Evaluating Digital Transformation in Healthcare: An Institutional Theory Perspective
by
Andrew Burton-Jones
Professor of Business Information Systems
UQ Business School, University of Queensland
Friday, September 14, 2018
10:30 AM – noon
Speakman Hall Suite 200
Abstract
Like many other industries, the global health sector is engaged in significant digital transformation. Given the major investments, and the major consequences for numerous stakeholders, evaluations are important. However, many studies have critiqued both the quality of evaluations and the quality of evaluation research. The persistent lack of progress in this field has led researchers to ask deeper questions about what is actually occurring when teams attempt to measure the benefits of digital transformation. This translational research essay explores how Institutional Theory offers a useful lens for understanding the complexities of evaluation and provides insights for improving research and practice. In particular, we show how Institutional Theory can explain numerous behaviors observed in the literature and in our own case study. We also show how Institutional Theory can benefit from the insights observed in evaluation work. Motivated by these opportunities, we suggest a research agenda through which practitioners and researchers can improve work in this area.
Bio
Andrew Burton-Jones is a Professor of Business Information Systems at the UQ Business School, University of Queensland. He has a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) and Masters of Information Systems from the University of Queensland and a Ph.D. from Georgia State University. He is a Senior Editor of MIS Quarterly has served on the Editorial Boards of MIS Quarterly, Information Systems Research, Journal of the Association for Information Systems, Information & Organization, and other journals. He has also served as Program Co-Chair for AMCIS and PACIS, and has received several awards for his research, teaching, and service. He conducts research on systems analysis and design, the effective use of information systems, and conceptual/methodological issues. Prior to his academic career, he was a senior consultant in a big-4 accounting/consulting firm.