Managerial orientation and career success of physicians in hospitals
Journal of Health Organization and Management
ISSN: 1477-7266
Article publication date: 20 March 2009
Abstract
Purpose
This article aims to investigate the impact of managerial orientation on the career success of physicians employed in hospitals.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors collected data between August and October 2006 using a written questionnaire that was sent to all 278 physicians employed in two German hospitals. The data was analyzed using a multinomial logistic regression.
Findings
The data indicate that a pronounced managerial orientation has indeed a positive impact on the career success of physicians in hospitals. But the results vary with respect to the different dimensions of managerial orientation.
Practical implications
Some aspects of managerial orientation are more compatible with physicians' professional values and, consequently, more relevant for career success than others. The acquisition and improvement of management skills seems to be a crucial factor.
Originality/value
The impact of managerial orientation on the career success of physicians has been unclear so far. Physicians are trained and socialized according to professional values and norms that are considered to be the antithesis of a managerial orientation. Furthermore, the typical career paths of professionals are different from careers of other occupational groups. However, this paper shows that physicians employed in hospitals need a certain degree of managerial orientation to have a successful and satisfying professional career.
Keywords
Citation
Vera, A. and Hucke, D. (2009), "Managerial orientation and career success of physicians in hospitals", Journal of Health Organization and Management, Vol. 23 No. 1, pp. 70-84. https://doi.org/10.1108/14777260910942560
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2009, Emerald Group Publishing Limited