När mänsklighet möter digitalisering : En studie om hur sjukvårdschefer upplever sitt ledarskap i relation till digitalisering och dess påverkan på arbetsmiljön

Sammanfattning

Digitalization within healthcare has brought changes to both leadership, and the work environment, where managers are expected to adapt to new technologies, work processes and organizational demands. Therefore will this study aim to examine how healthcare managers experience the impact of digitalization on their leadership and work environment. A qualitative approach was conducted through semi-structured interviews with managers in leading positions within Swedish healthcare. Through a thematic analysis the material was analysed utilizing theories of transformational, transactional and agile leadership (Bass, 1985; Cortellazzo et al., 2019), in addition Karasek’s Demand- Control- Support model (1979). The results of the study imply that digitalisation has been a leading factor to improve information management, elevated accessibility and more efficient administration processes. Concurrently the findings indicate challenges related to technostress, constant availability, an overload of information and organizational dependency on digital systems. The respondents depicts how technical errors, heightened digital demands can cause stress, and affect the manager’s sense of control within the workplace. Additionally the experiences gathered from the research suggests the importance of communication, support and flexibility while continuously learning are of great importance for the leadership’s development and the sustainability of the work environment. In conclusion the study illustrates that digitalization within healthcare enables both opportunities and challenges for healthcare managers. The digital context demands a balance between directorial demands, technical development, work environment while supporting the leadership role and the organizational changes.