https://www.mdu.se/

mdu.sePublications
Change search
CiteExportLink to record
Permanent link

Direct link
Cite
Citation style
  • apa
  • ieee
  • modern-language-association-8th-edition
  • vancouver
  • Other style
More styles
Language
  • de-DE
  • en-GB
  • en-US
  • fi-FI
  • nn-NO
  • nn-NB
  • sv-SE
  • Other locale
More languages
Output format
  • html
  • text
  • asciidoc
  • rtf
Managing Paradoxes in Governance: Tensions in the Emergence of a New Board
Mälardalen University, School of Business, Society and Engineering, Industrial Economics and Organisation. (IEO)ORCID iD: 0000-0003-2308-2187
Stockholms universitet, Sweden. (Akademin för Ekonomistyrning i staten (AES))ORCID iD: 0000-0002-7889-2331
Akademin för Ekonomistyrning i staten (AES), Sweden. (Akademin för Ekonomistyrning i staten (AES))
2015 (English)In: Contingency, Behavioural and Evolutionary Perspectives on Public and Nonprofit Governance / [ed] L. Gnan, A. Hinna & F. Montedur, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, 2015, 1, p. 3-30Chapter in book (Refereed)
Abstract [en]

Taking a micro-perspective of governance that includes problem-solving and stakeholder involvement capabilities as part of the strategic steering role, we wish to contribute to the understanding of the human side of governance. Thus we have studied the relationships between the board and its management and stakeholders, and in so doing we recognize internal and external actors as well as the board itself, and how they all contribute to the implementation of the governance function.

Methodology/approach

Based on an interpretative approach that focuses on change over time, we performed a qualitative empirical study of the governance of Robotdalen, a small non-profit public organization in Sweden that is a joint public and private collaboration. This chapter forms part of a longitudinal study that has been carried out since 2009. It is based primarily on interviews with board members, management and other stakeholders, and complemented by document studies and observations.

Findings

Governance practice entails multiple and multilevel tasks, and the tensions between representativeness/professional boards, conformance/performance, and controlling/partnering up with management, are prevalent in both small non-profit and public organizations. According to our results the apparent choice between the extremes of each tension is, however, not a choice at all but rather a balancing act. In trying to balance tensions through collaboration between managers, board, financiers, and the hosting university, new governance structures and practices emerge at the organizational level.

Originality/value

By following the process of the emergence of a new board, we illustrate how various actors work together to co-produce governance functions in practice. In the past little or no effort has been made to take into account contextual factors such as organizational size – an aspect that may influence or shape board characteristics and work methodology. We therefore attempt to do so in our chapter, by studying the emergence of a new board in a small public organization, what possible paradoxes and tensions are involved in such work, and how such tensions are managed.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Emerald Group Publishing Limited, 2015, 1. p. 3-30
Series
Studies in Public and Non-Profit Governance, ISSN 2051-6630, E-ISSN 978-1-78560-428-7 ; 4
Keywords [en]
Non-profit and public governance, board work, paradoxes, tensions, cooperation
National Category
Social Sciences Public Administration Studies
Research subject
Industrial Economics and Organisations
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:mdh:diva-37517DOI: 10.1108/S2051-663020150000004001Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-84946819071OAI: oai:DiVA.org:mdh-37517DiVA, id: diva2:1168581
Available from: 2017-12-21 Created: 2017-12-21 Last updated: 2020-10-22Bibliographically approved

Open Access in DiVA

No full text in DiVA

Other links

Publisher's full textScopushttp://www.emeraldinsight.com/doi/abs/10.1108/S2051-663020150000004001

Authority records

Höglund, Linda

Search in DiVA

By author/editor
Höglund, LindaMårtensson, Maria
By organisation
Industrial Economics and Organisation
Social SciencesPublic Administration Studies

Search outside of DiVA

GoogleGoogle Scholar

doi
urn-nbn

Altmetric score

doi
urn-nbn
Total: 60 hits
CiteExportLink to record
Permanent link

Direct link
Cite
Citation style
  • apa
  • ieee
  • modern-language-association-8th-edition
  • vancouver
  • Other style
More styles
Language
  • de-DE
  • en-GB
  • en-US
  • fi-FI
  • nn-NO
  • nn-NB
  • sv-SE
  • Other locale
More languages
Output format
  • html
  • text
  • asciidoc
  • rtf