Successful management of innovation activities in a public university hospital requires courage to reform hospital culture and practices
Master of Health Sciences Pauliina Hyrkäs will defend her doctoral dissertation on this subject at the University of Oulu on Friday, 13 December (further details about the defence available).
In her research, Hyrkäs emphasises that managing innovation activities in a university hospital demands adaptability and skill. Management must be tailored to the specific characteristics of a hospital and account for the diverse needs of the many stakeholders involved in innovation activities. Furthermore, achieving success requires the courage to reform hospital culture and operational practices.
Rigid practices and limited participation opportunities hinder innovation
Hyrkäs’s research reveals that barriers to innovation in a public university hospital include rigid operational models and shortcomings in equal participation opportunities. These factors often slow down or even prevent the emergence of innovations.
“According to my research, hospital staff are often eager to engage in innovation activities, but more support and competent management are needed to enable their participation,” Hyrkäs explains. She also points out that “our national government programme has highlighted the need to support the healthcare sector through innovation, enabling it to better respond to continuous and rapid changes.”
The study identifies key factors enabling innovation activities, including unified operational practices, sufficient authorisation, a supportive organisational culture, and strong management competence. Additionally, the findings highlight the importance of transparent decision-making and continuous development of the activities. Strengthening these elements is critical for advancing hospital innovation activities.
“Innovation activities should be managed in an agile, adaptive, and evidence-based manner. This management approach integrates the collection, production, and utilisation of knowledge with close collaboration among stakeholders. It is particularly well-suited to university hospital environments, where research, evidence-based practices, and demonstrating impact play a central role,” Hyrkäs illustrates.
The doctoral research was carried out at Oulu University Hospital between 2017 and 2021. Conducted as a case and action research, it focused specifically on the characteristics, requirements, and influencing factors of management of innovation activities. The primary data consisted of semi-structured interviews with hospital staff and corporate representatives, complemented by documents such as feedback surveys and meeting minutes. The data were analysed using inductive content analysis.
This study provides new insights into the management of innovation activities and the challenges involved. It addresses identified needs in both previous research and practical operations, supporting efforts to foster innovation in the healthcare sector and meet the growing demands of a rapidly changing environment.