How Visual Management for Continuous Improvement Might Guide and Affect Hospital Staff: A Case Study

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Organizational Behavior
• Lean Management

Background:

• Visual management (VM) tools, such as whiteboards, are utilized in Lean initiatives to enhance work processes across various industries.
• The application and impact of VM within healthcare Lean interventions on clinical staff remain underexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the implementation and influence of Lean-inspired VM using whiteboards on hospital staff's work and collaboration.
• To understand how VM adoption affects continuous improvement efforts in a healthcare setting.

Main Methods:

• A case study design was employed on two cardiology wards.
• Data collection involved semistructured interviews, nonparticipant observations, and photography.

Main Results:

• VM adoption and effectiveness varied significantly between the two wards.
• One ward successfully integrated VM, enhancing continuous improvement, while the other found it ill-fitting and unsustainable.
• VM facilitated cross-time communication and teamwork when contextually appropriate.

Conclusions:

• The success of VM in healthcare is contingent upon its alignment with the specific local context and workflow.
• Integrating VM with continuous improvement strategies can foster long-term staff engagement in change processes.