ourse Syllabus Prerequisites MHA601 has no prerequisites.  Course Description The focus of this course is on the application of advanced organizational principles in complex healthcare environments.  Organizational issues, administrative processes and applications are explored.  The managerial perspectives of a mid-to senior healthcare administrator are emphasized. Course Design Effective health care organizational management in a very complex environment is the “heart and soul” of this course.  The course is designed to provide opportunities and tools to equip participants to assume health administrator roles within any healthcare organization.  Participants will analyze current healthcare dilemmas and develop insights into the organizational challenges facing administrators today –regardless of healthcare setting. This course progressively builds up to provide students the ability to complete a project, covering basic health care organizational principles, strategic planning, financial planning, human resource management, effective leadership, and effective communication.  Much of the learning will come from a series of discussion questions, short papers, and realistic case studies. Week One:  Examines and evaluates principles of healthcare administration in complex situations.  Students will be asked to evaluate modern management theories that can be applied to their own work environment by means of two Discussion Questions. Week Two:  Examines and evaluates the concept of power, politics, and conflict within a health care organization.  One discussion question asks the students to evaluate power and political games in their own organization.  For the second discussion question, the students are asked to recommend a course of action from the point of view of conflict management and interpersonal relationships.  The written assignment for the week deals with conflict and teamwork within a hospital department. Week Three: Introduces, examines, and evaluates the principles of leadership and decision making within the health care environment.  In one discussion question, students will be asked to identify the most important factors concerning effective leadership and then evaluate and recommend leadership qualities within their own organization.  A second discussion question deals with effective decision-making.  A third discussion questions requires the students to review a Case Study focusing on decision making and communication.  The written assignment asks the students for a reflective paper on their own personal leadership philosophy. Week Four:  Introduces and examines the concepts of values, ethics, and organizational dysfunction.  For the first discussion question, students are asked to view a slide presentation and to read and respond to a case study dealing with racism rules.  The second discussion question deals with organizational dysfunction.  For the written exercise, the students will reflect on and write about various stakeh.

1. ourse Syllabus
Prerequisites
MHA601 has no prerequisites.
Course Description
The focus of this course is on the application of advanced
organizational principles in complex healthcare environments.
Organizational issues, administrative processes and applications
are explored. The managerial perspectives of a mid-to senior
healthcare administrator are emphasized.
Course Design
Effective health care organizational management in a very
complex environment is the “heart and soul” of this course.
The course is designed to provide opportunities and tools to
equip participants to assume health administrator roles within
any healthcare organization. Participants will analyze current
healthcare dilemmas and develop insights into the
organizational challenges facing administrators today –
regardless of healthcare setting.
This course progressively builds up to provide students the
ability to complete a project, covering basic health care
organizational principles, strategic planning, financial planning,
human resource management, effective leadership, and effective
communication. Much of the learning will come from a series
of discussion questions, short papers, and realistic case studies.
Week One: Examines and evaluates principles of healthcare
administration in complex situations. Students will be asked to
evaluate modern management theories that can be applied to
their own work environment by means of two Discussion
Questions.
Week Two: Examines and evaluates the concept of power,
politics, and conflict within a health care organization. One
discussion question asks the students to evaluate power and

2. political games in their own organization. For the second
discussion question, the students are asked to recommend a
course of action from the point of view of conflict management
and interpersonal relationships. The written assignment for the
week deals with conflict and teamwork within a hospital
department.
Week Three: Introduces, examines, and evaluates the principles
of leadership and decision making within the health care
environment. In one discussion question, students will be asked
to identify the most important factors concerning effective
leadership and then evaluate and recommend leadership
qualities within their own organization. A second discussion
question deals with effective decision-making. A third
discussion questions requires the students to review a Case
Study focusing on decision making and communication. The
written assignment asks the students for a reflective paper on
their own personal leadership philosophy.
Week Four: Introduces and examines the concepts of values,
ethics, and organizational dysfunction. For the first discussion
question, students are asked to view a slide presentation and to
read and respond to a case study dealing with racism rules. The
second discussion question deals with organizational
dysfunction. For the written exercise, the students will reflect
on and write about various stakeholders’ views of the
uninsured.
Week Five: Focuses on change, human resources, and the
development of the most effective management team. The
students, for the first discussion question, create their own
thoughts on "whitewater changes" occurring in healthcare
today. The second discussion question deals with human
resources and the effects of poor communication. For the third
discussion question, the students are asked to review a video
focusing on the theme, “Why do some succeed where others
fail? What makes high-achievers different?”
Week Six: Concludes the course by focusing on the medical
staff and the board of directors as well as the final paper. The

3. first discussion questions asks students to evaluate challenges
faced by medical staff leadership, while the second discussion
question requires the students to review a case study dealing
with the failure of the board of directors to act effectively.
Finally, there is a summative assignment allowing the students
to utilize their reading and learning from the six weeks of class
to create a solution to a problem of an exodus of nursing
personal within a health care organization.
Course Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able
to:
Apply principles of healthcare administration in complex
situations.
Apply organizational principles of healthcare administration to
the changing healthcare organizational environment.
Apply strategic planning methodologies in the planning of
healthcare services.
Analyze the financial factors influencing healthcare
administration.
Apply theories of human resource management to healthcare
situations.
Analyze the role of administrative leadership in creating a
learning organization.
Submit a project demonstrating mastery of course content.
Course Map
The course map illustrates the careful design of the course
through which each learning objective is supported by one or
more specific learning activities in order to create integrity and
pedagogical depth in the learning experience.
LEARNING OUTCOME
WEEK
ASSIGNMENT

4. Apply organizational principles of healthcare administration to
the changing healthcare organizational environment.
1
1
1
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
5
5
5
5
6
6
6
Applied Modern Management Theory-Discussion
Complexity Science and Postmodernism in the Healthcare
Arena- Discussion
Error Avoidance in Post Modern/Complex Adaptive Systems-
Assignment
Analysis of Power and Politics within Organizations-
Discussion
Managing Conflict and Interpersonal Relationships- Discussion
Case Study: Team and Team Processes- Assignment
Personal Leadership Philosophy- Discussion
Effective Communication- Discussion
Organizational Culture versus Organizational Leadership-
Discussion

5. Case Study: Decision Making and Communication- Assignment
Cultural Values and Ethics- Discussion
Organizational Dysfunction- Discussion
Abuses and Unethical Behavior in Health Care- Discussion
Case Study: Stakeholder Dynamics - Assignment
Changes in Healthcare- Discussion
Benefits and Values of Teams- Discussion
Team Building Trends- Discussion
Learning Healthcare Organizations- Assignment
Physician Leadership Development- Discussion
Applied Administrative Leadership- Discussion
Final Paper
Apply organizational principles of healthcare administration to
the changing healthcare organizational environment.
1
1
1
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
5
5
5
5
6
6
6
Applied Modern Management Theory-Discussion

6. Complexity Science and Postmodernism in the Healthcare
Arena- Discussion
Error Avoidance in Post Modern/Complex Adaptive Systems-
Assignment
Analysis of Power and Politics within Organizations-
Discussion
Managing Conflict and Interpersonal Relationships- Discussion
Case Study: Team and Team Processes- Assignment
Personal Leadership Philosophy- Discussion
Effective Communication- Discussion
Organizational Culture versus Organizational Leadership-
Discussion
Case Study: Decision Making and Communication- Assignment
Cultural Values and Ethics- Discussion
Organizational Dysfunction- Discussion
Abuses and Unethical Behavior in Health Care- Discussion
Case Study: Stakeholder Dynamics - Assignment
Changes in Healthcare- Discussion
Benefits and Values of Teams- Discussion
Team Building Trends- Discussion
Learning Healthcare Organizations- Assignment
Physician Leadership Development- Discussion
Applied Administrative Leadership- Discussion
Final Paper
Apply strategic planning methodologies in the planning of
healthcare services.
1
1
1
2
2
3
3
3
3
4

7. 4
4
5
5
5
6
6
6
Applied Modern Management Theory-Discussion
Complexity Science and Postmodernism in the Healthcare
Arena- Discussion
Error Avoidance in Post Modern/Complex Adaptive Systems-
Assignment
Analysis of Power and Politics within Organizations-
Discussion
Managing Conflict and Interpersonal Relationships- Discussion
Personal Leadership Philosophy- Discussion
Effective Communication- Discussion
Organizational Culture versus Organizational Leadership-
Discussion
Case Study: Decision Making and Communication- Assignment
Cultural Values and Ethics- Discussion
Organizational Dysfunction- Discussion
Abuses and Unethical Behavior in Health Care- Discussion
Changes in Healthcare- Discussion
Benefits and Values of Teams- Discussion
Team Building Trends- Discussion
Physician Leadership Development- Discussion
Applied Administrative Leadership- Discussion
Final Paper
Analyze the financial factors influencing healthcare
administration.
1
1
4
5

8. 6
6
6
Applied Modern Management Theory- Discussion
Complexity Science and Postmodernism in the Healthcare
Arena- Discussion
Case Study: Stakeholder Dynamics- Assignment
Learning Healthcare Organizations- Assignment
Physician Leadership Development- Discussion
Applied Administrative Leadership- Discussion
Final Paper
Apply theories of human resource management to healthcare
situations.
1
1
1
2
2
2
4
4
4
5
5
5
6
Applied Modern Management Theory- Discussion
Complexity Science and Postmodernism in the healthcare
Arena- Discussion
Error Avoidance in Post Modern/Complex Adaptive Systems-
Assignment
Analysis of Power and Politics within Organizations-
Discussion
Managing Conflict and Interpersonal Relationships- Discussion
Case Study: Team and Team Processes- Discussion
Cultural Values and Ethics- Discussion

9. Organizational Dysfunction- Discussion
Abuses and Unethical Behavior in Health Care- Discussion
Changes in Healthcare- Discussion
Benefits and Value of Teams- Discussion
Team Building Trends- Discussion
Final Paper
Analyze the role of administrative leadership in creating a
learning organization.
1
1
2
2
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
5
5
5
5
6
6
6
Applied Modern Management Theory- Discussion
Complexity Science and Postmodernism in the Healthcare
Arena- Discussion
Managing Conflict and Interpersonal Relationships- Discussion
Case Study: Team and Team Processes- Assignment
Personal Leadership Philosophy- Discussion
Effective Communication- Discussion
Organizational Culture versus Organizational Leadership-
Discussion

10. Case Study: Decision Making and Communication- Assignment
Cultural Values and Ethics- Discussion
Organizational Dysfunction- Discussion
Abuses and Unethical Behavior in Health Care- Discussion
Case Study: Stakeholder Dynamics- Assignment
Changes in Healthcare- Discussion
Benefits and Value of Teams- Discussion
Team Building Trends- Discussion
Learning Healthcare Organizations- Assignment
Physician Leadership Development- Discussion
Applied Administrative Leadership- Discussion
Final Paper
Submit a project demonstrating mastery of course content.
6
Final Paper
Institutional Outcomes
Graduates of Ashford University:
Demonstrate the ability to read and think critically and
creatively;
Demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively in speech
and in writing;
Demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively through the
use of technology;
Demonstrate an understanding of the various forms of diversity;
Demonstrate an understanding of the interdependence among
living beings, the environment and humanly-created systems;
Demonstrate competence in their major fields of study;
Demonstrate an understanding of service directed at meeting the
needs of others;
Demonstrate the ability to draw information from different
fields of study to make informed decisions; and
Develop skills and abilities that provide for lifelong learning.

11. Mission Statement
The mission of Ashford University is to provide accessible,
affordable, innovative, high-quality learning opportunities and
degree programs that meet the diverse needs of individuals
pursuing integrity in their lives, professions, and communities.