Facilitating system-wide organizational change in health care

• Published in: International journal of quality and service sciences 2015, Vol.7 (1), p.72-89
• Main Authors: Westerlund, Anna, Garvare, Rickard, Höög, Elisabet, Nyström, Monica Elisabeth
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: change facilitation; change management; Clinics; Content analysis; Councils; Health care; Initiatives; Investigations; Knowledge management; Kvalitetsteknik; Management science & operations; Organizational change; organizational development; Quality improvement; Quality Technology and Management; Service management; Service quality/excellence; Studies; Taxonomy
• ISSN: 1756-669X; 1756-6703; 1756-6703
• DOI: 10.1108/IJQSS-01-2015-0004

Purpose – The purpose of this paper was to investigate the role of an intra-organizational change facilitating function (CFF) in relation to a multi-level development initiative in a health care organization. Involved actors’ views on factors in need of attention and how the CFF related to these factors were studied. Design/methodology/approach – A longitudinal case study design was used, combining data from questionnaires, process diaries and interviews with employees at the CFF, managers and clinic staff. Findings – Factors on micro, meso and macro levels, crucial to attend to, were highlighted by respondents at staff and managerial levels. The CFF related to some of these factors by acting upon them, or by developing plans to handle them, while other factors were unattended to. The CFF activities also had indirect influence on other factors. The CFF role and responsibilities were not clearly defined beforehand, and a need to clarify a division of roles and responsibilities is highlighted. Research limitations/implications – Our study contributes to current knowledge on facilitation of change by relating it to an organizational dimension of implementation. Practical implications – The description of important factors to handle during a large organizational change process and issues a CFF can encounter may aid others involved in designing and managing large organizational development initiatives. Originality/value – The study elaborates on less studied functions and roles of an intra-organizational CFF in relation to factors of vital importance for organizational change and development in health-care organizations.