Management Matters

Abstract

Fewer than 50% of registered dietitians (RDs) supervise personnel and 76% have no budget authority. Because higher salaries are tied to increasing levels of authority and responsibility, RDs must seek management and leadership roles to enjoy the increased remuneration tied to such positions. Advanced-level practice in any area of dietetics demands powerful communication abilities, proficiency in budgeting and finance, comfort with technology, higher-order decision-making/problem-solving skills, and well-honed human resource management capabilities, all foundational to competent management practice. As RDs envision the future of the dietetics profession, practitioners must evaluate management competence in both hard and soft skills. Just as research is needed to support evidenced-based clinical practice, the same is needed to support management practice across the profession. Dietetics educators and preceptors should be as enthusiastic about management practice as they are clinical practice when educating and mentoring future professionals. Such encouragement and support can mean that new RDs and dietetic technicians, registered, will understand what it takes to advance to higher levels of responsibility, authority, and subsequent enhanced remuneration. In the ever-changing social, legal, ethical, political, economic, technological, and ecological environments of work, food and nutrition professionals who are willing to step forward and assume the risks and responsibilities of management also will share in the rewards, and propel the profession to new heights of recognition and respect.

Teachers’ soft skills proficiency level and school performance of selected schools in Sultan Kudarat Division

“…Workers who possess strong soft skills will likely receive a higher salary in the organization. Gould and Deborah (2012) added that strengthening the soft skills of the workforce leads to higher remuneration and advances the level of authority and responsibility.…”

Registered dietitians in school nutrition leadership and dietetic students' consideration of school nutrition

“…The This supports research recommendations that nutritional care training focused on school nutrition for registered dietitians and dietetic registered technicians (DTRs) would be an appropriate credential for foodservice directors in schools . Gould and Canter (2008) report (Rogers, 2008).…”

“…Management science should be as important for dietitians, as clinical science is for dietetic professionals wanting to meet the challenges of being a change agent in the food and nutrition arena. Gould and Canter (2008) (Hooker, et al, 2012 Core knowledge and skills are necessary to enter the dietetics profession. "RDs with the business acumen to develop and improve programs and services and lead teams of people, are the ones who ascend the career ladder," (Rhea & Beetles, 2012, p. S16).…”

Measuring dietetic students' perceptions of management skill competency gained during school food service practicum experience: A competing values framework method - A national study

“…As Registered Dietitians (RD) envision the future of the dietetics profession, practitioners and educators must evaluate management competencies of both hard and soft skills (Gould & Canter, 2008). Dietetic educators and preceptors are mentoring, and they should be as enthusiastic about management practice and evidence-based research as in the clinical practice (Gould & Cantor).…”