Organizational constraints as root causes of role conflict: The situation of physician-managers and their responses

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to gain a better understanding of the difficulties encountered in the hybrid roles of physician−managers (P−Ms), examine the impact of organizational constraints on the role conflicts experienced by P−Ms and explore the different ways their two roles are integrated.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative approach was adopted, using six focus groups made up of clinical co-managers, medical directors and P−Ms. In all, 43 different people were interviewed to obtain their perceptions of the day-to-day realities of the role of the P−M. The data collected were subsequently validated.

Findings

Although the expectations of the different groups involved regarding the role of P−Ms are well understood and shared, there are significant organizational constraints affecting what P−Ms are able to do in their day-to-day activities, and these constraints can result in role conflicts for the people involved. Such constraints also affect the ways P−Ms integrate the two roles. The authors identify three role hybridization profiles.

Practical implications

The results afford a better understanding of how organizational constraints might be used as levers of organizational change to achieve a better hybridization of the dual roles of P−Ms.

Originality/value

This paper seeks to reach beyond a simple identification of constraints affecting the dual roles of P−Ms by analyzing how such constraints impact on these professionals’ day-to-day activities. Results also enable us to further refine Katz and Kahn’s (1966) role model, in addition to identifying hybridization profiles.

Citation

Gilbert, M.-H., Dextras-Gauthier, J., Fournier, P.-S., Côté, A., Auclair, I. and Knani, M. (2019), "Organizational constraints as root causes of role conflict: The situation of physician-managers and their responses", Journal of Health Organization and Management, Vol. 33 No. 2, pp. 204-220. https://doi.org/10.1108/JHOM-07-2017-0169