Strategic and Business Planning in Health Services and Social Care

Course Tutors

Sepetis Anastasios

Course Outline

The aim of the course is for postgraduate students to further deepen and acquire specialized knowledge in the field of Strategic and Business Planning in Health Services and Social Care, to acquire and improve skills and abilities related to the formulation and implementation of a business strategy and planning to achieve the planned goals and take advantage of the opportunities and possibilities presented within and external environment of the health, welfare and social protection system.

In health and social care services and organizations, the implementation of rational and efficient management, systematic organization and management aiming at improving overall effectiveness, lead to the preparation and implementation of strategic and operational plans, recognizing mainly the importance of non-economic factors such as the social, political and working environment, user satisfaction, quality of services offered, etc.

The preparation of a strategic and operational programme for a health and social care institution is based on the concept of social and qualitative orientation. The strategic plan includes the definition of the main objectives and the process of choosing the appropriate strategy. Choice of strategy is a critical function, on the success of which the success and prospects of an agency or organization as a whole depend to a large extent. The business plan respectively specifies the objectives of the strategic plan and the methods of their realization.

The strategic-operational plans contribute on the one hand to ensuring the efficiency and effectiveness of health and social care services and organizations and on the other hand to ensuring their operation within the framework of an open system of interconnection and synergy between their internal and external environment.

Upon completion of the course, postgraduate students will be able to know, use, apply and further improve methods and techniques related to:

• The methodologies of documenting the current situation of a health and social care institution in relation to its internal and external environment.
• The techniques of strategic analysis and business planning in real business problems.
• Understand and apply concepts of business environment and competition analysis, internal analysis and organizational structure.
• The elaboration of a strategic framework for action of the institution that identifies procedures for documenting its strategic choices.
• The ways in which the set goals will be achieved.
• The type and scope of actions required.
• The design, development and evaluation of operational planning action plans.