A Profession in Change - A Development Ecology Perspective

Sammanfattning: A welfare state consists of a variety of client organisations within
which, among other professions, academics and social workers are
active. Social work as a profession has developed in a welfare context
where changes at the different levels of the individual, organisation
and society constantly pose new challenges to the profession.
When a society undergoes a total transformation, this also affects
higher education, especially when it comes to facing needs for new
competencies in a subject area such as Economics and Management.
A change in a profession can also be seen on different levels and in
various contextual environments. The thesis addresses the overall
question: In the transformation of different societal and organisational
environments, which factors may influence professions’ knowledge
acquisition and learning processes? The theoretical frame of
reference is provided by a modified model of Bronfenbrenner’s Development
Ecology. This theory focuses on the individual’s drive and
ability to influence their specific environment. This study’s point of
departure is the individual and the individual in relation to their
surrounding context on different levels. The thesis makes a contribution
by improving knowledge of how Development Ecology may
be seen in a welfare context by using study objects within the fields
of education and a profession. The data collection primarily took
the form of interviews. Other sources were added to the interviews;
an analysis of key documents, lectures and seminars where there
was an interaction with students as additional, empirical sources in
various contexts, along with study visits. The thesis is based on the
following three original publications: Management and Economics
studies in Lithuania – the creation of a university discipline, Development
Ecology in German Social Work and Proposed Enhancement
of Bronfenbrenner’s Development Ecology Model. The study
demonstrates how the Development Ecology model in a modified
and developed form can constructively contribute to understanding
a profession undergoing change. In addition, the study shows how
the Development Ecology model can be used in two various societal
and organisational contexts. It also demonstrates how professional
autonomy is conditional given certain organisational and societal
frameworks. Finally, the study reveals that entrepreneurship and
learning are closely linked to each other and knowledge acquisition
is about meetings on different levels where the interplay between the
individual and their internal driving forces is essential – namely, to
emphasise that the internal driving forces belong to the individual
involved (a person).