Table 2 Themes identified in the interviews and used in the Qualitative Comparative Analysis.

Absent Manager

I

The informant described a situation where the employer/line manager was physically absent or/and unable to give support to the employees.

Agent of Change

D

The informant described a situation where she had an active role in the implementation of the changes.

Already Ill

D

Means that the informant mentioned having already had a debilitating illness at the beginning of 1991.

Control In

D

Informants described a feeling of being in control during day-to-day activities at work, e.g. regarding when and how the work tasks should be performed.

Control Over

D

Informants felt that they had substantial influence over structural issues at the workplace, e.g. the setting of new goals, organisational decisions, hiring of new employees etc.

Cost-Cutting

D

The informant expressed the view that the organisational changes were mainly driven by financial cuts.

Disintegration

D

The informant described that subgroups were formed and that former colleagues were split up making cooperation more difficult.

High Workload

D

The informant experiences a high workload with few pauses.

Humiliating Position

I

The informant experienced a state of low status or belittlement and a feeling of being an outsider or not being wanted at the workplace.

Insufficient Dialogue

D

The informant experienced a lack of, or insufficient, dialogue with her line manager and other superiors during the organisational changes.

Investment

D

The informant felt that the organizational changes were aimed at improvement rather than cost-cutting, and that the management invested in the organization.

Lacking Competence or Qualifications

I

The informant experienced a lack of competence or formal qualifications in relation to other employees and/or work tasks.

Lacking Exit Possibility

I

The informant had not seen a realistic possibility to find another job.

Mentor

I

The informant mentioned a person who gave support and inspiration, and who in different ways encouraged the informant during the changes.

Multiple Roles

I

The informant worked in several teams in parallel.

Pioneering Spirit

I

The term Pioneering Spirit (Swedish: nybyggaranda) was mentioned with enthusiasm in several interviews, a phenomenon which was described in terms of being there 'from the beginning' and 'building something new'.

Problem with Colleagues

D

The informant mentioned conflicts or malfunctioning communication at the workplace.

Stress in Private Life

D

The informant mentioned having experienced difficulties and/or stress in her social/private life.

Support from Colleagues

D

The informant experienced good support from her colleagues, both at work and in private life.

Support in Private Life

D

The informant experienced good support from her family.

Unregulated Work

I

The informant experienced a lack of clear limits and guidelines regarding work tasks from the management and among the employees.

Well Planned Change Process of change

I

The informant described a clear structure for involvement of the employees in the changes, e.g. in the form of meetings, clear information, and adequate dialogue.