TRIO as a space for learning and action

learning-oriented approaches to the work-environment in a structurally (over)burdened healthcare system

Abstract

The TRIO collaboration has gained traction in several municipal and regional workplaces based on the idea that closer interaction between managers, work environment representatives, and union representatives can create better conditions for locally addressing core functions and employee well-being. However, this form of collaboration remains underexplored in Danish research. Based on a case study involving a merged maternity ward, this article provides an empirical analysis of a TRIO as a learning and action space for work environment initiatives. The article demonstrates how inherent conflicting interests in the health care field constitute significant conditions for the group’s learning processes and capacity for action. This becomes evident in a mapping of dynamics within the psychosocial work environment in the department, where organizational practices such as flexibilization and performance measurement complicate the TRIO group’s efforts to foster a sense of closeness and intimacy among staff members.