Dan Weberg1. 1. College of Nursing and Health Innovation, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ 85044, USA. dan.weberg@asu.edu
Abstract
PROBLEM: The healthcare system is plagued with increasing cost and poor quality outcomes. A major contributing factor for these issues is that outdated leadership practices, such as leader-centricity, linear thinking, and poor readiness for innovation, are being used in healthcare organizations. SOLUTION: Complexity leadership theory provides a new framework with which healthcare leaders may practice leadership. Complexity leadership theory conceptualizes leadership as a continual process that stems from collaboration, complex systems thinking, and innovation mindsets. CONCLUSION: Compared to transactional and transformational leadership concepts, complexity leadership practices hold promise to improve cost and quality in health care.
PROBLEM: The healthcare system is plagued with increasing cost and poor quality outcomes. A major contributing factor for these issues is that outdated leadership practices, such as leader-centricity, linear thinking, and poor readiness for innovation, are being used in healthcare organizations. SOLUTION: Complexity leadership theory provides a new framework with which healthcare leaders may practice leadership. Complexity leadership theory conceptualizes leadership as a continual process that stems from collaboration, complex systems thinking, and innovation mindsets. CONCLUSION: Compared to transactional and transformational leadership concepts, complexity leadership practices hold promise to improve cost and quality in health care.