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Brandow, Carina
Publications (10 of 16) Show all publications
Wallenius, C., Berglund, A. K., Brandow, C. & Hede, S. (2021). Anchoring Sweden’s Downsized Military: People’s Attitude to, Knowledge About, and Trust in Our Military Defense. Scandinavian Journal of Military Studies, 4(1), 78-93
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Anchoring Sweden’s Downsized Military: People’s Attitude to, Knowledge About, and Trust in Our Military Defense
2021 (English)In: Scandinavian Journal of Military Studies, ISSN 2596-3856, Vol. 4, no 1, p. 78-93Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

The hypothesis was that post-Cold War downsizing of the military defense is associated with low levels of public anchoring, and that better anchoring is associated with a perception of a better performance by the Swedish Armed Forces (SAF) and with a SAF connection and military experience. An additional research question concerned the level of concordance between the military and political elites and the population on these issues. A questionnaire was sent to 3,000 randomly selected residents. The results showed that post-Cold War downsizing was only partly associated with low levels of anchoring. Better anchoring was associated with a perception of a better performance by the SAF and with SAF connection and experience. There was significant concordance between the elites and the public. The study shows that anchoring is best supported by increased communication of the results and benefits of the military defense to all subgroups of the population.

Keywords
anchoring, trust, downsizing, Swedish Armed Forces, concordance
National Category
Applied Psychology
Research subject
Ledarskap under påfrestande förhållanden
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:fhs:diva-9761 (URN)10.31374/sjms.69 (DOI)
Available from: 2021-03-09 Created: 2021-03-09 Last updated: 2022-01-11Bibliographically approved
Wallenius, C., Brandow, C., Berglund, A. K. & Jonsson, E. (2019). Anchoring Sweden’s Post-conscript Military: Insights From Elites in the Political and Military Realm. Armed forces and society, 45(3), 452-471
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Anchoring Sweden’s Post-conscript Military: Insights From Elites in the Political and Military Realm
2019 (English)In: Armed forces and society, ISSN 0095-327X, E-ISSN 1556-0848, Vol. 45, no 3, p. 452-471Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

The universal nature of conscription ties or anchors broad segments of society to the military. What happens to societal anchoring after the draft ends? Using in-depth interviews with two groups of elites, this article explores factors that promote and hinder the Swedish Military’s societal anchoring post-conscription. The first group consisted of 18 executives at the Swedish Armed Forces (SAF) headquarters with strategic positions in relation to societal anchoring. The second group consisted of 15 representatives from the corresponding political level: members of the parliamentary Committee on Defense and their officials. The interviews were semistructured and analyzed according to a grounded theory-inspired approach. Main themes concerning obstacles were the public’s low interest and dated knowledge, an unclear political debate resulting in vague expectations concerning the SAF, as well as unclear responsibility for informing the public, and confidence gaps between the military and the political elite.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Sage Publications, 2019
Keywords
civil–military relations, defense policy, democracy, governmental organization, military organization, public policy
National Category
Political Science
Research subject
Ledarskap under påfrestande förhållanden
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:fhs:diva-7340 (URN)10.1177/0095327X18755107 (DOI)
Funder
Swedish Armed Forces
Available from: 2018-03-14 Created: 2018-03-14 Last updated: 2019-12-16Bibliographically approved
Wallenius, C. & Brandow, C. (2017). How (Not) to Implement an Unpopular Decision: A Case-Study of the Swedish Armed Forces. Res Militaris, 7(1)
Open this publication in new window or tab >>How (Not) to Implement an Unpopular Decision: A Case-Study of the Swedish Armed Forces
2017 (English)In: Res Militaris, E-ISSN 2265-6294, Vol. 7, no 1Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the armed forces' ability to implement an unpopular decision while maintaining commitment and job satisfaction among its personnel, as well as examine what factors affect the perceived outcome of a decision process in a military context. In line with earlier research, it was hypothesized that a fair process, knowledge (about the circumstances and objectives of the decision) and trust (in the decision-makers) will promote decision acceptance. An additional hypothesis was that a higher hierarchal position will promote understanding of the decision. A specific decision process was chosen - that which led to the 2010 choice to make service on international military missions mandatory for all personnel in the Swedish Armed Forces. An ad hoc questionnaire was constructed with the intention to measure the perception of the decision's input values, the decision process, the organization and decision-makers, as well as of the outcome. The questionnaire response rate was 48% (N = 229 respondents). The respondents were (predominantly middle-aged, mid-career, male) Swedish military officers and civilian employees. Knowledge about the decision, its perceived timing, and trust in the decision makers - but not the respondents' hierarchical position - significantly contributed to the outcome : its degree of acceptance. The study shows much dissatisfaction with the decision and its implications, but also a lack of knowledge about the decision-making process involved.

Keywords
Decision acceptance in a military context, knowledge, timing, trust, hierarchical position, Sweden
National Category
Applied Psychology
Research subject
Ledarskap under påfrestande förhållanden
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:fhs:diva-10757 (URN)
Available from: 2022-03-07 Created: 2022-03-07 Last updated: 2022-03-11Bibliographically approved
Österberg, J., Jonsson, E., Brandow, C., Klockare, E. & Eriksson, B. (2017). Metodutveckling för effektivare rekrytering av särskilda målgrupper (MER): Slutrappport. Karlstad: Försvarshögskolan (FHS)
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Metodutveckling för effektivare rekrytering av särskilda målgrupper (MER): Slutrappport
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2017 (Swedish)Report (Other academic)
Abstract [sv]

Försvarsmaktens (FM) och Försvarshögskolans (FHS) projekt Metodutveckling för effektivare rekrytering av särskilda målgrupper (MER) syftar till att utveckla och utvärdera aktiviteter som attraherar och rekryterar målgrupper som FM har svårt att nå via de vanliga rekryteringsmetoderna. Under 2014-2015 var kvinnor som klarat rekryttestet den särskilda målgrupp som var i centrum. Det övergripande målet med projektet var att öka antalet och andelen kvinnor som tar anställning eller tecknar avtal efter genomförd grundläggande militär utbildning (GMU). Detta skedde bland annat genom kontaktskapande och aktiviter i perioden från godkänt rekryttest via antagningsprövning och fram till GMU, det vill säga jobba med individer som visat intresse och potential för FM, vilket också är kostnadseffektivt. Kontaktskapandet och aktiviteterna bidrar till att kvinnorna känner sig inkluderade och kan skapa sig ett bättre beslutsunderlag för vidare avancemang i FM eller inte.

Sammanfattningsvis demonstrerar projektet att det verkar vara effektivt att arbeta i rekryteringsfasen med personer som har visat intresse och potential. Projektet bidrar med ny kunskap för ökad rekryteringseffekt. Genom att utveckla metoder, mäta utfall av kontakt, arbetssätt och aktiviteter kan vi mäta rekryteringseffekt och därigenom utveckla styrande dokument, metoder samt arbetssätt. En erfarenhet är att många som söker sig till FM är osäkra på vad ett jobb i FM innebär och många söker till FM utan att veta vad de vill eller kan göra inom organisationen. De individer som kontaktas av projektet har ofta frågor som relativt enkelt kan besvaras.

Aktiviteterna i projektet är uppskattade och anses värdefulla av deltagarna. Aktiviteterna stärker intresset för att fortsätta i rekryteringsprocessen och ta anställning eller teckna avtal i FM och undanröjer onödiga hinder för att fortsätta mot anställning/avtal.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Karlstad: Försvarshögskolan (FHS), 2017. p. 25
Series
ILM Serie I.: Informations- och utbildningsmaterial, ISSN 1653-1523 ; 104
National Category
Other Social Sciences
Research subject
Ledarskap under påfrestande förhållanden
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:fhs:diva-6651 (URN)9789186137618 (ISBN)
Note

ISBN på rapportens baksida saknar de tre sista siffrorna.

Available from: 2017-03-24 Created: 2017-03-24 Last updated: 2017-04-07Bibliographically approved
Nilsson, S., Brandow, C., Ohlsson, A. & Larsson, G. (2017). Military leadership and emotion regulation in acute situations that contain moral dilemmas. International Journal of Work Organisation and Emotion, 8(4), 269-289
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Military leadership and emotion regulation in acute situations that contain moral dilemmas
2017 (English)In: International Journal of Work Organisation and Emotion, ISSN 1740-8938, E-ISSN 1740-8946, Vol. 8, no 4, p. 269-289Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

The aim was to gain a deeper understanding of individual emotion-focused coping strategies and institutionalised norms as regards emotion regulation in a short-and long-term perspective in relation to acute stressful situations that contain moral dilemmas. 15 participants at different hierarchical levels in the Swedish Armed Forces (SAF) were interviewed. Several individual emotion regulation strategies and organisational norms for emotional expressiveness were identified. These were integrated into a theoretical model. The study contributes by explicating a context-specific emotion culture that gives limited space for emotional expression as it is necessary to remain firm and cold in acute situations that include moral dilemmas. Leaders must be able to minimise emotional displays in order to contribute to operational efficiency (termed emotional containing capacity). Potential conflicts between a well-developed emotional containing capacity in acute situations and long-term adaptation to organisational norms in daily life after missions and practical implications are discussed.

Keywords
military leadership, coping strategies, emotional labour, emotion regulation, emotion culture, stress
National Category
Psychology
Research subject
Ledarskap under påfrestande förhållanden
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:fhs:diva-8278 (URN)10.1504/IJWOE.2017.089293 (DOI)
Available from: 2019-01-02 Created: 2019-01-02 Last updated: 2019-11-06Bibliographically approved
Larsson, G., Brandow, C., Fors Brandebo, M., Ohlsson, A. & Åselis, G. (2016). Swedish military officers through other nations' eyes: experiences related to leadership theory, stereotypes, identity and military contextual history. International Journal of Organizational Analysis, 24(4), 615-633
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Swedish military officers through other nations' eyes: experiences related to leadership theory, stereotypes, identity and military contextual history
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2016 (English)In: International Journal of Organizational Analysis, ISSN 1934-8835, E-ISSN 1758-8561, Vol. 24, no 4, p. 615-633Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Purpose

Globalisation of working life means that many organisations are manned by people from different countries. A potentially critical factor is how members from various nations are looked upon by their partner countries. Such perception may be more or less accurate and affect organisational outcomes. The military is no exception as modern warfare is characterised by multinational composition of task forces. The aim of this paper was to gain a deeper understanding of how military officers from other nations perceive Swedish military officers and their leadership qualities in particular.

Design/methodology/approach

Interviews were conducted with 20 military officers representing ten nations. Interview questions were deduced from the Developmental leadership model. Responses were first coded inductively according to the constant comparative method. Generated categories were then deductively related to this leadership model.

Findings

The analysis resulted in positive and negative patterns. The positive picture included Swedish officers being perceived as calm, competent and generally good at exhibiting exemplary leadership behaviour, showing individualised consideration and creating an inspiring atmosphere. The negative side included opinions such as Swedish officers being too emotionally restrained, exhibiting poor self-confidence, discussing too much before making decisions and having difficulties giving negative feedback. The results are discussed in relation to the Developmental leadership model and the stereotype concept.

Research limitations/implications

Small sample size and a focus on military organisations imply a low degree of generalisability.

Practical implications

Three suggestions regarding Swedish officer education are presented: officer students should be given an increased awareness of how they are perceived by others, decision-making without group support and giving negative feedback in a constructive, straight forward, but still considerate way, should be practiced and more attention should be paid to emotion management.

Originality/value

The paper addresses an increasing tendency in work organisations – a multinational composition of the work force. The foundation of study in leadership theory and the stereotype concept is new.

National Category
Sociology
Research subject
Ledarskap under påfrestande förhållanden; Historia med inriktning mot militärhistoria
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:fhs:diva-5764 (URN)10.1108/IJOA-11-2014-0817 (DOI)
Available from: 2016-01-12 Created: 2016-01-12 Last updated: 2018-06-29Bibliographically approved
Wallenius, C., Brandow, C., Berglund, A. K. & Hede, S. (2015). Befolkningens syn på försvarets folkförankring: En enkätstudie på ett befolkningsurval. Karlstad: Försvarshögskolan (FHS)
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Befolkningens syn på försvarets folkförankring: En enkätstudie på ett befolkningsurval
2015 (Swedish)Report (Other academic)
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Karlstad: Försvarshögskolan (FHS), 2015. p. 38
Series
Ledarskapscentrum Serie I.: Informations- och utbildningsmaterial ; 99
National Category
Political Science
Research subject
Ledarskap under påfrestande förhållanden
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:fhs:diva-6683 (URN)9789186137540 (ISBN)
Available from: 2017-04-18 Created: 2017-04-18 Last updated: 2017-06-15Bibliographically approved
Scott, D., Brandow, C., Hobbins, J., Nilsson, S. & Enander, A. (2015). Capturing the citizen perspective in crisis management exercises: possibilities and challenges. International Journal of Emergency Services, 4(1), 86-102
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Capturing the citizen perspective in crisis management exercises: possibilities and challenges
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2015 (English)In: International Journal of Emergency Services, ISSN 2047-0894, E-ISSN 2047-0908, Vol. 4, no 1, p. 86-102Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Purpose– Supporting and communicating with citizens is a vital part of societal crisis management. Training exercises may offer an opportunity to develop capabilities among managers in this regard. The purpose of this paper is to examine this potential in an analysis of how citizens were portrayed and perceived by participants in a major crisis management exercise.

Design/methodology/approach– Observation, document analysis and short interviews during the exercise were used as data collection methods. Data were subjected to thematic analysis to capture core themes in relation to the research aim.

Findings– Patterns in how citizens’ reactions were portrayed in the exercise were identified to form a citizen behaviour typology. Observations during the exercise also demonstrated some of the challenges in incorporating the citizen perspective. However, findings regarding the perception of the citizen perspective also demonstrate the ability of exercise participants to meet and respond to public behaviours with respect and seriousness.

Originality/value– Variation is an important condition for learning in exercises, and the identified typology is suggested as a starting point for achieving this in incorporation of the citizen perspective in training scenarios. The results of the study are discussed in terms of a learning framework with the aim of explicitly developing crisis managers’ ability to interact and communicate with citizens in crisis situations.

Keywords
Variation theory, Crisis communication, Citizen perspective, Crisis management exercise
National Category
Other Social Sciences not elsewhere specified
Research subject
Ledarskap under påfrestande förhållanden
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:fhs:diva-5545 (URN)10.1108/IJES-12-2014-0024 (DOI)000214673200007 ()
Available from: 2015-07-10 Created: 2015-07-10 Last updated: 2020-01-23Bibliographically approved
Jonsson, E., Österberg, J. & Brandow, C. (2015). Effective recruitment of women: Developing a new method. In: M. Nuciari (Chair) (Ed.), ERGOMAS: Program and abstracts. Paper presented at 13th Biennial conference of ERGOMAS, Ra’anana, Israel, 8-12 June 2015.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Effective recruitment of women: Developing a new method
2015 (English)In: ERGOMAS: Program and abstracts / [ed] M. Nuciari (Chair), 2015Conference paper, Oral presentation with published abstract (Refereed)
National Category
Sociology
Research subject
Ledarskap under påfrestande förhållanden
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:fhs:diva-5654 (URN)
Conference
13th Biennial conference of ERGOMAS, Ra’anana, Israel, 8-12 June 2015
Available from: 2015-12-15 Created: 2015-12-15 Last updated: 2016-11-07Bibliographically approved
Wallenius, C., Mattsson, P., Hyllengren, P. & Brandow, C. (2015). Psychological Operations: What Makes them Work?. In: : . Paper presented at Oral presentation at the 57th Annual IMTA Conference, Stockholm, Sweden, 2015.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Psychological Operations: What Makes them Work?
2015 (English)Conference paper, Oral presentation only (Refereed)
National Category
Psychology Sociology
Research subject
Ledarskap under påfrestande förhållanden
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:fhs:diva-5803 (URN)
Conference
Oral presentation at the 57th Annual IMTA Conference, Stockholm, Sweden, 2015
Available from: 2016-01-13 Created: 2016-01-13 Last updated: 2018-01-15Bibliographically approved
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