Management and Leadership Issues in Gastroenteritis Outbreak Control

This project examines the management and leadership issues surrounding the 2016 Havelock North gastroenteritis outbreak. It analyzes the organizational culture, leadership styles, and systems that contributed to the outbreak, including failures in water safety standards and communication. The pro...Read More

Running Head: MANAGEMENT & LEADERSHIP ISSUES
MANAGEMENT & LEADERSHIP ISSUES IN GASTROENTERITIS CONTROL
OUTBREAK MANAGEMENT

MANAGEMENT & LEADERSHIP ISSUES
Executive Summary
The current leadership and management issues have been analyzed for water infection
outbreak in Havelock North, New Zealand. The Inquiry findings associated the direct causes of
the gastroenteritis outbreak with the association of recommendations to reduce the impact of
such an outbreak. It was diagnosed that the systematic failure of suppliers of water in meeting
high safety standards and access to safe supply drinking water. The gastroenteritis outbreak that
took place in Havelock North was associated with water infection in drinking water. The
suppliers of water did not meet the stated standards in drinking water. Understanding the
outbreak in details led to the outcome that in New Zealand drinking water is supplied in varied
ways. A system where the organizational culture or management style is of clan culture and
leadership is transformational can have tremendous impacts on the infection outbreak control. In
order to overcome such an infection outbreak, extensive management and leadership methods
have to be applied.
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Table of Contents
Executive Summary.........................................................................................................................2
Introduction......................................................................................................................................4
Background of the Infection Control...............................................................................................4
Analysis of the gastroenteritis outbreak and factors contributing to such outbreak........................5
Applying systems thinking theory for evaluating the effectiveness................................................6
Leadership Strategies.......................................................................................................................7
Effectiveness of the outbreak communication plan and processes..................................................8
Conclusion and Recommendations................................................................................................10
References......................................................................................................................................11
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Introduction
Management and leadership issues determine the efficacy of infection control. In the
current discussion, the infection related to Havelock North drinking water has been analyzed to
understand the relevant management and leadership issues (Department of Internal Affairs,
2019). The outbreak in the scenario is analyzed related to organizational culture, leadership,
systems, and processes that led to the outbreak. The effectiveness of the outbreak management is
evaluated using systems thinking theory. Then the leadership strategies applied for management
and resolving of the scenario. Evaluation in a critical manner the effectiveness of the outbreak
communication plan and process.
Background of the Infection Control
The Havelock North Inquiry conducted an investigation on the widespread outbreak of
gastroenteritis in August 2016. The outbreak affected more than 5000 people with four deaths
from the epidemic. The Inquiry findings associated the direct causes of the gastroenteritis
outbreak with the association of recommendations to reduce the impact of such an outbreak. It
was diagnosed that the systematic failure of suppliers of water in meeting high safety standards
and access to safe supply drinking water. The water supplier did not meet the standards as
prescribed by the government (World Health Organization, 2016). Detailed investigation of the
issue revealed a lack in the enforcement of statutory obligations on the water suppliers. These
suppliers of water did not comply with the standards and needed significant transformation.
There were certain recommendations that were provided by the government for immediate
action.
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Analysis of the gastroenteritis outbreak and factors contributing to such an outbreak
The gastroenteritis outbreak that took place in Havelock North was associated with water
infection in drinking water. The suppliers of water did not meet the stated standards in drinking
water. Understanding the outbreak in details led to the outcome that in New Zealand drinking
water is supplied in varied ways. These varied methodologies of water treatment are further
dependent upon the nature and security of water. Upon diagnosis of the infection control
presence of E. coli in the water supply. Upon further analysis presence of Campylobacter as the
primary infectious agent was finalized (Trubiano et al, 2016). In New Zealand, the Health Act
1956 regulates the water supplies. The Havelock North water contamination has caused
tremendous risks in damaging public confidence in water supplies. The leading factors that have
contributed to the outbreak of the disease encompass the inability to diagnose the bacteria, the
virus responsible for the disease. Lack of enforcement of water security amongst water suppliers.
Inability to apply water safety guidelines in the region (Richardson & Storr, 2010). Inability to
communicate with the general population immediately regarding the risks of consuming infested
water. There were several smaller factors that contributed to the infection outbreak in drinking
water.
There were several contributory factors that led to the infection outbreak. However,
evaluating such reasons from the perspective of organizational culture, leadership, systems, and
processes are necessary to analyze. Outbreak management is a critical procedure and includes
capability and skills in overcoming the same. In case of an infection outbreak, there are issues
not only with sole management of the cause or population but there is often panic associated with
such an outbreak. Hence, controlling an infection and outbreak control requires possessing
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extensive skills and capabilities. The organization culture present at the time the infection
outbreak was a hierarchy culture according to the Competing Values Framework for organization
culture. There is a greater focus on the internal systems as against the stability of the system. In
hierarchical organizational culture, there is a formalized and structured work environment.
Drivers of values in this type of system include timeliness, efficiency, uniformity, and
consistency. The leader’s type followed in this type of organizational culture is monitoring,
organizing and coordinating. Presence of a transactional style of leadership made it difficult to
change and rapid response to the sudden infection outbreak. Transactional leadership is a firm
type of leadership which does not accept rapid changes. The organizational culture's focus was
more on delivering drinking water in a timely and consistent manner to the locality. Therefore,
there was less focus on the quality of drinking water supplied or conduct tests of the water to
control infection.
Applying systems thinking theory for evaluating the effectiveness
Application of systems thinking can provide valuable effectiveness of the outbreak
management in this scenario. As system theory focuses on the efficiency of the model of
decision making that it will allow the organization to deal with the change management in an
effective manner and then adapt to such changes (Zheng et al, 2010). In the current scenario, it is
crucial that effective and efficient leadership and management system is applied. Systems
thinking theory enables developing a system with specific parts that interact with one another to
form part of the complex infection outbreak control system.
With the application of systems thinking an appropriate style of management with
specified organization culture and leadership type will enhance the effectiveness. The domain of
outbreak management is extremely complex procedures. System thinking procedure can help
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resolve such complex issues by linking the various variables of the issue. The patient population
will be the most benefited from the application of systems thinking procedure. A clan culture
type of leadership is appropriate for handling infection control in such a large complex system.
In a clan culture, the working is undertaken with people who have various things in common, as
in this case, it is the spread of the infection. The people are viewed as a part of a large family and
leaders assume the role of mentor, facilitator and team builder. A system where the
organizational culture or management style is of clan culture and leadership is transformational
can have tremendous impacts on the infection outbreak control. Such a system is generally held
with a loyalty system with great involvement, bonding over morals (Huis et al, 2013). Success in
such a system will be defined in addressing the needs of the people and caring for them. It aims
at promoting teamwork, consensus, and participation. Such a system can have a high positive
impact on controlling the effects of the spread of the infection.
Leadership Strategies
The proposed leadership strategy within the systems thinking framework is of a
transformational leader. A transformational leader possesses the capability to bring about a rapid
transformation to the current prevalent system by setting a new path for achieving a said
outcome (Saint et al, 2010). The transformational leader will envision the new path to progress
and then subsequently motivate team members to participate in it and make it into a successful
outcome. The transformational style of leadership will enable accommodating systems thinking
into practice by bringing in a model of decision making. This form of leadership will be able to
effectively overcome the past challenges faced in the leadership process and management of the
infection spread.
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A transformation leader will be able to accept a new decision for prevention and
management of the infection. This, in turn, will help improvise the effectiveness of the outcome
related to controlling the infection (Zingg et al, 2015). The strategies of leadership that the
transformational leader will undertake are mentorship. Through mentoring programs, the leader
will be able to communicate and convince regarding the changing process to effectively bring
about transformation. The leader can design procedures that specifically address management
and leadership issues faced in the past, to gain a favorable outcome. Earlier there was no
teamwork present and addressing the needs of individual members of the population was not felt.
A transformational leader will facilitate the process of convincing followers to care for the
population facing the infection outbreak. The leader can devise a plan for communication such
that individual members of the team are aware regarding the procedures to be applied in the
scenario. The immediate changes or plans of actions suggested by the government needs to be
well-planned and applied by the transformational leader. A major change that the
transformational leader can bring is treating water supplies adequately and checking the quality
of water. Bringing about a procedure for monitoring and evaluating the quality of water will be a
new procedure which needs to be implemented by the leader with the team members. Adhering
to standards of drinking-water as has been deemed necessary for the supplier. Establishing a
procedural check that adheres to governmental standards of drinking water and having dedicated
sources can reduce the incidence of the outbreak. Moreover, having a dedicated health care team
which will provide healthcare services exclusively to the people suffering from E. coli will help
attain considerable outcomes. The dedicated healthcare team with a strategic process for health
monitoring will prevent further spread of the disease to other members of the population.
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Effectiveness of the outbreak communication plan and processes
An effective communication plan has to be designed that is able to contribute to reducing
impact from the infection. An outbreak communication plan aims to spread awareness regarding
the infection and the reason for such infection (Damschroder et al, 2009). Such communication
has the capability of reducing impacts from rapidly spreading infection. Some of the
effectiveness of the outbreak communication plan is;
 Making aware of the general population regarding the effects of the infection and
inability to address the spreading infection on adults and children population.
 Raising concerns regarding attempting to seek a cure from the infection at an
early stage in case any symptoms are depicted.
 Ability to make the population aware regarding the spreading of the disease and
ways to prevent it.
An effective communication plan includes encompassing certain procedures in order to
be effective. As an infection such as E. coli spreads at a random rate, it is essential that an
extensive communication plan is applied. Hence, the communication plan needs to encompass
certain processes as given below.
o The communication plan needs to encompass a promotional plan including
various methods. Promotion mechanisms such as banners, posters, television and
radio promotions and social media promotions.
o The communication plan needs to be continuously conducted over a period of
time until the infection is seen totally under control. In case the communication is
stalled for a period in time, there can be a considerable increase again in the
infection outbreak.
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o A process of communicating to the general public needs to be extensive in
manner. A one-to-one plan for communicating has to be undertaken such that
every person in the region can be made aware.
o A transformation leadership plan that encompasses managing of the outbreak of
infection control has to be highlighted to the general public. In case people can
understand a transformation management plan then there can be a visible change
brought about into the infection control system.
Conclusion and Recommendations
To conclude, it can be said that there was a lack of appropriate measures to control the
infection outbreak. It was only at a later stage of infection that the root cause of the infection
outbreak was diagnosed. In order to overcome such an infection outbreak, extensive management
and leadership methods have to be applied. Some recommendations that can enable overcoming
of the challenges faced can be applied.
 Designing a suitable communication plan to target the designated population at
Havelock North can in a continuous manner help overcome the challenges faced.
 A transformational leader can help guide members of the infection control team
in managing and leading the changing process. A transformational leader could
guide a way for accommodation of an open framework of communication
through which the challenges can be met directly.
 Empowering team members to participate in a committed and sustainable goal
will help achieve designated outcomes.
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References
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(2009). The role of the “champion” in infection prevention: results from a multisite
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Department of Internal Affairs. [2019]. Government Inquiry into Havelock North Drinking
Water.Retrieved from <https://www.dia.govt.nz/Government-Inquiry-into-Havelock-
North-Drinking-Water>
Huis, A., Schoonhoven, L., Grol, R., Donders, R., Hulscher, M., & van Achterberg, T. (2013).
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