Lean and process-orienting health care : linking and disentangling activities

• PurposeOne of the latest trends within public administration and healthcare organizations (HCOs) is process orientation, often in the shape of Lean management. The purpose of this study is to expand our understanding of process orientation of HCOs and the more specific aim is to investigate what measures are taken to re-frame the HCOs to include the process dimension.Design/methodology/approachThis empirical study is based on 67 interviews and 20 meeting observations.FindingsThe main observation in this study is that introducing process-oriented management solutions is about disconnecting and cutting-off existing links. The authors see how attempts are made to cut-off links to the logic of functional specialization, the autonomy of the professional worker, equal treatment of patients and other objectives.Originality/valueThis study adds to and expands previous studies that have problematized the use of Lean-inspired ways of organizing in the public sector.

Subject headings

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Ekonomi och näringsliv -- Företagsekonomi (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Economics and Business -- Business Administration (hsv//eng)

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Statsvetenskap -- Studier av offentlig förvaltning (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Political Science -- Public Administration Studies (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Management

Lean

Health care

Disentanglement

Process orientation

Business administration

Företagsekonomi

Disentanglement

Health care

Lean

Management

Process orientation

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)