Date of Award

1990

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Business Administration

Department

Business

First Advisor

Joe Ancona

Second Advisor

Jan Kniffen

Third Advisor

Joan Meyer

Abstract

This paper will focus on the problem of poor utilization of resources in women's health care and how product line management may allow for a cost effective means of providing quality care with optimal use of resources.

In the past decade, hospitals have had to adjust to changes in the payment system. This has forced hospital executives to develop and implement innovative management strategies to continue to provide quality patient care, while keeping costs at a minimum.

Research has attributed the lack of product line management in health care to a basic misunderstanding of product line management. In the past, product line management was considered to be appropriate only in manufacturing and not in the service industries. Recently, service oriented businesses have implemented product line management with much success.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the usefulness of product line management and its development for women's services in the hospital setting. The research method used was exploratory using secondary data as well as an empirical study.

Through this study it is my conclusion that product line management is very feasible in the health care field and is easily adaptable to women's services. Product line management allows for better utilization of resources by physicians, patients, and other members of the health care team, therefore, minimizing costs while allowing one manager to direct patient care and satisfaction.

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