Essay on Strategic Planning Analysis: National Institute of Health
The National Institute of Health is the biomedical research facility and the agency of the US government responsible for biomedical research activities. The institute conducts studies in the field of biomedicine to assess current risks and threats to the public health, develop programs of the prevention of those threats and elaborate on effective policies that minimize risks and threats associated with biomedical factors, as well as many other issues related to biomedical studies. At the same time, the National Institute of Health is an important agency that performs an important part in the development of the biomedical science in the US and conducts biomedical studies, which have a considerable impact on the development of science, health care and other important areas of the life of the US. In actuality, the National Institute of Health is the major institution in the field of biomedical studies but its position is still quite challenging because of its high level of dependence on government contracts and funding and the possible threat of stiffening of the competition from the part of private organizations and institutions.
Internal and external assessment
The internal and external assessment of the National Institute of Health involves the detailed internal and external analysis of the organization focusing on its internal strengths and weaknesses and external threats and opportunities (Corbyn, 2011). These factors have a considerable impact on the development of the National Institute of Health and determine its further progress.
Internal strengths of the National Institute of Health are diverse and substantial. In this regard, it is worth mentioning three major strengths of the institute, including the solid scientific basis, human resources, and innovative technologies and equipment available to employees working in the institute. The solid scientific basis involves the available findings and scientific developments in the field of biomedical studies, which are advanced and allow the institute to take the leading position in the US in biomedical studies. Human resources comprise the intellectual core of the institute because the institute unites the most prospective scientists working in the field of biomedical studies, who can work in the institute either as intramural or extramural professionals, i.e. professionals which are either employed directly by the National Institute of Health or which are contracted for specific projects respectively (Costello, 2010). In addition, the equipment available to professionals working in the National Institute of Health is, to a significant extent, unique because a large part of the equipment has been developed for specific needs of the institute and is exclusive that means that there are either a few or no similar equipment in other institutions in the US or even worldwide.
Internal weaknesses of the institute are relatively few, but still they may and do interfere in the overall performance of the institute. Internal weaknesses of the National Institute of Health include certain bureaucratization of its organizational structure, the government control and, therefore, dependence on the government funding of the institute, and the risk of the poor communication within the growing institute. The emerging bureaucracy of the National Institute of Health is the result of the growth of the institute and expansion of its operations. The institute opens new units and departments but such growth raises the problem of bureaucratization that decreases the organizational performance of the institute. The government control and high dependence of the institute on the government funding limits its financial opportunities and, in a way, scope of studies conducted by researchers working in the institute, because they have to focus on specific tasks set by the government rather than on tasks and issues of their interest. At the same time, the expansion of the National Institute of Health raises the problem of the deterioration of communication between its outlets, units and professionals working in the institute. Communication gaps can also deteriorate consistently the organizational performance of the institute.
External opportunities of the National Institute of Health are substantial and they open the way for the further progress of the institute to take one of the leading positions in the US. In fact, the National Institute of Health can become the leader in the field of biomedical studies and, thus, concentrate the major scientific projects in this field within the institute (Corbyn, 2011). At the moment, the National Institute of Health holds the leading position in the US due to the accumulation of considerable financial, technical and scientific resources within the institute. More important, the institute employs the most prospective scientists that puts it into the leading position in the field of biomedical studies in the US.
Another opportunity of the National Institute of Health is the possibility of the development of international cooperation that opens the way for the expansion of the institute operations and collaborations with global and international institutions. As the international cooperation in the field of science and biomedical studies, in particular, keeps progressing, the National Institute of Health has an opportunity to boost its cooperation at the international level and expand the scope of its operations internationally (Karp, et al., 2008). As a result, the institute can get access to international markets as well as international human resources, which can accelerate the development of the National Institute of Health even more.
In addition, the National Institute of Health can attract professionals and research institutions for the further collaboration, including the development of projects under the institute brand for private companies, non-profit organizations or states. The closer international cooperation can enhance the competitive position of the National Institute of Health in international markets. The institute can work on projects not only for the US government or US-based companies but also for international organizations, governments of other countries or private companies based outside the US.
External threats include the possible risk of the competition from the part of non-government agencies, the threat of the shortage of funding by the government, and the threat of possible changes in the government policies that can make the National Institute of Health unattractive for scientists and researchers, who are not employed in the institute as intramural professionals. The risk of the growing competition from the part of non-government agencies and institutions is high because private institutions are progressing due to the growing interest of business to biomedical studies, since their finding can be used in different fields and bring considerable profits.
Furthermore, the threat of the shortage of funding of the National Institute of Health by the government is quite high since, in the time of economic downturns, the government can start saving costs and the institute may become one of the ‘victims’ of such government costs cuts. The decrease of the government funding raises the problem of finding new sources of funding that is a challenge for the National Institute of Health because the institute has accustomed to rely on government projects and funding mainly.
In such a situation, the change of the government policy is another threat, which is closely intertwined with the dependence of the National Institute of Health on the government. The change of the government policy may lead to the reduction of projects related to biomedical studies or change of priorities. In addition, the change of priorities lead to the change in the focus of biomedical studies, while many researchers work on their projects for years and, after unexpected changes of government policies and priorities, their projects may face the risk of being shut down that will put under a threat their scientific career.
Competitive marketing analysis
The current position of the National Institute of Health is quite strong in terms of rivalry because the institute is the government agency that relies on government contracts, funding and policies (Costello, 2010). On the one hand, such dependence on the government makes the position of the institute fragile, in case of the emergence of stiff competition from the part of private institutions and organizations. On the other hand, the National Institute of Health can count on the stable support and contracts from the government that virtually guarantees the institute the steady development in the future.
The current competitive position of the National Institute of Health is unchallenging but there is a threat of new entrants and emergence of substitutes, especially if other institutions will expand the scope of their studies and focus on biomedical studies (Costello, 2010). As a result, the government may just refuse from the National Institute of Health and prefer more universal research institutions that provide the broader scope of research and focus not only on biomedical studies but also on other studies as well. On the other hand, there is no institution in the US that has such a solid scientific basis in the field of biomedical science that enhances the position of the National Institute of Health because its re-organization or replacement by another institution would lead to the step back in the development of biomedical studies in the US. The US government is hardly ready for such a step back at the moment, taking into consideration the growing importance of biomedical studies in the modern science and medicine ().
Identification of stakeholders
In actuality, the National Institute of Health has multiple stakeholders, among which it is possible to single out scientists and researchers working in the institute, the managerial staff of the institute, the government, other agencies related to biomedical studies, citizens, who rely heavily on scientific studies and findings made in the National Institute of Health that can help to prevent numerous threats to the public health in the US. Scientists comprise the core of the intellectual basis of the institute and they are the major asset of the institute. The managerial staff of the institute is also extremely important, taking into consideration the growing organizational complexity of the National Institute of Health. The government is the major customer of the National Institute of Health and, at the same time, its major source of funding and the stakeholder that determines the further development of the institute. Other agencies related to biomedical studies perform a significant part but they rather support the development of the National Institute of Health and cannot change it consistently. Finally, citizens are stakeholders, whom the National Institute of Health is actually working for. Biomedical studies conducted by scientists in the National Institute of Health or contracted by the institute for particular projects work for the public safety, health and well-being.
Competencies and resources
Core competencies of the National Institute of Health and professionals working in the institution are closely related to biomedical science. Professionals working in the institute should be proficient in biomedical science and have extensive experience in this field (Corbyn, 2011). At the same time, they should be able to develop and introduce innovation and success-oriented. Otherwise, they will be unable to perform effectively in the National Institute of Health.
As for resources, it is possible to distinguish human resources, financial resources, and technical resources the National Institute of Health requires for its stable performance. Human resources comprise the main asset of the institute, but government funding is essential for its stable performance and retention of the personnel. As for technical resources, they contribute to the formation of a solid scientific basis of the institute and allow scientists to conduct their studies and experiments in the field of biomedical science.
Current and future directions of the organization
At the moment, the National Institute of Health sets the following goals to achieve:
- to foster fundamental creative discoveries, innovative research strategies, and their applications as a basis for ultimately protecting and improving health;
- to develop, maintain, and renew scientific human and physical resources that will ensure the Nation’s capability to prevent disease;
- to expand the knowledge base in medical and associated sciences in order to enhance the Nation’s economic well-being and ensure a continued high return on the public investment in research; and
- to exemplify and promote the highest level of scientific integrity, public accountability, and social responsibility in the conduct of science (NIH, 2014).
To achieve the aforementioned goals, the National Institute of Health provides leadership and direction to programs designed to improve the health of the Nation by conducting and supporting research:
- in the causes, diagnosis, prevention, and cure of human diseases;
- in the processes of human growth and development;
- in the biological effects of environmental contaminants;
- in the understanding of mental, addictive and physical disorders; and
- in directing programs for the collection, dissemination, and exchange of information in medicine and health, including the development and support of medical libraries and the training of medical librarians and other health information specialists (NIH, 2014).
The National Institute of Health holds the leading position in the US in the field of biomedical studies. In the future, the institute is likely to retain and enhance its position with the possibility of the international expansion.
Conclusion
Thus, the National Institute of Health holds a strong position in the US and has the potential to keep growing not only in the US but also internationally. The National Institute of Health has a solid scientific basis and employs the most prospective scientists working in the field of biomedical studies. Even though the institute relies heavily on the government, it still has a considerable potential for the further growth and deeper cooperation with private companies, international organizations, and other governments.
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