Krüger, Konstanze Lydia (2025). Towards a theory of (de-)stigmatizing: A practice view on the adoption of stigmatized practices in organizations based on the case of pediatric palliative care in a hospital. (Thesis). Universität Bern, Bern
|
Text
25krueger_kl.pdf - Thesis Available under License Creative Commons: Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works (CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0). Download (2MB) | Preview |
Abstract
Although studies suggest that organizations take up stigmatized practices from their environment, research on the intra-organizational adoption of these practices is rare. This is a major shortcoming because stigma, as a negative social evaluation, is ubiquitous and erodes social acceptance, which is a key determinant of practice adoption. Consequently, stigma attributed to practices is a potentially critical source of adoption failure. However, since adoption studies have not yet systematically integrated stigma into their analyses, our understanding of how stigmatized practices are constructed within organizational settings and with what impact on adoption is still largely underdeveloped. In seeking to address this shortcoming, I draw on a practice perspective to theorize stigmatized practices as continuously constructed through people’s everyday actions – that is, through (de-)stigmatizing. I elaborate on the (de-)stigmatizing perspective by conducting an embedded case study of the adoption of pediatric palliative care in a hospital. Pediatric palliative care aims to improve the quality of life for children with life-limiting illnesses and their families yet is stigmatized as ‘giving up the fight for a cure’ and being limited to ‘end-of-life care’. From my empirical analysis, I theorize different stigmatizing and destigmatizing dynamics, their triggers, impact on adoption, and interrelations. My findings advance research by offering a revised view of the adoption of (stigmatized) practices in organizations and a more integrative view of the social construction of stigma. It also provides practical insights into the adoption of palliative care in hospitals, a practice that the World Health Organization deems essential to healthcare systems.
| Item Type: | Thesis |
|---|---|
| Dissertation Type: | Single |
| Date of Defense: | 22 May 2025 |
| Subjects: | 600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health 600 Technology > 650 Management & public relations |
| Institute / Center: | 11 Centers of Competence > Center of Comptetence for Public Management (KPM) 03 Faculty of Business, Economics and Social Sciences |
| Depositing User: | Hammer Igor |
| Date Deposited: | 04 Sep 2025 06:42 |
| Last Modified: | 04 Sep 2025 11:56 |
| URI: | https://boristheses.unibe.ch/id/eprint/6653 |
Actions (login required)
 |
View Item |