An organization needs to understand the environments in which it operates. The external environment includes competitors, partners in collaboration, governmental and social factors, as well as economic factors.

Assessment 2

• Note: Each assessment in this course builds upon the work you have completed in previous assessments. Therefore, you must complete the assessments in the order they are presented.

An organization needs to understand the environments in which it operates. The external environment includes competitors, partners in collaboration, governmental and social factors, as well as economic factors. The internal environment includes all the systems and processes involved in the organization's operations.

Analyzing the external and internal environments tells an organization where it stands and provides a framework for making strategic decisions. In this assessment, you will examine environmental issues that affect the organization you selected.

Reminder: Complete the assessments in this course in the order they are presented. You will complete sections of a strategic management plan for each assessment. In this assessment, you will continue to use the same organization and the factor from the AHA’s most recent Environmental Scan report that you chose in the first assessment.

Professional Context

Once health care leaders understand the importance of strategic planning and the organization's key core concepts and components, they must determine if the goals of the organization align with its mission, vision, and values and if the current strategic plan has been met.

Next, health care organization leaders need to understand the internal and external environment in which they operate and anticipate and respond to the significant shifts taking place within that environment. Most often this is established by analyzing the external and internal environments that affect an organization's operations.

In an internal environmental analysis, leaders carefully examine each function or organizational subsystem and then develop and analyze a list of strengths and weaknesses for each. This approach has been successful in some cases; however, an internal environmental analysis alone does not adequately address strategic issues. Health care leaders must assess both the internal and external factors that affect the organization's outcomes, and this can be achieved by conducting both an internal and an external analysis.

In an external environmental analysis, leaders carefully conduct an environmental scan of the external factors that impact its operations. An environmental analysis enables the organization to identify current challenges and opportunities in preparation for future strategic planning and goal identification. Insightful diagnosis of a company's external and internal environments is a prerequisite for leaders to succeed in crafting a strategy that is an excellent fit within the company’s operations. These evaluations assist the organization in exploring alternative strategies and business models that culminate in leaders choosing a specific strategy.

Health care leaders often use tools such as the TOWS, SWOT, PESTEL, et cetera, to evaluate where the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, or threats exist. In addition, an essential element in evaluating a health care organization's overall strategy entails examining the company's resources and competitive capabilities. The weaknesses and threats often indicate issues that should be addressed. This will help the organization clarify its strategic objectives to drive and improve all aspects of operations. A well-executed environmental analysis provides the basis for crafting the organization's strategic plan.

Assessment Instructions

For this assessment, use the Environmental Analysis Briefing Report Assessment Template [DOCX]Download Environmental Analysis Briefing Report Assessment Template [DOCX] to prepare a 2–3 page briefing report. Imagine creating this report for your CEO to review. Keep your report precise, clear, and professional. For this report:

1.     Provide a brief introduction to this report and its purpose.

2.     Use the factor from the AHA's most recent Environmental Scan report you chose for the first assessment and evaluate 2–3 environmental issues you feel best relate to this factor and your organization.

3.     Using a tool of your choice or a tool your current workplace uses (e.g., TOWS, SWOT, PESTEL, et cetera), evaluate where the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, or threats exist related to this factor.

4.     Explain the tool you chose for the internal and external analysis and why you chose it.

·        For example, if you chose workforce as your factor, what tool would you use to determine the issues?

5.     Explain the environmental issues you identified using the tool you chose and that are related to the AHA factor you chose. Explain how these issues impact the growth of the organization and why.

6.     Explain your plan to address the issues identified in your analysis.

7.     Use evidence to support your assertions about how you would address the issues.

·        For example, for workforce, you might consider SHRM as one of your resources.

·        Depending on the factor chosen, consider additional data and resources from reputable sources and associations such as the American Hospital Association (AHA), American College of Health care Executives (ACHE), National Center for Health care Leadership (NHCL), National Institutes of Health (NIH), et cetera.

8.     Attach the tool you used as an appendix after the reference page of your report.

Additional Requirements

·        Document Format: Use the Environmental Analysis Briefing Report Assessment Template [DOCX]Download Environmental Analysis Briefing Report Assessment Template [DOCX] provided to create a professional executive summary.

·        Document Length: 2–3 double spaced pages, not including the title, reference, or appendix pages.

·        Supporting Evidence: Include at least 3–5 academic or scholarly sources that match their in-text citations.

o   Readers of your summary will want to know the sources of your information, including any authoritative sources that support your analysis. Be sure to include all applicable sources.

o   Supporting evidence may include current accrediting body standards, industry standards, and government agency reports, including such sources as the AHA, National Academy of Medicine, Harvard Business Review (HBR), et cetera.

o   One source should be the AHA's most recent Environmental Scan report.

·        APA Formatting: Format in-text citations and references according to current APA style and formatting. Evidence and APA can help with this.

·        Submission Requirements: Submit your briefing report and appendix in the Assessment area.