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Power at Work: Navigating Hierarchies, Teamwork and Webs

Journal of Medical HumanitiesPublished 1 January 2004
Carolyn DiPalma
Citations43
SJR quartileQ3
SJR score0.29
SNIP0.77

TL;DR

Tensions between the dynamics observed during a shadowing experience in a clinic and a hospital and theories of power and organizations are explored, suggesting that some of the most gratifying experiences of workplace collaboration for healthcare professionals may occur as a result of their having successfully navigated complex coalitions of hierarchies, teams and webs.

Abstract

I explore tensions between the dynamics observed during a shadowing experience in a clinic and a hospital and theories of power and organizations. Commenting on what the tensions reveal about "power at work" (in the dual sense of how power works and power in the workplace), I suggest that some of the most gratifying experiences of workplace collaboration for healthcare professionals may occur as a result of their having successfully navigated complex coalitions of hierarchies, teams and webs rather than dutifully adhering to any single organizational structure.

Keywords

Social SciencesBusiness, Management and Accounting