Author:
Vähätalo Mervi,Kallio Tomi Juhani
Abstract
Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to analyse the way in which the factors influencing a transformation towards or away from modularity, according to general modular systems theory, appear in the context of health services, and the extent to which the special characteristics of health services might support or prevent its application.
Design/methodology/approach
– The arguments constructed in the study are based on the theme of modularity, reflected against the special characteristics of health services identified in the context of health economics.
Findings
– The results include 11 proposition pairs that direct health services both towards and away from modularity.
Research limitations/implications
– Health services are highly heterogeneous in nature and the authors illustrate this with a wide range of examples from elderly care as the authors discuss the application of modularity in this context. Nevertheless, the authors recognise that modularity might suit some health services better than others. The findings provide potentially important information to health service managers and providers, enabling them to understand how modularity would benefit health service provision and where contradictions are to be expected.
Originality/value
– This study contributes to the discourse on service modularity in general, and complements the literature on modularity with reference to both public and private health services.
Subject
Management of Technology and Innovation,Strategy and Management,General Decision Sciences
Reference61 articles.
1. Andrews, J.H.
(1998), “Bacteria as modular organisms”,
Annual Review of Microbiology
, Vol. 52 No. 1, pp. 105-126.
2. Arrow, K.J.
(1963), “Uncertainty and the welfare economics of medical care”,
The American Economic Review
, Vol. 53 No. 5, pp. 931-973.
3. Baldwin, C.Y.
and
Clark, K.B.
(1997), “Managing in an age of modularity”,
Harvard Business Journal
, Vol. 75 No. 5, pp. 84-93.
4. Bask, A.H.
,
Lipponen, M.
,
Rajahonka, M.
and
Tinnilä, M.
(2010), “The concept of modularity: diffusion from manufacturing to service production”,
Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management
, Vol. 21 No. 3, pp. 355-375.
5. Bohmer, R.M.J.
(2005), “Medicine’s service challenge: blending custom and standard care”,
Health Care Management Review
, Vol. 30 No. 4, pp. 322-330.
Cited by
37 articles.
订阅此论文施引文献
订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献