{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,18]],"date-time":"2026-05-18T13:11:24Z","timestamp":1779109884747,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":65,"publisher":"Emerald","issue":"5","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2018,9,3]],"date-time":"2018-09-03T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1535932800000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/www.emerald.com\/insight\/site-policies"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["BPMJ"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2018,9,3]]},"abstract":"<jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-subheading\">Purpose<\/jats:title><jats:p>The purpose of this paper is to understand how digital technologies can help healthcare organisations and improve the exploration-exploitation paradox over time. The authors explore inputs, processes and outcomes of implementing digital transformation programs and advance four testable propositions.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-subheading\">Design\/methodology\/approach<\/jats:title><jats:p>The authors conducted multiple case studies with embedded units of analysis: digital transformation processes; hospitals; and regional healthcare systems. Primary sources come from 107 semi-structured interviews with key informants within 14 Italian hospitals between 2009 through 2011.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-subheading\">Findings<\/jats:title><jats:p>Three complementary paths emerge as fundamental to balance exploratory and exploitatory efforts in healthcare: assets digitalisation within hospitals; digitally based process integration; and disruptive decision-making through analytics. Intra- and inter-path characteristics are discussed to show how digital transformation can both move hospital within the exploration-exploitation space.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-subheading\">Research limitations\/implications<\/jats:title><jats:p>By its very nature, this study is exploratory. Notwithstanding the number of cases and interviews, its generalisability is limited.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-subheading\">Practical implications<\/jats:title><jats:p>Digital transformation programs are fundamental to resolve the tensions raised by the exploration-exploitation paradox. Their implementation leads to better performance (cost reductions, quality improvements). A framework is provided for practitioners to make better decisions.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-subheading\">Originality\/value<\/jats:title><jats:p>This study sheds new light on how digital technologies are actually adopted and adapted in healthcare contexts. 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