Guidelines for Strategic Planning Assignment
- Introduction
- What is this paper about?
- What is strategic planning? Cite sources
- Why is Strategic Planning important? Cite sources
- Process for development? Cite sources
- What is included in Strategic planning? Cite sources
- Subject of Strategic planning that you chose (topic)
- Why and how?
- Process you followed in developing the SP
- Proposed strategic planning
- Environmental scan
- If this is not available, how would you go about doing this? who are potential stakeholders?
- SWOT analysis
- Describe SWOT analysis; cite source(s)
- Conduct SWOT analysis
- Action Plans (see Yoder-Wise Table 16-1) Picture attached
- Describe the objective and the strategies identified to achieve the objective
- These should be based on the SWOT analysis
- How would you use the strengths?
- How would you address the weaknesses?
- What opportunities are available?
- What are the threats?
- Environmental scan
- Use the model in table 16-1 (Picture Attached)to summarize the objectives, activities, responsible parties, and time frames
- Summary and conclusions
- Some reflection about this assignment; challenges; learnings; how would you do it differently?
- Appendices (if any)
- References
Wellness Clinic for Healthcare Staff
Wellness Clinic for Healthcare Staff
Hospitals continue to be the well-known centers for obtaining surgical treatment for various types of illnesses. However, over the years, several firms have set up wellness clinics equipped with personnel and equipment that are designated for treating various kinds of mental and health issues. Despite hospitals serving as a good example as centers for excellence, the need to establish more wellness clinics for caregivers is steadily being realized. However, for such centers to excel, they must meet and exceed the services provided by hospitals considering they attend to individuals who care for ordinary patients. An important means of ensuring this is to develop a strategic plan that will guide the establishment and management of the center. In this regard, the paper seeks to provide a strategic plan of action for developing, implementing, and evaluating a wellness center of excellence.
Strategic planning is a management practice that involves setting company objectives, ensuring the participation of stakeholders, and designating appropriate resources that will aid in achieving these objectives (Maleka, 2014). Effective strategic plans not only direct the company towards specific goals but also lays out the appropriate actions required to progress towards the final goal. Effective strategic plans can be useful in guiding the company’s growth. However, the management needs to understand the company’s objectives before developing a plan (Maleka, 2014). The reason being the plan will communicate the goals of the company and prioritize activities, resources, and company energy towards achieving the set objectives.
Strategic planning is essential because it provides a clear path for the company to follow in order to reach certain goals. A good plan can be used to guide everyday decision-making processes as well as in evaluating and changing approaches as needed. According to Hall (2013), strategic plans can be used as instruments for making long-term goals by putting into consideration the opportunities and risks that the company might face. This means that organizations that utilize strategic plans are more prepared to act on the challenges that might face the company in the future. Such preparation gives the company a great advantage, considering the current business environment is filled with uncertainties.
Strategic plans take form in a wide variety of methodologies and frameworks. Despite the fact that no rules exist regarding the appropriate framework that suits specific organizations, the majority of the frameworks have similar attributes and follow a common pattern. The variations by these frameworks circle around basic phases, including assessing the organization, formulating the strategy, executing the strategy, and evaluating the effects of the strategy on the company (Balanced Scorecard Institute, 2019). Unfortunately, the development and implementation of strategic plans can be hectic for companies due to various reasons. A majority of these reasons are as a result of reluctance or failure by senior managers to adhere to the strategic plan. These include failure by the senior management to follow the process defined by the strategic plan, failure to communicate the plan to other stakeholders, failure to develop a guideline for implementing the plan, or failure by management to schedule the timeframe for implementing the strategic plan (Maleka, 2014).
As earlier stated, there are a number of frameworks for developing a strategic plan; however, the basic components included in the strategic plan are the assessment of current business environment (SWOT Analysis), vision, mission, action plan, performance measures, and systems for monitoring the plan (World Bank, 2001). A highly effective monitoring system is the use of scorecards, which help to track the progress of employees towards accomplishing the firm goals (Aidemark et al., 2010). Maleka (2014) adds that supplemental products should also accompany the strategic plan to ensure its effectiveness include communication plans that will aid in aligning the company’s objectives with that of employees and other stakeholders involved. As earlier mentioned, failure by senior managers to effectively communicate the plan to stakeholders can affect the success of the plan. Therefore, communication is essential.
The subject chosen for this paper is strategic planning for a wellness clinic for healthcare staff. The draw towards this particular subject has been triggered by the recent trends in the establishment of well clinics. Despite the growing number of wellness clinics, statistics indicate that general hospitals continue to be the top-ranked centers that provide the best healthcare services. Moreover, the number of wellness clinics for healthcare staff is limited, with most staff seeking care from well-known hospitals. Based on a review by the Global Clinic Rating (2020), institutions such as Cleveland Hospital, Mayo Clinic, and Stanford Health Care rank top on the list. Having mentioned earlier that general hospitals have already set a high standard of performance with regards to providing healthcare services, it is imperative that upcoming wellness clinics be established and managed in a manner that will surpass the hospitals. This level of operation can be achieved by following a well laid out strategic plan, and this paper seeks to develop such an effective plan. The strategic plan will be developed based on thorough research on existing plans that have been implemented by similar organizations. Prior research was conducted on the current state of wellness clinics for healthcare staff as they compare to general hospitals, and the high performance of hospitals over these centers formed the basis of this study.
The process undertaken in developing the strategic plan for this study involved a number of steps. The first was to analyze the business environment, which will have an influence on the clinic. This required analyzing the potential markets, the level of competition, and the availability of the external resources required to implement the plan. A SWOT analysis was also conducted to identify potential strengths, opportunities, weaknesses, and threats that might influence the center’s ability to achieve its overall objective. Based on this analysis, an action plan was developed, describing the most appropriate strategy, which the management team can follow to achieve the overall goal of the wellness center. Included in the plan are approaches that the company can take to utilize its opportunities and strengths, as well as the means by which the center can handle threats and minimize weaknesses to ensure optimum performance. Moreover, to ease the implementation of the plan, a timeframe guiding the implementation of procedures is also included in the plan to ensure that the management knows which process to execute at specific periods.
Proposed Strategic plan
Environmental Scan
A crucial step in developing the strategic plan is to gather information concerning the environment in which the clinic will operate. This required an assessment of the internal and external environments. Concerning the external environment, factors such as technology, demographic, and political factors were considered. An analysis of the external environment would help to identify the current trends in technology, as well as the market situation in the targeted region. The population targeted by the center is specific since it targets nurses and other practitioners. Considering the patients are well knowledgeable about the kind of treatments and services given for various conditions, it is imperative that the clinic hires highly competent staff. It is important to note that most medical professionals are sub-specialties, meaning they will be effective in handling patients with various issues (Cluett, 2020). In terms of competition, hospitals and other wellness clinics act as the main opponents to the center. Several well-structured hospitals have the personnel and equipment required to offer quality health services to patients. Moreover, healthcare professionals can easily gain access to healthcare services in the institutions they work for. Currently, the top-ranked hospitals include Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, and UCSF Medical Center, among others. These facilities provide quality services, which the proposed center will have to match up to remain competitive.
Concerning the internal environment, the participation of stakeholders, as well as the utilization of resources, is highly important. In this case, the stakeholders involved in the wellness clinic range from medical staff, administration, insurance companies, and the government. The wellness center will have to adhere to government regulations and policies that are meant to protect the patients. Insurance companies are necessary in providing coverage plans for the patients. Effective coordination with insurance companies is likely to give the center a competitive edge over its opponents.
SWOT Analysis
A SWOT analysis is a combination of the organization’s internal strengths, weaknesses, and external opportunities and threats (Sammut-Bonnici & Galea, 2015). Such an analysis is useful for companies in establishing awareness about the factors that can influence major decision making. Conducting the internal analysis is critical in identifying the company’s competitive advantage, whereas the external analysis detects market opportunities and threats from competition.
Strengths
There are various strengths identified for the company. The first being, the capacity of the wellness clinic to offer innovative services. The wellness clinic incorporates state of the art technology, which is highly reliable when conducting tests and giving treatments to patients. This reduces the chances of mistakes during treatments or examinations. Moreover, unlike other centers whose practitioners are sub-specialty, the caregivers at the center will be fully trained and competent in their fields, thus maximizing their ability to deliver optimum services to patients. The lower cost of operations also serves as a strength for the company. The highly modernized equipment installed in the facility has made it possible for the center to function with fewer personnel. This means that more money can be directed towards initiatives to boost the facility’s performance.
Weaknesses
The main weaknesses of the center are management issues. Staff management can prove difficult, considering the high increase in employee poaching, especially in the healthcare industry. The competition for highly trained employees continues to intensify, and this drives up costs and salaries. Considering the clinic is newly established, offering high salaries to personnel would be unlikely, and this acts as a weakness since the employees might work for a short period of time and transfer to other centers with higher salaries.
Opportunities
New technology presents a huge opportunity for the clinic, especially in medical surgeries and operations. Currently, 3D printing is being adopted by centers to produce medical devices, and custom implants (Frost & Sullivan, 2017). The technology also reduces the amount of time used in serving patients, which is highly advantageous for the clinic. Adopting to the latest technological trends is a great opportunity for the organization.
Threats
New competition acts as the biggest threat to the clinic. Considering the existing competitors are well established, new competition would be a huge disadvantage, especially if the centers are in a position to spend more money on technology and salaries for their personnel as well.
Action Plan
The objective of the strategic plan is to guide the development of a wellness clinic. To achieve this, the management team needs to accomplish certain requirements. The first is identifying the need for the clinical services in the targeted area by analyzing the demographics as well as other service providers. The current location identified for building the center has no facility that focuses mainly on the provision of similar healthcare services that the clinic seeks to provide. This acts as a great advantage for the wellness clinic since it could build its brand through the provision of quality services to the healthcare staff residing around the area. Gathering information is also critical in identifying the trends in service delivery, including product lines, procedures, and other programs that relate to healthcare. Based on the analysis, well-established clinics need to keep updated with the latest technological trends, and the current 3D printing is steadily gaining recognition as an effective means of producing custom implants. The center will, therefore, set aside funds for purchasing 3D printing equipment. A committee will then be formed to oversee the founding of the center based on the information gathered. The company’s mission, vision, and philosophy will be established. Rules and policies will then be presented in accordance with the center’s philosophy to guide the behavior of staff. Since technology acts as a great advantage for the company, the mission statement of the company will be to deliver the best clinical services using state of the art technology, while the vision of the center will be to place great care on technologically advanced treatment options to raise the bar on healthcare. A business structure will then be developed, which will clarify legal issues regarding the company’s relations with other external stakeholders. Government agencies and insurance firms act as the major stakeholders; therefore, the company will be structured in a manner that makes it conducive for these bodies to do business with the center. This can include accepting clients who have coverage from specific insurance firms. Nonetheless, the structure of the firm will have to comply with government policies. For instance, laws such as the federal physician self-referral law, federal false claims act, and Anti-Kickback statue are to be adhered to avoid incurring fines amounting to millions of dollars (OCR, 2016). The company seeks to set up a new building rather than modify an already existing facility. The site will be close to a capital center where the majority of the population falls in the category of middle to upper class. After completion, news about the opening of the clinic will be spread via social media and mainstream media. The internet provides a great opportunity for marketing and advertising the services offered by the center. The center will also have an official website that outlines the services offered and enables clients to book consultations with ease.
Having established the processes in the plan, the next step would be to evaluate the effectiveness of the programs. This would require gathering information from the caregivers and patients regarding the quality of services provided. The individuals responsible in the process include nurses, director of patient satisfaction, nurse practitioners, product line manager, and product line manager. The data will be gathered using questionnaires. To evaluate the programs, the management would need to develop a strategy for analysis that is cost-effective and efficient. The plan also requires the collection of data regarding the use of services by patients. This final process will be overseen by pharmacists, quality directors, the medical staff, the entire staff, and the product manager.
In general, the objectives of the strategic plan are to successfully develop and implement a wellness clinic for healthcare staff. The plan will require an analysis of the business environment under which the center will operate, and an analysis of the previous and current trends in healthcare services as well as other related products. An advisory committee would be required to supervise the establishment of the clinic. An organizational structure will also be formed that will be conducive for external and internal stakeholders. To manage the staff, company policies will also be presented. A budget for constructing and advertising will be allocated, and a site will be identified for building the center. A marketing program for advertising the company will then be put in place. The timeframe for the strategic plan is two years, with construction occupying the larger percentage of the time.
Summary and Conclusion
In summary, a strategic plan is highly essential in ensuring that a company achieves its overall objectives within a specific period. Based on the SWOT analysis, the wellness clinic faces huge competition from well-established centers; however, adopting the latest technology will be of great advantage for the organization. Embracing technology can, therefore, push the center to the top of the list as a center of excellence. The main challenge faced in this assignment was the lack of accurate data regarding the number of wellness clinics for healthcare staff. Nonetheless, significant insights have been gained on the topic of 3D printing technology. Given a chance, I would utilize a different framework for strategic planning since there is a wide variety in existence.
References
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Balanced Scorecard Institute. (2019, December 3). Strategic Planning Basics. https://balancedscorecard.org/strategic-planning-basics/
Cluett, J. (updated on February 7, 2020). Orthopedic Statistics and Demographics. Verywell Health. Retrieved March 4, 2020, from https://www.verywellhealth.com/orthopedic-statistics-and-demographics-2548685
Frost & Sullivan. (2017). Innovations in Orthopedic Devices to Transform Industry. The Alliance of Advanced BioMedical Engineering. https://aabme.asme.org/posts/innovations-in-orthopedic-devices-and-procedure-improvement-solutions-to-transform-the-industry
Global Clinic Rating. (2020). Top 10 orthopedics clinics & hospitals in the world. Find the perfect healthcare provider for your treatment within 60 seconds, International Healthcare Quality Standards, Global Clinic Rating Accreditation. https://gcr.org/top/orthopedics?page=1&per_page=16&sort=score&order=desc
Hall, F. (2013). The Importance of Strategic Planning. Data. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/241688503_The_Importance_of_Strategic_Planning
Maleka, S. (2014). Strategic Management and Strategic Planning Process. DTPS Strategic Planning & Monitoring. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/273757341_Strategic_Management_and_Strategic_Planning_Process
OCR. (2016, April 19). Raleigh Orthopaedic Clinic Settlement Bulletin. HHS.gov. https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/compliance-enforcement/agreements/raleigh-orthopaedic-clinic-bulletin/index.html
Sammut-Bonnici, T., & Galea, D. (2015). SWOT Analysis. Wiley Encyclopedia of Management, 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118785317.weom120103
World Bank. (2001). Strategic Planning A Ten-Step Guide. https://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTAFRREGTOPTEIA/Resources/mosaica_10_steps.pdf
