5. Theoretical framework and a systemic approach
The network met in October 2023 in Reykjavik to initiate the mapping of complex welfare services, including discussions of the theoretical and methodological approaches under advice from director Morten Hulvej Rod from the Danish National Institute of Public Health.
It should be noted that the network has not conducted research with the mapping but has sought to focus on some systemic errors and thereby arouse interest among researchers and practitioners in the field. However, the network and the working group have tried to be as thorough in the theoretical and methodological setup as possible.
The Ecology of Human Development
The mapping is inspired of Bronfenbrenner's developmental ecological model, which addresses multiple system levels, and based on that the mapping has divided the Nordic welfare models into four system levels with a view to examining how the systems function as a whole:
- The micro level (individual level) includes the users and their networks and families.
- The meso level (service level) includes the various sectors' implementing companies, institutions or offers that deliver the welfare services to the users.
- The exo level (authority level) includes the municipal actors who exercise authority and make decisions about the welfare services - both the municipal management and the employees who prioritise and make decisions.
- The macro level (national level) includes the state administration of the areas, including legislative frameworks.
Figure 1 illustrates the four system levels with the microsystem – and thus the citizen – at the centre.
Operationalisation in hypotheses
As part of the operationalisation of the four system levels, the microsystem was described in exemplifying cases from each country, focusing on the transition from youth to adulthood. This formed the basis for the formulation of the hypotheses at the three other system levels:
- Overall hypothesis: People in need of cross-sectoral and coordinated welfare services slip through the cracks – how is this expressed at the three system levels and in the three identified challenges?
- Hypothesis at meso level: There is a lack of local leadership and cooperation in prioritising and organising holistic services across sectors.
- Hypothesis at exo level: Municipalities have different prerequisites for implementing national guidelines.
- Hypothesis at macro level: There is a lack of incentive structures for cooperation between sectors at the national level.
Figure 2 illustrates that a challenge has been identified at each system level.