The paper concerns a dispute between Elmwood Hospital and the Concerned Community Coalition (CCC). Elmwood is a private hospital operated by a board of trustees that used to cater to a white, middle-class community up until ten years ago. It is currently undergoing financial strain due to the expanding low-income neighborhood. This neighborhood is represented by the CCC and demands that Elmwood appropriately addresses local medical needs. Although the director is sympathetic, his primary aim is to ensure the hospital’s institutional strength by increasing research opportunities and building new facilities that incentivize the present staff to stay rather than go elsewhere.
Elmwood Hospital has legitimate, rewarding, and expert power over the CCC. While the CCC is merely a coalition of residents protesting for change, the current board of trustees has legitimate power over the hospital’s resources and future projects (“ORGL 370: Conflict and Negotiation: Week Five”). Furthermore, they can reward the CCC by providing much-needed medical assistance if they terminate their sit-in. Elmwood’s staff of doctors and nurses have high levels of skill and knowledge that can potentially solve CCC’s issues of infant mortality, tuberculosis, and lead poisoning, which grants them expert power. Elmwood should leverage its expertise and resources to negotiate a favorable deal with the opposing group.
The Elmwood board and director should lead the negotiation with the following points. Firstly, the board should demonstrate its superior negotiating position to the CCC by establishing its legitimate and expert power. Secondly, they should point out that the hospital is a privately owned institution with no obligation to serve the community. Thirdly, they should prove that the heart research facility and nurse residence are beneficial for the CCC. If the present professionals cannot be retained with such incentives, there will be no one to help the residents anymore. In general, Elmwood must display its power and demonstrate how fulfilling its plans will also benefit the local community.
Work Cited
“ORGL 370: Conflict and Negotiation: Week Five.” [PDF]