About the project

As part of an Insider Action Research project in Larvik Municipality related to integration of minority lingual employees in the municipal health care services, this study addresses following research problem: How can leaders facilitate organizational intercultural learning, and how does such learning influence integration processes and quality of services?

The need for organizational learning is highly emphasized as workplaces are increasingly characterized by complexity both occupational and due to cultural and linguistic diversity and hence increased complexity of management as well. Regarding the municipal health care services major health reforms in recent decades, especially the interaction reform that took effect from 2012, have resulted in increased scope and complexity of services. This challenges the sector in many areas and puts increased demands for effective interaction, quality and professionalism in performance of services. Thus, integration of immigrant workers necessitates special attention and awareness on communication and collaboration challenges. Through the action part – development and implementation of a learning model/ learning program aiming at promoting integration and enhancing service quality in multicultural workplaces – Larvik municipality has sought to systematize a work in respect to this, focusing on mutual learning and understanding.

This study specifically aims at generating knowledge about leaders’ role in the learning processes, what is being learnt and what changes in practice that are established, and how institutionalization of knowledge development can be understood as institutional work. Data are based on focus group- and individual interviews with participants and others involved in the learning program, process data from the action and national and municipal policy documents providing guidelines for the investigated topic.

Background

Master of valuebased leadership

Research group

Leadership and institutional values-work in practice (LIVAP)

Research school

The Research School Religion Values Society