Information Technology Ambidexterity-Driven Patient Agility, Patient Service- and Market Performance: A Variance and fsQCA Approach

Abstract

Modern hospitals are on the brink of a monumental change. They are currently exploring their options to digitally transform their clinical procedures and overall patient engagement. This work thoroughly investigates how hospital departments in the Netherlands can simultaneously leverage their strategic exploration of new IT resources and practices and exploit their current IT practices, i.e., IT ambidexterity, to drive digital transformation. Specifically, we investigate IT ambidexterity’s role in shaping patient agility at the departmental level, i.e., the ability to sense patients’ needs and respond accordingly. In this study, we use the dynamic capability view as our theoretical lens to develop a theoretical model with associated hypotheses and test it using cross-sectional survey data from 90 clinical hospital departments in the Netherlands. We use partial least squares (PLS) structural equation modeling (SEM) and a Fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) approach for our analyses. This study shows that IT ambidexterity positively influences patient agility, providing a foundation for the achievement of high patient service and market performance. Furthermore, this study’s outcomes show that IT ambidexterity is present in each configuration following the fsQCA analyses, showcasing the vital role of a dual strategic approach to IT practices. The study outcomes support the theorized model and the subsequently developed IT-driven patient agility framework and illuminate how to transform clinical practice and drive patient agility.

Sustainable Performance through Digital Supply Chains in Industry 4.0 Era: Amidst the Pandemic Experience

“…They can revolutionize work on information management and integration among S.C. partners. Thus, they can enhance the performance, along with I4TE, in contrast to the previous research by Kiel et al [113], Delongate et al [114], and van de Wetering [115], which claimed the negative influence of I4TE on the performance and enhancement concerning environmental problems. This research is the first attempt to look at DSC from the information processing perspective, which has significant implications for DSC research in general.…”

“…COVID-19 has badly disrupted the supply chain (S.C.), so the flow of goods is difficult to trace [115]. The conditions caused by COVID-19 demand collaboration among S.C. partners to operate their businesses faster and more efficiently.…”

Survey-Based Studies of the Agility Construct in the Healthcare Sector: A Systematic Literature Review

“…Furthermore, treatment agility is regarded as a dynamic capability for healthcare organizations to enhance their competitive advantage, signifying an ability to adapt to volatile, dynamic, and constantly evolving service requirements [48]. In a distinct vein, Van de Wetering et al [69] examined patient agility, characterizing it as a dynamic capability that empowers hospital departments to effectively sense and respond to patient needs. In the context of medical treatment, agility is centered on rapid adaptability and responsiveness to patient requirements.…”

“…Within this constrained context, the dimensions of "Responsiveness" and "Speed of Treatment" exhibit some co-occurrences but warrant further exploration. Notably, a recommendation can be made to consider adapting Robert and Grover's [56] firms' customer agility questionnaire, as featured in Van de Wetering et al's work [69]. It is worth mentioning that the Robert and Grover questionnaire is also referenced in the literature about other constructs, such as organizational agility [55].…”