Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) Analysis - Essay Example

Running head: The Commonwealth Fund The Commonwealth fund organization- SWOT analysis Insert Insert Grade Insert January 10, 2012Abstract The Commonwealth Fund is a foundation in the United States that was established in the early twentieth century to improve the health systems in the country so that all individuals are entitled to quality healthcare services. The foundation has a mission that will see it achieve its long-term objectives of ensuring that the vulnerable individuals access good healthcare services.

Its operations are guided by core values like integrity, kindness, good governance, diligence, and transparency. The Fund supports various researches on health issues and is proud of good leadership. It has the opportunity of implementing the health plans and policies derived from the researches. Nonetheless, availability of funds for continued operation becomes a challenge as the foundation simply rely on endowment as the key source of incomeThe Commonwealth Fund Organization- SWOT AnalysisAbout the organizationThe commonwealth fund is one the oldest private foundations that have been established in the United States.

It was established in 1918 in order to enhance the standards and performance of the health systems in the country (The Commonwealth Fund, 2008). MissionThe Commonwealth Fund is out to ‘promote a high performing health care system that achieves better access, improved quality, and greater efficiency, particularly for society’s most vulnerable, including low-income people, the uninsured, minority Americans, young children, and elderly adults’ (The Commonwealth Fund, 2008). This mission of the organization is appropriate in the improvement of the health systems for a common good.

Vision of the organization The vision of the foundation is to have a system in which every individual of the society is able to have access to quality health services irrespective of their financial statuses. This is typical of a perfect health system. Its valuesThe development of the mission and vision, accomplishment of the stated mission as well as the attainment of the vision require a number of values (principles and practices) that govern the operations in the organization. Good governance, diligence, accountability/transparency, equality, honesty, generosity, and kindness are among the core values of the foundation expected of the management and professional staff at the foundation (The Commonwealth Fund Annual Report, 2007, p.7). The foundation involves donation of funds to improve health systems, an initiative that requires kindness.

There is then need for credibility in the use of the funds. SWOT AnalysisStrengthsIn order to accomplish its mission, the Commonwealth Fund gives support to researches on health care issues, policies, and practices. The fund has a global program for health policy that is appropriate ‘to stimulate innovative policies and practices in the United States and other industrialized countries health’ (The Commonwealth Fund, 2008). The foundation employs diversification strategy that allows various health issues to be addressed simultaneously.

Proper leadership is also strength of the foundation. A good proportion of the managers have executed their duties above the expectations of many (The Commonwealth Fund, 2008). A 2002 Harris Interactive Survey of Fund Grantees and the 2006/7 Mathew Audience and Grantee Survey indicated that the grantees were contented that the members of the staff had significant contribution towards the accomplishment of their mission (The Commonwealth Fund Annual Report, 2007, p.9). WeaknessesOn the other hand, the Commonwealth Fund has other factors that have led to disappointment in some aspects of its operations.

Firstly, the foundation has employed a fixed income strategy that does not enhance the mitigation and management of risk factors (Craig and Grantmakers in Health, 2009, p.8). Secondly, the organization has been confined to particular targets of policy asset allocation (Craig and Grantmakers in Health, 2009, p.8). This is detrimental due to the dynamic nature of the complex systems in the world. The 2008 market crash led to a decline of the private foundation assets by between 28 to 33 percent (Craig and Grantmakers in Health, 2009, p.5)OpportunitiesSome of the plans that are useful in improving the health system include the consumer-driven health plans (CDHPs) and the high-deductible health plans (HDHPs).

These health plans are relatively cost-effective and provides adequate opportunities for the improvement of results in the foundations (Ostuw, 2008)ThreatsOne of the threats of the foundation is increased need for quality healthcare services. The poverty levels are still high due to factors like unemployment and yet this large population requires affordable but quality healthcare services, the dream of the Commonwealth Fund. The foundation is largely dependent on the donations to support its programs.

Its sole source of income is endowment (The Commonwealth Fund Annual Report, 2007, p.5). The donations are in turn affected by the economic factors in the United States and the other industrialized nations. Thus, the possibility of occurrence of another global economic crisis is a threat to the smooth functioning of the foundation. ReferencesCraig and Grantmakers in Health, (2009). New Financial Realities for U.S. Private Foundations. Retrieved from http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=swot%20analysis%20of%20the%20commonwealth%20fund&source=web&cd=5&ved=0CDMQFjAE&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gih.org%2Fusr_doc%2FJohn_Craig_from_laptop.

ppt&ei=8DoMT_z_HIjOhAe6xIzGBA&usg=AFQjCNEYTCAzpsn5t2X_ES0TGDedZK6CsA&cad=rja Ostuw, R. (2008). Findings from the 2007 EBRI/Commonwealth Fund Consumerism in Health Care Survey: Implications for Plan Sponsors (April 2008). EBRI Notes, 29(4). Retrieved from http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1123978 The Commonwealth Fund. 2008. Mission Statement. Retrieved from http://www.commonwealthfund.org/About-Us/Mission-Statement.aspx The Commonwealth Fund Annual Report. 2007. High-Performing Foundations: The Role of Risk Management.

Retrieved from http://www.commonwealthfund.org/usr_doc/EVP-COO_Report_2007.pdf?section=4039