O impacto da pandemia COVID-19 nos projetos de melhoria contínua Lean Six Sigma nos hospitais

: visão à luz da teoria organizacional “organização viva”

Abstract

The strong impact of the COVID-19 pandemic at a global scale over the past two years is undeniable. World hospitals, at the forefront in the fight against unprecedented spread and treatment, have been greatly affected. This dissertation aims to determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Lean Six Sigma continuous improvement projects in hospitals, based on the organizational theory of "living organization." The Lean Six Sigma methodology has been widely adopted in hospitals as the paradigm for continuous improvement. The pandemic has had a significant impact on hospitals and these processes. The organizational theory of "living organization" created by Arie de Geus (1997) is relevant in this context, as it views organizations as dynamic structures in constant adaptation. The study is based on existing literature and explores the impacts of the pandemic on Lean Six Sigma continuous improvement projects in hospitals, based on the ten principles of the "living organization" organizational theory. The discussion addresses the impacts of the pandemic, such as the rapid increase in beds and intensive care units, and how the additional need for materials and inventory has disrupted cost-efficiency continuous improvement projects and led to the adoption of new Lean Six Sigma projects that focus on flexibility, quality, and speed. The multiple project adaptations satisfy eight out of the ten principles of the "living organization” theory.

Date of Award	14 Jul 2023
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	José Miguel Pereira dos Santos de Oliveira (Supervisor)