Organizational behaviour in health services examines how people think, feel, communicate, collaborate, and perform within complex care systems. Unlike many other sectors, healthcare organizations must achieve operational efficiency and workforce coordination while also protecting patient safety, clinical quality, professional ethics, and public trust. For that reason, the study of organizational behaviour in health services requires attention to the everyday realities of hospitals, community agencies, long-term care, primary care, public health units, rehabilitation services, and integrated care networks.
This textbook approaches organizational behaviour as both a management discipline and a practical field of action. It explains foundational theories, but it also links those ideas to staffing, team coordination, safety culture, burnout, communication breakdowns, decision quality, change management, and professional accountability. The text is organized so that learners can move from individual behaviour, to group and leadership dynamics, to wider organizational systems and improvement strategies.
Throughout the book, tables synthesize core frameworks, text-based diagrams show relationships among concepts, and cases illustrate how organizational behaviour shapes actual service delivery. The aim is not merely to define terms, but to help learners interpret complex workplace situations and respond with sound judgement.
How to Use This Book
- Read the chapters in sequence if you are new to the subject, because the later chapters build on earlier concepts such as perception, motivation, communication, and group behaviour.
- Use the tables to compare theories and the diagrams to trace how factors interact in practice. Many healthcare workplaces experience several organizational behaviour challenges at once; the diagrams are meant to help with systems thinking.
- Treat the cases and reflection prompts as opportunities to apply judgement. In health services, strong organizational behaviour is visible not only in policy but also in how professionals make sense of difficult situations under time pressure.
Contents
- Preface
- Chapter 1. Foundations of Organizational Behaviour in Health Services
- Chapter 2. Perception, Values, Personality, and Professional Identity
- Chapter 3. Motivation, Engagement, and Job Satisfaction
- Chapter 4. Learning, Decision-Making, and Performance in Care Settings
- Chapter 5. Communication and Information Flow in Health Services
- Chapter 6. Teams, Interprofessional Collaboration, and Group Dynamics
- Chapter 7. Leadership in Health Services Organizations
- Chapter 8. Power, Politics, Influence, and Stakeholder Management
- Chapter 9. Organizational Culture, Climate, and Safety
- Chapter 10. Conflict, Negotiation, and Constructive Dialogue
- Chapter 11. Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging
- Chapter 12. Stress, Burnout, Resilience, and Workforce Well-being
- Chapter 13. Organizational Structure, Design, and Coordination
- Chapter 14. Change Management and Organizational Development
- Chapter 15. Ethics, Accountability, and Professional Conduct
- Chapter 16. High Reliability, Learning Organizations, and the Future of Work
- Chapter 17. Performance Management, Feedback, and Accountability Systems
- Chapter 18. Patient-Centred Behaviour, Service Experience, and Compassionate Work
- Chapter 19. Workforce Planning, Staffing, and Scheduling Behaviour
- Chapter 20. Innovation, Knowledge Sharing, and Digital Collaboration
- Appendix A. Applied Tools and Templates
- Appendix B. Healthcare Cases for Analysis
- Appendix C. Glossary of Key Terms
- Appendix D. Discussion and Essay Bank
