Validating the operational flexibility dimensions in the medical service sectors

Abstract

This paper examines the health operations flexibility dimensions in the United Arab Emirate in the healthcare sector by employing Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) approaches. The study also attempts to determine the numbers for the operational flexibility dimensions which will help the researchers in future find healthcare operational flexibility dimensions valid and reliable. A model consisting of two constructs of operations flexibility structures: external flexibility and internal robustness is examined to measure health operations flexibility elements in service sectors. Respondents are the health leaders (managers, middle manager, top manager and others) who were working in health service sectors in the United Arab Emirate. The underlying constructs of operations flexibility are empirically verified and validated through Reliability Analysis Procedure, Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), First and Second Confirmatory Factor Analysis, and Construct Validity Procedures, Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was employed to test the model, drawing on a sample of 250. The findings revealed that the model of the UAE health service sector consists of two latent's operations flexibility dimensions namely external flexibility and internal robustness, each dimension consisting of four items. Further research should be considered to validate these findings in the other firms. The two dimensions of health operations flexibility represent a valid instrument to measure the operations flexibility in the services sector in the United Arab Emirate. This research is important for one to understand the main topics of health operations flexibility in the health services sector.