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Benefits Realisation in Acute Hospitals in England – A Strategic Management Perspective

Lookup NU author(s): Professor Teresa Waring, Dr Rebecca CaseyORCiD

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Abstract

Purpose of articleBenefits realisation (BR) is a term that is applied within the both the private and public sector to try to ensure that IT projects deliver a number of benefits to stakeholders as well as a return on investment. The English NHS views BR as an essential part of their IT enabled transformation programme but whether it is a core organisational capability is not understood. The purpose of this article is to explore whether a benefits realisation approach to IT investment is a strategic organisational capability that is evident in the acute hospital sector.MethodologyA survey of all the English NHS acute hospitals was carried out in summer 2013. The questionnaire was sent out to all directors of finance, nursing and IT. The questionnaire was based on research conducted by Ashurst and Hodges (2010) and interpreted to provide an NHS context.FindingsResponses were received from 54 per cent of the targeted hospitals and the results indicate that development of the business case remains the place for identification of system benefits although the intended recipients of those benefits are changing from management to patients. Training for benefits realisation is an issue and many hospitals do not appear to have a process in place for developing staff competencies in this area.ImplicationsThis research has never been undertaken before within the context of the NHS and would suggest that if benefits realisation is to be useful in delivering successful IT projects then much more needs to be done in developing staff across the hospitals and viewing BR as a core organisational capability.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Waring T, Robson A, Casey R

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Open Access Evidence Based Information Systems Journal

Year: 2015

Volume: 1

Online publication date: 01/02/2012

Acceptance date: 17/12/2014

Date deposited: 10/01/2019

ISSN (electronic): 2059-2108

Publisher: EBIS Journal

URL: http://www.ebisjournal.co.uk/article/view/5


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