Employee Engagement Strategies That Healthcare Managers Use to Increase Organizational Performance

The annual cost of low employee engagement in Australian workplaces was $18.7 billion in 2015. Healthcare managers who adopt employee engagement strategies have the potential to achieve robust clinical, operational, and financial results that benefit both the organization and the community as a whole. The purpose of this single case study was to explore effective employee engagement strategies that some healthcare managers used to increase organizational performance. Social exchange theory was the conceptual framework for the study. Data were collected through semi structured interviews with 8 healthcare managers in Queensland, Australia. Participants who implemented successful employee engagement strategies were selected using a snowball sampling technique. Data analysis consisted of generating themes through coding using a deductive approach and reporting emergent themes. Five key themes that emerged from the data analysis were psychological ownership, job resources, leadership, training and development, and rewards and recognition. The process of member checking ensured that findings accurately represented participants\u27 views. Recommendations from the study highlight the need for healthcare managers to implement employee engagement strategies that motivate discretionary efforts, resulting in improved quality patient care and organizational performance. The implications for positive social change include providing healthcare managers with effective employee engagement strategies that could improve patient experiences, operational efficiencies, and quality healthcare provisions in the healthcare industry