Operations Management Definition
Operations Management Definition
Introduction In today 's fast-paced ever-changing business world, organizations must deal with many diverse issues. These issues range from maintaining their competitive edge in a fierce marketplace to social, ethical and concerns regarding the health and well being of their employees. The advent of new technologies has created organizational efficiencies however; it is a well-known fact that healthcare has lagged behind other industries with regard to automation. Healthcare is being asked to provide high quality care with increased efficiency yet the patient population believes they are not receiving quality care. McCleave (1996) states that health care managers should look to manufacturing operations for ideas to improve quality and productivity in their organizations. This paper will address the definition of operations management, its importance in healthcare and what operations management means to this author.
Definition
Operations management as defined by Stevenson (2004) is the management of particular aspects of an organization. This usually encompasses systems and workstation design, physical plant design and layout as well as processes needed to change raw material/inputs into a finished product or service. An operations manager must contend with other issues. Stevenson (2004) adds that the integral component of an operations manager is to add value to the finished product.
Importance
Considering the current state of the healthcare industry, operations management is of great importance. Henderson (1995) states the increasing demands placed on healthcare managers, the individual must excel in a variety of areas. In addition, Henderson (1995) states healthcare is in a state of transformation and the operations manger is a crucial position if the healthcare organization is to succeed. Furthermore, operations managers must be capable of seamlessly integrating a large and complex
Introduction In today 's fast-paced ever-changing business world, organizations must deal with many diverse issues. These issues range from maintaining their competitive edge in a fierce marketplace to social, ethical and concerns regarding the health and well being of their employees. The advent of new technologies has created organizational efficiencies however; it is a well-known fact that healthcare has lagged behind other industries with regard to automation. Healthcare is being asked to provide high quality care with increased efficiency yet the patient population believes they are not receiving quality care. McCleave (1996) states that health care managers should look to manufacturing operations for ideas to improve quality and productivity in their organizations. This paper will address the definition of operations management, its importance in healthcare and what operations management means to this author.
Definition
Operations management as defined by Stevenson (2004) is the management of particular aspects of an organization. This usually encompasses systems and workstation design, physical plant design and layout as well as processes needed to change raw material/inputs into a finished product or service. An operations manager must contend with other issues. Stevenson (2004) adds that the integral component of an operations manager is to add value to the finished product.
Importance
Considering the current state of the healthcare industry, operations management is of great importance. Henderson (1995) states the increasing demands placed on healthcare managers, the individual must excel in a variety of areas. In addition, Henderson (1995) states healthcare is in a state of transformation and the operations manger is a crucial position if the healthcare organization is to succeed. Furthermore, operations managers must be capable of seamlessly integrating a large and complex
References: Henderson, Michael D. Operations Management in Health Care. (Spring1995) Journal of Health Care Finance, Vol.21, Issue 3 McCleave, Spencer H. From the Factory Floor to the Doctor 's office. (April 1996) Physicians Executive, Vol. 22, Issue 4 Stevenson, William J. (2004). Operations Management, 8th edition, New York: McGraw-Hill Companies.