Potentialization: Loosening Up Relations Between Public Organizations and Societal Function Systems

Niels Åkerstrøm Andersen*

*Corresponding author af dette arbejde

    Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskriftTidsskriftartikelForskningpeer review

    Abstract

    This article provides a historical perspective on the relations between public organizations and function systems using Denmark as case. Current concepts like ‘public value’, ‘co-creation’, ‘relational coordination’ and ‘inter-professional management’ promises new coherence and shared communities in the single public organization. The present article argues that rather than building up communities the concepts function as a form of creative cutting. The concepts work by cutting up or at least loosening up previously given relations between public organizations and societal function systems. These are relations such as schools/the educational system, social work/the care system and hospitals/the health system. The concepts function in order to make relations between organizations and function systems a medium of potentialization. What is lost because of this is legal coherence and professional certainty.
    OriginalsprogEngelsk
    TidsskriftManagement and Organizational History
    Vol/bind15
    Udgave nummer1
    Sider (fra-til)65-89
    Antal sider25
    ISSN1744-9359
    DOI
    StatusUdgivet - feb. 2020

    Bibliografisk note

    Published online: 7. September 2020

    Emneord

    • Conceptual history
    • Form and medium
    • Form of law
    • Functional differentiation
    • Inter-professionality
    • Looseness
    • Organizations vs. function system
    • Public administration
    • Systems theory

    Citationsformater