THE IMPACT OF HIERARCHY ON COMMUNICATION AND DECISION-MAKING AMONG ADMINISTRATORS, PHYSICIANS, AND NURSES: A SURVEY OF TWO HOSPITALS.
Contributors: Howard University.
Published: 1991
Number of pages: 146
Subjects: Speech Communication.; Health Sciences, Health Care Management.; Sociology, Industrial and Labor Relations.
Description: Five research questions were explored: (i) Does one's position in the organizational hierarchy affect decision making process within the hospitals under investigation? (ii) To what extent does one's position as a nurse or physician impact participation in decision making relative to medical equipment selection and acquisition in the hospitals under investigation? (iii) How is information (on decision) communicated within the organizational hierarchies in the hospitals under investigation? (iv) Is there any difference in the flow of information between a community hospital and a private-teaching hospital? (v) Is there any difference in the decision making process of a community hospital and a private-teaching hospital?.

Data were collected from two hospitals in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area (a private-teaching hospital and a community hospital). A survey instrument combining items on participation in decision making, channels of communication, and sources of information was used.

All research questions were analyzed by several statistical methods. The means and standard deviations were obtained to determine the average score and a degree of variance among the eight dimensions or measures. A 5 x 2 factorial design of research followed by a post hoc comparison of the between group variance were conducted on research questions one, two, and three. Research questions four and five were tested with a discriminant analysis (canonical). A maximum.05 level of significance was established for all statistical tests. Results of the analyses indicated that: (R1) There was minor significant difference found between job title (hierarchy) and decision making within the hospitals investigated. (R2) There was no significant difference found on the impact of one's position as a nurse or physician on participation in decision making relative to medical equipment acquisition and selection in the hospitals investigated. (R3) There were significant differences among nurses and physician/administrators in the way information is communicated (channels and sources used) within the organizational hierarchies in the hospitals investigated. (R4) There were no significant differences between the flow of information in a private-teaching hospital and a community hospital. (R5) There were no significant differences between the decision making process in a community hospital and a private-teaching hospital. (Abstract shortened with permission of author.).
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 53-03, Section: A, page: 0662.

Thesis (PH.D.)--HOWARD UNIVERSITY, 1991.

School code: 0088.