Structural holes in hospital organisations : Facilities managers as intrapreneurial brokers in the tertiary health sector

Abstract

Purpose

The delivery of high quality healthcare services to the community requires the integration of information from a wide range of sources within a complex and highly dynamic environment. Using structural holes theory the challenges and opportunities of integration are explored from a facilities management (FM) perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a critical realism methodology, structured interviews with hospital stakeholders are undertaken in a case study of a large tertiary hospital in Australia. Data are analysed using social network analysis to explore the existence of structural holes.

Findings

Effective FM in the health sector requires intrapreneurial skills to broker connections between functionally and culturally distinct actors located in a highly disconnected communication network structure.

Originality/value

This research reveals, for the first time, the detailed communication structure of relationships among FM services in a hospital. By identifying the existence of structural holes in hospital organisations, it illuminates significant untapped brokerage potential of facilities managers in facilitating greater integration. These insights into communication structure have important implications for the practice of FM in better supporting healthcare service delivery.

Citation

Kang Sherman Heng, H. and Loosemore, M. (2013), "Structural holes in hospital organisations : Facilities managers as intrapreneurial brokers in the tertiary health sector", Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, Vol. 20 No. 5, pp. 474-487. https://doi.org/10.1108/ECAM-05-2011-0045