Decentralization and its Impact on Nurses’ Autonomy, Job Satisfaction, and Organizational Commitment at Assiut University Hospitals

Abstract

This research was launched to determine to what extent decentralization influences nurse’s autonomy, job satisfaction, and organizational commitment. There are studies which show that decentralization decision making increase productivity, improves moral, increases favorable attitudes, and decreases absenteeism. Decentralization of decision making is often facilitated by participatire management strategies whereby individuals throughout the organization are given more information, knowledge, and power. This research was conducted in inpatients units at Assiut University Hospital and number of head nurses participated in the study. Data were collected through a questionnaire form and three different tools for measuring various scales. The results of the present study revealed that mean score of head nurses organizational commitment and job satisfaction was high and low as regarding to decentralization. There was a direct effect of decentralization on organizational commitment. Decentralization was the only significant predictor of autonomy. Managers should diagnose the organizational situation and select the decision making level that will best meet the organization’s needs. When determining the optimal degree of decentralization for an organization, top management needs a positive attitude toward decentralization, they need competent personnel to whom they can delegate authority and access information necessary for decision making.