Abstract
BACKGROUND:
This article aims to perform a psychometric assessment of the scale of organizational readiness for digital innovations in a transition economy and to examine the antecedents of organizational readiness for digital innovations.
METHODOLOGY:
The study employed a quantitative research method to analyze data collected from a sample of 1236 health professionals. The scale secondary confirmatory factor and linear regression analysis were employed to verify organizational readiness and test the respective hypotheses about organizational readiness for digital innovation, respectively.
RESULTS/CONCLUSIONS:
The research findings show that the organizational readiness scale for digital innovations is valid and reliable in transition economies. Findings show that the relationship between variables such as adaptation of human resources (AHR), cognitive readiness (COR), planning for new telehealth and e-health (PNTH), IT readiness (ITR), resource readiness (RR), partnership readiness (PR), and cultural readiness (CUR) are correlated with the innovations implementation effectiveness (IIE), and organizational readiness for digital innovation is positive statistically significant. Findings also suggest that Integration of old technologies (IoT) and organizational readiness for digital innovation is statistically significant and have negative relationship.
Introduction
Healthcare organizations have launched organizational changes to reduce costs, improve quality and market share, increase efficiency and patient satisfaction, maintain valuable employees [3]. Among the changes that healthcare organizations have been focused on is adapting technology by maximizing the advantages that digitalization and the internet have brought to provide better health services [4]. E-health readiness refers to the extent to which healthcare organizations and health professionals are ready for the anticipated change through employing Information and Communications Technology (ICT) [1, 67].
E-health organizational readiness has attracted the attention of scholars and put the need for developing readiness assessment tools regarding e-health [5]. There are numerous advantages derived from e-health, both for health institutions and professionals [6], focusing on organizational readiness related to health services [7] and health professionals’ readiness [8]. Hence, e-health represents a significantly more efficient way of delivering healthcare services and accessing information regarding patients’ past and current levels of well-being. Undeniably, when converting from face-to-face to digital health (telemedicine, e-Health) services [9], the digital competencies of health professionals are essential to lower the damage to patients and errors [10]. However, there is limited research regarding organizational readiness in healthcare organizations, particularly in transition and low-income countries [11].
E-health is a new platform that aims to solve many health-related challenges by providing many advanced technological tools and devices [11]. The process of adoption and improvement of e-Health has significant policy [12] and managerial implications [13]. Organizational readiness for digital innovation refers to organizations’ readiness to innovate using the latest technology [14]. Healthcare professionals argue that organizational readiness is crucial for successful change implementation [3]. Organizational readiness refers to the changes in the health system that lead to digital innovation [4]. Furthermore, the extent to which shared beliefs for digital readiness among employees and managers determines the implementation process [13].
Organizational readiness has been on the agenda of different studies. Past research has provided a comprehensive organizational readiness framework by analyzing the literature on the necessary readiness factors for successful lean implementation in healthcare [65]. Researchers dealing with the subject in different contexts designed an e-health readiness assessment tool by performing an application in Iranian hospitals and used this tool to evaluate the readiness of employees for e-health applications [67]. The results of a study conducted in India identified, analyzed, and developed a model to measure the interactions between different factors of organizational readiness in the healthcare industry-specific service sector [69]. In a study conducted in Pakistan, e-health readiness assessment tools were developed for healthcare providers and managers in developing countries [1]. Research conducted in developed countries covering different sectors has developed a measurement tool for digital innovation consisting of seven structures (resource readiness, IT readiness, cognitive readiness, partnership readiness, innovation valance, cultural readiness, and strategic readiness) [2]. When these studies are examined, an organizational readiness scale and antecedents of organizational readiness are not found in transition economies.
The development and diffusion of digital technologies are assumed to improve and increase the innovation potential of most organizations. However, due to the lack of organizational readiness, it is tough for innovative activities to transform into new products and services [2, 59]. Therefore, considering the effects of Covid-19 on health organizations and other organizations [60–64, 99], it becomes more meaningful to examine whether health institutions are ready for innovation, especially in the post-Covid period. In addition, as a result of the calls made by the World Health Organization on adaptation to digital innovations in the e-health framework, practical tools are needed to measure the organizational readiness of the relevant countries. However, a standard tool has not been developed in this regard, and different tools are used in other countries for organizational readiness for e-health-related digital innovations [1, 68]. In particular, differences such as technological infrastructure, education level of employees, and cultural characteristics in developed, developing, and transition economies may not be appropriate to use tools developed in other countries.
This article aims to perform a psychometric assessment of the scale of organizational readiness for digital innovations in a transition economy and to examine the antecedents of organizational readiness for digital innovations. This study is carried out in the case of Kosovo, a low-income country characterized by weak institutional settings due to the slow process of institutional reforms [15, 47]. These countries face a lack of capabilities to manage and analyze technology. As a result, organizational readiness for e-health is influenced by factors at all levels [11]. In this framework, we have built the research on four parts, apart from the introduction. The second section covers the literature review and hypothesis development. The third section consists of the method. In the fourth section, the results of the research are presented. Finally, in the discussion section, administrative implications, policy recommendations, limitations of the study, and suggestions for future research are given.
Literature review and hypothesis development
Organizational readiness theory
Organizational readiness theory is based on: change valence, change efficacy, and factors related to the context [2, 16]. Change valence refers to employees’ commitment to change. Change efficacy is how healthcare organizations perceive their ability to change [2, 17]. Contextual factors are related to the organizational atmosphere in the healthcare organization facilitating innovation-related change. Organizational readiness theory considers organizational readiness a shared psychological state where the employees feel committed to implementing organizational change and have the required collective skills and abilities [16]. Organizational readiness for change is a multi-level and multi-faceted construct, where readiness is evident depending on the nature of change at the individual, group, unit, department, or organizational level [16]. Thus, the extent these are crucial for health organizations to increase their e-health readiness refers to how healthcare organizations are prepared to anticipate change through programs related to ICT [1].
Moreover, health organizational readiness is related to three levels; macro-level (e.g., infrastructure, development policies), meso-level (organizational aspects), and micro-level (e.g., professionals) [18]. Digital readiness refers to a particular change where digital technologies play a crucial role. Yet, this may be interpreted based on context-specific organizations related to tech-specific barriers, attitudes, and capabilities [13]. The lack of readiness for digitalization in healthcare organizations is due to the weak health system at the national level, the lack of capability building, infrastructure for coordination, and increasing collaborations and commitment of policymakers [19], as well as the resistance of health professionals and their lack of readiness towards technology due to their lack of skills [4, 20]. In this regard, an investigation shows Kosovo health professionals show low readiness and trust in the digitalization of healthcare services [57].
Hypothesis development
Integration of information technology in healthcare organizations improves efficiency and the quality of services [21], which process is influenced by the motivation of human resources and capabilities to implement organizational change [3]. Therefore, the adaptability of human resources for technical and organizational change is essential in delivering digital innovation [2]. Studies show the importance of HR adaptation to technology [22–24], which is influenced by technological literacy [25], the personality of human resources [13, 67], the role of managers [13, 27] the ability of benefit from technology depends on the extent HR use their technology as well [21, 29]. Besides, HR that focuses on flexibility and cognitive readiness focuses on extended knowledge are found to be conducive factors for digital innovation [2, 14]. Subsequently, we propose the following hypotheses:
Organizational readiness for digital innovation is influenced by resource readiness, IT readiness, combining existing technologies with new ones, and planning for new telehealth and e-health. Resource readiness refers to the organization’s flexibility to facilitate its digital innovation needs [14]. At the same time, IT readiness refers to the ability of healthcare organizations to foster digital innovation through IT infrastructure [2]. As for combining existing and new technologies, we define the increase in the speed and efficiency of healthcare organizations’ readiness for digital innovation. In addition, planning for new telehealth and e-health, ranging from simple to sophisticated bio-monitoring systems, refers to providing an additional information source about patients and better services [28].
Studies on resource readiness show relationships between resource readiness and organizational readiness for digital innovations. Lokuge [2, 14] argue that resource readiness influences organizational readiness for digital innovations. In another study, Hussain [17] supported the hypothesis that resource readiness affects digital financial innovation through its change efficacy. While studies on IT readiness suggest that IT readiness positively influences digital financial innovation [17], and implementing hardware and software positively influences e-health systems [11]. Other studies show that the barrier to IT readiness is the IT infrastructure [18, 31], while other studies show that the IT skills of health professionals may hinder IT readiness [11, 18], which then influences organizational readiness for digital innovation.
Planning new telehealth and e-health (PNTH) is crucial for health organizations which may lead to organizational readiness for digital innovation. Telehealth is essential to increase the monitoring of patients using devices that capture vital signs and other related healthcare information transmitted via technology [28]. Scholars maintain that the decision of managers to plan and adopt new telehealth technologies and e-health in which the adaptation of human resources is crucially essential in implementing telehealth [28]. This includes well-trained employees in healthcare information technology in increasing the ability to benefit from it [21]. The extent that human resources adapt to technology and the role that managers play in health organizations influence the extent that organization combines existing technologies with new ones. For example, if employees in health organizations adopt old technology, managers need to build a strategy to prepare the readiness of human resources for this. Thus, shared beliefs on digital readiness in management and employees are the source to guide and implement organizational change [13] by combining existing technologies with new ones that will affect organizational readiness for digital innovation. Based on the discussion above, we recommend the following hypothesis:
Partnership readiness, cultural readiness, and effective implementation of innovations are also among the factors that affect the organizational readiness of healthcare organizations for digital innovation. Partnership readiness is the affiliation of stakeholders outside the organization who support digital innovation [2]. Studies acknowledge the importance of building partnerships and influencing organizational readiness for digital innovation [30, 32]. For example, Hussain’s [17] study shows that digital financial innovation is affected positively by partnership readiness. However, according to Lokuge [14], creating and preserving innovation readies are challenging for health organizations and external partners. To respond to such a challenge, before focusing on digital innovation, it is critical to ensure the acceptance of patterns and their engagement in ensuring e-health readiness [33]. In addition, studies show that mutual trust between client consultants helps improve project outputs and the knowledge transfer process [34]. Similarly, another study shows how organizations improve their knowledge pool through knowledge transfer using clients to improve IT performance and build organizational readiness [32].
Cultural readiness can be defined as health organizations’ advantages on their central values that lead to digital innovation [2, 65]. Scholars argue that organizational readiness is higher among organizations when all members have the culture to focus on implementing organizational change and the confidence to do so [3, 16]. It is related to the extent to which organization members share beliefs on digital empowerment and involvement, which is influenced by how managers act as role models to lead the organization toward digital readiness [13]. Thus, concerning change built within the organization and collective involvement, coordinated behavior change is found to have a crucial role [16]. The extent managers have decentralized the decision-making influences organizational readiness for digital innovation [14]. Studies show that cultural readiness positively influences digital financial innovation [17].
There is a significant correlation between organizational culture and digital capabilities and innovation [35], and organizational culture is crucial to developing the absorptive capacity that influences the implementation of new technologies [36]. The organizational readiness for digital innovation depends on the effectiveness of health organizations in implementing innovations, as 90% of ideas never come into implementation face due to the lack of readiness [14]. Increasing the effectiveness of organizational readiness is crucial that health organizations managers understand contextual factors within the organization [37], such as; resources, human resources, culture, decision-making, communication, and reward system [14]. Also, to increase healthcare organizations’ effectiveness, it is crucial to focus on developing knowledge management, coordinating and collaborating at inter-functional and inter-organizational levels, and building innovation infrastructure [38]. Based on the discussion above, we recommend the following hypothesis:
Methodology
We reviewed previous research to create and test the organizational readiness model. At the end of that phase, we identified eight critical dimensions of Khoja’s [1] study on e-health readiness assessment tools for healthcare institutions in developing countries (This scale consists of 21 questions). Then, we adopted the eight dimensions of the Lokuge [2] scale regarding organizational readiness for digital innovation, which consists of 26 questions. Therefore, the model we created consisted of a total of 16 dimensions. In this study, we combined the analysis of Khoja et al. [1] and Lokuge et al. [2]. The combined version of these two scales examines the organizational preparation process more broadly. Therefore, we performed a second-level confirmatory factor analysis.
Also, we added new questions of our own to each dimension. While creating the questions, we received help from experts operating in clinical and academic specializing in health and digitalization. All of the respective scales were translated from English to Albanian by the authors, and these translations were checked by translation and back-translation methods. Thus, the total number of questions in the survey was 54. Lastly, we arranged the survey questions on a 5-point Likert scale (from 1. Strongly Agree with 5. Strongly Disagree).
There are 7 Regional hospitals and 1 Kosovo University Clinical Center (UCCK) in Kosovo. The seven regional hospitals of Kosovo are Peja regional hospital, Gjakova Regional Hospital, Ferizaj Regional Hospital, Vushtri Regional Hospital, Mitrovica Regional Hospital, Gilan Regional Hospital, and Prizren Regional Hospital. The study occurred at the Kosovo University Clinical Center, the leading tertiary healthcare institution in Pristina (the capital), providing the most specialized medical services. This hospital consists of an Emergency Care Center and 12 Clinics. The hospital stands out for researching readiness for digital innovations, as it is the largest hospital in Kosovo, and the country’s health resources are directed to this hospital. For this reason, the study was conducted in this hospital, which is assumed to represent the general sample well.
Employees in Kosovo University Clinical Center were determined as the target group, and employees who could be reached by random sampling method were included in the analysis. Initially, we piloted the questionnaires. At this stage, we collected 50 questionnaires between 20.11.2021 and 30.11.2021 using the Google form. Then, we checked whether there were deficiencies in the collected data, whether data were entered other than the minimum and maximum values, and finally, whether all expressions were given the same points. After that, we eliminated the unsuitable ones. Then, we examined the factor loads of the data. After we saw that the factor loads were suitable for the analysis, we moved on to the second data collection stage.
The population of Kosovo is 1.66 million. Therefore, we collected 1,272 questionnaires assuming this population would be representative and using the hard copy method. The questionnaires were distributed to the relevant hospital employees and then collected back. Upon reviewing the questionnaires, we determined that 36 were unsuitable for analysis and did not include them in the study. We analyzed the data with SPSS 23 and AMOS 23. We performed demographic analysis, descriptive statistics, reliability analysis (Cronbach alpha), secondary confirmatory factor analysis, and linear regression analysis. Many publications inspired this study in the interpretation of method and analysis results [66, 82–84]. Therefore, we benefited from the above articles in this study, especially in interpreting methods and results (tables and graphs).
Results
Demographic characteristics of participants
As a result of the research, frequency, and percentage analysis were applied to the data, and findings related to the demographic characteristics of the participants were obtained. Table 1 shows that most participants were men (63.3). Approximately two-thirds of the participants declared they had completed at least undergraduate education. While 50.6% of the participants have a monthly income of 500 Euros or less, 38.9% have an income of 500–1000 Euros. As for the working experience, 38.7% were 0–5 years, and 18.1% had 21 years or more of work experience. As for occupation, 16.1% are non-nurse health personnel, 19.5% are doctors, 51% are nurses, and 13.4% are other personnel. 28.7% are between the ages of 17–26.
Demographic information of the participants
Demographic information of the participants
The skewness and kurtosis coefficients of all expressions in the scale were examined to determine whether the variables included in the study showed a normal distribution. It was observed that the skewness and kurtosis coefficients of the data set were within the expected values (skewness <2, Kurtosis <7) [39, 40] (see Table 2). Accordingly, when the results of the normality test of the data are examined, it can be said that the data show a normal distribution.
Factor loads and descriptive statistics
****A composite reliability of 0.70 is recommended [54]. Collier recommended an AVE greater than 0.5.
Factor loads and descriptive statistics
****A composite reliability of 0.70 is recommended [54]. Collier recommended an AVE greater than 0.5.
Cronbach Alpha is a widely used method to measure the reliability and internal consistency of the construct [76, 78]. Özdamar [41] and Gliem [42] state the criterion values for the reliability coefficient as follows; the scale is unreliable in the range of 0.00 <
After the construct validity test, convergent and divergent (discriminant) validity should also be tested [43, 80]. To measure convergent validity, composite reliability (CR) and mean variance AVE (Average Variance Extracted) tests were performed [81]. For convergent validity, all CR values for the scale are expected to be greater than the AVE values and the AVE value to be greater than 0.5. In addition, while the CR value should exceed 0.70 for each construct, for convergent validity, the AVE value exceeding 0.50 is a condition for validity [55]. In the measurement model, the CR value was between 0.823 and 0.904, and the AVE value was between 0.562 and 0.724. These results revealed the reliability and internal consistency of the scale [78]. It is seen that the goodness of fit values provided for each structure are in the range of acceptable or excellent values.
To provide divergent validity, the condition that the square root of the AVE is greater than the correlation between the factors must be met [43]. When the correlation values of each structure with the other structures are examined, it is seen that the divergent validity condition is met for each structure, as it is lower than the said value (see Table 3). The convergent and discriminant validity of the scales used in the study were also evaluated. Convergent validity means that items under the same factor are related to each other and to the factor they belong to, while discriminant validity means that items under a factor are less related to other factors than their factor. Besides the CR coefficient, the AVE value should also be calculated for convergent validity. The AVE value expresses the average squares of the factor loads of the items in a factor. AVE > 0.500, CR > 0.700, and CR > AVE conditions must be met to be able to say that a factor has convergent validity [44, 45]. For discriminant validity, besides the AVE value, the correlation coefficients between the factors, the square of the maximum shared variance (MSV), and the mean of the average shared square variance (ASV) values should be calculated. The MSV value represents the square of the highest correlation coefficient between a factor and other factors. The ASV value represents the average square of the correlation coefficients between a factor and other factors. To say that the factors have discriminant validity, the conditions for the correlation coefficients between the factors MSV < AVE, ASV < AVE, and Square root AVE > must be met [45–47] (see Table 2).
Constructive divergent validity
*Values in parentheses indicate square root AVE values. **P < 0,01.
Constructive divergent validity
*Values in parentheses indicate square root AVE values. **
Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) is a statistical technique to test and evaluate theoretical models of complex relationship relationships among variables. The assumptions of SEM are as follows:

Secondary confirmatory factor analysis.
The Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) is used to test the suitability of the factors determined by explanatory factor analysis to the factor structures defined by the hypothesis [48, 49]. While testing the fit between the model and the data, some goodness-of-fit tests may be used, or all may be preferred [50]. The general indicators for model fit are CMIN/DF = x2/df, GFI, CFI, IFI, AGFI, RMR, and RMSEA. The reported values may vary according to the importance the researcher wants to draw attention to. Many goodness-of-fit measures are used in structural equation model evaluations in the literature. It isn’t easy to meet all of these criteria in a model. However, meeting some essential criteria is mandatory for model validity [51, 52]. Therefore, secondary confirmatory factor analysis was performed for the model, and the analysis results are presented in Fig. 1. The required goodness of fit values for the model and the obtained values are given in Table 4.
Goodness of fit of the model
Source: Hair et al. (2006: 642-645); Schumacker and Lomax (2016: 112); Kirchoff and Falasca (2022: 5); Collier, (2020: 67).
Goodness of fit of the model
Source: Hair et al. (2006: 642-645); Schumacker and Lomax (2016: 112); Kirchoff and Falasca (2022: 5); Collier, (2020: 67).
Although binary outcomes may also be employed, linear regression models frequently examine the relationship between a continuous outcome and independent variables. As arbitrary, biased outcome adjustments are typically unneeded, linear regression models are relatively resilient to breaches of the normality assumption in scenarios with high sample sizes. Instead, researchers should identify model miss-specifications, which may distort results regardless of sample size. They include outlier values, excessive leverage, heteroscedasticity, correlated errors, nonlinearity, and interactions [92]. The regression model is found to be significant (F = 354,042;
Linear regression analysis results
a Dependent Variable: Organizational readiness for digital innovation.
Linear regression analysis results
a Dependent Variable: Organizational readiness for digital innovation.
This study aimed to examine the level of readiness of healthcare institutions for digital innovation by focusing on a transition economy, namely the case of Kosovo. In doing so, we
Managerial and policy implications
This research’s managerial and policy implications can be evaluated under five headings.
Limitations and future suggestions
The limitations of the study can be categorized into four main groups.
