It is known that better health leads to faster economic growth which in turn, catalyzed by the equitable distribution of wealth, leads to healthier populations. Given this statement, the introduction of management notions in health care provision can be considered as one of the more relevant health sector innovations of our era.
Management has been discussed, practiced, and written about since the beginning of time. Although health care management as a separate discipline is of more recent origin, it is sustained by solid principles stated long before by famous theorists such as Frederick Taylor, father of scientific management, Henri Fayol - who developed “Fayolism”-, Max Weber and many others. Most of them asserted that health care management, as part of management in general, involves certain functions and activities that must be performed to achieve effectively and efficiently the set goals of the organization.
As there is continuous need to improve the quality of health services, improving the efficiency and effectiveness of health care provision will require well-developed skills among managers. These skills come through clear understanding of basic principles that sustain efficient application of management in health organizations. Lines below, try to describe succinctly main principles of health management as applied in the actual modern context.
Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION
2. CHAPTER 1: FUNDAMENTALS OF HEALTH MANAGEMENT
2.1 MANAGEMENT FUNCTIONS
2.1.a Planning
2.1.b Organizing
2.1.c Commanding and Coordinating
2.1.d Controlling
2.2 LEVELS OF MANAGEMENT
2.3 MANAGERIAL SKILLS
2.4 STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT
3. CHAPTER 2: THEORIES AND PRINCIPLES OF HEALTH MANAGEMENT
3.1 CLASSICAL VIEWPOINT OF MANAGEMENT
3.1.1 Scientific management
3.1.2 Administrative management
3.1.3 Bureaucracy
3.2 HENRI FAYOL’S PRINCIPLES OF MANAGEMENT
3.2.1 Division of Work
3.2.2 Authority and Responsibility
3.2.3 Discipline
3.2.4 Unity of Command
3.2.5 Unity of Direction
3.2.6 Subordination of Individual Interest
3.2.7 Remuneration
3.2.8 The Degree of Centralization
3.2.9 Scalar Chain
3.2.10 Order
3.2.11 Equity
3.2.12 Stability of Personnel Tenure
3.2.13 Initiative
3.2.14 Esprit de Corps
4. CONCLUSIONS
Objectives and Themes
The primary objective of this work is to describe the fundamental principles of health management and their application within the contemporary healthcare environment to improve organizational effectiveness and service quality.
- Application of Fayol’s management functions (planning, organizing, commanding, coordinating, and controlling) in healthcare.
- Exploration of classical management theories (Scientific Management, Administrative Management, and Bureaucracy).
- Analysis of managerial levels and essential skills for modern healthcare leaders.
- Implementation of Henri Fayol's fourteen principles to enhance hospital efficiency and patient-centered care.
- The role of strategic management in adapting to dynamic changes within the health sector.
Excerpt from the Book
1. MANAGEMENT FUNCTIONS
There is enough disagreement among management writers on the classification of managerial functions. In the context of this work, we have considered Fayol’s 5 functions which still form the basis of much of modern management thought and action (Tripathi and Reddy 2008).
a. Planning
Planning involves those activities associated with objectives setting, policy making, and developing strategies for attaining objectives within the organizational policy framework. (Goldsmith 2011, Tripathi and Reddy 2008).
b. Organizing
To organize a business is to provide it with everything useful to its functioning: personnel, raw materials, tools, capital - all designed as human and material resources. (Tripathi and Reddy 2008).
c. Commanding and Coordinating
In carrying out these functions the Manager explains to his people what they have to do and helps them to do it to the best of their ability. He uses his position to guide, to persuade, or to coach subordinates. So this function includes three sub-functions: Communication, Leadership and Motivation (Goldsmith 2011, Tripathi and Reddy 2008).
d. Controlling
Controlling is concerned with the measurement of the performance against some predermined standard. The Manager must ensure that everything occurs in conformity with the plan adopted, the instructions issued and the principles established. (Tripathi and Reddy 2008).
Summary of Chapters
1. INTRODUCTION: An overview of how effective health management drives economic and social health benefits, contextualizing the need for scientific management principles in modern healthcare.
2. CHAPTER 1: FUNDAMENTALS OF HEALTH MANAGEMENT: Defines management as a process and details the core functional areas, managerial hierarchy, required skills, and the importance of strategic planning.
3. CHAPTER 2: THEORIES AND PRINCIPLES OF HEALTH MANAGEMENT: Examines foundational classical theories and provides a comprehensive breakdown of Henri Fayol’s fourteen principles applied to the specific needs of hospital operations.
4. CONCLUSIONS: Summarizes the necessity of integrating classical management rigor with flexible, patient-centered strategies to handle the complexities of the modern health sector.
Keywords
Health Management, Fayolism, Strategic Management, Scientific Management, Hospital Administration, Management Functions, Organizational Goals, Healthcare Efficiency, Patient-centered Care, Leadership, Coordination, Staffing, Bureaucracy, Motivation, Administrative Principles
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this publication?
The work focuses on defining the essential management principles that sustain efficient healthcare organizations in a modern, rapidly changing environment.
What are the central thematic fields covered?
The text explores management functions, organizational hierarchy, strategic management, and the practical application of classical management theories within clinical settings.
What is the primary research objective?
The goal is to describe, in a succinct manner, how basic management principles can be applied effectively to improve the quality and efficiency of healthcare delivery.
Which scientific methodologies are utilized?
The author synthesizes established management theories from thinkers like Taylor, Fayol, and Weber, applying them specifically to the context of contemporary health service provision.
What content is discussed in the main body?
The body covers the definition of management, Fayol’s five management functions, the three levels of managerial responsibility, and a detailed list of principles such as division of work, equity, and discipline.
How would you characterize this work through keywords?
Key concepts include health management, strategic administration, organizational efficiency, patient-centered care, and the application of classical management theories to modern hospital environments.
Why is Fayol’s "Unity of Command" important in a hospital?
It ensures that an individual employee receives orders from only one manager, which prevents confusion and potential conflicts that could otherwise compromise patient safety.
How does the author view the concept of "Order" in healthcare?
Order is described as a cornerstone principle for hospitals, ensuring that everything and everyone is in the right place, which is vital for efficient emergency response and preventing fatal mistakes.
What is the significance of the "Management cycle" mentioned in the text?
The management cycle highlights that planning, organization, implementation, and evaluation are an ongoing, continuous process rather than a linear task with a definitive end.
- Quote paper
- Bruce Wembulua (Author), 2016, The main principles for the management of health organizations, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/344711
