Management of innovation activities in a public university hospital: characteristics, requirements, and influencing factors
Thesis event information
Date and time of the thesis defence
Place of the thesis defence
Virtual event
Topic of the dissertation
Management of innovation activities in a public university hospital: characteristics, requirements, and influencing factors
Doctoral candidate
Master of Health Science Pauliina Hyrkäs
Faculty and unit
University of Oulu Graduate School, Faculty of Medicine, Research Unit of Health Sciences and Technology
Subject of study
Health management science
Opponent
Professor Kristiina Junttila, HUS Helsinki University Hospital
Custos
Professor Outi Kanste, University of Oulu
Managing innovation activities in a public university hospital requires diverse expertise as well as bold adaptability and capacity for renewal
Our healthcare system continues to face increasingly difficult challenges that must be addressed with innovative solutions. Public university hospitals are socially important entities with significant potential to produce innovations that impact our entire society. However, their unique characteristics, such as complexity and traditional practices, hinder the emergence of innovations. Thus, managing innovation activities in a public university hospital demands skillful and adaptable management, as well as a courageous renewal of culture and practices to ensure the justification of operations, equity, and impact, as highlighted by Master of Health Sciences Pauliina Hyrkäs in her doctoral research. The study emphasizes that for successful management, one must consider the unique characteristics of these hospitals and adapt management to meet the needs of the many stakeholders involved in innovation activities.
The aim of the study was to describe the management of innovation activities in a public university hospital, focusing on the characteristics, requirements, and influencing factors of that management. The goal was to generate new knowledge for both theoretical and practical needs and to suggest an apt approach to managing innovation activities. This research addresses the previously identified needs in research and practical operations for generating new knowledge to accelerate innovation and resolve challenges faced in healthcare. These needs have been recognized also in our government's program, aiming to support the sector in better responding to ongoing and rapid changes and promoting growth through new innovations.
The study reveals significant challenges in innovation activities within a public university hospital, such as the rigidity caused by traditional practices and the lack of opportunities for equitable participation. These factors often slow down or even prevent the emergence of innovations. Removing these barriers is essential for successful operations. Although the staff is eager to participate, support is needed to enable participation and to complement healthcare core competencies with capabilities for implementing and managing activities. The study's results highlight the importance of specialized expertise and strong commitment from management for the success of innovation activities. They also demonstrate that unified practices, sufficient authorization, a supportive organizational culture, and expertise in managing innovation activities are key enabling factors. Managing innovation requires stronger integration of hospital operations, transparent justification of decision-making, and assurance of opportunities for participation, expertise, and continuous development of activities.
Based on her research, Hyrkäs suggests that managing innovation activities should be implemented in an agile and needs- and evidence-based manner. Such an adaptive management approach, utilizing data mining, production, and application in close stakeholder collaboration, fits naturally within a university hospital, where research, evidence-based practices, and demonstrating effectiveness are central elements of the organization's core operations.
Conducted at the Oulu University Hospital between 2017 and 2021, the aim of the research was to deepen the understanding of managing innovation activities in public university hospitals. The study was carried out as a case and action research, focusing particularly on the characteristics, requirements, and influencing factors of management of innovation activities. The primary data comprised semi-structured interviews with hospital staff and company representatives. This data was supplemented with documents related to the hospital's innovation activities, such as feedback surveys, interview notes, and meeting minutes. The data were analyzed using inductive content analysis.
The aim of the study was to describe the management of innovation activities in a public university hospital, focusing on the characteristics, requirements, and influencing factors of that management. The goal was to generate new knowledge for both theoretical and practical needs and to suggest an apt approach to managing innovation activities. This research addresses the previously identified needs in research and practical operations for generating new knowledge to accelerate innovation and resolve challenges faced in healthcare. These needs have been recognized also in our government's program, aiming to support the sector in better responding to ongoing and rapid changes and promoting growth through new innovations.
The study reveals significant challenges in innovation activities within a public university hospital, such as the rigidity caused by traditional practices and the lack of opportunities for equitable participation. These factors often slow down or even prevent the emergence of innovations. Removing these barriers is essential for successful operations. Although the staff is eager to participate, support is needed to enable participation and to complement healthcare core competencies with capabilities for implementing and managing activities. The study's results highlight the importance of specialized expertise and strong commitment from management for the success of innovation activities. They also demonstrate that unified practices, sufficient authorization, a supportive organizational culture, and expertise in managing innovation activities are key enabling factors. Managing innovation requires stronger integration of hospital operations, transparent justification of decision-making, and assurance of opportunities for participation, expertise, and continuous development of activities.
Based on her research, Hyrkäs suggests that managing innovation activities should be implemented in an agile and needs- and evidence-based manner. Such an adaptive management approach, utilizing data mining, production, and application in close stakeholder collaboration, fits naturally within a university hospital, where research, evidence-based practices, and demonstrating effectiveness are central elements of the organization's core operations.
Conducted at the Oulu University Hospital between 2017 and 2021, the aim of the research was to deepen the understanding of managing innovation activities in public university hospitals. The study was carried out as a case and action research, focusing particularly on the characteristics, requirements, and influencing factors of management of innovation activities. The primary data comprised semi-structured interviews with hospital staff and company representatives. This data was supplemented with documents related to the hospital's innovation activities, such as feedback surveys, interview notes, and meeting minutes. The data were analyzed using inductive content analysis.
Last updated: 31.10.2024