Managing the gap: balancing advances in technology with advances in management practice

Area of Science:

• Health Informatics
• Organizational Management
• Information Technology

Background:

• Significant investments in health information systems (HIS) are made with the expectation of improving healthcare resource management.
• However, realizing these benefits proves challenging despite substantial hardware and software expenditures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the personal and organizational factors hindering the effective realization of HIS benefits.
• To identify strategies for managing the gap between information technology advancements and management practices in healthcare.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual analysis of information systems application within healthcare organizations.
• Discussion of personal and organizational issues impacting HIS integration.
• Alignment of findings with the principles of a learning organization.

Main Results:

• The gap between IT advancements and management practice is a significant barrier.
• Effective HIS implementation requires deep integration, not superficial application.
• Personal and organizational factors are critical for successful HIS adoption.

Conclusions:

• Bridging the gap necessitates addressing both technological and human/organizational elements.
• Adopting a learning organization approach can facilitate adaptation to environmental changes driven by HIS.
• Successful HIS integration is crucial for optimizing healthcare resource management.