Beyond Planning: The Implementation of a Worksite Health Promotional Scheme

The aim of this article is to provide insight into how the presence of diverging organizational logics influences the outcome of worksite health promotion projects. The study is based on a one-year qualitative single-case study of the implementation of a health promotional physical exercise program...

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Main Authors: Thor Christian Bjørnstad, Kari Steen-Johnsen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Aalborg University 2012-06-01
Series:Nordic Journal of Working Life Studies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://tidsskrift.dk/njwls/article/view/26784
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author Thor Christian Bjørnstad
Kari Steen-Johnsen
author_facet Thor Christian Bjørnstad
Kari Steen-Johnsen
author_sort Thor Christian Bjørnstad
collection DOAJ
description The aim of this article is to provide insight into how the presence of diverging organizational logics influences the outcome of worksite health promotion projects. The study is based on a one-year qualitative single-case study of the implementation of a health promotional physical exercise program in a transnational transport and logistics company based in Norway. While the program that was implemented was based on dominant logics in Norway, i.e., the emphasis on worker participation and influence, the organizational logics of the transport company defined company–worker relationships in other terms. We found that the logic of a highly specialized work organization that combined strict work distribution with a set of narrowly defined work tasks contradicted the logic that underpinned the health promotional program, and that this contradiction is an important reason why the initiative failed. We therefore conclude that in implementing health promotion projects at the workplace, there is a need to observe the relationship between logics related both to the project and to the organization.
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spelling doaj.art-4084f4fadaf142a3929c973e02ac48c52022-12-21T19:32:46ZengAalborg UniversityNordic Journal of Working Life Studies2245-01572012-06-012210.19154/njwls.v2i2.235724180Beyond Planning: The Implementation of a Worksite Health Promotional SchemeThor Christian Bjørnstad0Kari Steen-Johnsen1Norwegian School of Sport Science, Department of Cultural and Social StudiesThe Institute for Social Research (ISF)The aim of this article is to provide insight into how the presence of diverging organizational logics influences the outcome of worksite health promotion projects. The study is based on a one-year qualitative single-case study of the implementation of a health promotional physical exercise program in a transnational transport and logistics company based in Norway. While the program that was implemented was based on dominant logics in Norway, i.e., the emphasis on worker participation and influence, the organizational logics of the transport company defined company–worker relationships in other terms. We found that the logic of a highly specialized work organization that combined strict work distribution with a set of narrowly defined work tasks contradicted the logic that underpinned the health promotional program, and that this contradiction is an important reason why the initiative failed. We therefore conclude that in implementing health promotion projects at the workplace, there is a need to observe the relationship between logics related both to the project and to the organization.https://tidsskrift.dk/njwls/article/view/26784Healthworking environment & wellbeingOrganization & management
spellingShingle Thor Christian Bjørnstad
Kari Steen-Johnsen
Beyond Planning: The Implementation of a Worksite Health Promotional Scheme
Nordic Journal of Working Life Studies
Health
working environment & wellbeing
Organization & management
title Beyond Planning: The Implementation of a Worksite Health Promotional Scheme
title_full Beyond Planning: The Implementation of a Worksite Health Promotional Scheme
title_fullStr Beyond Planning: The Implementation of a Worksite Health Promotional Scheme
title_full_unstemmed Beyond Planning: The Implementation of a Worksite Health Promotional Scheme
title_short Beyond Planning: The Implementation of a Worksite Health Promotional Scheme
title_sort beyond planning the implementation of a worksite health promotional scheme
topic Health
working environment & wellbeing
Organization & management
url https://tidsskrift.dk/njwls/article/view/26784
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