Translating trust as a magic concept in public sector reforms: A comparative study of the Danish and Swedish trust reform

Abstract

In response to growing criticism of new public management reforms, the Nordic countries have introduced so-called trust reforms aimed at transforming public sector management and leadership. There is, however, scarce knowledge about the role of organizational concepts in national trust reform and how they are translated, not least in a comparative perspective. This study offers an in-depth analysis of how robustly “trust” as a concept has been translated in Danish and Swedish public sector reforms. Drawing on the literature on organizational translation, we use the translational diamond as a theoretical framework for a comparative analysis based primarily on document studies, triangulated with supplementary survey data and interviews. Findings indicate that the Swedish reform has both a stronger strategic and local anchoring as well as a more elaborate use of reflective and experimental reform activities. However, the study also points to other factors of importance to robust translations, such as long-term commitment and political support.