Comparison of level of interdepartmental conflict among employees' in the university hospitals and general hospitals

대학병원과 종합병원 직원의 부서간 갈등수준 비교분석

The purpose of this study is to promote the efficiency of the management of the controls organization in the university hospitals and general hospitals by evaluating the factors underlying organizational conflict. The subject population included 351 hospital workers randomly selected from two general hospitals of less than 200 beds and two university hospitals over 500 beds in Seoul area. Data were collected through a survey questionnaire. To define related factors for the level of conflict among departments in each hospitals multivariate regression analysis was conducted. Independent factors were characteristics of subjects, conflicting factors between the departments. The results are as follows: 1. Those in high job position group demonstrated significantly higher level of conflict between departments. Those working in the general hospitals, who were older and had long-term tenure at current working hospital had higher level of conflict between the departments. 2. Concerning the involvement of conflicting factors and the level of conflict in the employees' there was statistically significant positive correlation between reliability and job-related and intradepartmental level of conflict in university hospitals. There was a significant positive correlation between interdepartmental conflicting factors of mutual dependence, difference in goal/orientation and interdepartmental level of conflict. 3. In the university hospitals, among the interdepartmental factors, mutual dependence and difference in goal/orientation had statistically significant influence and showed a positive relationship with interdepartmental level of conflict. In the general hospitals, job position was a significant factor which showed that those in high position such as section chief or above, compared to those in general position had higher level of conflict. Among the interdepartmental characteristics, factors of mutual dependence and goal/orientation had statistically significant influence and showed a positive relationship with interdepartmental level of conflict. In the general hospitals setting efforts to reduce conflict in areas among workers with high position, old age, and long tenure and those in medical care department should be made and prudent management and planning for improved manpower and increased budget or efficient allocation and clear definition of job description are necessary to adequately assess. In the university hospitals setting efforts to reexaminitation of the organizational structure and efficiency conveyance of information and efforts to resolve conflict among young workers with lower level of education is need. This study has its own merit in comparing empirically the conflict among hospital workers in the university hospitals and general hospitals. Future study are needed with respect to the relationship between interdepartmental level of conflict and the effectiveness of the hospital organization for improved resolution of conflict in the organization and hospital management.