Table of Contents
Discussion: Assessing organizational effectiveness
Discussion: Assessing organizational effectiveness
According to McLaughlin and Olson (2012), “a key component of effective operations is the ability to move strategy to action” (pg. 13). Once a health care organization has a strategy, it is then necessary to select the accurate assessment tool to implement the strategy. Balance scorecards, strategy maps, and dashboards are three organizational assessment tools that are used frequently to move a strategy into action.
1. Read the article, The balanced scorecard, strategy maps and dashboards: Why are they different? at the following link:
2. Identify two (2) issues from the list of top issues confronting hospitals in 2016 published by the America College of Healthcare Executives ( )
3. Then choose one (1) tool (balanced scorecard, strategy maps, or dashboards) per selected issue and discuss (from a health care manager perspective) how you would use that tool to minimize the selected issue.
McLaughlin, D. B., & Olson, J. R. (2012). Healthcare operations management (2nd ed.). Chicago, IL: Health Administration Press.
American College of Healthcare Executives. (2016). Top issues confronting hospitals in 2016. Retrieved from
Bayliss, J., Chin, G. & Pfingsten, M. (2016). Types of traditional organizational designs: Simple, functional & divisional designs. Retrieved from
Cokins, G. (2013). The balanced scorecard, strategy maps and dashboards: Why are they different? Retrieved from
Health Research & Educational Trust. (2014). Building a leadership team for the health care organization of the future. Retrieved from
Griner, P. (2017). Case study: On being transparent. Retrieved from
Kash, B. A., Spaulding, A., Johnson, C. E., & Gamm, L. (2013). Success factors for strategic change initiatives: a qualitative study of healthcare administrators’ perspectives. Journal of Healthcare Management, 59(1), 65-81. doi: 10.1097/HMR.0b013e318276faf8
Nagy, J. (2016). Section 1. Organizational structure: An overview. Retrieved from
Schyve, P. M. (2009). Leadership in healthcare organizations: A guide to joint commission leadership standards. Retrieved from
Werberg, D. (2010). Transformational leadership and staff retention: An evidence review with implications for healthcare systems. 34(3), 246-258. doi: 10.1097/NAQ.0b013e3181e70298
Wyatt, J. (2004). Scorecards, dashboards, and KPIs keys to integrated performance measurement: to effectively measure performance, providers need more than just a balanced scorecard; they also must be able to access performance data from a central data warehouse. Healthcare Financial Management. 58(2), 76-80.
Discussion Question 3
Leadership: Power, Authority, and Influence
Power, authority, and influence are three terms that are actively seen in the role of leadership. The correct balance of the three is vital to being an effective health care leader. Research and identify the differences among power, authority, and influence. Explain, using examples, how misapplication of power, authority, and influence could lead to damaging consequences as a health care leader.
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Be sure to cite the literature in your response.
Abdulaziz, A. (2013). Leadership of healthcare professionals: Where do we stand? Oman Medical Journal, 28(4), 285-287. doi: 10.5001/omj.2013.79
Allen, G. (1999). Supervision. Ronjon Publishing, Inc.: Denton, TX.
Evans, J. (2014). HERD: Evolving leadership in healthcare design. Health Environments Research & Design Journal, 7(4) 9-12. doi:10.1177/193758671400700402
Goleman, D. & Boyzatzis, R. E. (2008). Social intelligence and the biology of leadership. Retrieved from
Johnson, L. K. (2008). Exerting influence without authority. Retrieved from
Kumar, R. D. C. & Khiljee, N. (2016). Leadership in healthcare. Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, 17(1), 63-65. doi:10.1016/j.mpaic.2015.10.012
Ladyshewsky, R. K. (2010). The manager as coach as a driver of organizational development. Leadership & Organization Development Journal, 31(4), 292-306. doi: 10.1108/01437731011043320
Maner, J. K. & Case, C. R. (2013). The essential tension between leadership and power: Why power corrupts – and how to prevent it. Retrieved from
Nayar, V. (2013). Three differences between managers and leaders. Retrieved from
Olivo, T. (2014). The profile of an effective healthcare leader. Retrieved from
Oliver, S. (2006). Leadership in healthcare. Retrieved from
Stefl, M. E. (2008). Common competencies for all healthcare managers: The healthcare leadership alliance model. Journal of Healthcare Management, 53(6), 360-374.
Discussion Question 4
Reducing Hospital-Acquired Infections
Assume you are recently hired as the department manager for the surgical unit at a 300-bed acute care hospital. There has been an ongoing problem with hospital-acquired infections in the surgical unit. The hospital does not get paid for treating these infections and it is extremely costly. As a result, the prior manager was terminated. Describe your approach from both an operations and quality perspective in addressing the problem. What would you do first? What tactics would you use? Who would you get involved? Develop critical thinking around the urgent problem.
Be sure to cite reliable sources to support your response.
American Academy of Family Physicians. (2017). Basics of quality improvement. Retrieved from
AHRQ. (2002). Improving health care quality. Retrieved from
Evans, M. (2017). Dr. Mike Evans video: An illustrated look at quality improvement in health care. Retrieved from
Fields, R. (2011). 5 common hospital problems – and suggestions for how to fix them. Retrieved from
IOM. (2001). Crossing the quality chasm: A new health system for the 21st century. Retrieved from
James, B. C. (1989). Quality management for health care delivery. Retrieved from
Jones, E., Hartley, C., & Roberts, W. (n.d.). The definition of health care operations. Retrieved from
Joshi, M., Ransom, E. R., Nash, D. B., & Ransom, S. B. (2014). The healthcare quality book: Vision, strategy, and tools. Chicago, Illinois: Health Administration Press.
McLaughlin, D. B., & Hays, J. M. (2008). Chapter 1: The challenge and the opportunity. Healthcare operations management. Chicago: Health Administration Press.
