Design and implementation of a performance measurement system in Swedish health care services: a multiple case study...

Performance measurement is considered to be an important part in improving and controlling contemporary organizations. Despite the increased interest in using and improving performance measurement systems, the number of researchers investigating the design and implementation process in more detail is still very small. The purpose of this article is to increase the understanding of how a performance measurement system, called the flow model, is designed and implemented by development teams in Swedish health care. The purpose of the flow model is to follow up the requirements in the National Care Guarantee through 8 measures. From a multiple case study of 6 local development teams, we conclude that the performance measurement system of the flow model is designed and implemented in Swedish County Councils through 3 development tracks, which are reflected in close interaction between the local development team and people in clinical departments. Enabling factors in the design and implementation are (1) the recognition of a need to change the current situation, (2) the teams' interaction with people in the clinical departments, (3) the national network meetings arranged by the financier, (4) the struggle to motivate and inform the top management, and (5) the establishment of contact with other development teams and ongoing projects.