The link between configurations of organizational design characteristics and infectious disease control

Abstract

This research addresses the different organizational structure design characteristics of nursing homes associated with infection disease control. Sitter’s seven design parameters were used to describe the organizational structure design. This research identifies structure-related configurations linked to infection disease control. A fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis, using data of 219 nursing homes, is conducted to search for necessary conditions and sufficient configurations. The findings of this research confirm the link between configurations of organizational structure design characteristics and the absence or presence of Covid-19 confirmed cases, deaths due to Covid-19, and hospitalizations due to Covid-19. Also, the province in which the nursing home is located and the burden of care of residents was taken into account. This study contributes to the knowledge by establishing the link between organizational structure design and infection disease control. Moreover, the findings could be used as handles for decision-makers of nursing homes to design or redesign the organizational structure to be prepared for pandemics or new Covid-19 waves.