Realistic evaluation of the Flexmonitor, a team program to maintain and reflect on flexibility
Journal of Health Organization and Management
ISSN: 1477-7266
Article publication date: 9 December 2020
Issue publication date: 8 June 2021
Abstract
Purpose
Flexibility is necessary in a dynamic healthcare environment. However, balancing flexibility and consistency is difficult for healthcare teams, especially when working in threatening conditions. Methods are needed to help teams create, monitor and maintain flexibility.
Design/methodology/approach
This study evaluates a practice-based program –– the Flexmonitor – which aims to help teams develop and maintain flexibility. Here, realistic evaluation was used to refine the program and define building blocks for future programs.
Findings
The Flexmonitor can be used to monitor implicit criteria and differences in interpretation and beliefs among team members to promote flexibility. It also monitors team behavior and the effects of this behavior on self-defined indicators. Using the Flexmonitor, team members can discuss their beliefs and the definitions and criteria of flexibility. Strikingly, teams were not able to effectively self-manage their flexibility using the Flexmonitor.
Originality/value
This article contributes to our knowledge of self-managing teams, particularly the question of whether team members can take responsibility for team flexibility.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This project was made possible through the collaboration of Tranzo, TSB, Tilburg University, the Institutes for Mental Healthcare GGzE, GGz Breburg and Dimence, the Erasmus School of Health Policy and Management (ESHPM), Erasmus University and Trifier BV. This project is partly funded by the O&O fonds GGz in the Netherlands. The authors wish to thank all team members who participated in the project.Ethical approval: Data collection started after permission was granted by the Ethics Review Board (ERB) of the Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, April 10, 2017.
Citation
van Gool, F., Bierbooms, J., Janssen, R. and Bongers, I. (2021), "Realistic evaluation of the Flexmonitor, a team program to maintain and reflect on flexibility", Journal of Health Organization and Management, Vol. 35 No. 4, pp. 409-424. https://doi.org/10.1108/JHOM-04-2020-0109
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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