The authors describe the objectives of their research in the second paragraph:

This analysis centers on focus [the differentiation and selection of market segments] in health care, a professional service. The empirical data comes from a spectrum of outpatient surgery centers. Our objective here is to: (1) gain better understanding of the concept of focus as it applies in the sector, (2) develop a framework to assist service operators and managers with focus decisions, and (3) develop a base from which the reader can apply these findings to other service sectors.

The authors provide a minimum of background discussion on the macro- and micro-focus decisions and outpatient surgery centers before proceeding with their analysis. Their framework consists of a list of questions that they suggest will “sharpen focusing decisions.” To answer each question, they utilize industry characteristics, the results of a survey they conducted on the advantages and disadvantages of outpatient surgery centers, and research papers.

This paper is targeted toward readers already familiar with the literature on professional service organizations and the focus decision. It would be most useful to those with a specific interest in outpatient surgery professional service organizations, since the authors state that their approach to studying the micro-focus decision “will have to be applied to other service sectors to determine whether it applies more generally.”