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BMC Health Services Research
Published in: BMC Health Services Research 1/2014

Open Access 01-12-2014 | Research article

Clinicians in management: a qualitative study of managers’ use of influence strategies in hospitals

Authors: Ivan Spehar, Jan C Frich, Lars Erik Kjekshus

Published in: BMC Health Services Research | Issue 1/2014

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Abstract

Background

Combining a professional and managerial role can be challenging for doctors and nurses. We aimed to explore influence strategies used by doctors and nurses who are managers in hospitals with a model of unitary and profession neutral management at all levels.

Methods

We did a study based on data from interviews and observations of 30 managers with a clinical background in Norwegian hospitals.

Results

Managers with a nursing background argued that medical doctors could more easily gain support for their views. Nurses reported deliberately not disclosing their professional background, and could use a doctor as their agent to achieve a strategic advantage. Doctors believed that they had to use their power as experts to influence peers. Doctors attempted to be medical role models, while nurses spoke of being a role model in more general terms. Managers who were not able to influence the system directly found informal workarounds. We did not identify horizontal strategies in the observations and accounts given by the managers in our study.

Conclusions

Managers’ professional background may be both a resource and constraint, and also determine the influence strategies they use. Professional roles and influence strategies should be a theme in leadership development programs for health professionals.
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Metadata
Title
Clinicians in management: a qualitative study of managers’ use of influence strategies in hospitals
Authors
Ivan Spehar
Jan C Frich
Lars Erik Kjekshus
Publication date
01-12-2014
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Health Services Research / Issue 1/2014
Electronic ISSN: 1472-6963
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6963-14-251

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