A multi-dimensional study of organisational boundaries and silos in the healthcare sector

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study is to understand how healthcare practitioners experience organisational boundaries and silos in day-to-day operations. Based on a multi-dimensional scale of organisational boundaries, the study examines how organisational demarcation lines enable and constrain daily work tasks in the healthcare sector. Research design: The study is based on a quantitative and qualitative analysis of survey responses from 895 healthcare practitioners in Denmark. Results: The results indicate that tendencies toward organisational silos relate to systems and hierarchies (management-staff) rather than professions and departments. Moreover, the study identifies resource scarcity as an important undercurrent in the understanding of the respondents’ perceptions of boundaries and silos. Conclusion: The study contributes to existing research by documenting the coordination and collaboration challenges linked to the multitude of demarcation lines in complex health organisations.