Hospital organization culture, capacity to innovate and success in technology adoption

PURPOSE: Absorptive capacity has been defined as an organization's ability to recognize the value of new information, assimilate it, and apply it to productive ends. This study aims to examine the type of organization culture that influences the capacity of hospital organizations to innovate by absorbing new technology and the importance of this absorptive capacity in information technology (IT) implementation success. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: Based on previous research, this study proposes a measure of absorptive capacity that includes managerial IT knowledge and communication channels and tests its relationship to the level of success implementing new systems. A sample of 192 hospital administrators shared their opinions about their organizations culture, ability to absorb new technology, and the extent to which their latest IT implementation operational for at least one year has been a success. FINDINGS: The results show the importance of organization culture as an important factor in developing absorptive capacity, and the latter's influence in the implementation of new technologies. ORIGINALITY/VALUE: The study provides insights into the types of activities that management should undertake in order to enhance absorptive hospital capacity.