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Ericsson, Ulf
Publications (10 of 20) Show all publications
Augustinsson, S., Ericsson, U. & Nilsson, H. (2018). Making sense of assignment: on the complexity of being a school leader. Nordic journal of comparative and international education (NJCIE), 2(2-3), 149-164
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Making sense of assignment: on the complexity of being a school leader
2018 (English)In: Nordic journal of comparative and international education (NJCIE), ISSN 2535-4051, Vol. 2, no 2-3, p. 149-164Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

he primary aim of this paper is to narrow down the description of how school leaders interpret the assignment (the task) and identify the markers for how they look upon the conditions of doing a good job in Sweden. The aim is in the context of practice-based and process-oriented research. We use complexity and complexity theories to frame the emerging practice of leading and organizing. This is in contrast to technocratic homogenization—that is, law texts, steering documents, documentation, standardized methods, planning, and ceremonies. A questionnaire was conducted with three open questions (n=363 out of a possible 548 participants) and four focus groups (n=21). Complexity, dilemmas, and inconsistency emerge in the respondents’ answers the closer they are to everyday action. The results show that complexity theories put focus on a conflict between the image of schools as complicated and complex. Complicated is accompanied by generalizing and weak contextualizing of control systems, standardized methods, planning, law texts, and evidence-based education—that is, the concept of technocratic homogenization. Complexity theories emphasize the life in organizations, everyday practice as leaders, and a conflict between weak and robust contextualizing from the perspective as practice-based and process-oriented research.

Keywords
Assignment; complexity theory; practice-based and process research; technocratic homogenization Introduction
National Category
Social Sciences
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:hkr:diva-18851 (URN)10.7577/njcie.2770 (DOI)
Available from: 2018-11-28 Created: 2018-11-28 Last updated: 2020-10-28Bibliographically approved
Ericsson, U. & Rakar, F. (2017). Med minnen av en framtid - integration och etablering som meningsskapande processer. Arbetsmarknad & Arbetsliv, 23(1), 8-24
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Med minnen av en framtid - integration och etablering som meningsskapande processer
2017 (Swedish)In: Arbetsmarknad & Arbetsliv, ISSN 1400-9692, E-ISSN 2002-343X, Vol. 23, no 1, p. 8-24Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [sv]

Att flytta innebär att lära sig ett nytt socialt sammanhang, men också ett uppbrott från vår livshistoria. Nutid, dåtid och framtid behöver omförhandlas i ett nytt socialt sammanhang för att (åter-)skapa mening och därmed fortsätta intrigen i livsberättelsen. Vi vill undersöka hur integration och etablering kan förstås som en meningsskapande process och vad ett sådant perspektiv innebär för förståelsen för mötet mellan nyanländ och policy. Har vi en etableringsprocess som ger individen verktyg för att skapa minnen av en ny framtid?

National Category
Work Sciences
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:hkr:diva-17579 (URN)
Available from: 2017-11-09 Created: 2017-11-09 Last updated: 2023-08-28Bibliographically approved
Ericsson, U., Ehliasson, K. & Bengtsson Tops, A. (2016). Meaning in work and emerging work identities of housing support workers: a quest for a comprehensible plot. Work: A journal of Prevention, Assessment and rehabilitation, 53(2), 367-376
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Meaning in work and emerging work identities of housing support workers: a quest for a comprehensible plot
2016 (English)In: Work: A journal of Prevention, Assessment and rehabilitation, ISSN 1051-9815, E-ISSN 1875-9270, Vol. 53, no 2, p. 367-376Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

BACKGROUND: Work and employees are often marginalized in studies on community-based psychiatric care and support systems. This paper highlights the role of the worker at congregated supported housing for people with severe mental illness (SMI). Housing support workers (HSW) are a fairly new professional role and have developed as a result of major changes in Swedish mental health care and services. The development of new roles is not unproblematic and raises intriguing questions.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this article is to describe housing support workers’ experiences of meaning in their work, and in addition illuminate how the work identity of HSWs can be negotiated and constructed.

METHODS: Four focus group interviews were conducted with a total of 25 participants. Additionally, three follow up sessions were conducted with the same participants. The material consists of employees from four different sites. The intepretation of the material was inspired by a constructionist approach.

RESULTS: The analysis generated three themes: to do a good job, everyday needs and the formal role. The work identity for HSWs is complex and not easily interpreted.

CONCLUSIONS: The experience of an unclear assignment affects the description of what is meaningful and important—the work identity and significant affiliations for HSWs. In the long run, this fragmented world can have negative implications for the HSW.

Keywords
housing support workers, mental health and illness, narratives, professionals, Sweden, work identity
National Category
Social Work
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:hkr:diva-14652 (URN)10.3233/WOR-152151 (DOI)000371064200016 ()26409394 (PubMedID)
Available from: 2015-09-21 Created: 2015-09-21 Last updated: 2020-06-09Bibliographically approved
Ehliasson, K., Ericsson, U. & Bengtsson Tops, A. (2016). Support to individuals with comprehensive disabilities: ideas in the Swedish Disability Act. Scandinavian Journal of Disability Research, 18(3), 234-244
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Support to individuals with comprehensive disabilities: ideas in the Swedish Disability Act
2016 (English)In: Scandinavian Journal of Disability Research, ISSN 1501-7419, E-ISSN 1745-3011, Vol. 18, no 3, p. 234-244Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

The purpose of this study was to determine and describe the ideas, that is, a mental construction of perceived reality and values, which are expressed in the Swedish Disability Act and its Government Bill. By means of text analysis, four concepts of reality and values have been identified: (1) Citizenship and justice, (2) The collective and integration, (3) The individual and autonomy, and (4) Decentralization and power shifts. The study also shows that social rights and social citizenship have been strengthened via legislation for individuals with comprehensive disabilities. It is also demonstrated that there is considerable room in the legislation for conflicts between the two concepts and values of collective/integration and the individual/autonomy. It can also be observed that there is a considerable risk that citizens are not treated in a similar manner as regards the interpretation and application of the Disability Act, which may lead to lack of legal security.

Keywords
comprehensive disabilities, Swedish Disability Act, ideas, concepts of reality, values
National Category
Social Sciences
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:hkr:diva-14651 (URN)10.1080/15017419.2015.1064024 (DOI)000377393400006 ()
Available from: 2015-09-21 Created: 2015-09-21 Last updated: 2017-12-04Bibliographically approved
Ericsson, U., Rydstedt, L. W., Pettersson, P., Augustinsson, S. & Aronsson, G. (2016). Återhämtning bland hockeyspelare i Tre Kronor, nattarbetande bagare och skolledare: om asocialitet, sömnlösa nätter och allvarsam lek - en dygnsberättelse. Arbetsliv i Omvandling (2)
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Återhämtning bland hockeyspelare i Tre Kronor, nattarbetande bagare och skolledare: om asocialitet, sömnlösa nätter och allvarsam lek - en dygnsberättelse
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2016 (Swedish)In: Arbetsliv i Omvandling, ISSN 1404-8426, no 2Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [sv]

Återhämtning är den process som återställer individens energi och mentala resurser. Vi betraktar här återhämtning som en dynamisk process av ständig reglering och anpassning av aktivitetsnivån till omgivningens krav. Föreliggande studie är ett första steg i ett projekt som har för avsikt att fördjupa kunskapen om denna process. Vårt antagande är att det finns olika strategier, platser, behov, förutsättningar och möjligheter för återhämtning i arbetslivet. Både vad gäller individuella olikheter men även skillnader som kan hänföras till yrkesgrupp. Fokusgrupper genomfördes med tre olika yrkesgrupper: professionella ishockeyspelare, nattarbetande bagare och skolledare (sammanlagt 29 deltagare). Utgångspunkten för fokusgrupperna var en idé om en dygnsberättelse, inom vilken det fanns tre distinktioner, arbete, fritid och sömn. Samtalen i fokusgrupperna utgick från dygnsberättelsen, men kretsade kring arbetets krav, förväntningar på prestation samt behov och förutsättningar för återhämtning. Vad som exemplifierades var olika strategier för att hantera de psykofysiologiska påfrestningar som de olika yrkesgrupperna ställs inför. Berättelserna från fokusgrupperna är mångfacetterade och förmedlar både bilden av olika ”rum”, likt fönster, för återhämtning men även en avsaknad av sådana förutsättningar. En avsaknad som istället leder till ytterligare energiförbrukning. Det centrala problemet för de nattarbetande bagarna var ofta på ett eller annat sätt relaterat till en fysiologisk nedvarvning och framförallt (bristen på) sömnkvalitet. Det var alltså inte minnet av jobbet som klängde sig kvar hos bagarna när de hade kommit hem efter avslutat pass. Kvardröjande mentala representationer av stressorer, en typ av repetitivt ältande, visade sig däremot hos både ishockeyspelarna och skolledarna. För ishockeyspelarna var återhämtning ofta tätt sammankopplat med prestation. Goda prestationer skapade bättre förutsättningar för att inte ta med arbetet hem. Ältandet och svårigheter att släppa arbetet var ofta relaterat till mindre bra prestationer eller direkta misslyckanden.

National Category
Social Sciences
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:hkr:diva-16441 (URN)
Available from: 2017-01-26 Created: 2017-01-19 Last updated: 2017-02-02Bibliographically approved
Ericsson, U., Augustinsson, S. & Pettersson, P. (2015). A Jigsaw Puzzle with No Given Solution: the financial crisis, trust, loyalty and fair-play. Labor Studies Journal, 39(4), 278-296
Open this publication in new window or tab >>A Jigsaw Puzzle with No Given Solution: the financial crisis, trust, loyalty and fair-play
2015 (English)In: Labor Studies Journal, ISSN 0160-449X, E-ISSN 1538-9758, Vol. 39, no 4, p. 278-296Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Based on one-to-one interviews and focus group interviews with management representatives, trade union representatives, and blue- and white-collar workers this article investigates how the global financial crisis was handled in Swedish industry. In the light of the crisis agreement signed between trade union IF Metall and company representatives how can the implementation of the agreement be described? How were these new conditions interpreted and how were they experienced? Three conceptual themes emerged, trust, loyalty, and principle of fair-play. Large differences were shown that were related to attitudes towards blue- and white-collar workers, recognition of work, and the size of the town.

National Category
Other Social Sciences
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:hkr:diva-13433 (URN)10.1177/0160449X14567808 (DOI)
Available from: 2015-01-23 Created: 2015-01-23 Last updated: 2017-12-05Bibliographically approved
Bengtsson-Tops, A., Ehliasson, K. & Ericsson, U. (2015). Det vardagliga livet på LSS-boende för personer med psykisk funktionsnedsättning: ett brukar- och professionsperspektiv.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Det vardagliga livet på LSS-boende för personer med psykisk funktionsnedsättning: ett brukar- och professionsperspektiv
2015 (Swedish)Report (Other academic)
Publisher
p. 70
Series
Kristianstad University Press ; 8
National Category
Public Health, Global Health, Social Medicine and Epidemiology
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:hkr:diva-15145 (URN)978-91-87973-01-7 (ISBN)
Available from: 2016-01-04 Created: 2016-01-04 Last updated: 2016-01-04Bibliographically approved
Augustinsson, S. & Ericsson, U. (2015). On the complexity of being a principal - emerging identities and performance in a new work reality. In: : . Paper presented at IRSPM, Birmingham, 2015, 30 mars - 1 april.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>On the complexity of being a principal - emerging identities and performance in a new work reality
2015 (English)Conference paper, Oral presentation with published abstract (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

This paper is the first piece of a jigsaw puzzle in an effort to study the conditions that enable

Swedish principals and preschool leaders to do a good job, create an identity and safeguard

health. The present study is the first step to approach the overarching aim of understanding

how principals’ and preschool leaders’ assignments are interpreted and construed and of who

or what enables or prevents them from doing a good job. The primary aim of this paper is to

narrow down how the assignment (the task)) is interpreted and to identify the markers for how

principals and preschool leaders look upon the chances of doing a good job. These markers

will subsequently form the basis of an in-depth qualitative study we have begin.

National Category
Work Sciences
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:hkr:diva-14823 (URN)
Conference
IRSPM, Birmingham, 2015, 30 mars - 1 april
Available from: 2015-09-27 Created: 2015-09-27 Last updated: 2015-11-27Bibliographically approved
Ericsson, U. & Augustinsson, S. (2015). The role of first line managers in healthcare organisations: a qualitative study on the work life experience of ward managers. Journal of Research in Nursing, 20(4), 280-295, Article ID 1744987114564258.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>The role of first line managers in healthcare organisations: a qualitative study on the work life experience of ward managers
2015 (English)In: Journal of Research in Nursing, ISSN 1744-9871, E-ISSN 1744-988X, Vol. 20, no 4, p. 280-295, article id 1744987114564258Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

The role of a first line manager (FLM) in Swedish healthcare has gone through major changes, from a divided role involving both nursing work and supervision to a pure management role. Along with these changes, the experienced core work and meaning of work have been altered. This also means that conditions for work that could regenerate the invested resources of the FLMs have been altered as well. The aim of this study was to describe the ward managers’ experiences of their professional role, their work and how they are handling their everyday practice. Furthermore, the aim has been to interpret these experiences through the lens of regenerative work. Five ward managers at a Swedish hospital setting were followed for approximately four years. The study has had an interactive and pragmatic approach. Data were collected through interviews, observations and a continuous dialogue forum (three years). Four themes are presented in this paper: from supervisor to manager; loyalty; talking about it and dialogue forum. These themes are then discussed in order to understand basic conditions for the regenerative work of the FLM. The most central finding is the importance for the FLMs to make sense of their world through narratives and that the organisation does not provide for this.

National Category
Other Social Sciences
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:hkr:diva-13684 (URN)10.1177/1744987114564258 (DOI)
Available from: 2015-02-24 Created: 2015-02-24 Last updated: 2017-12-04Bibliographically approved
Ericsson, U. & Bengtsson Tops, A. (2014). Housing support workers as equilibrists between instrumentality and situation: a qualitative study in congregated housings for people with smi. Vulnerable Groups & Inclusion, 5, Article ID 23755.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Housing support workers as equilibrists between instrumentality and situation: a qualitative study in congregated housings for people with smi
2014 (English)In: Vulnerable Groups & Inclusion, E-ISSN 2000-8023, Vol. 5, article id 23755Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Community-based psychiatry as an arena for studying work efforts is relatively unexplored. The professional role of a housing support worker (HSW) in congregated supported housings for people with severe mental illness (SMI) is fairly new. The role has emerged due to major changes in Swedish mental care and services. Our aim was to describe the work experiences of HSWs and to understand the conditions provided when work assignments are being constructed. By doing this we provide an important piece of the puzzle in understanding the processes in contemporary congregated supported housings for people with SMI. Four focus group interviews were conducted and included 25 participants. Four different facilities of congregated supported housings for people with SMI were represented in the material. The interpretation of the material was inspired by a constructionist approach. The work of an HSW is experienced as complex and ambiguous. Together with different significant actors (including objects), the HSWs are negotiating the content of the responsibilities. Thus, different actors help co-construct the work content. Furthermore, the HSWs are caught between two different logics, one that is related to a complex practice and one that is related to instrumental and routine-based ideas. The complex emotional work of an HSW is often not supported by the principles of the organization. The findings can be helpful when organizing the work in congregated supported housings for people with SMI. This paper highlights the importance of bridging the gap between organizational demands and expectations and the individual preconditions and basic needs.

National Category
Other Social Sciences
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:hkr:diva-13434 (URN)10.3402/vgi.v5.23755 (DOI)
Available from: 2015-01-23 Created: 2015-01-23 Last updated: 2023-11-02Bibliographically approved
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