Abstract
Purpose The relevance of the clinical engagement approach for Oslo University Hospital is evaluated through the case study on the experiences of the pilot-project “Strengthen Employeeship”. Particularly, the issue of interest for this master’s thesis is whether the Medical Engagement Scale and the Healthcare Engagement Scale could be used to improve the work environment and achieve enhanced employeeship in a Norwegian context. The case study has followed the experiences of the project group from September 2015 to April 2016 and included the preparation phase, the measurement phase and the initiation of an improvement plan based on the survey results. Design & methodology This is an exploratory case study. The methodology used is qualitative and the source of data is multiple, consisting of field observations, semistructured interviews with key actors in the project, several informal conversations with the head of the project and relevant documents. Findings Theoretically, the clinical engagement approach offers a systematic framework to the specific issue of employeeship in the hospital context, as it considers the themes of “collaboration” “commitment” and “satisfaction”. Nevertheless, there are structural and contextual variables that challenged the practical implementation of the Medical Engagement Scale and of the Healthcare Engagement Scale in a Norwegian context, pointing to the conclusion that these tools are just partially applicable to the workplace improvement processes of Oslo University Hospital. Value These findings contribute to raise knowledge on the relevance of the clinical engagement approach in a Norwegian context, identifying the additional value and the limitations that this approach can have in relation to the established MU employee survey.