CTA receives 5.5 million to Study Scania's Conversion Strategies

The additional 5.5 million SEK from Vinnova is for a three-year research project, ending in 2012. It is the latest award of external funding for Malmö University's research programme, the Centre for Work Life Studies. From Malmö University, the CTA researchers Per Sederblad, with a background in the Department of International Migration and Ethnic Relations, Sandra Jönsson from Urban Studies, and Tobias Schölin (IMER) will participate. The project is conducted in cooperation with Halmstad University, involving Roland Ahlstrand - and in cooperation with Scania.

	CTA employees Sandra Jönsson, Anders Wiger Feldt, Magnus Gudmundsson, Christina Scholten, Bjorn Johnson, Tuija Muhonen, Per Sederblad and Louise Tregert celebrating the award of 5.5 million from Vinnova. Photo: Evelina Mildner Lindén

Specialised in Sociology, Occupational Science, Psychology and IMER (International Migration and Ethnic Relations), the researchers will examine strategies used when a company needs to adapt the workforce when production declines in a recession, and how one can constructively deal with the conversion process.

- We chose our case, Scania in Oskarshamn, because they have used interesting contracts during the recession. For example, they now let all employees reduce their hours and work four-day weeks for ninety percent of their salary. Earlier strategies have included working every other week and spending every other week in training, said Sandra Jönsson.

- Scania is known in Sweden for adopting "Lean Production" early on, a concept for production organisation that has been developed in the U.S. based on Japanese models. What is less well known is that Scania has developed its production system in direct cooperation with Toyota, a system in which trust between management and staff considered to be central. What significance does such a production system have for Scania during the recession, when they have chosen not to lay off personnel, but to retain them and develop their skills? said Per Sederblad.

Fakta: CTA The Centre for Work Life Studies is an interdisciplinary research program at Malmö University, started in 2007. Work environment and conditions in companies, government agencies and other organizations are studied. Their research contributes to the creation of healthy workplaces and effective businesses and organizations. Gender, employment, inclusion and diversity are among the research area. To date, CTA has received approximately 12 million SEK in external research funding, which means that over 80 percent of research funding comes from outside the university. Other externally financed projects are: A Global Perspective on the Swedish Management Model, Conditions and Challenges, a partnership with IKEA where Anders Wigerfelt, Sandra Jönsson, Tuija Muhonen, Christina Scholten and Per Sederblad are involved in projects. Power over Food, Christina Scholten studies the Scanian food industry from a gender perspective. Moving Work, Sandra Jönsson and Christina Scholten examines the phenomenon of commuting. (Swedish links)

The group will also examine how the company's conversion processes are experienced by the individual, and what are the results of the competencies development strategies in the long run: do they stay with the individuals, or even return to the organisation? What role does diversity play, and what opportunities are created to use the new competencies within the company?
- Another interesting question is what factors make employees want to remain in the organisation when they have developed skills? said Sandra Jönsson.

The background to this project is a previously established contact with the personnel department at Scania Oskarshamn. The group will also conduct interviews at Scania's Headquarters in Södertälje.

Read more about CTA here (Swedish)

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