Resources, capabilities and public value creation in a healthcare IT project: an action research study
International Journal of Managing Projects in Business
ISSN: 1753-8378
Article publication date: 27 October 2020
Issue publication date: 21 January 2021
Abstract
Purpose
This paper reports on an action research study based optimization project related to healthcare IT implemented on the Faroe Islands. The aims were to study what constitutes value in the public healthcare setting by applying and activating existing resources in the organization, hence answering the overall research question: How can a resource-based view (RBV) improve benefits management (BM) practices?
Design/methodology/approach
By applying a RBV to findings from an action research study of an optimization project of an integrated health information system (HIS), a framework of capabilities needed in a public HIS setting to create value was developed.
Findings
The theoretical contribution is a framework explaining how BM practices and, hence, value can be interrelated in a public healthcare IT system.
Research limitations/implications
The study shows the need for academic IT professionals to structure and facilitate value generation, especially in the form of creating an innovative and learning environment in the form of an action research based project.
Practical implications
This study suggests which actors should be motivated and developed in order to ensure value in healthcare IT projects. Having value creation in mind, the model could have potentially broad applicability in a variety of healthcare IT settings.
Social implications
The findings leads to better usage of public healthcare resources.
Originality/value
The present research studies real problems in a real setting, thus providing distinct ideas on how to improve public value creation by direct engagement of researchers.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The project was carried out with support from the Centre for IT Project Management and Innovation at Aarhus University and from the Faroese Ministry of Healthcare. The authors are grateful for the open doors, friendly interactions and professional discussions provided by the clinical staff (doctors, nurses and therapists on the medical ward) and the staff from the healthcare IT unit. A very early draft of this paper was discussed at the International Research Network on Organizing by Projects (IRNOP), June 2015, in London, UK.
Citation
Svejvig, P. and Schlichter, B.R. (2021), "Resources, capabilities and public value creation in a healthcare IT project: an action research study", International Journal of Managing Projects in Business, Vol. 14 No. 1, pp. 131-149. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJMPB-04-2020-0112
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited