Avoiding failure: tools for successful and sustainable quality-improvement projects

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Organizational Psychology
• Process Improvement

Background:

• Successful quality improvement initiatives are rewarding but challenging.
• A significant percentage of organizational change efforts fail to be sustained.
• Numerous factors contribute to the success or failure of quality improvement projects.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review factors influencing the success and sustainability of quality improvement projects.
• To provide a resource for individuals initiating quality improvement efforts.
• To identify key elements that increase or decrease the likelihood of project success.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of factors associated with quality improvement project outcomes.
• Categorization of success-related items into structural, human, and environmental contexts.
• Synthesis of findings to guide future quality improvement endeavors.

Main Results:

• Identified specific structural issues impacting project sustainability.
• Highlighted human factors critical for successful change implementation.
• Emphasized the role of environmental context in achieving lasting improvements.
• Factors reviewed increase or decrease the likelihood of success.

Conclusions:

• Understanding structural, human, and environmental factors is essential for successful quality improvement.
• This review serves as a guide to help position quality improvement projects for success.
• Addressing identified factors can improve the sustainability of organizational change.