Conflict Across Organizational Boundaries: Managed Care organizations versus health care providers

Document Type

Article

Journal/Book Title

J Appl Psychol.

Volume

86

Publisher

American Psychological Association

Publication Date

2001

Abstract

This research examined conflicts that occur across organizational boundaries, specifically between managed care organizations and health care providers. Using boundary spanning theory as a framework, the authors identified 3 factors in the 1st study (30 interviews) that influence this conflict: (a) organizational power, (b) personal status differences of the individuals handling the conflict, and (c) their previous interactions. These factors affected the individuals' behavioral responses or emotions, specifically anger. After developing hypotheses, the authors tested them in a 2nd study using 109 conflict incidents drawn from 9 different managed care organizations. The results revealed that organizational power affects behavioral responses, whereas status differences and previous negative interactions affect emotions.

Comments

Originally published by the American Psychological Association. Abstract available through remote link via PubMed. Subscription to the Journal of Applied Psychology required to access article fulltext.

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