Can you tell us about your research?

"My research focuses on power and resistance within organisations, including the ways in which organisations exercise their power to manage and control their employees and the resistance which the employees often show, in particular to organisational changes. I am also interested in the role of the human body in organisations. At the moment I am studying companies that focus specifically on improving their employees' health. In recent years, the large number of sick days taken by employees has led companies to attempt to increase productivity by using health and fitness activities, health experts and other health promotion measures. This approach is both proactive and preventative. It doesn't just emphasise what employees shouldn’t do, but also what they must do. For example, they are encouraged not only to stop smoking, but also to exercise and eat more fruit and vegetables.

Over-confidence in the possibility of change

According to Torkild Thanem, managers often overestimate the likelihood of employees making positive changes, for example in response to health and fitness activities and health promotion measures. Employees do not always act on their managers’ or other experts’ advice. Instead, they often do what they feel like, especially when it comes to their body and health. Attempts to change and control them may have unexpected consequences.

"These unexpected effects are nothing new, but too little attention has been paid to them in research projects," explains Torkild. "Although management and organisational processes are increasingly designed to involve employees, the employees often see them merely a means of exercising power and realise that they do not necessarily promote the best interests of the employees. But if health promotion measures are needed, researchers are able to highlight the approaches which work well and those which are less effective. Not all health and fitness activities will suit everyone, so a variety of activities must be available on a voluntary basis.

Doctorate in Warwick

Torkild Thanem took his doctorate in organisation theory at the University of Warwick in England. He has also been a guest researcher at a number of universities in the USA, including Stanford, and has worked with other universities in Sweden. When asked what he likes about the School of Business at Stockholm University, Torkild says: 
"The people here are pleasant and intelligent, and there is a lot of intellectual freedom. At the same time there is great interest in constantly improving the school, both in terms of education and research. There are a lot of interesting people to talk to and plenty of opportunities to influence what is going on, which I really appreciate."

 

How can people contact you?

 - I can be reached by e-mail: tt@fek.su.se telephone: +46 8 16 4643, or by visiting me in bulding 15.