title: Learning management by self-employed occupational therapists in private practice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study explored how occupational therapists in private practice developed the business skills needed to operate a successful private practice. The literature shows that many small-business owner-managers have poorly developed business skills, and some experience high rates of failure. This indicates that to be successful in private practice, occupational therapists need to gain mastery of management competencies in addition to their professional clinical competencies.
  
  
  METHODS
  A qualitative study, using in-depth interviews, collected data from twenty-six self-employed occupational therapists on their experiences of becoming a small-business owner-manager. A narrative analysis built an understanding about how these therapists developed their business competencies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Analysis revealed the factors affecting the development of business competencies were interactions between the initial motivations for start-up, growth aspirations and engagement with external business environments. Business competencies developed through a combination of formal learning prior to starting their businesses, and informal learning once their businesses were in operation. Lower level learning occurred in the routine and operational processes, with higher level learning through discontinuous events resulting in a transformation in the therapists' understanding about themselves as business owner-managers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings led to a proposition that occupational therapists make the transition to becoming successful small-business owner-manager through management learning that includes elements of self-reflection, identifying environmental opportunities and risks, developing capabilities, and strategic planning for growth and development. It provides insights on what occupational therapists need to consider to become successful small-business owner-managers.
authors.affiliation: School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Jeannine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Millsteed
authors.affiliation: School of Business and Law, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Janice
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Redmond
authors.affiliation: Business School, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Walker
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D004651:Employment / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D000072087:Occupational Therapists / Q000523:psychology*; D009788:Occupational Therapy / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011331:Private Practice / Q000458:organization & administration*; D036301:Qualitative Research
keywords: learning transfer; marketing; networks; private practice; small business