Managers’ attitude toward power distance: A study conducted in Iran hospitals

ABSTRACT

Introduction: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between managers’ attitude toward power distance and the way of dealing with employees in hospitals affiliated with Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Iran, in 2016.

Methods: An analytical, cross-sectional study was conducted among managers of five training hospitals in Qazvin, Iran. A standard questionnaire which had been checked for validity and reliability in similar studies was used to collect research data. Data analysis was done through SPSS20 software using descriptive statistics and regression modeling.

Results: Study results revealed that managers’ tendency toward power distance had a statistical significant relationship with considering employees’ competency, giving them necessary support, and valuing their autonomy (P < 0.05). Linear regression results concluded that a unit of increase in three mentioned dependent variables would relatively lead to 0.22, 0.36, and 0.27 unit of improvement in the way managers deal with subordinates.

Conclusion: Fostering a culture of equality and fairness among hospital managers brings about appropriate behaviors toward employees which focus mainly on valuing subordinates’ autonomy, considering their qualifications, and giving them necessary support.

KEYWORDS:

• Power distance
• manager
• organizational support
• employee qualification
• autonomy

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Contributors: All authors contributed equally in the study.

Ethics approval: Ethical approval was not required.