The Links That Bind: A Review of Professional Networks in the Health Care Industry

As technology and market expansion redefine organizational boundaries, conventional mentoring relationships may become increasingly difficult to forge and maintain as executives CAREER PATHS IN THE HEALTH INDUSTRY Career paths in the health industry have shifted as systems consolidate and alliances and partnerships are developed to remain competitive. While formal reporting relationships continue to define many organizational structures, the informal network has evolved as a mechanism to transcend organizational boundaries and manage quasi-organizational transactions. As quasi-organizations are increasingly implemented in the health industry, hierarchical relationships will be supplanted with lateral relationships developed with peers in key strategic business units. These collateral relationships will support not only job related functions but they