Strategic decision makers in today's health services organizations face considerable challenges, many of which are associated with their dynamic operating environments. This course introduces contemporary strategic management theories and practices that are used to guide health services organizations through strategic planning cycles. Through selected readings, case studies, and case presenters, we critically examine the main concepts of strategic planning and management including strategy formulation, implementation/execution and evaluation; strategic "fit" or alignment; the role of governance; and strategic leadership. In-class exercises focus on applying strategic planning tools. Course assignments afford students opportunities to apply these concepts to their workplaces and to the creation of a new health services organization or initiative.

Learner objectives: the overall objective of this course is to provide you with the conceptual tools and the practical skills to enable you to formulate, implement, and critically evaluate organizational strategy and to contribute to the underlying strategic planning processes in organizations in which you work. Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to: 1) Differentiate between the various motivations for developing a strategic plan. 2) Distinguish among alternative contemporary conceptualizations of strategy. 3) Identify and relate critical steps in the strategic planning process. 4) Anticipate and mitigate common barriers to strategy implementation and leverage facilitators. 5) Critically analyze the fit between organizational design and strategy. 6) Explain and integrate the essential elements of successful organizational strategies into your organization's strategic plan. 7) Acknowledge, value, and capitalize upon the different perspectives of executive, management, and front-line workers during strategic planning processes. 8) Analyze the structure and processes of governance in health care organizations. 9) Anticipate the future challenges for strategic planners in health care. 10) Devise a viable strategic plan based upon knowledge of the strategic planning process and critical elements. 11) Critically evaluate the merits and feasibility of strategic plans using an array of contemporary evaluation tools.

Learner competencies (competencies refer to the National Center for Healthcare Leadership Competency Model): analytical thinking; initiative; organizational awareness; innovative thinking; process management and organizational design; strategic orientation.