A Qualitative Study of Job Competencies for Healthcare Social Work Administrators
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UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones May 2016 A Qualitative Study of Job Competencies for Healthcare Social Work Administrators: An Application of the Short Competency Model Process Used to Identify the Behaviors and Personal Characteristics of Exemplary Performers Lashonda Jones-Moore University of Nevada, Las Vegas Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/thesesdissertations Part of the Health and Medical Administration Commons, and the Social Work Commons Repository Citation Jones-Moore, Lashonda, "A Qualitative Study of Job Competencies for Healthcare Social Work Administrators: An Application of the Short Competency Model Process Used to Identify the Behaviors and Personal Characteristics of Exemplary Performers" (2016). UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones. 2687. http://dx.doi.org/10.34917/9112089 This Dissertation is protected by copyright and/or related rights. It has been brought to you by Digital Scholarship@UNLV with permission from the rights-holder(s). You are free to use this Dissertation in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s) directly, unless additional rights are indicated by a Creative Commons license in the record and/or on the work itself. This Dissertation has been accepted for inclusion in UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones by an authorized administrator of Digital Scholarship@UNLV. For more information, please contact [email protected]. A QUALITATIVE STUDY OF JOB COMPETENCIES FOR HEALTHCARE SOCIAL WORK ADMINISTRATORS: AN APPLICATION OF THE SHORT COMPETENCY MODEL PROCESS USED TO IDENTIFY THE BEHAVIORS AND PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF EXEMPLARY PERFORMERS By LaShonda A. Jones-Moore Bachelor of Science in Social Work Southern University and A&M College 2004 Master of Social Work University of Nevada, Las Vegas 2005 A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy - Workforce Development and Organizational Leadership School of Environmental and Public Affairs Greenspun College of Urban Affairs The Graduate College University of Nevada, Las Vegas May 2016 ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ Copyright © 2016 by LaShonda A. Jones-Moore All Rights Reserved ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ Dissertation Approval The Graduate College The University of Nevada, Las Vegas April 19, 2016 This dissertation prepared by LaShonda A. Jones-Moore entitled A Qualitative Study of Job Competencies for Healthcare Social Work Administrators: An Application of the Short Competency Model Process Used to Identify the Behaviors and Personal Characteristics of Exemplary Performers is approved in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy - Workforce Development and Organizational Leadership School of Environmental and Public Affairs Cecilia Maldonado, Ph.D. Kathryn Hausbeck Korgan, Ph.D. Examination Committee Co-Chair Graduate College Interim Dean Harriet Barlow, Ph.D. Examination Committee Member Marya Shegog, Ph.D. Examination Committee Member Sandra Owens, Ph.D. Graduate College Faculty Representative ii ABSTRACT Job competencies are central to every organization’s human resource management system. Competencies can be used to help organizations create high performance cultures, select and hire a workforce, develop leaders, and establish a foundation for training strategies. Social work, as a profession, has developed competency models for many specialized fields of social work. Health is the second most common practice area reported by social workers with a master’s degree in social work, the predominant social work degree for licensed social workers. In highly structured, rapidly evolving, and complex organizations such as healthcare systems, leaders and managers require distinctively different skills and competencies than do those in other settings. Although social work administration permeates all areas of social work practice, there is only a small body of research that elaborates on the various activities, skills, and competencies that social work managers need to do their work in healthcare. The problem that this study addresses is that to date, research has not presented a competency model for 21st century healthcare social work administrators. The purpose of this study was to identify the job competencies that exemplary healthcare social work administrators demonstrate in effort to provide a foundation for a competency model. Through the application of the short competency model process and qualitative research methods, this study answers a central research question: What job competencies do exemplary healthcare social work administrators demonstrate? The participants selected for this study were subject matter experts and exemplary performers in the field of healthcare social work administration. Semi-structured interviews rendered data from which to analyze the opinions of six experts and the experiences of eight exemplary performers. A thematic analysis of the interview data revealed nine competencies for healthcare social work administrators: (a) iii achievement orientation, (b) concern for order, quality, and accuracy, (c) initiative, (d) impact and influence, (e) directiveness, (f) teamwork and cooperation, (g) team leadership, (h) self- confidence, and (i) flexibility. Results from this study have implications for healthcare organizations, social work education, and the professional development of healthcare social workers and administrators. These competencies make it possible for organizations to build a competency model with utilization for every human resource development process from hiring and selection to succession planning. iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS To God, for your favor- To my ancestors, for your tenacity and endurance- To my parents, for your faith the size of a mustard seed- To my husband, for allowing me the time I needed to finish this segment of my journey- To my daughter, for your unconditional love that has changed my life- To my village of family, friends, and sorors, for your encouragement- To my dissertation committee, for your endorsement- To the participants, for your willingness to participate in this study- Thank you. v DEDICATION To my eldest brother, for your life- A shooting star fading across the moon-lit sky Gone too soon Skipping stones sinking in the blink of an eye Gone too soon Sandcastles washed away by the waves Gone too soon Coffins being lowered into graves Gone too soon But this time it was your coffin You were the castle You were the stones You were the shooting star This time you were being lowered into the grave Being washed away by waves Sinking in the blink of an eye Fading across the moon-lit sky This time you were the one Gone too soon And I didn't get to say “goodbye” - Unknown Freddie “Jay” Jones, Jr. January 20, 1974 – July 3, 2013 vi TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ..................................................................................................................................iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................................................v DEDICATION ...............................................................................................................................vi CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................1 Statement of the Problem ................................................................................................................4 Purpose of the Study ......................................................................................................………….4 Significance of the Study ................................................................................................................4 Research Questions .........................................................................................................................5 Conceptual Framework ...……........................................................................................................6 Definition of Terms .........................................................................................................................7 Assumptions ....................................................................................................................................8 Limitations ......................................................................................................................................8 Chapter Summary .........................................................................................................................10 CHAPTER 2: REVIEW OF RELEVANT LITERATURE .....................................................11 Job Competencies .........................................................................................................................11 Exemplary Performance and the Exemplary Performer ...............................................................12 Competency Models .....................................................................................................................14 Approaches to Building Competency Models …..........................................................................15 Background