Innovation within healthcare is not just about introducing new technologies or practices; it’s fundamentally about cultivating an environment where these innovations can thrive. This environment, or organizational culture, plays a pivotal role in either fostering or hindering innovation. Brian Spisak, PhD's insights in "Computational Leadership" offer a profound understanding of how leadership & organizational structures influence innovation.
Culture as a Network
Spisak emphasizes the importance of mapping an organization’s human & social capital network to understand the interconnections & potential silos within: “We first visually map an entire organization’s human & social capital network—these are the individuals & their relationships. This step establishes who knows what & who’s working with whom on what. It allows you to identify the silos that emerge due to human biases, such as preference for colleagues with similar cultural backgrounds.” This mapping lays the groundwork for breaking down barriers & fostering a collaborative culture.
Capacity for Not Knowing
Understanding our teams' unique engagement patterns is critical for innovation. Spisak notes, “I cannot emphasize enough how much we do not know about fluctuating patterns of engagement within-person across time & situation.” For example, the nuances of how engagement evolves, especially during a newcomer’s critical first year, can dictate the success of onboarding & mentorship programs, which affect long-term #innovation capacity.
Crisis as Opportunity
Healthcare often operates in a continuous state of crisis management. “Healthcare is a complex system where each crisis is linked, but we tend to solve them in isolation, missing the generalizable & cumulative learnings from previous crises.” This underscores the need for cross-communication & decision-making processes that transcend traditional silos.
Provocations for Building an Innovative Culture
Innovation in healthcare requires a reasoned shift in how we perceive & tackle daily challenges:
- View healthcare as a complex system of interconnected crises, understanding that solutions must transcend individual events to address systemic issues.
- Develop a mindset of discovery over proving our 'OK-ness.' Design methods that enhance our understanding & devise strategies & tools for both leading & managing cultural dynamics within healthcare.
- Commit daily to de-siloing the organization, fostering an environment where knowledge and wisdom are freely shared across all parts and levels, both internally and externally.
This approach is synergistic, amplifying the impact of efforts to address these challenges.
As we build cultures of innovation in healthcare, we shape tomorrow's possibilities. By navigating complex networks, understanding engagement, and learning from crises, we can create an environment where innovation is not just possible, but powerful.
