The Medical Council in Belgian Hospitals: A political perspective

Archetype-theory gained prominence in the literature dealing with the ‘‘managerialization’’ of professional organizations. However, this theory has been criticized. Due to its functionalist legacy it underplays the role of agency in the organizational structure or in its change. Following this critique we develop a political perspective on the relation profession – management. Such a view stresses the interlocking of organization and domination. However, control does not just apply to workers and work, a ‘rule by rules’ implies rulers are also object of regulation. Agency will be directed at having an impact on rule creation. In the end organizational structure is designed to control the agency of both profession and management. The elaboration of structure is not to be seen as a function of the qualities of work, or of organizational performance. Rather our analysis of the genesis of the medical council in Belgian hospitals suggest that it results out of agency within a specific policy processstatus: publishe