Product Description

An AHA Press/Jossey-Bass Publication

Learn to reconceptualize strategy development in today's uncertain environment. This book introduces three specific techniques--scenario planning, decision analysis, and game theory-- that have been developed in the corporate world and tailored to the unique needs of the health care industry. The book also shares practical implementation approaches, presents numerous real life case studies and lessons learned, and provides guidelines for reducing financial risks during plan implementation.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #167303 in Books
• Published on: 2000-10-15
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 274 pages

Review
"The authors are real experts in planning, and it shows. They have combined four powerful ingredients-decades of experience, a willingness to challenge conventional thinking, an approach that is simultaneously analytical and intuitive, and great clarity of expression-into a book that will reinvigorate planning in health care." (Lawrence D. Prybil, assistant dean and professor, College of Public Health, University of Iowa)

"Strategic planning is never easy, especially in chaotic times, With this book in hand, health care leaders—boards of trustees in particular—will be much better equipped to fulfill their critical responsibility of setting sound strategic direction." (Rev. Michael D. Place, president/CEO, Catholic Health Association, St. Louis, Missouri)

"This insightful book provides original and practical direction to health care executives to develop meaningful strategy in a time of uncertainty. Read it before you initiate your next planning project." (Paul Maddrell, senior vice president, corporate strategy, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, Illinois)

"Health Care Strategy for Uncertain Times is state of the art, to the point, and will be useful not only for beginners who are looking for assistance, but also for those who are experienced in health care strategic planning." (Jeffrey A. Rivest, executive vice president and COO, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia)

Book Info
Offers health care leaders a resource for learning the essential information and techniques needed to accept the reality of uncertainty while developing solid strategic direction for their organizations. DNLM: Health Services Administration.

From the Inside Flap
[Headline]A blueprint to the art and science of strategic planning for our unpredictable times. Health Care Strategy for Uncertain Times offers health care leaders an indispensable resource for learning the essential information and techniques they need to accept the reality of uncertainty while developing solid strategic direction for their organizations. "The authors are real experts in planning, and it shows. They have combined four powerful ingredients-decades of experience, a willingness to challenge conventional thinking, an approach that is simultaneously analytical and intuitive, and great clarity of expression-into a book that will reinvigorate planning in health care."—Lawrence D. Prybil, assistant dean and professor, College of Public Health, University of Iowa"Strategic planning is never easy, especially in chaotic times, With this book in hand, health care leaders—boards of trustees in particular—will be much better equipped to fulfill their critical responsibility of setting sound strategic direction."—Rev. Michael D. Place, president/CEO, Catholic Health Association, St. Louis, Missouri "This insightful book provides original and practical direction to health care executives to develop meaningful strategy in a time of uncertainty. Read it before you initiate your next planning project."—Paul Maddrell, senior vice president, corporate strategy, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, Illinois"Health Care Strategy for Uncertain Times is state of the art, to the point, and will be useful not only for beginners who are looking for assistance, but also for those who are experienced in health care strategic planning."—Jeffrey A. Rivest, executive vice president and COO, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia[no credit for editor photo per Jennings]The Editor Marian C. Jennings is president of Jennings Ryan & Kolb, a national management consulting firm providing services exclusively to the health care industry. Cover

Customer Reviews

Excellent Overview of Strategic Planning
This book is an extremely readable overview of strategic planning in healthcare today. The chapters build on each other very well, and leave the reader with an excellent picture of the whys and hows of development of strategic vision relative to the position and capabilities of the organization. The section on strategic intent is particularly useful. The tables and figures are useful, clear, and easy to understand. Each chapter ends with "Lessons Learned", a useful summary and reminder of the chapter contents. I recommend this book as both a primer and refresher for those interested in healthcare stategic planning.

A practical guide to strategy development
It is clear when reading Health Care Strategy for Uncertain Times that the authors have significant experience in strategy development in the healthcare arena. The book clearly outlines a process for strategy development and points out common pitfalls along the way (e.g. mistaking data for information, focusing on experience rather than skills when choosing members of the strategy development team, etc.). Furthermore, the book describes useful tools for addressing uncertainty (i.e. decision-analysis, scenario planning and game theory) and provides a framework for determining when a specific tool will prove useful.

Perhaps what makes the book most valuable, however, is what it does not include. There are no claims of sure-fire solutions that are, unfortunately, so common in contemporary strategy literature. The authors correctly realize that cookie-cutter solutions offer no long term benefit to the reader (and most likely no short term benefit either). Rather the authors have created a guide to building a strategy development process that, once developed, will be applicable to any situation.

Excellent Set of Tools
This book proposed a variety of tools that are incredibly helpful in moving a management team (and leadership team) along in thinking about the strategies that the organization is undertaking. It is also helpful in looking at the tacit strategies undertaken by not making decisive moves. The material proposes a broad range of ways to engage the strategic framework, given the market driven changes that befall the healthcare providers. Marion Jennings, Susie Krentz and the JRK team are impressive thought leaders that generously share their 'lessons learned' in this very useful book.