Annika Engström

Associate Professor Work Organisation
Associate professor in Work Organisation

Research 

Annika Engström's research interests include the importance of interaction and communication for task management, effectiveness and learning in groups and organizations. Her interest lies is in leading and organizing interpersonal communication to deal with conflicting logic in the organization, where discrepancies cause tensions that may be challenging to deal with. This can include development versus execution, existing versus new knowledge, stability versus change and standardization versus variation in work processes as well as in customer order based offerings. Work meetings are of special interest. Paradox thinking and the concept of ambidexterity is often used as a theoretical lens in her research.

Previous research projects, InPot, focused on leaders' utilization of innovation potentials in managers day-to-day work in lean-inspired industrial companies. She also led the research project, Innovate, which together with four other researchers and six manufacturing companies, investigated organizational ambidexterity, the art of balancing management of what is already planned while the organization manages to be innovative and development-oriented. She has participated in the research project The Whispering Game and studied communication and information flow in customization settings in industrial companies. Annika also participates in the research group for Lifelong Learning, with a focus on school principals' work and the school as a learning organization.

Today, her research is conducted mainly in the newly started multidisciplinary research profile AFAIR, where Annika is a member of the steering group as well as the management group and she leads one of the projects in the research area of AI transformation, PrepAIr. She is also the project manager for “Real Meetings - when reality varies”, funded by Forte and focusing on work meetings in physical, digital and virtual environments. Annika is also one of the researchers in KOMPET, regarding competence in the metal industry and in KKS Synergi “System for leadership development”, hosted by HHJ. The research is close to practice and carried out in close collaboration with organizations in both the private and public sectors. Knowledge creation between researchers and practitioners is central.

Biography

Annika was born in 1964 in Kiruna. She graduated as a counsellor in 1989 and came to Jönköping in 1990 where she took her Master's degree in Education. Annika has, alongside counselling, devoted herself to teaching and coaching in communication skills, counselling and coaching at the University of Umeå and at Jönköping University as well as a consultant in her own company. Since 2006 Annika Engström she is working as a lecturer at JTH, where she teaches courses in communication, leadership, change management and organizational development. Annika has over the years at JTH held various positions as coordinator, program manager and as part of the department management team. In June 2014, Annika defended her thesis Learning Interaction for Effectiveness. A study of workgroups in a medium-sized industry at Helix and the Department of Behavioural Sciences and Learning at Linköping University got rewarded as best HR research 2015. Today Annika's is leading several research projects and have been rewarded for SPARK Award in both 2018 and 2021. 

Article

Engström, A., Johansson, A., Edh Mirzaei, N., Sollander, K., Barry, D. (2023). Knowledge creation in projects: an interactive research approach for deeper business insight International Journal of Managing Projects in Business, 16(1), 22-44. More information
Engström, A., Käkelä, N., Wikner, J. (2022). Ambidextrous learning in a customer order–based context Learning Organization, 29(2), 116-128. More information
Sollander, K., Engström, A. (2022). Unplanned managerial work: an ambidextrous learning potential Studies in Continuing Education, 44(3), 441-459. More information
Eriksson, D., Engström, A. (2021). Using critical realism and abduction to navigate theory and data in operations and supply chain management research Supply chain management, 26(2), 224-239. More information
Bjursell, C., Engström, A. (2019). A Lewinian approach to managing barriers to university–industry collaboration Higher Education Policy, 32(1), 129-148. More information
Engström, A., Käkelä, N. (2019). Early steps in learning about organizational learning in customization settings: A communication perspective Learning Organization, 26(1), 27-43. More information
Engström, A. (2016). Arbetsmöten: Arenor för samspel och lärande Pedagogisk forskning i Sverige, 21(3-4), 283-305. More information

Book

Engström, A., Lundin, M. (2018). Personalvetenskapliga perspektiv på kommunikation. Stockholm: Liber More information

Doctoral thesis

Engström, A. (2014). Lärande samspel för effektivitet: En studie av arbetsgrupper i ett mindre industriföretag (Doctoral thesis, Linköping: Linköping University Electronic Press). More information

Book chapter

Engström, A., Bjursell, C. (2022). Att leda utbildningsorganisationer genom att integrera befintligt och nytt. In: Lene Foss & Joakim Krantz (Ed.), Skolchefers arbete: att leda ansvarsfullt i en föränderlig tid (pp. 91 -108). Malmö: Gleerups Utbildning AB More information
Foss, L., Krantz, J., Engström, A., Johansen, S., Aktaş, V. (2022). Kontextuella aspekter på skolchefens arbete. In: Lene Foss & Joakim Krantz (Ed.), Skolchefers arbete: att leda ansvarsfullt i en föränderlig tid (pp. 147 -174). Malmö: Gleerups Utbildning AB More information
Bjursell, C., Engström, A. (2020). Horizontal structures – A fundamental but forgotten perspective for superintendents in school governance?. In: L. Moos, E. Nihlfors, & J. M. Paulsen (Ed.), Re-centering the critical potential of Nordic school leadership research: Fundamental, but often forgotten perspectives (pp. 107 -125). Cham: Springer More information
Engström, A. (2019). Effective interaction in organisations. In: H. Ahl, I. Bergmo Prvulovic & K. Kilhammar (Ed.), Human resource management: A Nordic perspective (pp. 30 -41). London, UK: Routledge More information
Engström, A. (2017). Effektivt samspel i organisationer. In: Helene Ahl, Ingela Bergmo Prvulovic & Karin Kilhammar (Ed.), HR: Att ta tillvara mänskliga resurser (pp. 45 -58). Lund: Studentlitteratur AB More information

Conference paper

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. More information
Bjursell, C., Johansson, A., Bergmo-Prvulovic, I., Engström, A. (2022). Higher education as learning organizations – An empirical study of education managers perception of their work situation. The 26th Biennial Nordic Academy of Management Conference, Örebro, Sweden, August 24 – 26, 2022. More information
Engström, A., Mohlin, A., Edh Mirzaei, N., Pittino, D., Johansson, A. (2022). Understanding Organizational Tensions During Artificial Intelligence Transformation. EURAM 2022, Leading Digital Transformation, 15-17 June 2022, Zürich, Switzerland. More information
Engström, A., Pittino, D., Johansson, A., Mohlin, A., Edh Mirzaei, N. (2022). How AI Transformation triggers new perspectives in organizational learning. OLKC conference 2022, 7-9 September, 2022, Trollhättan, Sweden. More information
Engström, A., Mohlin, A., Edh Mirzaei, N., Pittino, D., Johansson, A. (2022). Understanding Organizational Tensions During Artificial Intelligence Transformation. 82nd Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management, 5-9 August, Seattle, Washington, USA, 4-10 August 2022, Virtual Platform. More information
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. More information
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. More information
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. More information
Engström, A., Edh Mirzaei, N., Simonsson, J. (2022). A learning perspective on the interdependency between technology-driven and managerial- driven AI-transformation. Trollhättan: University West, WIL'22 International Conference on Work Integrated Learning, 7-9 December 2022, University West, Trollhättan, Sweden. More information
Bäckstrand, J., Engström, A. (2019). Engagement and co-creation of knowledge – the important role of workshops for data collection and analysis. 6th International EurOMA Sustainable Operations and Supply Chains Forum, Gothenburg, Sweden, 18-19 March, 2019. More information
Bjursell, C., Engström, A. (2019). Horizontal structures – A fundamental and forgotten perspective in school governance?. International Symposium at the Danish School of Education (DPU) in Copenhagen 10-11 October 2019: Fundamental but often forgotten perspectives on/in school and leadership.. More information
Engström, A., Barry, D., Sollander, K., Edh Mirzaei, N., Johansson, A. (2019). Embracing the unplanned: Organizational ambidexterity within manufacturing SMEs. 79th Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management (AOM) 2019, August 9-13, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. More information
Engström, A., Käkelä, N. (2018). Learning to make a difference in customization settings. Organizational Learning, Knowledge and Capabilities OLKC 2018, 26th - 28th April, 2018, Liverpool, UK. More information
Sollander, K., Engström, A., Wikner, J. (2018). A framework for task-based ambidexterity in manufacturing SMEs. Cham: Springer, IFIP WG 5.7 International Conference, APMS 2018, Seoul, Korea, August 26-30, 2018. More information
Engström, A., Wikner, J. (2017). Identifying scenarios for ambidextrous learning in a decoupling thinking context. IFIP WG 5.7 International Conference, APMS 2017, Hamburg, September 3-7, 2017.. More information
Engström, A., Johansson, A. (2017). Working meetings and inspiration for learning. 11th Organizational Learning, Knowledge and Capabilities conference (OLKC), Valladolid, April 26 - 28, 2017.. More information
Engström, A. (2017). Effectiveness in meetings. Groups dealing with ambidexterity dilemma. Paper presented at the INGroup, Interdisciplinary Network for Group Research, Twelfth Annual Conference in St Louis, Missouri, USA. More information
Bäckstrand, J., Engström, A. (2017). Overcoming Contradictions through Cross-functional Integration in an ETO-context. 77th Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management, Atlanta, August 4-8, 2017.. More information
Elvnäs, S., Engström, A., Carter, N. (2017). Leading production and innovation. Turku: University of Turku, WORK2017, Work and Labour in the Digital Future, 16-18 August 2017 Turku, Finland. More information
Käkelä, N., Bäckstrand, J., Engström, A. (2017). Viskleken. 17th Research and Application Conference on Logistics and Operations Management [PLANs forsknings- och tillämpningskonferens], Chalmers, Göteborg, 25-26 October 2017. More information
Engström, A. (2016). Separate to integrate the task as a whole in work meetings?: Two types of learning hindering each other – the duality between execution and development of the same task. 8th International Process Symposium, Corfu, 15-18 June, 2016.. More information
Bjursell, C., Engström, A. (2016). Barriers to managing knowledge and learning in university: Industry cooperation. 16th European Academy of Management (EURAM) Annual Conference, Paris, 1-4 June, 2016. More information
Johansson, A., Engström, A., McKelvie, A. (2016). An In-depth Investigation of Employee-driven Innovation. 36th Babson College Entrepreneurship Conference. More information
Johansson, A., Engström, A. (2016). Effectual learning in SME’s – activities promoting transformation in place of frustration. Australian Centre for Entrepreneurship Research Exchange Conference (ACERE) 2016, 2–5 February 2016, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. More information
Bäckstrand, J., Engström, A. (2016). The lead time tree as a boundary object for developmental learning and improved conditions for purchasers. 5th World Conference on Production and Operation Management, P&OM, Havana, September 6-10, 2016.. More information
Engström, A., Johansson, A. (2016). Effectual learning in SME’s to promote transformation instead of frustration: Towards a design of an intervention study. The 4th Effectuation Conference. More information
Engström, A. (2011). Organizational learning in cross-functional teams. A study of a small manufacturing company. OLKC 2011. More information
Engström, A. (2011). Teams effectiveness in small medium sized manufacturing company. OLKC 2011 Doctoral Consortium. More information

Blog Post

Other publications

Mgruppen Svenska Managementgruppen AB, .. (2020). HR-organisationens kommunikation & mötesexperter: Intervju med Annika Engström. Stockholm: Mgruppen Svenska Managementgruppen AB More information
Engström, A., Bjursell, C. (2020). Lärande under pandemin [video]. More information
Bjursell, C., Engström, A. (2020). Reflektioner om distansmöten [text och video]. More information
Sollander, K., Edh Mirzaei, N., Engström, A. . Unplanned managerial work: Crucial support for knowledge creation in manufacturing SMEs. More information

Report

Käkelä, N., Engström, A., Lennartsson, M., Bäckstrand, J. (2020). Viskleken: Samlade lärdomar från ett kollaborativt forskningsprojekt. Jönköping: Tekniska högskolan i Jönköping More information
Engström, A. (2007). Påverkansprocesser i vuxnas lärande: kritiska händelser i en reflektionsgrupp. Jönköping: Högskolan för lärande och kommunikation/Encell More information