Complexity science and participation in decision making among Taiwanese nurses.
OBJECTIVE
The perspective of interconnection in complexity science is used to examine the concept of participation in decision making among Taiwanese nurses in the context of Chinese communication culture.


BACKGROUND
Participation in decision making among nurses has been widely discussed and tested in the Western healthcare systems. Many studies have shown that participation in decision making relates to nurses' autonomy, job satisfaction and quality of care. However, participation in decision making has not been fully discussed in Taiwan's nursing community. In a different cultural environment, participation in decision making may have different effects.


RESULTS
The concept of participation in decision making is analysed in three facets of Chinese communication culture: (1) hierarchical social relationship; (2) harmony maintenance; and (3) insider effects. Key issues Taiwanese nurses might establish different levels of participation and need to use different strategies to enhance participation in decision making for desired outcomes.


CONCLUSIONS
While applying participation in decision making in a different context, it is very important to consider the social and cultural differences.


CONCLUSIONS
Two implications are made. First, nursing leaders/managers who are working with a multicultural team should be aware of the cultural difference in the pattern of interaction in the process of participation in decision making. Second, leaders/managers should be creative and try to apply different strategies to encourage staff's participation in decision making.
Liu
Yi
Y
School of Nursing, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78701, USA. gn94yliu@mail.utexas.edu
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel / Q000208:ethnology*; D003142:Communication; D032903:Confucianism / Q000523:psychology; D003405:Creativity; D003659:Decision Making, Organizational; D004059:Diffusion of Innovation; D006801:Humans; D007857:Leadership; D017711:Nonlinear Dynamics; D009718:Nurse Administrators / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology; D024802:Nurse's Role / Q000523:psychology*; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology; D017009:Professional Autonomy; D013598:Systems Theory; D013624:Taiwan