Running head: DISCUSSION BOARD REPLIES 1
Discussion Board Replies
Student’s Name
Learning Institution
Course Name
Instructor’s Name
Date
DISCUSSION BOARD REPLIES 2
Discussion Board Replies
Reply to Group 1
The Healthcare industry has emerged to be a lucrative business in the current 21st-
century. According to Walston (2018), many pharmaceutical companies are coming up with
generic products, selling them at a reduced price. These pharmaceutical companies aim to
capture a large market hence making higher profits than the innovator company of these
pharmaceutical products. The strategic plan of these companies are similar to the innovator
companies, but with slight improvements to the strategies of achieving long-term objectives. The
directors of pharmaceutical companies are aware that a strategic plan is a fundamental element
for business organizations' success. These plans are changing with the current epidemic of
COVID-19, whereby the companies are emphasizing the production of quality products. Quality
products ensure the company remains sustainable in its business operations despite changes in
the external influences of the market.
Additionally, these healthcare companies are using a broad low-cost strategy to remain
competitive among the generic companies. The cost of the products is the target point in the low-
cost board strategy. Walston (2018) adds that companies will keep their products at a low price
despite receiving pressures from other companies regarding the quality of these low products. A
successful company uses the value chain management approach to identify the gap in the market
and fill it with low-cost products.
The biblical aspect of healthcare industries involves the need for work in this world. The
Bible insists that people should work and reap the fruits of their hard labor. Additionally, proper
planning ensures an increase in the quantity and quality of fruits. Harrison et al. (2016) support
that proper planning relates to pharmaceutical companies whereby these companies ought to plan
DISCUSSION BOARD REPLIES 3
for the success of their businesses. The company that has the best strategy of planning will
capture a larger market hence making higher profits. The Bible also insists on exploiting
individual talents, which is applicable in the healthcare sector through the division of labor.
Reply to Group 2
According to Abd Rani et al. (2015), the strategy is Greek terminology that the healthcare
sector has improved to mean the art of setting long term and short term goals. The health care
sector needs these long term and short-term goals to remain relevant in the competitive market.
The companies set these goals focusing on comparing the level of output and input in the
business sector. Generally, the level of output should be ten times that of the input. This is not
the case most of the time, due to internal and external factors in business. The internal factors
involve the bureaucracy in the manner of communication and disseminating information. For
instance, most healthcare companies have three divisions of strategy: delay in the decision-
making process, unlike enterprises with one category of strategy.
On the other hand, Powell et al. (2019) argue that companies that implement the three
levels, make concrete and concise goals, leading to higher profits and improving the performance
in the healthcare sector. The three strategies ensure that the company budget caters for all the
expenses and miscellaneous costs that may occur during the fiscal year. The company objectives
are easy to transfer to all the levels of functional business levels for approving and executing
them. The business strategy ensures the pharmaceutical company remains competitive despite
changes in the business management level or business plan.
The biblical principle in the concept of strategy in business comes from its definition.
The Bible defines business strategy as the goals that guide the business toward its success.
Similarly, Christians have values that guide them towards adhering to the tenets of Christianity.
DISCUSSION BOARD REPLIES 4
The Bible urges each Christian to develop a personal strategy to guide them in practicing their
faith and expressing Christian virtues of kindness. Powell et al. (2019) argue that healthcare
businesses also have values and ethical code of conduct to avoid selling defective products or
engaging in illegal business.
DISCUSSION BOARD REPLIES 5
References
Abd Rani, N. A., Baharum, M. R., Akbar, A. R. N., & Nawawi, A. H. (2015). Perception of
maintenance management strategy on healthcare facilities. Procedia-Social and
Behavioral Sciences, 170, 272-281.
Harrison, J. P., & Association of University Programs in Health Administration.
(2016). Essentials of strategic planning in healthcare (Vol. 1). Chicago, IL: Health
Administration Press.
Powell, B. J., Fernandez, M. E., Williams, N. J., Aarons, G. A., Beidas, R. S., Lewis, C. C., ... &
Weiner, B. J. (2019). Enhancing the impact of implementation strategies in healthcare: a
research agenda. Frontiers in public health, 7, 3.
Walston, S. L. (2018). Strategic healthcare management: Planning and execution. Health
Administration Press.
