Implications of hospital workers’ sense of safety and effectiveness in participatory design

Abstract

Participatory design initiatives help promote more voice on the work floor—if the social dynamics are encouraging. Interest in understanding employee voice is rising due to being linked to employee satisfaction and retention, as well as greater organisational success. Forty-four interviews were conducted with nurses, care providers, and support service providers inquiring about their moments of influence and team dynamics in two design workshops. Participants shared moments influencing safety, describing a sense of cohesion, inclusion, or collaboration; as well as moments influencing effectiveness, linked to the workshop process, their expertise, or project impact. While these themes were common across the three job roles, how they framed the moments differed. This study provides insights into how different contributions and varying perceptions of valuable impact coexist. As such, this increases our understanding of how to achieve more genuine participation.