Strategies and Tools for Sales Effectiveness

This course provides information and tools that will help healthcare representatives manage their territory as a business and converse knowledgeably with customers about relevant financial issues. Chapter One discusses the business planning process, emphasizes the importance of a customer focus, and outlines the steps to writing a business plan. Chapter Two discusses the basic elements of project management and introduces you to common project management tools. Chapter Three describes the fundamental aspects of financial decision making. It presents basic accounting principles, discusses the role of budgets in cost-management, and describes common tools used to evaluate economic outcomes in healthcare.

Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to discuss how to analyze the marketplace, develop objectives, and plan strategies; describe the basic elements of project management and common tools used in project planning and scheduling; discuss the basic principles that underlie financial decisions; discuss financial-related issues or concerns with customers; and write an effective business plan for their territory. 

Who Should Take This Course

Sales representatives, managers, and others who are responsible for writing business plans and managing business-related projects, particularly projects that involve multiple tasks and team participation. 

Career Applications/Benefits

This course provides individuals with the skills to succeed in today's competitive healthcare environment. Representatives learn to manage their territory as a business, including the planning and scheduling of business-related projects. Basic principles of accounting and common budgeting techniques prepare them to manage their own resources, as well as discuss relevant financial issues with customers. Representatives will grow their territory business when they can identify opportunities in the changing healthcare marketplace, develop action plans that capitalize on those opportunities, and communicate effectively on project teams.

Chapter Content 

Chapter One: Business Planning

  • The Business Planning Process
  • Customer Focus
  • Writing a Business Plan

Chapter Two: Project Management

  • Fundamentals of Project Management
  • Project Management Tools
  • Case Situation

Chapter Three: Fundamentals of Financial Decision Making

  • Basic Principles of Accounting
  • Budgeting
  • Tools for Economic Evaluation
  • Case Situation

    Course Consultants 

    Tom McWhinnie, MHA, MAT
    Deputy Director
    Center of Education and Development
    Veteran's Puget Sound Health System
    Seattle, Washington
     
    M. Joseph Sirgy, PhD
    Professor of Marketing
    Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University
    Pamplin College of Business, Department of Marketing
    Blacksburg, Virginia
    Course:
    BUS-424
    Credits:
    3
    Edition:
    First
    Program(s):
    CMR

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