Sustainability of performance improvements after 26 Kaizen events in a large academic hospital system a mixed methods study
| dc.contributor | Aalto-yliopisto | fi |
| dc.contributor | Aalto University | en |
| dc.contributor.author | Haapatalo, Erik | en_US |
| dc.contributor.author | Reponen, Elina | en_US |
| dc.contributor.author | Torkki, Paulus | en_US |
| dc.contributor.department | Department of Industrial Engineering and Management | en |
| dc.contributor.organization | University of Helsinki | en_US |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2023-09-13T06:49:45Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2023-09-13T06:49:45Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2023-08-28 | en_US |
| dc.description | Publisher Copyright: © Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2023. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ. | |
| dc.description.abstract | INTRODUCTION: Implementing Kaizen can improve productivity in healthcare but maintaining long-term results has proven challenging. This study aimed to assess improved performance achieved and sustained by Kaizen events and find explanatory factors for the persistence or decline of long-term results. METHODS: Kaizen events were conducted in 26 specialised healthcare units in a large academic hospital system in southern Finland. Primary data for mixed methods analysis was collected from each unit with 21 semi-structured interviews, Kaizen report files and performance metrics. RESULTS: Fifteen explanatory factors were found in this study. Work culture and motivation for continuous improvement stood out as the most important explanatory factor for the persistence of long-term results-lack of time for improvement activities and high workload for the decline. Success in preparation and follow-up was associated with sustained long-term results. Thirteen units achieved long-term results, three units could not sustain the performance improvements and five units struggled to make any improvements. CONCLUSIONS: This study explains the long-term sustainability of performance improvements, bringing new insights to Kaizen research. Our findings can guide organising successful Kaizen events. The events can be worth organising even though long-term performance improvements are not guaranteed. Units with supportive working culture and motivation for the Kaizen event will likely succeed. A unit should aim to create a supportive foundation for Kaizen before organising a Kaizen event. Units that lack the foundation can be identified, trained and guided to increase their chances of success. Pitfalls like high workload and insufficient follow-up should be proactively identified and appropriately managed by allocating the required time and resources for the development work. | en |
| dc.description.version | Peer reviewed | en |
| dc.format.extent | 10 | |
| dc.format.extent | 1-10 | |
| dc.format.mimetype | application/pdf | en_US |
| dc.identifier.citation | Haapatalo, E, Reponen, E & Torkki, P 2023, ' Sustainability of performance improvements after 26 Kaizen events in a large academic hospital system a mixed methods study ', BMJ Open, vol. 13, no. 8, e071743, pp. 1-10 . https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2023-071743 | en |
| dc.identifier.doi | 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-071743 | en_US |
| dc.identifier.issn | 2044-6055 | |
| dc.identifier.other | PURE UUID: ee60f430-b9c8-49b7-a08a-39ef80126bf0 | en_US |
| dc.identifier.other | PURE ITEMURL: https://research.aalto.fi/en/publications/ee60f430-b9c8-49b7-a08a-39ef80126bf0 | en_US |
| dc.identifier.other | PURE LINK: http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85168979979&partnerID=8YFLogxK | en_US |
| dc.identifier.other | PURE FILEURL: https://research.aalto.fi/files/120775679/Sustainability_of_performance_improvements_after_26_Kaizen_events_in_a_large_academic_hospital_system.pdf | en_US |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://aaltodoc.aalto.fi/handle/123456789/123522 | |
| dc.identifier.urn | URN:NBN:fi:aalto-202309135882 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | en |
| dc.publisher | BMJ Publishing Group | |
| dc.relation.ispartofseries | BMJ Open | en |
| dc.relation.ispartofseries | Volume 13, issue 8 | en |
| dc.rights | openAccess | en |
| dc.subject.keyword | change management | en_US |
| dc.subject.keyword | health services administration & management | en_US |
| dc.subject.keyword | human resource management | en_US |
| dc.subject.keyword | organisation of health services | en_US |
| dc.subject.keyword | organisational development | en_US |
| dc.subject.keyword | quality in health care | en_US |
| dc.title | Sustainability of performance improvements after 26 Kaizen events in a large academic hospital system a mixed methods study | en |
| dc.type | A1 Alkuperäisartikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessä | fi |
| dc.type.version | publishedVersion |
