Professional Service Organizations and Focus

• Published in: Management science Vol. 41; no. 7; pp. 1185 - 1193
• Main Authors: McLaughlin, Curtis P, Yang, Shitao, van Dierdonck, Roland
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Linthicum, MD INFORMS 01.07.1995; Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences
• Series: Management Science
• Subjects: Ambulatory surgical procedures; Applied sciences; Decision making; Economies of scope; Exact sciences and technology; Firm modelling; focus; Health care delivery; Health care industry; Management science; Market segmentation; Operating rooms; Operational research and scientific management; Operational research. Management science; Operations management; Organizational structure; Professional organizations; Professional services; Service industries; service strategy; Strategic planning; Studies; Surgeons; Surgical specialties; Value; value chain; Case study; Organization management; Statistical analysis; Decision making; Decision aid; Economy of scale; Health service; Added value; Professional activity; Sample survey; Firm strategy
• ISSN: 0025-1909; 1526-5501
• DOI: 10.1287/mnsc.41.7.1185

This paper suggests a framework for operations managers to use in making focus decisions in professional services. This framework is supported empirically from data from the health care industry using three types of data: (1) industry statistics, (2) case studies, and (3) questionnaire surveys. Our objective has been to: (1) gain a better understanding of the concept of focus as it applies to the health care sector, (2) develop a framework to assist service operations managers with focus decisions, and (3) develop a base from which to generalize about micro-focusing decisions in professional services.