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Lives in the balance: an analysis of the balanced scorecard (BSC) in healthcare organizations

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  • Bruce Gurd
  • Tian Gao

Abstract

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to show how the balanced scorecard (BSC) has been a prominent innovation in strategic performance measurement systems. The health care sector has started to adopt this approach. Design/methodology/approach - There are many case studies of BSC applications and this paper reviews this literature to analyse the application of the BSC across this sector. In particular, it is argued that the current applications do not tend to show the health of patients as being central in the development of the BSC; the balance is tilted towards the financial not the health outcomes. BSCs are still in an evolutionary stage in health care settings and strategy mapping is not yet common. Findings - The paper has drawn together and analysed the published cases of BSC in health care. It is possible that some excellent examples of BSC in health care are not yet published or have been missed by this research approach. This analysis was limited by using information from papers which sometimes were very limited. A future research project could investigate the characteristics of unsuccessful implementations – ineffective and short‐lived. It is suggested that a more comprehensive view would come from a cross‐national survey of best practice use of the BSC in health care; an interesting project for future research. Originality/value - In reviewing the past applications, the paper shows a way forward for future developments of the scorecard in health settings.

Suggested Citation

  • Bruce Gurd & Tian Gao, 2008. "Lives in the balance: an analysis of the balanced scorecard (BSC) in healthcare organizations," International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 57(1), pages 6-21, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:eme:ijppmp:v:57:y:2008:i:1:p:6-21
    DOI: 10.1108/17410400810841209
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Ying Sophie Huang & Kazunori Ito & Moeki Nemoto, 2023. "Sustainable Communication Management Using the Balanced Scorecard: Evidence from a Japanese Hospital Based on Corporate Communication Theory," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-23, June.
    2. Farshad Behrouzi & Azanizawati Ma'aram, 2019. "Identification and ranking of specific balanced scorecard performance measures for hospitals: A case study of private hospitals in the Klang Valley area, Malaysia," International Journal of Health Planning and Management, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 34(4), pages 1364-1376, October.
    3. Maria Cristina Gramani, 2014. "Inter-Regional Performance of the Public Health System in a High-Inequality Country," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(1), pages 1-8, January.
    4. Ali Akbar Farhanghi & Reza Abachian Ghassemi & Esmaeil Liaghati & Elnaz Rahrovy, 2012. "BSC technique research employment National Cartographic Center of Iran to identify and classify the human sources performance indicators in fuzzy AHP environment," International Journal of Learning and Development, Macrothink Institute, vol. 2(5), pages 10-24, October.
    5. Frida Betto & Alberto Sardi & Patrizia Garengo & Enrico Sorano, 2022. "The Evolution of Balanced Scorecard in Healthcare: A Systematic Review of Its Design, Implementation, Use, and Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-22, August.
    6. Grigoroudis, E. & Orfanoudaki, E. & Zopounidis, C., 2012. "Strategic performance measurement in a healthcare organisation: A multiple criteria approach based on balanced scorecard," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 40(1), pages 104-119, January.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Balanced scorecard; Health services;

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