Intra-organizational strategic decision model in the certificate-of-need application process

The certificate-of-need (CON) application process can be considered a part of the relationship between health care regulators as guardians of social resources and institutions as advocates for social resources. The significant costs associated with the CON application have resulted in hospital administration developing a dual and possibly conflicting role-using the CON application politically to advocate the institution's interests while assuming the responsibility of guarding institutional resources devoted to the CON application process. A model that has been developed to aid health care administrators in planning for a CON application. It explicitly and systematically addresses the planning process by politically analyzing the decision strategy. It systematically identifies and aligns intra- and interorganizational advocacy processes, and it seems to make intraorganizational competing strategies subject to consideration by a formal, quantifiable analysis.