HIT Adoption in China
Contents
Peng, F. and S. Kurnia (2010), Understanding Hospital Information Systems Adoption In China, Pacific Asia Conference on Information Systems, Taipei.
INTRODUCTION
What are the key stages and factors in successful HIT adoption? China is helping transform Chinese hospitals from late adopters to global innovators. The investigators examined the Chinese model of adoption in a government-supported HIS effort at one of China’s most digitized hospitals.
METHODS
Methodologies included case studies with semi-structured interviews, cross-case analyses and interview results synthesis. Users of different HIS functions were queried on success factors, including: a hospital director, an IT manager, an administration manager, a head nurse and a physician.
RESULTS
The research identified ==3 major adoption stages== (below) and two types of success factors relevant to successful implementation. ==Primary success factors== (below) were defined as being influential to a single stage of adoption while ==Fundamental success factors==== (below) were integral to the whole adoption process.
STAGE 1: Adoption Decision Making 1. State Support Mandate 2. Cost Justification 3. IT Standards and Regulation
STAGE 2: System Implementation 1. Organizational Size and Slack Resources (financial flexibility) 2. User Involvement
STAGE 3: System Assimilation 1. Organizational / Peer Support 2. Computer Skill 3. Perceived Usefulness
WHOLE ADOPTION PROCESS / Fundamental Success Factors 1. Executive Commitment 2. Peer Support
CONCLUSION
China’s HIS experience provides insights into the HIT adoption process. In the hospital studied, the two Fundamental Success Factors were ==Executive Commitment== and ==Peer Support==. The article also highlights the importance of considering the cultural context in which this technology is diffused. Respect for superiors and a preference for top down organizational structures, aspects of Chinese culture, helped assure that ==executive commitment== motivated hospital staff. The Chinese belief in emphasizing the group and collective over the needs of the individual meant that ==peer support== was particularly powerful in influencing behavior.
Submitted by Elissa Chandler
