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Sustainable Innovations in Small Enterprises for the Transformation of the Primary Healthcare Sector

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  • Maria Emilsson

    (Department of Health Sciences, University West, 461 86 Trollhättan, Sweden)

  • Ulf Ernstson

    (Department of Engineering Science, University West, 461 86 Trollhättan, Sweden)

  • Linn Gustavsson

    (School of Business, Economics and IT, University West, 461 86 Trollhättan, Sweden)

  • Ann Svensson

    (School of Business, Economics and IT, University West, 461 86 Trollhättan, Sweden)

Abstract

Small enterprises face multiple and complex challenges when developing digital technologies. The aim of this article is to explore the role of sustainable innovation in small enterprises in relation to the ongoing transformation of the primary healthcare sector. The purpose is to gain understanding of innovation processes within the framework of sustainable development, applied to a local primary healthcare center. Data were collected through seven semi-structured interviews. A qualitative thematic analysis was conducted. Five themes appeared in relation to the ongoing transformation of the primary healthcare sector: (1) The process of sustainable innovation in a long-term perspective; (2) the companies’ views on innovations in healthcare; (3) effects of innovations in healthcare; (4) sustainable product or service development, and (5) the role of collaboration in the innovation process. The companies expressed a positive attitude to new innovations, as a natural part of developing the companies. The article concludes that incremental development of tools in small businesses supports the transformation of processes and services in the primary healthcare sector. Cross-disciplinary teams in collaboration facilitates the necessary learning and the required creation and sharing of knowledge.

Suggested Citation

  • Maria Emilsson & Ulf Ernstson & Linn Gustavsson & Ann Svensson, 2020. "Sustainable Innovations in Small Enterprises for the Transformation of the Primary Healthcare Sector," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(16), pages 1-19, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:16:p:6391-:d:396193
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    Cited by:

    1. Dal Mas, Francesca & Massaro, Maurizio & Rippa, Pierluigi & Secundo, Giustina, 2023. "The challenges of digital transformation in healthcare: An interdisciplinary literature review, framework, and future research agenda," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 123(C).
    2. Alla Mostepaniuk & Turgay Akalin & Mohammad Reza Parish, 2023. "Practices Pursuing the Sustainability of A Healthcare Organization: A Systematic Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-21, January.
    3. Carla S. Marques & Cândido Lopes & Vitor Braga & Vanessa Ratten & Gina Santos, 2022. "Intuition and rationality in intrapreneurship and innovation outputs: The case of health professionals in primary health care," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 18(2), pages 579-602, June.
    4. Nathalia Suchek & Mário Franco, 2024. "Inter-organisational Cooperation Oriented Towards Sustainability Involving SMEs: a Systematic Literature Review," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 15(1), pages 1952-1972, March.

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