Critical Dilemma
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Critical Dilemma
In life, a person will encounter various opportunities that require the individual to make a critical decision. At that point, the individual is in a dilemma because each decision he /she decides to make may have consequences. Each side has both positive and negative consequences, and a decision must be made quickly. Mike is our case study as he is involved in some dilemmas as he commutes to work and during his work.
Consequences of a failure to report
On his journey to work, mike is involved in an accident, and he is in a dilemma whether to report the case to the management or proceed to carry out his daily duties. In the end, mike proceeds to work without reporting to the management to secure his job. Basing on the decision mike made might have consequences. One, he might have been hurt, and that he needs some medical attention. He might not have been hurt deeply or had some minor physical injuries, but having internal injuries that may have long term effects. So mike might have internal injuries, and because they were not medically accessed, might have a long term negative impact. Another consequence is that by failing to report the incident to his management, Mike will not perform his duties effectively. Accidents cause tension and anxiety, and thus a person needs to have a break or get some special attendance to allow the individual to work effectively in his/her duties.
Explain the impact his decision had on patient safety and organizational performance (risk for litigation, organization’s quality metrics, other hospital departments’ workload, etc.).
The spill on the floor increased the risk of safety in the organization. As a result, a patient falls and gets admitted. Mike would have stopped and cleaned the mess, but he feared that he would get late, which could have coasted him losing his job. Failing to clean or supervise for cleaning coasted the organization on admitting the patient and paying her hospital bills, as the organization had not put safety measures to prevent accidents. This reflects how the organization is not committed to quality issues, and this has a negative effect on organizational reputation. Again if mike decides to clean the mess, he might not achieve his duties on time and may have a negative effect on the organizational performance.
As Mike’s manager, describe how you would address the issue with him and the steps you would take to ensure other staff members do not repeat the same kind of mistake.
Being the manager to mike, I would understand the decision mike made because they did that to secure his job, which was very meaningful in his life and family. Mike would be a good example to the other staff members, and I would purpose to educate all employees on the importance of communication and to do the right thing. These two aspects are essential when an individual is required to make decisions in life when one is in a dilemma. I would educate the staff members on steps one should take when a dilemma falls on the way. When one encounters a dilemma on the way, doing the right thing will always be the best thing to do despite the consequences. But again, one should set an alert to the authority so that they may be aware.
Reflect on the scenario and describe what underlying aspects or issues may be contributing to workplace dilemmas such as this
Unethical/ inefficient leadership may cause dilemmas in the job. For instance, when the leadership does not understand people’s decisions or when the management exerts high pressure to do only what you are supposed to do, employees may find themselves in an ethical dilemma. Also, ethical consequences may bring about ethical dilemmas. The repercussions which one might have after making a decision, for instance, in the case study Mike getting late and losing a job. Conflicting objectives or competing interests also push employees into a dilemma, torn on what to do. Organization’s culture, like being strict on time, may bring ethical dilemmas.
Consider how most healthcare organizations function (structure, people, technology, environment). As a leader, discuss what principles of organizational behavior and development can be applied to effectively contribute to a healthcare organization’s success. How could these principles be applied to this scenario?
Organizational behavior is influenced by four factors, which include the environment, technology, structure, and people. Organizational behavior helps firms to succeed and reach their goals. People’s personalities, experiences, wants, desires, and attitudes shape their behavior at work. Organizational structure also affects the behavior of the staff. Structure creates a relationship between people and the organization. It leads to the division of labor according to the employee’s skills and experiences for the organization to achieve its objectives. Also, technology influences the behavior of the working staff. Working with the latest equipment in terms of technology brings about positive behavior to employees, thus meeting organization goals. Environment refers to the external influences on the organization. Changes in external influences force organizations’ management to make new regulations to guide internal behavior. All these elements contribute to the performance of the organization.
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