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Translating trust as a magic concept in public sector reforms: A comparative study of the Danish and Swedish trust reform

Øllgaard Bentzen, Tina and Bringselius, Louise LU (2023) In International Public Management Journal 26(5). p.764-784
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.... (More)
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. (Less)
Abstract (Swedish)
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.... (More)
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. (Less)
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author
and
organization
alternative title
Översättning av ett magiskt koncept i offentliga reformer: En komparativ studie av de danska och svenska tillitsreformerna
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
International Public Management Journal
volume
26
issue
5
pages
764 - 784
publisher
Taylor & Francis
external identifiers
  • scopus:85173527064
ISSN
1096-7494
DOI
10.1080/10967494.2023.2223198
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
c1a2c7fa-6ef3-4e2f-aa7b-f36581e251e9
date added to LUP
2023-11-19 18:01:18
date last changed
2023-11-21 14:28:56
@article{c1a2c7fa-6ef3-4e2f-aa7b-f36581e251e9,
  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.}},
  author       = {{Øllgaard Bentzen, Tina and Bringselius, Louise}},
  issn         = {{1096-7494}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{09}},
  number       = {{5}},
  pages        = {{764--784}},
  publisher    = {{Taylor & Francis}},
  series       = {{International Public Management Journal}},
  title        = {{Translating trust as a magic concept in public sector reforms: A comparative study of the Danish and Swedish trust reform}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10967494.2023.2223198}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/10967494.2023.2223198}},
  volume       = {{26}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}