Examining the benefits of new technology for worker autonomy in healthcare organisations
By: Russell Eke
Last updated: Tuesday, 11 October 2016
Dr Dimitra Petrakaki
Dr Andreas Kornelakis
Senior Lecturer in Information Systems Dr Dimitra Petrakaki has co-authored a new paper exploring the tension between standardisation and autonomy that occurs when new technology is introduced in healthcare organisations.
The paper, titled ''We can only request what’s in our protocol’: technology and work autonomy in Healthcare', was written by Dr Petrakaki with Sussex Visiting Fellow Dr Andreas Kornelakis and has been accepted for publication in the journal New Technology, Work and Employment.
Based on evidence from two NHS Trusts in England that implemented a national Electronic Patient Record (EPR) system, the authors argue that the introduction of new technology standardises (to a degree) the work of even high-skill professionals, such as doctors, constraining autonomy, and reallocates discretion between professional groups.