Jan Hjelte

The Meaning of a Knowledge-based Organization in Swedish Municipal Elderly Care

This article addresses the notion of the knowledge-base in a Swedish social services organization. The overall aim was to investigate the concept of a ‘knowledge-based organization in municipal elderly care’ as it was perceived by informants at different organizational levels and professional and political functions in the social services. The research questions concerned how different informants perceive, and to what extent they share, the meaning of a knowledge-based organization and to relate these perceptions to the organizational conditions for learning and knowledge use. The theoretical point of departure was the socio-cultural approach where the interaction between communication, cultural artifacts and actions are important ingredients. The results showed that there were different views on the meaning of knowledge-based elderly care, mainly related to professional functions and organizational levels. It is argued that these views have implications for organizational learning and change as well as formal training and education.

The impact of elderly care competence and quality improvement programme in four Swedish municipalities

During a number of years Swedish municipalities have work with improvment of competence and long-term quality in elderly care. The overall aim of the present study was to compare different learning activities (workplace improvement and/or courses), and to relate these activities to learning climate, learning strategies, and perception of care quality. In addition, the effect of organisational changes was tested. Four Swedish municipalities were selected and 219 nursing assistants filled in a questionnaire (response rate, 58%). Documentation of the learning activities was collected. A two-way multivariate analysis of variance was computed to answer the research questions. The results showed that there was a main effect for learning activities and organisational change on learning climate and learning strategies, but not on the perception of care quality. A combination of courses and workplace improvement practices yielded better results compared with only one of these activities, and organisational changes had a negative effect. The results suggest that the workplace should not only be regarded as an area for non-formal training but should also be included as a part of a training programme. Organisational changes should be avoided during the programme, otherwise the expected effects of the time and effort invested may be wasted.

Knowing, being or doing? : A comparative study on human service professionals' perceptions of quality in day-to-day encounters with clients and students with intellectual disabilities

What does it mean to decide, act and behave in a professional manner towards people with intellectual disabilities? This article analyses how professionals from three welfare organizations describe quality in daily encounters with people with intellectual disabilities. Four hundred and twenty-one respondents participated in the study. Our empirical data consisted of written excerpts exclusively. Findings revealed that quality in encounters with people with intellectual disabilities was associated with personal attributes, pertinent knowledge, professional actions and ideological awareness. Findings also show differences in responses, both quantitatively (frequency) and qualitatively (content), which seem to be associated with organization. This reflects that human service organizations, as normative environments, underpin ideas about relevance and appropriateness in day-to-day situations, forming actions and perceptions among its members. Our conclusion is that organizational context needs to be considered to enhance our knowledge on how different categories of professionals view quality and moral worth when working with people with intellectual disabilities.

Youth jobs : young peoples' experiences of changes in motivation regarding engagement in occupations in the Swedish public sector

Abstract This article focuses on the influence of a programme with the purpose of increasing young people’s motivation to engage in professions with labour shortages in the Swedish public sector. The data collection methods used were qualitative and quantitative. The study shows that employment quality (skills, learning opportunities and social interaction) is essential to young people in relation to labour market interventions targeted at professions with labour shortages in the public sector. There appears to be heterogeneity in how young people value different factors. In addition, the motivational profile of young people seems to be an evolving process, but also in what way participation in a programme with focus on professions with labour shortages may contribute to such changes. The results indicate that, when planning a programme aimed at young people, individual differences should be taken into account in order to motivate them to work in professions with labour shortages.