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Open Access
Article
Publication date: 15 October 2024

Lotta Dellve, Robin Jonsson, Rebecka Arman, Nanna Gillberg and Ewa Wikström

This study aims to explore whether participation in employer-provided skills and learning programs can strengthen older workers’ abilities to carry out their work in a meaningful…

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to explore whether participation in employer-provided skills and learning programs can strengthen older workers’ abilities to carry out their work in a meaningful way so that it increases work attractiveness and a willingness to remain in the current job position.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey was distributed to assistance nurses, nurses and teachers, aged 55 years and older in a Swedish City (n = 1,342), analyzed descriptively and with structural equation modeling.

Findings

This paper showed positive relationships between active participation in organizational learning programs (OLPs) and autonomy, relatedness, competence and also attractive work. Associations are observed between participation in learning programs, e.g. mentorship, through the strengthened basic needs at work with work attractiveness and lower intention to leave, but not prolonged retirement preference.

Research limitations/implications

The cross-sectional quantitative design restricts drawing causal conclusions about associations.

Practical implications

OLPs at work may be seen as potential measures to strengthen work conditions, fulfilling basic psychological needs at work and increase work attractiveness in strained welfare sectors.

Social implications

There are some welfare sectors that – more than others – are strained by challenges to maintain, sustain and develop quality, knowledge and staff due to poor economic and social resources with regard to sustainability, e.g. in the educational and caring sectors. Strengthening organizational measures is needed to support sustainable development.

Originality/value

This study applies advanced statistical methods, in a large empirical sample, and shows the importance of skills and learning programs for job attractiveness among older workers in female-dominated, strained welfare sectors.

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 12 March 2024

Nanna Gillberg

The article aims to investigate how washing practices focused on appeasing sceptics of diversity work in for-profit organizations play out in corporate online communication of…

1676

Abstract

Purpose

The article aims to investigate how washing practices focused on appeasing sceptics of diversity work in for-profit organizations play out in corporate online communication of diversity and inclusion efforts, and how these enable communication to a wide audience that includes social equity advocates.

Design/methodology/approach

Online corporate communication data of diversity and inclusion themes were compiled from the websites of eight Swedish-based multinational corporations. The data included content from the companies’ official websites and annual reports and sustainability reports as well as diversity and inclusion-themed blog posts. A thematic analysis was conducted on the website content.

Findings

The study showcases how tensions between conflicting external demands are navigated by keeping the communication open to several interpretations and thereby achieving multivocality. In the studied corporate texts on diversity and inclusion, this is achieved by alternating between elements catering to a business case audience and those that appeal to a social justice audience, with some procedures managing to appease both audiences at the same time.

Originality/value

The article complements previously described forms of washing by introducing an additional type of washing – business case washing – an articulation of the business case rhetoric that characterizes the diversity management discourse. While much has been written about washing to satisfy advocates of social change and equity, washing to appease shareholders and boardroom members, who are focused on profit and economic growth, has received less attention. The article suggests that online corporate communication on diversity and inclusion, by appeasing diverse audiences, can be seen as aspirational talk.

Details

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: An International Journal, vol. 43 no. 9
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2040-7149

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 7 September 2021

Nanna Gillberg and Ewa Wikström

This study was undertaken in order to show how talent management (TM) was performed in practice in a multinational organization as well as how the TM practices affected both…

2023

Abstract

Purpose

This study was undertaken in order to show how talent management (TM) was performed in practice in a multinational organization as well as how the TM practices affected both different groups of workers and the perception of talent within the organization.

Design/methodology/approach

Performing talent management was reassessed in the relationship between TM practices, view and identification of talent, attributed positioning and self-positioning of older and younger workers; retrieved from an exploratory single case study in a multinational organization, based on interviews.

Findings

The findings illustrate that despite the struggling to fill key positions with skilled workers, the studied organization adopted approaches to TM that excluded older workers' talent. First, central to performing TM was how talent was viewed and identified, and second, two types of positioning acts were important: the organizations (re)producing of talent management through attributive positioning acts on older/younger workers and older workers' self-positioning of their own talent. The two sides of performing talent management were complex and intertwined resulting in an age-based devaluation of talent at work.

Practical implications

The study points to important issues in designing and performing TM that may be useful to HR and managers as a point of departure in the development of more inclusive approaches to TM.

Originality/value

The concept “performing talent management” was developed as an intertwined relationship between on-going positioning acts and (re)production of status, talent and age at work; recognizing preferences of what was viewed and identified as valued talent as main drivers made it possible to develop an understanding of exclusion and inclusion mechanisms in performing TM.

Details

Journal of Organizational Effectiveness: People and Performance, vol. 8 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2051-6614

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 4 February 2025

Karl Maack, Nanna Gillberg and Ewa Wikström

This study aims to contribute with knowledge on the characteristics of the process of co-existence of value conflicts between managers, markets/businesses, patients, professionals…

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to contribute with knowledge on the characteristics of the process of co-existence of value conflicts between managers, markets/businesses, patients, professionals and digital technology in primary care practices, to be able to nuance the array of descriptions of the consequences of introducing a digitalised care practice, such as telemedicine, into an already existing primary care organisation. Due to its organisational structure and dynamic environment with a multitude of professions and patients as well as influenced by managerial and market drivers, the primary care setting provides fertile ground for studying value conflicts from an institutional logic perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

This multi-source study utilises qualitative thematic content analysis on empirical data collected through interviews, a survey and documents, followed by an iterative analysis in regard to institutional logics based on the themes developed from empirical data.

Findings

Coexistence and Adaptation: Different logics coexist and transform through adjustmentalisation rather than competing or dominating each other. Digital Technology's Influence: Digital technology influences and interacts with all established logics, potentially acting as a separate, evolving logic. Changing Healthcare Conditions: New conditions and digital solutions in healthcare may shift the balance of logics, potentially normalising managerial and market logics. Patient Empowerment and Data Ownership: Increasing emphasis on patient empowerment and transparent data processing under regulations like General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Medical Devices Regulation (MDR).

Research limitations/implications

With its qualitative design there is not an emphasis on generalisability. The study is performed in a Swedish primary care setting.

Practical implications

Regarding its practical implications, this study examines digitalisation and the introduction of eHealth solutions in primary care in Sweden. The adjustmentalisation of diverse institutional logics described in this study was used to try to facilitate the implementation of eHealth and telemedicine in primary care. This practical contribution could be used in other primary care organisation that plans to introduce eHealth solutions as part of their practices. This study may also have practical implications for other healthcare organisations since the presence of diverse institutional logics is not unique to primary care.

Originality/value

Firstly, this study confirms earlier studies that argue that co-existence of diverse logics is possible in everyday practice. However, we show that adjustmentalisation of the diverse logics rather than the balance of strengths between them, facilitates the transformation, regulation and coordination of the new eHealth practice in relation to established practices. Secondly, this study shows that the adjustmentalisation derives from societal challenges such as an ageing population, accessibility problems and the COVID pandemic that are used to legitimise the adjustmentalisation of diverse logics. Digital technology influences and interacts with all established logics, potentially acting as a separate, evolving logic.

Key findings:

  1. Coexistence and adaptation: Different logics coexist and transform through adjustmentalisation rather than competing or dominating each other.

  2. Digital technology's influence: Digital technology influences and interacts with all established logics, potentially acting as a separate, evolving logic.

  3. Changing healthcare conditions: New conditions and digital solutions in healthcare may shift the balance of logics, potentially normalising managerial and market logics.

  4. Patient empowerment and data ownership: Increasing emphasis on patient empowerment and transparent data processing under regulations like GDPR and MDR.

  5. Future research directions: Need for further research on digital technology's impact on shift and balance between logics, business development, patient participation and its potential to become a dominant logic.

Coexistence and adaptation: Different logics coexist and transform through adjustmentalisation rather than competing or dominating each other.

Digital technology's influence: Digital technology influences and interacts with all established logics, potentially acting as a separate, evolving logic.

Changing healthcare conditions: New conditions and digital solutions in healthcare may shift the balance of logics, potentially normalising managerial and market logics.

Patient empowerment and data ownership: Increasing emphasis on patient empowerment and transparent data processing under regulations like GDPR and MDR.

Future research directions: Need for further research on digital technology's impact on shift and balance between logics, business development, patient participation and its potential to become a dominant logic.

Details

Journal of Health Organization and Management, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1477-7266

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 4 August 2023

Ewa Wikström, Rebecka Arman, Lotta Dellve and Nanna Gillberg

The purpose of the paper is to contribute to an understanding of the relational work carried out in mentoring programmes and the implications for learning capabilities in future…

2871

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to contribute to an understanding of the relational work carried out in mentoring programmes and the implications for learning capabilities in future practices.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is based on field research of a mentoring programme bringing together senior and newly graduated workers in a large Swedish health care organisation. In total, 54 qualitative interviews with mentors, mentees, HR, managers and union representatives are included.

Findings

The findings point to the role of trust and a psychological sense of community in the socialisation work that goes on in relationships between the mentor and the mentee. This in turn leads to increased social capital in the form of learning and retaining workers. The conditions for being vulnerable and asking questions, as well as daring to be independent, are an essential and decisive part of constructing bonding within the professional group and bridging out to other professions and parts of the organisation.

Practical implications

The practical contribution from this study is the workplace conditions that are central to organising mentoring programmes, with implications for learning capabilities in future practices.

Originality/value

With its theoretical focus on social capital, the study shows the importance of relationships for learning and retaining both newly graduated and experienced employees in a context of high employee turnover. It is central to achieving strong and mutually beneficial relationships through continual and trustful interaction between actors. By using the concepts of social capital, socialisation agents and psychological sense of community, this study contributes to an understanding of mentoring and workplace learning.

Details

Journal of Workplace Learning, vol. 35 no. 8
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1366-5626

Keywords

Content available

Abstract

Details

Journal of Workplace Learning, vol. 35 no. 8
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1366-5626

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