You are to write a scholarly paper of 5-7 pages (plus cover page, abstract, and reference list) in length on some aspect of the research and/or theories of strategic or financial management that relate to the material in this course. You are free to critique a theorist or model, but you need to use scholarly sources. Your paper should be based on the literature and use appropriate citations using APA style. The topic of your scholarly paper must be specifically related to this course.
The purpose of my paper is to show how financial leadership is managed by women within healthcare facilities. How are different facilities run by women in financial leadership as opposed to men? Additionally, illustrate the correlation between finances and quality care when led by a woman, whether it is a hospital or a nursing home facility. I am passionate about understanding how a facility may be run by a woman, and to illustrate how more women should not be overlooked for such roles just because of their gender.
Women Leaders in Hospitals
Finances for healthcare facilities
Finances and quality care in healthcare by women
Women CEO’s of healthcare organizations
Scholarly Paper Outline and Plan
Your paper, "Women in Financial Leadership in Healthcare: Examining the Nexus of Gender, Fiscal Management, and Quality of Care," could follow this structure:
I. Cover Page
Title, Author Name, Institutional Affiliation, Course, Date.
II. Abstract (Approx. 150-250 words)
A concise summary of the paper's purpose, methods (literature review), main findings (from the literature), and conclusion.
III. Introduction (Approx. 1-1.5 pages)
A. Hook/Context: Establish the importance of effective financial management in healthcare (e.g., rising costs, focus on value-based care).
B. Problem Statement: Identify the existing gender disparity in senior financial/CEO roles within healthcare.
C. Literature Gap: State the lack of specific research connecting women's financial leadership styles/strategies to both fiscal outcomes and patient quality of care (a key part of your passion).
D. Thesis Statement: A clear, concise statement of your paper's argument (e.g., "While women remain underrepresented in CFO and CEO roles in healthcare, scholarly literature suggests that leadership attributes statistically more common among women, such as collaborative decision-making and a focus on social responsibility, may correlate with improved financial stability and demonstrably higher metrics of patient-centered quality of care, challenging traditional biases in executive recruitment.")
E. Roadmap: Briefly outline the paper's structure.
IV. Theoretical Foundation (Approx. 1 page)
A. Strategic/Financial Management Theory: Briefly introduce a relevant theory (e.g., Agency Theory vs. Stewardship Theory, or Upper Echelon Theory). Argue which theory best frames the potential differences in male/female executive decision-making.
B. Gender and Leadership Models: Discuss established models of gender and leadership (e.g., transformational vs. transactional leadership; the "glass ceiling" and "glass cliff" concepts).
V. Financial Leadership and Gender Disparity in Healthcare (Approx. 1.5 pages)
A. The Current Landscape: Use statistics from the literature to illustrate the underrepresentation of women in healthcare CFO/CEO roles.
B. Financial Management Strategies: Review scholarly articles that analyze differences in risk-taking, investment strategies, debt management, or budget allocation between male and female financial leaders (if such studies exist).
Sample Answer
That is a compelling and timely topic for a scholarly paper. Focusing on women in financial leadership in healthcare facilities and the potential correlation between their leadership and quality of care and financial performance offers a rich area for research.
Given the scope of a 5-7 page paper and the need for scholarly sources, you'll want to narrow your focus to a specific, researchable aspect of this broad topic.
Here is a plan to structure your paper, along with an initial set of search queries to begin your literature review.