Cheers to what we should talk about - A regenerative organization design towards a change within the Danish alcohol culture
Author
Overgaard, Ina
Term
4. Term
Education
Publication year
2024
Submitted on
2024-06-07
Pages
40
Abstract
This thesis explores how a design approach can reduce stigma around alcohol problems and encourage more people to seek help. In Denmark, alcohol use is deeply embedded in culture and has serious health, social, and economic consequences. Using Grounded Theory (a method that builds theory from data) and insights from process theory (how change unfolds) and political programs (policy and practice frameworks), the study examines how different actors address the needs of people with alcohol problems and why current treatments fall short. It identifies stigma as a main barrier to help-seeking, reinforced by medicalized language in public and academic debate that creates a simplified, negative view of alcohol issues. The thesis proposes a new political program and a design game to build agency within organizations, helping them improve communication and outreach to both the target group and the public. By changing language and how alcohol’s impact is understood, the aim is to foster a more nuanced way of talking about people with alcohol problems and to encourage reflection on alcohol consumption across the Danish population.
Dette speciale undersøger, hvordan en designmetode kan mindske stigmatisering omkring alkoholproblemer og motivere flere til at søge hjælp. I Danmark er alkoholforbrug dybt forankret i kulturen og har alvorlige konsekvenser for sundhed, sociale relationer og økonomi. Med Grounded Theory (en metode, hvor teori udvikles ud fra data) og indsigter fra procesteori (hvordan forandring forløber over tid) og politiske programmer (rammer for politik og praksis) analyserer specialet, hvordan forskellige aktører forsøger at imødekomme behov hos mennesker med alkoholproblemer, og hvorfor nuværende indsatser ikke er tilstrækkelige. Specialet peger på stigmatisering som en hovedbarriere for at søge hjælp, forstærket af en medicinsk sprogbrug i offentlig og akademisk debat, som skaber et forenklet og negativt billede af alkoholproblemer. Specialet foreslår et nyt politisk program og et designspil, der skaber handlekraft i organisationer, så de kan forbedre deres kommunikation og outreach over for både målgruppen og offentligheden. Ved at ændre sprogbrug og forståelse af alkoholens betydning er målet at udvikle et mere nuanceret sprog om mennesker med alkoholproblemer og at fremme refleksion over alkoholindtag i den danske befolkning.
[This apstract has been rewritten with the help of AI based on the project's original abstract]