An Action Research Study of a Healthcare Enterprise Information System at the Faroe Islands: Towards a Problem-Solving Method for it Public Value

Abstract

Obtaining business value from IT is a recurring theme that has diffused into healthcare information systems (HIS) where stakeholders often question the value of IT investments. Having completed the implementation of an integrated HIS, the Faroese Health Service (FHS) has commenced discussions concerning getting value from their IT investment. In order to fulfill this objective an action research project was started in the fall of 2010 consisting of two cycles: (1) setting the stage for benefit realization and; (2) benefit realization in a pilot area. The first cycle has revealed that it is not possible to distinguish between working processes and HIS, that benefit realization in healthcare (a public organization) has a much broader perspective than just financial value and that the reaping of benefits is quite difficult. This paper reports on the first two action cycles. Framed by the theory of Style Composition in action research we suggest a method to identify and realize emergent IT public value in an HIS action research project. The method is presented and discussed, and issues and concerns for further research are presented.