This case describes a situation that has commonly occurred in health care.$$ Two organizations, in this case medical groups have decided to merge.$$ They do so not out of an initial desire to merge, but rather facing the realities of a marketplace that is changing around them.$$ However as the descriptions suggest there may have been an initial superficial logic to the group's attraction to each other.$$ On one hand there is a large multi$-$specialty group practice, and the other partner was a good$-$sized primary care group that would join forces with a significantly stronger group that has many specialties to which it might refer.

However, as the board meetings suggest, as well as the description infers, these groups are different.$$ Tensions arise in a meeting.$$ The challenge and central question are can this partnership survive or is a divorce in the making?$$ Consider the $7-$S approach as you think about these questions:

$1.$ Do these two groups share the same values?$$ One must wonder if in their early merger discussion did they ever discuss what the values were that they were bringing to the table?

$2.$ Consider the structure of the groups and how they differ in decision making?$$ Compensation?$$ Style?$$ Consider how each group goes about managing their practice locations and the front$-$facing approach to the customer.

$3.$ Staff$-$ it is not easy to suggest one group is of a higher quality than the other, but their approaches to the staff seem to be different in terms of reward.$$

$$For each group to recognize it is time to change is admirable, join a larger$$organization or merge.$$ Was this a rush to judgment?

Instructions:

The Case Analysis must follow the following guidelines:

You must give a quality analysis of the case based on the key terms showing mastery, using clear logic, and supporting facts. Also, the analysis must directly address the case using chapter readings and research.

Case Analyses test the understanding of key elements of Healthcare Marketing, therefore, they must be thoroughly addressed.

You must use citations with references to document information obtained from sources. The key elements and concepts of Healthcare Marketing are found in the sources listed in the syllabus $($it is your duty to search for them, read, analyze, evaluate, summarize, paraphrase in your answers, and cite the authors who wrote the articles, books, term papers, memoirs, studies, etc. What it means is that you will have not less than $5$ references from the listed sources.

Grammatically correct paper, no typos, and must have obviously been proofread for logic.

Avoid direct quotes, you must paraphrase and cite. If you direct quote $($two words or three words, mission statements, phrases, etc.$)$ you must include in your citation parenthesis page number or paragraph number. When you direct quote Brand taglines, you must include the Brand name in the citation parenthesis.

Key terms or Questions must be typed out as headings, with follow$-$up analysis or answers in paragraph format, and a summary or conclusion at the end of the paper.