1 / 15

Networking among small and medium-sized enterprises to promote health and safety

Hans Jørgen Limborg, hjl@teamarbejdsliv.dk Sisse Grøn, sig@teamarbejdsliv.dk. Nordic Work Life Conference 2014 Göteborg. Networking among small and medium-sized enterprises to promote health and safety. W hat are the lessons to learn?.

aurora-witt
Download Presentation

Networking among small and medium-sized enterprises to promote health and safety

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  1. Hans Jørgen Limborg, hjl@teamarbejdsliv.dk Sisse Grøn, sig@teamarbejdsliv.dk Nordic Work Life Conference 2014 Göteborg • Networking among small and medium-sized enterprises to promote health and safety • What are the lessons to learn?

  2. Background of theprojectCURRENT RESEARCH ON SME’S AND OHS • Reasonable knowledge about regulation – but difficulties to meet demands for formalised OHS practise(Hasle et al 2004, Forteyn et al 97) • They have few ressources but responses to external pressure (Champoux & Brun 2003, Hasle & Limborg 2006) • Questions of OHS are approached with the same informal approach as the task of management (Walters 2001, Axelsson 2002) • Local and sectorial networks are important to them (Birgersdottir 2002, Johansson 98, Limborg & Mathiessen 2010)

  3. The pThe projectroject - idea, data and methodology Three networks; a group of small diaries (21)andmicrobreweries (26) received funding for development projects aimed to reduce MSD + a group of demolishers Our hypothesis is that SME’s are influenced stronger by their networks than other external actors, but we need to identify the mechanisms the ‘drive’ the process Data: Interviews with key persons, documents, company visits and projectevaluations.

  4. The OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT AND THE PAPER To provide knowledge on how networks among SME’s can be a catalyst for general policy instruments aiming to improve OHS To pinpoint effective network mechanisms

  5. Networking and Mechanisms • Critical realism • Combines a realist ontology with a constructuvistepistemiology (Maxwell) • ‘…I assumethat the real world is out there – but thatourrepresentations of thatworldareconstructions’ (Fredrik Barth) • Analysis: Bygstad & Munkvolds framework for identifyingcausalstructures (IT) • Mechanism: a causalstructurethatexplains a phenomenon

  6. The dairies case • 21 small dairies • Applied for fundingjointly • Project to developtechnical aids • Aided by private consultant • Cases and controlsopenlyselected • One major competitor • Pressure from laborinspection • Pioneer figure • Agreement on power relations • Openess pact • Outcome: • Prize • Technical aids developed and implemented in case dairies • Somedissermination of ideas Billede fra: http://www.st-clemens.dk/

  7. The breweries case • 25 small breweries • Applied for a similarproject • Case breweriesselected themselves… • Aided by a consultant • One major competitor • Entrepreneurs • Driven by enthusiasm • Outcome: • Equipmentimplemented in • controlbreweries • A booklet

  8. The demolishers case • 25 enterprises in the group • Need to become a profession • Decision to provide vocational training • Aided by a consultant • Need to distinguishbetween top and bottom • Pioneer • Outcome: • Wellfunctioningtraining • Knowledge sharing on employeeslevel • Stratification Billede fra http://www.brandis.dk/billeder

  9. Key components • Need for distinktion • External pressure • Funding • Professional support • Pioneer figure (s) • Assymtry

  10. Program theorytheory of both prevention projects Skilledconsul-tants The network as context: Open culture and tradition for cooperation, organised meeting opportunity , limited resources, a “we” in opposition to the large company, focus on quality External mechanism Funding (Preven-tion Fund) The network

  11. Implementation Labour Ínspection Prevention fund Skilledadvisors Policy instruments: Externalmechanisms: • Knowledge • Proces • Develop-ment Funding Control and possibleenforce-ment The network context: Open culture and tradition for cooperation, organised meeting opportunity , limited resources, a “we” in opposition to the large company, focus on quality Prevention project The network

  12. Secondarycontext: Labour inspection, unions and society Primarycontext: The network MECHANISMS • Mechanism 4: • Curiosity from peers • Accessibility to experiences – “Pact on openness” • Willingness to share 2020- actionplanreduction of MSD • Mechanism 2: • “Handshake” - trust among network participants • Skillful Consultant – able to push • Fewer notes from L.I. • Price for bestproject 2011 • New generally accepted standard • Reducednumber of heavy lifts • Reducedsickleave Committee ”Firebrand” Safety commitee National regulation Labour inspection • Development of prototypes • Real time testing • Implementation of aids • Utilisation • ”Open house” dissemination of experience • Projectorganisation • Mapping of exposure • Catalogue of good ideas • Financial support from Prevention Fund Test companies Followers, Supplyer Outcome Mechanism 3: Development and testning in real life Workers participation Good relation to supplyer Mechanism1: External support to project & presure from L.I. Mechanism5: Sustainability Internalcontext: History, knowledge and experiencerelated to OHS

  13. I spitMechanismsprogramme theories the projects developed veryMeca different.

  14. Discussion • Power relations • Pioneers, but with whatmandate? • The limitations of causality • The limitations of measurableoutcome • Research in lessthanperfectcircumstances

  15. Trust in networks Thankyou for listening hjl@teamarbejdsliv.dk

More Related