Manuela Schmidt

Research

My research focuses on how individuals, organizations, and societies can develop sustainable ways of working that promote health, well-being, learning, and quality. I am particularly interested in leadership, organizational learning, quality improvement, cultural diversity, and how policies and organizational changes are implemented in practice. My research is often conducted in close collaboration with stakeholders in healthcare, social care, and education, with the aim of generating knowledge that is both scientifically relevant and practically useful.

I am currently leading or involved in the following research projects:

IN:CHANGE – Learning-based Change Leadership in Thriving Workplaces (funded by the Knowledge Foundation, KK Foundation) explores how organizations can develop the capacity to manage continuous change through learning, collaboration, and sustainable leadership. The project aims to advance knowledge on how individuals, groups, and organizations can learn, adapt, and develop together in a context characterized by uncertainty, digitalization, and complex change.

Older Adults' and Care Staff's Experiences of Meaningful Activities in Multicultural Residential Care Homes (funded by Aktiestinsens Stipendiefond) investigates how older adults and care staff perceive meaningful activities in residential aged care. Particular attention is paid to cultural diversity within care settings and how different experiences, languages, and cultural frames of reference may influence perceptions of what constitutes a meaningful everyday life for older people. The project's objective is to contribute to more person-centered and inclusive aged care services.

Mobile-Free Schools (funded by the Crafoord Foundation) examines the organizational and professional conditions associated with implementing smartphone bans in schools. The project investigates how teachers, school leaders, and student health professionals are affected by the reform, as well as the organizational prerequisites required to create sustainable working conditions and the successful implementation of mobile-free school environments.

Together, these projects contribute to a deeper understanding of how individuals and organizations can manage change, create sustainable working and living environments, and develop practices that better meet people's needs.

Biography

I am both a business administration scholar and a health scientist. In 2020, I earned my PhD in Health Sciences with a specialization in Nursing from Lund University. My doctoral thesis focused on individuals who repeatedly seek care at psychiatric emergency departments. My earlier research primarily examined health and mental health among different professional groups.

Today, my research spans the fields of leadership, quality improvement, organizational development, cultural diversity, healthcare, social care, and education. My interdisciplinary background in business administration and health sciences provides a unique foundation for studying how individuals, teams, and organizations can create sustainable improvements in complex professional settings.

Research Environment

Studies in Integrated Health and Welfare (SIHW) and the Media, Management and Transformation Centre (MMTC)