I samverkans namn : Ett konsultationsteams betydelse ur ett nyinstitutionellt perspektiv

Sammanfattning: In the name of collaboration : The significant meaning of a consultation team from a neoinstitutional perspective. Collaboration between human service organizations is to be considered desirable however also known to be hard to accomplish. The aim of this case study was to examine the phenomenon of inter-organizational collaboration by describing and analyzing the significant meaning of a consultation team at an organizational level. The study was conducted in a south Swedish community. The consultation team is composed by seven delegates from seven human service organizations. In their daily activities these organizations support children with special needs. The consultation team comes together 4-6 times a year to offer professionals from the organizations, for example teachers, school nurses, social workers etcetera consultation in collaboration matters. The data was collected through one focus group with the consultation team and individual interviews with six professionals having attended one consultation. The descriptions of the consultation team given through the interviews where interpreted with concepts from a neoinstitutional theoretical perspective. The study shows that the consultation team could be understood as having several significant meanings at the organizational level. Collaboration and consultation is being performed without knowledge of the results yet being highly desirable and performed as a symbolic and substantive activity to bring legitimacy and stability to the organizations.