Feminist Approach to Management - Research Paper Example

Feminist Approach to Management Introduction In an effort to understand a given agency, one of the most important aspects to consider is the incorporation of organizational theories. Organizational theories have proved to assist companies and other large facilities in maximizing the output with the input remaining rather stagnant and economical. These theories work to benefit the various stakeholders of the agency and thus creating well-fueled working relations. In the agency that I had described earlier, the working of this organization requires the usage of organizational theories with relation to how patients, nurses and the rest of the health personnel co-exist. These theories were clearly portrayed in the institution and each of those witnessed are discussed. Bureaucratic Theory One of the theories involved is the Bureaucratic theory. This theory involves the personnel in Creedmoor Addiction Treatment Center to work hand in hand in a professional capacity to achieve the goals of the facility. Through this theory, the personnel tend to gain a larger amount of power to make rulings that have a positive impact on the facility. The personnel may have the power to amend some of the laws and regulations that govern the center. Given that the amends done to the rules help the patients get better, it is advisable to incorporate this theory. The theory is also important in that it helps the personnel gain a sense of confidence (Weber, 2010). Having in mind that they have the power of adjusting the rules gives the nurses a sense of belonging that inspires them to work even harder. However, despite the fact that this theory applies, there are some imperative measures to take for its full effectiveness. One of the ways to do this is from consultation. In the Addiction Treatment Center, drug users undergoing rehabilitation have a greatest chance of getting back to the substance. If for instance a nurse administers pills that have major side effect, the patient may fall back to his habit and thus inconveniencing the facility and its trustworthiness. It is thus important to carry out research and consultation prior to the adjustment of the setting. This theory compares a lot to professional bureaucracy in that it seeks to get the best out of the doctors, however, all the actions are internal. Taylorism/ Scientific Management & Human Relations Another theory important to the agency is Taylorism also known as scientific management. The main aim of this theory is increasing the productivity of personnel while still being labor efficient (Aulich, 2012). In relation to the Addiction Treatment Center, there are different kinds of personnel and the manner in which they carry out their tasks largely depends on three main factors. These are talent, motivation and intelligence. For a nurse in the treatment facility, one possesses various basic skills for perfect relations with the clients or patients. These skills are learnt in the medical schools that they attended. However, some form of proficiency is unattainable from school and one has to bear this inborn talent. For the daycare run by the institution, the caretaker has to possess a certain amount of persistence. This is from the fact that children like playing a lot and many are times that they tend to ignore the advice given by adults. This at times aggravates the caretaker and the ability to cope with all this without letting a temper come in the way is a natural characteristic. Motivation may come from the urge to have fully recovered addicts, Intelligence on the other hand solely depends on the academic qualifications of the administration and personnel, and Creedmoor Addiction Treatment Center does a rather extensive review of this during recruitment. However, with the three factors and lack of good communication skills, it might be hard to get through to the patients hence the importance of organizational culture theory to go along with it. Organizational culture Organizational culture is one other very important aspect when dealing with an organization. This involves a critical analysis of the beliefs and general behavior of the personnel in an institution (Jackson, 2010). Having a mission is one thing that has had a positive impact on Creedmoor Addiction Treatment Center. As earlier on stated, the mission of the agency is to offer the highest quality short-term care for the patients. The personnel thus work hand-in-hand in an effort to achieve this mission and thus the upholding of the institution’s vision. This theory works best when used together with the professional bureaucracy theory for the experts get to know the behavioral aspects of the doctors and patients. Communication is very vital for the running of any successful organization. In the institution, patients and nurses get to talk freely and share their thoughts. Having a clear communication path helps the doctors and nurses get an in-depth understanding of what the patients go through. This helps the doctors diagnose the problems that the patients suffer from and consequently there is faster recovery for the patient. An example is a friendly doctor who does not judge patients from their backgrounds and general behavior but rather makes all patients feel equal. Going on positively makes the patients with problems open up to him disclosing the causatives of their addiction and in response; the doctor offers them the best advice on what to do about that. Appropriate relationships are essential in the administrative arena (Dana & Middletone, 2007). This is from the fact that a clear flow of information between the doctors and the administration offers the doctors some confidence and they get the ability to ask the administration for equipments required to make their work more effective. The same should replicate in terms of the nurse-doctor relationships. The language used by the doctors to the nurses and vice-versa should show professionalism. A very rude doctor for example makes it very difficult for a nurse to approach him with a problem and consequently slows down the recovery time of the patients. Feminist management Feminist management is also another organizational theory portrayed by the institution. This approach tends to understand the issues of women in relation to the job environment (Lisa, 2012). The issue of gender equality has been around the corporate environment over many years. This theory seeks to eliminate gender issues from the work environment so as not to inhibit the job process. In Creedmoor, the recruitment process ensures that gender is not an issue to consider. Not only are the women involved in the common duties, but also steps to ensure that they are in the administrative plan of the institution are followed. An example is that no department should have the director and assistant director being of the same gender. In Creedmoor, the number of female doctors is well distributed and this comes in vital from the fact that some women undergoing treatment in the center may find it difficult communicating their issues with male doctors. Moreover, the relationship between female doctors and patients is admirable from the fact that the female doctors get to understand the issues raised by fellow women especially from personal experience in terms of physical conditions. It is thus important to comprehend that the distribution of women in Creedmoor is fair for the optimization of the facility. The confidence portrayed by patient-doctor relations of the same gender is the same amount of confidence sought after by the professional bureaucracy theory. Power and Politics Power and politics in an institution comes into play considering the hierarchy of people. For effective management of an agency, the flow of power should be consistent such that every worker knows who to report to in case of assistance (Pfeffer, 2010). This is clear from the manner in which the doctors and the nurses relate in the agency. Each of the patients is assigned a certain nurse who has the responsibility of going around at different times of the day administering the required medication. In case of problematic issues that are beyond their assistance, each nurse has a doctor to whom she reports to in an effort to resolve the problem. Politics also come into play when dealing with this theory in that some of Creedmoor’s shareholders may have certain amount of power that may make major decisions. However, it is important that shareholders make decisions that positively affect on the organization and not for selfish purposes. An example is a major political person making rulings that a certain patient should have preferential treatment over the rest. This is an unfair judgment and can go a long way in affecting the institution negatively. Contingency Theory The contingency theory is one that has applied to many institutions from years back. The theory states that there is no proper organization of an institution but its effectiveness depends on the external and internal conditions (Gill, 2012). One of the external conditions to consider is the fact that there is a daycare for the worker’s children in Creedmoor’s environment. This works as a positive impact to the organization in that the personnel get to concentrate solely on their work without worrying about family issues. Having many issues weighing in on them disorients the personnel, may have them not paying attention to the work, and may even make them carry out a wrong diagnosis. An internal factor to consider is technology. In the recent past, the institution has engaged in the purchase of various screening machines that assist the doctors make a proper diagnosis for the patients and supports nurses to check on the progress of the patients. This step has been rather important to both the patients and the nurses. This is from the fact that the nurses get to tend to many patients over a given amount of time and the patients get to recover fast enough. A clear example of this is a patient who came in with a mental condition that was not diagnosed immediately. However, after consultations and various tests having incorporated the machines and other gadgets, the patient was identified to have multiple personality disorder and is currently on medication. This theory in terms of the technology factor may relate with the professional bureaucracy theory where external experts may bring in new and better technology. Professional Bureaucracy Professional bureaucracy is a theory that involves the integration of exterior professionals to assist in maximizing the full potential of an organization (Hardina, 2007). Creedmoor being a health related facility requires the incorporation of these experts as they bring in ideas and offer both positive and negative criticism. The criticism is considered important in that it helps in the identification of weak points in the running of the organization and subsequently leads to the resolution of the problems identified. Focusing intensely on the state of Creedmoor, using the professional bureaucracy theory is also important in that the assessment of the nurses and doctors offers the patients a sense of importance when they see their doctors undergoing assessment as they go about their work. This confidence exhibited by the patients is vital in the building of a proper doctor-patient relationship. Moreover, when offered the opportunity, the professionals may offer suggestions on how to improve healthcare in the facility. This theory tends to replicate the features of the Bureaucratic theory except for the fact that there is outsourcing in professional bureaucracy. Ecological and Open Systems Ecological and Open Systems is another theory that has a great impact on an organization. This is from the fact that the environment in which an agency operates affects the health of the personnel and consequently has a negative influence on their work (Grayling, 2011). For an institution such as Creedmoor that majors in the treatment of mental problems, it is important that the environment remains serine with little to zero amount of noise around the agency. This helps the doctors and the patients to stay calm and coordinate the administration of drugs and the recovery process respectively. However, this is not quite the condition in the hospital given the fact that there is a day care in the facility. It is thus important for steps towards changing the location of the daycare get carried out. This theory in relation to the contingency theory works to show the importance of a conducive external environment for the attainment of success. From the facts stated, it is quite clear to state that Creedmoor Addiction Treatment Center has incorporated the various organizational theories in an effort to boost the working of the institution. The different theories have helped in achieving various milestones that it has set and is still working towards achieving those that it has not yet attained. Organizational theories have given the institution a great reputation and thus the influx of patients seeking quality treatment has increased over time. 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Grey on Scientific Management and Human Relations. New York: Paw Prints. Lisa, K. (2012). Defining a Feminist Approach to Management. Retrieved on 16th October 2012 from http://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/xmlui/handle/1957/26647 Hardina, D. (2006). An Empowering Approach to Managing Social Service Organizations. New York: Springer Publisher Company. Read More