Ole Jacob Thomassen

Ole Jacob Thomassen serves as Associate Professor at the Department of Business, History and Social Sciences, School of Business, University of South-Eastern Norway (USN), Campus Vestfold. He leads the university's strategic focus area 'Democracy, Social Organization, and Governance' (2023-2026) and heads the 'Societal Analysis' research group. His academic work centers on organizational sociology, public sector governance transformations, and immigrant labor market inclusion through Bourdieu's theoretical lens.

Thomassen earned his PhD in 2013 from the University of Oslo's Faculty of Medicine, focusing on workplace environments and the Norwegian labor market. His doctoral research established foundations for examining integrity, rationality tensions, and organizational dynamics in professional contexts.

His research interests emphasize organizational sociology using Bourdieu's concepts, evolving public sector governance (particularly in NAV), and strategies for immigrant labor integration. Methodologically, he specializes in qualitative approaches and teaches related research methods, investigating how co-creation among stakeholders enhances employment opportunities for immigrants in Norway.

Analysis of his 14 publications (2012-2023) reveals consistent application of Bourdieu's theory to frontline discretion in public services, work ability assessments, organizational temporality, and integrity in professional settings. Key thematic trends include tensions between care rationality and technical-economic systems in healthcare, moral dimensions of public sector work, and historical perspectives in organizational change.

Thomassen provides supervision for undergraduate, master's, and doctoral students. His current research funding includes leadership of the NFR project 'Migrant Work Inclusion' (2021-2025) and direction of USN's strategic focus area on Democracy and Social Organization, reflecting his commitment to sociological research addressing societal challenges.

As leader of the 'Societal Analysis' research group at the Business School, he coordinates a team examining contemporary governance dynamics, organizational change, and inclusion mechanisms through sociological inquiry.