Unitary management, multiple practices?
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this paper is to explore whether unitary managers with different professional backgrounds carry out and reflect differently upon their roles as unitary managers.


METHODS
This paper presents findings from two different studies, comprising both data from qualitative interviews and a nationwide survey.


RESULTS
Doctors and nurses in many respects perform their roles as unitary managers differently. They hold the same position but carry out their roles differently. Doctors are very committed to clinical tasks and stress to a great extent that clinical tasks should be integrated in management at the department level. The opposite is true for the nurses, where leadership first and foremost should be understood as management.


CONCLUSIONS
Even though doctors and nurses are in the same position they manage differently, being committed to different tasks within the unit. This is not the intention of the reform. However, the question is thus, will this have (severe) consequences for the organization? Or does it represent a healthy diversity in the health organisation?


CONCLUSIONS
This paper explores whether different professions carry out their managerial tasks differently and what practical implications this could have. It brings to the fore substantial empirical data on how one of the major reforms in Norwegian (and international) health care has been adopted and carried out by major professional groups.
Johansen
Monica Skjøld
MS
Norwegian School of Management, Oslo, Norway. monicsjo@gmail.com
Gjerberg
Elisabeth
E
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005260:Female; D018166:Health Care Reform; D006748:Hospital Departments / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007857:Leadership; D008297:Male; D009664:Norway; D024802:Nurse's Role / Q000523:psychology*; D008486:Physician Executives / Q000523:psychology*; D010819:Physician's Role / Q000523:psychology*; D017009:Professional Autonomy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires