Introduction: Due to the lack of a theoretically embedded overview of the recent literature on medical career decision-making, this study provides an outline of these dynamics. Since differences in educational routes to the medical degree likely affect career choice dynamics, this study focuses on medical career decision-making in educational systems with a Western European curriculum structure. Methods: A systematic search of electronic databases (Medline, Embase) was conducted from January 2008 to November 2014. A panel of seven independent reviewers performed the data extraction, quality assessment and data synthesis using the Bland–Meurer model of medical specialty choice as a reference. Results: Fifty-seven studies met the inclusion criteria for the review. Factors associated with specialty preference or career choice can be classified in five main categories: (1) medical school characteristics (e.g., curriculum structure), (2) student characteristics (e.g., age, personality), (3) student values (e.g., personal preference), (4) career needs to be satisfied (e.g., expected income, status, and work–life balance), and (5) perception of specialty characteristics (e.g., extracurricular or curricular experiences). Especially career needs and perceptions of specialty characteristics are often associated with medical career decision-making. Conclusion: Our results support that medical career decisions are formed by a matching of perceptions of specialty characteristics with personal needs. However, the process of medical career decision-making is not yet fully understood. Besides identifying possible predictors, future research should focus on detecting interrelations between hypothesized predictors and identify the determinants and interrelations at the various stages of the medical career decision-making process.

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore if there is a common ground for the definition of business process management (BPM) and BPM‐systems, as well as the critical success factors (CSFs) for BPM‐system implementation. A BPM‐system implementation framework is validated that classifies the CSFs in distinctive domains that can be used for BPM project management and organization.Design/methodology/approach: A meta‐analysis of literature was performed to develop a set of statements with regard to the definition, benefits and CSFs of BPM(‐system) implementation. Then a survey was conducted among 39 Dutch consultants, developers and end‐users of BPM‐systems that vary in BPM experience. Through a web‐questionnaire, the shared view of the respondents was measured with respect to the definition, benefits and the BPM‐system implementation framework.Findings: It appears that different respondent groups share a common view on the definition and benefits of BPM and BPM‐systems, regardless their role in the value chain of BPM deployment within organizations. In addition, there is consensus on the CSFs of BPM‐system implementation. In particular, it is supported that communication, involvement of stakeholders and governance is critical. Hence, organizations should realize that BPM‐system implementation is not mainly an IT‐project, but should preferably be initiated by top management.Research limitations/implications: This paper is limited to representatives from Dutch organizations. Future research can be done in other countries to explore if BPM‐systems and its CSFs differ across regions and cultures. Furthermore, the BPM‐system implementation framework can be specifically validated by (comparative) case study or project research.Originality/value: While BPM is commonly accepted as a concept, the CSFs for BPM‐system implementation is hardly validated. This paper shows, by empirical validation, if these CSFs from literature are supported by different groups of professionals. Furthermore, the CSFs for implementing BPM are modeled and classified in a framework build up from five areas. Analysis of the internal coherence of different survey items sets, supports that the authors can define the goals and CSFs when implementing BPM‐systems.

The importance of a sustainable health workforce is increasingly recognised. However, the building of a future health workforce that is responsive to diverse population needs and demographic and economic change remains insufficiently understood. There is a compelling argument to be made for a comprehensive research agenda to address the questions. With a focus on Europe and taking a health systems approach, we introduce an agenda linked to the ‘Health Workforce Research’ section of the European Public Health Association. Six major objectives for health workforce policy were identified: (1) to develop frameworks that align health systems/governance and health workforce policy/planning, (2) to explore the effects of changing skill mixes and competencies across sectors and occupational groups, (3) to map how education and health workforce governance can be better integrated, (4) to analyse the impact of health workforce mobility on health systems, (5) to optimise the use of international/EU, national and regional health workforce data and monitoring and (6) to build capacity for policy implementation. This article highlights critical knowledge gaps that currently hamper the opportunities of effectively responding to these challenges and advising policy-makers in different health systems. Closing these knowledge gaps is therefore an important step towards future health workforce governance and policy implementation. There is an urgent need for building health workforce research as an independent, interdisciplinary and multi-professional field. This requires dedicated research funding, new academic education programmes, comparative methodology and knowledge transfer and leadership that can help countries to build a people-centred health workforce.

Purpose: – Strategic alignment is a theory-based state that is considered as crucial for organizations in order to realize performance gains from information technology (IT) investments and deployments. Within the domain of purchasing and supply chain management there has been a growing interest on how purchasing strategy can be effectively aligned with IT and what conditions facilitate this state. The purpose of this paper is to investigate complex causal relationships of contingency elements that are key in enabling the “fit” between purchasing strategy and IT.Design/methodology/approach: – The paper employs a configuration theory approach and propose that purchasing alignment is dependent upon patterns of multiple contingencies. In adherence with contingency theory, the authors group these elements as relating to strategic orientation, organizational factors, and purchasing decisions. On a sample of 172 international companies the authors then apply the novel methodology of fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA).Findings: – The paper empirically demonstrates that depending on the strategic orientation that a company follows, there are alternative combinations of elements that lead to high purchasing alignment. For companies following an operational excellence strategic orientation, a high contract binding scheme, or a small firm size facilitates purchasing alignment. Enabling elements for product leadership companies include a decentralized purchasing structure, a broad supplier base, and a large firm size. Purchasing alignment for customer intimacy companies is supported by a centralized purchasing structure, loose contract binding, and a large supplier base.Practical implications: – The findings of this study suggest that practitioners aiming to attain a state of purchasing alignment should consider a number of contingency elements in the process. The paper shows that there is equifinality in the configurations that lead to purchasing alignment. This means that attaining purchasing alignment is dependent upon various clusters of contingency elements which must be taken into account when formulating a purchasing strategy.Originality/value: – In contrast with past studies examining purchasing alignment as a result of the isolated impact of several antecedents, we applied a configuration theory approach to demonstrate that it is facilitated by the combined impact of a set of cause-effect relationships. In cases were non-linear and synergistic relationships exist between independent variables, this type of research may be a viable alternative.