Employee autonomy as one of the elements of entrepreneurial orientation in the private healthcare sector

Purpose: To analyze employee autonomy as one of the key components of entrepreneurial orientation in private healthcare organizations. The paper will examine how employee autonomy, as one of the five central elements of entrepreneurial orientation, shapes the innovative, risk taking and proactive capacities of healthcare providers and enhances their ability to adapt to a competitive environment. Design/methodology/approach: A systematic literature review based on academic studies from 2014–2024, focusing on employee autonomy's relationship with innovation, proactiveness, risk-taking, and competitive aggressiveness. Findings: Employee autonomy strengthens the innovative and proactive capacities of healthcare organizations and enhances their ability to adapt to a competitive environment. Research limitations/implications: Limited empirical studies specific to private healthcare in Poland require further investigation. Future research should explore the mediating and moderating effects of employee autonomy on the components of entrepreneurial orientation. Practical implications: Recommendations for healthcare managers to implement policies fostering autonomy as part of entrepreneurial orientation. Originality/value: Highlights the role of employee autonomy in shaping entrepreneurial behaviors in a critical and evolving sector. Keywords: Employee autonomy, entrepreneurial orientation, private healthcare, healthcare workers. Category of the paper: Literature review.