Illusion or delusion – Lean management in the health sector
International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance
ISSN: 0952-6862
Article publication date: 8 July 2014
Abstract
Purpose
There has been considerable interest in the implementation of practices imported from manufacturing into healthcare as a solution to rising healthcare spending and disappointing patient safety indicators. One approach that has attracted particular interest is Lean management and the purpose of this paper is to engage with this topic.
Design/methodology/approach
Secondary research.
Findings
Despite widespread enthusiasm about the potential of Lean management processes, evidence about its contribution to higher organisational performance remains inconsistent.
Research limitations/implications
This paper engages with the major Lean concepts of operations management and human resource management, including just-in-time, total quality management, total productive maintenance and does not engage in-depth with concepts related to employee empowerment, and training.
Practical implications
This paper contributes to the organisational management literature in healthcare by showing that although Lean management seems to have the potential to improve organisational performance it is far from a panacea against under performing hospitals.
Social implications
It informs policy making by suggesting that a progressive managerial philosophy has a stronger impact on healthcare performance than the adoption of practices from any particular managerial approach.
Originality/value
This paper provides a critical evaluation of the impact of Lean practices in informing healthcare policy. The paper contributes to the organisational management literature in healthcare by showing that even though Lean management in healthcare appears to have the potential to improve organisational performance; there remain problems with its application.
Keywords
Citation
McIntosh, B., Sheppy, B. and Cohen, I. (2014), "Illusion or delusion – Lean management in the health sector", International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, Vol. 27 No. 6, pp. 482-492. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJHCQA-03-2013-0028
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2014, Emerald Group Publishing Limited