Organization culture and structure

Organization culture and structure

Organization structure and culture in any organization plays an important role in its operation, performance, and customer satisfaction, as well as its relation to other organization. Healthy nursing culture improves highly the performance of any organization and to large extent improves patient and staff satisfaction ( Winnubst, 2004) Nurses are very crucial stakeholders as far as a healthy institution is in concern because they ensure patient wellbeing, care and safety of which is the main objective of a health institution. Therefore there is great need of any health organization administration to put in consideration the role of nurses and involve them frequently when making any decision there is also great need to create healthy organization culture which ensures hospital goals and missions are accomplished together.

Organization culture

This refers to norms, behaviours, and values that a group of people in organization embrace including the characteristics and practices that make one organization different from any other and which enables it to achieve its goals more effectively hence improving its performance (Smircich, L. 2006). Every organization has its own culture different from others which make it more competitive among others providing the same services. Organization culture need to be known by every member of the organization to ensure there is no conflict of interest among the staffs which may lower the performance and organization productivity.

Organization structure

Refers to the way organization activities are broken down to various entities such as departments, groups, branch which are responsible for their execution towards achievement of organization goals. In a hospital there are different professionals such as physicians, nurses, therapist amd many more (Smircich, L. 2006).

Nurses are critical in patient safety and hospital operation and in any organization there need to have a clear hierarchy in nursing management and operation as well as reporting and issue of commands. Major hospitals have the following types of nursing organization structures according to Eric feigeubaum.

Chief nursing officer

This is the boss in the nursing administration pyramid. He/she is the member in hospitals executive board and is involved in critical decision making for the smooth hospital operation. The nurse attends various executive meetings and represents the entire nurse department in those meetings. The nurse formulates policies and allocation of resources for junior nurse staff.

Department managers

In every department in a hospital there are departmental managers for all professions such as pediatrics, surgery, cardiology, orthopedic and nurse. Therefore nursing departmental managers oversees the operations of a department such as budget allocation, ensuring staff requirements are available and report them to department managers.

Nurse Managers

This is the head of all nurses in a certain department, and others in lower level. The function of this nurse is to ensure there is proper supply of all nurse requirements, supervise departmental nurses during their function and ensure patients receive the best services they deserve in that department. They are the ones who also plan and coordinate shifts in their respective department.

Charge nurse

They are those nurses who are charged with responsibility of ensuring activities of nursing are carried on when the responsible individuals are not available (Smircich, L. 2006). They are not always available so they are in charge of certain function or department at a certain times. For example during night shift they may be responsible for department management. They do not formulate policies but they are entitled to any other nurse functions while they are at shift.

Floor nurses

These are the lowest in the pyramid of nursing administration they share the greater portion of the entire nurse percentage in a hospital. They are the ones who deliver services to patients because they are very close to them. They are responsible for patients well being, education, counseling and some of the issues of medication.

Use of information system communication methods and decision making ability with organization culture and structure of an agency

An organization undergoes various changes in its operations with time due to technological advancement, introduction of new staffs, policies and many others. (Winnubst, J. 2004). Therefore there is great need to have an adequate information system which can help organization operations up to date. Information which is up to date contributes highly in timely proper decision making to avoid advance effects of late decisions. Decision made in time helps organization achieve its goals within the frame work hence contributing to the continuity of the organization.

When an organization adopts a culture that supports an effective communication method, its liable to achieving its goals, organizational culture contributes largely to various methods of communications that are use in conveying information in an organization which eventually affects organization performance either negatively or positively. Therefore it’s very important to put into consideration, the kind of system or method of communication that is selected to ensure high productivity or performance of an organization.

How generation difference influence the organizational culture of a work place

There are different generation in any organization which has different needs, priorities and expectations. Every generation requires perfect services and products to meet their desires. There are two known generation in an nursing organizational structure which are generation x and y. generation x is composed of mainly young and active people as compared to generation y which comprises of old leaders (Winnubst, J. (2004). Due to their diverse in ages there is also needs differences hence resulting to conflict of interest due to their difference in expectations between the generations. This may bring in motivation between the groups by each trying to become the best by proving its optimum performance which greatly influences organizational activities hence improving organizational productivity. Therefore, its crucial to understand how generation differences influence organizational culture in order to ensure there is continuity and optimal performance by encouraging and motivating each group to became the best.

How the organizational culture creates a supportive environment or a client centered care

Due to various changes occurring in a healthy environment there are challenges that hinder appropriate delivery of their functions of providing adequate health services to the patient. Each department in a hospital has its own responsibilities and targets which are to be met but they work together towards achieving the same goal. Although each department works towards meeting its own targets, one common organization goal, mission and objective motivates them to work to together hence creating a supportive environment for client centered care.

Lines of communication and reporting in an organization structure

In a certain organization flow of information to all direction is a critical function for actual operation of its activities various leaders who are at top level in an organization require information about departmental performance for them to make proper decision as well as make policies and resource allocation(Winnubst, J. 2004). Leaders also need to consult their subordinate staff before making any decision and this is a form of communication. This kind of communication from subordinate staff to executive leaders in an organization is called upward vertical communication. Top organization leaders need to communicate their decision to subordinate staff so that it can be implemented and the resulting type of communication is called downward vertical communication.

All the communications happening within the organization are termed as formal communication because the information is only rotating within the organization. Another form of formal communication is horizontal where the staffs in same department communicate information about their function among themselves. Informal communication involves communication between the organizational and other outside stake holders such as suppliers marketing regulatory authorities and so on.

REFERENCES

Winnubst, J. (2004). Organizational structure, social support, and burnout.

Smircich, L. (2006). Concepts of culture and organizational analysis.Administrative science quarterly, 339-358.