational culture of a restaurant, touristic place in the city of Porto Alegre, understanding its simbolic dimension through the social representations that circulate in its environment, mainly with respect to the space and time categories. Because of the complexity of the subject, theoretical concepts and frameworks from Social Anthropology and other Human Sciences were used. The Chalé da Praça XV is a historical patrimony of the city; it is located in the historical centre of the city, place valued in the past by the population, but nowadays considered a victim of the urban degradation. The etnographic method was used to bring to light the representations that circulate in this space. The etnographic fieldwork was conducted in the restaurant, between February and May 2008. Representations of time and space produced by customers and employees of the organization were identifyed, putting under the spot similarities and heterogeneities of its organizational culture. The analysis categories established make clear the heterogeneity present in its space, as an anthropological place. At last, some alternatives were presented to support the reflection about to management of the restaurant, considering, among others aspects, its touristic potential insufficiently explored.
Organizational culture; Social representations; Space; Time; Chalé da Praça XV