Three Perspectives on Organizational Justice within Care Centers for People with Intellectual Disability: A Study about the Partnership between Professionals and Families

In recent decades, organizations have come to understand that sustainable development and growth require a balance between concern for business and human beings. This balance is essential in various sectors, including healthcare institutions and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) catering to groups at risk of exclusion, including people with intellectual disabilities (PID). Organizational justice is a vital element in today's organizations and organizational research. In organizations such as care centers for PID, interpersonal justice, a dimension of organizational justice, plays a significant role as it is crucial for achieving service objectives, such as improving the quality of life (QoL) for the service user. In these centers, professionals and families/legal guardians (the proxy) form a partnership aiming to enhance the QoL of the PID. The thesis aims to enrich service literature and enhance the understanding of collaboration between professionals and families in organizations for individuals with intellectual disabilities. To achieve this goal, the thesis comprises three empirical studies, each focusing on different perspectives of interpersonal justice between families and professionals: a) mutual justice from both perspectives; b) justice-trust spiral over time from the professionals' perspective; and c) within-person justice from the families' perspective. This holistic approach aims to provide insights into the justice relationship between professionals and families and analyze the effects of this relationship on relevant outcome variables. Through the first study, the thesis aims to understand the mutual justice perspective of both families and professionals. This understanding will help identify areas where improvements can be made and establish common grounds for enhancing collaboration. It will also shed light on the expectations both parties have of each other, ultimately leading to better support and improved QoL for the PID. The second study focuses on the justice-trust spiral over time from the professionals' perspective. Trust is a crucial component in any partnership, and understanding how justice affects trust in the professional-family relationship can significantly contribute to fostering a healthy working environment for all stakeholders. By examining the dynamics of the justice-trust spiral, the research hopes to offer practical suggestions for maintaining and enhancing trust between parties. In the third study, the thesis delves into the within-person justice perspective from the families' viewpoint. The perspective acknowledges the unique experiences and challenges faced by families in their interactions with professionals. By understanding their perspective, the research can offer valuable insights into how to better accommodate their needs and foster a more inclusive environment within care centers. By focusing on the interaction between professionals and families and implementing a set of empirical studies, the research aims to provide valuable insights into the importance of collaboration and its effects on achieving the ultimate goal of improving the quality of life for individuals with intellectual disabilities. The findings from this research can contribute significantly to the development of policies and practices within care centers and pave the way for more effective collaboration and support for individuals with intellectual disabilities and their families.