A case-based methodology for lean implementation in hospital operations

2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (6) ◽  
pp. 656-676 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tatyana Karla Oliveira Régis ◽  
Luciano Costa Santos ◽  
Cláudia Fabiana Gohr
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Case Study Research ◽  
Hospital Setting ◽  
Initial Step ◽  
Manufacturing Companies ◽  
Lean Implementation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Hospital Operations ◽  
Lean Healthcare ◽  
Implementation Methodology

Purpose Although there are general methodologies for lean implementation in manufacturing companies, a specific methodology for the implementation of lean healthcare in hospitals has not been addressed by the literature. Addressing this gap, the purpose of this paper is to develop a practice-driven methodology for implementing lean in hospital operations. Design/methodology/approach Three case studies were conducted to collect evidence on the lean implementation process in Brazilian hospitals. From empirical evidence and literature, the implementation methodology was proposed and submitted to critical assessment by experts from the field. Findings The process of lean implementation was very similar in all cases, triggered by strategic planning and operationalized by continuous improvement projects. On the other hand, in all cases, the lean implementation teams had to deal with employees’ resistance. These findings were valuable inputs to the development of the implementation methodology. After refinement, it was proposed a feasible, useful and user-friendly methodology. Research limitations/implications The proposed methodology was raised from the practice through case study research. However, the proposed methodology was not fully applied, and the associated performance measures were not elaborated in this paper. Therefore, more case studies and applications will be necessary to generalize the findings. Practical implications The methodology provides practical guidelines that support lean implementation in hospital operations. Although it demands adaptations for each specific hospital setting, this initial step may encourage hospital managers to start the lean journey. Originality/value This study addressed the gap in the literature regarding the lack of methodologies for implementing lean healthcare in hospital operations. The methodology synthesizes the knowledge, principles and tools of lean thinking that can be applied in hospital operations.

Civics education in Malaysia: a clash between ethics, religion and cultural norms

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vishalache Balakrishnan
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Case Study Research ◽  
Project Based Learning ◽  
Cultural Norms ◽  
Digital Citizenship ◽  
Civics Education ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Study Research ◽  
Qualitative Approaches

PurposeTo showcase the importance of digital citizenship in the current era. This article compares the nine features of digital citizen provided by Ribble and Bailey (2007) with a case study conducted in a multicultural setting and identifies the tensions between ethics, religion and cultural norms in that environment.Design/methodology/approachA case study approach has been used in this research. Why case study? Because it is unique and provides in-depth, unique and invaluable findings. Case studies researchers have contributed to the development of case study research from diverse disciplines. Historical examples of case studies go back as far as the nineteenth century with the biography of Charles Darwin (Stewart, 2014). The dominance of positivism in science in the late 1940 and 1950s in social science sidelined qualitative approaches such as case studies. Although case study research was often criticized for its inability to support generalizations, and thus, provided limited validity and value as a research design (Merriam, 2009; Stewart, 2014), case study research provides intensive analysis of an issue. A Case study is intrinsic, instrumental and collective (Stake, 1995, 2006). Case study research encourages the detailed enquiry of a unit of analysis within its context.FindingsFindings show that current society needs to be educated on the nine aspects of digital citizenship. In the current era, changes are so rapid that every now and then, there must be collaboration and cooperation between different agencies to ensure that the tension between religiosity, cultural norms and ethics would be able to find some common ground. With more knowledge and wisdom on human rights, sustainability education and project-based learning in Civics Education, teachers, students, parents and community should often meet to decide on controversial issues and find ways to ensure that each one in society has the knowledge, skills and values for digital citizenship to grow and flourish.Originality/valueThe article is original in nature and has much social impact.

A problem-solving routine for improving hospital operations

2015 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 252-270 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manimay Ghosh ◽  
Durward K Sobek II
Keyword(s):  
Problem Solving ◽  
Process Improvement ◽  
Hospital Setting ◽  
Improve Patient Care ◽  
Healthcare Setting ◽  
Theory Approach ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Hospital Operations

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine empirically why a systematic problem-solving routine can play an important role in the process improvement efforts of hospitals. Design/methodology/approach – Data on 18 process improvement cases were collected through semi-structured interviews, reports and other documents, and artifacts associated with the cases. The data were analyzed using a grounded theory approach. Findings – Adherence to all the steps of the problem-solving routine correlated to greater degrees of improvement across the sample. Analysis resulted in two models. The first partially explains why hospital workers tended to enact short-term solutions when faced with process-related problems; and tended not seek longer-term solutions that prevent problems from recurring. The second model highlights a set of self-reinforcing behaviors that are more likely to address problem recurrence and result in sustained process improvement. Research limitations/implications – The study was conducted in one hospital setting. Practical implications – Hospital managers can improve patient care and increase operational efficiency by adopting and diffusing problem-solving routines that embody three key characteristics. Originality/value – This paper offers new insights on why caregivers adopt short-term approaches to problem solving. Three characteristics of an effective problem-solving routine in a healthcare setting are proposed.

scholarly journals Case study research: opening up research opportunities

2019 ◽  
Vol 55 (1) ◽  
pp. 100-111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adriana Roseli Wünsch Takahashi ◽  
Luis Araujo
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Case Study Research ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Case Study Approach ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
The Social ◽  
Internal Coherence ◽  
Opening Up

Purpose The case study approach has been widely used in management studies and the social sciences more generally. However, there are still doubts about when and how case studies should be used. This paper aims to discuss this approach, its various uses and applications, in light of epistemological principles, as well as the criteria for rigor and validity. Design/methodology/approach This paper discusses the various concepts of case and case studies in the methods literature and addresses the different uses of cases in relation to epistemological principles and criteria for rigor and validity. Findings The use of this research approach can be based on several epistemologies, provided the researcher attends to the internal coherence between method and epistemology, or what the authors call “alignment.” Originality/value This study offers a number of implications for the practice of management research, as it shows how the case study approach does not commit the researcher to particular data collection or interpretation methods. Furthermore, the use of cases can be justified according to multiple epistemological orientations.

Implementing a Lean Six Sigma standardized toolset in a manufacturing company: a case study

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nikolaos A. Panayiotou ◽  
Konstantinos E. Stergiou ◽  
Vassilis Chronopoulos
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Six Sigma ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Manufacturing Sector ◽  
Lean Six Sigma ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Manufacturing Companies ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Manufacturing Company

PurposeThe first purpose of this paper is the implementation of Lean Six Sigma (LSS) in a manufacturing company operating in South East Europe in order to understand the importance of critical success factors (CSFs) in LSS adoption and to find out the benefits that the company gained. The second purpose is to propose a standardized toolset based on DMAIC phases, for the application of LSS in small scale projects, in order to facilitate LSS adoption by more manufacturing companies.Design/methodology/approachThis case study is based on the interlacement of the Yin's method about case studies and the DMAIC method for the improved deployment of LSS.FindingsThe analysis of this case study shows that the company attained to benefit financially, operationally and organizationally from the implementation of LSS. The already existing mentality of CI inside the company helped the project procedure and the application of changes and improvements fulfilling LSS adoption CSFs.Practical implicationsThe paper constructs a toolset and studies the role of CSFs in order to achieve the desirable benefits in a manufacturing environment, constituting a guide for future LSS initiatives.Originality/valueAs stated by literature reviews, even though there are several papers concerning LSS implementation in the manufacturing sector, there is a need for more case studies papers, such as this one, in order to enrich the literature. In this paper, it is also the first time that a specific toolset for small scale projects is proposed based on to DMAIC which can be implemented in further LSS projects.

Case studies in humanitarian logistics research

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 134-152 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diego Vega
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Case Study Research ◽  
Humanitarian Logistics ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Study Research ◽  
Case Study Design ◽  
Chain Of Evidence ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeConsidered a strong method for exploratory investigations, case study research has become part of the mainstream approach, particularly in the field of humanitarian logistics (HL) and supply chain management. Nevertheless, similar to other logistics and SCM-related fields, rigor is not at its best. The purpose of this paper is to propose a framework for crafting case study research in HL, based on an analysis of published case study-based research.Design/methodology/approachThe study classifies and compares the use of case studies in HL research, based on criteria developed from the methodology literature including purpose, type and volume of data, and type of analysis.FindingsWhile case studies become more frequent, the results point out a lack of rigor, particularly regarding chain of evidence and the use of frameworks for case study rationale and analysis.Research limitations/implicationsThe study proposes a framework for case study design, based on four “check questions” that can help researchers to go through the process of crafting a case study.Practical implicationsThe study provides practitioners with more understanding of case studies in HL research, which they can use when calling for or evaluating such studies in their organizations.Originality/valueThis paper offers an initial framework for conducting case studies in HL.

Performance evaluation of lean manufacturing implementation in Brazil

2014 ◽  
Vol 63 (5) ◽  
pp. 529-549 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wagner Cezar Lucato ◽  
Felipe Araujo Calarge ◽  
Mauro Loureiro Junior ◽  
Robisom Damasceno Calado
Keyword(s):  
Lean Manufacturing ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Industrial Sector ◽  
Individual Element ◽  
Manufacturing Companies ◽  
Lean Implementation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Lean Principles ◽  
Lean Practices ◽  
Survey Results

Purpose – Manufacturing companies worldwide have been replacing traditional mass-production practices by lean initiatives. This translation process is progressive and may vary depending on several factors. Hence, it could be expected that the degree of adoption of the lean practices could vary significantly among industries, regions and even countries. The purpose of this paper is to explore the implementation performance of lean principles in Brazil, the paper developed a survey in the Sao Paulo Metropolitan Area, which considered 51 industries of different sizes, from several industrial segments, nationals and multinationals. Design/methodology/approach – The proposed survey was developed using as a normative framework the SAE J4000 standard – identification and measurement of the best practice in implementation of lean operation and the SAE J4001 – implementation of lean operation user manual. To measure the implementation degree of the lean practices in the researched industries, the paper proposed the utilization of two concepts: the degree of leanness (DOL) of an element of J4000 and DOL of a company. Also three hypotheses were tested, trying to establish the relationship among the DOL and firm ownership, their size and respective industrial sector. Findings – The results obtained in the survey demonstrated that the performance of lean initiative implementation is not uniform among the companies located in the researched area. Outcomes also showed that the degree of implementation of the lean practices by multinational companies was higher than that for the national firms. However, it was not possible to establish a relationship between the DOL and the size of the firms. Neither a clear and definite association between DOL and industrial sector was possible to be identified. Practical implications – For the practitioners and managers dealing with the lean implementation, this paper gives a relevant contribution because it shows how they can effectively use an existing tool to measure the implementation of the lean practices in their respective firms. Furthermore, the DOL calculation for each individual element of the J4000 standard could also be used by practitioners and managers to identify specific problems and opportunity areas where practical actions could be identified to improve the lean implementation. Originality/value – This paper contributes to the lean manufacturing theory because it proposes a theoretical way to measure the degree of implementation of the lean initiatives in the manufacturing companies. Also the survey results generate additional research material that could be used by other researchers to further explore the subject in the area.

The role of social media in strengthening civic engagement in the Middle East and North Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Allam Ahmed ◽  
Omer Gibreel
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Middle East ◽  
Civic Engagement ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
North Africa ◽  
Case Study Research ◽  
Digital Natives ◽  
Practical Significance ◽  
Mena Region ◽  
Content Type

PurposeThis article explores the current trends in civic engagement in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region after a decade of social media growth in the region.Design/methodology/approachThe methodology is based on a case studies approach. In these case studies, the authors use an exploratory approach to case study research. The authors employ a mixed-method approach to exploring the development of civic engagement in the MENA region.FindingsThe study’s finding shows that the MENA region's social media growth has enabled digital natives to play a vital role in enriching and empowering their communities and their lives.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper could have explored more examples from around the MENA region.Practical implicationsThe paper's practical significance is the understanding that the ground is shifting around Internet access and how digital natives in the MENA region are employing it for their civic engagement initiative. It is an important indication that the MENA region's next innovation could be in the civic engagement arena. Unlike their parents, who are digital immigrants, these young and energetic digital natives are out to shape all aspects of their lives. Paving the way for more innovative and creative ways of civic engagement in the MENA region.Originality/valueThe paper explores civic engagement development in the MENA region, shedding light on the issues concerning MENA region youth such as cleaning the environment, waste and food recycling, combating extremism, developing education curricula and even promoting peace. The paper's value is that it gives an update on civic engagement in the MENA region.

Toward an Egyptian managerial framework based on crowdsourcing for open innovation

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed Metwaly ◽  
Ali ElKattan ◽  
Menatalla Kaoud
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Research ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Open Innovation ◽  
Case Study Research ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Daily Work ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
High Degree

PurposeThe purpose of the presented research paper is to explore the different aspects of crowdsourcing and its evolution over time. Supported by three different case studies, the research focuses on the different factors that affect crowdsourcing for open innovation. Moreover, the findings give us a proposed managerial framework to be considered when adopting crowdsourcing in addition to factors that proved its huge effect on crowdsourcing activities.Design/methodology/approachA qualitative research approach for this research was the most convenient. It focuses on providing an in-depth understanding of the phenomena. Qualitative research represents the views and perspectives of the participants in a study besides it is driven by a desire to explain these events, through existing or emerging concepts (Yin, 2016). Adopting a case study research method that investigates a contemporary phenomenon (the “case”) in depth and within its real-world context, especially when the boundaries between phenomenon and context may not be evident (Yin, 2018) as in crowdsourcing based business model for open innovation.FindingsThe researchers presented the benefits and challenges when considering crowdsourcing establishing a managerial framework for open innovation. Additionally, the researchers identified the different factors that highly affect crowdsourcing proposing a model that can be used for adopting crowdsourcing. The research also presented insights about how crowdsourcing was introduced in the Egyptian market and how it evolved through the years.Research limitations/implicationsThe study had some limitations to be considered in the following work. Company X used crowdsourcing within a high degree of limitations and confidentially consequently, restricting the effects and results of crowdsourcing. Another limitation was that the study has been only qualitative, and the addition of the quantitative approach will numerically support the findings. Moreover, the research depended on the businesses only as of the source of information and neglected the crowd sample.Practical implicationsThe main aim of this study was to address the lack of research evidence on what it means to adopt crowdsourcing for open innovation in Egyptian firms. The authors have done so by adopting three case studies which enabled them to directly observe and report on the daily work of trust CEOs, with special attention to the practices. Whereby, these executives made themselves knowledgeable for all practical purposes, as dictated by their specific job. Accordingly, the first major contribution of the present research is that it provides much-needed empirical data on the actual practices of crowdsourcing in three Egyptian, yet international companies. Moreover, the results could be used as a guideline when considering crowdsourcing activities highlighting the advantages and disadvantages of such activities.Originality/valueThe paper discusses different perspectives of crowdsourcing presenting a new categorization for its types. Moreover, how these types have been used especially in the Egyptian market. On the other hand, the paper investigated and documented three different sized companies' experiences utilizing crowdsourcing for innovation. The collected information was used to suggest a new model by which companies can avoid the difficulties others had. Moreover, the research highlighted the benefits and challenges of using crowdsourcing for open innovation.

A new framework to support Lean Six Sigma deployment in SMEs

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 58-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos Abraham Moya ◽  
Daniel Galvez ◽  
Laurent Muller ◽  
Mauricio Camargo
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Six Sigma ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Performance Indicator ◽  
Lean Six Sigma ◽  
Organizational Capabilities ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Manufacturing Companies ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Readiness Level

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to propose an assessment approach to evaluate the organizational capabilities to deploy a Lean Six Sigma (LSS) strategy. Design/methodology/approach Based on a comprehensive literature review, critical success factors required to deploy LSS were defined. These key factors are evaluated by a questionnaire based on maturity grids and structured as a multi-criteria model to compute a potential LSS performance indicator. This approach is illustrated through two case studies. Findings To promote a successful implementation of LSS in SMEs, it is necessary to consider five main critical factors. The evaluation of these factors could be achieved thanks to a multi-criterion-based maturity indicator for the LSS implementation. The case studies show that this approach allows SMEs to understand their strengths and weaknesses and thus better prepare the implementation of LSS. Research limitations/implications The proposed tool identifies characteristics of companies leading to successful LSS implementation; but is not yet able to provide a detailed strategy to improve them. The case studies were applied to manufacturing companies; therefore, there is no evidence of conclusions in the context of services. Practical implications The proposed methodology will help managers and practitioners to evaluate the readiness level of a company to implement LSS. Then, they could estimate the effort required to achieve the LSS deployment. Originality/value This paper proposes a new metric of the capacity to implement the LSS successfully in SMEs: the Lean Six Sigma Global Index. This indicator is based on a survey completed by managers and supported by observable phenomena to establish a tailored diagnosis before the LSS implementation.

Lean management practices in healthcare sector: a literature review

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 1275-1289 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shilpa Shekhar Parkhi
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Operations Management ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Healthcare Sector ◽  
Research Directions ◽  
Lean Implementation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Current State ◽  
Lean Healthcare

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to synthesise the extent to which lean implementation in healthcare has been studied in the literature since its inception a decade ago. Design/methodology/approach This paper is based upon a literature review of mostly academic articles published mainly in the fields of operations management and medicine. Findings The current state of the literature on lean healthcare implementation is primarily evaluative (benefits-oriented), descriptive (process-oriented) and rarely holistic (interaction of lean implementation and clinical practice). Originality/value This paper identifies further research directions for academics, and provides an overview of findings relevant to healthcare stakeholders interested in lean implementation.

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