'How can you get a leopard to change its spots? Institutional logics and physician role identity'
In this paper, we draw on the concept of a constellation of logics to understand how a new professional role identity for physicians was developed. During the time of our study, we observed that physicians changed their role identity at the micro and macro (field) level from "autonomous practitioner" to "head of the team." Our data suggest that the actions of health care managers were critical to the change process. This development of a new professional role identity occurred within the context of an Alberta government-driven change initiative to create a multi-disciplinary team approach to primary health care. We contribute to theory by identifying four microprocesses that helped to reshape the meaning of professionalism by altering the relationships among the relevant institutional logics guiding physician role identity.
Dr. Trish Reay is an Associate Professor in Strategic Management and Organization at the University of Alberta School of Business where she teaches MBA and Bachelor of Commerce courses in Organizational Change, Implementing Public Policy and Family Business. She also holds a part-time affiliation as Professor in Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Warwick Business School. She is the Academic Director for the Centre for Effective Business Management of Addiction Treatment at the Alberta School of Business, and she has recently completed her term as Division Chair for the Health Care Management division of the Academy of Management.
Her research interests include organizational and institutional change, as well as identity and identity work. She has conducted research in the area of family business dynamics and in health system restructuring and change. In the healthcare context, her research has focused on regionalization, professional work, primary health care reform, and more recently on interdisciplinary teamwork in mental health and addictions. Her work has been published in journals such as, Academy of Management Journal, Journal of Management Studies, Organization Studies, Family Business Review, Health Care Management Review and Work and Occupations.