Developing Strategies to Address Strategic Issues - Assignment Example

Developing Strategies to Address Strategic IssuesAmeriCares is a not-for-profit organization that engages in providing health care services and relief programs to people affected by a disaster in different parts of the world. In this case, the organization delivers medical supplies and offer medical services to the affected individuals. AmeriCares has been offering humanitarian help to people in different countries of the world since 1982, when it was established (Americares, 2011). In fact, the organization offers medical supplies and health care services worth ten billion in order to assist numerous countries around the world.

Moreover, the organization offers health care services through their free clinics and not-for-profit pharmacies located in different parts of the world, thereby assisting the poor.The strategic issue identified in the organization concerns the increasing demand from the patients, and on the other hand, different forms of institutional that offer health care service are decreasing significantly (American Hospital Association, 2009). There is need to apply the five processes to this strategic issue in order to determine the most helpful in formulation of a strategy. 1.) What are the practical alternatives, dreams, or visions we might pursue to address this strategic issue, achieve this goals or realize this idealized scenario?

The practical alternatives that can be applied in solving the problems arising from this strategic issue are seeking financial aid from other organization, from the governments and donors. Therefore, this can help AmeriCare to gather funds for setting up more facilities to deal with increasing demand from patients in future. 2.) What are the barriers to the realization of these alternatives, dreams or idealized scenarios? The possible barriers to realizing the alternatives are interference by the political and economic factors.

For instance, various political actors in certain countries can set policies that have a negative impact on operations of the organization. On the other hand, the economic factor such as a recession can hinder expansion of facilities and receiving of government aid. 3.) What major proposals might we pursue to achieve this alternatives, dreams or idealized scenarios directly or to overcome the barriers to their realization?Some of the major proposal that can be pursued to achieve alternatives, dreams and to overcome the barriers is to create awareness of the organization among independent parties that do not have government interferences (Bryson, 1988).

Given that, these parties can assist the organization even during the recession; this can help overcome barriers and facilitate achievement of the dreams. 4.) What major actions (with existing staff within existing job descriptions) must be taken within the next year (or two) to implement the major proposals? Therefore, there is need to develop marketing strategies to promote the organization, whereby numerous parties will be informed about existence of the organization and the responsibilities taken by the organization in the society (Taylor, 1984).

This will require the existing staff to implement the proposal in order to increase the number of donors for the organization 5.) What specific steps must be taken within the next six months to implement the major proposals and who is responsible?Some of the steps to be taken within the next six months to implement the major proposal are such as launching a camping through the internet, media and other ways of advertising in order to promote the organization. The marketing manager in the organization is charged with the responsibility of implementing the proposals.

Nevertheless, the most useful process of strategy formulation is determining the major actions that need to be taken to overcome the barriers and facilitate implementation of proposed alternatives (Bryson, 2011). ReferencesAmericares. (2011). Addressing Resource Gaps in the U.S. Health Care Safety Net: An Assessment of the Free Clinic Network. GE Foundation. Retrieved on 30 Jan 2013 from American Hospital Association. (2009). The Economic Crisis: The Toll on the Patients and Communities Hospitals Serve: A Survey of Hospital CEOs.

Retrieved on 30 Jan 2013 from< http://www.aha.org/aha/content/2009/pdf/090427econcrisisreport.pdf>.Bryson, J.M. (2011). Strategic planning for public and non-profit organizations: A guide to strengthening and sustaining organizational achievement. San Francisco: Jossey Bass Bryson J. M. (1988). A Strategic Planning Process for Public and Non-profit Organizations. Long Range Planning, Vol. 21(1)73-81. Retrieved on Jan 30 2013 from Taylor, B. (1984). Strategic planning-which style do you need?

Long Range Planning 17, 51-62