Perceptions of professional clinicians and non-clinicians on their involvement in strategic planning in health care management: implications for interdisciplinary involvement

Abstract There is increasing emphasis on interdisciplinary involvement by health care managers. The objective of the present paper was to identify the level of involvement that middle manager heads of department have in strategy development in acute care hospitals in Ireland, and to identify if professional clinicians were more involved than non-clinicians. Twenty-five interviews were undertaken. Findings indicated that middle managers were strategically involved and that non-clinicians perceived that they were more involved in strategy development than professional clinicians. Strategic involvement appeared to result from a higher level of strategic awareness and confidence by non-clinicians in the process. Professional clinicians perceived that their expertize was not recognized or appreciated by non-clinicians or by senior management. Agreement of strategy amongst both groups is critical, as exclusion will lead to demotivation and consequent deterioration in health care delivery.