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Management and economic perspectives on efficiency
P Hilsenrath1, S Levey, L O'Neill
1Division of Health Management and Policy, College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City 52242, USA.
Best Practices and Benchmarking in Healthcare : a Practical Journal for Clinical and Management Application
|February 5, 1998
Summary
This study clarifies the varied meanings of efficiency across management, organizational behavior, and economics. Understanding these diverse perspectives can enhance academic terminology and theory development in these fields.
Area of Science:
- Management Science
- Organizational Behavior
- Economics
Background:
- The concept of efficiency is interpreted differently across various academic disciplines.
- Existing definitions of efficiency lack a unified understanding, leading to potential confusion in research and practice.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the diverse economic and organizational perspectives on efficiency.
- To foster a clearer understanding of efficiency's varied connotations and denotations.
- To improve terminology and theory building by reconciling different definitions.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of economic and organizational theories.
- Comparative analysis of different efficiency definitions.
- Conceptual exploration of semantic variations.
Main Results:
- Identified distinct economic and organizational orientations influencing efficiency definitions.
- Highlighted the semantic nuances and differing contexts of efficiency.
- Demonstrated how varied perspectives contribute to a fragmented understanding.
Conclusions:
- A comprehensive understanding of efficiency requires acknowledging its multidisciplinary interpretations.
- Reconciling these diverse viewpoints is crucial for advancing theoretical frameworks.
- Improved clarity in defining efficiency will benefit research and application across fields.