Specialized knowledge roles and the professional status of healthcare architects /
The purpose of this research is to expand knowledge regarding the culture and structure of healthcare design firms. The results are intended to provide architects with information that will benefit the growth and culture of their practice. This research explores the relationships between healthcar...
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| Format: | Thesis Book |
| Language: | English |
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[Place of publication not identified] :
[publisher not identified] ;
2001.
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| Online Access: | http://proxy.library.tamu.edu/login?url=http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=728889611&sid=1&Fmt=2&clientId=2945&RQT=309&VName=PQD |
| Summary: | The purpose of this research is to expand knowledge regarding the culture and structure of healthcare design firms. The results are intended to provide architects with information that will benefit the growth and culture of their practice. This research explores the relationships between healthcare design complexity, specialized knowledge, and healthcare architects' professional autonomy. Four types of data were collected and analyzed: census data; questionnaire data; in-person interviews with design firm principals; and focus group interviews with design firm staff. One hundred thirty-four (134) of 217 questionnaires distributed in the United States were returned, representing a 62 % return rate. Content analysis techniques were utilized to analyze the data from interviews. A theory, enlightening the impact of design complexity and specialized knowledge on the professional status of healthcare architects, was elaborated and modified by comparison and contrast between theoretical propositions and empirical data. This study found that client/user demands significantly influence the culture of design practice and specialized knowledge and skills had a positive impact on design-decision autonomy. Healthcare architects deal with high status clients (e.g., Government officials, hospital corporations, and doctors) who are knowledgeable and specific as to what they want. Healthcare architects struggle to persuade clients/users to accept their design decisions due in part to their low credibility. A reverse competence gap exists between professionals and clients in healthcare design. Consequently, healthcare architects perceive that their design decision autonomy is decreasing. The research-informed design decision, however, can increase design decision autonomy of healthcare architects. The specialized knowledge and skill developed and stored in professional structures increase the design decision autonomy. To store this specialized knowledge and skill in the professional structure, there is a specialization movement, represented by the American Academy of Healthcare Architects (ACHA). This study concludes that highly specialized firms preserve high design decision autonomy. This is a consequence of their high credibility and reliability regarding their work performance due mainly to their specialized knowledge. This result implies that specialized knowledge increases professional autonomy. Considering the size of healthcare design firms that preserve high design decision autonomy, it is also related to an organizational success. |
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| Item Description: | Vita. "Major Subject: Architecture". |
| Physical Description: | xiv, 250 leaves : illustrations, map ; 28 cm. Issued also on microfiche from University Microfilm Inc. |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references (leaves 223-242). |