Gunilla Avby
Associate Professor
Department for quality improvement and leadership
, School of Health and Welfare
Change your information Gunilla is an Associate Professor in Education at Stockholm University. Her theoretical expertise concerns knowledge use and learning at work. She has a special interest in the conditions for learning and the development of professional expertise in the light of society's increased confidence in evidence. The interplay between theory and practice has a prominent role in her research, but also other paradoxes that occur in working life, such as the relationship between new and old, structure and chaos, control and creativity, and standardization and flexibility.
In recent years, Gunilla has studied the conditions for learning and innovative working in relation to the introduction of financial incitaments in Swedish primary health care. Her latest studie, LearnOvation, was conducted together with researchers at JA and healthcare professionals in Region Jönköping County. The study was financed by Vinnova and aimed at enhancing the innovation skills of managers and staff in daily practice. The intervention was based on ambidexterity theory for the content and the research study design.
Article
Fabisch, A., Kjellström, S., Ockander, M., Avby, G.
(2024).
Transformations towards an integrated leadership development system: A longitudinal study in a high-performing public organization Leadership, 20(3), 105-124.
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Kjellström, S., Areskoug Josefsson, K., Fabisch, A., Forsberg, C., Schneider, T., Avby, G.
(2022).
Fostering exploration and exploitation behavior in management teams to enhance organizational performance: the LearnOvation leadership development program Leadership & Organization Development Journal, 43(3), 482-500.
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Avby, G.
(2022).
An integrative learning approach: combining improvement methods and ambidexterity Learning Organization, 29(4), 325-340.
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Kjellström, S., Avby, G.
(2020).
Välfungerande vårdcentraler Vårdmagasinet Hälsa, 16-17.
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Kjellström, S., Avby, G.
(2020).
Metoder i vårdens vardag för att skapa kreativitet och delaktighet Chefer och ledare i vården, 28-30.
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Avby, G., Kjellström, S.
(2020).
Innovationskraft i vardagens processer Chefer och ledare i vården, 24-27.
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Karlsson, H., Avby, G., Svendsen, T.
(2020).
Quality of the analysis—A performance management system for the analytical stage of child-protection investigations Child & Family Social Work, 25(4), 856-864.
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Avby, G., Kjellström, S.
(2020).
”Inga bevis för att chefer blir bättre av att gå på kurs” Dagens Nyheter.
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Hasson, H., Gröndal, H., Hedberg Rundgren, Å., Avby, G., Uvhagen, H., von Thiele Schwarz, U.
(2020).
How can evidence-based interventions give the best value for users in social services? Balance between adherence and adaptations: a study protocol Implementation Science Communications, 1(1).
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Karlsson, H., Avby, G., Svendsen, T.
(2019).
QUAT—a Tool for Evaluating the Quality of Core Assessments in Child-Protection Investigations British Journal of Social Work, 49(7), 1875-1892.
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Avby, G., Kjellström, S., Andersson Bäck, M.
(2019).
Tending to innovate in Swedish primary health care: a qualitative study BMC Health Services Research, 19(1).
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Avby, G., Kjellström, S.
(2019).
LearnOvation: an intervention to foster exploration and exploitation behaviour in health care management in daily practice BMC Health Services Research, 19(1).
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Areskoug Josefsson, K., Avby, G., Andersson Bäck, M., Kjellström, S.
(2018).
Workers’ experiences of healthy work environment indicators at well-functioning primary care units in Sweden: a qualitative study Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care, 36(4), 406-414.
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Avby, G., Kjellström, S., Andersson Bäck, M., Areskoug Josefsson, K., Andersson-Gäre, B., Sparf, A., Siljehult, M.
(2017).
Samarbete bygger en stark primärvård Stockholm: Dagens Nyheter .
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Avby, G., Nilsen, P., Ellström, P.
(2017).
Knowledge use and learning in everyday social work practice: A study in child investigation work Child & Family Social Work, 22(Supplement S4), 51-61.
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Kjellström, S., Avby, G., Areskoug Josefsson, K., Andersson-Gäre, B., Andersson Bäck, M.
(2017).
Work motivation among healthcare professionals: A study of well-functioning primary healthcare centers in Sweden Journal of Health Organization & Management, 31(4), 487-502.
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Avby, G.
(2016).
Att genom reflection organisera för en medveten och kunskapsrik praktik Pedagogisk forskning i Sverige, 21(3-4), 261-282.
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Avby, G.
(2015).
Professional practice as processes of muddling through: a study of learning and sense making in social work Vocations and Learning, 8(1), 95-113.
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Avby, G., Nilsen, P., Abrandt Dahlgren, M.
(2014).
Ways of understanding evidence-based practice in social work: A qualitative study British Journal of Social Work, 44(6), 1366-1383 Oxford .
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Nilsen, P., Nordström (Avby), G., Ellström, P.
(2012).
Integrating research-based and practice-based knowledge through workplace reflection Journal of Workplace Learning, 24(6), 403-415.
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Nordström, G.
(2004).
Vuxnas lärande otydligt inslag i lärarutbildningar KOM: kommunikation mellan kommunala vuxenutbildare, 30(2), 40-41.
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Doctoral thesis
Avby, G.
(2015).
Evidence in practice: On knowledge use and learning in social work
(Doctoral thesis, Linköping:
Linköping University Electronic Press).
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Book chapter
Avby, G.
(2016).
Organizing for deliberate practice through workplace reflection.
In:
Billett, Stephen; Dymock, Darryl; Choy, Sarojni
(Ed.),
Supporting learning across working life:
Models, processes and practices
(pp. 75 -90).
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Avby, G., Nilsen, P., Ellström, P.
(2015).
Exploring evidence-based practice in practice: the case of social work.
In:
Mattias Elg, Per-Erik Ellström, Magnus Klofsten, Malin Tillmar
(Ed.),
Sustainable development in organizations:
studies on innovative practices
(pp. 153 -168).
Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing
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Nordström (Avby), G.
(2009).
Gränsöverskridande kunskapsbildning - praktik och teori i interaktion.
In:
Mattias Elg, Boel Andersson Gäre
(Ed.),
Vägval och dilemman i interaktiv forskning:
kurspaper från Bridging the Gaps doktorandurs Interaktiv forskning 2008
(pp. 27 -45).
Jönköping: Landstinget i Jönköpings län
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Bergendorff, .., Grankvist, M., Nordström, G.
(1994).
Inlärning kräver trygghet.
In:
Agnieszka Bron-Wojciechowska; Lena Porsander
(Ed.),
Att lära efter plugget:
kvalitativa undersökningar av vuxnas studiesituation
Stockholm: Stockholms universitet, Pedagogiska institutionen
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Conference paper
Avby, G., Bergmo-Prvulovic, I.
(2025).
Negotiating leadership in a self-styled HoilocracyTM system.
The Best of ILA 2024 and ISLC 2024, Live Online, 6 March 2025.
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Avby, G., Bergmo-Prvulovic, I., Kjellström, S.
(2024).
Negotiating Leadership in a self-styled HolocracyTM System.
22nd International Studying Leadership Conference, 8-10 December 2024, Birmingham, UK.
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Kjellström, S., Fabisch, A., Schmidt, M., Avby, G., Bergmo-Prvulovic, I., Engström, A., Bolden, R.
(2023).
Workshop: Systems of leadership development: how to transcend linear conceptualizations.
The 21st International Studying Leadership Conference, Copenhagen, Denmark, December 10 – 12, 2023.
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Avby, G., Engström, A., Kjellström, S., Bergmo-Prvulovic, I., Fabisch, A.
(2022).
Shaping leadership development systems to the work context.
OLKC Conference 2022, 7-9 September, 2022, Trollhättan, Sweden.
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Bergmo-Prvulovic, I., Avby, G., Engström, A., Kjellström, S., Fabisch, A.
(2022).
Exploring Social Representations of Leadership Development: Designing for Work-Integrated Learning.
WIL Conference 2022, 7-9 December, 2022, Trollhättan, Sweden.
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Bergmo-Prvulovic, I., Avby, G., Engström, A., Kjellström, S., Fabisch, A.
(2022).
Exploring Social Representations of Leadership Development: Designing for Work-Integrated Learning.
Trollhättan:
University West, WIL'22 International Conference on Work Integrated Learning, 7-9 December 2022, University West, Trollhättan, Sweden.
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Andersson Bäck, M., Kjellström, S., Avby, G.
(2017).
Medical manager hybrids for handling institutional complexity and change in primary care.
NOVO 11th Symposium, “Measures to meet Nordic challenges for sustainable health care organizations”, 9-10 November 2017, Gothenburg, Sweden.
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Avby, G., Kjellström, S., Andersson Bäck, M.
(2017).
A reform as a lever for innovation and professionalism?.
NOVO 11th Symposium, “Measures to meet Nordic challenges for sustainable health care organizations”, 9-10 November 2017, Gothenburg, Sweden.
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Andersson Bäck, M., Kjellström, S., Avby, G.
(2017).
Identity work of successful primary care managers and competing institutional logics.
EGOS 2017. 33rd EGOS Colloquium: The Good Organization: Aspirations, Interventions, Struggles, Copenhagen, July 6–8, 2017.
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Avby, G., Kjellström, S., Andersson Bäck, M.
(2017).
Transforming primary healthcare: Exploring a new provider model as a lever for innovation and professionalism.
EGPA (European Group for Public Administration), 30 August – 1 September 2017, Milano, Italy.
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Kjellström, S., Avby, G., Andersson Bäck, M., Areskoug Josefsson, K., Andersson-Gäre, B.
(2017).
Leadership as a driver for work motivation: a study of well-functioning primary healthcare centers in Sweden.
NOVO 11th Symposium, “Measures to meet Nordic challenges for sustainable health care organizations”, 9-10 November 2017, Gothenburg, Sweden.
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Kjellström, S., Avby, G., Areskoug Josefsson, K., Andersson Bäck, M.
(2017).
Research on successful and well-functioning organizations: The role of qualitative studies for theoretical and practical use. Workshop..
NOVO 11th Symposium, “Measures to meet Nordic challenges for sustainable health care organizations”, 9-10 November 2017, Gothenburg, Sweden.
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Kjellström, S., Avby, G., Andersson Bäck, M.
(2016).
Financial incentives and motivation: "What we do is the same but how we do it is different".
International Forum on Quality & Safety in Healthcare, 12-15 April, 2016, Gothenburg.
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Nordström (Avby), G.
(2012).
Understandings of Evidence-based Practice among politicians, managers and executive staff in social welfare agencies.
Nordic Working Life Conference.
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Nordström (Avby), G.
(2011).
Professionalism encounters Evidence-based Practice (EBP): What effects can EBP have on knowledge use and learning in professional practice?.
Kunskap, profession och expertis Nationella nätverket för professionsstudier, 28-29 september 2011, Växjö.
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Per, N., Nordström (Avby), G., Ellström, P.
(2011).
Integrating research-based and practice-based knowledge through workplace reflection.
International Conference on Researching Work and Learning (RWL), Shanghai, 4-7 December 2011.
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Other publications
Avby, G., Kjellström, S.
(2020).
Utforska och kontrollera för innovation i vardagen – två praktiska exempel [video].
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Kjellström, S., Avby, G.
(2020).
Skapa kreativitet och delaktighet i förändringsarbetet [video].
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Avby, G., Kjellström, S.
(2020).
Öka innovationskraften i vardagens processer [video].
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Report
Kjellström, S., Avby, G., Areskoug Josefsson, K., Andersson-Gäre, B., Andersson Bäck, M.
(2017).
De komplexa drivkrafterna inom vård och omsorg - en fallstudie av finansiella incitament och dess konsekvenser ur ett arbetsmiljöperspektiv: Slutrapport.
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Nordström, G., Bengtsson-Sandberg, K.
(2004).
Kunskapslyftet: Ett lyft för hela själen.
Jönköping:
HLK, Encell / Nationellt kompetenscentrum för livslångt lärande
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