Translating a quality management system in Mine Action. A case study of the implementation of a quality management system in the Mine Action Department in Norwegian Peoples Aid

Abstract

Translating a quality management system in Mine Action is a case study aimed at understanding how an idea about quality management (ISO9000 quality management principles) found its way into the Mine Action Department in Norwegian People’s Aid. What was the result and why. The case is done inductive by testing the Kjell Arne Røvik’s pragmatic institutionalism and his theory of the virtues of the good translator. The case study has been built using in-depth analysis of secondary data, interviews with key stakeholders and a system user survey. The data collected has then been analysed to create the sequence of events leading to the motivation for quiring the system known as the motivational phase, the induction phase and finally the adoption phase, as well as to linking the theory with the sequence of event and subsequently the outcome of the knowledge transfer. The system was called NOMS and was based on ISO9000 quality management principles. The attempt of knowledge-transfer happened within a year between 2010 and 2011. The case shows that, despite good efforts to roll-out a system, the system was decoupled from the core activities and eventually rejected long before it was officially written-off in 2021.