The six-step strategic planning process and performance measurement in public health

FINAL EXAM

Final Exam: Questions and Answers

1. Describe steps in the strategic planning process

It is important to note that there is no single standard format for strategic planning. This is to say that various authors have, in the past, proposed or come up with different approaches to strategic planning. The approach highlighted in this case is a 6-step process proposed by Butuner (2020):

a. Determination of the Strategic Intent

This could simply be defined as determining what exactly the organization intends to pursue and ensuring that others from within the organization comprehend the relevance of the undertaking. This is critical so as to assess how ready the various stakeholders are for the effort. In this case, the commitment of all those to be involved in the process is secured and the necessary resources mapped.

b. Definition of the Organizational Mission

This has got to do with stating, in no uncertain terms, why the organization exists and what exactly it intends to accomplish. Towards this end, some of the considerations on this front could be inclusive of, but they are not limited to; the organizational purpose and organizational values.

c. Environmental Analysis/Situational Assessment

Following the clear definition of the purpose for its existence, the organization must assess its present situation. Indeed, in the words of Butuner (2020), in engaging in the said assessment, the organization is able to gain critical insight about its “strengths, weaknesses, and performance, information that will highlight the critical issues that the organization faces and that its strategic plan must address” (142).

d. Strategy Formulation

In this fourth step, the organization makes a determination as to the most appropriate course of action following the identification as well as affirmation of the relevant issues. It this case, the key objectives, goals, as well as strategies are highlighted.

e. Strategy Implementation

Following the formulation of the appropriate strategies, the organization then proceeds to ensure that the said plans and strategies are implemented. It is important to note that according to Butuner (2020), the implementation could be studied via a critical analysis of Mckinsey’s 7S Approach.

f. Strategy Evaluation

This is the very last step and is largely inclusive of efforts to monitor outcomes. Deviations from the outcomes desired could be addressed at this stage.

2. Describe two ways that performance measurement activities can be an asset to an organization that provides financial support to public health agencies

To begin with, performance measurement activities can help in the assessment of underperformance. Underperformance could in this case be categorized as team underperformance or individual underperformance. If set standards are not being met by specific public health agencies, then corrective actions could be undertaken or engagement parameters reevaluated so as to ensure that resources are apportioned to compliant health agencies or the most valid projects. Secondly, performance measurement activities also help in planning efforts. This is more so the case given that in tracing the progress of various financing efforts, clearer objectives can be set and goals for the future clarified and/or modified.

3. List five key competencies for a public health nurse, physician, administrator, educator, and sanitarian.

Public Health Nurse

a. Ability to convey information in an effective manner, i.e. effective communicator

b. Ability to embrace an evidence-based-practice (EBP) approach

c. Ability to comprehend diverse needs of patients

d. Ability to collaborate well with others

e. Superior decision-making abilities

Physician

a. Medical knowledge

b. Superior problem-solving abilities

c. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

d. Professionalism and strong work ethic

e. Patient-centered care

Administrator

a. Effective management and leadership capabilities

b. Effective relationship and communication abilities

c. Healthcare environment knowledge

d. Basic accounting and business knowledge/competencies

e. Collaboration and teamwork abilities

Educator

a. Effective learning facilitation and curriculum implementation

b. Collaboration and partnership

c. Superior communication (written and oral)

d. Effective research capabilities

e. Leadership and advocacy capabilities

Sanitarian

a. Knowledge of, and adherence to compliance standards

b. Teamwork capabilities

c. Service orientation

d. Data collection and evaluation capabilities

e. Critical thinking

4. What are four theories of leadership that are most relevant to public health? Describe one.

There are a number of leadership theories that have been proposed in the past. The theories of leadership that are of great relevance in the realm of public health are inclusive of, but they are not limited to; situational theory, behavioral theory, trait theory, and transformational theory. In this case, I will concern myself with the situational leadership theory. According to Harrison (2017), this particular leadership theory is founded on the argument that there is no single approach to leadership that works in all scenarios. This is to say that the most effective approach to leadership is to adapt the leadership style from one situation to another. It is important to note that the public health arena happens to be rather dynamic. This is more so the case given that the nature of tasks change on a constant basis and those operating in this realm are called upon to constantly adapt their perspectives/attitudes especially when it comes to their embrace of evidence-based-practice. This effectively means that for one to be able to succeed as a leader on this front, he or she must be adaptable and responsive to change. For instance, in the words of Harrison (2017), “nurses who embody the situational leadership style are highly successful because of their adaptability” (p. 173).

5. What is the greatest future challenge to efforts to reduce tobacco use and what could be done to reduce these challenges?

There are numerous challenges to efforts to reduce tobacco use in the future. Upon research of available literature on the issue, I found out that such challenges are inclusive of, but they are not limited to; tobacco sponsorship, promotion, as well as advertising; increased tobacco use among the youth; and increased lobbying by tobacco companies. When it comes to tobacco sponsorship, promotion, as well as advertising, it would be prudent to note that as according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – CDC (2020), tobacco companies continue to sink billions into advertising and promotion activities on an annual basis. To be more specific, CDC (2020) observes that as of the year 2018, the said companies spent close to 10 billion in the U.S. on promotional and advertising undertakings. This complicates efforts to reign in tobacco use because such undertakings reinforce smoking tendencies and associate tobacco use with trendy behaviors – which could effectively cancel out efforts to discourage tobacco use.

Secondly, with regard to increased tobacco use among the youth, CDC (2020) makes an observation to the effect that “each day in the U.S., about 1,600 youth smoke their first cigarette and nearly 200 youth start smoking every day.” As CDC further observes, the establishment of tobacco use largely commences during youth. Once this behavior takes root, it becomes rather difficult to halt it due to addiction. Lastly, when it comes to increased lobbying by tobacco companies, it should be noted that most of the said companies have a history of political wheeler-dealing. In the recent past, we have had reports of heavy donations being made to political players by people with close ties to the industry. Indeed, as Glenza (2017) points out, “tobacco industry influence in Washington is pervasive, in many different ways… they have an active presence on the Hill, they meet frequently with administrative agencies, on hugely significant issues such as regulation of e-cigarettes, tobacco packaging and warnings.” Maneuvers of this nature could open numerous avenues for cigarette companies to continue thriving.

9. How do public health laboratories differ from clinical laboratories?

In essence, both clinical laboratories and public health laboratories focus on the provision of the appropriate data to inform disease diagnosis (and/or treatment) and advance the health and wellbeing of people. However, clinical laboratories differ from public health laboratories on several fronts. Primarily, the former largely focuses on individual patients in the conduct of various testing procedures. On the other hand, public health laboratories largely focus on testing procedures directed at the entire community. Thus, in this case, the community could be perceived as the ‘patient.’ It therefore follows that the two also differ in terms of their overall mandate. As Jones (2007) points out, while primary patient care happens to be the core mandate of clinical laboratories, public health laboratories advance and direct efforts to not only control, but also prevent “communicable disease and environmental pollution, and play a key role in epidemiologic investigations of disease outbreaks” (p. 219).

10. What are the most common determinants of infectious diseases in low- and middle income countries?

It is important to note that most low-income and middle-income countries have over the last few decades made significant progress in attempts to reign in the rapid spread of infectious diseases such as influenza, HIV/Aids, chickenpox, tuberculosis, etc. However, the control programs implemented in this case are often not enough to contain the said diseases. In most cases, key determinants of infectious diseases in low income and middle income countries are inclusive of, but they are not limited to; social stigma, poor sanitation, illiteracy, and poverty. To a large extent, all these factors work together to frustrate efforts to contain the spread of some of the more prevalent infectious diseases. As a matter of fact, some of these factors have been identified by Bishwajit, Ide, and Ghosh (2014), as being some of the key determinants of infectious diseases in countries such as Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, as well as Pakistan, India, and Afghanistan.