At cross‐purposes: head‐to‐head professionalism in not‐for‐profit pastoral organizations

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to explore the nature and causes of observed tensions among healthcare professionals in not‐for‐profit organizations such as hospices.

Design/methodology/approach

In the paper the narratives collected from discipline leaders in each of five New Zealand hospices are thematically analysed in order to identify consistent and recurring sources of conflict both within and between disciplinary groups.

Findings

The paper finds that motivational differences, poor conflict management, interdisciplinary tensions, divergent attitudes towards volunteerism, strategic planning processes, and poor consultation are identified as some of the starting‐points for tensions in the participating hospices.

Research limitations/implications

The research in this paper is based in New Zealand and uses qualitative methods not intended to produce generalizable results. Nevertheless it was conducted in hospices typical of the Western developed countries and identifies focal points and potential avenues for further exploration.

Practical implications

The paper shows that researchers and managers involved in not‐for‐profit healthcare organization may find the identified issues useful as starting‐points for actions to minimise the tensions between and within groups.

Originality/value

This paper explores aspects of a rarely discussed issue, and suggests opportunities for more research in this field.

Citation

Harmer, B.M. (2006), "At cross‐purposes: head‐to‐head professionalism in not‐for‐profit pastoral organizations", Journal of Health Organization and Management, Vol. 20 No. 6, pp. 489-501. https://doi.org/10.1108/14777260610702244