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e-Business connections in the health sector: IT challenges and the effects of practice size

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 February 2015

Jenny L Gibb  and
Jarrod M Haar
Jenny L Gibb
Affiliation:
Department of Strategy & Human Resource Management, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand
Jarrod M Haar
Affiliation:
Department of Strategy & Human Resource Management, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand
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Abstract

The use of information technology (IT) in the health sector is critically important for enhanced patient care and ultimately cost savings. However, the uptake of IT in health has been slow when compared with other industry sectors, due to the range of issues and IT inconsistencies associated with the needs of its stakeholders. This study explored the challenges experienced by 108 New Zealand medical practitioners in their IT interface with other key primary and secondary health providers. We found IT interface challenges were negatively related to e-business activity (receiving) but held no effect on e-business activity (sending). Further, we tested for and found significant moderating effects of practice size, based on patient numbers. Large practices were able to buffer the negative influence of IT interface challenges on e-business activity (receiving), while small practices were severely hampered by IT interface challenges. The implications of operating in a modular industry structure are discussed.

Keywords

IT healthmodularitypractice sizeIT challenges
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Management & Organization , Volume 15 , Issue 4 , September 2009 , pp. 500 - 513
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press and Australian and New Zealand Academy of Management 2009

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