Structural characteristics, process and effectiveness of cross-functional teams consisted of specialists and technicians in the healthcare industry

Abstract

The healthcare industry is served by various specialists and technicians, such as doctors, nurses, pharmacists, medical technicians, radiologists, etc. They form the major workforce in hospitals. In order to provide good healthcare services, teamwork among them is of great importance, and the management of cross-functional teams consisting of specialists and technicians is a significant issue. This study is mainly based on the Input-Process-Output team theoretical model from McGrath and explores some essential variables of teams, including team structural characteristics, team process and team effectiveness. Team structural characteristics are discussed in terms of the size, diversity, norm and cohesion of teams. Team process was divided into two factors: members' cooperation and bottom-up communication. Team effectiveness was measured in terms of performance and satisfaction. Samples of this study were taken from 20 hospitals in Taiwan. A total of 109 valid questionnaires were used in this survey. The results are as follows: (1) On team structural characteristics, only team norm affects team effectiveness. (2) Team process affects team effectiveness. (3) Team norm and team cohesion affect team process. (4) Team process exerts full mediating effects between team structural characteristics and satisfaction; while team process mediates partially between team structural characteristics and performance.