Implementation of digitalization and strategy in the wellbeing services county Ostrobothnia: Strategy-as-Practice and the perspective of dynamic capabilities

Abstract

Digitalization has become a key tool for the renewal, accessibility and effectiveness of social and healthcare services. Digitalization is an inevitable part of every organization, so the introduction of these digital tools and the successful implementation of the strategy become a key theme. Wellbeing areas form a new type of operating environment, where the success of digitalization can be a decisive part of the entire strategy. The study material consisted of three surveys and one interview. The surveys were conducted with personnel, residents and stakeholders, and the interviews were conducted with the top management of the wellbeing services county of Ostrobothnia. The analysis was based on the Strategy-as-Practice research tradition (Whittington, 1996; Jarzabkowski, 2008; Jarzabkowski & Kaplan, 2015) and the theory of dynamic capabilities (Teece, 2007). The study aimed to investigate the role of digital tools in strategy, the obstacles and opportunities for using the tools, and the experiences of different stakeholders.

The results of the study show how important support from top management is in the introduction of digital tools, and how central participation and concrete guidance are in the successful implementation of digital tools. The benefits of digital solutions have been widely recognized, and accessibility and efficiency were particularly highlighted. However, the solutions are not without gaps, and the compatibility and usability of the systems in particular pose challenges. Residents' trust was weakened by a fragmented palette, which involved many disconnected service channels.

The theoretical contribution of the study is created when the SAP perspective and the theory of dynamic capabilities are combined with the public sector context. The results show that digital tools do not act as neutral, but as active modifiers of strategy practice and strengthen capabilities. The study also provides practical recommendations that can help management support the successful implementation of digitalization and strengthen the implementation of the strategy as part of everyday life.