Promoting Healthcare Sustainability in Developing Countries: Analysis of Knowledge Management Drivers in Public and Private Hospitals of Pakistan

Abstract

Investing in a sustainable future has no alternative; the healthcare sector in developing countries has failed to achieve sustainability objectives. Knowledge management (KM) is a concrete application of sustainability in healthcare, as organizations (hospitals) that manage their knowledge assets will gain sustainable competitive advantage. Several organizations in developed countries are moving towards the adoption of knowledge management so that they can manage their knowledge well and improve their performance. Due to the effective implementation of KM in developed countries, developing countries are also considering adopting KM in their healthcare. In this study, an attempt has been made to identify the drivers of KM adoption in public and private hospitals of Pakistan. With the help of an extensive literature review and expert opinion, the drivers were identified and a hierarchical structure was developed. Nineteen drivers were identified and screened out by experts. The experts identified the contextual relationships between the drivers during a brainstorming session. The hierarchical model of the drivers for KM in the healthcare of Pakistan was eventually developed using interpretive structural modeling (ISM). The structure has 10 levels, in which “developed competitive advantage” formed the foundation of the structure and “job creation” and “improvement in the reputation of healthcare” formed the topmost level. The “Matrices d’Impacts Croises Multiplication Appliqué a un Classement” (MICMAC) analysis classified the drivers by categorizing them according to their driving and dependence powers. One driver is identified as autonomous, six drivers as dependent, seven drivers as linkage, and five drivers as independent. The analysis of KM drivers will provide a good understanding of the interdependence and interactions between them and support the effect adoption of KM in developing countries especially in Pakistan.

Development and Validation of a Knowledge Management Questionnaire for Hospitals and Other Healthcare Organizations

“…The application of knowledge management can lead to a sustainable healthcare system, and leaders can achieve the goals of their organizations [61]. It is important to note that the knowledge management process can be significantly related to improvements in the quality of healthcare as well as the organizational-level of social and economic outcomes, as stated by Popa [10,62].…”

Uptake and Adoption of Sustainable Energy Technologies: Prioritizing Strategies to Overcome Barriers in the Construction Industry by Using an Integrated AHP‐TOPSIS Approach

“…There are different multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) approaches such as analytical network process ANP, graph theory, DEMATEL, Best Worst Method, and Interpretive Structural Modeling ISM approach. [70][71][72][73][74][75][76][77][78][79][80][81][82][83] However, these approaches are not suitable as compare with AHP-TOPSIS [84] for MCDM problems including experts' opinion which purpose is to examine the appropriate alternative specified in a set of criteria (as shown in Table 3). Therefore, this study incorporated FAHP and TOPSIS techniques because FAHP helps to remove the uncertainty, ambiguousness, and complex problems in MCDM valuation criteria through the utilization of interval numbers.…”

Alignment of knowledge management process with clinical process to support evidence based decision in healthcare improvements: The case of selected Ethiopian hospitals

“…According to Guptill (2015), KM has a tremendous role and value to the healthcare industry, particularly for hospitals and hospital systems. Dependence on knowledge requires the healthcare sector to implement an effective system to manage knowledge properly as new knowledge is continuously being generated (Karamat et al, 2019). Developing countries are now also looking towards the alignment of KM in their healthcare.…”

“…As indicated by various studies (e.g., Karamat et al, 2019), within developing countries, the adoption of KM has excited great interest in both public and private hospitals. However, KM implementation is currently in its infancy.…”