That's how it should work: the perceptions of a senior management on the value of decentralisation in a service delivery organisation

Abstract

Purpose

Decentralisation in health care has been proposed as a way to make services more responsive to local needs and by that improve patient care. This study analyses how the senior management team conceptualised and implemented a decentralised management model within a large public health care delivery organisation.

Design/methodology/approach

Data from in-depth interviews with a senior management team were used in a directed content analysis. Underlying assumptions and activities in the decentralisation process are presented in the logic model and scrutinised in an a priori logic analysis using relevant scientific literature.

Findings

The study found support in the scientific literature for the underlying assumptions that increased responsibility will empower managers as clinical directors know their local prerequisites best and are able to adapt to patient needs. Top management should function like an air traffic control tower, trust and loyalty improve managerial capacity, increased managerial skills release creativity and engagement and a system perspective will support collaboration and learning.

Originality/value

To the authors’ knowledge this is the first a priori logic analysis of a decentralised management model in a healthcare delivery organisation in primary and community care. It shows that the activities consist with underlying assumptions, supported by evidence, and timely planned give managers decision space and ability to use their delegated authority, not disregarding accountability and fostering necessary organisational and individual capacities to avoid suboptimisation.

Citation

Ohrling, M., Tolf, S., Solberg-Carlsson, K. and Brommels, M. (2021), "That's how it should work: the perceptions of a senior management on the value of decentralisation in a service delivery organisation", Journal of Health Organization and Management, Vol. 35 No. 5, pp. 596-613. https://doi.org/10.1108/JHOM-12-2020-0474