Open AccessOpening the black box of implementing activation in Ireland
Author(s) -
Nuala Whelan
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
administration
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.237
H-Index - 6
eISSN - 2449-9471
pISSN - 0001-8325
DOI - 10.2478/admin-2021-0015
Subject(s) - work (physics) , public relations , perception , black box , political science , service (business) , qualitative research , key (lock) , sociology , business , psychology , marketing , engineering , social science , computer science , mechanical engineering , neuroscience , computer security , artificial intelligence
This paper focuses on Ireland’s ‘activation turn’ and the roll-out of the Pathways to Work policy, contextualising these reforms within recent international developments in activation. Using a qualitative approach, the study explores the perceptions of a range of key stakeholders – jobseekers, employment guidance practitioners, employment service managers, ancillary services and policymakers – offering some important insights into Ireland’s move towards activation and the implementation of Pathways to Work . Three overarching themes were identified: depersonalisation, the missing ‘how to’ of implementation, and the reform agenda. These findings, although tentative, provide a new understanding of the perceptions of key stakeholders, described as ‘insiders’ and ‘outsiders’, and their views about both implementation and perceived effectiveness.