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From central to local: Translating Digitalisation Ideas in Elderly Care in Lund Municipality

Bergman, Emelie LU (2025) WPMM43 20251
Department of Political Science
Abstract
In recent years, digitalization has become a central priority in Swedish elderly care, driven by national initiatives aiming to enhance quality, efficiency, and technological integration. However, the process through which these ideas travel from central policy to local implementation remains underexplored. This thesis investigates how digitalization and welfare technology are translated
into local practice through a qualitative case study of Lund Municipality’s participation in the national project “Teknik, kvalitet och effektivitet med den äldre i fokus” (2020–2022). Drawing on translation theory (Czarniawska & Joerges, 1996) and using thematic analysis(Braun&Clark 2008), the study examines how key actors interpret, adapt, and embed... (More)
In recent years, digitalization has become a central priority in Swedish elderly care, driven by national initiatives aiming to enhance quality, efficiency, and technological integration. However, the process through which these ideas travel from central policy to local implementation remains underexplored. This thesis investigates how digitalization and welfare technology are translated
into local practice through a qualitative case study of Lund Municipality’s participation in the national project “Teknik, kvalitet och effektivitet med den äldre i fokus” (2020–2022). Drawing on translation theory (Czarniawska & Joerges, 1996) and using thematic analysis(Braun&Clark 2008), the study examines how key actors interpret, adapt, and embed national ambitions into the organizational context of municipal elderly care. The findings show that the success of local
implementation is essential not only on material resources and formal structures but also on meaning-making processes, actor networks, and the institutionalization of new roles and routines. The study highlights the importance of project managers, and internal change agents (Diggi-developers) as mediators of translation, and underscores the need for sustained structures to ensure long-term re-embedding of ideas. By tracing how central policy is localized, the thesis contributes to a deeper understanding of public sector innovation, organizational change, and the
politics of digital transformation in welfare services. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Bergman, Emelie LU
supervisor
organization
course
WPMM43 20251
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Welfare technology, digitalization, Lund municipality, Modelmuncipalityproject, disembedding, translation, re-embedding, organizational change.
language
English
id
9191297
date added to LUP
2025-08-08 13:25:39
date last changed
2025-08-08 13:25:39
@misc{9191297,
  abstract     = {{In recent years, digitalization has become a central priority in Swedish elderly care, driven by national initiatives aiming to enhance quality, efficiency, and technological integration. However, the process through which these ideas travel from central policy to local implementation remains underexplored. This thesis investigates how digitalization and welfare technology are translated
into local practice through a qualitative case study of Lund Municipality’s participation in the national project “Teknik, kvalitet och effektivitet med den äldre i fokus” (2020–2022). Drawing on translation theory (Czarniawska & Joerges, 1996) and using thematic analysis(Braun&Clark 2008), the study examines how key actors interpret, adapt, and embed national ambitions into the organizational context of municipal elderly care. The findings show that the success of local
implementation is essential not only on material resources and formal structures but also on meaning-making processes, actor networks, and the institutionalization of new roles and routines. The study highlights the importance of project managers, and internal change agents (Diggi-developers) as mediators of translation, and underscores the need for sustained structures to ensure long-term re-embedding of ideas. By tracing how central policy is localized, the thesis contributes to a deeper understanding of public sector innovation, organizational change, and the
politics of digital transformation in welfare services.}},
  author       = {{Bergman, Emelie}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{From central to local: Translating Digitalisation Ideas in Elderly Care in Lund Municipality}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}