Case Study- Workplace Violence by Steven L. Baumann and Eileen Levy

Questions-

In this case, there is a need for policy change need for Workplace violence policies. Here is our challenge to the reader. Can you take our two components, both an internal and external role, and define what needs to be done to accomplish this policy change? We suggest that you define this work in terms of your most likely environment, whether it is a psychiatric facility or a hospital or Clinic. How would you go about creating an environment for policy change here?

Some core questions should guide you. First, what key stakeholders are in the initial stakeholder group (i.e., those most likely to feel the strongest need for the policy)? Remember, it is essential that stakeholders are identifiable and represent a clear position on this topic. Can you identify both internal and external stakeholders? Are they organized around various professional lines within your organization? How do you begin to create a shared view among these stakeholders? As you begin to broaden the network, which groups should be brought into the discussion? Let us give you an example: The human resource specialists in your organization will need to be involved at some point in creating a policy about the elimination and reduction of workplace violence. Should they, however, be in 'our initial set of stakeholders? Why or why not?

Now for more difficult questions:

• What expertise is needed to make such a policy change?

• What kinds of facts (someone has to gather the data in a systematic way) need to be gathered?

• Are we discussing violence between patients and those providing medical services, or violence among fellow professionals within the organization?

• What kind of violence and danger are we discussing here-physical or verbal violence, or both?

• What about safety issues (including other types of danger to employees and patients)?

• Would you agree that an emergency room might see these questions a bit differently from those handling financial claims (although both have real needs)?

• How do you build expert power? Who shares it, and who might be expert in defining these issues over time?