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Activation Work: Policy Programme Administration or Professional Service Provision?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 March 2012

RIK VAN BERKEL  and
PAUL VAN DER AA
RIK VAN BERKEL*
Affiliation:
School of Governance, Faculty of Law, Economics and Governance, Utrecht University, Bijlhouwerstraat 6, 3511ZC Utrecht, The Netherlands
PAUL VAN DER AA
Affiliation:
Department of Social Affairs and Employment, SWA, PO Box 1024, 3000BA Rotterdam, The Netherlands email: phj.vanderaa@rotterdam.nl
*
email: r.vanberkel@uu.nl
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Abstract

This article focuses on the design of frontline work in public agencies involved in the delivery of activation programmes and services. More specifically, it raises the following questions: should we think of activation work as an administrative function or as a form of professional service provision? And does the design of activation work matter in terms of the effectiveness of activation services? In answering these questions, the article provides a meta-analysis of two strands of literature. First, we analyse the available literature reporting on studies of activation frontline work and its organisation and management in public agencies responsible for delivering activation programmes. Secondly, we look at those studies of the effectiveness of activation that focus on the impact of characteristics of frontline work and its organisation and management on activation policy outcomes. We conclude that although the desirability of a professional design of activation work meets relatively wide support among scholars, the feasibility of this professionalisation project is highly contested. In addition, the debate on the nature of the activation profession has only just started. Finally, evaluation studies show that activation work characteristics do affect the outcomes of activation programmes. Against this background, we conclude that a more prominent place of activation work on the research agenda of social policy scholars is recommendable.

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Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Social Policy , Volume 41 , Issue 3 , July 2012 , pp. 493 - 510
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2012

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