Lean in healthcare organization: an opportunity for environmental sustainability

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 205-220 ◽  
Author(s):  
Poonam Singh
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Healthcare Organization ◽  
Healthcare Organizations ◽  
New Approach ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Extra Effort ◽  
Environmental Footprints ◽  
Manufacturing Supply Chain ◽  
Lean Healthcare ◽  
Environment Sustainability

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide insights toward the potential of lean healthcare organization for environment sustainability and develop propositions for future studies.Design/methodology/approachThis is a conceptual paper to study the inbuilt capacity of lean healthcare organization to mitigate environmental footprint. As a result, lean compatibility with environmental sustainability (ES) has been explored in areas like manufacturing, supply chain, aviation, construction, etc. The lean philosophy, lean culture and lean tools were analyzed to identify their contribution to ES in the context of healthcare organizations.FindingsBased on the analysis of lean philosophy, culture and tool, this paper theorizes that lean healthcare organizations have huge potential to mitigate environmental footprints. Lean healthcare organizations need not to do any extra effort for ES albeit it is inbuilt in it. Lean philosophy provides a vision to the healthcare organization for ES whereas lean culture bestow healthcare with an epistemology for the same.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper provides insight that ES is embedded in lean healthcare organizations. Lean healthcare organizational culture is ideal for application for constructivism theory where employees construct a new knowledge from their experiences to minimize the waste that eventually help in ES.Originality/valueMajor contributions of the study include a new approach for mitigating the environmental footprints by adopting lean in healthcare organization.

Managing different forms of distances in Dutch healthcare organizations

2015 ◽  
Vol 29 (7) ◽  
pp. 1080-1097
Author(s):  
Annemiek Stoopendaal
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Healthcare Organization ◽  
Ethnographic Study ◽  
Healthcare Organizations ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Daily Work ◽  
Healthcare Executives ◽  
Governance Practices ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose – Dichotomous “gap” thinking about professionals and managers has important limits. The purpose of this paper is to study the specific ontology of “the gap” in which different forms of distances are defined. Design/methodology/approach – In order to deepen the knowledge of the actual day-to-day tasks of Dutch healthcare executives an ethnographic study of the daily work of Dutch healthcare executives and an ontological exploration of the concept “gap” was provided. The study empirically investigates the meaning given to the concept of “distance” in healthcare governance practices. Findings – The study reveals that healthcare executives have to fulfil a dual role of maintaining distance and creating proximity. Coping with different forms of distances seems to be an integral part of their work. They make use of four potential mechanisms to cope with distance in their healthcare organization practices. Originality/value – The relationship between managers and professionals is often defined as a dichotomous gap. The findings in this research suggest a more dynamic picture of the relationship between managers and professionals than is currently present in literature. This study moves “beyond” the gap and investigates processes of distancing in-depth.

Intellectual capital and performance measurement in healthcare organizations

2016 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 320-350 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Grazia Pirozzi ◽  
Giuseppe Paolo Ferulano
Keyword(s):  
Performance Measurement ◽  
Conceptual Framework ◽  
Organizational Performance ◽  
Intellectual Capital ◽  
Health Agency ◽  
Integrated Model ◽  
Healthcare Organization ◽  
Added Value ◽  
Healthcare Organizations ◽  
Content Type

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to define a new conceptual framework or model, to measure and manage organizational performance, both financial/non-financial and intellectual capital (IC), in a healthcare organization. Design/methodology/approach – The integrated new model is produced by integrating the common assessment framework (CAF) model with two other frameworks representing the IC and leadership. These already existing models are originated, respectively by the Health Agency of Emilia-Romagna Region (Italy) and the National Healthcare System (NHS – UK). The integration phase is operated by comparing the CAF and IC models so as to assess the determinant factors that are present in both frameworks and eliminating such redundancies. Concerning the leadership determinant factor, the relevant conceptual framework of CAF model is substituted by the new leadership model proposed by the NHS. Findings – A new integrated model is made available for a subsequent step of empirical implementation and validation through its application in a healthcare organization. The main advantage of this model is the ability to measure and manage IC and financial/non-financial performance. Moreover, the use of a single measurement system facilitates the interpretation and coherency assessment of measured data so originated. Originality/value – The added value this work provides will enrich the academic literature regarding performance measurement systems in healthcare organizations, also providing an original integrated model that is able to exhibit the advantages highlighted above.

A conceptual model of Lean culture adoption in healthcare

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc Dorval ◽  
Marie-Hélène Jobin
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Change ◽  
Cultural Change ◽  
Operations Management ◽  
Healthcare Organization ◽  
Change Strategies ◽  
Healthcare Organizations ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Implementation Challenges ◽  
Lean Transformation ◽  
Quantitative Validation

PurposeThis work seeks to offer a greater understanding of Lean healthcare implementation challenges conceptually taking a situated cultural organizational change perspective.Design/methodology/approachA descriptive model of healthcare organizations’ Lean adoption trajectories is built using ripple and bridging modelization strategies from elements of three classic organizational change theories and knowledge from Lean, organizational culture, healthcare and operations management literature.FindingsThe “contingent Lean culture adoption” (CLCA) model suggests five theoretical trajectories the healthcare organizations may experience when conducting a Lean transformation. These trajectories evolve from a new concept of Lean cultural friction (LCF) which represents cultural friction that a healthcare organization encounters toward an ultimate Lean culture proficiency state through time. From high to low initial LCF, a healthcare organization may in its Lean proficiency course end up in three states: lower, similar or higher LCF situation.Research limitations/implicationsThe CLCA model demonstrates the potential to be developed into a framework and possibly a Lean cultural friction theory pending further qualitative and quantitative validation.Practical implicationsThe CLCA model may help healthcare managers to use more appropriate cultural change strategies during their organization’s Lean journey.Originality/valueThis work enriches the concept of Lean cultural change which may apply not only to healthcare organizations but also to other ones. It suggests the existence of a healthcare organization Lean culture proficiency archetype and introduces the notion of Lean cultural friction.

Leadership behaviors during lean healthcare implementation: a review and longitudinal study

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 193-215 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guilherme Tortorella ◽  
Desirée H. van Dun ◽  
Amanda Gundes de Almeida
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Leadership Behaviors ◽  
Leader Behaviors ◽  
Healthcare Organizations ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Work Settings ◽  
Lean Practices ◽  
Industrial Setting ◽  
Lean Healthcare ◽  
Healthcare Work

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine leadership behaviors associated with lean healthcare (LH) implementation and how they develop throughout the change process.Design/methodology/approachAfter a systematic literature review of 107 peer-reviewed articles on lean leaders’ behaviors, the authors undertook a one-year mixed-methods study of 12 leaders within a Brazilian public hospital undergoing LH implementation. Multivariate data analysis techniques were employed.FindingsThe literature review showed some convergence between effective lean leader behaviors in both manufacturing and healthcare work settings, implying that lean leaders’ behaviors are generalizable to other contexts than manufacturing. The empirical findings suggest that LH implementation needs leaders to demonstrate a set of task-oriented behaviors, especially if short-term results are mandatory. More mature lean leaders should also continue developing their relations-oriented behaviors.Research limitations/implicationsWhile the contingency theory assumes that contexts influence (lean) practices adoption, leadership behaviors may not be bound to the work context. The finding resembles the augmentation effect of leadership whereby more mature lean leaders adopt both task- and relations-oriented behaviors.Originality/valueLongitudinal studies in this field are scarce, regardless of the industrial setting. Many manufacturing and healthcare organizations crave for knowledge about lean leader behaviors throughout the lean implementation journey in order to enhance the effectiveness of their often-struggling lean initiatives. The insights derived from this study could help organizations to adjust their expectations as well as identify behavioral gaps and needs in terms of soft skills development among their leaders.

Integrating alternative technologies to improve built environment sustainability in Africa

2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 193-211 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali GhaffarianHoseini ◽  
John Tookey ◽  
Amirhosein GhaffarianHoseini ◽  
Nicola Naismith ◽  
James Olabode Bamidele Rotimi
Keyword(s):  
Built Environment ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Alternative Technologies ◽  
African Context ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Increasing Demand ◽  
Environment Sustainability

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to review extant literature and to provide perspectives on approaches to enhancing built environment sustainability in Africa. There is a mismatch between global societal resources and the increasing demand for natural resources. The consequences of this mismatch are prevalent in many African countries, causing the need to implement of built environment sustainability as a matter of cause. Design/methodology/approach Little research has been undertaken to date with a focus on the environmental sustainability of Africa. With this in mind the review was undertaken through a series of incremental steps. It began with an initial review, before developing through exploratory and development phases. The process culminated with the refined literature review presented. Findings The paper finds that a different approach is required to achieve built sustainable development for developed and developing countries, with a clear difference in terms of its application observed between the Northern and Southern hemispheres. Current energy and water crisis facing Africa is brought to the fore and an evaluation is provided of the systems being used to ameliorate its effects. The study explores a range of technological solutions that are appropriate for consideration in the African context. It also examines the barriers that need to be overcome to facilitate the widespread use of the suggested solutions in Africa. Originality/value This study examines built environment sustainability through the Africa lens. It highlights its importance and the contextual factors inhibiting the widespread uptake of built environment sustainability solutions. The study offers a number of recommendations for the future to encourage long-term built environment sustainability in Africa and more specifically the Sub-Saharan region.

Employee’s green behavior for environmental sustainability: a case of banking sector in Pakistan

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 118-130 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qaisar Iqbal ◽  
Siti Hasnah Hassan ◽  
Sohail Akhtar ◽  
Shahid Khan
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Banking Sector ◽  
Service Industry ◽  
Positive Trend ◽  
Business World ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Five Dimensions ◽  
Environment Sustainability ◽  
Corporate Social ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to find out the relationship between employee’s green behaviors (EGBs) and environmental sustainability (ES). Presently, many ES issues have impact on organizations, e.g., energy cost and climate change. In business world, there is a positive trend among organizations to start reporting over performance of ES keeping their role as corporate social responsibility alive. Design/methodology/approach Self-administered questionnaires were floated to gather data from employees of manufacturing and service industry. In order to analyze the collected data, regression analysis and correlation coefficient were employed to check hypotheses. Statistical Package of Social Sciences has been used for data analysis. Findings Results reveal that there is a direct positive relationship between EGB and environment sustainability. The five dimensions of EGB, i.e., working sustainability, conserving, avoiding harm, influencing others and taking initiative also have significant association with ES. ES carries with itself sensational openings for the HRM role and with the opportunity originates responsibility. Practical implications This study emphasizes the revised planning of training and development programs to create awareness among employees and strategies to improve ES and corporate social responsible level of organizations in competitive world. Originality/value This research carries a new horizon to explore the association of EGBs with ES in banking sector. The study presents first-ever empirical evidence about the relationship between ES and EGBs from developing countries.

Modelling the readiness factors for agility in healthcare organization: a TISM approach

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (7) ◽  
pp. 2372-2400 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vaishnavi V. ◽  
Suresh M. ◽  
Pankaj Dutta
Keyword(s):  
Structural Model ◽  
Matrix Multiplication ◽  
Healthcare Organization ◽  
Readiness For Change ◽  
Healthcare Sector ◽  
Environmental Scanning ◽  
Healthcare Organizations ◽  
Interpretive Structural Modeling ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Expert Interview

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify and analyze the interactions among different readiness factors for implementing agility in healthcare organization. Total interpretive structural modeling (TISM) based readiness framework for agility has been developed to understand the mutual interactions among the factors and to identify the driving and dependence power of these factors. Design/methodology/approach The identification of factors is done by TISM approach used for analyzing the mutual interactions between factors. Cross-impact matrix multiplication applied to classification analysis is utilized to find the driving and dependent factors of agile readiness in healthcare. Findings This paper identifies 12 factors of readiness for change in literature review, which is followed by an expert interview to understand the interconnection of factors and to study interrelationships of factors. The study suggests that factors like environmental scanning, resource availability, innovativeness, cost effectiveness, organizational leadership, training and development are important for implementing/improving the readiness of agility in healthcare organizations. Research limitations/implications This research focuses mainly on readiness factors for agility in healthcare sector. Practical implications Top management must stress on readiness factors that have a strong driving power for efficient implementation of agility in healthcare. This study helps the managers to take quick decisions, and continuous monitoring of readiness factors would be more beneficial to improve the quality of service, which makes the organization more agile. Originality/value In this research, TISM-based readiness for agile framework structural model has been proposed for healthcare organizations, which is a new effort for implementation of agility in healthcare.

Understanding the Tradition of Male Calf Release in Tambakan Village of Bali Island, Indonesia from the Perspective of History, Religion, Environment Sustainability and Food Security

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Luh Putu Puspawati ◽  
I Made Swastika ◽  
Tjokorda Udiana Nindhia Pemayun ◽  
Tjokorda Gde Tirta Nindhia
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
The People ◽  
Environment Sustainability ◽  
The Village

Historically the tradition of male calf release in Tambakan Villlage was initiated from the vow of the defeated soldier of the kingdom of Buleleng over the kingdom of Bangli in the Island of Bali in the region of present day Indonesia. The defeated soldiers of Buleleng were hiding in the forest around the presentday village of Tambakan, Buleleng, Bali. All the soldiers vowed to the Deity dwelling in the forest to hand over a male calf if they survived the pursuit of the enemy. In the end, the enemy could not find them and the soldiers remained in the forest and continued their lives there. The village was named as Tambakan, meaning a buffer of enemy attack. The village was surrounded by a fence made from bamboo during that time. The soldiers then paid their vows by releasing male calves into the forest. This historical incident then developed to become a belief of the local peoples that if they vow to release a male calf to the Deity, then their wish will be fulfilled. Indeed many wishes of the people did come true when they released a male calf to the forest. Consequently, the population of the bulls increased in the forest, and by the influence of the Hindu Tantra sect, about 23 bulls from the forest are taken out every 2 years to be sacrificed in the temples addressed to Goddess of Durga. The meat of the sacrificed bulls is then distributed to the members of the village to be consumed. The releases of male calves gives benefit to environmental sustainability and the distribution of the meat after sacrificing guarantees food security for the people.

scholarly journals The concept of neutrality: a new approach

2019 ◽  
Vol 76 (1) ◽  
pp. 333-353 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Macdonald ◽  
Briony Birdi
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Information Science ◽  
Social Institutions ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Library And Information Science ◽  
New Approach ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Normative Framework ◽  
Contextual Awareness

Purpose Neutrality is a much debated value in library and information science (LIS). The “neutrality debate” is characterised by opinionated discussions in contrasting contexts. The purpose of this paper is to fill a gap in the literature by bringing these conceptions together holistically, with potential to deepen understanding of LIS neutrality. Design/methodology/approach First, a literature review identified conceptions of neutrality reported in the LIS literature. Second, seven phenomenographic interviews with LIS professionals were conducted across three professional sectors. To maximise variation, each sector comprised at least one interview with a professional of five or fewer years’ experience and one with ten or more years’ experience. Third, conceptions from the literature and interviews were compared for similarities and disparities. Findings In four conceptions, each were found in the literature and interviews. In the literature, these were labelled: “favourable”, “tacit value”, “social institutions” and “value-laden profession”, whilst in interviews they were labelled: “core value”, “subservient”, “ambivalent”, and “hidden values”. The study’s main finding notes the “ambivalent” conception in interviews is not captured by a largely polarised literature, which oversimplifies neutrality’s complexity. To accommodate this complexity, it is suggested that future research should look to reconcile perceptions from either side of the “neutral non-neutral divide” through an inclusive normative framework. Originality/value This study’s value lies in its descriptive methodology, which brings LIS neutrality together in a holistic framework. This framework brings a contextual awareness to LIS neutrality lacking in previous research. This awareness has the potential to change the tone of the LIS neutrality debate.

Does total factor productivity affect the energy efficiency

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 108-125 ◽  
Author(s):  
Salman Haider ◽  
Javed Ahmad Bhat
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Energy Efficient ◽  
Energy Intensity ◽  
Paper Industry ◽  
Labour Productivity ◽  
Efficient Technology ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Efficiency Performance ◽  
Energy Efficient Technology

Purpose Because of growing energy consumption and increasing absolute CO2 emissions, the recent calibrations about the environmental sustainability across the globe have mandated to achieve the minimal energy consumption through employing energy-efficient technology. This study aims to estimate linkage between simple measure of energy efficiency indicator that is reciprocal of energy intensity and total factor productivity (TFP) in case of Indian paper industry for 21 major states. In addition, the study incorporates the other control variables like labour productivity, capital utilization and structure of paper industry to scrutinize their likely impact on energy efficiency performance of the industry. Design/methodology/approach To derive the plausible estimates of TFP, the study applies the much celebrated Levinsohn and Petrin (2003) methodology. Using the regional level data for the period 2001-2013, the study employs instrumental variable-generalized method of moments (GMM-IV) technique to examine the nature of relationship among the variables involved in the analysis. Findings An elementary examination of energy intensity shows that not all states are equally energy intensive. States like Goa, Rajasthan, Jharkhand and Tamil Nadu are less energy intensive, whereas Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Assam and Punjab are most energy-intensive states on the basis of their state averages over the whole study period. The results estimated through GMM-IV show that increasing level of TFP is associated with lower level of energy per unit of output. Along this better skills and capacity utilization are also found to have positive impact on energy efficiency performance of industry. However, the potential heterogeneity within the structure of industry itself is found responsible for its higher energy intensity. Practical implications States should ensure and undertake substantial investment projects in the research and development of energy-efficient technology and that targeted allocations could be reinforced for more fruitful results. Factors aiming at improving the labour productivity should be given extra emphasis together with capital deepening and widening, needed for energy conservation and environmental sustainability. Given the dependence of structure of paper industry on the multitude of factors like regional inequality, economic growth, industrial structure and the resource endowment together with the issues of fragmented sizes, poor infrastructure and availability and affordability of raw materials etc., states should actively promote the coordination and cooperation among themselves to reap the benefits of technological advancements through technological spill overs. In addition, owing to their respective state autonomies, state governments should set their own energy saving targets by taking into account the respective potentials and opportunities for the different industries. Despite the requirement of energy-efficient innovations, however, the cons of technological advancements and the legal frameworks on the employment structure and distributional status should be taken care of before their adoption and execution. Originality/value To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that empirically examines the linkage between energy efficiency and TFP in case of Indian paper industry. The application of improved methods like Levinsohn and Petrin (2003) to derive the TFP measure and the use of GMM-IV to account for potential econometric problems like that of endogeneity will again add to the novelty of study.

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