Growth management of eHealth service start-ups
Thesis event information
Date and time of the thesis defence
Place of the thesis defence
Remote connection: https://oulu.zoom.us/s/65085183715
Topic of the dissertation
Growth management of eHealth service start-ups
Doctoral candidate
Master of Laws, Master of Science (Economics and Business Administration) Martti Saarela
Faculty and unit
University of Oulu Graduate School, Faculty of Technology, Industrial Engineering and Management
Subject of study
Industrial Engineering and Management
Opponent
Professor Pekka Abrahamsson, University of Jyväskylä
Second opponent
Docent Ilkka Raatikainen, University of Vaasa
Custos
Professor Matti Muhos, University of Oulu
Growth management of eHealth service start-ups
Healthcare and the well-being of populations are critical economic considerations. Increased healthcare service demand and the economic challenges faced by healthcare systems have recently intensified the need for effective, scalable, and innovative health services. Integration of digital technology into health services, known as eHealth, is an emerging and fast-growing area, which has been viewed as a key response to increased requirements of healthcare systems and services.
Start-ups have organizational agility, promising ideas, the willingness to take risks, and the tendency toward growth that make them pioneers of innovation. EHealth service start-ups create digital solutions to meet the needs, complement traditional services, and even create new markets in the areas of healthcare and well-being.
As the start-up stage is the critical period for a new company’s survival and growth, growth management is of central importance. However, the current understanding of growth management in eHealth service start-ups is incomplete.
The aim of this study was to clarify the growth management of eHealth service start-ups. This multiple-case study used the critical incident technique in data collection, and the data were gathered from Finland, Sweden, and the United States.
The study revealed twelve characteristics of eHealth service business during the start-up stage which contribute to the understanding of growth management in eHealth service start-ups. Slow growth and extreme uncertainty were found to be key characteristics and the results of the other revealed characteristics
The characteristics of eHealth service start-ups determined by this study should be taken into account in growth management. The results of this study may be used to predict managerial challenges and to help managers to focus their attention on critical issues, which may lead to risk reduction during the start-up stage.
Start-ups have organizational agility, promising ideas, the willingness to take risks, and the tendency toward growth that make them pioneers of innovation. EHealth service start-ups create digital solutions to meet the needs, complement traditional services, and even create new markets in the areas of healthcare and well-being.
As the start-up stage is the critical period for a new company’s survival and growth, growth management is of central importance. However, the current understanding of growth management in eHealth service start-ups is incomplete.
The aim of this study was to clarify the growth management of eHealth service start-ups. This multiple-case study used the critical incident technique in data collection, and the data were gathered from Finland, Sweden, and the United States.
The study revealed twelve characteristics of eHealth service business during the start-up stage which contribute to the understanding of growth management in eHealth service start-ups. Slow growth and extreme uncertainty were found to be key characteristics and the results of the other revealed characteristics
The characteristics of eHealth service start-ups determined by this study should be taken into account in growth management. The results of this study may be used to predict managerial challenges and to help managers to focus their attention on critical issues, which may lead to risk reduction during the start-up stage.
Last updated: 1.3.2023