Background
The Mount Sinai Hospital was founded in 1852. It is now one of the best hospitals in the USA. It is a 1,171-bed tertiary care facility located in New York. The major focus of the facility is geriatrics. This is a very complex sphere where all employees should have the necessary expertise, commitment, and compassion to be able to provide high-quality services to such a vulnerable group of patients. Since the facility is one of the best in the country, it can be helpful to learn more about certain management strategies used (especially when it comes to communication strategies).
Communication is one of the most important spheres as it can define the atmosphere in the workplace, provision of services, and so on. Three people were addressed via email. They received a letter where I provided information about my project and myself. I also asked about the most suitable time to have interviews. The email also included a letter of consent. This letter could be printed and signed in advance or it could be signed at the beginning of the interview.
The three interviewees are Jane Maksoud (Senior Vice President of Human Resources and Labor Relations), Keiko Kimura (a doctor specializing in geriatric medicine and primary care) and Reena Karani (specializing in geriatric medicine, dementia, and hyperlipidemia).
The interviews will be held in person in the facility. We will arrange the meeting at the most suitable time for the interviewees. However, there is a possibility to run the interviews with the help of the Internet (for example, with such tools as Skype). The interview will be recorded and some notes will be made. This will enable me to get more information when analyzing the data obtained. I will be able to consider verbal as well as non-verbal cues.
Introduction
My name is _______. I am having a course in MBA that requires students to have interviews with several people. The major focus of the research is the importance of effective communication strategies within organizations. I know that this hospital is one of the best healthcare facilities, which is partially due to your commitment and expertise. Of course, communication strategies employed are quite efficient if the hospital has such a status. I will ask you ten questions concerning communication strategies utilized in your organization.
The interview will take around 20-30 minutes and it will be recorded if you do not mind. The record will help me analyze the information you will provide more efficiently. I will be able to take into account all details. I will also make some notes, which will help me in my analysis. You may decline any question without explaining the reasons for that. You have read the consent form and I will ask you to sign it now. If you do not have any questions, we will commence now.
Questions
- What type of communication prevails in your organization: written or oral. Do you think it is effective? Would you like to change it?
- What types of written (reports, newsletters, emails and so on) and oral (meetings, teleconferences, workshops and so on) communication do you find the most effective? Why?
- Which channels of communication, formal or informal, do you prefer when dealing with the following categories:
- Clinical staff
- Managerial and administrative staff
- Patients
- Regulatory bodies
Explain your choices.
- Describe a conflict (if any) you have had, which could be caused by the lack of communication or could have been prevented with the help of effective communication.
- Do you have to use internal and external communication channels? Which are the most effective types of channels? For instance, you could rate the following internal communication channels: meetings, emails, teleconferences, newsletters and so on. You could also rate such external channels as the website, press releases, annual reports and specific reports. Explain your choices.
- How is proper communication important in the healthcare facility setting? Can you focus on such spheres as communication with colleagues, patients, and administrative staff?
- Does the decision-making process depend on the communication strategies used? In what ways? Do you find decision-making effective in your organization? Why do you think so?
- Do you think your organization utilizes all possible technological advances when it comes to communication? What technologies are used? Which technologies could or should be used?
- Can you share an example of an effective communication strategy employed in your organization?
- Do you think there are areas for improvement? What strategies could you recommend? How these strategies could improve the performance of your organization?
Conclusion
Thank you very much for sharing your experience and your ideas with me. I would like to summarize major points so that we could be sure that I got everything right… Is there anything you would like to add?
Thank you again for helping me obtain valuable insights into the use of communicative strategies in the healthcare setting. I will leave my contact information. So, feel free to contact me.
The Sustainable Supply Chains Concept
What is a Sustainable Supply Chain?
Sustainability refers to the utilization of resources and the production of goods/services in a manner which takes into consideration not only the impact of a company on the environment but also its ability to ensure that the resources it utilizes are sourced in a manner that ensures that they can be renewable (Pullman, Maloni, & Carter, 2009). By doing so, this creates a system where costs are reduced, efficiency is increased and the company presents a far better public image due to the general consensus that implementing sustainable practices creates a beneficial effect for the general public (Pullman, Maloni, & Carter, 2009). As such, sustainable supply chains implement the aforementioned principles into a cohesive whole in every aspect of the supply chain, whether it is the sourcing of raw materials, the manufacturing of goods/services or the distribution of such outputs to consumers. From the perspective of Pagell and Wu (2009) an organization with a truly successful sustainable supply chain could theoretically remain in business forever (depending on continued consumer demand for its products of course) which lends credence to the beneficial effects a sustainable supply chain could have for a company (Pagell and Wu, 2009).
One example of a sustainable supply chain is when a company’s management orientation is evidenced by a business model where economic goals are compatible with environmental and social goals. In this particular version of a successful supply chain a company does not focus entirely on a competitor oriented approach (though this is also important) rather what is being accomplished is that it focuses on developing a business model that utilizes Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) as the basis behind its actions (Pagell and Wu, 2009). Since CSR is a form of internal self regulation, a company that implements this focuses on reducing adverse environmental practices while at the same time develops positive social effects. A second example of a sustainable supply chain is when sustainability becomes integrated in the organization where the organization has both a managerial orientation toward sustainability and an innovation capability (Pagell and Wu, 2009).
This means that internal developments within the organization focus on developing methods wherein processes become more efficient, waste is reduced, resources are obtained from renewable sources and the focus of the company is towards the development of practices that result in positive environmental effects. One last example of a sustainable supply chain comes in the form of the use of the concept of collaboration between companies in order to maximize the use of resources and minimize wastefulness. All too often companies fear cooperation due to the potential of a loss of commercial control however this often results in the creation of wasteful practices (i.e. loading a shipment in a truck, vessel or plain that is not full which wastes fuel). By implementing practices in relation to cooperation and collaboration a supply chain becomes more sustainable due to the reduction of expenditure related to the transportation of goods and services.
Sustainable and Traditional Supply Chains
Traditional supply chains have always operated under the concept of getting a particular product or service from one location to another in order to satisfy consumer demand. It has been an integral aspect of economic activity and one that has stood the test of time as a necessary method of commerce. Yet, what must be understood is that it has only been within the past three decades that aspects related to growing consumer concern regarding the environment, the necessity of Corporate Social Responsibility and the development of the “green movement” that sustainable practices have been integrated into supply chain management. Supply chains which ascribe to the “traditional” method of product creation and distribution have often focused so intently on raw material extraction that the end result has been the complete depletion of resources at the raw material supplier level which often causes the entire chain to collapse (Abbasi & Nilsson, 2012).
This was seen in the case of South America, Eastern Europe, Asia and various parts of Australia where the extraction of lumber outstripped the ability of forests to replenish the necessary trees to meet demand resulting in the collapse of several industries as a direct result of this distinctly unsustainable method of resource extraction. Thus, from a certain perspective, it can be stated that “waste” in the name of production was an enduring facet that can be attributed to traditional supply chains. Sustainable supply chains on the other hand ascribe to a different tactic which focuses on ensuring the continuous flow of resources from one aspect of the chain to another by employing methods which ensure that the raw materials which go into the finished product are extracted and refined through sustainable means (Paulraj, 2011). The advantage this particular method of supply chain management has over traditional methods comes in the form of a far more stable method of supply and production where the creation of products and services are not interrupted due to the depletion of resources at one end of the chain (Pagell, Wu, & Wasserma, 2010).
In terms of creating a competitive advantage it must be noted that organizations that utilize sustainable supply chains have a better cost performance due to their emphasis on reducing waste, have a greater degree of positive public responses due to their emphasis on sustainable practices which is a part of Corporate Social Responsibility and lastly, such organizations are less likely to encounter problems in terms of sudden stoppages in their supply line as a direct result of resource exhaustion (Reuter et al., 2010). When combining such factors it becomes evident that this creates a considerable degree of competitive advantage and is something many corporations have taken into consideration given the positive effects this could have on cost reduction, positive public perception and the uninterrupted production and distribution of goods and resources (Reuter et al., 2010).
Recognizable Challenges
One of the main problems in developing sustainable supply chains is the competitive environment that companies find themselves in at the present which can actually dissuade them from developing sustainable supply chains. What you have to understand is that the current global trade environment is drastically different than it was 30 years ago. While it may be true that consumers have developed a greater degree of consciousness toward the concept of environmental deterioration as a result of industrial processes which translates into preference for sustainable practices in the methods of production for the products they patronize, the fact remains that despite this inherent preference various studies have shown that when it comes down to preference versus affordability, a vast number of consumers still choose a more affordable product rather than one that was created through sustainable means. This has resulted in practices which are distinctly unsustainable finding their way into a variety of supply chains at the present due to its emphasis on getting consumers what they need at an affordable cost despite the inherent environmental costs this may incurr.
Contributing to this problem is the current practice of business process outsourcing which has have encouraged the development of the “traditional” supply chain due to the cost saving measures this entails for companies. It is interesting to note that the development of sustainable supply chains is actually a practice encouraged by governments due to the increasing amount of concern regarding the state of the environment. Unfortunately, as seen in the case of many western countries such as the U.S., this encouragement towards the development of more sustainable and environmentally beneficial practices for various corporations has resulted in higher costs of doing business coupled with stricter requirements that need to be followed. Environmental restrictions, regulations, laws, local conservation policies and a variety of other practices meant to encourage the development of sustainable supply chains have made it far more costly for companies to do business in countries such as the U.S. which has resulted in a far greater predilection towards the use of outsourcing in order to shift their methods of production elsewhere. This has in effect discouraged the creation of sustainable local supply chains in favor of the creation of traditional supply chains in other countries where local regulations regarding production are far less strict.
Management Implications
There are four characteristics that are in demand within a technology oriented enterprise, namely: high market responsiveness, fast developments, low cost, and finally high levels of creativity, innovation and efficiency. Technology intensive enterprises in particular are constantly pushed towards performance initiatives that place an emphasis on doing things faster, better and with fewer resources. In fact, this push towards better competitive performance through effective and more efficient resource utilization and allocation is one of the current driving forces of many high-tech organizations. It must be noted though that the production processes of certain forms of technological output (i.e. consumer electronics, computer components etc.) do have an impact on the local environment which should be taken into consideration by an organization that utilizes corporate social responsibility as one of the foundations of their managerial practices.
What must be understood is that the drive for faster, better and less resource intensive production processes that are currently being pushed by various companies actually results in many of them choosing to utilize methods of production that have an adverse impact on the local environment. For example, various stores sell vegetables that they deem as being “sustainable” due to the fact that they were grown utilizing only natural fertilizers yet in order to grow them an entire forest was clear cut in order to make way for farming land. It is due to circumstances such as this that term of “green washing” comes to mind wherein due to the inherently similar definitions companies sometimes state their products as being sustainable when in fact there is little about them that is “sustainable” in the first place. Taking this into consideration, the management implications for building sustainable supply chains comes in the form of implementing procedures that not only reduce the negative environmental impact of production processes, reduce waste and ensure that innovative methods of production and resource extraction are utilized but they must also be ethical in terms of actually being sustainable practices instead of merely labeling them as sustainable when in fact they are not.
Reference List
Abbasi, M., & Nilsson, F. (2012). Supply Chain Management: An International Journal Emerald Article: Themes and challenges in making supply chains environmentally sustainable. Emerald, 17(5), 1-29.
Pagell, M., & Wu, Z. (2009). Building a More Complete Theory of Sustainable Supply Chain Management Using Case Studies of 10 Exemplars. Journal Of Supply Chain Management, 45(2), 37-56.
Pagell, M., Wu, Z., & Wasserma, M. E. (2010). Thinking Differently about Purchasing Portfolios: An Assessment of Sustainable Sourcing. Journal Of Supply Chain Management, 46(1), 57-73.
Paulraj, A. (2011). Understanding the Relationships Between Internal Resources and Capabilities, Sustainable Supply Management and Organizational Sustainability. Journal Of Supply Chain Management, 47(1), 19-37.
Pullman, M., Maloni, M. J., & Carter, C. R. (2009). Food for Thought: Social Versus Environmental Sustainability Practices and Performance Outcomes. Journal Of Supply Chain Management, 45(4), 38-54.
Reuter, C., Foerstl, K., Hartmann, E., & Blome, C. (2010). Sustainable Global Supplier Management: The Role of Dynamic Capabilities in Achieving Competitive Advantage. Journal Of Supply Chain Management, 46(2), 45-63.
Is Hydraulic Fracturing A Real Concern?
Hostile attitudes toward hydraulic fracturing popularly referred to as fracking, have been intense, almost unanimous, among environmentalists and green movements. Europe, for instance, has witnessed significant numbers of resistance. Bulgaria and France, despite their largest reserves of natural gas, have stopped all fracking activities while activists have blocked possible drilling areas in the UK and Poland. Conversely, the US has made tremendous progress in fracking, specifically in Pennsylvania. However, it is imperative to establish whether fracking facts support these hostilities, and on this note, the essay supports the use of fracking to extract shale gas.
Fracking involves drilling horizontal well to break apart rocks to release shale gas far below the ground. These rocks contain shale gas that can be extracted to provide energy. Earlier gas extraction practices could not effectively extract shale gas. Since 1990s, however, gas companies in the US have been able to use advanced fracking technologies to extract shale gas (Brantley and Meyendorff 1). Engineers pump high-pressure water straight into “shale layers to create fractures that release the trapped shale gas” (Brantley and Meyendorff 1). Chemicals are also used in fracking to dissolve minerals, drive sand into fractures and kill harmful bacteria.
As concerned bodies raise concerns about the safety of the environment, specifically the groundwater safety, the US government, for instance, has updated its current regulations on federal land and essentially included new ones to protect groundwater from potential negative impacts of fracking activities (New Fracking Rules Protect Groundwater on Federal Lands 1). That is, these regulations exactly strive to ensure that engineers construct wells properly by observing the quality of cement casing, installations and conducting mechanical integrity tests to ascertain possibilities of leaks.
These regulations insist on geological studies to detect possible underground fractures, naturally occurring fault lines or any other factors that could lead to leakage of chemicals into nearby aquifer or areas. Further, the new regulations require fracking operators to treat their wastes at sites in sealed steel tanks rather than in normal waste pits, which have been linked to leaks and increased pollution of aquifers (New Fracking Rules Protect Groundwater on Federal Lands 1).
The industry, however, is preoccupied by fighting these new regulations through the courts. The American Petroleum Institute, for instance, has moved to a court to stop the implementation of the new rules. In addition, the industry captains have insisted that the process will be expensive, tedious and perhaps curtail investments in fracking. The opposition of the new regulation as demonstrated by the industry investors shows fallacy in argument because the costs are not huge and not likely to exceed two percent of the cost of drilling a well (Dechert 1).
Opponents of fracking should review fracking practices at Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania has been able to control potential contamination of drinking water. The water quality has been the same before and after fracking, except in few cases (Brantley and Meyendorff 1). Although small leaks of methane gas have been detected, “fixing the casing system can address these challenges” (Brantley and Meyendorff 1). Moreover, leakages may result from weak fractures, but specific casing designed for such locations could solve the problem. Pennsylvania has also addressed the issue of disposing brine. It has allowed the use of public water treatment plants to dispose brine. Nearly 90 percent of brine is recycled and used for further fracking.
The case of Pennsylvania shows that potential damages from fracking can easily be controlled through stringent regulations and technologies. These practices have led to industry standards that protect the environment and drinking water. Still, the rise in technologies seems to promise green fracking (Kiger 1). New technologies can address the identified “consequences of fracking on the environment” (Kiger 1). Shale gas is clean, can address the current challenges associated with the use of coal to generate energy and reduce greenhouse gases considerably. Still, economic impacts of fracking on job creation, falling energy prices, dependence on internal cheaper energy and expansion of industries cannot be ignored (Schulte 1).
Extracting natural resources, including shale gas and fossil fuel has negative consequences on the environment. Pros and cons have been major areas of arguments and counterarguments, but empirical evidence should guide future fracking activities and discourses (Dechert 1).
Many opponents of this natural gas extraction technique have identified possible environmental impacts related to fracking. They argue that dangerous chemicals can seep into drinking water and cause pollution while methane gas may escape into the atmosphere. In addition, greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere also have detrimental impacts on global warming. There have also been reported cases of earthquakes attributed to fracking (Stuart 1).
Moreover, gas firms have failed to disclose some of the chemicals they use for fracking, which could be dangerous. It is believed that fracking chemical and flow-back fluids contain element endocrine disruptors. A lack of disclosure by shale gas extracting firms, however, makes the process difficult to evaluate potential adverse effects of these chemicals. Hence, the cumulative adverse impacts of these fluids remain unknown (Dechert 1).
The involvement of the police to stop activities of activists could raise further concerns in an industry known to conceal its chemical contents from the public. Fracking opponents have reported increased police presence in fracking hotspots such as Pennsylvania, Rockies and Texas (Fracking Opponents Feel Police Pressure In Some Drilling Hotspots 1).
In sum, ever since hydraulic fracturing was implemented in some parts of the world, there has been growing opposition of the shale gas extraction activities because of the perceived environmental impacts. Fracking, however, is a great method to extract shale gas. Nevertheless, it requires effective technologies and sound environmental policies to minimize potential damages to the environment. Critics should also base their concerns on empirical evidence to support their claims and avoid false assumptions.
On this note, the public, critics, industry players and policymakers among other stakeholders need better education on fracking. It is impossible to make sound policies regarding controversial issues without sound information. Transparency is essentially necessary to enhance disclosure, better reporting and to discourage false reporting and assumptions about fracking processes and outcomes.
Works Cited
Brantley, Susan and Anna Meyendorff. “The Facts on Fracking.” The New York Times. 2013. Web.
Dechert, Sandy. “Chemicals Involved in Fracking Are a Public Health Risk.” Digital Journal: Opposing Viewpoints in Context. 2014. Web.
“Fracking Opponents Feel Police Pressure In Some Drilling Hotspots.” Weekend Edition Sunday: Opposing Viewpoints in Context. 2015. Web.
Kiger, Patrick J. “Green Fracking? 5 Technologies for Cleaner Shale Energy.” National Geographic. 2014. Web.
“New Fracking Rules Protect Groundwater on Federal Lands.” Living on Earth: Opposing Viewpoints in Context. 2015. Web.
Schulte, Bret. “Can Natural Gas Bring Back U.S. Factory Jobs?” National Geographic. 2014. Web.
Stuart, Hunter. “Ohio Fracking Operation Halted Following Area Earthquakes.” Huffington Post. 2014. Web.