Key Assignment Outline

Date: 01/05/2019

Management functions

The planning function

In any type of management, there are functions that a manager must perform. In my opinion, two of the most important functions of management are planning and controlling. Planning in healthcare management refers to the formulation of policies, plans that will guide the achievement of the goals of a unit or a healthcare center. The planning function helps in managing quality, time, risks and other related issues that might affect the operations of a unit or even a health care center (Ginter, Duncan & Swayne, 2018). The planning function happens before a task is issued or a project is started. The planning function is important to successful health care management as it focuses on the development of a roadmap that every concerned person will follow.

For this function to be fruitful, it is important that goals that are clear, specific, measurable, attainable and realistic are set and the goals should be achieved within a given timeframe. health care managers perform the planning function by coming up with a work breakdown structure, by setting milestones for the people he is in charge of, by coming up with a communication and a risk management plan. If a health care manager masters the planning function of management there are only steps away from succeeding in their management as the hardest part is done (Eldredge et al., 2016). The other remaining hard part is the implementation through leading, however, if proper planning is done then the implementation or leading function will not be that hard to perform. It is the duty of top managers to carry out the planning function as it involves coming up with policies and plans

The controlling function

The controlling function unlike the planning function of management happens at the end of a goal or when a project has been completed. The controlling function is responsible for ensuring that the plans formulated by a manager when performing the planning function are followed. The controlling function in healthcare management is important as it helps in ensuring that tasks or projects stay on schedule and ensure that resources are used as per the plan (Kerzner & Kerzner, 2017). The controlling function in management is important as it helps in ensuring that the goals, functions, and tasks of an organization are achieved as per plan and that diversion from the plans is not present. It is the duty of top managers to carry out the controlling function as it involves confirming if plans formulated are on course.

References

Eldredge, L. K. B., Markham, C. M., Ruiter, R. A., Kok, G., Fernandez, M. E., & Parcel, G. S. (2016). Planning health promotion programs: an intervention mapping approach. John Wiley & Sons.

Ginter, P. M., Duncan, W. J., & Swayne, L. E. (2018). The strategic management of health care organizations. John Wiley & Sons.

Kerzner, H., & Kerzner, H. R. (2017). Project management: a systems approach to planning, scheduling, and controlling. John Wiley & Sons.