Integrating Management Control and Human Resource Management in Public Health Care: Swedish Case Study Evidence

The debate on management reforms in the public health care sector has largely overlooked the role of human resource management (HRM) and its potential interaction with traditional management control (MC) mechanisms. This paper explores which factors associated with the integration between MC and HRM may foster organisational learning in a public health care setting. A case study in a public dental practice is used for examining this issue. Apart from highlighting the influence of various task characteristics, the case study suggests that the vertical as well as horizontal dimensions of integration are important to consider in this context. Implications for further research are discussed.