Internal Environmental Analysis

Internal Environmental Analysis

Overview

Write a 3–4 page report that analyzes the internal environment of the organization. Describe the role of major internal stakeholders, describe internal trends, describe internal barriers to a strategic plan, and analyze the financial performance and position of the organization.

Note: The assessments in this course are presented in sequence and must be completed in order.

By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and assessment criteria:

• Competency 3: Analyze the effect of internal and external environments on the strategic planning process within health care organizations.
  • Describe the role of major internal stakeholders in a strategic plan.
  • Describe internal trends, key uncertainties, and additional research needed.
  • Describe the internal barriers to a strategic plan.
  • Analyze the financial performance and position of the organization.
• Competency 4: Recommend evidence-based strategies to improve the operational and financial components of a health care organization.
  • Identify the quantitative or qualitative methods needed to analyze the project.
• Competency 5: Communicate in a manner that is professional and consistent with expectations for business professionals.
  • Write content clearly and logically with correct use of grammar, punctuation, and mechanics.
• Context

According to Zuckerman (2012), “The environmental assessment…has valid and important purposes that should be enumerated and highlighted at the start of the assessment…The environmental assessment largely sets the tone for the strategic plan and is an indicator for how the rest of the planning process is likely to unfold” (p. 35).

In addition to strategic thinking and planning, organizational leaders need to understand the expectations of key internal stakeholders, as well as major internal trends and uncertainties.

Reference

Zuckerman, A. (2012). Healthcare strategic planning (3rd ed.). Chicago, IL: Health Administration Press.

• Questions to Consider

To deepen your understanding, you are encouraged to consider the questions below and discuss them with a fellow learner, a work associate, an interested friend, or a member of your professional community.

• What role does a board of directors play in a strategic plan?
• How does the organizational structure impact the success or failure of a strategic plan?

• Resources

Required Resources

The following template is required to complete Assessment 3:

• Worksheet 3.

Internal Environment Analysis

The following resources can offer insight into analyzing the internal organizational environment:

• Duncan, W., Ginter, P., & Swayne, L. (1998). Competitive advantage and internal organizational assessment. Academy of Management Executive, 12(3), 6–16.
• Zuckerman, A. M. (2012). Healthcare strategic planning(3rd ed.). Chicago, IL: Health Administration Press. (Available for purchase in the Capella University Bookstore.)
  • Chapter 3, “Activity 1: Analyzing the Environment,” pages 33–56.

SWOTT Analysis

These resources provide information on conducting and using SWOTT analyses:

• Jensen, T. (2014). SWOTT away distractions with successful analysis. The Startup Garage. Retrieved from https://thestartupgarage.com/swott-distractions-successful-analysis/
• Tyler, C. (2012). Effective SWOTT analysis implementation. Business 2 Community. Retrieved from http://www.business2community.com/strategy/effective-swott-analysis-implementation-0349700#FwOBzzTHJHvwTCtu.97
• Vogan, P. (2006). SWOTT your way to success. Entrepreneur. Retrieved from https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/83052
• SWOT Analysis and Organization Summary|
  • Complete the interaction and generate a PDF of your inputs. This can be used to help you complete Assessment 3.

For Further Exploration

This resource is provided to expand your knowledge:

• Advisory Board. (2015). Daily briefing primer: What’s the difference between for-profit and not-for-profit hospitals? Retrieved from https://www.advisory.com/daily-briefing/resources/primers/whats-the-difference-between-for-profit-and-not-for-profit-hospitals

Exemplar resources for the course

It may be helpful for you to review these exemplars prior to beginning your work on the assessment.

• Johns Hopkins. (2013). John Hopkins Medicine strategic plan. Retrieved from http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/strategic_plan/_docs/JHM%20Strategic%20Plan_Sept2013.pdf
• Niles, N. J. (2010). A case study in strategic financial planning in health service organizations. Journal of Business Case Studies, 6(5), 23–29.
• Howard, B. (2015). Michael’s Hospital Strategic Plan 2015–2018 | Transcript. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQ3pOf5JLIM

Strategic Management Case Study

If you do not currently work for a health care organization, or if you prefer not to use the organization where you work for the course assessments, you may choose to use this case study to complete the assessments:

• Community Hospital Healthcare System: A Strategic Management Case Study.

• Assessment Instructions

Preparation

Continue to use the same organization you used in the first two assessments.

Complete Worksheet 3 located in the Required Resources section of this assessment. You can also use the output generated from the SWOT Analysis and Organization Summary multimedia piece linked in the Suggested Resources section. You will not submit the worksheet or the SWOT output, but will use the information to develop a report on the internal environment relevant to the organization you selected.

As you prepare your analysis, focus on:

• The economic and business conditions, premises, policies, and other related forces that impact your plan.
• The specific issues of health care management and policy.
• Differentiated markets and determinants of supply and demand in each market.

Assessment Requirements

Use the information in Worksheet 3, and the SWOT output if you wish, to prepare a 3–4 page report that addresses the following:

• Describe the role of the major internal stakeholders in your strategic plan. Be sure you identify the major internal stakeholders.
• Describe the basic internal trends, key uncertainties, and additional research needs.
• Identify the quantitative or qualitative methods needed to analyze the project.
• Describe the internal barriers, such as structural political policy and other barriers, to be addressed. How will you overcome these barriers?
• Analyze the financial performance and position of the company. How will the plan enhance performance and financial sustainability?

Format your assessment as a report and be sure it is organized logically, using headings and sub-headings appropriately. Follow APA guidelines for in-text citations and references.

Additional Requirements

• Report length: 3–4 double-spaced pages, not including title page and reference page.
• References: A minimum of three professional resources.
• Format: Use APA format for all in-text citations and references. Include a title page and reference page.
• Font and font size: Times New Roman, 12 point.