Assignment Overview
Task
This professional task follows on from the precedenting assessments.
You are to prepare a written report (not to exceed 2,000 words). The major focus of this report is to promote critical reading and analytic skills in managing digital health care. This includes developing critical analysis skills i.e. identifying change, tangible and intangible benefits in digital health care including shortcomings, limitations, what works well and critiquing the stakeholders’ level of involvement and contribution throughout the process. Deeper learning also includes the ability to extrapolate, extend and apply project management principles and theory based on the evidence. This is shown in the ability to make recommendations for the future. In this assessment, you must examine recent national and international literature relevant to the topic. Quality of writing skills is also being assessed to help improve competency.
The Ministry of Health Procurement Board has reviewed your digital health strategy prepared in Assessment 1. You are now expected to prepare a written report (not to exceed 2,000 words) on managing and realising benefits for the digital health infrastructure you selected.
The major focus of this report is to promote critical reading and analytic skills in managing digital health care. This includes developing critical analysis skills i.e. identifying change, tangible and intangible benefits in digital health care including short comings, limitations and what works well, and critiquing the stakeholders’ level of involvement and contribution throughout the process. Deeper learning also includes the ability to extrapolate, extend and apply project management principles and theory based on the evidence. This is shown in the ability to make recommendations for the future. Students have to examine recent national and international literature. Quality of writing skills is also being assessed to help improve competency
The student will write a report structured in the following way:
- Cover Page
- Table of Contents
- Executive Summary (250 words maximum): This section provides a short summary of the main points being presented in the report. It provides an overview of the digital health initiative and how this plan will realise benefits to deliver on the strategy. If this part of a broader program, describe how the benefits fit within the overall initiative. Include benefits and disbenefits. This section does not add to the total word count of the assignment.
- Introduction (approximately 300 words): This section provides a context for the report by introducing the topic and purpose of the report (i.e. description of the digital health technology being implemented, scope, organisational context and stakeholders (i.e. how you organised your text).
- Outcome realisation (approximately 400 words): In this section you are required to describe the digital health project’s objective(s) and target outcome(s) and to clearly identify the links between outcomes, outputs and stakeholders. The roles and responsibilities of the Business Owners(s) for output maintenance, outcome realisation monitoring and management of the processes required for a smooth transition to operational mode are also defined here. It is also crucial that you describe how reviews will be conducted, including standards and processes (describe processes that will ensure benefits are not double-counted and that cumulative benefits are real and realisable). Thus, this section should include the following sections:
- Digital health project objective
- Assumptions and constraints
- Target outcome(s)
- Output ownership
- Output utilisation
- Target outcomes and performance measures
- Monitoring and reporting outcome realisation
- Criteria for Project Closure
- Post Project Review
It is also important to identify critical success factors and how the plan will ensure they are achieved. Make sure to write in a paragraph format, avoiding the use of bullet points to provide data. Feel free to include graphs or tables if you feel this will help convey your message within the word limit. Do not forget to include the sources you used to gather the information.
- Output Management Plan (approximately 500 words): In this section you are required to discuss how the output delivery and acceptance will occur over a period of time (e.g. phases) or as a single event; the roles and responsibilities of the relevant business owner(s); maintenance requirements for all outputs, for agreement by the responsible business owner(s); and budget and expenditure for the implementation phase including facilities and resource requirements for the implementation phase. Thus, sub-headings in this section should include:
- Output Delivery and Acceptance
- Business Owner(s)
- Maintenance Requirements
- Budget and Expenditure
- Facilities and Resource Requirements
- Summary of Risks and Issues related to realising benefits
Make sure to write in a paragraph format, avoiding the use of bullet points to provide data. Feel free to include graphs or tables if you feel this will help convey your message within the word limit. Do not forget to include the sources you used to gather the information.
- Benefits Map: in this section, you will draw a high-fidelity map to show the benefits realisation plan. Please draw only one map that aligns with your overall approach
- Discussion of Transition Plan (approximately 500 words): In this section you are required to describe how the changes to the business unit(s) environment will be implemented. It is crucial that you focus on changes that are anticipated and planned ahead of time (e.g. a reduction in clinical variation, training in new or revised electronic medical record etc). However, other changes may result, such as those that emerge and are unintended (e.g. increased patient satisfaction). At a minimum, you should show how these changes or issues will be tracked to ensure they are managed appropriately.
- Recommendations (approximately 300 words): What general recommendations would you make on post closure monitoring. Your recommendations should outline:
- how the benefits monitoring, and reporting will occur after the digital health project / program has closed.
- how benefits variations following the project closure will be managed and who will be responsible.
Assessment Summary and Mentorship Approach
Brief Summary of the Assessment Requirements
This assessment required the student to prepare a 2,000-word professional report focusing on benefits management and realisation within a selected digital health infrastructure project. Building on the prior assessment, the task aimed to develop the student’s critical reading, analysis, and application skills in managing digital healthcare initiatives.
The report was expected to demonstrate the student’s ability to:
- Critically analyse tangible and intangible benefits, limitations, and stakeholder involvement in digital health care.
- Apply project management principles and theory to identify success factors and propose evidence-based recommendations for future improvement.
- Review recent national and international literature to support findings and ensure an informed, analytical discussion.
- Present a professionally structured report demonstrating clarity, coherence, and academic writing proficiency.
The report structure included the following key sections:
- Executive Summary (250 words):
An overview of the digital health initiative, highlighting its benefits, disbenefits, and strategic alignment. - Introduction (approx. 300 words):
Contextualising the digital health technology, defining its purpose, organisational setting, and key stakeholders. - Outcome Realisation (approx. 400 words):
Explaining project objectives, assumptions, target outcomes, performance measures, stakeholder roles, monitoring frameworks, and criteria for closure. - Output Management Plan (approx. 500 words):
Discussing output delivery, acceptance, ownership, maintenance, budgeting, resource needs, and risk analysis. - Benefits Map:
Creating a visual representation of how outputs and outcomes lead to realised benefits. - Transition Plan (approx. 500 words):
Describing planned changes in the business environment, including training, workflow adjustments, and management of intended/unintended changes. - Recommendations (approx. 300 words):
Providing guidance on post-project benefits monitoring, reporting responsibilities, and managing benefit variations after project closure.
Overall, the assessment required integration of theory with practical digital healthcare management, critical reflection on stakeholder contributions, and strong academic communication skills.