Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Explaining process orientation failure and success in health care - three case studies

Hellman, Stefan ; Kastberg, Gustaf LU and Siverbo, Sven (2015) In Journal of Health Organisation & Management 29(6). p.638-653
Abstract
Purpose - In order to improve cooperation and collaboration between units, clinics and departments, many health care organizations (HCOs) have introduced process orientation. Several studies indicate problems in realizing these ambitions. The purpose of this paper is to explain and understand the success and failure of process orientation in HCOs. Design/methodology/approach - The authors conducted three case studies and applied Actor-Network Theory as an analytic lens. Findings - The realization of process orientation is hindered by neglect or resistance from physicians, who find the process targets to be of low medical priority. However, the authors also see that medical priorities are no stable entities but are susceptible to... (More)
Purpose - In order to improve cooperation and collaboration between units, clinics and departments, many health care organizations (HCOs) have introduced process orientation. Several studies indicate problems in realizing these ambitions. The purpose of this paper is to explain and understand the success and failure of process orientation in HCOs. Design/methodology/approach - The authors conducted three case studies and applied Actor-Network Theory as an analytic lens. Findings - The realization of process orientation is hindered by neglect or resistance from physicians, who find the process targets to be of low medical priority. However, the authors also see that medical priorities are no stable entities but are susceptible to negotiations. Over time, process organization, process mapping, process measurement activities and the acting of enroled actors may have impact on medical priorities. Originality/value - Contrary to previous research, the findings indicate that New Public Management may not be the main obstacle against processes, that accounting figures may not be hard to disregard and that the role of leadership is not paramount. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Health care, Actor Network Theory, Medical profession, Organization and, control, Process orientation
in
Journal of Health Organisation & Management
volume
29
issue
6
pages
638 - 653
publisher
Emerald Group Publishing Limited
external identifiers
  • wos:000366627900001
  • scopus:84942412666
ISSN
1758-7247
DOI
10.1108/JHOM-09-2013-0186
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
661d6055-0274-4189-bdac-67e5e13175d6 (old id 8556730)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 09:50:04
date last changed
2023-01-01 22:37:11
@article{661d6055-0274-4189-bdac-67e5e13175d6,
  abstract     = {{Purpose - In order to improve cooperation and collaboration between units, clinics and departments, many health care organizations (HCOs) have introduced process orientation. Several studies indicate problems in realizing these ambitions. The purpose of this paper is to explain and understand the success and failure of process orientation in HCOs. Design/methodology/approach - The authors conducted three case studies and applied Actor-Network Theory as an analytic lens. Findings - The realization of process orientation is hindered by neglect or resistance from physicians, who find the process targets to be of low medical priority. However, the authors also see that medical priorities are no stable entities but are susceptible to negotiations. Over time, process organization, process mapping, process measurement activities and the acting of enroled actors may have impact on medical priorities. Originality/value - Contrary to previous research, the findings indicate that New Public Management may not be the main obstacle against processes, that accounting figures may not be hard to disregard and that the role of leadership is not paramount.}},
  author       = {{Hellman, Stefan and Kastberg, Gustaf and Siverbo, Sven}},
  issn         = {{1758-7247}},
  keywords     = {{Health care; Actor Network Theory; Medical profession; Organization and; control; Process orientation}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{6}},
  pages        = {{638--653}},
  publisher    = {{Emerald Group Publishing Limited}},
  series       = {{Journal of Health Organisation & Management}},
  title        = {{Explaining process orientation failure and success in health care - three case studies}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/JHOM-09-2013-0186}},
  doi          = {{10.1108/JHOM-09-2013-0186}},
  volume       = {{29}},
  year         = {{2015}},
}