Implementation challenges in the case
Children’s Health Fund (CHF) is a very ambitious initiative that will help ensure that the poor in this society get access to quality healthcare facilities. Its Mobile Medical Clinic (MMC) will enable the team of doctors to move from one location to another. However, it is important to appreciate some of the challenges that this project face during its implementation. One of the main challenges that come out from this case is the source of funding.
Well-wishers fund this project. This means that the capacity of this program to meet the medical demand is limited to the amount of funds it receives from this group. Another problem is that the medical officers can only be found at one location at a time using their blue van. This makes their service unreliable, especially in cases of emergency. Given that the service is offered in several states, the service offered by this firm will make minimal impact.
Technologies used
Some of the above problems can be addressed using technology. Health information technology (HIF) can be used to enhance information management. The management team of this firm can develop programs that will help process and store clients’ information in a protected database.
The database manager should be responsible for the management of client’s data to ensure that this firm is in line with the laws governing this sector. In order to have access to vital data while in the field, the mobile van should have a wireless communication system that will link the MMC’s database with the firm’s central database at the headquarters.
In order to enhance management consistency, MMC should develop decision support system (DSS) that will guide management officers while in the field. Their decision will be based on information available in the database of the firm. DSS can also help the medics determine what the patient could be suffering from, by comparing the current symptoms of the patient and available data on similar symptoms and the conclusions previously made (Brown, DeHayes, Hoffer, Martin, & Perkins, 2012).
Conclusions
This project is very ambitious, and the management must find an appropriate way of enhancing service delivery. The management has been able to select appropriate medics, medical facilities, and an appropriate van to act as a mobile hospital. Its past service delivery history shows that this project has achieved some initial success. To mitigate these challenges, this firm needs to use emerging technologies to enhance its operations.
Recommendations
To achieve the desired success, this firm cannot ignore the importance of the emerging technologies. The following recommendations should be considered.
- Use of decision support system (DSS) to support operations of this facility, especially in the process of making decision
- Installation of wireless commination system at the MCC
- Improved and secure database at the MCC
Implications
The implication of the above recommendations is that this program will need more funding, but its service delivery will be superior to the current capacity.
End of case questions
There are newer and more affordable networks that can be tried by this mobile facility. Federal government’s HITECH stimulus funds can be meaningful in that the fund can be channeled towards improving information and communication technologies in this firm. Increase of software will not make it difficult for the physician to retain his staff.
MMC model can be rendered obsolete new facilities can be developed in several locations in the areas it currently operates in, or when it is proven that MMC lacks the capacity to offer professional services in a van as it currently does.
Strategic issues faced by the company in launching and developing e-business venture
Cliptomania move to the e-business was strategic. It came at a time when e marketing has been gaining a lot of popularity in the United States and other selected markets for this firm. However, this firm faces some strategic issues that need to be addressed by the relevant team in order to find the best approach of moving forward.
The first issue was the limited knowledge of the owners of this business in web development. This meant that they would be forced to hire individuals to undertake this project on their behalf. However, this was a costly venture given that this is a developing firm. The firm was forced to choose Yahoo as its online platform. Another concern was on the security of the transactions made via the internet.
Some of the transactions were fraudulent. However, Yahoo offered some form of solution to these problems. This came at a cost. Yahoo increased its prices by introducing rates on different transactions carried on its platform. This increased the cost of operations for this firm. This forced the team to develop its own website despite their limited skills. This firm has managed to overcome initial issues and has been successful in online marketing using some of the new platforms, such as Google.
Analysis
Moving to the online market always come with many challenges, especially at the initial stages of a firm’s development. Cliptomania has realized the potential presented by online marketing and internet-enabled transactions.
However, the management faces a serious problem on the best approach it should take in order to have an online store. The initial decision by the management to start its own website was a positive idea that could have helped this firm to develop a base of online customers. However, the management faced two challenges that are always common with most of the start-ups.
The first challenge was limited knowledge in developing a website. This meant that the firm had to hire professionals to do this work. However, this move was affected by limited finance. This forced the firm to consider the option of using Yahoo as the platform. The decision bore good fruits at the beginning, but Yahoo also increased its prices, while the quality of service it offered dropped. It is always necessary for a firm to lay its foundation on an independent ground. This way, it would be able to determine its own fate.
The performance of Cliptomania started deteriorating when the services of Yahoo became poor. This is a sign that it was basing its success on the ability of Yahoo to offer quality service. This can be very dangerous for a firm that aspires to be successful in the market. It can cost it a lot because when Yahoo fails to offer it what it desires, then its efforts would be considered as meaningless.
Recommendations
The team has concluded that the best move should be to develop its own website to facilitate all its online transactions. It is recommended that the management should engage skilled personnel in this field when developing the website.
The website should be interactive to enhance communication with the customers. It should offer a platform through which customers can easily communicate with the firm’s representatives. It should also offer the firm ability to collect, analyze and store relevant transactional information to be used when making strategic decisions.
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