title: Relevance of mission statements in Flemish not-for-profit healthcare organizations.
abstract: The aims of the study were to determine: (1) which components managers of Flemish not-for-profit healthcare organizations chose to incorporate in their mission statement, (2) how satisfied managers of Flemish not-for-profit healthcare organizations are with the formulation of various mission statement components and (3) if the managers of Flemish not-for-profit healthcare organizations subscribe the presumed positive relationship between mission statements and organizational performance. To address these research questions, a questionnaire was send to a convenience sample of Flemish not-for-profit healthcare managers and to a control group. The results indicate that Flemish not-for-profit healthcare managers do discriminate and differentiate between mission statement components and that they are not equally satisfied with the articulation of every component. Furthermore, Flemish not-for-profit healthcare managers do support the assumption that a well-written mission statement can produce a host of benefits. The mission statement is considered as an energy source, a guide in decision-making and to influence the managers' behaviour.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium. dominique.vandijck@ugent.be
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vandijck
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Desmidt
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Buelens
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001530:Belgium; D003659:Decision Making, Organizational; D004465:Economic Competition; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D006040:Goals; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006270:Health Facility Administrators / Q000523:psychology*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D015279:Organizational Culture; D009937:Organizational Objectives; D009939:Organizations, Nonprofit / Q000458:organization & administration*; D018802:Patient-Centered Care; D010686:Philosophy, Medical; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires