”Barnehageorganisasjonen – autonomi eller standardisering?”.

The overall goal of this article is to examine to what extent Norwegian daycare centres have been formalised and made subject to routine. The study examines to what extent daycare centres have these organisational characteristics. The common perception is that the Norwegian daycare centres are characterised by a low level of routine and formalisation. This type of organisation is seen as based in values such as care, flexibility, professionalism and participation. Formal routines are seen in the study as written down regulations, authorised from above which apply to all people in the organisation.

The author finds that daycare centres are very much characterised by routine, and that the routines are formalised to a high degree. This applies to administrative tasks and staff management as well as pedagogical tasks such as work with children with special needs, cooperation with parents and pedagogical activities. Participants in the interviews state that they appreciate the routines, and that they perceive regulations and routines as having a positive aspect. The author concludes that a working day characterised by many routines leads to a low degree of autonomy for the people working at daycare centres. They do not have the freedom they want.

Ten managers, 20 child carers and 20 childcare assistants from ten different daycare centres took part in the study. They filled out a questionnaire and took part in semi-structured interviews. The participants answered questions about tasks and activities at the daycare centres and about how they collaborate and plan the content of their work. Follow-up questions were asked in relation to tasks that were permanent and written down as routines.

Børhaug, K. (2011). ”Barnehageorganisasjonen – autonomi eller standardisering?”. Tidsskriftet FoU i praksis, 5(2), 49-66.