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Suffering at work as a consequence of paradoxical management: Case of teacher-researchers and caregivers in the context of New Public Management in Tunisia

Author

Listed:
  • Amel Bouderbala

    (ESCT - École supérieure de commerce de Tunis)

  • Sinda Ben Sedrine Doghri

    (ISG - Institut Supérieur de Gestion de Tunis [Tunis] - Université de Tunis, Université de Tunis)

Abstract

This article aims to understand, from a sensemaking perspective (loss / quest / construction), how actors react to the paradoxical management system that leads to suffering at work. The study took place in the Tunisian post-revolution context with two professional activities: university teacher-researchers and hospital caregivers in public organizations managed according to New Public Management principles. The objective is to generate a model highlighting, from a sensemaking perspective, the interactions of this paradoxical management with the dimensions of work (being, having and know-how) and the mechanisms mobilized by the actors in reaction to this suffering. The aim is to identify both the peculiarities of individuals' experiences and the cross-cutting constants of these activities. The research is qualitative, exploratory and is located in the interpretive paradigm. Twenty semi-structured interviews were conducted and the results of the content analysis show an almost similar evolution of suffering for both activities characterized by acquired, active, even preventive, resilience. Resilience, a concept that has abductively emerged in this research, refers in particular to the notions of dynamic capacity and the preservation of resources through a salutogenic approach.

Suggested Citation

  • Amel Bouderbala & Sinda Ben Sedrine Doghri, 2021. "Suffering at work as a consequence of paradoxical management: Case of teacher-researchers and caregivers in the context of New Public Management in Tunisia," Post-Print hal-05395466, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-05395466
    DOI: 10.3917/rips1.067.0023
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://normandie-univ.hal.science/hal-05395466v1
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    References listed on IDEAS

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