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CASE STUDY 2
U.S. Coast Guard Case Study Critique and Southern Medical School Case Study
Caitlyn C. Blakely
Helms School of Government, Liberty University
Author Note
Caitlyn C. Blakely
I have no known conflict of interest to disclose.
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Caitlyn C. Blakely.
Email: ccblakely@liberty.edu
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CASE STUDY 2
U.S. Coast Guard Case Study Critique and Southern Medical School Case Study
Evaluation
Facts: case 1: U.S. Coast Guard
Protecting American maritime interests and guaranteeing national security are two of the
USCG's primary missions. Giancola, Cropf, Hoernschemeyer, and Lipinski's (2012) case study
provides insight into the USCG's internal struggles in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The
national security environment was profoundly altered by these attacks, calling for a review of the
US Coast Guard's (USCG) position and operational capabilities in maritime security.
The United States Coast Guard (USCG) was a separate service under the Department of
Transportation before the 9/11 attacks prompted the foundation of the Department of Homeland
Security (DHS). However, a more streamlined and integrated approach to national security was
required due to the quickly evolving security environment. Therefore, the DHS absorbed the US
Coast Guard to strengthen maritime security and improve coordination with other federal
agencies concerned with homeland security.
There were a few bumps in the road during USCG's incorporation into DHS. The case
study emphasizes the importance of revamping the USCG's organizational structure to better deal
with emerging security risks and improve cooperation with other DHS divisions. To successfully
handle new threats to maritime security, the US Coast Guard underwent a restructure that
includes realigning its organizational components, clarifying its purpose, and reallocating
resources.
Decision
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CASE STUDY 2
Aligning the Coast Guard's mission with national security goals was a primary
motivation for the decision to merge the USCG into the newly constituted DHS. The US Coast
Guard was given a more central role in handling maritime security issues, and coordination with
other federal agencies working on homeland security issues was enhanced as a result of the
merger.
In light of this decision, the US Coast Guard underwent an internal restructuring to better
address current and future threats to maritime security. To better handle new threats to maritime
security, the Coast Guard reorganized by realigning its organizational components, revising its
mission and priorities, and reallocating resources. In addition to improving the USCG's ability to
respond to an ever-evolving security threat, the redesign sought to enhance the organization's
operational efficiency by standardizing its procedures and governing decisions (Cropf, 2012).
Better inter-agency communication between the USCG and other DHS components has
been made possible by the reorganization, which is essential for a unified and coordinated
response to complex security threats. The nation's capacity to identify, prevent, and respond to
threats to maritime security was bolstered as a result of increased collaboration, which allowed
for a more efficient exchange of resources, intelligence, and knowledge among different agencies
(Sienkiewicz-Małyjurek, 2021).
Solution
The Coast Guard has been better able to solve maritime security concerns and interact
with other federal agencies involved in homeland security since its incorporation into the DHS.
Another option would have been to increase the USCG's resources and capabilities without
changing its organizational structure. However, this strategy may not have been as successful in
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CASE STUDY 2
encouraging cross-agency cooperation and responding to ever-changing security threats. One
similar case combining the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) found that integration led to better disaster response coordination
and resource sharing across agencies (Waugh & Streib, 2006).
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Coast Guard case study demonstrates how an organization may face
adversity and change in the wake of 9/11. Better coordination and alignment with homeland
security objectives were made possible by the USCG's incorporation into the DHS. While
keeping the status quo was certainly an option, this strategy looks to be more effective in
responding to developing security concerns.
Southern Medical School, Case Study 2
Facts
Giancola, Cropf, and Hall's (2012) case study Southern Medical School delves into the
difficulties of a public medical school in the South in the face of budget cuts and resource
allocation problems. The medical school's history, its current financial situation, the effect of cuts
on education quality, and the procedure for allocating scarce funds are all presented in the case
study.
Decision
As a strategic reaction to the institution's financial issues, Southern Medical School
decided to implement budget cuts across all departments and programs, while giving priority to
areas like research and clinical care. The long-term viability and performance of the medical
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CASE STUDY 2
school depend on maintaining the school's reputation and its capacity to attract students, hence
these were the fundamental considerations in reaching this decision.
Rather than disproportionately impacting some programs or sectors, the organization was
able to implement budget cuts across all departments and projects. The goal of this strategy was
to lessen the negative effects of the budget cuts on students' learning environments and
opportunities. By placing a premium on research and clinical services, the medical school
guaranteed that it could maintain its reputation for excellence in these key areas.
The school's long-term viability and enrollment prospects depend on the quality of its
reputation and marketing efforts. The medical school's ability to attract top-tier staff and students
depend on its ability to maintain high standards in research and clinical services, which in turn
leads to better academic outcomes and more funding prospects through grants and private
donations.
Concerns regarding the long-term effects on student support services, infrastructure, and
community outreach activities have been raised in light of the decision to impose budget cuts
across all departments and initiatives. The administration of the medical school must keep an eye
on the long-term repercussions of the current budget cuts to make sure that the short-term
financial difficulties do not compromise the overall quality of education or the institution's goal.
Solution
The medical school's financial woes were appropriately addressed through the
implementation of budget cuts and the establishment of priorities. The institution was able to
protect its standing in the market and its ability to compete for thanks to this plan.
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But another option would have been to look into alternative funding options to lessen the
blow of budget reductions. The medical school may be able to ease some of the financial strain
without having to sacrifice the quality of education or the student experience by pursuing
additional income through mechanisms such as grants, gifts, or cooperation with private
organizations.
When facing financial hardship, colleges may do well to increase their reliance on
external funding sources, as discovered by Grundy and Verwijmeren (2020). This method not
only provides essential cash but also helps institutions diversify their funding sources, making
them more resistant to potential funding cuts in the future.
The medical school may be able to reduce the need for severe cuts to existing programs
and initiate new ones by diversifying its financing base to include external funding sources.
Institutional prestige, top-tier staff and student recruitment, and fresh development and
innovation opportunities can all be boosted by partnerships with private organizations and the
acquisition of research funds (Badelt, 2020).
Conclusion
Finally, the case study of Southern Medical School illustrates the difficulties public
medical schools have in responding to budget cuts and allocating scarce resources. While making
necessary adjustments, the decision to prioritize specific sectors was commendable, other options
including greater cash may have been explored.
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References
Badelt, C. (2020). Private external funding of universities: Blind alley or new opening? Review
of Managerial Science, 14(2), 447–458. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11846-019-00365-0
Cropf, R., Giancola, J. & Loutzenhiser, K. (2012). The public administration casebook. Upper
Saddle River, NJ: Pearson. ISBN: 9780205607419
Grundy, B. D., & Verwijmeren, P. (2020). The external financing of investment. Journal of
Corporate Finance, 65, 101745. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcorpfin.2020.101745
Sienkiewicz-Małyjurek, K. (2021). Interpretive structural modeling of inter-agency collaboration
risk in public safety networks. Quality & Quantity, 56(3), 1193–1221.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11135-021-01172-0
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