This page has only limited features, please log in for full access.
The aging population of the western world poses a medical challenge for the society of today and the future. The pressure on health care and its organization is increasing as the demand for health care is growing at the same time as the costs are continuously rising. There seems to be consensus regarding bottlenecks in health-care production systems, and that knowledge is needed in order to increase insights about operational decisions. This chapter is based on a qualitative case study conducted at a hospital in western Sweden. Eleven CEOs together with their production controllers were interviewed. The chapter aims to analyze knowledge management mechanisms in the infrastructure of a health-care organization. The analysis shows how mechanisms have significant impacts on the knowledge management practice in the operations management. A learning and knowledge creation culture, together with an organizational architecture for adaptive and exaptive capacity, and a business model for knowledge capitalization could support the production of smooth and effective health care in society, which is of high quality.
Ann Svensson; Eva Hedman. Operations Knowledge Management in Health Care. Operations Management - Emerging Trend in the Digital Era 2021, 1 .
AMA StyleAnn Svensson, Eva Hedman. Operations Knowledge Management in Health Care. Operations Management - Emerging Trend in the Digital Era. 2021; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAnn Svensson; Eva Hedman. 2021. "Operations Knowledge Management in Health Care." Operations Management - Emerging Trend in the Digital Era , no. : 1.
Competence development for teachers is of increasing importance as the use of digital tools poses a challenge to the pedagogical approach within the teaching context in schools. Schools are responsible for ensuring that students are able to use modern technology as tools for searching for knowledge and for communication, as well as for creation and learning. Hence, teachers need to develop their competence in integrating digital technologies into their pedagogical practices. Digital tools function as resources for interaction and collaboration across space and time, and also considerably facilitate inter-professional work and communication. This paper is based on an action-based qualitative study of a Nordic education project that focused on competence development among teachers, and where inter-professional collaboration and the use of digital tools was of great importance. The aim of this paper is to analyze how teachers’ competence development with regard to innovative pedagogical skills can be supported in an inter-professional community of practice, using digital technologies. Different pedagogical approaches, curricular contents, digital resources and organizational conditions were produced in the virtual collaboration within this community of practice.
Ann Svensson. Competence Development for Teachers Within a Digital Inter-professional Community. Organizing Smart Buildings and Cities 2020, 99 -113.
AMA StyleAnn Svensson. Competence Development for Teachers Within a Digital Inter-professional Community. Organizing Smart Buildings and Cities. 2020; ():99-113.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAnn Svensson. 2020. "Competence Development for Teachers Within a Digital Inter-professional Community." Organizing Smart Buildings and Cities , no. : 99-113.
EHealth is considered a solution to current challenges in healthcare. However, its use is not very well developed, and its potential has been little exploited. There are many reasons for the limited diffusion of eHealth. Knowledge, opportunities for training and collaborative activities are examples of factors that influence diffusion. Managerial responsibility is decisive in transforming healthcare. This paper aims at exploring middle management strategies that can facilitate workplace learning when introducing eHealth and new ways of providing healthcare. Introduction of eHealth will imply new and innovative working processes, where both employees and managers need to be aware that their work will change fundamentally, from routine work to work that involves learning, skills development and continuous changes in work practice. This study takes a qualitative approach by analysing data collected through focus group interviews. The findings indicate a necessity for a shift towards learning-oriented leadership and adaptive management that emphasizes employee involvement and opportunities for learning. Helping employees make sense of the complexities associated with continuously changing work practices is another identified middle management strategy. Scenario planning and backcasting stand out as suitable tools for sensemaking in complex organizations and as techniques that can promote workplace learning.
Camilla Gjellebæk; Ann Svensson; Catharina Bjørkquist; Nina Fladeby; Kerstin Grundén. Management challenges for future digitalization of healthcare services. Futures 2020, 124, 102636 .
AMA StyleCamilla Gjellebæk, Ann Svensson, Catharina Bjørkquist, Nina Fladeby, Kerstin Grundén. Management challenges for future digitalization of healthcare services. Futures. 2020; 124 ():102636.
Chicago/Turabian StyleCamilla Gjellebæk; Ann Svensson; Catharina Bjørkquist; Nina Fladeby; Kerstin Grundén. 2020. "Management challenges for future digitalization of healthcare services." Futures 124, no. : 102636.
Small enterprises face multiple and complex challenges when developing digital technologies. The aim of this article is to explore the role of sustainable innovation in small enterprises in relation to the ongoing transformation of the primary healthcare sector. The purpose is to gain understanding of innovation processes within the framework of sustainable development, applied to a local primary healthcare center. Data were collected through seven semi-structured interviews. A qualitative thematic analysis was conducted. Five themes appeared in relation to the ongoing transformation of the primary healthcare sector: (1) The process of sustainable innovation in a long-term perspective; (2) the companies’ views on innovations in healthcare; (3) effects of innovations in healthcare; (4) sustainable product or service development, and (5) the role of collaboration in the innovation process. The companies expressed a positive attitude to new innovations, as a natural part of developing the companies. The article concludes that incremental development of tools in small businesses supports the transformation of processes and services in the primary healthcare sector. Cross-disciplinary teams in collaboration facilitates the necessary learning and the required creation and sharing of knowledge.
Maria Emilsson; Ulf Ernstson; Linn Gustavsson; Ann Svensson. Sustainable Innovations in Small Enterprises for the Transformation of the Primary Healthcare Sector. Sustainability 2020, 12, 6391 .
AMA StyleMaria Emilsson, Ulf Ernstson, Linn Gustavsson, Ann Svensson. Sustainable Innovations in Small Enterprises for the Transformation of the Primary Healthcare Sector. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (16):6391.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMaria Emilsson; Ulf Ernstson; Linn Gustavsson; Ann Svensson. 2020. "Sustainable Innovations in Small Enterprises for the Transformation of the Primary Healthcare Sector." Sustainability 12, no. 16: 6391.
Some risk factors exist within the implementation process of an ERP system in small companies. However, researchers claim different views on which impacts the implementation of ERP systems have. Actually, there are relatively few empirically based ERP implementation studies in small companies and its impact, as most of such studies are focused on larger companies. This paper is based on a case study at a small company. The aim of the paper is to explore risks at a small company when planning to implement an ERP system. The analysis shows that an ERP system is a good solution to avoid using systems that are not integrated. An ERP system could integrate all information in only one system, and all information could easily be accessed within that system. The implementation therefore lead to decreasing costs in the daily work as the activities and processes can be performed more effective and efficient.
Alexander Johansson; Ann Svensson. Identifying Risk Factors in Implementing ERP Systems in Small Companies. Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing 2020, 169 -173.
AMA StyleAlexander Johansson, Ann Svensson. Identifying Risk Factors in Implementing ERP Systems in Small Companies. Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing. 2020; ():169-173.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAlexander Johansson; Ann Svensson. 2020. "Identifying Risk Factors in Implementing ERP Systems in Small Companies." Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing , no. : 169-173.
EHealth interventions are utilized as a solution to address the current demographic challenges in society, as the number of old people increases. Thus, working life, work practice, and professional requirements needed for providing healthcare services will be transformed. The aim of this paper is to explore contradictive motives regarding the professionals’ work practice when introducing innovative eHealth technologies in Scandinavian healthcare services at a municipal level. The study is based on two qualitative group interviews where nurses, assistant nurses, occupational and physiotherapists, as well as project managers participated. Two persons from an IT department were also interviewed. The interviews were analyzed by thematic analysis. The activity theory is used to explore the individuals’ different contradictive motives in this work practice. The work practice consists of a collaborative activity, where expansive learning is important in this transformation of work to obtain a sustainable society. The motives identified in this study are to 1) improve quality of life for the patients, 2) create attractive and interesting work for the employees, 3) save money for the municipality, 4) learn about new technology, and 5) use the municipality’s resources effectively.
Ann Svensson. Identifying Motives for Implementing eHealth by using Activity Theory. Sustainability 2020, 12, 1298 .
AMA StyleAnn Svensson. Identifying Motives for Implementing eHealth by using Activity Theory. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (4):1298.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAnn Svensson. 2020. "Identifying Motives for Implementing eHealth by using Activity Theory." Sustainability 12, no. 4: 1298.
The aim of this paper is to describe frail older persons' experiences of hospital care of information and participation when being an inpatient at a hospital. A qualitative method was used. Data were collected at the hospital from 20 interviews with frail older patients, together with observations in the environment at the hospital ward. A content analysis was performed. Patients experienced not receiving information about their care and rehabilitation, or receiving such information in noisy surroundings. They experienced situations of misunderstanding related to their medication, which indicates the need for appropriate discharge calls for frail older patients. They expressed feelings of distress concerning the future, caused by hasty admissions or relatives' problems to handle the situation. The results highlight the need to receive appropriate information and to participate in decision-making. The level of health literacy should be taken notice of when giving information, using peaceful and quiet environments when informing frail older persons. Person-centered care should be recognized to a greater extent in order for healthcare professionals to give information to frail older people in a health literacy-friendly way. This might make it easier for frail older persons to participate in a partnership in care.
Berit Forsman; Ann Svensson. Frail Older Persons' Experiences of Information and Participation in Hospital Care. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2019, 16, 2829 .
AMA StyleBerit Forsman, Ann Svensson. Frail Older Persons' Experiences of Information and Participation in Hospital Care. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2019; 16 (16):2829.
Chicago/Turabian StyleBerit Forsman; Ann Svensson. 2019. "Frail Older Persons' Experiences of Information and Participation in Hospital Care." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 16, no. 16: 2829.
Frail elderly people refer to multi-diseased and vulnerable patients in need of medication and healthcare. These patients require healthcare from several different healthcare organizations, including hospital care, primary care, and municipal care services. This situation is challenging the capacity of healthcare organizations to manage inter-professional collaboration for person-centered care. This paper aims to identify challenges associated with collaboration between different healthcare organizations, related to the use of IT systems in the daily work practice. The paper was based on a qualitative study, which included three focus group interviews, each lasting for two hours. Each focus group consisted of a hospital physician, a primary care physician, a hospital nurse, a primary care nurse, a municipal home care nurse or an assistant officer, a physical or occupational therapist, and a family member representative. The interviews were analyzed with thematic analysis. Challenges identified in the study include insufficient information exchange, inconsistencies in communication, differences in the use of IT systems, and deficient coordination. The work processes that aim to promote collaboration between different healthcare organizations need to be better organized, and the use of IT systems needs to be better aligned.
Ann Svensson. Challenges in Using IT Systems for Collaboration in Healthcare Services. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2019, 16, 1773 .
AMA StyleAnn Svensson. Challenges in Using IT Systems for Collaboration in Healthcare Services. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2019; 16 (10):1773.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAnn Svensson. 2019. "Challenges in Using IT Systems for Collaboration in Healthcare Services." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 16, no. 10: 1773.
Small enterprises strive to survive and grow in the business they are involved. They make efforts to utilize different resources and technologies available to this end as long as it is affordable and productive. Information Communication Technology or e-commerce are among those technologies that take the front line. This paper aims to define an adoption level of e-commerce in small Ethiopian enterprises and show that their business requirements and perceived benefits of e-commerce are related to business growth. It takes five small enterprises involved in import and export business to perform case study research on the issue and examines their utilization level of the technology. The findings show that small enterprises in the country have low levels of e-commerce utilization due to: (1) the scarcity of infrastructure development and expertise in the area, and (2) barriers created by government policy and bank regulations. However, this study found good understanding of the business opportunities and benefits that could be exploited from e-commerce.
Yasin Ali Hassen; Ann Svensson. The Role of E-commerce for the Growth of Small Enterprises in Ethiopia. The Electronic Journal of Information Systems in Developing Countries 2014, 65, 1 -20.
AMA StyleYasin Ali Hassen, Ann Svensson. The Role of E-commerce for the Growth of Small Enterprises in Ethiopia. The Electronic Journal of Information Systems in Developing Countries. 2014; 65 (1):1-20.
Chicago/Turabian StyleYasin Ali Hassen; Ann Svensson. 2014. "The Role of E-commerce for the Growth of Small Enterprises in Ethiopia." The Electronic Journal of Information Systems in Developing Countries 65, no. 1: 1-20.