TY - JOUR
TI - The analysis of the driving forces initiating the decentralization/centralization processes.
AU - Kowalska, Iwona
AU - Mokrzycka, Anna
TI - The analysis of the driving forces initiating the decentralization/centralization processes.
AB - 
	Decentralization is often presented as a ‘magic bullet’ that can address a wide variety of different problems in health systems. The article explores the main driving forces behind the decentralization and centralization processes and the pro and cons often presented in this respect. The paper goal focuses on the analysis of the potential incentives (driving forces) initiating the processes of decentralization/centralization with the use of the arguments concerning the sphere of sciences in regard to the public administration, political sciences and management theories.
	
	The theoretical perspective offers the three concepts of the driving forces useful for the explanation of relationships between health systems and the realized decentralization strategy: (1) concerning the system’s performance issues; (2) the legitimacy questions, and (3) the self–interests of the given subject. The first category reflects the influence of vision of health systems functioning as organisms that can be adjusted to the new circumstances by the strategists and decision makers. The second perspective concentrates on the legitimacy. It concerns the vision of the organisations representing a particular social culture. Legitimacy and cultural adequacy are the important factors from the decision- makers perspective at all the organisational levels, enabling support and change. Self-interest (the third perspective) focuses on the personal and institutional engagement and real (material) interests as a driving forces for decentralization. It creates the image of health care organisations as politically related systems characterized by the conflict situation rather than unification of goals, plans and strategies. 
VL - 2012
IS - Volume 10, Issue 3
PY - 2013
SN - 1731-7398
C1 - 2084-2627
SP - 169
EP - 176
DO - 10.4467/20842627OZ.13.018.1166
UR - https://ejournals.eu/en/journal/zdrowie-publiczne-i-zarzadzanie/article/analiza-wybranych-kryteriow-wartosciujacych-dla-oceny-procesow-decentralizacji-i-centralizacji-w-ochronie-zdrowia
KW - centralization in health care
KW - decentralization in health care
KW - health care system