Discussion 8 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Discussion 8 - Essay Example This is Heyman’s first element for a proactive organization. In fact, prior to our meetings the person who is to preside over the meeting is expected to send, 24 hours before the meeting, a copy of the sequence of topics for discussion. In the meetings, the scope of the agenda is carefully observed and side topics for further discussion are tabled for another meeting. In the agenda, an item is always included that requests for contribution from all participants in the meeting, and before the meeting is adjourned all participants are clarified on the accomplishments they must fulfill and report for accountability at the next meeting. Rasler (2010) also notes that as far as marketing is concerned, a proactive approach does more than fulfill a need, but rather it aims at creating a need – that is, to explore new markets and new untapped customers who would benefit from the company’s products. This is a direction our company has been taking with our lineup of medical equipment and supplies; rather than targeting the usual hospitals and clinics, we have begun to market to homes and patients who have special interests in certain types of equipment. References Heyman, P (12 Dec. 2012) ‘Is Your Organization Proactive or Reactive?’ Bridging Associates. Available at http://www.bridgingassociates.com/wp/2012/12/12/is-your-organization-proactive-or-reactive/ Rasler, K (27 Dec 2010) ‘Run a Proactive, Not Reactive, Business.’ ACHR News. Available at http://www.achrnews.com/articles/run-a-proactive-not-reactive-business 2.What adaptive challenges face your industry in the next five years?   How equipped is your company / organization to deal with them? There are at least two major challenges that I see in the next five years for the market in medical devices and equipment, the industry in which my organization, St. Luke’s Medical, operates in. One challenge involves the technological changes that are expected to take pla ce, of which there are three key trends. These are: (1) the miniaturization of devices; (2) the development of diagnostic technology capable of earlier and more accurate diagnoses; and (3) advances in IT and e-health technologies (Ford, 2013). The first challenge therefore has to do with keeping the staff and promotional literature current with the new developments. While the staff has good background in the past and current medical technologies, newer, revolutionary medical devices will be operating under new mechanisms and therefore may not be within the understanding and competence of our staff who are more marketing-educated and trained. They will have to see the new equipment in use and understand how they operate so that they (the staff) may be competent to answer the questions of customers. The second major challenge is the developing demographics, the forthcoming changes in the health care legislation, and their implications on the demand for medical devices. This is more di fficult to address than the first challenge because of the uncertainties particularly in the soon-to-be-implemented affordable health care legislation. One of the implications is the 2.3% medical device excise tax which has taken effect as of the start of 2013. While the tax is supposed to be paid by the manufacturer or importer, since this is a cost of doing business the