course material

1. Prepare a 5-7 page environmental analysis of a health care
Prepare a 5-7 page environmental analysis of a health care organization addressing both the
external and internal environments.IntroductionNote: Each assessment in this course
builds upon the work you have completed in previous assessments. Therefore, you must
complete the assessments in the order in which they are presented.Health care
organizations have embraced strategic management and have developed unique processes
for their industry. Health care leaders have found that strategic thinking, planning, and
managing strategic momentum are essential for coping with the health care industry’s
dynamics. Strategic management has become the single clearest demonstration of effective
leadership in health care organizations.Health care organization leaders need to understand
the external environment in which they operate. Additionally, they need to anticipate and
respond to the significant shifts taking place within that environment. An organization
engages in service area competitor analysis to:Determine the geographic service
area.Analyze the competitors within that service area for strengths and
vulnerabilities.Assess the impact of its strategic actions against specific
competitors.Anticipate potential actions a competitor might make that would endanger the
organization’s market position.Analyzing competitors assists organizations in identifying
their competitive advantage, the basis on which they are willing to compete with
anyone.Additionally, evaluating the organization’s internal environment is also critical. This
requires evaluating functional areas such as clinical operations, information systems,
marketing, clinical support, human resources, financial administration, and others. In an
internal environmental analysis, leaders carefully examine each function or organizational
subsystem and then develop and analyze a list of strengths and weaknesses for each. This
approach has been successful in some cases; however, an internal environmental analysis
alone does not adequately address strategic issues.The first assessment will focus on
performing an environmental analysis of a health care organization. An environmental
analysis enables the organization to identify current challenges and opportunities in
preparation for future strategic planning and goal identification. Insightful diagnosis of a
company’s external and internal environments is a prerequisite for managers to succeed in
crafting a strategy that is an excellent fit within the company’s operations. These
evaluations assist the organization in fostering alternative strategies and business models
that culminate in leadership choosing a specific strategy.Demonstration of ProficiencyBy
successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the
course competencies through the following assessment scoring guide criteria:Competency

2. 1: Analyze organizational structure, design, culture, and climate in relation to
environmental forces. Analyze a health care organization’s external and internal
environment.Identify key industry structural features determining the forces governing
competition.Competency 3: Recommend an organizational structure and design to optimize
a strategic plan. Evaluate a health care organization’s directional strategy.Competency 4:
Communicate in a manner that is scholarly, professional, and consistent with expectations
for professionals in health care administration. Write a clear, concise, well-organized,
professional, and generally error-free environmental analysis that supports conclusions
with relevant evidence.Follow current APA formatting and style guidelines for citations and
references.Note: Complete the assessments in this course in the order in which they are
presented. You will make use of this analysis in the next assessment.PreparationFor this
assessment, you will perform an environmental analysis for a health care organization. To
accomplish this, you need to select a health care organization. This may be an organization
where you currently work, a place where you want to work, or an organization about which
you would like to learn more. You may select one from any of these sectors, or you may
select a sector not listed here that directly reflects your career plans:Long-term care.Mid-
sized facility.Behavioral health hospital.Large urban hospital.Small rural
hospital.Freestanding facility.Telehealth organization.Government/military.Integrated
delivery network (IDN).Make your selection carefully. If you choose your own organization,
it will be easier to obtain the kind of information you need to complete the assessment. If
you do not select your own organization, you might want to consider a larger health care
provider (for example, Cigna, Kaiser Permanente, UnitedHealth Group, or Blue Cross Blue
Shield) that publishes the organization’s directional strategy. You may also select a type of
organization from the provided list, but recognize you will still be expected to gather
marketing information, benchmark data, financial summaries, and other relevant
information.In addition, you may wish to review the assessment instructions and scoring
guide to ensure that you understand the work you will be asked to complete.Note: As you
revise your writing, check out the resources listed on the Writing Center’s Writing Support
page.ScenarioYour manager is responsible for updating the organization’s strategic plan.
She has asked you to do some of the legwork and complete an environmental analysis. This
analysis will help your organization scan the external and internal environments and
identify current challenges and opportunities that will enable it to prepare for the
future.RequirementsAnalyze your selected organization’s external and internal
environments. The MHA Program Library Guide can help direct your research. The
Supplemental Resources and Research Resources, both linked in the navigation menu in
your courseroom, provide additional resources to support you.You may use any
contemporary environmental analysis tool included in the strategic management planning
process to conduct your analysis. Examples include PESTLE analysis, Michael Porter’s 5
Forces model, and Levels of Competition model.Remember, your analysis must address
both your selected organization’s external and internal environments. In addition, your
analysis must include all of the elements listed below.ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
REQUIREMENTSThe requirements, outlined below, correspond to the grading criteria in the
Current Environmental Analysis Scoring Guide, so be sure to address each point. Read the

3. performance-level descriptions for each criterion to see how your work will be
assessed.Evaluate the organization’s directional strategy, as reflected in its vision, mission,
and values.Identify key industry structural features determining the forces governing
competition.Write a clear, concise, well-organized, professional, and generally error-free
environmental analysis that supports conclusions with relevant evidence.Follow current
APA formatting and style guidelines for citations and references.