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Effective Problem-Solving and Making Wise Decisions
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Medical practitioners operate in a rapidly complex system with several legal, ethical, technical, and organizational changes (Static, n.d.). Hence, the decision-making process impacts the medical practitioners in the workplace and the organization's overall performance. The decision-making process is influenced by various factors that could contribute to customer satisfaction and financial success. The purpose of this report is to demonstrate a step-by-step decision-making process to help health care managers at Wynn Regional Medical Center (WRMC) with practical problem solving and making wise decisions. The decision-making process follows six steps, as illustrated in the figure.
Figure 1 (Source: (Arnold, 1978).) The book covers various popular topics that can affect the manager's initial decision-making process and the reason why.
Understanding Each Step
1. Identify the problem.
This step involves the process of determining the root cause of the problem (Static, n.d.).
a. Example
Human Resources Department noticed that many medical practitioners were coming to work late and had a negative attitude towards each other and the patients. Consequently, conflict among staff increased significantly, which led to many being unhappy in the workplace. Therefore, many medical practitioners voluntarily terminated their employment at Wynn Regional Medical Center (WRMC). The symptom was that the medical practitioners were unmotivated; however, upon further investigation, the human resource department found that the actual problem was ineffective communication and guidance by the managers at the department level. Consequently, the medical practitioners were dissatisfied, which contributed to high turnover.
b. Why is this step important
This step is crucial since defining problems allows the manager to take the necessary step to address that problem (Arnold, 1978). Defining the problem is a challenging and time-consuming process. The manager needs to question the medical practitioners and thoroughly monitor the changes to investigate the issue's extent thoroughly. Defining the problem is important because what may appear as an issue may only be a symptom. Therefore, investigating further can lead to discovering the real problem. Hence, defining the problem more effectively contributes to more substantial and far-reaching results.
2. Develop the criteria.
Developing the criteria involves specifying the conditions and capabilities a solution should have to solve the problem. However, it is worth noting that this step does not specifically define how the solution will solve the problem.
a. Example
The identified problem was that the managers' lack of communication and guidance at the department level was the main cause of the lack of motivation among the medical practitioners. Consequently, in this case, three criteria are considered (Internal Communication Strategy, 2021). First, implement Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policy to set clear guidelines and expectations. Secondly, leverage analytics to ensure that teams are engaged. Thirdly, establish engagement initiatives such as work anniversaries and celebrating anniversaries to promote effective internal communication. Consequently, in this example, establishing a BYOD policy is selected as the effective criteria.
b. Why is this step important
After defining the problem, it is essential to develop the criteria; this involves the measures used to achieve a solution. The decision criteria are used to accomplish the purpose. Consequently, the medical practitioners need to consider what they want to achieve their decision, what they need to preserve, and the problems they want to avoid in order to develop criteria effectively.
3. Examine all the alternatives.
Evaluation of the available alternative ensures that the manager considers the solution to the problem, meets the original criteria and provides the correct solution, and fits the organization's purpose. The manager should be aware of factors limiting the alternatives, such as economic, physical, and human factors. Hence, this provides insight that a particular alternative is not feasible. Human factors such as inexperienced medical practitioners can also be considered in implementing the alternative. Similarly, the ethical and social norms, legal restrictions, moral and organizational guidelines, and policies that can prevent an alternative from being feasible must be accounted for.
a. Example
In this report, three potential solutions are considered (Five Tips for Communicating BYOD Policies, n.d.). This step also reviews how each option resolves the issue.
· Ensure that the BYOD policies are placed in the context of what matters to the medical practitioners; this will ensure they understand and abide by the BYOD policies.
· Enlist the help of organizational leaders that can communicate the importance of BYOD policies to reinforce the messaging.
· Provide online forums and other social tools to the medical practitioners to allow them to share their BYOD experience; this keeps them actively involved and raises awareness of the BYOD policies.
b. Why is this step important
It is essential to consider the numerous alternative courses of action and solutions. Consequently, the manager needs to engage in brainstorming to get as many alternatives as possible. Brainstorming is essential since it leads to more choices, promotes team building, and improves communication. This step is essential in generating a list of feasible alternatives.
4. Select the best alternative.
This step involves identifying and recognizing the best alternative from the various selected alternatives. A group of employees must accept a decision to be effective (Pozgar, 2019). The experience of the manager influences the final selection of various alternatives. Decisions made based on experience are common in the medical field. Hence, previous experience can be useful in identifying a suitable alternative.
a. Example
To solve the lack of communication at the department level of the medical practitioner, implementing online tools and other social tools is considered the best viable option (Bring Your Own Device: Benefits and Risks, n.d.). The main reason is that medical practitioners can effectively interact through such forums and tools. Therefore, they can share some of the factors creating frustrations and loss of motivation in the workplace; this is a viable option since it offers greater flexibility. Medical practitioners can participate in developing the BYOD policies since they can share their experiences.
Consequently, the manager can improve the quality of communication based on the needs of the medical practitioners. Even though the other two options promote the use of BYOD policies, it does not provide for feedback process from the medical practitioner, which is an essential component to its success.
b. Why is this step important
This step is crucial since it determines the outcome of the solutions; selecting the best alternative leads to happier and more confident results. Therefore, selecting the best alternatives addresses the problem effectively. Similarly, selecting the best alternatives builds resilience. It enables the manager to look at the challenges from a new and fresh perspective.
5. Create a plan of action.
The plan of action involves two processes. The first process is communication, which involves sharing information among various medical practitioners. The second process is coordination. The decision must be coordinated with other departments in the institution to be communicated to the medical practitioners who must follow it.
a. Example
Security breaches are the main concern while implementing BYOD policies with online forums and social tools (BYOD and Social Media: An Employer’s Perspective, n.d.). Therefore, medical practitioners should first be taught what type of information constitutes confidential information. The manager should identify specific examples such as patient information, employee data, and organization processes. Secondly, configure the device of the medical practitioners so that they do not automatically connect to any available wireless internet networks; this is to ensure that the medical practitioners do not access unsecured wireless networks. Lastly, implementing the BYOD policies by enabling remote wipe any corporate data from the device; protects the organization from security breaches.
b. Why is this step important
This step is crucial in making decisions. The managers need to plan to anticipate change, develop a response to uncertainty, and establish control and direction. The decision-making process also includes implementing the action plan and the resources needed to implement it.
6. Evaluate and monitor the solution.
This final step involves evaluating and monitoring the solution to see if anything can go wrong. For example, the decision made may likely not work. Therefore, the manager needs to start over to redefine the problem. Also, allowing for feedback is crucial in providing information about the decision. The feedback from the medical professionals, patients, and other customers is necessary for evaluating whether the decision achieved the planned results.
a. Example
This solution most likely will work because implementing BYOD policies with online platforms and other social tools encourages flexibility and comfort (RealVNC® Ltd, n.d.). It supports communication whenever the medical practitioners want. Therefore, it reduces the notion that medical practitioners are disconnected when they shut down their computers or go back to their homes. Hence, this solution will improve the communication in the department since it places greater emphasis on flexibility and collaboration.
b. Why is this step important
This is important since it helps prevent all possible negative impacts. Similarly, this step allows the manager to look at the whole situation. Consequently, the manager gets to understand the whole perspective of the situation, which is essential to implementing the solution.
In conclusion, decision-making is a skill. Therefore, everyone can learn it. The decision-maker must be aware of themselves and other individuals. Knowing one's weaknesses and strengths and others will most likely make a decision acceptable. Similarly, it is essential not to skip any step because they chronologically follow each other. Therefore, skipping one step would lead to lower quality of decision making.
Arnold, J. D. (1978). Make up your mind, the seven building blocks to better decisions. AMA. https://agris.fao.org/agris-search/search.do?recordID=US201300704889
Bring Your Own Device: benefits and risks. (n.d.). NI Business Info. Retrieved November 14, 2021, from https://www.nibusinessinfo.co.uk/content/bring-your-own-device-benefits-and-risks
BYOD and social media: an employer’s perspective — Financier Worldwide. (n.d.). Retrieved November 14, 2021, from https://www.financierworldwide.com/byod-and-social-media-an-employers-perspective
Five tips for communicating BYOD policies. (n.d.). Retrieved November 14, 2021, from https://digital.ai/catalyst-blog/five-tips-for-communicating-byod-policies
Internal Communication Strategy. (2021, January 8). https://www.beekeeper.io/white-paper/internal-communications-strategy/
Pozgar, G. D. (2019). Legal and Ethical Issues for Health Professionals. Jones & Bartlett Learning. https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=j7J5DwAAQBAJ
RealVNC® Ltd. (n.d.). A happier workplace with BYOD. Retrieved November 14, 2021, from https://discover.realvnc.com/blog/a-happier-workplace-with-byod
Static. (n.d.). Retrieved November 8, 2021, from https://www.nursingcenter.com/static?pageid=800371
Identify the problem.
Develop the criteria.
Examine all the alternatives.
Create a plan of action.
Select the best alternative.
Evaluate and monitor the solution.