Dr. Karin Wastesson

Biography

Karin Wastesson's research focuses on work and working life, particularly inclusion and exclusion in labor market settings. Currently, she works as a doctoral student representative at Linköping University. Her research is grounded in a broad interest in human experiences at work, exploring topics such as organizational development, leadership, and workplace learning conditions. She has a particular interest in gender perspectives in the workplace, especially in female-dominated sectors. In autumn 2024, she will earn her PhD in Education, focusing on work and working life. Her dissertation, titled "Learning Managerial Work: First-line Managers’ Learning Everyday Work within Swedish Elderly Care," investigates how first-line managers learn in their daily activities in elderly care contexts. Key research questions address how learning occurs and the conditions that shape managerial practices in everyday work. Her studies show that managerial learning occurs amidst a flow of varied tasks and interactions, highlighting the unpredictability of changing circumstances. The necessity for managers to continuously learn to handle new situations and develop their practices is emphasized, as is the influence of prior work experience, workplace relationships, and organizational structures on learning. Gendered expectations related to managerial roles in female-dominated contexts have a significant impact on workplace learning.

Research Interests