Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

The Swedish healthcare system is characterized by lack of resources and extensive hospital queues. In order to counter these difficulties the Lund University Hospital have introduced Lean Healthcare to the hospital organization.

The purpose of this scientific paper is to study the relationship between the implementation of Lean Healthcare and the experienced motivation among the staff. This essay thereby intends to impart knowledge, which could be used on future implementations of Lean Healthcare at other hospitals.

In order to fulfil the purpose of this essay a case study have been conducted at two wards at the Lund University Hospital in which qualitative research interviews have been the method chosen in order to gather data. The data where then analysed through organizational theory, motivation theory and theory of empowerment and participation.

This study of the organizational change that took place imply that the hospital staff respondents felt that Lean Healthcare led to a less stressful work environment and an improved effectiveness on the ward. One of the main reasons for the successful implementation of Lean healthcare on the Lund University Hospital is concluded to be a result of the successful use of powerful channels of communication such as the Leanspel, in English; the Lean game. Furthermore this case study conclude that the reason for staff acceptance of Lean healthcare is its perceived inner qualities which enables the staff to choose what they regard as a problem and by themselves solve it as they see fit. This, in return, is highly motivating since the staff seems to choose to focus their improvement on the organization in areas that reduce or diminish stress factors on the ward.