Personal experience in SWOT analysis
Introduction
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital has been graded as the third largest pediatric hospital in the United States for almost three years. It was founded in the late 1880s with the union of several women who had the aim of making it a nonprofit hospital to cater for children under the age of fifteen years. Strengths of the hospital include the national fund received from the government, strategic location and competence of staff. It made the perfect company to conduct a SWOT analysis on within the team. A SWOT analysis on the company involves analyzing the strengths, faults, opportunities, and dangers.
The diversity of the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and ranking internationally made it the perfect company for analysis within the team. This analysis was however limited to SWOT analysis which meant the need to understand the characteristics and strengths of the hospital in a deeper level. Conducting such an analysis, therefore, required a serious and strong team to be formed within which communication was essential. The team was formed of serious students who were willing to forego their personal time to ensure meetings are attended and the research required is conducted. Communication within the team is essential as it determines where, when and how meetings are held. It was, therefore, important for the team members to exchange contacts through which they could get in touch and understands the stage of the research.
Creating the base of the SWOT analysis
The base of the project was achieved by conducting initial research on the background and history of the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. This involves understanding the founders of the hospital who in this case was several women in Ohio who started with a one roomed house to solve the health issues of the children freely. It was also notable within the team that the development of the hospital and expansion led to increased competition with the time as other related facilities were established. SWOT analysis for any company involves analyzing both sides of the operations meaning strengths and faults. The team was subdivided into two with one sub-group being given the role of researching the strengths and opportunities of the hospital, and the other group catered for the weaknesses and threats. The sub-groups were expected to have separate meetings during this research period with the results being presented in time to the team.
Personal roles and achievements
My personal role is highly evident in the sub-group as I have been chosen as one of the presenters after the research to the team of the strengths and opportunities in the hospital. This indicates that I have to analyze and understand each point to ensure clarity and understanding. It will also assist me to answer any questions derived within the presentation by any team member. These roles could only be achieved by ensuring attendance of all meetings, conducting extra research and making notes of all points researched by the other group members. Eloquence during presentations is an essential character which I have to practice and acquire within this research period to ensure all the points researched are clearly presented. This role might also trickle down to presenting the same in the lecture that will highly influence the marks acquired for the entire project.
Lessons learnt
Teamwork and effective communication are some of the key lessons learnt on a personal level within the group. Forming a team with diverse and strange students was complicated at the initial stage as we learnt to understand each other and work in togetherness. Teamwork requires having a head within the team who controls the meetings and their locations thus ensuring all members have separate roles. There has also been a lot to learn regarding the operations and analysis of the hospital in a bid to acquire the best research in the project. It is notable that the hospitals longevity in the industry, accessible location and parking, national funds and expansion strategy to have a medical school is some of the strengths and opportunities acquired during the research.
Suggestions
The team has tried to work effectively and achieve the expected results within a limited time given. There are however several suggestions that can be implemented to improve this outcome. Facilitating more meetings within the team other than insisting on meetings of the sub-groups can improve the team outcome. The group members should be involved in personal interactions to enable them acquire in-depth understanding of each other. Confidence within the group can also be achieved by allowing each member to chair the meetings on different days other than having a group leader who chairs all the meetings.
Potential and expected outcome
The main expected outcome of the team is to present an acceptable and convincing project on Cincinnati Children’s Hospital thus increasing one's marks in this lecture. Some of the team members are however reluctant in conducting their researching thus delaying the final outcome of the group. These members should be encouraged to improve on their performance through effective communication and appreciation when one achieves their set target.
