Thesis (D.B.A.)--Boston University / PLEASE NOTE: Boston University Libraries did not receive an Authorization To Manage form for this thesis or dissertation. It is therefore not openly accessible, though it may be available by request. If you are the author or principal advisor of this work and would like to request open access for it, please contact us at open-help@bu.edu. Thank you. / This doctoral research was conducted to explain the variance in strategy formulation among practicing physicians. Strategy formulation for practicing physicians is composed by their thinking as to what is required to develop a successful private practice.
Thirteen private practice ophthalmologists participated in this study which consisted of interviews with the ophthalmologists and their staffs and document analysis.
A stage model of cognitive development emerged from the data suggesting that physicians may move through three stages of cognitive development in strategy formulation during their professional lives which we labeled the Technician, the Manager, and the Strategist.
The research effort suggested a distinct relationship between changes in cognitive structure and changes in strategy formulation among this professional group. Implications for organizational studies and studies in strategic management are as follows:
On the theoretical side the research effort suggests that the provision of environmental cues and new information does not necessarily determine the development of strategic thinking. Rather, the development of strategic thinking determines what environmental cues will be attended to and how new information will be learned and understood. A logical extension of this statement is that strategic decision-makers learn from their mistakes only when they recognize them as such. They do not learn from their mistakes if, in terms meaningful to them, no mistake is being made. A related theoretical implication is that mentoring at work can be meaningfully characterized as a "cognitive-developmental" relationship. Finally, the individual performance variation in mid-career which many researchers have observed, can be illuminated using the cognitive-developmental approach.
On the applied side the research effort suggests that decision-makers may require grounding in some technical experience base in order to become good strategic thinkers. Also, a question is raised as to the goals of MBA programs. If one important goal is to develop strategic thinkers, this research effort suggests that new approaches to structuring the curricula should be considered. Finally, the concept of career stages among physicians is described and suggested to be a meaningful caricature of practicing physicians in the future.
The dissertation ends with suggestions for future research. / 2031-01-01
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bu.edu/oai:open.bu.edu:2144/38044 |
| Date | January 1988 |
| Creators | Hirsch, John A. |
| Publisher | Boston University |
| Source Sets | Boston University |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis/Dissertation |
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