Product line management: organization makes the difference.

Three dominant models of product line management are emerging in the healthcare industry today--market management, distribution management, and strategic business unit management. These models offer unique benefits for the healthcare organization. It is important to use the model that best fits the needs of the institution. Therefore, an analytical framework has been developed to help the organization evaluate and implement the proper model to ensure successful organizational change. This article is the second in a three-past series on product line management in health care. The first article dealt with the question of whether product line management will work in the healthcare industry.