Managing the neutral zone.

P A Muller-Smith

Home/Archive/PubMed

PubMed · 8377141

Managing the neutral zone.

P A Muller-Smith

View original source ↗Export metadata ↓

Abstract

Constant change is the norm rather than the unusual, and all indications are that the rate, volume, and complexity of change will only escalate in the future. The issue for managers is more about coping with the responses that they and their staff have to change rather than the change itself. Four responses to change can be identified and described. Managers who can identify what is happening are better prepared to provide effective coping mechanisms to prevent getting stuck in the "neutral zone."

Explore related subjects

Adaptation, Psychological Attitude of Health Personnel Humans Nursing Staff Nursing, Supervisory Organizational Innovation Journal Article

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeX RIS

P A Muller-Smith. 1993. Managing the neutral zone.. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8377141/

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related citations

PubMed2006

Dimensions of quality of life and psychosocial variables most salient to colorectal cancer patients.

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common invasive cancers, and is responsible for considerable physical and psychosocial morbidity. Understanding the quality of life experienced by colorectal cancer patients is essential for evaluating the full impact of the disease on individuals, their families and their communities. Patient perspective is essential in establishing a proper understanding of the quality of life of colorectal cancer patients. Despite this, few studies have employed a qualitative methodology to explore quality of life issues for colorectal cancer patients. A review of the literature identified only seven qualitative studies pertaining to quality of life issues for colorectal cancer patients, a surprising finding given the prevalence of this cancer. Accordingly, this study sought to build on the findings of previous qualitative research by providing descriptive data on the quality of life and psychosocial variables most salient to colorectal cancer patients. Six core themes emerged from interview and focus group data: Satisfaction with diagnosis and treatment; support (including information provision); quality of life; benefits of diagnosis; making sense of the cancer experience; and coping strategies. The information derived from this study will help inform the development of supportive care services to address the needs of the increasing number of people diagnosed with colorectal cancer.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed2006

Quality of life and current coping in young adult survivors of childhood cancer: positive expectations about the further course of the disease were correlated with better quality of life.

OBJECTIVES: As a result of advances in the treatment of childhood cancer many patients who may previously have had a limited life expectancy, are now surviving into adulthood. More insight is needed into the long-term adjustment of young adult survivors of childhood cancer. The purpose of this study was to (1) assess health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and (2) to explore the role of cognitive coping in relation to HRQoL. METHODS: HRQoL of 353 Dutch young adult survivors of childhood cancer was compared with HRQoL of 507 peers. Linear regression analyses predicted survivors' HRQoL by cognitive coping, independent of the impact of demographics and medical variables. RESULTS: Survivors reported a lower HRQoL than their peers. Health status was the best predictor of the Physical Component Scale of the RAND-36; health status and cognitive coping contributed almost equally well to the Mental Component Scale. The explanatory value of cognitive coping could mainly be attributed to the use of predictive control strategies. CONCLUSIONS: Because current coping seemed to be an important predictor of HRQoL, interventions directed at the coping strategies of survivors should be useful. The strong association between predictive coping and HRQoL stresses the importance of focusing at having positive expectations about the further course of the disease.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed2006

The Mini-Mental Adjustment to Cancer (Mini-MAC) scale: construct validation with a Greek sample of breast cancer patients.

This investigation is a Greek validation of the Mini-Mental Adjustment to Cancer (Mini-MAC) scale, an instrument derived from the MAC and designed to measure styles of coping with cancer. A sample of 225 women diagnosed with breast cancer completed this questionnaire. Statistical analyses using structural equation modeling (SEM) confirmed Watson's original five first-order factors underlying Mini-MAC items: Helplessness/Hopelessness (HH), Anxious Preoccupation (AP), Fighting Spirit (FS), Avoidance (AV) and Fatalism (F). On a higher-order level, SEM and Multidimensional Scaling revealed two second-order factors: adaptive coping (being measured by FS, AV, and F) and maladaptive coping (being measured by HH and AP). Results are discussed in terms of the theoretical framework needed to account for the relationships among Mini-MAC factors and the refinement of the applications of SEM in the study of the mental adjustment to cancer construct.

Adaptation, Psychological↗