Thinking Strategically

Health care professionals need to answer at least three essential questions when thinking strategically about their organization's present circumstances and future prospects:

• Where is the organization now? This question focuses on the current business of the organization, the patient segments that the organization caters to, and the current strategy of the organization.
• Where does the organization want to go? This question focuses on the organization's vision and aspirations.
• How will the organization get there? This question focuses on the strategic moves required to fulfill the mission, vision, and values of the organization and its broad set of strategic goals.

You are the office manager of a 12-person medical office. Write an e-mail message to the owners of the clinic on how the organization could answer these three questions. Specifically, your e-mail should include the following:

• How should the organization determine its state of affairs?
• How should the organization establish its goals?
• Who should participate in the strategic planning process and why?
• What possible strategies can the organization adopt to achieve the established goals?