Et forandret ledelsesperspektiv på videnarbejderes motivation: Ledelse af videnarbejderes motivation gennem Complex Responsive Processes

Abstract

This dissertation calls for an investigation of the consequences associated with applying Professor in Management Ralph D. Stacey’s theory of Complex Response Processes (CRP) in the specific context of motivational theory for the management of highly skilled knowledge workers. The purpose of this thesis is to explore the possibilities and limitations by applying this CRP-perspective on the existing literature on motivational theory, and to examine how this approach can contribute with a new and higher level of reflection, when management are confronted with the complex nature of motivation. This thesis is a elaboration of Stacey’s theory as a way to open up for a different understanding of motivation and management of knowledge workers. In this regard the CPRperspective is preferably not associated with the premises creating the basis of the existing literature on motivational theory. Instead this thesis uses a CRP-inspired approach and brings an understanding-oriented perspective with a descriptive focus on the theoretical contribution of this approach. Since Stacey’s theory dismisses current management tools and systematic planning in what he refers to as “system theory” within the organization, the approach of this thesis is, with a nod to Stacey, to perceive motivation as something that happens in situationspecific interactions and not through schedule and control. Using a hermeneutic analysis strategy, based on Hans-Georg Gadamer’s philosophical hermeneutics, this thesis forms an analytical framework based upon selected theoretical perspectives in the existing literature on management of the motivation of knowledge workers. These perspectives are gathered in 3 cross-cutting themes: Identity-orientated motivation, Content-orientated motivation and Social relations. The possibilities and limitations by applying the CRP-perspective on the theoretical themes in the existing literature calls for a different thinking of motivation and management of knowledge workers. The investigation shows that the CRP-perspective forms a theoretical basis to describe the role of the management in some of the complex and opaque contexts that characterizes the motivation of the knowledge workers, which is not possible to describe in the existing literature. At the same time the CRP-perspective involves a radical change of the current framework within the literature of the management of knowledge workers motivation.