Pharmacy executive leadership issues and associated skills, knowledge, and abilities.
OBJECTIVE
To identify challenges that current and future pharmacy executives are facing or will face in the future and to define what skills, knowledge, and abilities (SKAs) are required to successfully negotiate these challenges.


METHODS
Delphi method for executive decision making.


METHODS
Civilian pharmacy profession.


METHODS
110 pharmacists who graduated from the GlaxoSmithKline Executive Management Program for Pharmacy Leaders.


METHODS
Two iterations of the Delphi method for executive decision making separated by an expert panel content analysis.


METHODS
Round 1--participants were asked to identify five major issues they believed to be of greatest importance to pharmacy leaders in the next 5-10 years and name specific SKAs that might be needed by future leaders to successfully deal with those issues. An expert panel reviewed the issues, classified issues into specific domains, and titled each domain. Round 2-participants rated the SKAs on a 7-point scale according to their individual assessment of importance in each domain.


RESULTS
For Delphi rounds 1 and 2, response rates were 21.8% and 18.2%, respectively. More than 100 total issue statements were identified. The expert panel sorted the issues into five domains: management and development of the pharmacy workforce, pharmacy finance, total quality management of work-flow systems, influences on the practice of pharmacy, and professional pharmacy leadership. Five of the top 15 SKAs-and all four highest ranked items--came from the professional pharmacy leadership domain, including ability to see the big picture, ability to demonstrate the value of pharmacy services, ability to lead and manage in an ethical manner, and skills for influencing an organization's senior leadership.


CONCLUSIONS
Through successful integration of communication skills, critical thinking, and problem solving techniques, future public-sector pharmacy executives will be better equipped to effectively position their organizations and the profession for the challenges that lie ahead.
Meadows
Andrew B
AB
Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL 36112, USA. andrew.meadows@maxwell.af.mil
Maine
Lucinda L
LL
Keyes
Elizabeth K
EK
Pearson
Kathy
K
Finstuen
Kenn
K
D003657:Decision Making; D003697:Delphi Technique; D004345:Drug Industry / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D007587:Job Description / Q000592:standards; D007857:Leadership; D010595:Pharmacists / Q000592:standards; D010605:Pharmacy Administration / Q000592:standards*; D011340:Problem Solving; D011361:Professional Competence / Q000592:standards*; D013192:Staff Development / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards