Testing contingency theory to drive organizational change in community care: A case study in the Emilia Romagna Region.

Purpose: The objective is to test contingency theory among "community homes" in a region in Northern Italy. Community homes constitute an emerging key setting in the Italian primary healthcare system and are emblematic of the most recent organizational solutions in primary care across countries.

Methods: A case study was carried out through semi-structured interviews administered in community homes to key professionals. Results were validated in two communities of practices.

Findings: Several elements of organizational and managerial variability were detected across the sample of community homes involved in the study, although they were all responding to the same regulations and normative pressures.

Original value: The study provides preliminary evidence on the role of contingency theory in the primary healthcare sector, shedding light on its characteristics and providing food for thought on the extent to which organizational variability should be supported, rather than hindered.