Role shifts within the working day : a phenomenological pilot study of how emloyees experience role shifts

Abstract: The aim of this study is to explore how people during their working day experience role shifts if they on the whole experience or are aware of any role shift. Do they need time to adjust themselves to different roles? To find out about this a pilot study with a phenomenological approach was performed by having 4 participants write short diaries about their thoughts, feelings and ideas when they experienced a role shift. In addition 4 interviews with participants from 2 different situations were performed. The diaries were analysed with the help of Meaning Constitution Analysis (MCA-Minerva). The study shows that there are role shifts and that these can be connected with frustration if not sufficient time for reflecting or adjusting is available. The study also shows that the order of role shifts can be important, affecting the need for a longer adjusting time or not.