Structuring the problem of hospital waste management conflicts by combining drama theory and Journey Making

Hospital waste is the second most hazardous waste after radioactive waste. Although this waste threatens the health of citizens and the environment, disagreements between responsible organizations have made the management of hospital waste a serious problem. Inefficient management of this waste and the increase of its volume due to the spread of the coronavirus disease have increased the need to study this issue. So, this issue in the country requires accurate scientific, practical, and technical frameworks calculated according to the waste management law and relevant executive regulations. Therefore, in this study, to improve the inter-organizational problems of waste management, the conflicts and contradictions between the stakeholders of this issue were studied and structured.

In this paper, participants were first identified using the journey-making method. Then, by drawing a power-interest diagram, the role of each participant was determined, and the main actors were identified. Next, the problem of hospital waste management actors was structured by the drama theory. 

The results showed that according to the priorities and decision options of the five main actors at the negotiating table, there are many problems of non-cooperation and conflict between them. The most conflict is formed between waste organizations and hospitals and the most important type of problem between organizations is the problem of rejecting each other's options.

Conflicts caused by rejection dilemmas can be considered the best type of conflict that can be improved by compromise and cooperation of organizations with each other. In this situation, these conflicts can be turned into cooperation by negotiating, flexibility, compromise, and of course, innovation in offering newer options.