Traditionally, routines are seen as rigid constraints which prevent flexibility and creativity in the public sector. Anne Reff Pedersen, a professor at the Department of Organisation, People and Organising (PnO), who specialises in organisation and health, challenges this view. She argues that routines are not obstacles but rather integral in the innovation process.
Pedersen researches everyday innovation, healthcare organisation, and public sector management. She is an expert in understanding how routines, coordination, and work relations influence innovation.
“Routines are not just repetitions - they are dynamic and performative. They are actually the foundation on which public value can be created.”
Her perspective offers a fresh approach to how routines can be utilised to drive innovation.
The shift to at-home chemotherapy treatment at Rigshospitalet
In collaboration with Rigshospitalet, one of Denmark’s largest and most specialised hospitals, Pedersen worked alongside postdoctoral researcher Vibeke Kirstine Scheller, who conducted the empirical work on chemotherapy treatment. Their research stemmed from a recognition that many patients were struggling with frequent hospital visits - not just physically, but also emotionally and logistically.