Time and change in health care

Area of Science:

• Organizational Behavior
• Healthcare Management
• Social Theory of Time

Background:

• Existing literature on leading change often overlooks the multifaceted nature of time.
• Understanding time is critical for navigating complex organizational dynamics.
• The healthcare system's change processes are influenced by temporal factors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the under-researched dimensions of temporality in leading change.
• To analyze the complexities of time (temporality, timing, tempo) in relation to individuals, teams, and organizations.
• To develop a framework for future research on time and change in healthcare.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing Adams' (1995) social theory of time.
• Analyzing the interplay of temporality, timing, and tempo.
• Illustrating temporal complexities within the healthcare context.

Main Results:

• Time in organizational change is multidimensional, encompassing temporality, timing, and tempo.
• Each dimension offers unique insights into the nature and complexity of change in health systems.
• A novel framework for researching time and change is proposed.

Conclusions:

• Recognizing the multidimensionality of time challenges the notion of a singular 'clock time'.
• This perspective enhances understanding of how diverse perceptions of time influence healthcare change.
• Identifies critical areas for future research on temporal dimensions in organizational change.