Question: As noted in the chapter, healthcare organizations are faced with the challenge of balancing internal equity with external competitiveness. In this exercise, compare two organizations' approaches to setting salary levels. Your first task is to identify two healthcare organizations that are similar in mission and size. For example, you may select two medical group practices, two medium-size community hospitals, or two nursing homes of similar size. You may choose two organizations in the same geographic area and labor market or two that are in different markets.
Your second task is to identify the senior human resources management executive or the individual most closely involved in developing and implementing the compensation program in the organization. You will interview this person, so it is therefore important that this person understand the compensation philosophy, system, design, and decisionmaking process. The goal of this exercise is to identify the organization's compensation strategy, including its approach to balancing competing compensation objectives. Your third task is to summarize the compensation philosophy, policy, and practices in each organization and write a report on the similarities and differences between the two compensation systems.