Central to WHOLE is a close collaboration with organizations and companies who actively want to work with and improve their organizational and social work environment. During the development of measures, instruments and analytical methods, we worked with three different types of organizations, a large government agency, two municipalities and a large private company. With the help of these organizations, we have over a number of years developed an instrument which includes measures of different aspects of the organization and how it works as well as the employees’ experiences of their work situation, and health and well-being.
A reliable measuring instrument for investigating organizational and social work environment
We now have a reliable and valid measuring instrument that can be used to investigate in depth the organizational and social work environment. We have developed over 40 scientifically tested factors and indicators for different aspects of the work environment that give a good picture of an organization's working environment and conditions for being well-functioning. The instrument originally builds on both empirical evidence from a large number of investigations into organizational and social work environment using semi-structured interviews as well as clear theoretical foundation. The process of creating a measuring instrument based on this started in 2011 and from 2015 onwards, we have carried out about ten surveys in organizations that have been part of the development process. After the development phase we have investigated several more organizations. When we collect data from an organization, we also return the results to the participating organization in a clear and manageable format so that it is possible to work on and improve their organizational and social work environment based on what the results show. From measurement two onwards, we also examine what has happened in the organization and show changes in important areas.
Research funds
In recent years, WHOLE has been granted research funding on three occasions, totalling over 12 million Swedish Kronor in research grants (project leader Professor Michael Rosander). The latest research project began in January 2024, funded by Forte (”An ethical infrastructure to reduce the risk of workplace bullying: The importance of psychosocial safety, justice and conflict management linked to group identification, bystanders and personality”). Like previous research projects, this one also focuses on bullying, but also on sexual harassment and discrimination. We investigate various aspects of the organisational and social work environment and health related to exposure longitudinally, with two surveys approximately nine months apart. The project will collect two types of data; data from a representative sample of working professionals in Sweden (via Statistics Sweden) and data from a number of different companies and organisations. We will begin data collection in spring 2024 in some organisations, but it will continue throughout 2024, with the SCB survey starting in autumn 2024. Follow-up surveys will be conducted nine months after the initial survey in all participating organisations and companies, as well as in the SCB sample.
Previously, WHOLE was granted research funding for a research project on workplace bullying (AFA Insurance, 2017–2020). In that project, data was collected longitudinally (2017 and 2019) from a representative sample of working individuals in Sweden, a random unbound selection (via Statistics Sweden). Data from the representative sample has also given us the opportunity to produce reference values for the factors and indicators that we have developed, so that all organizations that participate can know how their organization positions themselves in terms of the organizational and social work environment in relation to other organizations in Sweden. In 2019, WHOLE received additional research funding. This time from Forte and the research project “Negative social exposure at work – organizational risk factors, consequences and how to mitigate”. It will go on until June 2024
International collaborations
So far, we have around 30 publications of various types, including books, chapters, reports, and primarily scientific articles, and many more are on their way. We actively collaborate with researchers from, e.g., the University of Bergen and from the Hanken School of Economics in Helsinki.
More organizations and companies are welcome to participate
We are currently collecting new data from various companies and organisations. This presents an opportunity for more organisations and companies to not only contribute data to the research but also to receive results that help in developing their organisational and social work environment. If you are interested and would like to know more about what this involves, you are welcome to contact us.
Michael Rosander, michael.rosander@whole.se
Stefan Blomberg, stefan.blomberg@whole.se
