Factors predisposing to shared governance: a qualitative study

• Published in: BMC nursing Vol. 18; no. 1; p. 9
• Main Authors: Atashzadeh-Shoorideh, Foroozan, Sadoughi, Mohammad-Mehdi, Sattarzadeh-Pashabeig, Maryam, Khachian, Alice, Zagheri-Tafreshi, Mansoureh
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 12-03-2019; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Analysis; Clinical decision making; College faculty; College professors; Content analysis; Cooperation; Decision making; Education; Educational facilities; Empowerment; Higher education; Instructional materials; Interviews; Job satisfaction; Managers; Nursing; Nursing education; Nursing schools; Participation; Qualitative research; Schools; Shared governance; Work environment; Iran; Qualitative research; Shared governance; Nursing; Education; Schools
• ISSN: 1472-6955; 1472-6955
• DOI: 10.1186/s12912-019-0334-2

The method of implementing shared governance varies among organizations. Identifying the predisposing factors can facilitate and precipitate its successful implementation and aid educational institutions in achieving their goals. This study determined the antecedents of shared governance in nursing schools.
Eleven participants including faculty members of nursing schools, and managers of three major medical universities of Tehran were selected using purposive sampling method and underwent in-depth semi-structured interviews in this qualitative study. Conventional content analysis was used to analyze the data.
Data analysis led to the emergence of four categories including the participatory context of higher education institutions, infrastructural obligations, coordination with contemporary needs, and participation-oriented managers resulting in twelve subcategories.
This study showed that managers can play a key role in the successful implementation of shared governance in the appropriate context of higher education institutions. Hence, the deliberate selection of managers who believe in managerial participation and their training are mandatory in nursing schools. The senior or higher level managers of educational institutions can empower themselves and their staff in participatory skills along with providing suitable resources of work serving as a suitable model of participation.