Homework Week 1 OB
Case Study: Improving Health by Getting Lean
1. What perspective(s) of organizational effectiveness best describe the application of lean management practices? Describe how specific elements of that perspective related to the interventions described in this case study.
This case study utilized several perspectives of organizational effectiveness to help adapt their goal of lean management. Within the open system perspective the most common strategy is to change the company’s products and services, as well as how outputs are produced (McShane & Von Glinow, 2015, page 9). Sunderland reached out to their external environment for information with borrowing ideas from a nearby Nissan factory and incorporated information learned. Sunderland integrated this information by mapping out their work processes, evaluated their activities, and developed ways to reduce lengthy patient wait times. In order to reach their goals, organizational learning perspective played a big part. Emphasis is placed on human capital with the knowledge and skills employees brought to the table. “Lean works because it is based on doctors, nurses, and other staff leading the process and telling us what adds value and what doesn’t. They are the ones who know” (McShane & Von Glinow, 2015, page 28). The input from employees helped reduce patient wait time, streamlines the patient pathway from 29 to 11 discrete stages, cut 34 miles of walking per day, reduced 60 percent of supplies used for hip and knee surgery, and improved congestion in the emergency department through varies of hospitals. With all the improvements high performance work practices perspective now takes shape. Involving employees in decision making and giving them more autonomy over their work activities tend to strengthen employee motivation and improve decision making, organizational responsiveness, and commitment to change (McShane & Von Glinow, 2015, page 13). Employee involvement was the key to strengthened motivation,
1. What perspective(s) of organizational effectiveness best describe the application of lean management practices? Describe how specific elements of that perspective related to the interventions described in this case study.
This case study utilized several perspectives of organizational effectiveness to help adapt their goal of lean management. Within the open system perspective the most common strategy is to change the company’s products and services, as well as how outputs are produced (McShane & Von Glinow, 2015, page 9). Sunderland reached out to their external environment for information with borrowing ideas from a nearby Nissan factory and incorporated information learned. Sunderland integrated this information by mapping out their work processes, evaluated their activities, and developed ways to reduce lengthy patient wait times. In order to reach their goals, organizational learning perspective played a big part. Emphasis is placed on human capital with the knowledge and skills employees brought to the table. “Lean works because it is based on doctors, nurses, and other staff leading the process and telling us what adds value and what doesn’t. They are the ones who know” (McShane & Von Glinow, 2015, page 28). The input from employees helped reduce patient wait time, streamlines the patient pathway from 29 to 11 discrete stages, cut 34 miles of walking per day, reduced 60 percent of supplies used for hip and knee surgery, and improved congestion in the emergency department through varies of hospitals. With all the improvements high performance work practices perspective now takes shape. Involving employees in decision making and giving them more autonomy over their work activities tend to strengthen employee motivation and improve decision making, organizational responsiveness, and commitment to change (McShane & Von Glinow, 2015, page 13). Employee involvement was the key to strengthened motivation,
References: McShane, S., & Glinow, M. (2015). Organizational behavior (Seventh ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Education.