Gunilla Avby

Associate Professor
Department for quality improvement and leadership , School of Health and Welfare
Presentation Publications

Gunilla is an Associate Professor in Education at Stockholm University. Her theoretical expertise concerns knowledge use and learning at work. She has a special interest in the conditions for learning and the development of professional expertise in the light of society's increased confidence in evidence. The interplay between theory and practice has a prominent role in her research, but also other paradoxes that occur in working life, such as the relationship between new and old, structure and chaos, control and creativity, and standardization and flexibility.

In recent years, Gunilla has studied the conditions for learning and innovative working in relation to the introduction of financial incitaments in Swedish primary health care. Her latest studie, LearnOvation, was conducted together with researchers at JA and healthcare professionals in Region Jönköping County. The study was financed by Vinnova and aimed at enhancing the innovation skills of managers and staff in daily practice. The intervention was based on ambidexterity theory for the content and the research study design.

Article

Schoug, A., Avby, G., Rubin, V., Ohlsson, J. (2025). Collective creativity through a learning lens: Paradoxes of convergence and divergence in an art and theater project Management Learning. More information
Avby, G., Bergmo-Prvulovic, I., Engström, A., Kjellström, S. (2025). Coherence, continuity, and comprehensiveness in shaping leadership development systems in Swedish companies Leadership. More information
Bergmo-Prvulovic, I., Avby, G., Kjellström, S., Engström, A., Schmidt, M. (2025). A path to a deliberate leadership development system: uncovering social representations to facilitate work-integrated learning Studies in Continuing Education. More information
Fabisch, A., Kjellström, S., Ockander, M., Avby, G. (2025). Nine principles for enhancing leadership development practices in organizations International Journal of Training and Development, 29(3), 388-400. More information
Fabisch, A., Kjellström, S., Ockander, M., Avby, G. (2024). Transformations towards an integrated leadership development system: A longitudinal study in a high-performing public organization Leadership, 20(3), 105-124. More information
Kjellström, S., Areskoug Josefsson, K., Fabisch, A., Forsberg, C., Schneider, T., Avby, G. (2022). Fostering exploration and exploitation behavior in management teams to enhance organizational performance: the LearnOvation leadership development program Leadership & Organization Development Journal, 43(3), 482-500. More information
Avby, G. (2022). An integrative learning approach: combining improvement methods and ambidexterity Learning Organization, 29(4), 325-340. More information
Avby, G., Kjellström, S. (2020). ”Inga bevis för att chefer blir bättre av att gå på kurs” Dagens Nyheter. More information
Kjellström, S., Avby, G. (2020). Metoder i vårdens vardag för att skapa kreativitet och delaktighet Chefer och ledare i vården, 28-30. More information
Avby, G., Kjellström, S. (2020). Innovationskraft i vardagens processer Chefer och ledare i vården, 24-27. More information
Kjellström, S., Avby, G. (2020). Välfungerande vårdcentraler Vårdmagasinet Hälsa, 16-17. More information
Karlsson, H., Avby, G., Svendsen, T. (2020). Quality of the analysis—A performance management system for the analytical stage of child-protection investigations Child & Family Social Work, 25(4), 856-864. More information
Hasson, H., Gröndal, H., Hedberg Rundgren, Å., Avby, G., Uvhagen, H., von Thiele Schwarz, U. (2020). How can evidence-based interventions give the best value for users in social services? Balance between adherence and adaptations: a study protocol Implementation Science Communications, 1(1). More information
Avby, G., Kjellström, S., Andersson Bäck, M. (2019). Tending to innovate in Swedish primary health care: a qualitative study BMC Health Services Research, 19(1). More information
Avby, G., Kjellström, S. (2019). LearnOvation: an intervention to foster exploration and exploitation behaviour in health care management in daily practice BMC Health Services Research, 19(1). More information
Karlsson, H., Avby, G., Svendsen, T. (2019). QUAT—a Tool for Evaluating the Quality of Core Assessments in Child-Protection Investigations British Journal of Social Work, 49(7), 1875-1892. More information
Areskoug Josefsson, K., Avby, G., Andersson Bäck, M., Kjellström, S. (2018). Workers’ experiences of healthy work environment indicators at well-functioning primary care units in Sweden: a qualitative study Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care, 36(4), 406-414. More information
Avby, G., Nilsen, P., Ellström, P. (2017). Knowledge use and learning in everyday social work practice: A study in child investigation work Child & Family Social Work, 22(Supplement S4), 51-61. More information
Avby, G., Kjellström, S., Andersson Bäck, M., Areskoug Josefsson, K., Andersson-Gäre, B., Sparf, A., Siljehult, M. (2017). Samarbete bygger en stark primärvård Dagens Nyheter 2017-08-17 Stockholm: Dagens Nyheter . More information
Kjellström, S., Avby, G., Areskoug Josefsson, K., Andersson-Gäre, B., Andersson Bäck, M. (2017). Work motivation among healthcare professionals: A study of well-functioning primary healthcare centers in Sweden Journal of Health Organization & Management, 31(4), 487-502. More information
Avby, G. (2016). Att genom reflection organisera för en medveten och kunskapsrik praktik Pedagogisk forskning i Sverige, 21(3-4), 261-282. More information
Avby, G. (2015). Professional practice as processes of muddling through: a study of learning and sense making in social work Vocations and Learning, 8(1), 95-113. More information
Avby, G., Nilsen, P., Abrandt Dahlgren, M. (2014). Ways of understanding evidence-based practice in social work: A qualitative study British Journal of Social Work, 44(6), 1366-1383 Oxford . More information
Nilsen, P., Nordström (Avby), G., Ellström, P. (2012). Integrating research-based and practice-based knowledge through workplace reflection Journal of Workplace Learning, 24(6), 403-415. More information
Nordström, G. (2004). Vuxnas lärande otydligt inslag i lärarutbildningar KOM: kommunikation mellan kommunala vuxenutbildare, 30(2), 40-41. More information

Doctoral thesis

Avby, G. (2015). Evidence in practice: On knowledge use and learning in social work (Doctoral thesis, Linköping: Linköping University Electronic Press). More information

Book chapter

Avby, G. (2016). Organizing for deliberate practice through workplace reflection. In: Billett, Stephen; Dymock, Darryl; Choy, Sarojni (Ed.), Supporting learning across working life: Models, processes and practices (pp. 75 -90). More information
Avby, G., Nilsen, P., Ellström, P. (2015). Exploring evidence-based practice in practice: the case of social work. In: Mattias Elg, Per-Erik Ellström, Magnus Klofsten, Malin Tillmar (Ed.), Sustainable development in organizations: studies on innovative practices (pp. 153 -168). Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing More information
Nordström (Avby), G. (2009). Gränsöverskridande kunskapsbildning - praktik och teori i interaktion. In: Mattias Elg, Boel Andersson Gäre (Ed.), Vägval och dilemman i interaktiv forskning: kurspaper från Bridging the Gaps doktorandurs Interaktiv forskning 2008 (pp. 27 -45). Jönköping: Landstinget i Jönköpings län More information
Bergendorff, .., Grankvist, M., Nordström, G. (1994). Inlärning kräver trygghet. In: Agnieszka Bron-Wojciechowska; Lena Porsander (Ed.), Att lära efter plugget: kvalitativa undersökningar av vuxnas studiesituation Stockholm: Stockholms universitet, Pedagogiska institutionen More information

Conference paper

Avby, G., Bergmo-Prvulovic, I. (2025). Negotiating leadership in a self-styled HoilocracyTM system. The Best of ILA 2024 and ISLC 2024, Live Online, 6 March 2025. More information
Avby, G., Bergmo-Prvulovic, I., Kjellström, S. (2024). Negotiating Leadership in a self-styled HolocracyTM System. 22nd International Studying Leadership Conference, 8-10 December 2024, Birmingham, UK. More information
Kjellström, S., Fabisch, A., Schmidt, M., Avby, G., Bergmo-Prvulovic, I., Engström, A., Bolden, R. (2023). Workshop: Systems of leadership development: how to transcend linear conceptualizations. The 21st International Studying Leadership Conference, Copenhagen, Denmark, December 10 – 12, 2023. More information
Bergmo-Prvulovic, I., Avby, G., Engström, A., Kjellström, S., Fabisch, A. (2022). Exploring Social Representations of Leadership Development: Designing for Work-Integrated Learning. Trollhättan: University West, WIL'22 International Conference on Work Integrated Learning, 7-9 December 2022, University West, Trollhättan, Sweden. More information
Avby, G., Engström, A., Kjellström, S., Bergmo-Prvulovic, I., Fabisch, A. (2022). Shaping leadership development systems to the work context. OLKC Conference 2022, 7-9 September, 2022, Trollhättan, Sweden. More information
Bergmo-Prvulovic, I., Avby, G., Engström, A., Kjellström, S., Fabisch, A. (2022). Exploring Social Representations of Leadership Development: Designing for Work-Integrated Learning. WIL Conference 2022, 7-9 December, 2022, Trollhättan, Sweden. More information
Andersson Bäck, M., Kjellström, S., Avby, G. (2017). Medical manager hybrids for handling institutional complexity and change in primary care. NOVO 11th Symposium, “Measures to meet Nordic challenges for sustainable health care organizations”, 9-10 November 2017, Gothenburg, Sweden. More information
Andersson Bäck, M., Kjellström, S., Avby, G. (2017). Identity work of successful primary care managers and competing institutional logics. EGOS 2017. 33rd EGOS Colloquium: The Good Organization: Aspirations, Interventions, Struggles, Copenhagen, July 6–8, 2017. More information
Avby, G., Kjellström, S., Andersson Bäck, M. (2017). Transforming primary healthcare: Exploring a new provider model as a lever for innovation and professionalism. EGPA (European Group for Public Administration), 30 August – 1 September 2017, Milano, Italy. More information
Kjellström, S., Avby, G., Andersson Bäck, M., Areskoug Josefsson, K., Andersson-Gäre, B. (2017). Leadership as a driver for work motivation: a study of well-functioning primary healthcare centers in Sweden. NOVO 11th Symposium, “Measures to meet Nordic challenges for sustainable health care organizations”, 9-10 November 2017, Gothenburg, Sweden. More information
Avby, G., Kjellström, S., Andersson Bäck, M. (2017). A reform as a lever for innovation and professionalism?. NOVO 11th Symposium, “Measures to meet Nordic challenges for sustainable health care organizations”, 9-10 November 2017, Gothenburg, Sweden. More information
Kjellström, S., Avby, G., Areskoug Josefsson, K., Andersson Bäck, M. (2017). Research on successful and well-functioning organizations: The role of qualitative studies for theoretical and practical use. Workshop.. NOVO 11th Symposium, “Measures to meet Nordic challenges for sustainable health care organizations”, 9-10 November 2017, Gothenburg, Sweden. More information
Kjellström, S., Avby, G., Andersson Bäck, M. (2016). Financial incentives and motivation: "What we do is the same but how we do it is different". International Forum on Quality & Safety in Healthcare, 12-15 April, 2016, Gothenburg. More information
Nordström (Avby), G. (2012). Understandings of Evidence-based Practice among politicians, managers and executive staff in social welfare agencies. Nordic Working Life Conference. More information
Nordström (Avby), G. (2011). Professionalism encounters Evidence-based Practice (EBP): What effects can EBP have on knowledge use and learning in professional practice?. Kunskap, profession och expertis Nationella nätverket för professionsstudier, 28-29 september 2011, Växjö. More information
Per, N., Nordström (Avby), G., Ellström, P. (2011). Integrating research-based and practice-based knowledge through workplace reflection. International Conference on Researching Work and Learning (RWL), Shanghai, 4-7 December 2011. More information

Other publications

Avby, G., Kjellström, S. (2020). Utforska och kontrollera för innovation i vardagen – två praktiska exempel [video]. More information
Kjellström, S., Avby, G. (2020). Skapa kreativitet och delaktighet i förändringsarbetet [video]. More information
Avby, G., Kjellström, S. (2020). Öka innovationskraften i vardagens processer [video]. More information

Report

Kjellström, S., Avby, G., Areskoug Josefsson, K., Andersson-Gäre, B., Andersson Bäck, M. (2017). De komplexa drivkrafterna inom vård och omsorg - en fallstudie av finansiella incitament och dess konsekvenser ur ett arbetsmiljöperspektiv: Slutrapport. More information
Nordström, G., Bengtsson-Sandberg, K. (2004). Kunskapslyftet: Ett lyft för hela själen. Jönköping: HLK, Encell / Nationellt kompetenscentrum för livslångt lärande More information