Approach for measuring health‐related quality management

Abstract

Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to develop an approach to measuring health-related quality management based on earlier research on the connection between quality management and employee health. Design/methodology/approach -A questionnaire was developed and a research study was carried out at a manufacturing company. The constructs were tested for internal reliability using Cronbach's alpha tests. The dimensions' correlations with employee health were checked using Pearson correlation. Findings -Three of the dimensions were correlated with the perception of employee health: "presence/communication" and "integrity" derived from leadership commitment, and "influence" derived from everybody's participation. These findings substantiate earlier studies indicating a relationship between visible, clear leadership and employee health. They are also in line with earlier findings of how the possibilities to influence their own work promote employee health and work ability. The paper provides a proposal as to how managers can proceed in the measurement and evaluation of quality management efforts related to employee health.Research limitations/implications -The research is conducted as a single research study in one industrial manufacturing company. Further research should be conducted in other organizations from different lines of business with the same conditions and in organizations with different conditions. Practical implications -This approach can be used by managers for gaining insight into underlying mechanisms in the organizational culture related to employee health from a quality management perspective. This could lead to improved employee well-being, satisfaction and motivation. It could be used as a first step for improvements when implementing health-related quality management "to break the ice" and it could be followed up by qualitative methods. Originality/value -Traditional ways of measuring health are rarely connected to quality management. Only requiring small resources, this approach to measuring health-related quality management can add to an understanding of underlying mechanisms.

A health‐related quality management approach to evaluating health promotion activities

“…There is also research which describe how Quality Management can be practiced to support sustainable health among co-workers and also what is of most importance within Quality Management to influence coworkers' sustainable health (Bäckström, 2009, Lagrosen et, al, 2010. The results show that the value ‗Leadership Commitment' and the value ‗Participation of Everybody' are important to support sustainable health among co-workers when Quality Management is practiced (Bäckström, 2009, Lagrosen et al, 2011 The underlying dimension of the values ‗Leadership Commitment' and ‗Participation of Everybody' regarding the relation to co-worker health was examined by Lagrosen and Bäckström (2005) and Lagrosen et al, (2010). In that study, it was pointed out that integrity, presence and communication, empathy and continuity are underlying dimensions of ‗Leadership Commitment'.…”

“…Correlations between co-workers' perceptions of their health and values within Quality Management have also been found (Lagrosen, 2004;Lagrosen et al, 2007). A well-developed, structured approach for health-related quality management can be used as a management tool in order to assess and improve employees' well-being, satisfaction and motivation (Lagrosen et al, 2011). Taken all in all, research, knowledge and support to the management within the health promotion area are important.…”

“…A measurement approach was developed, with the found underlying dimensions as a base, in order to help managers examine to what extent the values ‗Leadership Commitment' and ‗Participation of Everybody' permeate the organization (Lagrosen et al, 2011). The measurement approach can be used to point out to what extent the organization is practicing the health-promoting values of Quality Management and in what areas improvement is needed to increase co-worker health, (Bäckström, 2009, Lagrosen et, al., 2011.…”

Is there a relationship between Lean Leaders and healthy co-workers?

“…A questionnaire measuring co-workers' perceived health has been developed and tested by Lagrosen, Bäckström and Wiklund (2012). This questionnaire has been used in several research projects with different purposes to measure co-workers' perceived health, see for instance Bäckström, Eriksson and Lagrosen (2012a) ;Bäckström et.…”

“…Earlier research has shown that the value 'Leadership Commitment' and the value 'Participation of Everybody' are important to support sustainable health among co-workers when Quality Management is practiced (Bäckström, 2009;Lagrosen, Bäckström and Wiklund, 2012). The underlying dimension of the 'Leadership Commitment' value regarding the relation to co-worker health was examined by Lagrosen and Bäckström (2005) and Lagrosen, Bäckström and Lagrosen (2010).…”