Reflection

The professional development framework has shifted my self-perception: I am no longer just a web engineer; I’m a scholar, a professional, and a researcher who can make a significant difference in an organization by researching issues and sticking to the facts. Engaging in the five domains that the framework was founded on, on a consistent basis, helped eliminate doubts about tackling intricate problems related to healthcare institutions and artificial intelligence. One of the ways I have been able to integrate my research and day-to-day professional responsibilities is by applying critical thinking, strategic analysis, and methodological rigor in every aspect of my efforts related to the topic of strategies for AI adoption and boosting operational efficiencies. Additionally, the framework enabled me to relate the theories of research within an ethical and workable framework when conducting the semi-structured interviews with 15 healthcare executives and to translate theories (theory of planned behavior and technology acceptance model) into workable solutions. This synergy allowed me to do the work that the organizations were expecting me to do, while at the same time, I was able to contribute new academic material that was beneficial not only for the organizations but also to the body of scholarship on the application of AI within healthcare.

The professional development framework has proven to be quite valuable in my network building as a research professional. It has been instrumental in my development and success throughout the doctoral journey. I do have good academic mentor relationships and value-adding relationships with the members of the DBA course, who critique me as well as discuss ideas with me to help develop my research and analysis, which furthered the quality of my research. Being an active member of professional associations as well as research forums provided me opportunities to communicate with the leaders of the healthcare industry, C-suite executives, and other researchers involved in tackling the same issue of technology adoption and strategic implementation. I used networking instruments to meet various perspectives on AI regulation, labor preparation, and organizational change management, and obtained solid expertise on the topic of difficult implementation. The support network was both an emotional support in the tough stages of the research process and an intellectual support that assisted me in improving my methodology, enhancing my thematic analysis, and coming up with more advanced means of handling healthcare technology challenges.

Reflecting and considering the domains of the professional development framework, I found that various areas needed to be changed to better suit my current professional development plan of healthcare AI strategy and implementation. As for Knowledge and Scholarly Thinking, I should expand my understanding of the new books and articles in this rapidly evolving field relating to digital transformation technologies, machine learning governance models, and the ethics of AI. The Advocate for Change domain should be more sophisticated and better communicated to be able to influence the decision-making of the health care organisation regarding the policy of technology implementation, workforce training, and the policy of addressing obstacles to technology implementation, such as budget and organisational resistance. Personal Effectiveness needs improvement via better time management plans to balance time spent researching and working at the job, while at the same time maintaining sustainable and healthy levels of productivity and personal health. The Professional Development Framework has given me a solid platform to push for changes in organizational structures at the sites I work in to support a successful argument for higher-quality care through policy changes inspired by the findings from my capstone research on strategies for implementing AI in operations to improve higher-quality care, create greater efficiencies, and foster innovation.

Since the start of the DBA program, my professional value to employers has increased immensely, as it has provided me the opportunity to engage in advanced research, thematic analysis, strategic problem-solving, and translate complex data into real solutions to organizational issues in the world of business. The value of the Professional Development Framework in my life is that it allows me to demonstrate that I have a significant interest in lifelong learning, continual growth, and use a research-based approach to the problem-solving process that produces measurable gains in health care operational processes and competitive advantages to the health care organization. The framework gave me the critical skills to develop in order to be able to undertake leadership roles, including systematic investigation, engagement of stakeholders with the C-suite executives, qualitative data analysis – Braun and Clarke methodology, ethical research, and strategic communication. I was able to build an implementation framework that was informed by the collective wisdom of the senior executives of hospitals, insurance companies, biotech companies, and other digital health organizations, and employers are now considering me as a strategic asset that can help facilitate innovation by making evidence-based decisions. The framework prepared me for success in pursuing a career at the postdoctoral level, as it enhanced my critical thinking, evidence synthesis, governance frameworks, and change management skills that will enable me to assume significant leadership roles in areas where I could have a long-term influence in an organizational function or improve the healthcare organization’s practices.