An organization can be defined as an institution in which a group of people work in unison with the aim being towards achieving a specific goal or objective. For an organization to meet its goals, the teams are expected to define their work in a manner that can be considered as being rather efficient (Olden, 2015). That would place more value on defining the values that the organization would need to cultivate as it embarks on the overall structure of enhanced performance outcomes. Graceland Memorial Hospital can be defined as an organization while reflecting on some of the key elements that help in defining an organization. When defining an organization, it is important to consider whether it is well-structured and coordinated, is a social entity, is goal oriented, has an activity system, and can be linked to the environment. The focus of this report is to evaluate the hospital based on the elements, as have been listed.
Elements of the Definition of an Organization
Social Entity
The definition of an organization seeks to project it as a social entity, which serves as one of the elements associated with the definition. As a social entity, an organization is expected to create an environment in which groups of persons are able to work together in a bid to achieve societal goals (Carroll, 2009). In the case of Graceland Memorial Hospital, it is clear that the hospital can be defined as a social entity taking into account that it is a non-profit organization that seeks to provide quality health care services to the community in the Midwest. The definition of this hospital as an organization can be supported by the fact that seeks to ensure that the local community receives quality care.
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Goal Oriented
The definition of an organization can be seen from the perspective that an organization must always focus on its end results to define its actions. When an organization remains goal oriented, it works hard towards ensuring that the goals it delivers upon reflect on its positioning within the social environment (Olden, 2015). Graceland Memorial Hospital can be defined as an organization taking into account that it remains oriented towards ensuring that it delivers best outcomes for both its patients and employees. Despite the failure that the vice president of Human Resources at the hospital is facing in implementation of the new regulations, he is seeking new ways through which to get the support he needs for the adoption of the regulations. That serves as a clear indication of the fact that Graceland Memorial Hospital positions itself as an organization focusing on its approach towards a specific goal.
Deliberately Structured and Coordinated
An entity can only be quantified as an organization in the event that it is deliberately structured and coordinated (Ginter, Duncan, & Swayne, 2018). Organizations that are deliberately structured and coordinated seek to build upon their capacities to maximize on overall potential to deliver on set out objective. In the case of Graceland Memorial Hospital, it can be argued that the health facility is structured and coordinated based on its separation of departments. Jack Prestwood, who is the vice president of Human Resources, seeks to engage with staff from other departments in the hospital including Janet Bowers, who is the director of Employee Health and Erika Thompson, who is the director of Infection Control. That serves as a determinant of the fact that Graceland Memorial Hospital is well structured and coordinated.
Activity System
The definition of an organization seeks to point to the fact that an institution would only be seen as an organization in the event that it can be justified as an activity system. That implies that an organization has a set of actions and activities that occur simultaneously; thus, affecting the ability for the organization to meet its set goals (Olden, 2015). In the case of Graceland Memorial Hospital, it can be defined as an organization from the fact that it is clear that different activities are taking place at the same time. An example can be seen from the case of Ms. Bowers, who has been conducting research on the best equipment supply companies while Mr. Prestwood was seek to go through the current OSHA regulations. The activities move in a systematic manner with the expectation being towards ensuring that the organization may be in a position to build on its objectives.
Linked to the Environment
Lastly, the definition of an organization reflects on the fact that an institution must have a direct link to its environment; thus, meaning that an organization will be able to connect and interact with the outside. The outside environment of an organization tends to have a powerful influence on the abilities for the organization to position itself effectively as it seeks to improve on its performance (Olden, 2015). In the case of Graceland Memorial Hospital, its link to the environment can be seen from the fact that it seeks to work under policies that have been provided by the relevant agencies. For example, this can be seen from the push to adopt the current OSHA regulations with the intention being towards improving the safety of its staff and employees when dealing with communicable diseases.
References
Carroll, R. (Ed.). (2009). Risk management handbook for health care organizations (Vol. 30). New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons.
Ginter, P. M., Duncan, W. J., & Swayne, L. E. (2018). The strategic management of health care organizations . New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons.
Olden, P. (2015). Management of Healthcare Organization: An Introduction (2 nd ed.). Chicago: Health Administration Press; Arlington, Virginia: AUPHA Press.
