Health Care Strategy for Uncertain Times

An AHA Press/Jossey-Bass Publication

Learn to reconceptualize strategy development in today'suncertain environment. This book introduces three specifictechniques--scenario planning, decision analysis, and game theory--that have been developed in the corporate world and tailored to theunique needs of the health care industry. The book also sharespractical implementation approaches, presents numerous real lifecase studies and lessons learned, and provides guidelines forreducing financial risks during plan implementation. Introduction.

Understanding Risk and Uncertainty.

Strategy Formulation in Health Care.

Reducing Planning Risks through an Environmental Assessment.

Envisioning the Future through Planning Assumptions.

Tools to Address Uncertainty.

Defining Strategic Intent.

Developing Strategies and Measures of Success.

Financial Planning in an Era of Uncertainty.

Ensuring Success in Implementation.

Summary and Conclusions.

Glossary of Terms.

References.

Suggested Reading. "The authors are real experts in planning, and it shows. They havecombined four powerful ingredients-decades of experience, awillingness to challenge conventional thinking, an approach that issimultaneously analytical and intuitive, and great clarity ofexpression-into a book that will reinvigorate planning in healthcare." (Lawrence D. Prybil, assistant dean and professor, Collegeof 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 inparticular--will be much better equipped to fulfill their criticalresponsibility of setting sound strategic direction." (Rev. MichaelD. Place, president/CEO, Catholic Health Association, St. Louis,Missouri)

"This insightful book provides original and practical direction tohealth care executives to develop meaningful strategy in a time ofuncertainty. Read it before you initiate your next planningproject." (Paul Maddrell, senior vice president, corporatestrategy, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, Illinois)

"Health Care Strategy for Uncertain Times is state of the art, tothe point, and will be useful not only for beginners who arelooking for assistance, but also for those who are experienced inhealth care strategic planning." (Jeffrey A. Rivest, executive vicepresident and COO, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia) MARIAN C. JENNINGS is president of Jennings Ryan & Kolb, anational management consulting firm providing services exclusivelyto the health care industry. [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 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 design by

[logo]

Jossey-Bass
A Wiley Company
350 Sansome Street
San Francisco, California 94104-1342

www.josseybass.com

Cover printed on acid-free paper containing 50 percent recycled fiber of which a minimum of 15 percent is postconsumer

HEALTH CARE MANAGEMENT

ISBN 0-7879-5505-1