Cultural Analysis of an Organ Procurement Organization

Abstract

Organ procurement organizations are a critical link in the acquisition, placement, and transport of human organs for transplantation. Employed within the organ procurement organizations are organ transplant coordinators and support staff who constitute the front line in the challenge to diminish the gap between the supply and demand for organs. Responsibilities are emotionally and physiologically demanding as employees regularly face death and grieving families with empathy and commitment. This study describes and interprets dominant themes embedded in the culture of one such organ procurement organization, geographically located in northeastern United States. The authors used ethnographic research methods to understand the shared meaning system of the members of this organization. Identified themes included coping and sharing, conflicting priorities and uncertainty, and mission and reward. The influence of each theme on the organization is discussed with prescriptive implications for managerial practice.