Operational Management Skills in Healthcare: A Detailed Report

This report delves into the critical aspects of operational management within the healthcare sector, focusing on the National Health Service (NHS) in England. It explores the roles and responsibilities of operational managers, emphasizing essential skills like team-working and communication. The report examines various leadership theories, including the Great Man theory, trait theory, behavioral theory, transactional theory, and transformational theory, and their application in aligning management styles. It also analyzes different leadership models, such as autocratic and laissez-faire leadership, and strategies for resolving conflicts within healthcare practices. Furthermore, the report highlights the importance of effective operational management in enhancing efficiency, coordinating resources, and improving patient care, ultimately contributing to organizational growth and success.

Operational
Management Skills
in HealthCare

.
Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................4
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................4
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................4
P1 Roles and responsibilities of an operational manager.......................................................4
P2 Several personal skills are prioritised in leadership..........................................................5
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................5
P3 Several theories of leadership and its application.............................................................5
P4 Support of theories in aligning management style............................................................6
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................7
P5 Theoretical models of leadership......................................................................................7
P6 Strategies for resolving conflicts in healthcare practice....................................................7
TASK 4............................................................................................................................................8
Covered in PPT.......................................................................................................................8
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................10

INTRODUCTION
Operation management is commonly acknowledged effective administration of business
practices for maximising efficiency level within an entity. Mainly, this is associated with the
conversion of materials as well as efforts of labours into goods and services which results in the
attainment of higher organisational benefits. With reference to the healthcare sector, it can be
said effective management of operational activities helps individuals or healthcare practitioners
in serving their customers in best possible way. The present report is based on NHS, a publicly
funded healthcare system in England. The respective entity was incorporated in the year 1948
and headquartered at Richmond House, London, England.
This project includes detailed information on the operation management within the
healthcare sector and its contribution in the growth. Moreover, the information is explained on
competencies that are required by operational manager in healthcare practice. Also, applications
of different theories of leadership to operational management in healthcare practice.
Furthermore, explanation is provided on several leadership skills required for managing team in
health care practice. Lastly, the appropriate plan is developed with the motive of improving an
area of provision in healthcare practice
MAIN BODY
TASK 1
P1 Roles and responsibilities of an operational manager
Operational manager plays huge role in the growth of the healthcare institution as it
contributes in executing all the activities within the timely manner. With reference to the
operational manager of the NHS, it can be said that the respective operational manager of this
company is required to perform several roles and responsibilities which are specified as below in
detailed manner:
 Operational manager of NHS is mainly responsible for coordinating and organising
available resources and services in order to perform day to day activities effectively.
 Coordination with the existing clinical staff members and available professionals
 Analysing and resolving service delivery issues

 Deal with the staff and answer their queries for avoiding chances of conflicts at
workplace.
 Analyse the current market situation and then implement the change so that they
performance of the healthcare institution can be improved in rightful manner.
P2 Several personal skills are prioritised in leadership
Operational manager within the healthcare institution like NHS are required to have
several set of skills as well as knowledge which ultimately helps them out in executed
operational tasks in appropriate manner. It is here important for the operational manager to go for
effective leadership approach that provides complete support to the individual in executing their
job responsibilities as the operational manager. The core skills that are required to be developed
by manager of NHS is effective team working skills which provides them clear support in
completely work with the contribution of team members. With the effective development of this
skill, operational manager can easily deliver faster services to the patients that would also
contribute in their recovery effectively. Also, it contributes in minimising the chances of errors
as well as mistake in terms of the services that are being provided to the customers by the staff
members. In addition to this, operational manager of the entity are also required to develop
communication skills especially soft speaking skill that clearly provides them support in
convincing employees to perform their work in appropriate manner and which ultimately
provides contribution in providing best services to the patients in an appropriate manner.
TASK 2
P3 Several theories of leadership and its application.
There are several types of types of leadership theories that are being adopted by the
operational managers in healthcare practice in order to execute their work in rightful manner.
These different theories of leadership are specified as below in detailed manner:
The great man theory
This theory clearly states that the leaders are born they cannot be developed. Here, it can
be said that according to this theory leadership is the inherent quality. As per this, the effective
leaders are having natural attributes such as courage, intelligence, intuition, charm and
confidence as compared to others.
The trait theory

Trait theory clearly specifies that there are several natural qualities which depicts that the
leader is highly effective and hardworking. As per this theory, an effective leader is required to
have strong skills such as strong listeners, communicators etc. Here, it can be said that some
leaders may be excellent listeners or communicators, but not every listener or communicator
makes an excellent leader.
The behavioural theory
This theory completely focuses on acquiring leadership as the individuals own learning
environment which have been experienced by them from their starting stage of their grooming. It
can be said that surrounding of the individual plays essential role in person’s leadership qualities
and experiencedbehaviour in the particular situation. Here, it has been acknowledged that the
individual who owns this type of leadership are more likely to act or take decisions as per their
environmental responsive behaviour.
The transactional theory or management theory
This form of leadership mainly focuses management theory which includes rewards and
penalties. It commonly follows the hierarchicalleadership approach that is mainly focused on
results. The respective leadership style emphasises on acquiring structure rather than the
creativity.
The transformational theory or relationship theory
This theory is often called as relationship theory which clearly shows that main
emphasises of entity is on developing strong relationship among team members and leaders.
Also, it has been seen that this theory influences leaders to motivate its team so that they can
perform the assigned work with the passion and enthusiasm.
P4 Support of theories in aligning management style
It has been analysed that usage of several theories contributes in the effective alignment of
managementstyle in several healthcare practices. Along with this, it can be said that these
theories are used by healthcare practitioners in several zones according to its core requirements.
Here, it can be said that usage right theory at right place simply contributes health care practices
to be executed in most appropriate manner. In addition to this, it has also been analysed that it is
the most important for the healthcare practitioners to focus analysing the management situation
first and then find the best leadership style so that they can execute the work and attain success in
rapid manner.

TASK 3
P5 Theoretical models of leadership
In every organization, leadership practices plays very essential role in the development of
effective teams. In reference to healthcare sector, it has been said that there are various sort of
leadership styles used by healthcare professionals so that they can effectively develop as well as
manage their teams within the workplace. In the present context of NHS, there are some
common leadership styles adopted by leaders are going to be discussed as follows:
 Autocratic leadership: It is the leadership style where leaders decide each and every task
and does not acquire their teams opinion and view. They are the one who takes decision
on their basis of their own view. This is the type of leadership style where leaders are
strict and does not follow other opinions. In the present context of NHS, it has been said
that the leadership style followed by the higher authorities is autocratic leadership style
where they take decisions by their own and does not favour other people opinion and
thought. This as a result assist in taking quick decision which leads towards the growth
and development of a healthcare organization at the competitive marketplace. Laissez-faire leadership style: Another best and most effective leadership style is laissez-
faire where employees have full freedom in order to take decisions and contribute their
thought and views for the growth and development of an organization. In this context,
managers of NHS, use this method where they provide full authority and freedom to their
staff members in order to maintain their growth at the competitive marketplace where
they develop effective image of their organisation and their employees.
P6 Strategies for resolving conflicts in healthcare practice.
Each and every organization have some sort of issues where there staff members create
disputes and conflicts at the workplace environment. For eliminating such issues and conflicts,
managers of the develop various strategies and policies which leads towards the development of
business performance. In the present context of NHS, managers develop various strategies and
policies so that there employees feel safe and confident. These strategies are going to be
discussed as follows:

1.Avoiding: It refers to the strategy where the managers just ignore or avoid the situation and
thinks that it will resolve the disputes itself. This is the most unprofessional method of resolving
conflicts and disputes.
2. Accommodating: It has been said that using this strategy to resolve disputes and conflict
essentially includes taking steps inorder to satisfy the third party's concerns aswell as demands
the expense of their own.
3. Compromising: The strategy wherea compromising situation arise where both the parties
tries to compromise at their own level in order to reduce conflicts and disputes.
4. Competing: There are some managers and leaders who uses this strategy where they tries to
compete in order to satisfy their needs at the cost of third party.
5. Collaborating: At the end, this is the strategy where a solution is find by the management
team in order to satisfy the concern of all parties involved in this process.
Above mentioned strategies are followed by the higher authorities of NHS in order to resolve
conflicts and issue arise at the workplace. This will assist in creating positive and strong
relationship among the employees and staff members which help in attaining desired targets
effectively.
TASK 4
Covered in PPT
CONCLUSION
On the basis of information provided in the above section, it is concluded that operation
management is highly important in every sector which ultimately supports the business in
maximising their performance with full efficiency. Along with this, it has been later analysed
that strong communication skill, team working skill etc. in order to improvise their working
practices effectively which ultimately results in the accomplishment of organisational goals in
appropriate form. The main role of the operational manager is to coordinate with the existing
clinical staff members and available professionals. Also, another influential role is to deal with
the staff and answer their queries for avoiding chances of conflicts at workplace.

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