Question

Can you describe and outline issues related to globalization, power, followership and culture change from a health leader’s perspective?

Answer 1

Globalization has seemingly overwhelmed many organizations and leaders within them because of the rapid pace and lack of training many leaders have had on dealing with and understanding the various communities across the globe. Many organizations spend more time and resources providing employees training on new equipment and software than developing managerial and leadership skills. This occurs many times in spite of the discussion that visionary leadership is what is needed to compete, succeed, and to continue to grow as an organization in our global world. Another reason may be due to the fact that until very recently, global business was considered the purview of a few large businesses and as a sideline for the few others that participated in this area. Reasons for developing a model of global leadership and the competencies that are required to successfully implement the leadership model. Global leadership models must draw from many academic disciplines to be able to understand and appreciate the business environment across the globe. By using a multi-disciplinary approach, leaders are able to understand the communities where the organization is present and have the ability to work with and motivate people in the different cultures. The model also points out that domestic leadership models that work in a particular country will not always work in the global environment. Within the United States, the concept of long-term efficiencies are common in leadership. The exploitation of short-term inefficiencies is not always congruent with the culture and the realities in the global marketplace, so there must be new ways of looking at leadership within the context of organizational goals and global realities. The central point is that to develop a workable and realistic model for global leadership, the organization must understand how the model should be structured so as to take into account the need for culture, global strategy, and the development of leadership competencies that are needed to move the organization forward in a competitive manner. To be able to provide training to provide training for leaders in global leadership competencies for the future utilizing a generalized model of global leadership, the organization must ensure there are people within the organization that have the knowledge, skills, and abilities to teach and train on this multi-disciplinary approach.

Without having these trained people, it may be difficult – if not impossible – to imbue the organization with the competencies because there will be a serious lack of credibility within the organization for the trainer(s) and the program.While it is important that an organization develop a global leadership model that works for them, various organizations must work together to develop a universally applicable leadership model that is separate from the internal model that works just within that particular organization. By creating this global leadership model, all organizations can change the model to meet their needs and assist to integrate their organization into the global economy while at the same time helping to meet all the organizational goals for a particular organization. There also needs to be a specific component that addresses the importance of culture on the leadership model and the practice of leadership within the global environment. By addressing the cultural component of leadership, leaders will be able to understand and apply difference culturally relevant leadership behaviors and skills. By addressing the cultural element organizations can determine if they are strong or weak in the areas that deal with local and regional cultures throughout the globe. By understanding these aspects, an organization will be able to have a seamless integration with strategic partners or communities throughout the world without the enormous pressure to accomplish this integration without the knowledge of how to accomplish the goals.

Because more people and goods are free to move across borders, it is creating new challenges to global health. This is because the health of populations are either directly or indirectly impacted by globalization. Populations are directly affected through the healthcare delivery system. Globalization has provided opportunities for healthcare organizations to rapidly develop their products, and to expand their network of customers. However, from a health leader's perspective, there are still a number of health concerns. For example, there are changes in where and how many health products are produced, which is not always in the best interest of US hospitals and their patients. Most of the US nutritional supplements, exam gloves, and other products are manufactured overseas. This poses a risk for Americans because if there was a global pandemic, the country manufacturing the products would get the goods.

Additionally, there is an increase in international competition for qualified medical personnel, which could raise labor costs in the United States. For example, if foreign medical students and health professionals, currently in America, choose to work overseas, this could cause a shortage of workers in some medical specialties in the United States. As a result, wages for those workers will rise. Also, greater opportunities in their native countries or other countries could reduce the number of foreign health professionals practicing in the United States.This would mean that underserved rural communities would be hit the hardest, since many foreign health professionals work in those areas.

Human mobility has caused an increase in antimicrobial drug-resistant organisms and drug-resistant infectious diseases in US hospitals. Interregional migration and international population mobility has affected the spread and distribution of resistant organisms, especially in locations with disparate delivery of health services, public health systems, and regulatory frameworks for antimicrobial agents. This has adversely affected patient care and threatened effective management of public health infectious diseases in the US. The declining of antimicrobial drug effectiveness not only has current but also future consequences, which affect all elements of the health sector. This includes research and development, public health policy, and service delivery.

Globalization has allowed for the rapid spread of contraceptive and public health technology, which has increased life expectancy and lowered fertility. However, at the same time, migration and international travel have contributed to the rise in global AIDS/HIV along with other re-emerging infectious diseases. Although US technological breakthroughs have helped to facilitate the detection, diagnosis, and control of these infectious diseases, this has also introduced new dangers in the US healthcare system. For example, invasive medical procedures have resulted in many hospital-acquired infections, such as Staphylococcus aureus. This has led to significant mortality and financial losses for US health systems.

The nature of infectious diseases makes international interaction a source of risk but, at the same time, creates a need for cooperation among countries. Although coordinated combined action is beneficial, the costs of global scale policy-making is very high. This is because health issues connect to societal interests and behavioral practices in complex and potentially politically charged ways.

Because of the emergence of infectious diseases, stakeholders, such as governments and multilateral institutions, are aiming to build interconnected systems for outbreak detection, preparedness, prevention, and response. This includes activities such as disease surveillance, infectious disease research and training, public health campaigns, drug and vaccine research, and public education. Coordinated efforts are also being made to detect, control, and prevent antibiotic resistance.

Populations are also indirectly impacted by globalization through the economy and other factors, including water supply, education, and sanitation. People are more educated and, as a result, is able to afford more and can improve their quality of life. Furthermore, economic growth has allowed countries to spend more money on infrastructure, such as transportation networks, communication, electricity, etc. It has also allowed people to improve their living standards. More populations are able to afford food, shelter, and clothing that can enable them to live much longer. Moreover, households that experience economic growth spend less on health care, have better quality care, and can easily access health services.

Although globalization has improved standards of living with associated health benefits, in some communities, it has brought negative health consequences. For example, economic growth has increased dangerous levels of air pollution, waterborne diseases, and exposure to harmful chemicals.

With ever increasing globalization and change, leaders will be challenged to manage relationships more than in the past. This will include the ability to interact effectively with diversity of partners and other businesses and within the larger context of differing cultures. Predictions are that the total trade between countries will exceed the total value of trade within countries. This will truly require global leaders. As we have discussed in this paper, the changing global environment is likely to continue to stimulate the transformation and revitalization of public and private institutions. Small as well as large U.S. corporations recognize they will have to change in order to compete in the global marketplace. They have embarked on programs of extensive change that must be accomplished in short periods of time. Such transformations require a new set of leadership skills and a good working definition of leadership. It is clear that the successful leader of the twenty-first century will be one who promotes leadership development and encourages workers to assume his or her role as a leader. Individuals working in twenty-first century global organizations must be innovative and creative, practice continuous learning, have values that especially include integrity, have a personal vision, be in charge of their own careers, motivate from within, plan, communicate, and seek harmonious relationships with stakeholders.