Municipal management in the areas school and health and social care : – A case study of the organizational management in the municipality of Motala regarding the governing models market, bureaucracy, and profession

This thesis examines the municipal organizational management through a case study of the municipality of Motala within the areas of school, health and social care. The thesis has a qualitative research design and the empirical material consists of leading officials’ perceptions of the organization based on three levels in the administration (unit, function and management). It is the intention to categorize the governing of the municipality through three governing models: market, bureaucracy, and profession. The thesis discusses similarities and differences in governing within the areas of school, health and social care. Furthermore, problems and tensions in the governing are distinguished. Finally, various presumptions for a trust based municipal governing is being discussed. The thesis principally finds that the area regarding school is characterized by a governing model with resemblances to bureaucracy, as well as showing elements of market logics. The area regarding health and social care is characterized in its totality by a bureaucratic and a market governing model. Moreover, the governing also demonstrates similarities to professionalism. The overall experience of both areas is the presence of a tension in the assignment between the state and the municipal. Furthermore, it is the notion that the communication between management areas is problematic, creating a negative cooperation between the two. The premises for a trust based governing are considered generally good although many managers already believe they are operating such a governing model. Simultaneously there are some concern regarding the notion that the politics must accept the governing at the same time as some control still must remain