Beyond quality improvement teams: sociotechnical systems theory and self-directed work teams.
Increasingly, businesses are reporting successful implementation of self-directed work teams. In health care, team-based structures in both clinical and nonclinical areas are now rapidly emerging. This paper describes the linkage between the literature of sociotechnical systems theory and current applications of self-directed work teams, and outlines the organizational processes used to design and implement them. Several examples of self-directed work teams in industry and health care systems are provided. As much of the existing literature on self-directed work teams is from industry, there is a need for case reports and further research on their current applications in health care systems.
Maxwell
C I
CI
Community General Osteopathic Hospital, Harrisburg, PA.
Ziegenfuss
J T
JT
Chisholm
R F
RF
D003659:Decision Making, Organizational; D006268:Health Facilities / Q000592:standards; D007221:Industry / Q000592:standards; D007324:Institutional Management Teams / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008332:Management Quality Circles / Q000458:organization & administration; D017009:Professional Autonomy; D012919:Social Behavior; D013598:Systems Theory; D017749:Total Quality Management / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014481:United States