THE STRATEGIES AND POLITICAL SKILLS USED BY SUCCESSFUL NURSING DEANS: A DESCRIPTIVE STUDY.
Contributors: University of Texas at Austin.
Published: 1987
Number of pages: 136
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.; Education, Administration.; Education, Higher.
Description: The purpose of this study was to identify and describe in depth the political skills and strategies used by successful deans of nursing within varying situations. The literature revealed that organizational success was associated with strong positive and creative leadership. Four research questions were investigated: (1) what are the strategies and political skills used by successful nursing deans; (2) what factors or conditions influenced the use of a given strategy or skill; (3) what factors have contributed to the development of the deans' repertoires of strategies and political skills; and (4) what differences, if any, exist among the strategies used to acquire and distribute resources and those used to manage a critical incident.

The conceptual framework used in this study focused on the functional component of strategy found in the Peters and Waterman (1982) McKinsey 7-S model of excellence. The research instrument consisted of a behavioral event and critical incident structured interview schedule.

Four deans out of a possible seven consented to participate in the study. Although the small number of cases precluded the use of descriptive statistics and any tests for levels of significance, the case study approach provided in depth data concerning the political strategies and skills of deans in top-ranked schools of nursing. The data were consistent with the findings of Peters and Waterman (1982), Roueche and Baker (1985), and Wandelt, Duffy, and Pollock (1985): successful organizational leaders are people oriented in their selection and use of strategies and political skills.

Data indicated that deans of nursing varied strategies in conjunction with differences in situations, environments, and people. The strategies described reflected both proactive and reactive behaviors. The strategies identified were strongly indicative of the necessity for positive interpersonal skills.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 49-03, Section: B, page: 0695.

Thesis (PH.D.)--THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN, 1987.

School code: 0227.