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The influence of intermediary systems on public sector transitions during a period of austerity
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Johnson, Lorraine Sally (2020) The influence of intermediary systems on public sector transitions during a period of austerity. PhD thesis, University of Warwick.
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Official URL: http://webcat.warwick.ac.uk/record=b3491624~S15
Abstract
The research adopted a Grounded Theory approach to support an inductive exploration of 20 participants’ perceptions of the influences shaping their public sector transitions during austerity driven public sector change. Grounded theory had been a logical choice with which to research the topic of intermediary influences. These intermediary influences had needed to be inductively explored as well as understood in more depth. Storying (McCormack, 2004) the analysis of interview transcript data, to gain participant validation, had privileged the voices of participants in the construction of knowledge about them, and was found useful by them. The System Theory Framework (STF) (Patton and McMahon, 2006, 2014) was also used to both support cross case analysis of participant stories, and the theorising stage of the research that lifted findings into a substantive theory about intermediary system influence(s).
Key findings from the research included the complexity of participants’ paid and unpaid work, noting their rising levels of unpaid work. Six types of intermediary systems were identified and found to be operating between participants and their work. In the context of wider influences, these intermediary systems contributed to shaping several patterns of transitions made by research participants. These patterns of transition included the following: public sector revolving door transitions accompanied by changes in employment status; remaining as employees whilst experiencing subjective transitions; geographical relocations in search of work; transitions from simple to more complex work; transitions into economic inactivity and care; and, for some, being held in transition.
In the theorising phase of the research, the original STF was unable to fully represent the research’s findings about intermediary systems, paid work and unpaid work. To address this, the original STF was expanded and adapted to incorporate an intermediary and work system, amidst the original time, environment and individual systems. Furthermore, the multi-directional recursive influences of the STF had needed to be replaced with transition, setting direction, accommodation and lock (in and out) influences, to explain their effects on participants' transitions. These adaptions to the STF enabled a visual representation of all the influences shaping their transitions, along with an interpretive and substantive theory explaining how influences shaped them.
Finally, the research concludes that by drawing on an extended STF visual representation of research findings and its interpretive and substantive theory, the thesis has made three original contributions to knowledge. The first is the identification of six types of intermediary systems. The second is a public sector revolving door transition with a change in employment status, although other patterns of transition were discerned. The third contribution is the extended STF that explains how influences, including those of intermediary systems, came to shape 20 participants’ transitions in work. It is hoped that these findings will support future research on the topic of intermediary systems and their influence on transitions in work, as well as support both policy and practice.
Item Type: | Thesis (PhD) | ||||
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Subjects: | H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor H Social Sciences > HF Commerce |
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Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): | Career changes -- Great Britain, Occupational retraining -- Great Britain, Public service employment -- Great Britain | ||||
Official Date: | June 2020 | ||||
Dates: |
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Institution: | University of Warwick | ||||
Theses Department: | Institute for Employment Research | ||||
Thesis Type: | PhD | ||||
Publication Status: | Unpublished | ||||
Supervisor(s)/Advisor: | Barnes, Sally-Anne ; Warhurst, Christopher | ||||
Format of File: | |||||
Extent: | xvi, 325 leaves : illustrations (some colour) | ||||
Language: | eng |
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