An assessment of organisational values, culture and performance in Cape Town’s primary healthcare services

Objectives: Improving the quality of primary health care in South Africa is a national priority and the Western Cape Department of Health has identified staff and patient experience as a key component. Its strategic plan, Vision 2020, espouses caring, competence, accountability, integrity, responsiv...

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Main Authors: R.J. Mash, S. Govender, A-A. Isaacs, A. De Sa, A. Schlemmer
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: AOSIS 2013-10-01
Series:South African Family Practice
Subjects:
Online Access:https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/3638
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author R.J. Mash
S. Govender
A-A. Isaacs
A. De Sa
A. Schlemmer
author_facet R.J. Mash
S. Govender
A-A. Isaacs
A. De Sa
A. Schlemmer
author_sort R.J. Mash
collection DOAJ
description Objectives: Improving the quality of primary health care in South Africa is a national priority and the Western Cape Department of Health has identified staff and patient experience as a key component. Its strategic plan, Vision 2020, espouses caring, competence, accountability, integrity, responsiveness and respect as the most important organisational values. This study aimed to measure the personal values of staff, as well as current and desired organisational values. Design: A cross-sectional survey used the cultural values assessment tool. Data were analysed by the Barrett Value Centre. Setting and subjects: Staff and managers at five community health centres in the Cape Town Metropole. Outcome measures: Personal values, current and desired organisational values, organisational entropy and organisational scorecard. Results: In total, 154 staff members completed the survey. Participants reported personal values that are congruent with a move towards more patient-centred care. The top 10 current organisational values were not sharing information, cost reduction, community involvement, confusion, control, manipulation, blame, power, results orientation, hierarchy, long hours and teamwork. Desired organisational values were open communication, shared decision-making, accountability, staff recognition, leadership development and professionalism. Organisational entropy was high at 36% of all values. Only teamwork and community involvement were found in both the current and desired culture. The organisational scorecard showed a lack of current focus on finances, evolution and patient experience. Conclusion: The organisational culture of the Metro District Health Services is currently not well aligned with the values expressed in Vision 2020, and the goal of delivering patient-centred care.
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spelling doaj-art-2ee5813c59aa481abfdd8e4c42456e7d2025-08-20T03:47:10ZengAOSISSouth African Family Practice2078-61902078-62042013-10-0155510.1080/20786204.2013.108743964654An assessment of organisational values, culture and performance in Cape Town’s primary healthcare servicesR.J. Mash0S. Govender1A-A. Isaacs2A. De Sa3A. Schlemmer4Family Medicine and Primary Care, Stellenbosch UniversityStellenbosch UniversityUniversity of Cape TownUniversity of Cape TownStellenbosch UniversityObjectives: Improving the quality of primary health care in South Africa is a national priority and the Western Cape Department of Health has identified staff and patient experience as a key component. Its strategic plan, Vision 2020, espouses caring, competence, accountability, integrity, responsiveness and respect as the most important organisational values. This study aimed to measure the personal values of staff, as well as current and desired organisational values. Design: A cross-sectional survey used the cultural values assessment tool. Data were analysed by the Barrett Value Centre. Setting and subjects: Staff and managers at five community health centres in the Cape Town Metropole. Outcome measures: Personal values, current and desired organisational values, organisational entropy and organisational scorecard. Results: In total, 154 staff members completed the survey. Participants reported personal values that are congruent with a move towards more patient-centred care. The top 10 current organisational values were not sharing information, cost reduction, community involvement, confusion, control, manipulation, blame, power, results orientation, hierarchy, long hours and teamwork. Desired organisational values were open communication, shared decision-making, accountability, staff recognition, leadership development and professionalism. Organisational entropy was high at 36% of all values. Only teamwork and community involvement were found in both the current and desired culture. The organisational scorecard showed a lack of current focus on finances, evolution and patient experience. Conclusion: The organisational culture of the Metro District Health Services is currently not well aligned with the values expressed in Vision 2020, and the goal of delivering patient-centred care.https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/3638primary careorganisational culturevaluesstaff experiencesouth africapublic sectorcultural values assessment
spellingShingle R.J. Mash
S. Govender
A-A. Isaacs
A. De Sa
A. Schlemmer
An assessment of organisational values, culture and performance in Cape Town’s primary healthcare services
South African Family Practice
primary care
organisational culture
values
staff experience
south africa
public sector
cultural values assessment
title An assessment of organisational values, culture and performance in Cape Town’s primary healthcare services
title_full An assessment of organisational values, culture and performance in Cape Town’s primary healthcare services
title_fullStr An assessment of organisational values, culture and performance in Cape Town’s primary healthcare services
title_full_unstemmed An assessment of organisational values, culture and performance in Cape Town’s primary healthcare services
title_short An assessment of organisational values, culture and performance in Cape Town’s primary healthcare services
title_sort assessment of organisational values culture and performance in cape town s primary healthcare services
topic primary care
organisational culture
values
staff experience
south africa
public sector
cultural values assessment
url https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/3638
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