Abstract
BackgroundWe are in an innovation age for healthcare delivery. Some note that the complexity of healthcare delivery may make innovation in this setting more difficult and may require more adaptive solutions. The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between unit complexity and innovation, using a complex adaptive systems approach in a hospital setting.MethodsWe conducted a quantitative study of 31 hospital units within one hospital and use complex adaptive systems (CAS) theory to examine how two CAS factors, autonomy and performance orientation, moderate the relationship between unit complexity and innovation.ResultsWe find that unit complexity is associated with higher innovation performance when autonomy is low rather than high. We also find that unit complexity is associated with higher innovation performance when performance orientation is high rather than low. Our findings make three distinct contributions: we quantify the influence of complexity on innovation success in the health care sector, we examine the impact of autonomy on innovation in health care, and we are the first to examine performance orientation on innovation in health care.ConclusionsThis study tackles the long debate about the influence of complexity on healthcare delivery, particularly innovation. Instead of being subject to the influence of complexity with no means of making progress or gaining control, hospitals looking to implement innovation programs should provide guidance to teams and departments regarding the type of innovation sought and provide support in terms of time and management commitment. Hospitals should also find ways to promote and make successful pilot implementations of such innovations visible in the organization. A close connection between the targeted innovation and the overall success and performance of the hospital unit is ideal.
Highlights
We are in an innovation age for healthcare delivery
We examine the role of autonomy on the relationship between complexity and hospital unit innovation
Because this study focuses on the unit level, we focus on Internal Mechanisms that may influence the role of complexity on innovation, namely the role of agents’ development of rules for action and goals and behaviors
Summary
Some note that the complexity of healthcare delivery may make innovation in this setting more difficult and may require more adaptive solutions. The forces of innovation mold the evolutionary pattern of an industry’s state of technology and advancement [1]. These forces in the health care industry have driven radical scientific advancements and medical treatment innovations for decades. We are entering an innovation age for hospital care delivery, with significant investments being made to drive hosptital innovation, To explore how hospital unit innovation is achieved, we must understand if the phenomenon is best categorized as simple, complicated, complex, or chaotic [6]. Chaotic phenomena, is a state of complete confusion and disorder, means that cause and effect relationships are unclear, and events are too confusing to wait for a knowledge-based response
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