Managerialism, information technology and health reform in New Zealand

Recent health reform in New Zealand has transformed public hospitals and related health services into Crown Health Enterprises (CHEs), which have a statutory objective to operate as successful and efficient businesses. Examines managerialist interpretations of a proposed executive information system (EIS) at one CHE. Arguably, the use of computerized information systems signals managerial competence and rationality, and there was an implicit assumption among senior CHE managers that "business-like" and "efficient" management required the use of information technology. In the end, in the context of continuing organizational restructuring, the EIS was never implemented.