Case STudy: Midlands Hospital (NHS) WOP
CASE STUDY 8.2: MIDLANDS HOSPITAL (NHS TRUST)
1) Social networks enable knowledge to flow between groups and organizations. There are two major theoretical approaches to such networks. The first one underlines the role of network as channels for the flow of knowledge. The benefits of this network are the connectivity it provides between individuals and organizations. The second one sees social networks as communities and emphasizes the quality of relationships within them. Communities may develop from informal interactions within a particular social group; these are named as emergent communities. Managed communities are formally defined groups by organizations.
Finally, online communities are built up through on-line interactions within their members.
The Midlands Hospital case describes the development of an innovative procedure for the treatment of cataracts. The process began with the creation of a community of different specialists involved in diagnosing and treatment. This type of “managed community”, in the form of project team, leads the change process. Through the time and through working together, trust developed among team members. Trust is a necessary condition for cooperative behaviors; it encourages sharing knowledge and knowledge creation. The social network contributed positively to the innovation process breaking down the knowledge boundaries between different specialists with different professional backgrounds. Inside this community different professionals worked together sharing understanding and attitudes to knowledge formation and knowledge sharing. This enabled an agreed analysis of the diagnosing and treatment problems. Moreover, this community of practice link shared identities to learning amongst community members. Each member brought and shared inside the community his/her experience and knowledge, but also used personal network to expand the community’s knowledge and understanding. The flow of information within and
1) Social networks enable knowledge to flow between groups and organizations. There are two major theoretical approaches to such networks. The first one underlines the role of network as channels for the flow of knowledge. The benefits of this network are the connectivity it provides between individuals and organizations. The second one sees social networks as communities and emphasizes the quality of relationships within them. Communities may develop from informal interactions within a particular social group; these are named as emergent communities. Managed communities are formally defined groups by organizations.
Finally, online communities are built up through on-line interactions within their members.
The Midlands Hospital case describes the development of an innovative procedure for the treatment of cataracts. The process began with the creation of a community of different specialists involved in diagnosing and treatment. This type of “managed community”, in the form of project team, leads the change process. Through the time and through working together, trust developed among team members. Trust is a necessary condition for cooperative behaviors; it encourages sharing knowledge and knowledge creation. The social network contributed positively to the innovation process breaking down the knowledge boundaries between different specialists with different professional backgrounds. Inside this community different professionals worked together sharing understanding and attitudes to knowledge formation and knowledge sharing. This enabled an agreed analysis of the diagnosing and treatment problems. Moreover, this community of practice link shared identities to learning amongst community members. Each member brought and shared inside the community his/her experience and knowledge, but also used personal network to expand the community’s knowledge and understanding. The flow of information within and