Organisational Framing Within the Health Context: a tool kit for adoption – Part 1

Abstract

Purpose Health service organisations are extremely complex and undergo almost continual change. However, many managers are restricted in their ability to undertake effective change by the mental models they currently hold. This paper considers whether using framing analysis and reframing techniques enables health managers to see organisations and problems in more complex and alternative ways, leading to better problem solving and decision-making. Methodology/Approach This paper is based upon participant observations undertaken during a study into the development of professional identities in doctors and nurses. The data led to the development of substantive level theory and research article Organisational Framing Within the Health Context: a tool kit for adoption - Part 1 D Blackman and J A Fitzgerald Asia Pacific Journal of Health Management 2008; 3: 1 19 Deborah Blackman School of Business and Governance University of Canberra, Australia Janna Anneke Fitzgerald Centre for Industry and Innovation Studies (ClnlS) University of Western Sydney, Australia Correspondence: Email: deborah.blackman@canberra.edu.au Introduction Complexity, surprise and ambiguity make organisations hard to understand and manage. [2] This is amplified because most people see the world relatively narrowly - relying on old habits and established ways of thinking framed by their current mental models of the world. [3, 4] Such mental models lead to a reliance on one perspective of the world and repeatedly using one or two solutions to problems. [5, 6] This blocks learning and creativity and limits the real potential recommendations for practice based upon the work of Bolman and Deal. [1] The context is within one state jurisdiction of the Australian health system. Findings The majority of respondents naturally used the structural frame for their analysis which limited the possibility of creativity and innovation within the decision-making process. Originality/Value The application of reframing is posited as a way to improve decision-making and problem-solving.