The role of symbolic artifacts in hospital innovation: lessons from three cases

Abstract

Hospitals seek to respond to the multiple tensions they face through organizational innovation. This article examines the practical modalities of such innovation and explores an aspect often overlooked in the literature: the role of symbolic artifacts. This research is based on a multiple, quasi-ethnographic case study of three hospitals in France and Brazil. While acknowledging the specificities of each case, the analysis reveals significant convergences. The findings highlight that symbolic artifacts serve as communicative agents through their use. Thus, they play a pivotal role in the innovation process.