This is the first Avance EMBA blog in english. Hence I would like first to say something general about Avance and about this blog and then I will proceed to put forward one talking point about economy and its role in modern professional organization. I do hope that you will find this text intriguing and I do hope that you will decide to write your comments and views for us all to see.Avance runs high class AMBA accredited EMBA program. As a unit which belongs to the University of Jyväskylä, Avance on its part is committed in developing academic approach and our goal is to provide new platforms where fruitful discussion and collaboration between research and practice can take place.
Also our goal is that our EMBA program and other Avance executive programs are truly challenging and rewarding experiences. Our aim is that eventually this blog would be one forum where we could share our views and experiences and invite others to elaborate important issues with us.
Lets get started. This blog takes up just one topic which has been discussed in EMBA module Talouden workshop, Workshop in Economy. At first, it is exiting to realize that it is next to impossible translate the name of this module in English, the translation hides more than what it tells. Thus let me begin with few words about this module, what it is all about. The module examines executives and experts in their real life situations and asks them to reflect how economy is present in everything what they plan, think and do. In this module the participants put on economy binoculars and look their position as a decision maker, leader and doer through those lenses. The point is to locate most important issues from economic perspective. The aim is to locate the biggest possibilities and also the largest challenges when examined from economical perspective. In addition it is not enough to locate those issues, instead the task is to think how these issues could be tackled in real life circumstances.
One topic which created a lot of discussion this year is whether and how economic considerations should guide experts when they make their decisions in different settings. In complex modern organizations and in the face of highly demanding tasks, experts have a lot of room to decide how to proceed in different situations. In our EMBA module the question put to all participant is that how economical factors play a part when experts in their organizations choose how to handle different situations and what route they decide to take. I suggest that each executive, leader and expert has to make her/his stance and clarify to her/himself how in my organization and in my position economy and professional decision making are linked together and whether economical aspects play a too big or a too modest role.
Please join the discussion. Should executives coach experts in economical thinking and action, or vice versa? How economical thinking and action could be improved in real life situations? You may comment this blog by writing your comment on this blog page or you can send me an email with the information which you may wish the share in addition to your name (name and email is enough if you wish so). I look forward to hearing from you!
ari.manninen(at)jyu.fi
Thanks Ari for interesting questions. When we talk about public services, we must always remember the limits in funding. Tax revenue is always kind of zero-sum game. We can’t raise taxes free, we must listen for taxpayers, either personal or enterprise taxpayers. No one on public sector is fully free from economic limits. And I think, that also in private sector there are also economic limits for doctors. Costs must be reasonable for the payers.
VastaaPoistaSo, doctor working in public sector can’t be free of economic thinking. BUT. It’s much more easier to say, than act. In everyday work doctors should take into account the limits of the economy and work out their professional practice to take into account also many other perspectives.
You ask: Should executives coach experts in economical thinking and action, or vice versa? How economical thinking and action could be improved in real life situations?
My opinion is, that both better. Some doctors need better awareness of disposable funds, and the principles of fair treatment and matching them. The executives in healthcare on the contrary need more knowledge of fair treatment and cost-effective methods approving investments in hospitals. When both are on the same side, understanding the realities of the economics and aim for good impact in healthcare, we may expect good, cost-effective and influential results.
The answer is “Economy should guide medical doctor”
Timo Ketola
Finance Director
Town of Alavus
timo.ketola(at)alavus.fi