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Idioms and pragmatic routines in Danish and in learning Danish
No full textLexical phrases play an important role in communication and are essential for native-like language use within a speech community. They are common in both spoken and written language and can make a significant difference, particularly with regard to appropriate and polite language use. This article presents a study of idioms and pragmatic routines in Danish, compared with corresponding phrases in Icelandic, based on the author’s research in this field. The main findings are highlighted and discussed in the context of Icelandic students’ learning of Danish.
The results show that many Danish idioms and pragmatic routines have clear equivalents in Icelandic, while others differ to varying degrees, and some have no direct parallels in Icelandic. Previous studies indicate that Danish language instruction often places greater emphasis on reading comprehension and writing, with less attention paid to spoken language, where the use of lexical phrases is central. As a result, the acquisition of idioms and pragmatic routines poses a considerable challenge for students, especially when no Icelandic equivalents exist or when cross-linguistic differences are unpredictable.
To address these challenges, the digital tool frasar.net was developed with the aim of supporting the acquisition and use of Danish idioms and pragmatic routines in both spoken and written communication.Föst orðaforðasambönd gegna mikilvægu hlutverki í öllum tjáskiptum og eru grundvallaratriði í venjubundinni málnotkun innan tiltekins málsamfélags. Þau eru algeng í töluðu og rituðu máli og skipta sköpum fyrir viðeigandi og kurteisislega málnotkun. Í greininni er fjallað um orðtök og samskiptafrasa í dönsku í samanburði við íslensku, á grundvelli rannsóknar höfundar á efninu. Helstu niðurstöður eru dregnar fram og ræddar í samhengi við dönskunám íslenskra nemenda. Niðurstöðurnar sýna að mörg dönsk orðtök og samskiptafrasar eiga sér beina samsvörun í íslensku, aðrir eru frábrugðnir að meira eða minna leyti, og enn aðrir eiga sér enga hliðstæðu. Aðrar rannsóknir benda til þess að áhersla í dönskukennslu beinist oft að lesskilningi og ritun, en að talmáli sé minni gaumur gefinn, þrátt fyrir að þar gegni föst orðasambönd lykilhlutverki. Tileinkun orðtaka getur því reynst nemendum mikil áskorun, einkum þegar orðasambönd eiga sér ekki hliðstæðu í móðurmáli eða eru ólík með ófyrirsjáanlegum hætti. Máltækið frasar.net var þróað með það að markmiði að auðvelda tileinkun og notkun orðtaka og samskiptafrasa á dönsku, jafnt í ræðu sem riti
‘Grateful for the experience but not for the cancer.’ How young women experience cancer and what they learn from it
No full textÍ greininni er fjallað um rannsókn á upplifun fjögurra ungra kvenna sem greindust með krabbamein og lærdómi þeirrar lífsreynslu. Þátttakendur eiga það sameiginlegt að hafa skrifað um reynslu sína þegar þær gengu í gegnum krabbameinsmeðferð. Rýnt er í frásagnir sem deilt var á samfélagsmiðlinum Instagram og útgefin ljóð í því skyni að fá innsýn í líf þeirra á þeim tíma sem þær veikjast og takast á við nýjan veruleika. Auk þess byggja niðurstöður rannsóknarinnar á djúpviðtölum sem tekin voru við sömu konur að nokkrum árum liðnum og varpa ljósi á lærdóm sem þær draga í kjölfar veikindanna. Hér er um eigindlega rannsókn að ræða sem byggir á fyrirbærafræðilegri nálgun þar sem horft er til lífsreynslu fólks og þeirrar merkingar sem í hana er lögð. Í niðurstöðum rannsóknarinnar eru dregin fram þemu sem endurspegla tilfinningaleg átök, breytingar á sjálfsmynd og jákvætt hugarfar í gegnum sársaukafullt ferli, sem jafnframt einkennist af þakklæti, kærleika og fegurð. Þegar síðar er litið um öxl kemur í ljós að veikindin hafa haft þýðingarmikil áhrif á líf þátttakenda, ekki síst varðandi tengsl þeirra við sig sjálfar, annað fólk og lífið sjálft. Rannsóknarefnið er skoðað af fræðilegum sjónarhóli jákvæðrar sálfræði, einkum annarrar bylgju hennar, þar sem horft er til tengsla áfalla og hamingju. Þar að auki er byggt á kenningu um áfallaþroska sem felur í sér þann möguleika að áföll geti stutt við persónulegan þroska fólks og innihaldsríkt líf. Rannsóknir á því sviði hafa fram til þessa verið fátíðar hér á landi. Hagnýtt gildi rannsóknarinnar felst í auknum skilningi á viðkvæmri stöðu ungra kvenna sem greinast með krabbamein og niðurstöður hennar gefa vísbendingar um hvaða þættir geta verið mikilvægir til að styðja við þann hóp á farsælan hátt.The aim of this study is to shed light on the experience of young Icelandic women who have survived cancer and to discover the lessons they learned from that experience. This group is at a vulnerable stage in life when diagnosed with cancer, which indicates that the illness can have a great impact on their lives. The subject matter is viewed from the theoretical standpoint of positive psychology in regard to the relationship between trauma and happiness. Concepts from second wave positive psychology are also drawn upon, highlighting the coexistence of opposites, where happiness can include both joy and suffering. Moreover, the research builds on a theory of post-traumatic growth, based on the idea that experiencing trauma can possibly enhance personal growth and a meaningful life.
The participants were four young women who wrote about their experience during their cancer therapy and shared their writings, either on Instagram or in poems that were published. Their writing is the data underlying the research in addition to in-depth interviews with the same women a few years after recovery. This dual data source makes it possible to explore how the experience was lived at the time and how meaning was later reconstructed, offering rare insight into both immediate and retrospective sense-making. This is a qualitative study based on phenomenological analysis with a focus on how people give meaning to their lived experience. The findings of the research are presented in themes identified in the data.
The findings illustrate a complex process triggered by the trauma experienced by young women diagnosed with cancer. It reveals that their worldview collapsed following the illness, yet simultaneously highlights the valuable lessons learned from rebuilding their lives. Narratives and poetry from the period when these women became ill and grappled with their altered reality portray a chaotic experience marked by emotional turmoil and a breakdown of identity, which nevertheless provided opportunities for profound reconsideration. Their writings are characterised by vulnerability and authenticity while also emphasising positivity and resilience. It becomes clear that although a positive mindset is considered beneficial when confronting adversity, acknowledging genuine emotions and experiences remains crucial. Within narratives of painful experiences, themes of gratitude, love, and beauty become evident, suggesting that their experiences can indeed serve as pathways toward flourishing. This perspective aligns with concepts from second wave positive psychology, where opposites interact, and happiness encompasses both bright and dark aspects of life. Such happiness reflects a more nuanced reality than mere pleasure or contentment. Instead, it hinges on how life is lived despite the adversity and trauma inevitably present in most people’s lives.
Interviews conducted with these women after recovery reveal that their illness left a profound mark on their lives, imparting significant insights from difficult experiences, particularly regarding their connections to themselves, others, and life itself. These reflections extend beyond the immediate experience of illness and recovery, shaping long-term perspectives on meaning, priorities, and the fragility of existence. These findings corroborate recognised manifestations of post-traumatic growth established in earlier studies. Through the process of confronting cancer-related trauma, participants learned to listen to their inner voice and assert control over their lives. After facing the reality that life is not guaranteed, they reassessed relationships worth nurturing, identified their core values and how they wanted to live, and cultivated a clearer sense of direction for the future. They expressed gratitude for the lessons learned from their experiences, though not for the cancer itself.
This work is a contribution to Icelandic research in the field of post-traumatic growth and will hopefully draw the attention of other Icelandic researchers, practitioners, and the general public. Furthermore, the practical value of this research lies in a deeper and more nuanced understanding of the vulnerable position of young women diagnosed with cancer, and the research findings hopefully suggest possible avenues and strategies to better support and empower this group throughout recovery and beyond
Preschool department heads’ perspectives on quality preparation time
No full textÍ þessari grein er fjallað um sýn deildarstjóra á undirbúningstíma í leikskólum og hvernig hann er nýttur til að efla faglega þróun og auka gæði leikskólastarfs. Byggt er á eigindlegum gögnum sem safnað var á fundum með deildarstjórum í níu leikskólum. Voru gögnin greind af rannsakendum við Háskóla Íslands með hliðsjón af greiningarlíkani Max Weber um góða fyrirmynd. Markmiðið var að móta skilgreiningu á hvað einkennir góðan undirbúningstíma, greina hvar veruleikinn mætir draumsýninni og hversu langt er þar á milli og móta tillögur til umbóta. Niðurstöðurnar sýna að deildarstjórunum þótti skipulagður, reglulegur og samfelldur undirbúningstími styrkja fagmennsku þeirra, auka samstarf innan leikskólans og stuðla að betra náms- og leikumhverfi barna. Lögðu þeir áherslu á mikilvægi faglegs samtals meðal leikskólakennara og annarra sérfræðinga. Á sama tíma kom fram að þátttaka foreldra og barna í skipulagi og mati á starfinu var takmörkuð, sem gæti hamlað lýðræðislegri þátttöku og inngildingu. Einnig komu fram áskoranir við að finna jafnvægi milli undirbúningsvinnu utan deildar og beinnar þátttöku kennara í starfi með börnum. Helstu tillögur til umbóta fela í sér að undirbúningstími verði meira samþættur daglegu leikskólastarfi og nýttur í virku samráði við börn, foreldra og annað fagfólk. Með markvissri nýtingu undirbúningstíma eru deildarstjórar betur í stakk búnir til að mæta fjölbreyttum námsþörfum barna og stuðla að inngildandi og faglegu leikskólastarfi, en þar er faglegt samtal mikilvægt.This study sheds light on how department heads in Icelandic preschools conceptualise and experience preparation time, in order to deepen our understanding of how such time can support professional development and improve the quality of early childhood education. Drawing on a qualitative research design and grounded in theoretical perspectives on professional practice and inclusion, the study provides insights into how preparation time functions as a key component of pedagogical quality and leadership in preschools.The research is guided by the following main question: What characterises good preparation time according to preschool department heads? The findings are based on documentation and discussion meetings with department heads working in nine preschools. The data were analysed using thematic analysis and interpreted in light of existing literature on professional development, inclusive pedagogy and the concept of the “ideal type” as introduced by Max Weber. This analytical framework allows for developing a theoretically grounded understanding of preparation time as a professional space with the potential to foster reflective practice, collaboration and strategic planning. The results highlight several core characteristics of high-quality preparation time. Firstly, the department heads described such time as regular, continuous and predictable. It must be protected from interruptions and clearly defined in the daily or weekly schedule. The importance of consistency was emphasised in terms of promoting deep engagement with pedagogical planning and enabling teachers to reflect on their practice. At the same time, flexibility in terms of location and mode of work – whether individually, collaboratively, on-site, at home or during courses – was valued as a means to accommodate diverse professional needs.Secondly, preparation time was described as a space for both individual and collective professional learning. Department heads stressed the value of engaging in professional dialogue with colleagues, other educators and specialists. These conversations were seen as crucial for aligning daily practice with broader educational goals, implementing curriculum reforms and ensuring the quality and coherence of preschool programmes.However, the study also revealed that such collaboration often lacked formal structures and relied heavily on individual initiative. This ad-hoc approach can hinder the strategic use of preparation time and limit its impact on long-term development goals.
Another key finding concerns the role of preparation time in fostering inclusive practices. While department heads acknowledged the importance of adapting learning environments to children’s diverse needs, the study found that systematic collaboration with parents and children during planning and evaluation was generally limited. Parents were seen as valuable partners with unique insights into their children’s interests and developmental needs, yet opportunities for involving them in the planning of the educational environment were rarely structured. Similarly, children’s voices were largely absent from discussions about curriculum and environment design. This lack of participation poses challenges to realising the principles of democratic education and inclusion that are emphasised in national and international policy.The research also points to a structural tension between preparation time and the teachers’ presence with children. While planning, documentation and organisation are essential aspects of professional practice, time spent away from children can reduce opportunities to observe, support and co-participate in play and learning. This finding aligns with concerns in existing literature about how reduced teacher presence may impact child engagement, spontaneous learning and inclusion. The study underscores the importance of finding a balance between preparation and direct interaction, for instance by integrating reflective and planning tasks into the flow of daily life at preschool.Based on the findings, the article offers a synthesised definition of good preparation time in early childhood education. It is described as a structured yet flexible period that supports teachers’ reflective practice, professional dialogue, collaboration and inclusive educational planning. It balances individual thinking time with collective discussion and involves systematic collaboration with both parents and children. Preparation time should not be seen merely as a logistical or technical necessity but as a professional space that enables thoughtful, inclusive and intentional teaching.
The article concludes with practical recommendations for improving the organisation and use of preparation time in preschools. These include ensuring uninterrupted and clearly scheduled time for preparation, supporting interdisciplinary collaboration, providing adequate facilities and establishing regular consultation structures that actively involve parents and children. Furthermore, the study advocates for embedding preparation time within the everyday rhythm of preschool life so that planning and documentation occur in close relation to children’s play and experience. In doing so, preparation time becomes a bridge between reflective professionalism and the democratic values of participation and inclusion. In sum, the study provides new insights into how preparation time can be conceptualised and structured to support high-quality, inclusive and democratic early childhood education. It contributes to international discussions on the professionalisation of early childhood education and offers practical guidance for policymakers, leaders and practitioners committed to strengthening the role of pedagogical leadership in preschools
Inequality Without Upheaval: What shapes Icelanders\u27 tolerance towards income differences?
No full textIncreased benefits have, to a large extent, been limited to a small elite, while the majority have suffered stagnant or declining incomes, contributing to rising inequality. Despite the common belief that widening income disparity in society is too great, there is no indication of rising public concern over the issue, and inequality is even considered, to some extent, desirable. Research has suggested that three explanations may lie behind this paradox. Firstly, people have a strong propensity to perceive the dominant social order as default; as a result, their perceptions of the desirable income gap do not diverge significantly from their perceptions of the existing income disparity. Secondly, inequality benefits those who consider themselves to have a good social status. Thirdly, it may be that widespread meritocratic opportunity beliefs encourage people to consider that the status of individuals in society is largely earned, and therefore a significant difference in income is seen as fair and just. The validity of these explanations is assessed by looking at data from the Icelandic Social Science Survey (ISS) from the year 2020. The results clearly support the first explanation. Individuals consider a greater income gap to be desirable as they consider the actual income gap to be greater. The data provides little support for the third explanation. Little can be said about the relationship between tolerance for inequality and opportunity beliefs, except perhaps in the context of the importance of family wealth.Rannsóknir benda til þess að þótt almennt ríki sú skoðun að ójöfnuður í samfélaginu sé of mikill telja flestir engu að síður að umtalsverður tekjumunur sé æskilegur. Þrjár skýringar kunna að liggja að baki slíkri þversögn. Í fyrsta lagi hefur fólk sterka tilhneigingu til að upplifa ríkjandi samfélagsskipan sem sjálfgefna og því víki hugmyndir þess um æskilegan ójöfnuð ekki langt frá ráðandi tekjumun. Í öðru lagi kemur ójöfnuður þeim vel sem telja sig hafa góða þjóðfélagsstöðu. Í þriðja lagi kann að vera að útbreidd verðleika-tækifæristrú (e. meritocratic opportunity beliefs) hvetji fólk til þess að líta svo á að staða einstaklinganna í samfélaginu sé að mestu leyti áunnin og því sé umtalsverður tekjumunur sanngjarn og réttlátur. Athugað er hvort þessar skýringar eiga við rök að styðjast með því að skoða gögn úr Íslensku Félagsvísindakönnuninni (ISS) frá árinu 2020. Niðurstöður styðja greinilega fyrstu skýringuna. Skýr fylgni er á milli umburðarlyndis gagnvart tekjuójöfnuði og þeirrar skoðunar að í samfélaginu ríki tekjuójöfnuður. Önnur skýringin fær líka stuðning. Karlmenn og þeir sem eldri eru telja tekjumun vera ásættanlegan, auk þess sem tekjuhærri einstaklingar eru líklegri til að sýna meira umburðarlyndi. Gögnin veita takmarkaðan stuðning við þriðju skýringuna. Lítið er hægt að fullyrða um samband á milli umburðarlyndis fyrir tekjumun og tækifæristrú nema þá í tengslum við mikilvægi fjölskylduauðs
Umræðuvettvangur íslenskra dagblaða með hliðsjón af greiningarramma Colin Sparks
No full textIt is generally recognized that diversity and plurality of the media are essential for democracy. In the last decade or so concerns have been raised about the content of the new media suggesting that it is becoming more oriented towards entertainment than democratic discussion. This development has been labelled tabloidization and in scholarly discussion the model of Colin Sparks (2000) has in many ways set the reference point. Not many attempts have been made to put the Icelandic press into this model and the little that has been done is several years old. In this paper a content analysis of the Icelandic newspapers for the years 2008-2010 in view of Sparks´ model is reported. To some extent earlier suggestions and findings about the internal positions of Icelandic newspapers relative to each other are confirmed. However the findings show a high level of similarity between the newspapers and suggest that a process of homogenization is occurring in the Icelandic press.Almennt er viðurkennt að fjölbreytni og fjölræði í fjölmiðlum sé grundvallaratriði í lýðræðislegri umræðu. Sífellt háværari hafa þær raddir þó orðið á umliðnum árum sem lýst hafa yfir áhyggjum af því að umræðan í fjölmiðlum hafi verið gengisfelld og meira sé orðið um skemmtun og afþreyingu en þau atriði sem máli skipti fyrir lýðræðið. Þessi þróun hefur verið kölluð "tabloidization" eða götublaðavæðing. Meðal fræðimanna hefur Colin Sparks (2000) einkum mótað umræðuna með greiningarramma sínum um stöðu blaða á opinberum umræðuvettvangi. Fáar tilraunir hafa verið gerðar til að kortleggja íslensk dagblöð samkvæmt þessum greiningarramma og það sem gert hefur verið er orðið margra ára gamalt. Hér er sagt frá innihaldsgreiningu á íslensku dagblöðunum (DV talið sem dagblað) á árunum 2008-2010 þar sem miðað er við greiningarramma Sparks. Að hluta til eru fyrri hugmyndir staðfestar, en þó koma fram mikilvægar upplýsingar sem benda til að blöðin séu mjög einsleit og að verða líkari hvert öðru hvað efni varðar
Administrative capacity and long-term policy making at the Icelandic local level
Get PDFLeach and Wilson (2002) identified four key tasks of local government leaders. Building on their initiative, this paper examines the task of developing strategic and policy direction at the Icelandic local level from the viewpoint of the Icelandic mayor. In addition, it explores the administrative capacity of Icelandic local governance. Individuals occupying mayoral positions in Iceland always serve as heads of administration. At times, mayors are council members (political mayors), while other times they are hired based on their professional skills (manager-mayors). The findings suggest that mayors of both types play crucial roles in long-term policy making. However, the study shows that the daily work of manager-mayors is often hindered by fragmentation and lack of specialisation within the administration as well as by the laymen rule upon which the council-committee system is based
Tengsl streituvaldandi þátta í starfsumhverfi, svefns og stoðkerfisverkja hjá millistjórnendum í opinberri þjónustu
Get PDFMiddle managers have demanding roles and often experience themselves between a rock and a hard place, and their jobs are characterized by heavy workload and stress. They have not received adequate attention in management science, in particular within healthcare. We know, for example, little about how stressful factors in the work environment are related to musculoskeletal pain and sleep. The purpose of this study was to examine this relationship. This is a descriptive cross-sectional study in which data was collected by a questionnaire which was sent electronically to 137 nursing managers through the Outcome-survey system. The response rate was 80.9%. Descriptive statistics and inferential statistics were used for statistical analysis. The results showed a clear link between stressful factors in the work environment and insufficient sleep, after controlling for the effects of age, marital status and the number of staff in the nursing unit. Stressful factors in the work environment and sleep affected the intensity of pain in the neck and shoulder area, and sleep correlated with the intensity of pain in the lower back. Taking sleep into account, more stress meant more pain in the neck and shoulder area. Taking into account stressful factors, insufficient sleep meant more pain in all three body regions. Together, stressful factors in the work environment and insufficient sleep explained 17% of the total variation in the intensity of pain in the neck area, 21% in the shoulder area, and 14% in the lower back, taking into account age, marital status and the number of staff in the nursing unit. There was a statistically significant interaction between stressful factors in the work environment and sleep regarding the intensity of musculoskeletal pain in the neck area. The results of this study will hopefully lead to better consideration of stressful factors in the work environment, sleep and musculoskeletal pain of middle managers.Millistjórnendur eru í krefjandi hlutverki og upplifa sig oft eins og milli steins og sleggju. Þeir gegna þungavigtarhlutverki en störf þeirra einkennast af miklu vinnuálagi og streitu. Þó hafa þeir fengið fremur litla athygli í stjórnendafræðum, einkum innan heilbrigðisþjónustunnar. Við vitum til dæmis lítið um áhrif þessa krefjandi starfs á heilsu þeirra, til dæmis hvort streituvaldandi þættir í starfsumhverfinu tengjast stoðkerfisverkjum og svefni. Tilgangur þessarar rannsóknar var að skoða þessi tengsl. Um er að ræða lýsandi þversniðsrannsókn þar sem gögnum var safnað með forprófuðum spurningalista sem sendur var rafrænt á 137 hjúkrunardeildarstjóra í gegnum Outcome-kannanakerfið. Svarhlutfall var 80,9%. Lýsandi tölfræði og ályktunartölfræði var notuð við úrvinnslu gagna. Niðurstöður sýndu skýr tengsl streituvaldandi þátta í starfsumhverfi, stoðkerfisverkja og ófullnægjandi svefns eftir að stjórnað var fyrir áhrifum af aldri, hjúskaparstöðu og fjölda stöðugilda í hjúkrun á deild. Streituvaldandi þættir í starfsumhverfinu og svefn höfðu tengsl við styrkleika stoðkerfisverkja á hálssvæði og herðum og svefn hafði tengsl við styrkleika verkja í neðri hluta baks. Meiri streita þýddi meiri stoðkerfisverki á hálssvæði og í herðum að teknu tilliti til svefns. Ófullnægjandi svefn þýddi aftur meiri stoðkerfisverki frá öllum þremur líkamssvæðunum að teknu tilliti til streituvaldandi þátta. Saman skýrðu streituvaldandi þættir í starfsumhverfinu og ófullnægjandi svefn, að teknu tilliti til aldurs, hjúskaparstöðu og fjölda stöðugilda við hjúkrun á deild, 17% af heildarbreytileika í styrkleika stoðkerfisverkja á hálssvæði, 21% í herðum og 14% í neðri hluta baks. Fram kom marktæk samvirkni milli streituvaldandi þátta í starfsumhverfinu og svefns varðandi styrkleika stoðkerfisverkja á hálssvæði. Niðurstöður þessarar rannsóknar verða vonandi til þess að hugað verði betur að streituvaldandi þáttum í starfsumhverfi millistjórnenda svefni og stoðkerfisverkjum þeirra
Elítur á Íslandi – einsleitni og innbyrðis tengsl
Get PDFIceland has generally been characterized as a nation where social and economic equality are prominent, and where elite structures are relatively unimportant. There are, however, indications that elites exist, and futhermore, that they are becoming more pronounced and that inequality is on the rise. The goal of this paper is to analyze the business and commerce elite in Iceland the years 2014 and 2015, based on its relations with other elite groups and relations within the group. This allows conclusions to be drawn about the openness of the elite, its relations with the populace, and the democratic structures of the group. The analysis utilizes two data sets: Power and Democracy – A Study of Elites, and Gender Equality in Business: Evolution and Influence. Graphical analysis of elite structures was performed using R and igraph. The results indicate various internal relationship structures within the business and commerce elite. Residential homogeneity is prevalent, especially among male and older elites. A top management team member’s participation in politics or organized sports is predictive of greatly increased residential homogeneity in his or her team. The results suggest a layered elite structure and gaps in elite-populace relations. This indicates that it is important to consider the democratic structures of the Icelandic business elite and whether its homogeneity affects decision making within the elite.Á Íslandi hefur það gjarnan verið trú fólks að félagslegur og efnahagslegur jöfnuður einkenni þjóðina og að hvers konar elítur séu lítt áberandi. Engu að síður eru vísbendingar um að elítur séu til staðar, og ennfremur að þær séu styrkjast og ójöfnuður að aukast. Markmið greinarinnar er að greina viðskiptaog atvinnulífselítuna á Íslandi árin 2014 og 2015 út frá tengslum hennar við aðrar elítur sem og innbyrðis tengslum. Slík greining gefur vísbendingar um hversu opin elítan er, tengsl hennar við almenning, og um lýðræðislega uppbyggingu hópsins. Byggt er á tveimur gagnasöfnum; Vald og lýðræði – elíturannsókn og Kynjajafnrétti við stjórn atvinnulífsins: stefna, þróun og áhrif. Til að fá myndræna sýn á innbyrðis tengsl elítuflokka var notast við hugbúnaðarpakkann igraph fyrir R. Niðurstöðurnar sýna talsverð innbyrðis tengsl á milli einstaklinga sem mynda viðskipta- og atvinnulífselítuna. Einsleitni í búsetu, mælt í póstnúmerum er sterk, einkum meðal karla og þeirra sem eldri eru. Búsetueinsleitni þeirra sem eru í forystuhlutverki stjórnmálanna er fjórum sinnum meiri en þeirra sem ekki taka þátt í slíku starfi. Svipað mynstur sést þegar tengslin við íþróttahreyfinguna eru skoðuð; eftir því sem þátttaka einstaklings í íþróttastarfi er meiri, þeim mun meiri er búsetueinsleitnin. Niðurstöðurnar benda til þess að íslenska þjóðfélagið sé lagskipt og að tiltekin gjá sé á milli elítunnar og almennings. Það gefur til kynna að mikilvægt sé að huga að því hversu lýðræðisleg uppbygging hópsins er og hvort hætta sé á að einsleitni í ákvarðanatöku verði of mikil
Viðhorf íslenskra og danskra stjórnenda til starfsumhverfis í ljósi norrænna gilda
Get PDFNordic leadership values have gained increased publicity and popularity recently. The paper looks at Icelandic public management. The main research question is if and how Icelandic managers adhere to Nordic leadership values. The research is based on a prior Danish study: Public managers – tasks and opinions. An online questionnaire was sent to 1.685 public managers in Iceland, with 524 respondents so the participation rate is 31%. The main purpose of the research was to highlight the emphasis of Icelandic managers in daily tasks and get their opinions on their working environment and regulatory framework. Another point was to compare the public working environment in Iceland and Denmark regarding the basic values of Nordic leadership.
The main findings show that public management in Iceland is characterized by trust, clear work-processes, short chains of command and minimal bureaucracy. Cooperation and social networking at the workplace was positive and reasonable demands towards the managers. At the same time, there seem to be opportunities for the managers to have more influence to enhance performance in their institutions. The main barriers were minimal influence on legislation and the political stakeholders. In comparison, the Danish managers thought bureaucracy too burdensome and that work-processes could be simplified. However, the Danish managers feel they have greater impact and influence on their working environment and political stakeholders.
The work-processes and perspectives of Icelandic managers are in line with the Nordic management values: Open communication, critical thinking and care.Norræn forysta byggir á gildum sem notið hafa aukinnar athygli og vinsælda. Viðfangsefni greinarinnar er að fjalla um opinbera stjórnun á Íslandi og skoða hvort og þá með hvaða hætti íslenskir stjórnendur falla að gildum norrænnar forystu. Gerð var rannsókn að danskri fyrirmynd sem nefnist Opinberir stjórnendur – verkefni og viðhorf. Spurningalisti í formi vefkönnunar var lagður fyrir 1.685 opinbera stjórnendur, 524 svör bárust eða 31%. Megintilgangur rannsóknarinnar var að draga fram áherslur íslenskra stjórnenda í daglegum störfum, viðhorfum til starfsumhverfis og þess ramma sem unnið er í. Skoðað var starfsumhverfi íslenskra og danskra stjórnenda í samhengi við norræn gildi. Helstu niðurstöður benda til þess að opinber stjórnun á Íslandi einkennist af trausti, skýrum verkferlum, stuttum boðleiðum og litlu skrifræði. Helstu hindranir voru lítil áhrif á löggjöf og pólitískt bakland, tækifæri felast hins vegar í að hafa meiri áhrif og auka árangur í starfseminni. Samstarf og tengslanet var gott á vinnustaðnum og sanngjarnar kröfur voru gerðar til stjórnenda. Sérstaða hvors hóps fólst í því að danskir stjórnendur töldu skrifræði vera of mikið og að einfalda mætti verkferla í því sambandi. Íslenskir stjórnendur virtust hins vegar almennt hafa minni áhrif á starfsumhverfið en danskir starfsfélagar. Verkefni og viðhorf íslenskra opinberra stjórnenda ríma við norræn gildi þar sem opin samskipti, gagnrýni í hugsun og umhyggja eru helstu einkennin
Stjórnun sérfræðinga: Fremstir meðal jafninga
Get PDFThe article deals with manifestations of power in the relations between managers and knowledge-workers and the challenges that managers face in that context. The data retrieval was based on qualitative methodology and nine semi-structured interviews were conducted, with three managers and six employees, within three different organizations, a ministry, university and a bank. The main conclusions indicate that power is an important factor in successful management of knowledge-workers and that effective managers rely on their personal power, that is their expert and referent power, rather than formal power. The conclusions also indicate that the specialities of knowledge-workers, among other things the power they possess, make certain demands to the manager and his governance. The managers viewed themselves as the equals rather than the managers of the knowledge-workers. The conclusions also demonstrate how important it is for the managers to have good communication skills. Among other things it appeared that the managers need to exercise their power through rhetoric and persuasion.Þessi grein fjallar um birtingarmyndir valds í samskiptum stjórnenda og þekkingarstarfsmanna og áskoranir sem stjórnendur standa frammi fyrir á þeim grundvelli. Við öflun gagna var stuðst við eigindlega aðferðafræði og tekin hálfopin viðtöl við níu viðmælendur, þrjá stjórnendur og sex starfsmenn, innan þriggja mismunandi skipulagsheilda, ráðuneytis, háskóla og banka. Helstu niðurstöður gefa til kynna að vald sé mikilvægur áhrifaþáttur við stjórnun þekkingarstarfsmanna og að stjórnendur sem ná árangri treysti á persónuvald sitt, þ.e. sérfræðinga- og áhrifavald, fremur en formlegt vald. Jafnframt gefa niðurstöðurnar til kynna að sérstaða þekkingarstarfsmanna, þar með talið það vald sem þeir búa yfir, geri vissar kröfur til stjórnandans og stjórnunarhátta hans. Stjórnendurnir virtust almennt líta fremur á sig sem jafningja en stjórnanda þekkingarstarfsmanna. Niðurstöður sýna að stjórnun þekkingarstarfsmanna reynir mjög á færni stjórnenda í tjáningu og samskiptafærni að öðru leyti. Kom meðal annars fram að stjórnendurnir þurfa að beita valdi sínu með rökum