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Building the Knowledge Base of Nonprofit Management:
A Searchable Database
Innovation in Professional Organizations
Abstract
To determine whether innovation correlates of bureaucratic
organizations apply to medical organizations, 30 multispecialty
fee-for-service medical groups from a midwestern state were studied by
interview & questionnaire in 1975. Modal group practical size was
15 physicians. Innovation is seen in 4 phases: informal discussion,
formal proposal, adoption, & implementation. Innovation was
assessed by asking respondents to rate their organization's innovation
phase with respect to 87 identified medical innovations. Structural,
attitudinal, & affective response correlates were measured.
Results indicated that formal hierarchical decision making &
affective responses were significantly related to various stages in
the innovation process. Participation by all physicians in strategic
decisions was negatively related to each phase in the innovation
process. By contrast, organization size, complexity, formalization,
& person specialization were not related to innovation activity.
It is speculated that minimal bureaucratization may be necessary to
move the innovation process in differentiated professional groups. 3
Tables. Modified HA.
Journal
(1978)
vol2
no4
pages411-424
Categories
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Nonprofit Service Sectors
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Health
