Introducing strategic measures in public facilities management organizations: external and internal institutional work

Abstract

To increase knowledge about the consequences of introducing strategic measures in public organizations, for both intra- and interorganizational relationships, interviews in eight - and shadowing in two - public facilities management organizations were performed. Using a frame for data analysis based on institutional work, findings show that, when introducing strategic measures, public officials worked to place their organizations in a new position within the institutional field. During this process, officials engaged in both external and internal institutional work. The findings highlight how tensions between working externally and internally, influences public officials' day-to-day practices.