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- Bentzen, Tina Øllgaard, et al.
(author)
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Keeping the magic alive : The multiple functions of magic concepts
- 2024
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In: PAR. Public Administration Review. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 0033-3352 .- 1540-6210. ; , s. 1-16
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Despite scholarly fascination with magic concepts, empirical research on how they fare in practice is scarce. This study explores how magic concepts retain their magic when used in public organizations. Using survey data and case studies, we identify “trust” as a magic concept in Scandinavian municipalities and develop a typology of its four central functions. We find that the concept of trust is used to confirm and confront old organizational practices, as well as to calibrate and catalyze new ones. We suggest that the multivocal character of magic concepts enables them to fit multiple agendas simultaneously, strengthening their ability to stay magic.
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| 2. |
- Øllgaard Bentzen, Tina, et al.
(author)
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Translating trust as a magic concept in public sector reforms: A comparative study of the Danish and Swedish trust reform
- 2023
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In: International Public Management Journal. - 1096-7494. ; 26:5, s. 764-784
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In response to growing criticism of new public management reforms, the Nordic countries have introduced so-called trust reforms aimed at transforming public sector management and leadership. There is, however, scarce knowledge about the role of organizational concepts in national trust reform and how they are translated, not least in a comparative perspective. This study offers an in-depth analysis of how robustly “trust” as a concept has been translated in Danish and Swedish public sector reforms. Drawing on the literature on organizational translation, we use the translational diamond as a theoretical framework for a comparative analysis based primarily on document studies, triangulated with supplementary survey data and interviews. Findings indicate that the Swedish reform has both a stronger strategic and local anchoring as well as a more elaborate use of reflective and experimental reform activities. However, the study also points to other factors of importance to robust translations, such as long-term commitment and political support.
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