Central to hospice care is the interdisciplinary team. Such health care teams are
by definition democratic, self-managing teams. Fifty-two team members on seven
hospice teams in three hospice organizations participated in the study. Hospice
team members perceived the teams to be not as democratic as might be expected.
One dimension of team democracy, perceived involvement of all members in team
decisions, was positively and significantly associated with perceived team cohesive
ness, productiveness, satisfaction with the team, satisfaction with team communica
tion, and desire to stay with the team. Perception of team productiveness was a
mediating variable between team involvement and job satisfaction. This study adds
to empirical research on teamwork and participation in organizations by identify
ing the importance of a specific dimension of participation, involvement in deci
sion making. The findings suggest the necessity of training team members in devel
oping strategies to encourage involvement in decision making. However,
practitioners are also cautioned against viewing involvement in team decision
making as the answer to all teamwork ills.
Allen, M. (1996). The relationship between communication, affect, job alternatives, and voluntary turnover intentions. Southern Communication Journal, 61, 198-209.
2.
Barker, J. (1994). Tightening the iron cage: Concertive control in self-managing teams. In J. Van Maanen (Ed.), Qualitative studies of organizations (pp. 126-158). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
3.
Barney, J., & Hesterly, W. (1996). Organizational economics: Understanding the relationship between organizations and economic analysis. In S. Clegg, C. Hardy, & W. Nord (Eds.), Handbook of organization studies (pp. 114-147). London: Sage.
4.
Becker-Reems, E., & Garrett, D. (1998). Testing the limits of teams: How to implement self-management in health care. Chicago: American Hospital Publishing.
5.
Beresford, L. (1993). The hospice handbook: A complete guide. Boston: Little, Brown.
6.
Beresford, L. (1997). The future of hospice in a reformed American health care system: What are the real questions? The Hospice Journal , 12(2), 85-91.
7.
Bernthal, P., & Insko, C. (1993). Cohesiveness without groupthink: The interactive effects of social and task cohesion. Group & Organization Management, 18, 66-87.
8.
Berteotti, C., & Seibold, D. (1994). Coordination and role-definition problems in health-care teams: A hospice case study. In L. Frey (Ed.), Group communication in context: Studies of natural groups (pp. 107-131). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
9.
Buckingham, R. (1996). The handbook of hospice care. Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books.
10.
Buzaglo, B., & Wheelan, S. (1999). Facilitating work team effectiveness: Case studies from Central America. Small Group Research, 30, 108-129.
11.
Cammann, C., Fichman, M., Jenkins, D., & Klesh, J. (1983). Assessing the attitudes and perceptions of organization members. In S. Seashore, E. Lawler, P. Mirvis, & C. Cammann (Eds.), Assessing organizational change: A guide to methods, measures, and practices (pp. 71-138). New York: John Wiley.
12.
Cheney, G., Straub, J., Speirs-Glebe, L., Stohl, C., DeDooyer, Jr., D., Whalen, S., Garvin-Doxas, K., & Carlone, D. (1998). Democracy, participation, and communication at work: A multidisciplinary review. In M. Roloff (Ed.), Communication yearbook 21 (pp. 35-91). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
13.
Chin, W., Salisbury, W., Pearson, A., & Stollak, M. (1999). Perceived cohesion in small groups: Adapting and testing the Perceived Cohesion Scale in a small-group setting. Small Group Research, 30, 751-766.
14.
Clampitt, F., & Downs, C. (1993). Employee perceptions of the relationship between communication and productivity: A field study. The Journal of Business Communication, 30, 5-28.
15.
Cline, R. (1990). Small group communication in health care. In E. Ray & L. Donohew (Eds.), Communication and health: Systems and applications (pp. 69-91). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.
16.
Connor, S. (1998). Hospice: Practice, pitfalls, and promise. Washington, DC: Taylor & Francis.
17.
Corrigan, P. & McCracken, S. (1998). An interactive approach to training teams and developing programs. In P. Corrigan & D. Giffort (Eds.), Building teams and programs for effective psychiatric rehabilitation (pp. 3-12). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
18.
Devine, D., Clayton, L., Philips, J., Dunford, B., & Melner, S. (1999). Teams in organizations: Prevalence, characteristics, and effectiveness. Small Group Research, 30, 678-711.
19.
Downs, C., Clampitt, P., & Pfeiffer, A. (1988). Communication and organizational outcomes. In G. Goldhaber & G. Barnett (Eds.), Handbook of organizational communication (pp. 171-211). Norwood, NJ: Ablex.
20.
Friedman, P. (1989). Upstream facilitation: A proactive approach to managing problem-solving groups. Management Communication Quarterly, 3, 33-50.
21.
Gastil, J. (1993). Democracy in small groups: Participation, decision making, and communication. Philadelphia, PA: New Society.
22.
Glaser, H. (1996). Structure and struggle in egalitarian groups: Dimensions of power relations. Small Group Research, 27, 551-571.
23.
Haas, J., Sypher, B., & Sypher, H. (1992). Do shared goals really make a difference ? Management Communication Quarterly, 6, 166-179.
24.
Hackman, J.R. (1998). Why teams don't work. In R. Tindale, L. Heath, J. Edwards, E. Posavac, F. Bryant, Y. Suarez-Balcazar , E. Henderson-King, & J. Myers (Eds.), Theory and research on small groups (pp. 245-267). New York: Plenum Press.
25.
Hartley, P. (1997). Group communication. London : Routledge.
26.
Hirokawa, R., Erbert, L., & Hurst, A. (1996). Communication and group decision-making effectiveness . In R. Hirokawa & M. Poole (Eds.), Communication and group decision making (2nd ed., pp. 269-300). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
27.
Jarboe, S. (1996). Procedures for enhancing group decision making . In R. Hirokawa & M. Poole (Eds.), Communication and group decision making (2nd ed., pp. 345-383). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
28.
Juliá, M., & Thompson, A. (1994a). Group process and interprofessional teamwork . In R. Casto & M. Juliá (Eds.), Interprofessional care and collaborative practice (pp. 35-41). Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole .
29.
Juliá, M., & Thompson, A. (1994b). Essential elements of interprofessional team work: Task and maintenance functions. In R. Casto & M. Juliá (Eds.), Interprofessional care and collaborative practice (pp. 43-57). Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole.
30.
Keyton, J. (1999). Relational communication in groups. In L. Frey (Ed.), D. Gouran (Assoc. Ed.), & M. Poole (Assoc. Ed.), The handbook of group communication theory and research (pp. 192-222). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
31.
Kirkman-Liff, B. (1999). Medicare managed care and primary care for frail elders. In F. Netting & F. Williams (Eds.), Enhancing primary care of elderly people (pp. 3-23). New York: Garland .
32.
Kreps, G., & Kunimoto, E. (1994). Effective communication in multicultural health care settings. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
33.
Lafferty, C. (1998). Transformational leadership and the hospice R.N. case manager: A new critical pathway. The Hospice Journal , 13(3), 35-48.
34.
Langfred, C. (1998). Is group cohesiveness a double-edged sword? An investigation of the effects of cohesiveness on performance. Small Group Research, 29, 124-143.
35.
Larson, C., & LaFasto, F. (1989). Teamwork: What must go right, what can go wrong . Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
36.
Lefley, H. (1998). Training professionals for rehabilitation teams . In P. Corrigan & D. Giffort (Eds.), Building teams and programs for effective psychiatric rehabilitation (pp. 13-23). San Francisco : Jossey-Bass.
37.
Manion, J., Lorimer, W., & Leander, W. (1996). Team-based health care organizations: Blueprint for success. Gaithersburg, MD: Aspen.
38.
Marshall, A., & Stohl, C. (1993). Participating as participation: A network approach . Communication Monographs, 60, 137-157.
39.
Miller, K., & Monge, P. (1986). Participation, satisfaction, and productivity: A meta-analytic review. Academy of Management Journal, 29, 727-753.
40.
Miller, S., Hickson, D., & Wilson, D. (1996). Decision-making in organizations. In S. Clegg, C. Hardy, & W. Nord (Eds.), Handbook of organization studies (pp. 293-312). London: Sage.
41.
Monge, P., & Miller, K. (1988). Participative processes in organizations. In G. Goldhaber & G. Barnett (Eds.), Handbook of organizational communication (pp. 213-229). Norwood, NJ: Ablex.
42.
National Hospice Organization. (1999). Available: http://www.nho.org/
43.
Neter, J., Wasserman, W., & Kutner, M. (1990). Applied linear statistical models (3rd ed.). Homewood, IL: Irwin.
44.
Newton, R., & Rudestam, K. (1999). Your statistical consultant: Answers to your data analysis questions. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
45.
Northouse, L., & Northouse, P. (1998). Health communication: Strategies for health professionals (3rd ed.). Stamford, CT: Appleton & Lange.
46.
O'Connor, R., Hallberg, S., & Myles, R. (1999). Organizational communication and health care administration . In L. Jackson & B. Duffy, Health communication research: A guide to developments and directions (pp. 103-124). Westport, CT : Greenwood Press.
47.
O'Connor, S. (1998). Hospice: Practice, pitfalls, and promise. Washington, DC: Taylor & Francis.
48.
Papa, M., Auwal, M., & Singhal, A. (1995). Dialectic of control and emancipation in organizing for social change: A multitheoretic study of the Grameen Bank in Bangladesh . Communication Theory, 5, 189-223.
49.
Pettit, J., Goris, R., & Vaught, B. (1997). An examination of organizational communication as a moderator of the relationship between job performance and job satisfaction . The Journal of Business Communication, 34, 81-98.
50.
Pinchot, G., & Pinchot, E. (1993). The end of bureaucracy and the rise of the intelligent organization. San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler.
51.
Pincus, D. (1986). Communication satisfaction, job satisfaction, and job performance. Human Communication Research, 12, 395-419.
52.
Porter-O'Grady, T., & Wilson, C. (1998). The health care teambook. St. Louis: Mosby.
53.
Reese, D., & Brown, D. (1997). Psychosocial and spiritual care in hospice: Differences between nursing, social work, and clergy. The Hospice Journal , 12(1), 29-41.
54.
Rentsch, J., Heffner, T., & Duffy, L. (1994). What you know is what you get from experience: Team experience related to teamwork schemas. Group & Organization Management, 19, 450-474.
55.
Savoie, E. (1998). Tapping the power of teams. In R. Tindale, L. Heath, J. Edwards, E. Posavac, F. Bryant, Y. Suarez-Balcazar , E. Henderson-King, & J. Myers (Eds.), Theory and research on small groups (pp. 229-244). New York: Plenum Press.
56.
Schraeder, C., Shelton, P., Britt, T., Turngren, R., & Nagele, I. (1999). Collaborative care teams. In F. Netting & F. Williams (Ed.), Enhancing primary care of elderly people (pp. 43-64). New York: Garland.
57.
Schultz, B. (1999). Improving group communication performance: An overview of diagnosis and intervention. In L. Frey (Ed.), D. Gouran (Assoc. Ed.), & M. Poole (Assoc. Ed.), The handbook of group communication theory and research (pp. 371-394). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
58.
Seibold, D. (1995). Developing the "team" in a team-managed organization: Group facilitation in a new-design plant. In L. Frey (Ed.), Innovations in group facilitation: Applications in natural settings (pp. 282-298). Cresskill, NJ: Hampton Press.
59.
Seibold, D., Meyers, R., & Sunwolf. ( 1996). Communication and influence in group decision making . In R. Hirokawa & M. Poole (Eds.), Communication and group decision making (2nd ed., pp. 242-268). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
60.
Sendor, V., & O'Connor, P. (1997). Hospice and palliative care: Questions and answers . Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press.
61.
Shonk, J. (1992). Team-based organizations: Developing a successful team environment. Homewood, IL: Business One Irwin.
62.
Shulman, A. (1996). Putting group information technology in its place: Communication and good work group performance. In S. Clegg, C. Hardy, & W. Nord (Eds.), Handbook of organization studies (pp. 357-374). London: Sage.
63.
Siebold, C. (1992). The hospice movement: Easing death's pains. New York: Twayne.
64.
Sirkin, R. (1999). Statistics for the social sciences, 2nd ed. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
65.
Sluyter, G. (1998). Total quality management in behavioral health care. In P. Corrigan & D. Giffort (Eds.), Building teams and programs for effective psychiatric rehabilitation (pp. 35-43). San Francisco : Jossey-Bass.
66.
Stohl, C. (1995). Organizational communication: Connectedness in action. Thousand Oaks: Sage.
67.
Sullivan, T. (1998). Concept analysis of collaboration: Part I. In T. Sullivan (Ed.), Collaboration: A health care imperative (pp. 3-42). New York: McGraw-Hill.
68.
Taylor, C. (1997). Communication satisfaction: Its role in church membership satisfaction and involvement among Southern Baptist churches. Southern Communication Journal, 62, 293-304.
69.
Vachon, M. (1987). Team stress in palliative/hospice care. The Hospice Journal, 3(2/3), 75-103.
70.
Wech, B., Mossholder, K., Steel, R., & Bennett, N. (1998). Does work group cohesiveness affect individuals' performance and organizational commitment? A cross-level examination. Small Group Research, 29, 472-494.
71.
Wheelan, S., Murphy, D., Tsumura, E., & Kline, S. (1998). Member perceptions of internal group dynamics and productivity. Small Group Research, 29, 371-393.
72.
Williams, F., Kirkman-Liff, B., & Netting, F. (1999). Lessons learned across sites. In F. Netting & F. Williams (Eds.), Enhancing primary care of elderly people (pp. 219-234). New York: Garland.
73.
Woltermann, M. (1998, February). Modern hospice here. Amarillo Business Journal. Available: http://businessjournal.net/stories/020698/here.html
74.
Yolo Hospice (n.d.) Hospice circle of care. Available: http://www.dcn.davis.ca.us/ go/hospice/Circle_Care.htm/
75.
Zimmermann, S. (1994). Social cognition and evaluations of health care team communication effectiveness. Western Journal of Communication , 58, 116-140.
76.
Zimmermann, S., Sypher, B., & Haas, J. (1996). A communication metamyth in the workplace: The assumption that more is better. The Journal of Business Communication , 33, 185-204.
