Projektformen och det industriella arvet-med exempel från från sjukvården

Abstract

Projektformen och det industriella arvet med exempelfrån sjukvårdenAnders EdvikAKADEMISK AVHANDINGför avläggande av filosofie doktorsexamen i arbetsvetenskap,som med vederbörligt tillstånd av utbildningsvetenskapligafakultetsnämnden vid Göteborgs Universitetkommer att offentligt försvaras fredagen den 23 maj 2008,kl 13.15, sal 10, universitets huvudbyggnad, Vasaparken, GöteborgFakultetsopponent:Professor Anders SöderholmUmeå universitetInstitutionen för ArbetsvetenskapAbstract:It is not an exaggeration to say that the idea of organizing work task in a project similar form hasnowadays become an institutionalized understanding in work life in general. Many organizationscombine the permanent organization with temporary such, in purpose to cope with the ongoingchanging environment. Arguments as increased need for more flexible ways of organizing and a more customer oriented production, are often used to explain the important role that projects fill in organizations. Although arguments as those above are not applicable for all kinds of businesses and corporations, they have a legitimizing function in relation to the organizational field. Above all this concerns the demand of rational ways of organizing work, which the idea of projects is part in; especially when the conceptions of project carries an industrial inheritance. Single organizations are acting in accordance with societal conceptions and values (existing patterns) even if the ordinary activities are organized along with the understanding of a professional bureaucracy. Using project as an organizational form can therefore be seen not only as a way of reaching a certain achievement or coping with an uncertain environment, but also as a response to socially constructed circulating managerial ideas.The projectification of work life could be understood in terms of travelling managerial ideas in time and space. The content of the idea is however translated, while it is travelling, both by carriers and receivers which enables translation to local conditions. If the idea is not picked up by any actor, the translation and materialization processes will end. The way in which content will be translated,depends on the individual s biographical position. Experiences, hierarchical and social position, are examples that influence the individual s way of conceptualize the idea of project organization. At the same time the single actor is a part in a social context in which he or she, through socialisation processes, internalizes objectified conceptions. The individual is acting in accordance with the socially constructed conceptions which leave him or her with experiences that influence future actions. The translation of the project idea along with local conditions is therefore based on the social context in terms of an institutionalized local environment. The actions performed by the individuals make sense due to previous experiences. This means that the translation of the project organization idea is based on experiences in accordance with internalized local conceptions that enable individuals to act in a way that makes sense. The problem is however the strength of the institutionalized project idea and the environment in which the individual is acting. To be translated the idea, in terms of the industrialinheritance, has to be opened up for adaptation by acting individuals. Otherwise the materialization will end and the project idea will not be adjusted to the environment it has been spread to; the idea of project will stay as an island without connections to the organizational context. The aim of this doctoral thesis is to discuss how the institutionalized concept of project is translated and materialized when this organizational form is applied in an organization which normally is not associated with temporary organization. The focus is on the translation and materialization processes of the project as an idea and the empirical examples are three operational renewal projects in the healthcare sector. Since these three projects are aimed to end in some sort of organizational change, the doctoral thesis also discusses which function the project form has in relation to the operational and mostly professionalized bureaucratic organization.Key words: project management, project organizing, renewal projects, temporary organizations, health care, public sector, professions, professional bureaucracy, institutions, institutionalization,organizational fields, translation, materialization, interpretation, work life, operation businesses,development, change.