Mats Persson

Mats Persson is an Associate Professor at the Department of Organization, Management and Governance, University of Inland Norway. He holds a doctorate in work science and specializes in organizational change, leadership theories (e.g., trust-based leadership), and the role of literature reviews in scientific writing. He co-hosts the podcast Research Design and Method with Elise Øby. His research focuses on institutional mergers, reforms, and pandemic-driven organizational adaptation. He previously worked in healthcare and consulting before joining academia in 2011.

• Education: PhD in Work Science

Research interests include mergers/acquisitions dynamics, leadership paradigms, and the methodological aspects of qualitative inquiry. He is affiliated with the Public Policy, Leadership and Governance (OPLOS) research group and serves as program manager for the Master in Public Management and Governance.

Key contributions analyze merger failures through stakeholder perspectives, pandemic adaptations in academic programs, and metaphorical frameworks in organizational studies. His work bridges theoretical insights with practical managerial challenges.