title: Meeting the challenge in performance management: the diffusion and implementation of the balanced scorecard in Chinese hospitals.
abstract: The bonus system used in Chinese hospitals has been criticized for eroding doctors' professional ethics and aggravating patient expense. This research article focuses on one system to improve hospital performance, the balanced scorecard (BSC). We use three data sources to examine the diffusion and implementation of the BSC in China: a questionnaire survey in Shandong Province, a print-media indicators and content analysis of the published BSC papers and semi-structured interviews with managers of Chinese hospitals that use the BSC. The research evidence shows that bonus systems are important, partially because of the poor pay of hospital professionals, and the BSC is perceived as providing a fair system to award such bonuses. This helps explain the relative endurance of the BSC in Chinese hospitals.
authors.affiliation: Jinan Central Hospital Affiliated with Shandong University, Jinan 250013, China, International Graduate School of Business, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia Jinan Central Hospital Affiliated with Shandong University, Jinan 250013, China, International Graduate School of Business, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia gaoty001@mymail.unisa.edu.au.
authors.forename: Tian
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Jinan Central Hospital Affiliated with Shandong University, Jinan 250013, China, International Graduate School of Business, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia.
authors.forename: Bruce
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gurd
mesh_terms: D002681:China; D018166:Health Care Reform / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration; D006739:Hospital Administration / Q000379:methods*; D006761:Hospitals / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D058996:Quality Improvement / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care; D012052:Reimbursement, Incentive / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration; D012456:Salaries and Fringe Benefits; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: BSC; Balanced scorecard; China; diffusion of innovation; hospital reform; management fashion