Title: Analysing the challenges in stakeholder relationship management in the healthcare process: a social network perspective

Authors: Farooq Ali; Harri Haapasalo; Kari-Pekka Tampio; Henriikka Haapasalo

Addresses: Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 4610, FIN-90014, Finland ' Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 4610, FIN-90014, Finland ' Northern Ostrobothnia Hospital District, P.O. Box 10, FIN-90029 OYS, Finland ' Northern Ostrobothnia Hospital District, P.O. Box 10, FIN-90029 OYS, Finland

Abstract: We investigate stakeholder relationship management and identify challenges that impact relationships at the healthcare process level using the inductive research approach. We adopt an inductive approach and grounded theory method since there is a need for detailed descriptions on stakeholder network, especially on relationship management. The emergent grounded theoretical model explains the challenges that impact stakeholder relationship management, i.e., gaps in the healthcare network, challenges in articulating a healthcare vision, triggers of challenges, contextual challenges, healthcare landscape, challenges in trust-building, and collaboration. Additionally, our findings show how the network structure and stakeholders' position in the network, based on their interactions' patterns, influence stakeholder relationship management. The grounded theory that emerged from our study confirms several themes and their interrelationships, which constitute our main contribution.

Keywords: stakeholder relationship management; healthcare process; social network; stakeholder network; network structure; healthcare network; healthcare management; grounded theory; stakeholder identification; stakeholder mapping.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNVO.2022.121934

International Journal of Networking and Virtual Organisations, 2022 Vol.26 No.1/2, pp.125 - 156

Received: 31 May 2021
Accepted: 19 Sep 2021
Published online: 07 Apr 2022 *

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