The healthcare system is highly dependent on blood donations that hospitals receive from local and national centers. However, those supplies may be expensive, especially if a community has a monopolist. The case under consideration describes an attempt to establish a new blood center that would provide affordable material to hospitals in Charlotte, NC. However, it faced several challenges, including a rivalry with the American Red Cross.
The Center has some strengths and opportunities to continue expanding and serving the community, but its weaknesses and threats are also evident. The strengths encompass a focus on the community, high standards and satisfaction rates, adequate pricing, and membership in US blood banking organizations, which provides certain advantages. The weaknesses are costs of maintaining the Center, mismanagement of the specialized staff, poor budgeting, and unchecked expectations. The opportunities involve many potential donors, the rival’s ongoing issues and reputation loss, and demand outside of the state.
Meanwhile, the threats could be the population’s reluctance to donate blood, more rigid tests for diseases, and the rival’s updated pricing and recovery in public opinion. The decision-maker in the case is Grable, the Center’s new executive director (Swayne & Hassett, 2013). The issue appears to be financial, potentially leading to increased workload and inferior service quality (Swayne & Hassett, 2013). The problem has arisen due to the gaps in planning and insufficient membership, so an experienced manager could amend the situation.
Overall, the situation appears salvageable, despite the underlined weaknesses, threats, and ongoing difficulties. They can be offset by the Center’s rising prominence in the community, outside help, and the rival’s weakened position provided that it takes advantage of those points. It appears that the new executive director will have the necessary skills to face the issues, as his rich background indicates, so the future seems hopeful.
Reference
Swayne, L. E., & Hassett, T. (2013). Case 3: Community Blood Center of the Carolinas: Donations, donations, donations. In P. M. Ginter, W. J. Duncan, & L. E. Swayne, The strategic management of health care organizations (7th ed., pp. 476-498). John Wiley & Sons.