Networking and knotworking practices: work integration as situated social process

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to present a transnational research intervention that relies on the qualitative monitoring of disadvantaged people’s work integration program. In particular, the paper adopts the concept of networking and knotworking to intercept and describe the ways in which organizational payers shape knowledge in their contexts of work inclusion.

Design/methodology/approach

The research is based on a developmental ethnographic research to detect meaningful, situated knowledge related to the activities for work integration of disadvantaged people. Two main techniques, “at home ethnography” (Ellis and Bochner, 2000; Hansen, 2006) and participant observation (Alvesson, 2009), were used for gathering data.

Findings

The paper highlights the existing contradictions within and between the multiple activity systems. The advantages of using the activity theory’s lenses are underlined together with two main approaches related to the assumption of a networking and knotworking orientation. The findings also refer to some new paths professionals identified for their daily activity.

Originality/value

The paper provides a better understanding of the contemporary challenges of working, that is extremely helpful to policy makers and other practitioners, including researchers.

Citation

Scaratti, G., Ivaldi, S. and Frassy, J. (2017), "Networking and knotworking practices: work integration as situated social process", Journal of Workplace Learning, Vol. 29 No. 1, pp. 2-23. https://doi.org/10.1108/JWL-06-2015-0043