Maktens rum / Den synliga arbetsplatsen : En kvalitativ studie om disciplinär makt i öppna kontorslandskap

Sammanfattning

Increased digitalization and new organizational forms have contributed to the growing prevalence of open-plan offices. These environments are associated with transparency and collaboration, but also raise concerns regarding privacy, work environment, and control. Previous research shows that open-plan offices may promote cooperation while also creating social control and stress. The aim of this study is to examine how power, control, and social order are expressed and experienced by employees working in open-plan offices. The theoretical framework is based on Michel Foucault theory of disciplinary power and Erving Goffman dramaturgical perspective. The study adopts a qualitative approach based on semi-structured interviews with employees in open-plan offices. The results show that high visibility influences employees’ behavior through self-regulation and adaptation to social norms. Control is mainly maintained through informal processes where both managers and colleagues contribute to reproducing workplace norms and order. The study demonstrates how power operates subtly through visibility, norms, and everyday interactions, contributing to a sociological understanding of organizational control in modern work environments.