Applying adult development theories to improvement science

• Published in: International journal of health care quality assurance 2017-08, Vol.30 (7), p.617-627
• Main Authors: Kjellström, Sofia, Andersson, Ann-Christine
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Clinical Competence; Clinical outcomes; Competence; Health administration; Humans; Knowledge; Leadership; Meaning; Organizational change; Organizational Innovation; Personal development; Professionals; Psychological Theory; Public health; Quality Improvement - organization & administration; Quality management; Quality of care; Quality of service; Science
• ISSN: 0952-6862; 1758-6542; 1758-6542
• DOI: 10.1108/IJHCQA-09-2016-0124

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to address how adult development (AD) theories can contribute to quality improvement (QI). Design/methodology/approach A theoretical analysis and discussion on how personal development empirical findings can relate to QI and Deming’s four improvement knowledge domains. Findings AD research shows that professionals have qualitatively diverse ways of meaning-making and ways to approach possibilities in improvement efforts. Therefore, professionals with more complex meaning-making capacities are needed to create successful transformational changes and learning, with the recognition that system knowledge is a developmental capacity. Practical implications In QI and improvement science there is an assumption that professionals have the skills and competence needed for improvement efforts, but AD theories show that this is not always the case, which suggests a need for facilitating improvement initiatives, so that everyone can contribute based on their capacity. Originality/value This study illustrates that some competences in QI efforts are a developmental challenge to professionals, and should be considered in practice and research.