Effective Communication

The organisational model for United Health Group as a healthcare organisation is the traditional hierarchical structure that involves the managers at the top of the model, middle level managers and the other general staffs at the bottom of the hierarchy. The organisation is a multinational and the communication model focuses on the inter-personal interaction, aimed at sharing of knowledge from the managers to the subordinates, among the subordinates.  This model is quite flatter in terms of sharing of the information, such that it seeks the removal of layers in the organisation so as to open up the communication lines and collaboration. The model aims at reducing the hierarchy structures so that to focus communication, improving the experience of the employees, challenging the annoying status quo around the most traditional appearance of the model (Barker & Angelopulo, 2006).

Since UnitedHealth Group work as a public company, it sticks to the requirements of basic security laws that involve public disclosure of information of any company. The sharing of information among the employees is more liberal since the aim is to have them access the knowledge that is necessary to attain maximum performance in decision making. The organisation fosters overall employee social learning and collaboration, following the corporate philosophy which is based on being better together than alone in the work environment so that to share knowledge and thus provide good service to the customers. Social learning is the main technique that the organisation use in order to exchange idea among various teams. The technique help in providing a way of ingraining corporate values like relationships, innovation and general performance in the employees and the organisational culture. Give the size and complexity of the organisation, the employees interact with many stakeholders who include the government officials, the press, analysts and all other groups that come into contact with the company (UnitedHealth Group, 2015). The employees must therefore present any information in a truthful, clear and professional way since the business environment is really dynamic and thus their communication techniques must positively reflect to the commitment of making healthcare provision work for everybody. Any expectation for employees to embrace decision making must be based on an appropriate information sharing mechanisms and pass on necessary knowledge. In social learning employees can reach out to one another and in order to influence the others based on job functions, skills or just for the purpose of sharing information. This technique encourages those with great experiences to be giving advice to others and keep the process of learning ongoing and continue the spread of knowledge (UnitedHealth Group, 2015). This technique works to a great extent in the sharing of knowledge among the employees since one is able to learn while interacting or just by mere observation.

Apart from publications, the company’s employees use social media for communication and knowledge sharing among themselves and outside parties. The use of these communication tools by employees provide them with an opportunity to share information with customers and stakeholders while still taking responsibilities for any inaccurate information. They are able to make up decisions on how to share information effectively and which such information should be disclosed to outsiders. The company has guidelines that control the social media use which apply to taking social media as part of employees work on behalf of the company (UnitedHealth Group, 2014). This means that whenever someone need to share information through such techniques, they should do so while considering the set guidelines. This technique of sharing information however does not provide informed data since most of the information is inaccurate and can lead to poor guidance while information is being shared between the managers and the employees or among the employees themselves UnitedHealth Group (2014). Inaccurate information does not add up to sharing of knowledge.

The use of social media in healthcare environments has increased with time. It has various benefits to the healthcare professionals, the patients and other stakeholders. Regardless of the shortcomings, the tool is necessary in sharing information with patients that regard to their health while at the same helping employees to share relevant up-to-date information. Social learning on the other hand allow the health professionals to share information and knowledge through building personal relations  so that the ones who are more experience can impart knowledge to learners.

 

References

Barker, R., & Angelopulo, G. (2006). Integrated organisational communication. Cape Town: Juta Academic.242

UnitedHealth Group (2014). Code of Conduct Our Principles of Ethics & Integrity. Retrieved from: http://www.unitedhealthgroup.com/~/media/UHG/PDF/About/UNH-Code-of-Conduct.ashx?la=en

UnitedHealth Group (2015).UnitedHealth Group Provides Social Learning for its 114,000 Global Employees. Retrieved from:

 http://www.riversoftware.com/resources/River-Success-Story-UnitedHealth.pdf