Syllabus

Master of Business Administration

HCL 625: People Leadership in Healthcare

Credits - 3

Description

This course examines the human dimensions of leadership within healthcare organizations. Students explore dyad leadership structures, physician alignment strategies, and the skills required to build high-performing interdisciplinary teams. Emphasis is placed on workforce retention, recognition, inclusion, clinical development, and employee well-being as drivers of organizational performance. Students develop frameworks for leading change, navigating organizational culture, and building accountable, resilient teams in dynamic healthcare environments. Emphasis also includes leading through crisis and uncertainty, building workforce resilience, and navigating cross-sector collaboration in response to evolving healthcare system demands.

Materials

Required:

Dye, C. F. (2022). Leadership in healthcare: Essential values and skills (4th ed.). Health Administration Press.

 

 

Learning Objectives and Outcomes

  • Analyze leadership skills and tactics required of healthcare managers and executives in the current healthcare environment.
  • Assess current workforce challenges affecting healthcare organizations, including shortages, burnout, retention, safety, and multigenerational employee expectations.
  • Apply leadership frameworks to improve team performance, engagement, communication, and accountability across clinical and non-clinical settings.
  • Evaluate leadership approaches that strengthen psychological safety, belonging, well-being, and just culture while supporting patient care quality.
  • Evaluate how technology, virtual care, and AI-enabled workflow redesign affect leadership responsibilities, workforce capability, and change management.
  • Develop strategies for staffing, talent development, conflict management, and succession planning in healthcare organizations.
  • Create an evidence-informed people leadership action plan for a current healthcare organizational challenge.

Assignments

Course Assignments

Monday morning

This scenario-based introduction to each week of the course provides a realistic context for leadership challenges that those in healthcare encounter and are tied to the assignments for that week.

Executive Leadership Notebook

Assignments for this course will be completed as a part of this practical leadership playbook which will be an ongoing resource for you.

Week

Notebook Entry Topic

1

Leadership Transition Profile

2

Executive Workforce Recovery Strategy

3

Executive Patient Safety Briefing (SBAR)

4

Leadership Team Operating Agreement

5

Performance Recovery Plan

6

Technology Evaluation Framework

7

Executive Leadership Readiness Review

8

Leadership Legacy Plan

Discussions

The “Executive Roundtable” is the forum for discussions in this course. Weekly discussions provide opportunities to dialogue about leadership decision-making with peers, giving and receiving feedback to inform your growth as a leader. 

 

 

Grading Policy

Your grade in this course will be determined by the following criteria:

Grade Breakdown

Assessment ActivityPoints
Academic Integrity Agreement1
Weekly Roundtable Discussions (8weeks/4pts each)32
Week 1 Assignment: Leadership Profile10
Week 2 Assignment: Exectutive Summary8
Week 3 Assignment: SBAR10
Week 4 Assignment: Leadership Team Operating Agreement11
Week 5 Assignment: Coaching Plan7
Week 6 Assignment: Technology Evaluation Framework5
Week 7: People Leadership Action Plan13
Week 8 Assignment: Leadership Capacity Plan3

Grade Scale

Grade Points Grade Point Average (GPA)
A 94 – 100% 4.00
A- 90 – 93% 3.75
B+ 87 – 89% 3.50
B 84 – 86% 3.00
B- 80 – 83% 2.75
C+ 77 – 79% 2.50
C 74 – 76% 2.00
C- 70 – 73% 1.75
D 64 – 69% 1.00
F 00 – 63% 0.00

Schedule

Term Dates: 

Week 1: Wednesday – Sunday
Week 2: Monday – Sunday
Week 3: Monday – Sunday
Week 4: Monday – Sunday
Week 5: Monday – Sunday
Week 6: Monday – Sunday
Week 7: Monday – Sunday
Week 8: Monday – Friday

WEEK TOPICS ASSESSMENTS DUE
1

Becoming a Healthcare Leader

What kind of leader do you aspire to become, and what leadership capabilities will healthcare organizations need over the next decade?

 

  • Executive Roundtable Discussion
  • Academic Integrity Agreement
  • Executive Leadership Notebook: Leadership Transition Profile
  • Discussion initial post due Friday by 11:59 PM ET
  • Discussion response posts due Sunday by 11:59 PM ET
  • Assignments due Sunday by 11:59 PM ET
2

Leading People During Workforce Challenges  

How do leaders respond when people, not processes, become the organization’s greatest challenge? 

  • Executive Roundtable Discussion
  • Executive Leadership Notebook: Workforce Recovery Strategy
  • Discussion initial post due Friday by 11:59 PM ET
  • Discussion response posts due Sunday by 11:59 PM ET
  • Assignment due Sunday by 11:59 PM ET
3

Leading Through Trust

How do leaders create a culture where people feel safe speaking up while remaining accountable for patient safety?

 

 

  • Executive Roundtable Discussion
  • Executive Leadership Notebook: Executive Patient Safety Briefing (SBAR)
  • Discussion initial post due Friday by 11:59 PM ET
  • Discussion response posts due Sunday by 11:59 PM ET
  • Assignment due Sunday by 11:59 PM ET
4

Building High-Performing Healthcare Teams

How do leaders intentionally build teams that communicate effectively, adapt to change, and perform well across professions, generations, and work environments?

 

  • Executive Roundtable Discussion
  • Executive Leadership Notebook: Leadership Team Operating Agreement
  • Discussion initial post due Friday by 11:59 PM ET
  • Discussion response posts due Sunday by 11:59 PM ET
  • Assignment due Sunday by 11:59 PM ET
5

Coaching Through Conflict and Accountability

How do leaders hold people accountable while preserving trust, relationships, and team performance?

 

  • Executive Roundtable Discussion
  • Executive Leadership Notebook: Performance Recovery Plan
  • Discussion initial post due Friday by 11:59 PM ET
  • Discussion response posts due Sunday by 11:59 PM ET
  • Assignment due Sunday by 11:59 PM ET
6

Leading Digital Transformation

How do leaders introduce emerging technologies while maintaining trust, protecting patients, and preparing the workforce for change?

 

  • Executive Roundtable Discussion
  • Executive Leadership Notebook: Technology Evaluation Framework
  • Discussion initial post due Friday by 11:59 PM ET
  • Discussion response posts due Sunday by 11:59 PM ET
  • Assignment due Sunday by 11:59 PM ET
7

Executive Leadership Readiness

How has your leadership evolved, and how will you continue developing as an executive leader?

 

  • Executive Roundtable Discussion
  • Executive Leadership Notebook: Executive Leadership Readiness Review or People Leadership Action Plan
  • Discussion initial post due Friday by 11:59 PM ET
  • Discussion response posts due Sunday by 11:59 PM ET
  • Assignment due Sunday by 11:59 PM ET
8

Leadership Beyond Yourself

How do leaders create organizations, and communities, that continue to thrive long after they have moved on?

 

  • Executive Roundtable Discussion
  • Executive Leadership Notebook: Leadership Legacy Plan
  • Discussion initial post due Thursday by 11:59 PM ET
  • Discussion response posts due Friday by 11:59 PM ET
  • Assignment due Sunday by 11:59 PM ET

 

Student Resources

Online Student Support

Your Enrollment and Retention Counselor is a resource for you. Please don't hesitate to contact them for assistance, including, but not limited to course planning, current problems or issues in a course, technology concerns, or personal emergencies.

Questions? Please reach out to your student success team member.

UNE Libraries:

  • Library Access for all students: Your library login ID and password are the same as the ones you use to log into Brightspace.
  • Research by Subject: Business & Entrepreneurship Collection
  • Library Questions: Ask a librarian or phone library staff at (207) 602-2361 or (207) 221-4330.

UNE Student Academic Success Center

UNE's Student Academic Success Center (SASC) offers a range of free online services to support your academic achievement. Writing support, ESOL support, study strategy and learning style consultations, as well as downloadable resources, are available to all matriculating students. To make an appointment for any of these services, go to une.tutortrac.com. For more information and to view and download writing and studying resources, please visit:

Accommodations

Any student who would like to request, or ask any questions regarding, academic adjustments or accommodations must contact the Student Access Center at (207) 221-4438 or pcstudentaccess@une.edu. Student Access Center staff will evaluate the student's documentation and determine eligibility of accommodation(s) through the Student Access Center registration procedure.

Online Peer Support

Togetherall is a 24/7 communication and emotional support platform monitored by trained clinicians. It’s a safe place online to get things off your chest, have conversations, express yourself creatively, and learn how to manage your mental health. If sharing isn’t your thing, Togetherall has other tools and courses to help you look after yourself with plenty of resources to explore. Whether you’re struggling to cope, feeling low, or just need a place to talk, Togetherall can help you explore your feelings in a safe supportive environment. You can join Togetherall using your UNE email address.

Information Technology Services (ITS)

Students should notify their student success team member and instructor in the event of a problem relating to a course. This notification should occur promptly and proactively to support timely resolution.

ITS Contact: Toll-Free Help Desk 24 hours/7 days per week 

Phone: Mon-Fri: (207) 602-2487

After Hours/Weekends: (877) 518-4673

Career Ready Program

UNE Online supports its online students and alumni in their career journey!

The Career Ready Program provides tools and resources to help students explore and hone in on their career goals, search for jobs, create and improve professional documents, build professional network, learn interview skills, grow as a professional, and more. Come back often, at any time, as you move through your journey from career readiness as a student to career growth, satisfaction, and success as alumni.

Policies

Passing Grade Statement

A grade of 80% or higher is required to pass the course. A grade lower than 80% will result in you having to repeat the course. Obtaining two "Fs" in the program may result in dismissal from the program.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Statement

Generative AI (GenAI) applications (like ChatGPT) have proven to be powerful and effective tools, and students are encouraged to become familiar with and use them. However, as with any tool, students must use GenAI in ways that support their roles as learners and professionals. The use of AI in academic work falls under our academic integrity agreement, ensuring that all AI applications are used in alignment with our commitment to honest and responsible learning.

In situations in which AI tools are used as a resource, students must:

  • Ensure that all submitted academic work adequately demonstrates student learning (i.e., that the student, rather than a machine, has met the learning outcomes related to the assessment).
  • Acknowledge, in written assessments and extra-curricular applications, the role played by AI tools in producing the student’s work (this can usually be done in a citation or by including a session transcript).
  • Take ultimate responsibility for accuracy of results, think critically about them, and never substitute them for professional human judgment.
  • Monitor GenAI output for bias and risks for vulnerable populations and underrepresented groups.

As GenAI continues to evolve, students should also stay abreast of best practices and changing risks and benefits.

Please note that individual courses or assignments may have specific guidelines regarding AI use — please refer to your faculty’s directions or assignment instructions for details.

The Student Orientation has a module "Artificial Intelligence Literacy for Students", please refer to this module for more information about navigating the use of AI.

Turnitin Originality Check and Plagiarism Detection Tool

UNE uses Turnitin to help deter plagiarism and to foster the proper attribution of sources. Turnitin provides comparative reports for submitted assignments that reflect similarities in other written works. This can include, but is not limited to, previously submitted assignments, internet articles, research journals, and academic databases.

Make sure to cite your sources appropriately as well as use your own words in synthesizing information from published literature. 

You can learn more about Turnitin in the guide on how to navigate your Similarity Report.

Technology Requirements

Please review the technical requirements for UNE Online Graduate Programs: Technical Requirements.

Late Policy

Students are responsible for submitting work by the date indicated in Brightspace. In a professional environment, deadlines matter because work impacts teams, clients, and decisions, and this course reflects those expectations.

Quizzes and Tests: 

Quizzes and tests must be completed by the posted deadline .

  • No late submissions are accepted
  • Students are encouraged to plan accordingly, as these are time-sensitive assessments

Assignments: 

Each assignment includes an automatic 48-hour grace period after the posted deadline.

  • No penalty
  • No explanation required

After the grace period:

  • Up to 5 days late: 10% deduction per day
  • More than 5 days late: Not accepted without prior instructor approval

Discussion posts:

Discussion activities depend on timely participation and peer engagement and therefore do not include a grace period.

  • Initial posts: Must be submitted by the deadline; late initial posts are not accepted
  • Response posts: May be submitted within 48 hours after the deadline for up to 50% of the response post grade.

Students are expected to communicate proactively if they anticipate difficulty meeting a deadline. In cases of significant or unforeseen circumstances, extensions may be considered at the instructor’s discretion.

UNE Student Handbook

UNE Course Withdrawal

Please contact your Enrollment and Retention Counselor if you are considering dropping or withdrawing from a course. Tuition charges may still apply. Students are strongly urged to consult with Student Financial Services, as course withdrawals may affect financial aid or Veterans benefits.

Attendance Policy

Students taking online graduate courses through the College of Business will be administratively dropped for non-participation if a graded assignment/discussion post is not submitted before Sunday at 11:59 p.m. ET of the first week. Reinstatement is at the purview of the Dean’s Office.

Academic Integrity

The University of New England values academic integrity in all aspects of the educational experience. Academic dishonesty in any form undermines this standard and devalues the original contributions of others. It is the responsibility of all members of the University community to actively uphold the integrity of the academy; failure to act, for any reason, is not acceptable. For information about plagiarism and academic misconduct, please visit UNE Plagiarism Policies.

Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to the following:

  1. Cheating, copying, or the offering or receiving of unauthorized assistance or information.
  2. Fabrication or falsification of data, results, or sources for papers or reports.
  3. Action which destroys or alters the work of another student.
  4. Multiple submissions of the same paper or report for assignments in more than one course without permission of each instructor.
  5. Plagiarism, the appropriation of records, research, materials, ideas, or the language of other persons or writers and the submission of them as one's own.