Sample Solution

The Resource Dependence Theory (RDT) perspective is a management theory that explores the impact of external resources on an organization’s strategic decision-making, performance, and survival. It was developed in the 1970s by Pfeffer & Salancik to explain how organizations must interact with their environment in order to achieve and maintain success (Gulati & Singh, 1998). This theory differs from Information Technology (IT) in that it focuses more on inter-organizational relationships rather than technology itself. RDT suggests that organizations must establish and maintain ties with other organizations in order to acquire vital resources for growth and innovation (Hidalgo et al., 2020).

Both RDT and IT are useful for explaining strategic behavior within healthcare settings. While RDT emphasizes the importance of developing relationships with outside entities such as suppliers or government agencies for resource acquisition purposes, IT explains how information can be used strategically to make informed decisions about operations or services offered by healthcare facilities. For example, an organization could leverage data analytics technologies like predictive modeling or artificial intelligence (AI) to identify areas where patient outcomes or satisfaction can be improved upon (Fang & Kuo 2018). Additionally, they could use cloud computing solutions to save costs while still being able to access necessary tools/systems required for conducting business operations efficiently.

In my experience working at a local hospital setting, I have found both theories useful when considering how best to enhance our organizational goals. We were able use cloud based services alongside established partnerships with regulatory bodies like Medicare/Medicaid Services which enabled us to reduce operational costs while still providing high quality care services. In addition, we leveraged AI technologies such as machine learning algorithms which enabled us reach higher levels of patient satisfaction through better diagnosis rates and streamlined processes.