“vi ställer inte in, utan vi ställer om” -En kvalitativ studie om ledarskap och digitalisering inom socialtjänsten till följd av covid-19

Sammanfattning: The outbreak of the Covid-19 virus has greatly impacted all of Sweden. This has led to Schools closing and multiple organisations restructuring to offer their employees the ability to work from home. In this study we examine how the middle managements leadership at Social Services have been affected by the virus and the change from a predominantly analogue workplace, to an increasingly digital workplace. There is many organisations that has been affected by covid-19, but the Social Services is a clear example of a organisation that has faced many challenges.To define the research area, focus has been placed on how middle management within the Social Services have handled the readjustment, how the middle management finds the change has affected their leadership and the impact on social interactions within the group. Middle management constitutes an interesting position to study since middle management is located between higher management and collaborators. Previous research shows that virtual teams, groups working via web-based platforms, have a harder time connecting, which has increased the use of digital tools can lead to technostress. Using the qualitative research method, six interviews were conducted. From the data, it can be concluded that there has been a change in the middle management leadership when it comes to how they plan the incoming work tasks. The results also show that social interaction has changed, with the increased usage of digital work tools, highlighting a different type of interaction. In addition, it was found that more interpersonal type of meetings and lunch breaks with colleagues have stopped.