Healthcare system as a value network Online publication date: Thu, 18-Sep-2014
by Jussi Myllärniemi; Nina Helander
World Review of Entrepreneurship, Management and Sustainable Development (WREMSD), Vol. 8, No. 2, 2012
Abstract: Healthcare systems consist of many different kinds of actors with varying interests and purposes. This forms a complex set of relationships, which can be seen as a network. The interesting question is how to balance in the network the needs of the patient as the customer and the purposes of the provider to operate effectively. We argue that a value network analysis is a key for this question, as it is able to reveal the different actors of the network, their roles and purposes, and the central value functions of the network. To elaborate this interesting issue, we have conducted a large-scale case study from the healthcare sector. The study includes interviews, observation and secondary data, e.g., quantitative data in the form of organisations' statistics. In the paper, we will present our value network analysis of the case and the results that increase the understanding of the actors, value functions and value creation potential of a healthcare system.
Existing subscribers:
Go to Inderscience Online Journals to access the Full Text of this article.
If you are not a subscriber and you just want to read the full contents of this article, buy online access here.Complimentary Subscribers, Editors or Members of the Editorial Board of the World Review of Entrepreneurship, Management and Sustainable Development (WREMSD):
Login with your Inderscience username and password:
Want to subscribe?
A subscription gives you complete access to all articles in the current issue, as well as to all articles in the previous three years (where applicable). See our Orders page to subscribe.
If you still need assistance, please email subs@inderscience.com
Our Blog 
Follow us on Twitter 
Visit us on Facebook