Importance of Strategic Planning - Assignment Example

A strategic plan is established in hospitals in order to position the health care system in a dynamic environment. Strategic planning is a process that determines the goals and objectives of a hospital and outlines guidelines that will assist in the achievement of objectives. Hospitals which implement strategic plans will be effective compared to those that do not (Brown, 1992). Effective steps have to be followed when developing a strategic plan for a hospital so as to ensure the attainment of strategic goals and objectives. Steps developed should be combined and completed according to the planning process. Planning should focus on the most important issues that will determine the success or failure of a hospital.

Strategic planning aims at ensuring a hospital can adapt to the ever-changing environment. A vision statement has to be developed which describes the future objectives of the hospital. The mission statement of the hospital also has to be reviewed. The mission statement has to be specific and a representation of what the hospital will be in the future. It also develops guiding principles that act as a base for the strategic planning process. Strategies should be closely linked to the vision and mission of the hospital. This will create certainty in the achievement of goals and objectives as there will be no changes that will disrupt the relevance of the strategic plan. Responsibility has to be assigned to relevant stakeholders with the main focus on the objectives, strategies, and goals and the resources required to achieve outlined objectives should be determined. This will act as a guide for all the activities. Objectives will be achieved within the specified time frame and this will direct the hospital towards the attainment of its goals and objectives.

Strategic Plan versus a Business Plan
A strategic plan is defined as a document that contains the goals, objectives, vision, and mission statement of an organization and how stakeholders would achieve the objects within a specific time period. The plan is used to identify how available resources within an organization can be utilized to ensure success. A business plan, on the other hand, is a statement used to evaluate a business and future business plans. It demonstrates to other individuals the main activities of the business. Daily operations of a hospital reflect outlined strategic goals and objectives since the hospital and the medical staff is aware of activities that have to be carried out to ensure the hospital’s success. This is also evident through monitoring as operations are followed up and updated due to the rapid changes in a health care environment. Monitoring is also done to ensure hospital operations are in accordance with the strategic plan.
Strategic planning is a process through which an organization can identify its strategic goals and objectives. These strategic goals and objectives influence the business plan by ensuring the provision of quality services. Read More