A Multi-dimensional Study of Organisational Boundaries and Silos in the Healthcare Sector

Esben Rahbek Gjerdrum Pedersen*, Frantisek Sudzina, Francesco Rosati

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

23 Downloads (Pure)

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.
Original languageEnglish
JournalHealth Services Management Research
ISSN0951-4848
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 27 Nov 2023

Bibliographical note

Epub ahead of print. Published online: November 27, 2023.

Keywords

  • Boundaries
  • Boundary work
  • Healthcare
  • Innovation
  • Silos

Cite this