Scenario Planning
Shouldice Hospital is faced with serious challenges in their future. As management discussed, the most critical one is to determine how to increase their capacity to meet their demand. Even after management satisfies its increasing demand, there are other issues that they will need to address to ensure sustainability. They need to consider the role of government regulations and its impact on overall operations of the new and old facility. They also need to consider potential competitors using the Shouldice reputation to advance their interests.
This was a concern Dr. Shouldice mentioned while alluding to the ad placed in Florida:
One way Shouldice hospital could attempt to minimize competitor advantage would be to obtain a patent for their ‘Shouldice Technique’ procedure and treatment for abdominal hernia repair surgery.
As Dr. Shouldice noted, he considers himself a doctor first and an entrepreneur second. If the patent is secured for the ‘Shouldice Technique’, concern for other …show more content…
After securing the patent, the doctors would be able to focus on their teaching and not worry about other competitors trying to emulate their technique or benefiting from copying it for their own personal gains. Another issue that requires consideration is for Shouldice Hospital to begin succession planning for all managers and key non-management employees. This would allow Dr. Obney, age 65 to retire. It typically takes about 6 months to a full year to train and orient new managers and staff, doctors and even longer for executive level positions. With the expansion of the new facility, Saturday surgeries could be implemented initially at the new facility, so that newly hired employees would embrace this schedule from the beginning of their employment with Shouldice Hospital. This schedule would become part of the facility culture from day one of employment for all
Shouldice Hospital is faced with serious challenges in their future. As management discussed, the most critical one is to determine how to increase their capacity to meet their demand. Even after management satisfies its increasing demand, there are other issues that they will need to address to ensure sustainability. They need to consider the role of government regulations and its impact on overall operations of the new and old facility. They also need to consider potential competitors using the Shouldice reputation to advance their interests.
This was a concern Dr. Shouldice mentioned while alluding to the ad placed in Florida:
One way Shouldice hospital could attempt to minimize competitor advantage would be to obtain a patent for their ‘Shouldice Technique’ procedure and treatment for abdominal hernia repair surgery.
As Dr. Shouldice noted, he considers himself a doctor first and an entrepreneur second. If the patent is secured for the ‘Shouldice Technique’, concern for other …show more content…
After securing the patent, the doctors would be able to focus on their teaching and not worry about other competitors trying to emulate their technique or benefiting from copying it for their own personal gains. Another issue that requires consideration is for Shouldice Hospital to begin succession planning for all managers and key non-management employees. This would allow Dr. Obney, age 65 to retire. It typically takes about 6 months to a full year to train and orient new managers and staff, doctors and even longer for executive level positions. With the expansion of the new facility, Saturday surgeries could be implemented initially at the new facility, so that newly hired employees would embrace this schedule from the beginning of their employment with Shouldice Hospital. This schedule would become part of the facility culture from day one of employment for all