Introduction to Management

Management, in the context of healthcare organizations, can be defined as the science and art of guiding the human and physical resources of an organization toward satisfying the health related needs and expectations of the clients. Ensuring the quality of services is necessary to sustain the clientele. The manager needs to ensure that the outcomes of the treatment are comparable to national or international standards. Thus, for a hospital manager, effectiveness, efficiency, and quality of services in the hospital, and client satisfaction are important concerns. The chapter discusses many old books on management, which refer to three levels of management: first-line managers; mid-level managers; and top-level managers. Managers are generally responsible for managing the day-to-day functioning of an organization or a facility, a program, or an activity. Top-level managers are often involved in preparing plans for the future or in envisioning for the organization. The three cardinal functions performed by most of the managers are planning, implementation, and evaluation.