General Hospital

Running Head: General Hospital

Week 8 Assignment

Mbotidem Ekong

Strayer University

In partial fulfillment of BUSA 520

Professor Danette O’Neal

November 10, 2011

Abstract

This is paper will address the conflict at General Hospital and discuss the conflict management styles that are evident in the case.   Next, there will be a discussion of how General Hospital could have used teams to address the cost reductions needed to stay competitive.   A description of how Hammer can use negotiation skills to get buy in for the cost reductions will also be included.   Finally, a strategy for Hammer to resolve the problem will be recommended

Discuss the conflict that is occurring at General Hospital

“Conflict is a process in which one party perceives that its interests are being opposed or negatively affected by another party.” (Hellriegel & Slocum, Jr., 2011, p. 384). The conflict that occurred was intergroup conflict. The intergroup conflict occurred between Mike Hammer, the Chief Executive Officer for General Hospital, Marge Harding, the chief operating officer, Doctor Williams, the Director of Medicine and the physicians. Intergroup conflict is identified as the overall conflict happening within the organization or group.

Hammer was convinced that physicians were doing unnecessary spending. Hammer also believed that this lack of concern from the physicians came from the physicians strong allegiance to their profession as opposed to the hospitals in which they had patient privileges. He believed that physicians in the main didn't understand, nor were they interested in, the role of costs in determining the viability of hospitals (p.546, Hellriegel & Slocum). Mr. Hammer was unable to convince the physicians or the board to adhere to any cost containing measures or solutions. Every plan he tried to implement in order to make cost control a reality was shot down on profusely due to the fact that the directors felt that his plan was a mere dream.

Mike Hammer...