The multi-professional team as a post NPM control regime

Can it integrate competing control regimes in healthcare?

Authors

  • Roy Liff Gothenburg Research Institute (GRI), School of Business, Economics and Law, University of Gothenburg
  • Thomas Andersson University of Skövde

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.58235/sjpa.v16i2.16219

Keywords:

Multi-professional team, New Public Management, Professions, Cooperation, Healthcare

Abstract

This paper focuses on multi-professional teams (MPT) as a potential post New Public Management (NPM) control regime in order to develop individualistic and holistic care in healthcare in the context of two competing logics: managerialism and professionalism. In a qualitative case study, three outpatient Child and Adolescent Psychiatric (CAP) care units are investigated using interviews, observations and shadowing. The study shows that the MPT has an integrative effect on the two logics when informal alliances are formed between psychologists/psychiatrists and unit managers. We conclude that the MPT may achieve patient care in a resource-effective and professional way but not individualistic and holistic care. An explanation may be that individualistic and holistic care is neither measurable/quantifiable as required by the resource-effectiveness goal nor in focus as a consequence of the logic of professionalism. A theoretical implication is that the negative effect of NPM on the professionals’ autonomy is mitigated by the MPT. Earlier studies may have underestimated the importance of “hard facts” introduced by a strong control regime, in this case, the NPM context. The control regime may take over and create collaboration; nonetheless, the outcome is not entirely the desired one.

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Author Biographies

Roy Liff, Gothenburg Research Institute (GRI), School of Business, Economics and Law, University of Gothenburg

Roy Liff is a researcher at GRI, School of Business, Economics and Law, University of Gothenburg. His research is mainly focused on organization and management, especially in public organization. He has published in journals as Public Management Review, International Journal of Public Sector Management, Qualitative Research in Organizations and Management och Journal of Health Organization and Management.

Thomas Andersson, University of Skövde

Thomas Andersson is an associate professor at the University of Skövde. His research is mainly focused on leadership, organization and co-workership, especially in public organization. He has published in journals such as Public Management Review, International Journal of Public Sector Management, Personnel Review, International Studies of Management and Organization, Journal of Management Development and Qualitative Research in Accounting and Management.

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Published

2012-06-15

How to Cite

Liff, R., & Andersson, T. (2012). The multi-professional team as a post NPM control regime: Can it integrate competing control regimes in healthcare?. Scandinavian Journal of Public Administration, 16(2), 45–67. https://doi.org/10.58235/sjpa.v16i2.16219

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