15 Minutes a Day

Archive for the ‘Life’ Category

I remember during my Bachelors program, sitting in my academic advisor’s office looking at all of the books on her shelf and thinking to myself, “How can anyone want to read so many boring looking books?” This week I was reading books like Empowered: Unleash your employees, energize your customers, transform your business, The Delphi technique in nursing and health research, and a U.S. government-issued report entitled Crossing the quality chasm: A new health system for the 21st century. What was even more strange was I found myself fascinated by their contents! Back then I really wanted to pursue a doctoral degree, but didn’t think I’d ever be allowed to do so. Now that I’m here, I have to chuckle at that young woman who couldn’t imagine spending hours reading boring, professor-type books, much less enjoying doing so!

I spent much of the week getting to know more about the Delphi Method that I am now planning to use. I have learned about its strengths and limitations, but no matter how much I learn about it, the one phrase that keeps going through my head is “This sounds like FUN!” I can’t wait to get started on the recruitment process. However, first I need to get through the proposal approval process. One step at a time…

References:

Bernoff, J. & Schadler, T. (2010). Empowered: Unleash your employees, energize your customers, transform your business. Boston, MA: Harvard Business Review Press.

Keeney, S., Hasson, F. & McKenna, H. (2011). The Delphi technique in nursing and health research. Chichester, West Sussex, UK: John Wiley & Sons.

National Academy of Sciences, Institute of Medicine, Committee on Quality of Health Care in America. (2001). Crossing the quality chasm: A new health system for the 21st century. Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press.

I did quite a bit of reading about business models today. One of my books (Chesbrough, 2006) suggested that a business model or an adjustment to an extant (my word for the day) corporate business model may be necessary to accomodate the use of social networking. So I found several journal articles on social networking and business models.

You know, I think this was my first research-induced tangent! I think my brain is tingling now!!!

References:

Chesbrough, H. (2006). Open innovation: The new imperative for creating and profiting from technology. Boston, MA: Harvard Business School Press.

Image Credit: Found on I Can Be Right, or I Can Be Happy: The Ever-Changing Philosophy of a Recovering Control Freak

This is my first week back to school after taking six months off due to health issues. I am glad I took the time off, but I have missed this incredibly. I have continued my reading and research and have decided to change the direction of my dissertation. In Doc722 I was planning to do a case study of Sutter Health – the organization that I work for – and how they are using and not using social networking tools. Because of several experiences I have had over the past few months and some resources that I have found and others I’ve read, I’ve decided to do a case study of the US Healthcare Industry instead of concentrating on one organization. Now, the revisions to chapter one have started.

Dr. Holley (my dissertation mentor) has pointed out some issues that need to be addressed. Most notably, why would any leadership care about my study? I think that leaders should always care about how their customers (patients) and employees are communicating with each other and how they are communicating with management. Social networking presents problems for old-style corporations or organizations that have always maintained tight control over what is said within and by and about their organization. Such control is lost when social networking tools are used. However, on the potentially positive side, social networking can also open the lines of communication between patients and clinicians and between employees and management. Such openness has the potential of reducing confrontation and increasing collaboration between employees and management (Chesbrough, 2006; Levine, Locke, Searls, & Weinberger, 2001; Tapscott, & Williams, 2008). I am also planning to do some research on how social networking could affect the cost of healthcare and productivity for both patients and clinicians. I am eager to see if there is an affect.

References:

Chesbrough, H. (2006). Open innovation: The new imperative for creating and profiting from technology. Boston, MA: Harvard Business School Press.

Levine, R. Locke, C. Searls, D. and Weinberger, D. (2001). The cluetrain manifesto: The end of business as usual. New York: Perseus Publishing.

Tapscott, D. & Williams, A.D. (2008). Wikinomics: How mass collaboration changes everything. New York: Penguin Group.

P.S. My new word-of-the-day is winsome. I was called this by someone I work with. What do you think?

I haven’t blogged a lot (or at all!) lately because I’ve not been feeling well. My headaches have subsided significantly, but my energy and motivation levels have also been unusually low too. I’m not sure why. I’ve taken the last quarter of this year off from school to give myself a chance to rest and get re-energized, but I’m starting to get worried that it’s just not happening.

I want to work on my dissertation project and get back into school, but the energy and motivation are just not there. So, I thought I would reach out to all my friends on Facebook and Twitter and this blog to see if you’ve ever experienced anything like this. Have you? How did you get over or past it? Any ideas anyone? All thoughts or ideas are welcome!

Image Credit: Retrieved using Google Images from Mr. Arauz’s Blog.

Facebook Comments:

11-15-2010 – Julie Baskin: Cathy- in ref to your “energy drain” question, according to AOL this will solve (if only partially) the problem! LOL While I can’t totally vouch for this claim, I do find that some yoga routines give me energy and help focus me =-)

My Response: Thanks Julie! I’ll give it a try…

11-15-2010 – James Elliott: Have you been tested for vitamin D deficiency? My wife experienced what you have been through and her doctor tested her for vitamin D deficiency and found her drastically deficient. Vitamin D deficiency simulates many symptoms of other illnesses. Have that checked out.

My Response: I’ve had a Vitamin D deficiency in the recent past, but I take Vitamin D twice a day to combat that. I will have my MD take another look very soon. Thanks for the idea James!