Virtual, Case Study Method Largely

¶ … virtual, case study method largely employed by this online class in healthcare management and leadership. The specific insights that I have learned through this methodology are some of the most important issues routinely faced by healthcare providers and its management today. The most eminent of these, of course, are issues pertaining to funding, and those related to communication between staff members at all levels, including those in upper level management and in basic administrative positions (Hughman, 2009, p. 7). The most valuable part of this learning, however, is the fact that I will retain knowledge of these issues with me and effectively translate that into actionable insight into new contexts in the field. The fact of the matter is I will more than likely not continue my career in authoritative positions of leadership with which I viewed and influenced the decision-making process in many of these case studies, but I will still have the sapience provided by them to analyze future issues and to suggest solutions to the proper authorities.

Another key aspect of this course that the case study methodology largely provided was a greater understanding of the degree of complexity that characterize the majority of the challenges faced by leadership and management figures in the health care industry. Not a small amount of these complexities are related to limited funding, which has a way of exacerbating the most vital of issues. As such, this course has taught me to consider health care issues from a variety of perspectives, which include those of both public and private funding, administration, providers, and management professionals. A complete cognizance of these issues is required to effectively deal with them, since the ramifications of actions will inevitably affect these different dimensions.

Working with a team to analyze a case and propose recommendations has prepared me for the professional experience of going through this same process in many ways. It has helped me learn how to designate and delineate authority regarding various individuals working on different aspects of a particular problem. It has certainly reinforced the value of teamwork and the notion that the collaborative process is oftentimes more advantageous than a solitary approach. Furthermore, it has shown me the way that such a collaborative process should ideally work. Individuals have to balance their viewpoints with those of others, and must be prepared to both give and take to accomplish the overarching objective.

The specific strategies that I would utilize to deal with the complexity of issues in the workplace involve using a transformational approach to management (Hall et al., 202, p. 2). I believe that aligning the objectives of the organization with those of its individual employees is necessary to deal with the multi-faceted nature of problems that affect employees at virtually all levels in the healthcare industry. Additionally, I believe that it is important to practice active listening when being informed of any difficulties. Active listening can play an integral role in ameliorating the communication problem that exists in many health care environments.