International Journal of Health Research and Innovation

Organizational Culture and Change: The case of a Greek Public Hospital

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  • Abstract

    For a healthcare organization to be able to cope successfully with future culture changes, it is important to define the existing culture and also the way its members would like it to be evolved in the future. A cross-sectional study was implemented in The General Public Hospital and Primary Health Care Centers in Preveza district, Greece. The collection of data was done using the Cameron and Quinn Organizational Culture Assessment Instrument (OCAI). Two hundred completed questionnaires were returned out of the 240 that were given (response rate 83.2%). According to the participants’ answers, considering the present as well as the preferred organizational culture, the greatest score gathered the Culture of Hierarchy. The age of the participants showed statistically important impact on the desirable Hierarchy Culture (p-=0.013) and the preferred Adhocracy Culture (p= 0.041). The university graduates presented a higher score in the present Adhocracy Culture (p=0.008) and the post-graduates (p=0.015) preferred more Market Culture. The measurement of the organizational culture of public hospitals is an important administrative tool, that strengthens the ability of an organization to predict and successfully respond to future environmental changes mainly of the external environment is of crucial importance.

    Keywords: Change, Culture, Organization, Healthcare