| 1. |
- Avby, Gunilla, 1965-, et al.
(författare)
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Shaping leadership development systems to the work context
- 2022
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- The paper seeks to identify patterns of leadership development in different organization contexts with the aim of contributing to improved understanding of how the context shapes the leadership development system (LDS).Design/methodology/approach: This study is based on the initial phase of a 4-year collaborative research project on LDSs. Data was collected in the five collaborative partner organizations and based on four data sources: 1) company visits; 2) internal documentation; 3) external information (websites); and 4) company presentations at an on-line workshop.Findings: The results show a strong focus on individual leader development, and at least partly, confirms the under-use of developmental assignments and relationships as shown in previous studies. All organizations outsource leadership development to different degrees. However, leadership development is not only structured through different methods, it is also dependent on the organization context in the form of leader forums and meetings. An identified pattern is that the smaller organizations are more dependent on external resources, and the larger organizations tailor company-wide programs for their unique needs together with external consultants. Furthermore, the LDS is believed to be an effective change agent in the adaptive process of transforming.Originality: This study contributes to the research on leadership development by advancing the current understanding of how leadership development interacts with the context of the organization.Practical implications: This study highlights the need for leaders and HR professionals to acknowledge contextual issues when choosing practices used for developing the leadership in the organization.
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| 2. |
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| 3. |
- Bergmo-Prvulovic, Ingela, 1970-, et al.
(författare)
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Exploring Social Representations of Leadership Development : Designing for Work-Integrated Learning
- 2022
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Ingår i: International Conference on Work Integrated Learning. - Trollhättan : University West. - 9789189325302 ; , s. 83-86
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- This paper explored social representations of leadership and leadership development shaping an organizations leadership development system (LDS). This study is based on the initial phase of a 4-year collaborative research project on LDSs, adopting an interactive research approach to co-produce knowledge through joint meetings and learning workshops (Ellström et al., 2020). The research project involves researchers from different disciplines, and five organizations operating in different business domains. The participating organizations vary in terms of size, strategies, markets, processes, products, and ways of organizing, but they all share a common interest in how to develop sustainable approaches to leadership development. An LDS encompasses all the metho ds and practices in an organization that contribute to developing and producing effective leaders (McCauley et al 2010). The importance of understanding the characteristics of the context the LDS is embedded in has been highlighted in a previous study (Avby et al., 2022), and serve as a point-of-reference in this study. However, less is known of what underlying assumptions an LDS is based upon. This study paid attention to the underlying values, ideas, and perspectives on leadership and leadership development that shape an organizations’ ways of thinking, communicating, and acting in the LDS. We suggest that the potential to develop a more deliberate practice of leadership development was enhanced by exploring and articulating the tacit knowledge and assumpt ions that an LDS rests upon.Aim The aim of this study was to explore how socially and contextually shaped assumptions on leadership and leadership development can be visualized and practically applied to develop the leadership in the organization. The question addressed was how the awareness of underlying assumptions can support the methods and practices applied, and in what way the disclosing of underlying ideas, values and practices may foster work -integrated learning?Design and methods From a social representation theory approach (Moscovici, 2001, Jovchelovitch, 2007, Markova, 2003, BergmoPrvulovic, 2015), underlying assumptions of leadership and leadership development were explored. In the collaborative project an initial mapping of the participating organizations’ LDSs has been co nducted, based on different sources of data. The results of this mapping have been presented through a metaphorical analysis (Avby et al., 2022), in which the participating organizations are described with certain metaphors of their LDS. This study paid specific attention to the organization entitled The Self-Managing Team, and added to the initial stage of mapping LDSs by exploring the underlying assumptions that underpins the expressions and formulations on leadership and leadership development found in the organization’s documents, websites, formulations in meetings and strategies. The exploration of social representations of LDSs was based upon the free association method (Abric, 1995), further developed, and used in studies exploring social representations of similar abstract and complex phenomena, such as career (Bergmo-Prvulovic, 2013: 2015). The method consists of questions, words and series of words given to the respondents who spontaneously write down their immediate associations towards a specific concept and complex phenomenon with a gradual deepening of questions related to specific words, series of words. In this study, a digital enquiry was created in Esmaker. The enquiry was designed to ask for respondents spontaneous, immediate thoughts on words, and series of words related to leadership and leadership development. The gradually deepening of questions, were designed by paying attention to the five dimensions of representations suggested by Jovchelovitch (2007), by exploring who are concerned, why and for what leadership is needed, what is the content 84 of leadership, when it works and doesn’t work, when and how it occurs as well who is responsible, whose engagement and what conditions are needed. This study was based on 19 respondents’ answers a ll member in the Self-Managing Team. They were selected by the organization, as identified having important roles and functions in the company’s LDS. A facilitator in the organization introduced an online enquiry with 12 questions, given one by one to the respondents, providing 1-2 minutes for each. The respondents wrote down their associations to each question, some background data, and questions about leadership identity. The analytical procedure was made according to qualitative content analysis method as the basic procedure of qualitatively exploring social representations (Bergmo-Prvulovic, 2013; 2015). Expressions were numbered with a certain code for each respondent related to each answered question, thereafter each textual units were condensed, meaning units were coded and grouped into constitutive elements that builds up preliminary and primary themes generating a web of social representations of LDS for the group of respondents.Preliminary results The results disclosed a web of underlying social representations shaping the LDS in The Self-Managing Team. The social representations shape a basic, contextually characterized system of values, ideas, and practices, on which the company at present form their LDS. Given the collaborative design of the project, the results were fed back to the organization to validate the analytical procedure, as well as to support the designing for work -integrated learning and further knowledge use in the organization. The results revealed the respondents’ assumptions on leadership, leadership development, and self-leadership. These assumptions are clearly anchored in the organization’s aim to build in self-management, as a collective way of working with leadership. However, the existing knowledge base encloses both commonalities and contradictions that needs to be further highlighted to create a sustainable LDS. Results showed both stable representations, that occur repeatedly throughout the material, and dynamic social rep resentations, that express a negotiating character between different views, or as being antinomies of thoughts. By identifying and raising awareness of ambiguities deriving from the results, a base of designing for reflective work-integrated learning was provided. A joint learning process to discuss how the results could be utilized as a tool for work-integrated learning was initiated. Some challenges were recognized, and the organization especially addressed the need to work with a second step of workplace reflection. A first learning cycle was initiated to be continuously developed by involving the employees in the process. In all, the contribution of the study explains the basis of leadership development practice, which unnoticed might create ambiguity in service delivery. The mapping of social representations of an LDS can be utilized as a tool for a more deliberate leadership development practice and highlight possibilities and challenges that need to be addressed for integrating methods and practices in everyday work.
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| 4. |
- Bjursell, Cecilia, 1970-, et al.
(författare)
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Continued growth later in life – older adults learning
- 2021
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- The demographic changes have resulted in an increased proportion of older people in the population in several countries. To have a large proportion of older people in the population is a situation that is historically unique and basically something positive. Despite this, the aging population is discussed as a problem as it puts pressure on pension systems and health care systems. As education and learning have contributed to positive development in several ways, the interest for older adults learning has increased. Education that occurs later in life can be considered as a means of supporting participation in an extended working life, as a democratic citizen, and as a way of promoting well-being.Research on older adults learning is considered the fastest growing branch of adult education in post-industrial countries and one of the most crucial challenges facing current adult European education (Formosa, 2000). Older adults learning focuses on the diverse provision of late-life learning, the motivations and interests of older learners, participation in and emancipatory policies for older adult learning, and the benefits of learning at different levels (Schmidt-Hertha, Formosa & Fragoso, 2019). Research in a Swedish context has provided insights into different aspects of older adults learning, such as intergenerational relationships, motivations and benefits, inclusion and participation, online and offline learning, working-life and guidance. The presentation will engage in a dialogue about these topics.
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| 5. |
- Bjursell, Cecilia, 1970-, et al.
(författare)
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Higher education as learning organizations – An empirical study of education managers perception of their work situation
- 2022
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Ingår i: NFF 2022 Conference Papers.
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- The paper presents a study of Swedish academic leaders’ perception of their work situation. The aim was to explore the conditions which can enable creativity and learning in higher education institutions. The KEYS survey was sent to a sample of 64 university managers from social sciences, humanities and technical departments at Swedish universities. The response rate was 39 % (n25). The result indicates that education managers perceive a lack of feedback from upper management, but at the same time, they claim to have a high level of trust from upper management.
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| 6. |
- Bjursell, Cecilia, 1970-, et al.
(författare)
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Telework and lifelong learning
- 2021
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Ingår i: Frontiers in Sociology. - : Frontiers Media S.A.. - 2297-7775. ; 6
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The increase of telework during the pandemic is predicted to impact working life, not only in terms of a larger number of employees working from home, but more importantly, it may transform the way we conceptualise work. This will in turn impact systems for and participation in lifelong learning. There is a risk for increased social inequalities, as neither telework nor lifelong learning is evenly distributed among workers. Statistics on telework in the EU show that there are differences between age groups, nations, sectors, and professions. If these trends will steer forward, there is a risk of widening gaps between countries, companies, and workers. To establish the current knowledge base, we have gathered literature reviews from several disciplines. One finding is that the previous literature on telework has not included lifelong learning in any form (formal, non-formal and informal). Based on a review of previous studies, we suggest a number of research questions for future research. This is relevant as research about telework and lifelong learning has the potential to contribute to a sustainable working life in terms of providing more flexible arrangements for employees and to support the lifelong learning that takes place in contexts such as the office, home, online meetings, and virtual reality.
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| 8. |
- Albien, Anouk J., et al.
(författare)
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Hvordan anvende kaosteori i karriereveiledning?
- 2022
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Ingår i: Theoretical explorations for career guidance in times of change. - : Veilederforum.
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Bokkapitel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Ingress: Hvordan kan faktorer som påvirker den enkeltes beslutningsprosesser, som endring, tilfeldigheter og kompleksitet, bli forstått og praktisk drøftet i karriereveiledning? Dr. Anouk J. Albien presenterer hvordan «Chaos Theory of Careers» kan tjene som et teoretisk og praktisk bidrag i karriereveiledning.
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| 9. |
- Albien, Anouk J., et al.
(författare)
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The edge of chaos : Applying the Chaos Theory of Careers
- 2022
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Ingår i: Theoretical explorations for career guidance in times of change. - : Veilederforum.
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Bokkapitel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Introductory paragraph: How can the numerous contextual factors that influence individuals’ career decision-making processes, which include change, chance and complexity, be understood and practically addressed in career guidance support? Dr. Anouk J. Albien presents how the Chaos Theory of Careers (CTC) serves as a theoretical and practical contribution to the career guidance and counselling field.
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| 10. |
- Bergmo Prvulovic, Ingela, 1970-
(författare)
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Adult Career Development from a Transition Perspective : An analytical framework for adult career counselling practice
- 2010
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- In Sweden as well as in many European countries, increased pressure is put on individuals to manage their own careers. EU Council Resolutions (2004, 2008), stresses the development of citizens lifelong and life-wide learning and also management skills. The importance of citizen-focused, impartial counselling is pointed out (CEDEFOP, 2005). Lifelong guidance is expected to improve the matching of both individuals´ interests, abilities and competencies with learning opportunities for educational and labor market efficiency. Furthermore guidance is considered to support their lifelong career transitions. In Sweden, there has been an extensive political focus the past year, concerning companies abilities of adapting to societal changes in an innovative manner, in order to serve them with future requested competencies. The need for utilizing competence, transition and adjustment abilities for adapting to constantly changes, is intensively discussed among different political areas, but mostly from the perspective of the companies, with economical efficiency aspect as the main one. From an adult career development and counselling perspective, the main focus is the individual in transition and change. Thus, societal changes and changing working life conditions indicates a need for working preventive (Plant, 2005) and preparatory in career counselling practice, in the meaning of preparing for change. Although educational and vocational choices still are important issues for career counselling practice, there is an increasing need for supporting also employed adults in dealing with other career-related issues concerning substantial change of work-conditions, responsibilities and work-roles. Adult career development can be understood from several different perspectives and theoretical approaches. The provision of career support for adult career development can be offered, organized and expressed in different ways and settings, also differing between countries and within countries. European Union employ guidance as an umbrella concept for several activities concerning career development in their publications. In Sweden, career counselling for adults has a tradition of being offered within municipal adult education, often connected to educational/vocational choice and decisions. For many years, vocational counselling has been offered in employment services. During the past decade, there has been an increased development of organizing career counselling/guidance in specific career centres or guidance centers and the last years, different coaching practices, organized both in private and public sector, has developed. Nevertheless, they are all a part of our changing society, dealing with different career-related issues, brought into light by adults with different dilemmas and stories to tell, different goals to reach. This theoretical paper, is concerned with the conjunctions between the societal changes as they are expressed in EU Policy goals concerning lifelong learning and guidance and theoretical approaches concerning change and transition. The main focus will be put on the work of Nicholson (1990) and his transition cycle model, aiming at analyzing the model as an analytical framework for adult career counselling practice, according to the demands put on individuals to self-manage their careers and develop career management skills.
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