Agile Human Resource Management in Healthcare Organizations: A Scoping Review

##plugins.themes.academic_pro.article.sidebar##

Published Mar 10, 2026
https://doi.org/10.62438/tunismed.v104i01.6227
Download
PDF
Vol. 104 No. 01 (2026): Tunis Med Jan 2026

##plugins.themes.academic_pro.article.main##

Abdellatif El Faqir
Laboratory of Biomedical Sciences and Engineering, Biophysics and Health, Higher Institute of Health Sciences, Hassan First University, 26000, Settat, Morocco
Leila Loukili Idrissi
Laboratory of Biomedical Sciences and Engineering, Biophysics and Health, Higher Institute of Health Sciences, Hassan First University, 26000, Settat, Morocco

Abstract

This study aims to explore the application of Agile Human Resource Management (Agile HRM) practices within healthcare organizations, identifying key practices, their impact on healthcare performance, and existing research gaps.A scoping review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. From an initial set of 46 articles retrieved from major academic databases, 5 met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed in detail.The review highlights Agile HRM practices, including iterative planning, continuous improvement, evidence-based decision-making, and fostering self-organized, interdisciplinary teams. These practices are associated with improved service accessibility, reduced patient wait times, enhanced care quality, and higher staff engagement and productivity. However, significant research gaps remain, including the lack of robust empirical studies, limited longitudinal research, and the absence of healthcare-specific frameworks for Agile Human Resource Management.

Keywords:

Agile, Human resource, Agile HRM, Healthcare organizations, Scoping review

##plugins.themes.academic_pro.article.details##

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

References

  1. Chahouati W. La Qualité dans les hôpitaux publics marocains : Enjeux et pistes d’amélioration. International Journal of Accounting, Finance, Auditing, Management and Economics. 2021 Mar 30;2(2):214–35.
  2. Chaanoun J. Organizational change in public healthcare facilities in a context of extreme disruption: A dialectic of order and disorder for the creation of sensemaking. La Tunisie Médicale. 2025 Mar 2;103(3). Available from: https://latunisiemedicale.com/index.php/tunismed/article/view/5512
  3. Ramadevi D, Gunasekaran A, Roy M, Rai BK, Senthilkumar SA. Human resource management in a healthcare environment: framework and case study. ICT. 2016 Oct 3;48(8):387–93.
  4. Cummings BD, DeChant P. Agile: Its Evolution and Potential Value in Hospitals. Frontiers of Health Services Management. 2023 Winter;40(2):4.
  5. Kavitha R, Suresh M. Agile Practices in Human Resource Management. In: Kumaresan G, Shanmugam NS, Dhinakaran V, editors. Advances in Materials Research. Singapore: Springer Nature; 2021. p. 713–21.
  6. Moh’d S, Gregory P, Barroca L, Sharp H. Agile human resource management: A systematic mapping study. German Journal of Human Resource Management. 2024 Jan 22;23970022231226316.
  7. Laanti M, Similä J, Abrahamsson P. Definitions of Agile Software Development and Agility. Communications in Computer and Information Science. 2013;364 CCIS:247–58.
  8. Yusuf YY, Sarhadi M, Gunasekaran A. Agile manufacturing:: The drivers, concepts and attributes. International Journal of Production Economics. 1999 May 20;62(1):33–43.
  9. Revutska O, Maršíková K. Agile Approach in Human Resource Management: Focus on Generation Y. E+M. 2021 Jun;24(2):65–83.
  10. Ulrich D, Yeung A. Agility: the new response to dynamic change. Strategic HR Review. 2019 Aug 21;18(4):161–7.
  11. Kitzmiller R, Hunt E, Sproat SB. Adopting Best Practices: “Agility” Moves From Software Development to Healthcare Project Management. CIN: Computers, Informatics, Nursing. 2006 Apr;24(2):75.
  12. McMackin J, Heffernan M. Agile for HR: Fine in practice, but will it work in theory? Human Resource Management Review. 2021 Dec 1;31(4):100791.
  13. Denning S. The emergence of Agile people management. Strategy & Leadership. 2018 Jan 1;46(4):3–10.
  14. Mirji DH, Patil S, Mane DP. AGILE HR: UNLEASHING ORGANIZATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS THROUGH AGILE PRACTICES IN HUMAN RESOURCES. Madhya Pradesh Journal of Social Sciences. 2023;28(2).
  15. Ranasinghe V, Sangarandeniya YMSWV. Agile Human Resource Management. In: Human Resource Management in Challenging Environments [Internet]. 2021 [cited 2024 Nov 22]. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/352135010_Agile_Human_Resource_Management
  16. Kwasek A, Kocot D, Gontarek I, Oleksiejuk J, Rogozinska-Mitrut J, Golinska-Pieszynska M. Human Resource Management Practices in an Agile Organization in the Aspect of Own Research. ERSJ. 2024 Nov 1;XXVIΙ(Issue 4):383–99.
  17. Subramanian N, Suresh M. Assessment Framework for Agile HRM Practices. Glob J Flex Syst Manag. 2022 Mar 1;23(1):135–49.
  18. Wilson Cd, Balasundaram S. Agile HR-Based Employee Management Practices for Improving Hospital Service Delivery. IRJMS. 2024;05(02):636–51.
  19. Karim SA, Islam MJ. Navigating the Future of Healthcare HR: Agile Strategies for Overcoming Modern Challenges [Internet]. Rochester, NY: Social Science Research Network; 2024 [cited 2025 Apr 7]. Available from: https://papers.ssrn.com/abstract=4977288
  20. Saleh HH, Abbas ZA, Latif N, Khalil ZT. Agile Management in Healthcare Improving Patient Outcomes through Flexibility and Responsiveness. Journal of Ecohumanism. 2024 Sep 4;3(5):633–49.
  21. Tinaj S, Vukotic M, Malisic B, Lukovac L. Assessing the Baseline Impact of Agile Human Resource Management in the Healthcare Systems of Western Balkan Countries. In: Badnjević A, Gurbeta Pokvić L, editors. MEDICON’23 and CMBEBIH’23. Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland; 2024. p. 215–24.
  22. Chanthanet W. LEAN, AGILE, RESILIENCE, AND GREEN HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, ORGANIZATIONAL INNOVATION AND ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE OF PUBLIC HEALTH CENTER, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, BANGKOK METROPOLITAN ADMINISTRATION. Cogito. 2024;16(3):141–61.
  23. Saleh HH, Abbas ZA, Latif N, Khalil ZT. Agile Management in Healthcare Improving Patient Outcomes through Flexibility and Responsiveness. Journal of Ecohumanism. 2024;3(5):633–49.