Abstract

Innovation activities are actions intended to generate innovations, and innovations are novel, implemented items or actions, that improve processes. The research on enabling innovation activities in public hospitals is limited. This study identified key factors that enable innovation activities by combining statements made by representatives from management (n = 13) and personnel (n = 9) at one Finnish public university hospital. The study used semi-structured interviews and content analysis. According to the results, unified and authorised practices are needed to counterbalance and organise the extreme complexity typical of public hospitals. Both, hospital personnel and management called for assistance with complementary expertise in innovation management.