Extending Design Science Research Through Systems Theory: A Hospital System of Systems
Document Type
Conference Proceeding
Publication Date
2019
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-19504-5_8
Abstract
Labor planning and allocation are critical success factors for hospitals in today’s low margin, competitive healthcare environment. This research investigated the design and evaluation of an innovative labor planning and allocation system co-created with a practitioner team responsible for nursing labor management across departments in multiple hospitals within a North American hospital system. The research found a unique means to extend Design Science Research theory and practice using a Systems Theory approach to the design, build and evaluation of innovative labor allocation information and management systems within the existing hospital systems. The “system of systems” approach identified conflicting structures of management processes that prevented system balancing feedback loops from operating efficiently. An elaborated Action Design Research (eADR) method used a guided, emergent approach to redesign the structure, roles, and tasks of labor planning and allocation within this system of systems framework. The instantiated innovative nursing labor-management model was shown to benefit from its theory-ingrained approach to deliver a significantly improved labor allocation outcome for each level of the system.
Was this content written or created while at USF?
Yes
Citation / Publisher Attribution
Extending Design Science Research Through Systems Theory: A Hospital System of Systems, in B. Tulu, S. Djamasbi, & G. Leroy (Eds.), Extending the Boundaries of Design Science Theory and Practice, Springer International Publishing, p. 108-122
Scholar Commons Citation
Tarpey, Richard J. and Mullarkey, Matthew T., "Extending Design Science Research Through Systems Theory: A Hospital System of Systems" (2019). School of Information Systems and Management Faculty Publications. 54.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/qmb_facpub/54
