Recent orders
The project stakeholders
1. The project stakeholders are usually the ones involved in completion of the project as well as those who are influenced by the project. In this case the project stakeholders are students, the faculty and the management of the institution. Learning is important to the students, impacting knowledge is essential for the faculty and overall administration of the institution is important to the organization. Consideration and initiating structure, in relation to the Ohio study and leadership refer to two different approaches of leadership. In case of consideration the leader adopts a people oriented approach and in case of initiating structure the leader adopts a task oriented approach and this is essential as well as important to all of the stakeholders.
2.
People The project participants include students, faculty and the management
Situations The situation is of a masters degree in project management and issue is imparting knowledge effectively
Issues and requirements The concern is to maximize effectiveness
Environmental conditions High levels of competition
Project simulation Forming the course with benchmarked guidelines
Simulation results An effective course content
Analysis and action plan It is essential to consider the usage of benchmarking
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4. The interpretation of the grid shows that it is quite essential that project management techniques be used in order to make the course effective. It is important that the objectives of the stakeholders be considered and then an attempt be made to prioritize them according to their scores. Organizational development refers to processes that help improve the skills and competencies as well as the efficiency and effectiveness in an organization. It helps in development of the organization as a whole. Three organizational developmental activities include training, technology improvement and up gradation and capital. All of these can be used effectively for achieving better course effectiveness which should be a prioritized objective in this case.
The Progressive movement was a widespread reform effort that was aimed to cure
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The Progressive movement was a widespread reform effort that was aimed to cure the underlying and many political as well as social ills in the US after the end of the industrial revolution and therefore was aimed to mark a beginning to a new era. During the late 19th and the early 20th centuries, the nation of the United States underwent tremendous changes. One of the major changes in the new era included the shift from an economy that predominantly relied on agriculture to an economy that much relied on industrialization (Goldfield et al. 2001). The changes in the economy brought out a stark in the social changes to the United States, and therefore millions of people in the nation relied on other individuals such as business owners to earn a living. At times, most of the employers reinvested their profits into the company failing to pay the workers their salaries. It was believed that most of the business owners had a lot of power within the federal government, and most of the people in the United States believed that the business owners had massive influence over the national government. And as well that the employers possessed no desire to relinquish any of their powers to the working and the middle-class individuals.
By the year 1890, a group of reformers by the name progressives emerged with the primary aim of combating some of the ill effects of that resulted from the transition. As the rich and the business owners possessed the government, the progressive movements were characterized by people of the middles class with most of them possessing college education. The Progressives believed that industrialization was good for the United States, however, contended that human greed had taken heed to overcome the more positive effects that came as a result of industrialization (Goldfield et al. 2001). The Progressives hoped to instill in the United States citizens the moral values that were based upon the protestant religious beliefs as they wanted the employers to treat the employees as they as they wanted to be treated in return. The Progressives also hoped that if the working conditions were made better, a large number of the US citizens would not have the urge to engage in immoral activities such as gambling and drinking in an attempt to forget their problems.
The Progressive Movement sought better payments, improved and safe working conditions, increased working benefits for the workers as well as shorter working hours. With the belief that education was a crucial component for the people to make a better life, the Progressive Movement was opposed to child labor and therefore wanted the children to attend schools rather than spending their time working in the industries and mines. The Progressive Movement was in support of the prohibition and at the same time succeeded in the enactment of a ban on the manufacture, transportation, and distribution as well as the sale of alcohol with the eighteenth amendment of the US Constitution in the year 1919. The Progressive Movement as well sought to reclaim the government from the might and power; that is the business owners as well as the corrupt politicians through advocating and encouraging direct elections of the US representatives especially the Senators by the people (Goldfield et al. 2001). The progressive Movement as well succeeded in the attainment of the reform promoting for direct election by the people with the adoption of the seventeenth amendment of the US constitution in 1913.
Other reforms that were a success included the initiative that allowed the voters to pass legislation on their own, the referendum that allows the voter to repeal the laws to which they did not support. Recall was another reform that allowed the voters to remove an elected official from office to which also was a success (Goldfield et al. 2001). A large number of the Progressive Movement members were in support of the women’s suffrage, assisting the women to acquire and secure the rights to vote and this was also made a success through the adoption of the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution of the year 1919. It is also known that the progressive Movement was in a battle with the city bosses that included Cincinnati, Ohio’s George Cox and they did this through hiring city managers.
The Progressive Movement was responsible for the enactment of numerous positive reforms that were aimed to improving the lives of the citizens of the United States, but some of their goals to which they advocated for were questionable. With the quest for a democratic government in the United States and as well as protection of the workers, the Progressive Movement went ahead and sought to force their beliefs that included the social and political believes on others and therefore demeaning the freedom and democracy to which they seemed to fight for as one of their agendas (Goldfield et al. 2001). On the other hand, the Progressive Movement was opposed to immigration and therefore were responsible for the enactment of various immigration regulations during the early 20th century. The Progressive Movement also tried to force the immigrants to adopt their beliefs, and one of the ways that they tried to accomplish; it was by settlement houses within their control.
The settlement houses were existent in most of the major cities during the period of the late 19th century and the early 20th century. The settlement houses were regarded as places where the immigrants would go to receive free necessities such as clothing, food, educational classes as well as job training. The provision of the necessities to the immigrants was of great help, but in return, the Progressive Movement took advantage of the immigrants’ situation and therefore took the opportunity in the settlement houses to convince them to adopt their progressive beliefs (Goldfield et al. 2001). And this had the overall effect of making the immigrants forsake their culture and embrace a new one from the Progressives as they solely depended on them for their survival.
During the early 20th century, a majority of the members of the Progressive movement joined the Ku Klux Klan, which was a self-proclaimed religious group. The primary aim of the group was to enforce morality on other people in accordance with the beliefs of the Progressive Movement. As a result of the movement’s support for the prohibition as well as the immigration restrictions, most of the United States citizens seized their support for the movement as they were not happy of the movement’s activities and agendas (Goldfield et al. 2001). Up today, some of the aspects of the Progressive Movement remain, that includes a functioning and a clearly identifiable movement, but however, the movement began to weaken by the late 1920s and early 1930s due to reduced influence among the supporters who had previously seen the light in their fight for a better life in the American nation.
The success of the Progressive Movement can be attributed to the much publicity that was generated by the muckrakers, who were the writers responsible for detailing the horrors of poverty, the urban slums, child labor as well as the dangerous factory conditions. With most of the goals set aside by the movement, most of them were a success as they aimed to better the lives of the American citizens. Issues like education for the children for school going age, better salaries, reduced working hours as well as a safe working environment was among the things that made the Progressive movement achieve massive support. Also, the fight against corruption, balancing of power for the middle class as well as the esteemed fight for the voting rights for women was among great goals of the movement that achieved government attention, compelling for the legislation to accommodate their demands and this made their demands a success.
Reference
Goldfield, D. R., Abbot, C., Anderson, V. D., Argersinger, J. A. E., Argersinger, P. H., Barney, W. L., & Weir, R. M. (2001). The American Journey: A History of the United States; Combined Volume. Prentice-Hall.
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
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Abstract
The United States health care system has been ranked among the best performing globally. The government through its public health care agencies has poured billions into ensuring that the country has a robust health care system. Together with this is the private health care system that also contributes greatly in supplementing the government efforts. One of the major health care organizations is The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) that operates under the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. VHA was founded in 1865 under the Federal government of the United States. VHA’s headquarters are located in Washington D.C with its affairs run in the veteran Affairs Building. The 2020 report showed that VHA annual budget was 348,389 $. VHA has been a key force in caring for the veterans and the elderly in the U.S. with its operations covering all states within the country. One of the prime strengths of The Veterans Health Administration is its effective leadership led by agency executives. Guided by its mission, VHA gives Veterans greater access to health care in VA facilities and the community, expands benefits for caregivers, and improves VA’s ability to recruit and retain the best medical providers. Among the key leaders in VHA include the Agency executives, Robert Wilkie, Under Secretary for Health Richard A. Stone, M.D., Executive in Charge, Veterans Health Administration. One of the prime roles of VHA is the provision of health care services to veterans and also the elderly who have served in public services within the U.S. Since its foundation, VHA has served millions of patients and provided charity health care services making it a vital pillar in the U.S public health care system. In terms of size, The Veterans Health Administration employs 348,389 employees who work in its various satellite facilities within the country.
VHA purpose and operation
Over the many decades in its operations, VHA has served millions of patients making it a vital part of the U.S health care system (Ginter, Duncan & Swayne, 2018). Among the key operational organs of VHA include operation of numerous VA Medical Centers (VAMC), Outpatient Clinics (OPC), Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC), and VA Community Living Centers (VA Nursing Home) Programs. To create reliable operational basis, The Veterans Health Administration has established a strong framework that it has utilized for many years. The operational framework at VHA has proven effective mainly when delivering outpatient services (Kessler et al., 2017). The large size of its customer base has allowed the organization to evaluate and test the effectiveness of several work models.
The organizational framework at VHA has been its core strengths as it has created a very strong flow of operations that adds to its effectiveness (Carter et al., 2019). Today, VHA has proven a vital health care organization in the U.S. that continually asserts its base in ensuring that the Veterans and the elderly receive quality and timely health care services. The Veterans Health Administration has also established several medical training outlets that are already adding value to the country’s quality of health care. VHA’s mission and operational vision is compound and derived from its various operations (Dichter et al., 2017). Over its many years in the field of health care, The Veterans Health Administration has attained massive experience that makes it effective and strong in the turbulent and demanding health care industry. VHA’s performance and effectiveness has been remarkable making it known and respected countrywide (Peterson et al., 2018). VHA’s impacts have been recognized in the way it offers affordable and quality health care. Moreover, The Veterans Health Administration has over the years collaborated with other health care agencies and hospitals thus adding to its exposure and experience in the industry.
Organizational leadership chart and the leaders Accountability
Leadership is key at VHA as it is the force and source of direction in the affairs at the organization. The management at the helm of leadership has its specific roles that abide by the objectives and mission of the organization (Ginter, Duncan & Swayne, 2018). Besides the top management or leadership at VHA, the organization is divided into departments that are headed by department heads. There are the leaders who help run each department and report to the top management for the smooth running of VHA (Carter et al., 2019). The leadership chart at VHA begins with the Executive Office that is the top most post in the leadership board. The administration is headed by an executive officer who shares the leadership roles with seven board members.
The second level of leadership at The Veterans Health Administration is the departmental heads who lead different departments. One of the main departments is the human resource that has several units with the top leader being holding the office of the managerial services at the department (Schult, Mohr & Osatuke, 2018). In rank, there is the office of the secretary that heads all affairs in the different departments. The second in level is the deputy secretary who oversees and assist in running the financial affairs at The Veterans Health Administration. The executive secretariat is made up of 15 heads who report and oversee the running of the key programs at VHA (Dichter et al., 2017). These leaders also work with the department heads to ensure that the services at VHA are delivered effectively.
VHA’s major component, divisions, departments
The operation at VHA occurs under key departments that are divided in terms of the service and model of service delivery. Being a large organization, the departmental approach become essential to ensure that the operations are effective and in good order (Kessler et al., 2017). There are different units that fall within the operational structure of the entire organization. Besides the main service and operational units, The Veterans Health Administration has key departments that are key in its managerial functions. For example, the human resource and financed departments are the epicenter of the running of the organization. One of the key departments at is the infectious diseases that is often at the pinnacle of the operation at VHA (Peterson et al., 2018). The department has for years seen increase in funding that has helped the organization increase its effectiveness in this area. Another outlook into this is the connection between the infectious diseases department and the research department that has seen VHA develop vital cures for the upcoming infections (Ginter, Duncan & Swayne, 2018). For example, between 2005 and 2015, VHA has launched and funded at least ten research projects that have been aimed at finding cure or vaccine to serious infections.
VHA also has the mental health department that has been a paramount organ in addressing the health of the veterans (Schult, Mohr & Osatuke, 2018). The mental health department has grown in size as the management at The Veterans Health Administration seeks to increase the capacity of the organization to cater for the needs of the veterans. The home health care department that covers all demographics is also attached to the mental and elderly units (Osborn et al., 2016). The home health department has for the past 15 years received close attention and funding with the area taking at least 25% of the total budget at The Veterans Health Administration.
The management at VHA realizes that the right way to address the issues of public health is to start at the family level (Carter et al., 2019). This led to the establishment of the home health department that has focused on the women and children care in its prime operational approach. The department has helped address cases of basic health for mothers and children thereby adding to the general public health. The VA dental care department is also a vital unit at VHA that has played a key role in the dental health of the veterans and other demographic groups (Kessler et al., 2017). The dental department that runs within the Veterans Efficiency Care unit has been a key pillar in the affairs of the elderly people.
Performance Measurement
Performance measurement and task delivery evaluation is paramount at VHA. The workforce at VHA operates under the employee work policy and ethics that demands effectiveness, quality, and ethics (Ginter, Duncan & Swayne, 2018). One of the performance measurement parameters at VHA is the tasks delivery against time and the quality therein. The human resource department is one of the most essential organs at VHA that ensures that there is effectiveness and quality performance (Wager, Lee & Glaser, 2017). The employees at VHA mainly the outpatient health care providers are required to perform with high degree of quality and effectiveness. Performance measurement and reward system at The Veterans Health Administration remain one of the best avenues through which the management ensures that the services offered at of high quality. The key to good performance measurement is the link between the employee level of training and skill against their delivery speed (Dichter et al., 2017).
One of the ways performance is measured at VHA is at departmental level. The various departments that are headed by departmental leaders are key to the delivery of service at The Veterans Health Administration (Osborn et al., 2016). The human resource managers at VHA engage in day to day assessment of the employee performance both at individual and departmental level. The tasks allocated at individual level are subjected to regular assessment by the human resource leaders at VHA and this ensures that the employees deliver as required. Performance at VHA falls into two major segments that is dictated by time and level (Ginter, Duncan & Swayne, 2018). The human resource department is required to prepare monthly reports on the performance of the employees. The other approach to performance measurement falls in both individual and department or collective level.
The human resource department leaders assess the performance of individual employees as well as the teams. To ensure that the performance is at speed with the demands of the management, the human resource leaders conduct regular assessments (Landow et al., 2015). The areas of weaknesses are noted and key steps taken to ensure that the proceeding tasks are done with more quality. Being a health care facility and organization, performance at VHA must be high quality that demands regular assessment or measurement (Ginter, Duncan & Swayne, 2018). There are both monthly and annual performance measurement timeframes that ensures that there is periodic reports on how the organization is doing in terms of performance.
Performance at The Veterans Health Administration is also measured through other pillars of growth like profitability and revenue (Kessler et al., 2017). For many years, VHA has maintained a steady growth in its revenue and this has offered it a strong performance outlook in the health care industry. The profitability at VHA has been as a result of efficiency in its workforce that points to the good performance and effectiveness (Dichter et al., 2017). Most importantly, performance in reference to revenue growth at The Veterans Health Administration has helped the human resource managers and the finance department track down areas of strengths and weaknesses. These evaluations have offered the organization a deep vision of its current and future path of growth thus paving way for even better management (Schult, Mohr & Osatuke, 2018).
VHA’s major impact within the last ten years
VHA has had remarkable contributions to the U.S. public health and wellness for all people. The organization has had many decades of operations that brings it to a closer relation with health care needs of the veterans (Ginter, Duncan & Swayne, 2018). In the past ten years, The Veterans Health Administration has received several rewards that points to its remarkable contribution to public health for the veterans and other demographic groups in the U.S. In particular, VHA has made great contributions to the provision of affordable care to the elderly as well as the women thus adding to the country’s health care agenda (Landow et al., 2015). One of the main achievements in the past ten years is the increased input in terms of budgeting and service delivery in the area of infectious diseases. In the past ten years, VHA has committed 675 million dollars in research and development of vaccines of infectious diseases (Schult, Mohr & Osatuke, 2018). These funds have helped the organization in collaboration with other private facilities and experts develop cutting edge vaccines and technology that are helping curb the infectious illnesses.
It is hard to deny the harsh reality regarding the predicaments of the homeless veterans in the U.S. VHA has collaborated with local state authorities in providing homes and health care to the homeless veterans (Ginter, Duncan & Swayne, 2018). In 2017, the organization committed a total of 250 million dollars in the building of free shelters for the homeless veterans in Texas, California, Miami, and a dozen of other states (Adams et al., 2019). The move was praised by the government as it helped ease the pressure on the issue of homelessness among veterans and other elderly or senior citizens. Since 2011, VHA has maintained a 2.5% increase in its annual budget meant for the care and shelter of the homeless veterans (Dichter et al., 2017). These funds have gone far in providing a decent life of the homes veterans in the U.S. thus showing how far VHA is willing to go in the provision of welfare for the locals.
One of the major health problems that face the veterans and other elderly people in the U.S. is mental health and depression (Kessler et al., 2017). The Veterans Health Administration has committed to ensuring that the problem is addressed by collaborating with other mental health facilities. For example, through the Affordable Care Act provisions, VHA got into agreement with the Chicago, Georgia, and Arizona where 250 billion dollars was committed into joint provision of free mental health care for the veterans in these states (Osborn et al., 2016). The move has seen at least 7500 veterans of 70 years and above receive free mental health care between 2016 and mid-2019. These efforts show that VHA is at the forefront of living to its mission and vision in creating a better world for the veterans in terms of affordable care (Ourth et al., 2016).
Through the Domiciliary Care Program, VHA has attained remarkable steps in rehabilitating and caring for the elderly (Schult, Mohr & Osatuke, 2018). The program has in the past ten years provided shelter, food, and health care to millions of veterans. It is clear that some veterans suffer from lifetime mental illnesses and dementia that leave some prone to all forms of health complications in their old age (Wager, Lee & Glaser, 2017). In response to their cry, The Veterans Health Administration though the Domiciliary Care Program has already spent 750 million dollars that has gone into free care, shelter, and food for the veterans. Those with acute mental health complications get free rehabilitation that has gone far in easing the pressure for the local authorities (Ginter, Duncan & Swayne, 2018). Domiciliary Care Program provides a 24-hour therapeutic setting for millions of veterans for the past ten years that’s playing a key role in collective public health.
VHA’s current input in the health care industry and possible future changes
VHA has made remarkable efforts and added value to the U.S. health care sector. The organization has a long list of achievements that spread across all states thereby impacting millions of lives of Americans in a positive way (Kessler et al., 2017). Through its charity funds and the voluntary services, VHA has gone far in bringing affordable care to millions of American veterans closer thus helping supplement government efforts. The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,255 health care facilities, including 170 medical centers and 1,074 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year (Osborn et al., 2016). VHA has attained some of the remarkable health care achievements that has added to the state-level public health goals.
One of the main achievements by VHA is its inclusive maternal care for pregnant mothers that has added to the life expectancy in the U.S (Dichter et al., 2017). Through its women health programs, VHA has spent billions of dollars in inventing and providing the most effective maternal care for expectant mothers thus prevent miscarriage and poor health of the infants. Through this effort, millions of expectant mothers are receiving the right pre-delivery care that is preventing miscarriages and poor health of the infants (Landow et al., 2015). Additional help is being directed to the establishment of clinics and private tele care for mothers thus ensuring proper growth of the young ones. For example, in 2018 alone, The Veterans Health Administration spent 550 million dollars in the provision of free care and post delivery health care services and checkups on mothers thus ensuring continued fertility and strong recovery after delivery (Schult, Mohr & Osatuke, 2018). These efforts have helped increase the health levels for the women and the society in general.
Another remarkable achievement by VHA is the area of elderly and the veterans who have for years been forgotten (Ginter, Duncan & Swayne, 2018). In the past five years, 25.7 Billion dollars has been spent by VHA in the provision of mental health services for free to the veterans and elderly people in the age of 70 years and above. Additionally, VHA has collaborated with local charity groups and private care facilities in funding and providing free care to the veterans thus easing the agony for this demographic group (Kessler et al., 2017). More pledges are being made by The Veterans Health Administration where its projections for 2023 is to built a care home for veterans in every state and provide shelter, food, and health care to this group.
In terms of service delivery, VHA has attained great strides both at local and national level. The effectiveness of VHA has been built over the years adding to its long period of experience that makes it stand out in the health care industry (Osborn et al., 2016). However, there are few areas that may need improvement as The Veterans Health Administration moves forward in its mission.
References
Adams, S. V., Mader, M. J., Bollinger, M. J., Wong, E. S., Hudson, T. J., & Littman, A. J. (2019). Utilization of interactive clinical video telemedicine by rural and urban veterans in the Veterans Health Administration health care system. The Journal of Rural Health, 35(3), 308-318.
Carter, S. P., Montgomery, A. E., Henderson, E. R., Ketterer, B., Dichter, M., Gordon, A. J., … & Blosnich, J. R. (2019). Housing Instability Characteristics Among Transgender Veterans Cared for in the Veterans Health Administration, 2013–2016. American journal of public health, 109(10), 1413-1418.
Dichter, M. E., Sorrentino, A., Bellamy, S., Medvedeva, E., Roberts, C. B., & Iverson, K. M. (2017). Disproportionate mental health burden associated with past‐year intimate partner violence among women receiving care in the Veterans Health Administration. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 30(6), 555-563.
Ginter, P. M., Duncan, W. J., & Swayne, L. E. (2018). The strategic management of health care organizations. John Wiley & Sons.
Kessler, R. C., Hwang, I., Hoffmire, C. A., McCarthy, J. F., Petukhova, M. V., Rosellini, A. J., … & Thompson, C. (2017). Developing a practical suicide risk prediction model for targeting high‐risk patients in the Veterans Health Administration. International journal of methods in psychiatric research, 26(3), e1575.
Landow, S. M., Oh, D. H., & Weinstock, M. A. (2015). Teledermatology within the veterans’ health administration, 2002–2014. Telemedicine and e-Health, 21(10), 769-773.
Osborn, R., Squires, D., Doty, M. M., Sarnak, D. O., & Schneider, E. C. (2016). In new survey of eleven countries, US adults still struggle with access to and affordability of health care. Health Affairs, 35(12), 2327-2336.
Ourth, H., Groppi, J., Morreale, A. P., & Quicci-Roberts, K. (2016). Clinical pharmacist prescribing activities in the Veterans Health Administration. American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy, 73(18), 1406-1415.
Peterson, K., Anderson, J., Boundy, E., Ferguson, L., McCleery, E., & Waldrip, K. (2018). Mortality disparities in racial/ethnic minority groups in the Veterans Health Administration: an evidence review and map. American journal of public health, 108(3), e1-e11.
Schult, T. M., Mohr, D. C., & Osatuke, K. (2018). Examining burnout profiles in relation to health and well‐being in the Veterans Health Administration employee population. Stress and Health, 34(4), 490-499.
Wager, K. A., Lee, F. W., & Glaser, J. P. (2017). Health care information systems: a practical approach for health care management. John Wiley & Sons.