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Concertive Bureaucracy in Knowledge-Intensive Work: Loosening the Iron Cage

Schultz, Erik LU and Wetterberg, Maria LU (2013) FEKN90 20131
Department of Business Administration
Abstract (Swedish)
Thesis Purpose: The main purpose of our thesis is to provide a worker perspective on bureaucratic
control in a knowledge-intensive context.

Methodology (Empirical Foundation): Our research has been carried out from an interpretive
perspective. The empirical material has been constructed through a qualitative case study performed
within a knowledge-intensive work context.

Theoretical Perspective: Whereas existing research on control often takes on a managerial
perspective, we have explored bureaucratic control from a worker perspective. In addition, we have
investigated the paradox of bureaucratic control in a knowledge-intensive context.

Research Question: How do knowledge-workers at Visualize experience and react... (More)
Thesis Purpose: The main purpose of our thesis is to provide a worker perspective on bureaucratic
control in a knowledge-intensive context.

Methodology (Empirical Foundation): Our research has been carried out from an interpretive
perspective. The empirical material has been constructed through a qualitative case study performed
within a knowledge-intensive work context.

Theoretical Perspective: Whereas existing research on control often takes on a managerial
perspective, we have explored bureaucratic control from a worker perspective. In addition, we have
investigated the paradox of bureaucratic control in a knowledge-intensive context.

Research Question: How do knowledge-workers at Visualize experience and react to bureaucratic
control? and How does Visualize manage to combine the perceived benefits of bureaucratic control
with the problem-solving capacity of knowledge-intensive work.

Basic Findings: The workers at Visualize had an overall positive perception of the implemented
bureaucratic framework. The implemented processes were valued for their provided clarification of
expectations. The workers are involved in the creation and reviewing of the processes, and are also
allowed to deviate from the processes when they deem it necessary.

Conclusion: The workers at Visualize have experienced the bureaucratic framework as
emancipating. The clarity provided by the work-descriptions serves to relieve them of work-related
anxiety and stress. Visualize has been able to combine these benefits of bureaucracy with a
maintained knowledge-intensive capacity, by allowing the employees to jointly construct the
bureaucratic framework and by empowering them to decide to deviate from the processes when
needed. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Schultz, Erik LU and Wetterberg, Maria LU
supervisor
organization
course
FEKN90 20131
year
type
M3 - Professional qualifications ( - 4 Years)
subject
keywords
Concertive Bureaucracy, Bureaucratic Control, Knowledge-Intensive Work, Emancipation
language
English
id
3912680
date added to LUP
2013-07-01 15:59:51
date last changed
2013-07-01 15:59:51
@misc{3912680,
  abstract     = {{Thesis Purpose: The main purpose of our thesis is to provide a worker perspective on bureaucratic 
control in a knowledge-intensive context. 
 
Methodology (Empirical Foundation): Our research has been carried out from an interpretive 
perspective. The empirical material has been constructed through a qualitative case study performed 
within a knowledge-intensive work context. 
 
Theoretical Perspective: Whereas existing research on control often takes on a managerial 
perspective, we have explored bureaucratic control from a worker perspective. In addition, we have 
investigated the paradox of bureaucratic control in a knowledge-intensive context. 
 
Research Question: How do knowledge-workers at Visualize experience and react to bureaucratic 
control? and How does Visualize manage to combine the perceived benefits of bureaucratic control 
with the problem-solving capacity of knowledge-intensive work. 
 
Basic Findings: The workers at Visualize had an overall positive perception of the implemented 
bureaucratic framework. The implemented processes were valued for their provided clarification of 
expectations. The workers are involved in the creation and reviewing of the processes, and are also 
allowed to deviate from the processes when they deem it necessary. 
 
Conclusion: The workers at Visualize have experienced the bureaucratic framework as 
emancipating. The clarity provided by the work-descriptions serves to relieve them of work-related 
anxiety and stress. Visualize has been able to combine these benefits of bureaucracy with a 
maintained knowledge-intensive capacity, by allowing the employees to jointly construct the 
bureaucratic framework and by empowering them to decide to deviate from the processes when 
needed.}},
  author       = {{Schultz, Erik and Wetterberg, Maria}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Concertive Bureaucracy in Knowledge-Intensive Work: Loosening the Iron Cage}},
  year         = {{2013}},
}