Strategic Planning (Action Plan)
Daft, (2014) is of the opinion that action plans in strategic planning refer to the steps that an organization intends to take by a particular timeframe to achieve its set strategic goals through certain personnel. They specify the action, its doer and the timeline within for its completion. In essence, this paper aims at developing an action plan for implementation of a new strategic plan targeting a unit within Harborview Medical Center. The guiding strategic goal for the plan is to reduce the discharge delay within the unit in a month’s time. Central to the action plan are various themes. They include management strategies for meeting strategic goals, management decision-making, tactics for management of implementation across business functions, and leadership strategies for implementation throughout the execution of the plan. By addressing these areas, a new understanding of this vital element of strategic planning is inevitable.
Management Strategies for Meeting Strategic Goals
Precisely, the management tactic that is central to the meeting of the strategic goal focuses on the use of innovation. That is for sure given that the strategy intended for the achievement of the set strategic goal for all key stakeholders is designing an electronic discharge pathway. Such a pathway will enhance interactive communication among the various members of the care team (Manfredi, 2013). As such, the achievement of the strategic goal is inevitable given the reduction of the discharge delay within the unit.
Application of Managerial Decision-making Methods
Of the utmost importance throughout the action plan are the various managerial decision-making methods. Befitting examples of managerial decision-making strategies include but not limited to pilot projects, cost benefit analysis, trial and error, cause-and-effect (fish bone) charts as well as the worst-case scenario (Huber, 2014). Their utilization in this action plan is dependent on the individual involved and the particular situation. For instance, fish bone charts are essential for investigating possible causes related to certain processes like production while cost-benefit analysis will be necessary during deciding budgetary matters.
Tactics for Management of Implementation across Business Functions
Primarily, the business functions impacted by this plan include the IT, human resource and finance departments. Of the essence to the management of the implementation across these business functions is scheduling meetings between the IT Design Committee (ITDC) and personnel from different disciplines so that they can provide feedback on the project progress. An action of this kind will ensure that implementation is per the agreed layout.
As for the enhancement of collaboration and cross functionality for the realization of this plan, the only strategy is to arrange for meetings of each discipline with the ITDC. Such an action will ensure functionality for every particular set of workflows as well as gain acceptance from personnel of different disciplines with the developed tool as it evolves.
Leadership Strategies
The leadership strategies that will come in handy throughout the execution of the action plan for enhancement of collaboration among the multiple stakeholders are also worth noting. A case in point is the inclusion of all stakeholders during the project design and rollout strategy teams. Such an approach would enhance the gaining of acceptance by all stakeholders. Another leadership strategy is communicating the action plan frequently so that all parties concerned can make it a priority in their operations. With such strategies in place, success is inevitable given that they will increase the commitment of the various stakeholders towards executing the action plan.
Conclusion
Concisely, this discussion focused on developing an action plan that is necessary for the successful realization of the set strategic goal for a unit at Harborview Medical Center. Precisely, the paper has achieved this objective by identification of management strategies for meeting strategic goals, management decision-making methods, tactics for management of implementation across business functions and leadership strategies for implementation throughout the plan execution. An implication drawn from this review is the need for the development of action plans that will ensure the implementation of formulated strategic plans. In the absence of such, strategic plans will remain dreams for the unforeseeable future.
References
Daft, R. L. (2014). New era of management. S.l: South-Western Cengage Learning.
Huber, D. (2014). Leadership and Nursing Care Management. London: Elsevier Health Sciences.
Manfredi, S. M. (2013). The design, implementation and evaluation of a technology solution to improve discharge planning communication in a complex patient population.
