The Organizational Structure of Health Management System - Case Study Example

? Health Management Systems Introduction It is almost unanimously agreed upon by many business experts, that management account for a considerable percentage of the success or failure of a company. This is probably because the management of a company is in charge of daily activities of a company. However, there are many aspects to a company other than the management, which can have equal effects. These aspects include the relationship between the management and employees, and that of the company in general with customers, as well as the production strategies employed by the company. Taking HMS as a perfect sample, this paper seeks to answer critical questions regarding the company, among them concerning the management structure, management strategies, use of technology and the company’s viability. The Organizational Structure of Health Management System (HMS) Like most successful companies, HMS has a solid management structure. The management is arranged in a hierarchy. There are different departments that are interrelated although they provide different services. Currently, the company is headed by Steve Starkey as the president. Down the hierarch are vice presidents of key departments. Some of these departments include; Sales, accounts, product development, human resource and finance. Each department has its own cluster of employees who see the smooth running of each department. For example, in the accounts department, there are other sub-departments like document management system, contract management systems and patient statements and e-payment solutions. The company has subordinate members of staff who are in charge of various auxiliary services. The staff mainly works for the well being of other employees. They carry out services like preparing meals, cleaning and driving. Ownership of the company HMS is arguably a big company, judged by the number of employees, space and the scope of the market it serves the company has embraced partnership with different organization in efforts to realize its mission. The major partners of the company include IBM premium business partner, Vision solutions, 3M, Capsule Technologies, Passport Health Communications, and Wolters Kluwer. All these partners are software producing companies. The partners hold a considerable amount of shares in the company. However, the board of executives consists of members with shares in the company. Management The organization’s administration is a core pride of the company. For managers to carry out their stipulated duties, they understand their stipulated roles properly. A role is defined as an expected set of activities resulting from a job (DuBrin J. A. 2008). The company is headed by high caliber members of the board of executives. This leadership stretches to various departments each headed by a manager. In most departments, there is a president and a vice president. Marketing Strategy The company tactfully implements its marketing strategy via a well established partnership between marketing and sales departments. These are some of the strategies that the company employs: 1. Use of research analysts These analysts are specially trained to carry out market analysis and determine the viability of a market. The analysts carry out interviews in different community hospitals and determine the kind of technology used in carrying out their activities, information systems and patient documents systems. 2. Seminars and Trade Shows The same department promotes its products through seminars and trade shows to potential community hospital owners and health practitioners. 3. Education Education is one of the best ways to mobilize, inform and market a company’s products. HMS has effectively used this tool as a marketing strategy. The company has an Education Administrative Assistant working in partnership with the marketing department to carry out the duty of advertising the courses offered by the company. This platform opens an opportunity for the company to sell not only its computer related products but also services to learners and heath practitioners interested in adopting information technology services in their businesses. Issues of Ethics and Social Cooperate Responsibility Morals and ethics are very important in a company’s performance. They can make or break a company’s image. HMS, under the human resource department has an established body that disciplines its employees upon investigation. Actions to be taken may include demotion, expulsion or termination of services. However, the issue of ethics does not have to be taken with a negative perspective because the company has put ethics and ability to communicate to customers in a courteous way as a criterion for motivating its employees. This has had positive impacts on the customer service personnel who have had to deal professionally and courteously with all kind of customers, some of whom are rude. The company understands the need to work with other external organizations for the common benefit of the company and the society. It is this spirit that has triggered the company to embrace social cooperate responsibility. This has been taken care of through community outreach programs and credit facilities. The credit facility has been fruitful particularly in the cohesion and creation of a good working relationship between the company, its partners and customers. Motivation of Employees Employees are considered to be the engine of any company. The end products of a company are attributed to the efforts of the employees. It is also said that every company needs the diverse cluster of talents in order to carry out its strategies (The Economists Intelligence Unit, pg 4). It is for this reason the HMS has a well planned motivation strategy for its employees. The company motivates its employees in the following ways: 1. Promotions The human resource department has the mandate to promote employees based on clearly set criteria. Employees and workers are promoted on the grounds of theirs consistence, discipline, creativity and hard work. Therefore, it is not surprising to note that the current members of the Executive Board of the company worked at a junior position before they were promoted. For example, the current president of the company was the former vice president of research and development. His promotion is attributed to his innovativeness and creativity that saw him becomes one of the founding programmers of the HMS system. 2. Gifts The company has set important dates and events that are marked on each financial year. As a way to motivate its employees, the company offers gifts to its staff members on such occasions. These gifts vary in value. Computes, vouchers and other electronic gadgets are offered to the deserving employees 3. Trips and Vacations The company appreciates its employees by taking them to trips and vacations. This generosity is mostly extended to the families of the employees who do not work for the company. During the festive seasons and religious holidays like Christmas and New year celebrations, the company prepares a pack for each employee as a sign of appreciation and more importantly motivation. Management of Pricing of Products Potential competitors use prices of products as their strongest weapon. It is with this knowledge that HMS has established practical mechanisms to determine the prices of their products. The company determines and controls the prices of its products through the department of sales in partnership with the department of marketing. Upon establishment of a viable market, the marketing department communicates the results of their market analysis to the department of sales. In its report on the market analysis, the department of marketing includes the nature of the competitor and proposes ways of beating their competitors. It is with this basic information that the department of sales determines the best price for their products with prior information from the production department who have prepared a list of the cost of production of a commodity. Establishing Customer Relations A customer is one of the many reasons why a profit based institution exists. No firm has ground to exist without customers (Hoffman D.K & Bateson J.E.G) They shape the production margins of a company and determine the sale margins as well. HMS has established a good rapport with its customers using different ways. Through regular seminars and trade shows, the company has a one to one opportunity to meet its customers. This way, it listens and works towards implementation of the demands and recommendations of their customers. The customer care representatives are trained to be patient and courteous to all customers. Utilization of Technology The company has completely embraced technology especially in communication. The company deals with Information technology, which is practical that every department has computerized information systems; this is in fact the prime product of the company. The company aims at enabling every hospital to acquire the best information technology systems and interoperability, a computerized record manager. The company has computer programming employees whose core duties among others are to improve not only create new software for sale but also to be used in the company. This can be confirmed from the company’s president who was a former programmer in the company, all these proving that the company is a giant in the use of technology. Disclosure of Financial Activities The company has established a good communication channel. Communication of financial plans is done either through Annual general meeting or in the departmental meetings. The annual general meetings are chaired by the president of the company; however, any financial plans that need to be communicated by the company are announced by the financial president or the vice president. Viability of the Company in management and Finance With the management that has been demonstrated by the company, and the well structured flow of finances, the company is viable and feasible enough for more growth and partnership. It is this viability that has attracted many companies and institutions to partner with the company. Conclusion Health Management System (HMS) is a company that has a bright future ahead. Though it has its own share of problems to solve, the company has extensively experienced team of workers who will continue to gear it forward. Health Management Systems (HMS) is a company that provides information technology services to community hospitals. The company prides itself for the consistent success stories it has had to tell ever since its establishment in 1984. References DuBrin J.A (2008). Essentials of Management. Lorong Chuan: Cengage Learning Economists Intelligence Unit, Building an Integrated Talent Management Strategy, a research. study sponsored by oracle, November 2007 Services Marketing: Concepts, Strategies, & Cases (2010). Lorong Chuan: Cengage Learning Read More