Characteristics of Perchlorate

Characteristics of Perchlorate Sources of perchlorate Perchlorate is a chemical that occurs naturally, although it may as well be man-made. In addition, perchlorate can also be found in some fertilizers and in bleach. It has found wide application in the manufacture of fireworks, flares, rocket fuel, and explosives1. Many of the sites where perchlorate can be found occurring naturally are, by and large, limited to the arid areas. Such deposits are largely low concentration.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Characteristics of Perchlorate specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More On the other hand, man-made sources of perchlorate are mainly highly concentrated in comparison with the natural sources. Sites with high levels of perchlorate contamination are mainly involved in the production, testing, and disposal of perchlorate compounds and solid rocket propellants. Others include industrial production sites that use perchlorate compounds as reagents2. EPA response for regulating and remediation The Safe Drinking Water Act gives the EPA the mandate to regulate perchlorate. Peer review reports by various public health experts and independent scientists as well have played a key role in influencing the decision y the EPA to impose a regulation on perchlorate. The new decision by the EPA would be a reversal of the 2008 preliminary determination3. It takes into account the over 39,000 comments from members of the public regarding multiple public notices on perchlorate3. This action is an attempt to create awareness among interested parties on the decision reached by the EPA on regulating perchlorate. Nonetheless, the action does not in any way try to impose any public water systems (PWS) requirements4. On the other hand, this action has laid the framework for the designing and the development of a primary drinking water regulation at the national level (NPDWR). Following the finalization of the NPDWR, a number of PWSs could be forced to make an effort to abide by the requirements in line with the program required by the regulation5. In addition, the EPA also intends to create a drinking water standard that will take care of about 16 toxic chemicals that have been noted to pose a danger top human health. The aim of the EPA is to continue assessing the health effects of perchlorate, along with the science behind their occurrence in public water systems. Moreover, the EPA intends to embark on a project aimed at examining the affordability and feasibility of treatment technologies aimed at removing perchlorate. The agency shall also assess the benefits and costs of potential standards. Risk potential Sufficient doses of perchlorate can interfere with the normal operations of the thyroid gland. Perchlorate disrupts the transportation of iodide into the thyroid gland, in effect reducing iodide availability that is necessary for the manufacture of thyroid hormones. These hormones are vital for normal growth, metabolis m and development.Advertising Looking for research paper on chemistry? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Pregnant women are especially at a greater risk of thyroid hormone synthesis disruption2. Others include the developing fetuses, newly-born infants, young children, and also person with low thyroid hormones levels (Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection). On the basis of such a potential concern, the EPA has deemed it necessary to propose a formal rule. The process shall entail the reception of feedback from important stakeholders in addition to the provision of any formal rule to members of the public via a comment process 3. It is important to note that exposure to sufficient doses of perchlorate may result in adverse health effects similar to those brought about by iodine deficiency among humans. When there is not enough intake of iodine in the diet, the individual in question suffers from a decline in the synthesis and secretion of thyroid hormone. Based on the severity of such an iodine deficiency, the individual in question can manifest such effects as impairment in behavior, speech, vision, movement, physical development, hearing, and intelligence4. Scientists also contend that sufficient doses of perchlorate can interfere with the ability of the thyroid gland to synthesize hormones vital for the development of both fetuses and infants1. Monitoring data reveals that over 4 percent of public water systems contain detectable levels of perchlorate. In addition, the same data indicates that between 5 and 17 million individuals are at risk of drinking water containing sufficient levels of perchlorate. Standards set by states such as California and Massachusetts In Massachusetts, the MassDEP is in the process of commissioning a drinking water standard. The new standard will ensure that the maximum contaminant level of perchlorate in drinking water does not exceed 2 ppb3. It is i mportant to appreciate that the new promulgation shall be the first veer drinking water standards in the country for perchlorate. Furthermore, the Massachusetts Contingency Plan is also in the process of establishing perchlorate groundwater and soil standards to facilitate the cleaning up exercise of hazardous waste sites. Also, MassDEP plans to adopt a reference dose to facilitate risk assessment at specific sites. The state of California also regulates perchlorate as a contaminant in drinking water1. In this case, 6 micrograms per liter is the recommended maximum contaminant level of perchlorate in the state of California.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Characteristics of Perchlorate specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More References 1. California Department of Toxic Substances Control, â€Å"Perchlorate â€Å", Last modified September 1, 2007, dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/perchlorate/ 2. Isa, Jalil, â€Å"EPA To Develop Regulation for Perchlorate and Toxic Chemicals in Drinking Water.† Environmental Protection Agency, Last modified February 02, 2011, http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/d0cf6618525a9efb85257359003fb69d/634884579f4cc5d8525782b004d81ae!Open 3. Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. â€Å" Frequently Asked Questions: Perchlorate†. n.d, mass.gov/dep/toxics/pchlorqa.htm 4. Trumpolt, Clayton et al. â€Å"Perchlorate: Sources, Uses, and Occurrences in the Environment.†Wiley Periodicals, Last modified December 20, 2005, http://yosemite.epa.gov/r10/CLEANUP.NSF/PH/Arkema+Technical+Documents/$FILE/Perchlorate-Sources-Occurance-In-The-Environment.pdf 5. United States Environmental Protection Agency. â€Å"Perchlorate†. Last modified March 06, 2012, http://water.epa.gov/drink/contaminants/unregulated/perchlorate.cfm Bibliography California Department of Toxic Substances Control. â€Å"Perchlorate. â€Å" California  Department of Tox ic Substances Control. Last modified September 1, 2007. dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/perchlorate/ Isa, Jalil. â€Å"EPA To Develop Regulation for Perchlorate and Toxic Chemicals in Drinking Water.† Environmental Protection Agency. Last modified February 02, 2011. http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/d0cf6618525a9efb85257359003fb69d/634884579f4cc5d8525782b004d81ae!OpenAdvertising Looking for research paper on chemistry? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. â€Å"Frequently Asked Questions: Perchlorate†. Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. Last modified June12, 2006. mass.gov/dep/toxics/pchlorqa.htm Trumpolt, Clayton et al. â€Å"Perchlorate: Sources, Uses, and Occurrences in the Environment.†Wiley Periodicals. Last modified December 20, 2005. http://yosemite.epa.gov/r10/CLEANUP.NSF/PH/Arkema+Technical+Documents/$FILE/Perchlorate-Sources-Occurance-In-The-Environment.pdf United States Environmental Protection Agency. â€Å"Perchlorate.† United States  Environmental Protection Agency. Last modified March06, 2012. http://water.epa.gov/drink/contaminants/unregulated/perchlorate.cfm

Simple strategies for clear written communication, The Actuary - Emphasis

Simple strategies for clear written communication, The Actuary Simple strategies for clear written communication, The Actuary For most actuaries, its a love of maths, statistics, probabilities and risk analysis that draws them into the profession. However, once theyve been fully trained in these hard skills, working life throws up new challenges. If youre a consulting actuary, for example, youll often have to explain complex ideas to clients who are not experts in the field. And even if you work in-house, explaining your work to colleagues is a crucial part of your role. So mastering communication is essential. And since these days we use written communication more than weve ever done before, you need to be able to write and to write well. Being able to explain yourself clearly and write in plain English can help you to gain credibility and increases the perceived value of your work. In turn, this will help ensure your clients or colleagues realise that what you do is an integral part of the organisation. Writing is a core professional skill that must be learned and then continually improved. The demands of business writing and the rigours of producing professional reports are very different from the English learnt at school. It should come as no surprise then that the actuarial profession have changed the CA3 Communications syllabus for trainees, in order to focus on writing for a non-actuarial audience. The Institute of Actuaries and The Faculty of Actuaries have introduced a residential course and workbook to help give students support and practice in this type of writing before they take the written exam. They have recognised that many students struggle with this module and they want to ensure that actuaries are able to express their ideas confidently through writing. Employers are also putting more and more emphasis on writing skills. Firms such as Hewitt and Hymans Robertson have commissioned specialist writing-training programmes for their actuarial staff, for example. So what can you do in practice? Well, imagine that you have completed a report on corporate pensions. You need to present it to a client who has staffing issues, an upcoming annual general meeting to prepare for and several other reports to read. The bottom line is that he is only interested in the financial implications of your search. You need to make an impact and ensure that your ideas are fully understood. If you get the communication wrong, you could lose valuable business. Trainees will soon have to complete an orally-based presentations module as part of their exams. But for trainees and qualified actuaries alike, explaining actuarial mathematics to a layperson is not an easy prospect. And the better you can become at communicating your ideas, the more effective you will be as an actuary. Training doesnt end when you qualify and learning writing techniques can make all the difference to your professional life. Here are the top tips for improving your written communication: Put the reader first Presenting complex figures, modelling techniques or probability theories doesnt have to be a daunting prospect. The answer is to think carefully about your audience and avoid a one size fits all approach. Ask yourself the following questions: What is the document about? Who will read it? How much do they already know about the subject? What do they absolutely need to know? How important is the subject to them? How interested are they in the subject? Dont include absolutely everything about a piece of research or a new idea. Instead, pare down to the main points and write them in plain English. This doesnt mean that you need to dumb down or be patronising, though. The message is to be as clear and precise as possible, and this means using technical language where appropriate. Jargon doesnt have to be avoided at all costs. Just make sure that your audience understand the technical terms youre using. (And always bear in mind that they may no less than they care to admit.) The aim is to save the reader time and wasted effort in trying to decipher unclear prose. Try to picture your reader with your document. If youre writing for a trustee, for instance, its likely theyll have to read several reports before a meeting. So, make sure that your introduction grabs the readers attention. Immediately convey your conclusions and recommendations with a concise, powerful executive summary. It doesnt matter whether youre writing a report, memo, letter or speech. Ask yourself what you want the reader to do when they have read the document. If you want them to take an action, you need to be direct. Clarify your main message Always offer a clear viewpoint. Keep asking yourself what you really want to communicate. It can seem like dangerous ground to express an opinion but its likely that your clients will see it as refreshing. Do this by using the active voice. So say, We predict a decline in employee pension provision, rather than Employee pension provision is predicted to decline. Keep it short Keep your sentences short and simple and avoid flowery phrases. There is no limit on the amount of full stops you can use. Aim for an average length of 15-20 words and an absolute maximum of 35. And stick to the rule of one sentence, one idea. Pay attention to structure If youre worried about structuring your ideas, the questions: what?, where?, when?, how?, why? and who? are useful prompts. When you know what you want to communicate, and why, you can then lay out your core idea first, and expand on it in the rest of the document. Proofread every piece of work Its easy to neglect to read through a document carefully once its finished. Dont. If at all possible, leave at least a day before you read it, to put some distance between you and the content. Otherwise youll read what you think it says, not what it actually does. Love, as they say, is blind. Look out for fuzzy thoughts, typos or badly-worded phrases. And make sure that you check the grammar, punctuation and spelling. Microsoft Words spellcheck doesnt know whether you mean peak or peek. Writing the wrong word can completely change your intended meaning and affect how your work is received. Robert Ashton is the Chief Executive of Emphasis.

Strategic Operations Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Strategic Operations Management - Essay Example â€Å"Operational activities are central to the provision of services and /or goods. Every organization provides a product and service combination. A meal in restaurant, a visit to the hospital, buying a pair of Levi 501s, making a pair of Levi 501s, insuring an automobile, staying in an hotel, going to the cinema,; all have operations activities and their management is central to the successful provision of goods and services.† 1 In this example, we are examining the operational activities of a small manufacturing company engaged in the production of automotive components. It is a known fact that small scale manufacturing companies undertake many diverse activities in providing different types of products and services. Modern organizations are complex entities, especially the small scale enterprise, and there will be many different types of operation, both in individual firms as well as across different industries. This clearly reveals that the types of operation vary across different sectors, and there are external factors that influence the organization in many ways. Over the past two decades, leaders of virtually all organizations -- big and small -- have come to understand that external forces can exert more influence over an organization than management itself does. Legislation and public opinion, for example, can greatly expand or restrict what an organization can do and how it does it. As a result, many organizations now try to monitor these external forces, looking for signs where new controversies or new opportunities may be brewing on the business horizon. In today’s competitive and highly sophisticated business world, awareness of those external factors is crucial for a business entity. These factors also determine the sustenance of an organization. Generally speaking, these factors exist both at ‘micro’ and ‘macro’ levels. At a closer micro level, the external elements include suppliers, competitors,

HU300 Unit 7 A Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

HU300 Unit 7 A - Research Paper Example It is to be understood as having a â€Å"life† that moves within it (Scruton, 2009, p. 7). Therefore, music is about life and is understood as the universal language. As a universal language of life, music portrays our moods in all aspects of our lives. People listen to music for a lot of reasons: to ease melancholy, to celebrate victory, to complement the feeling of romance and passion, to grieve and to listen to the new single of one’s’ favorite artist. Therefore, music is a way of life, and it forms part of our journey as humans. Music: Representation of Moods and Stages of Life Childhood Years During my childhood years, there was something about male and female groups that I really liked the most. I grew up listening to Spice Girls, Aqua, Boyz II Men, Westlife, and Blue, but most of all, I was notably addicted to Spice Girls. Perhaps, it was all about their stature and fame that I was hooked with their popular hits like 2 Become 1, Wannabe, Viva Forever, and Stop. These songs enlivened my childhood especially that this group also complemented their music with colorful outfits, those that would really dazzle the audience especially the young ones. Moreover, their songs were groovy and had the element of recall which made them easier to memorize. As a child, I would love to hear songs that make me happy, groove, and smile. These songs influenced my childhood in such a way that they became part of my everyday routine. During weekends, I played their CD all throughout the day that no wonder, the CD had tantrums once in a while. Adolescence Stage When I entered high school, the music industry was even livelier. Rock bands, talent search singers, and veteran hit makers continue to make songs for mass consumption, most especially that the Internet was on its hype, and almost all music released or are presently hitting the waves are very much available online. I still adore U2, The Fray, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and The Calling. Notice the shift from being so obsessed with an all-female group to alternative rock bands. Nevertheless, I started to appreciate the music of The Calling. My adolescent music life was filled with vigor with this band on my A-list. My preference to their music was not in any way a matter of ‘going with the flow’ as most teenagers were head-over-heels with rock bands. It was because I recognized this band’s passion to write songs that reflect strong emotions, most notably songs that contain sincere messages about being in-love and standing strong against the odds of being in a relationship. I was magically transported to another dimension of the world when I heard the song ‘Stigmatized’ by The Calling. When one is in the adolescent stage, all you think of is making the most out of life. Surely, one manifestation of living life as if it is the world’s end is by being in love. ‘Stigmatized’ reflects teenagers drive to make a relationship work, despit e all the circumstances stopping the possible romance to bloom. The melody brought by the acoustic guitar and the intense vocal prowess of the lead singer make the song more of a personal conversation rather than a compilation of words and melody. Certainly, this song has been part of my youthful years. Comforting Music There is this beauty not found in every note and lyric of the song but on the general properties of music (Cook & Everist, 1999). Music comforts us through the whole impact of the song and not in every syllable or

Decision-Making Case Study Essay Example for Free

Decision-Making Case Study Essay The current grave state of the economy has had a significant impact on health care across The United States. Massive budget cuts, reduced services, and limited access to care significantly have affected Medicaid patients. Hennepin County Clinic (HCC), a facility that provides health care to Medicaid patients, is dealing with an additional 15% budget cut that will force management to make decisions about which services must be changed or eliminated while still meeting the basic needs of the clients. Stemming from consumers’ increased demands for enhanced quality of care and greater accountability from health care organizations, leaders must engage in decision-making that incorporates evidence from well-conducted research whenever possible. The Informed Decisions Toolbox (IDT), a process of evidence-based decision-making, involves six steps in the decision-making process (Rundall, et. al, 2007). While every step is consequential, step two, the process of gathering evidenced-based sources of information, is the most important tool in decision-making. The IDT plays an important role in increasing organizational accountability, facilitating knowledge transfer within a facility, and contributing to a questioning organization. Step One The first step in the IDT is formulating a question or questions behind the decision. This is done in such a way that will increase the likelihood of uncovering useful research studies. As a manager, one must discover what information is needed to make the best decision. When investigating the needs of Medicaid clients and deciding which clinical services to change or eliminate, it is vital to research information regarding the various services used by these patients. The manager must ask several questions. Do individuals enrolled in Medicaid have unique health needs that differ from the larger population? What are the services most utilized within HCC at any given time? In what ways will service cuts and elimination of resources   affect the clients? What services can be outsourced to other facilities that accept Medicaid? Can the current physician staff be reduced, and the use of nurse practitioners and physician’s assistants be implemented? Step Two After the questions are formulated, step two involves identifying credible sources of information to answer these questions. In an age of abundant technological resources, a large percentage of sources may be found on research-based websites, bibliographic databases, online academic and peer-reviewed journals, books or other publications, and government reports, to name a few (The Center for Health Research, 2011). It may also be helpful for the manager to locate internal information available within the clinic that will tailor to the unique needs of HCC. While the IDT mainly focuses on evidenced-based sources of information, the manager may also utilize supportive colloquial knowledge from and opinions of colleagues, employees, patients, and other health care professionals (Rundall, et. al, 2007). Steps Three, Four, and Five Steps three through five take the collected research and evaluate its accuracy, applicability, and â€Å"actionability.† First, step three emphasizes the accuracy of the research presented. The manager must question if the research is of high-quality, originates from a credible source, presents complete and balanced viewpoints, and comprises reliable and valid measurements (The Center for Health Research, 2011). Step four highlights the applicability of the research. The manager must ask if the research is relevant to his or her question at hand and whether or not it applies specifically to HCC. Step five focuses on the â€Å"actionability† of the research. The manager needs to know how the research is going to be implemented and who exactly is going to do it. Step five also pertains to the implications and importance of the research studied (The Center for Health Research, 2011). Step Six Finally, step six allows the manager to look at his or her organization’s needs and values to determine if the research fits the context of its unique situation. The manager must question if the collected research is adequate to make a useful decision and if there is a single best option, multiple  practical options, or even inadequate evidence to make a decision (The Center for Health Research, 2011). Most Valuable Tool Although every step in the IDT has much significance and step one builds the foundation on which to define the problem at hand, the tool that would be the most valuable is step two, identifying credible evidenced-based sources of information. Health care workers who provide care based on knowledge from evidenced-based studies deliver significantly better care and produce better outcomes (Melynk Fineout-Overholt, 2005). Because of this, the process of identifying these studies is vital to the survival of an organization. The knowledge discovered during research can be a valuable source of strength to the organization by combining it with the unique employee and patient opinions and preferences. This process of searching for information can also contribute to organizational growth through the sharpening of knowledge and skills of decision makers. With regard to HCC, step two is very valuable in deciding which clinical services need to be eliminated primarily because locating appropriate research studies is the foundation of finding the solution to the question. Through the selection of evidenced-based articles, the manager can compare and contrast how other organizations dealt with budget cuts and the solutions they implemented. Accountability Utilizing the IDT greatly affects organizational accountability. Hospital organizations and clinics have to function according to the strict rules and regulations of such agencies as JCAHO and CMS, and at the same time, respond to the ever increasing needs demands of consumers for improved quality of care (Rundall, et. al, 2007). These added pressures force management to make comprehensive, precise, and influential decisions that they cannot formulate with personal knowledge and experience alone. Because of this, management needs to apply the best evidence available in making these consequential decisions. Knowledge Transfer Knowledge transfer aims to deliver research-based information and guarantee its availability for future members within an organization (Pentland Forsyth, 2011). Within health care facilities, it is important for newfound  research evidence to be transferred into clinical practice and policy development. Management and decision makers must communicate clearly to the health care team and make them aware of decisions that are made and how the decisions will affect them. Team members are encouraged to share their understanding with others to expedite knowledge transfer within the facility. Knowledge transfer facilitates shared intelligence, improved employee performance, higher levels of innovation within the organization, and economic growth (Rundall, et. al, 2007). Questioning Organization The IDT affects an organization in a number of positive ways. Most important, it allows the decision-maker and the health care team to reflect on what was learned, what questions still need to be asked, and what should be done differently next time, which is critical to innovation (Buchen Rowley, 2000). Building a questioning culture within an organization inspires team members to search for answers within evidenced-based research studies and improving the lines of communication among members as well. Conclusion The IDT is an exceptional set of tools that assists management and decision-makers in utilizing evidenced-based research in confronting and responding to pressing questions that significantly affect an organization. The IDT plays an important role in increasing organizational accountability, facilitating knowledge transfer, and contributing to a questioning organization. In the case of HCC, the manager utilized the IDT by formulating questions to determine which clinical services to change or eliminate based on the various health care needs of Medicaid clients. The manager identified various credible sources of information to answer these questions, which has been determined the most valuable tool within the IDT. The research evidence was examined to determine its accuracy, applicability, and â€Å"actionability.† Finally, the manager assessed to see if the collected research was both adequate and met the specific needs of HCC, which is what the IDT was designed to do. References Buchen, I, Rowley, L. (2000). The questioning culture: Perpetual state of the art. Performance Improvement, (39)5, 26-30. Melynk, B., Fineout-Overholt, E. (2005). Evidence based practice in nursing and healthcare. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams Wilkins. Pentland, D., Forsyth, K. (2011). Key characteristics of knowledge transfer and exchange in healthcare: integrative literature review. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 67(7), 1408-25. Rundall, T., Martelli, P., Arroyo, L., McCurdy, R., Neuwirth, E., et al. (2007). The informed toolbox: Tools for knowledge transfer and performance improvement. Journal of Healthcare Management, 25(5), 325-341. The Center for Health Research. (2011). The informed decisions toolbox. Retrieved from http://www.toolbox.berkeley.edu/overview.

Three Varieties of Bathtubs :: Jeffrey Harrison Literature Essays

Three Varieties of Bathtubs Past, present and future are the simplest ways in which humans perceive time. We recognize the past through our memories and our recall of events that already have happened. When looking into the future, we can only look at where we are now in order to guess what our fate might be in the future. Or else we only have our dreams and goals that we look forward to one- day accomplishing. When viewing the present, however, everything around us is not an idea or memory in our head, but a reality that we use our senses to see, feel, touch, smell or hear. We are using our body's functions to live and take in what is around us at the moment. When "living in the present" (as one would say to someone who is constantly aware of the moment and what is around them), there is less chance to miss what's in front of us rather than always looking behind or too far ahead. Jeffrey Harrison, in his poem "Bathtubs, Three Varieties," seems to feel the same way about living in the here and the now. The three varieties of bathtubs Harrison writes about were separated into three stanzas according to their design and their purpose now, in the present. In the first stanza of the poem Harrison describes an old- fashioned bathtub, one that was raised off the floor by porcelain animal paws that extended off each corner. The particular bathtubs that he was describing were no longer serving their intended purpose, but rather were outside in a yard like an old car that was once one's hotrod, now scrap metal. These bathtubs, retired from their original purpose, now just sat through the seasons and let outside forces such as the weather and changes in other living things like the walnut tree carry on without regard to their presence. In the description of these bathtubs, Harrison shows something that although is still here, is part of the past and really does not have a life of its own anymore except just lying underneath the walnut tree. This is very much like a person whose thoughts ar e caught up in the past, because they, too, are still trying to live something that is over and then lose purpose in the present. Harrison also relates these bathtubs twice to sheep, which are commonly viewed as animals that follow each other, never really having a choice or idea of their own.

An offshoot of business process outsourcing Essay

1. (TCO 2) An offshoot of business process outsourcing which requires a greater skill or knowledge of the industry or inner workings of a firm is: 2. (TCO 3) How are the procurement responsibilities divided between the project manager and contract administrator? 3. (TCO 4) What is the difference between the Cost-Plus-Percentage-Fee (CPF) contract structure and the Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee (CPFF) contract structure? 4. (TCO 5) To assess the impact of a contract on both the buyer and seller, an analysis of exposure can be completed. Categories analyzed in this exposure analysis include all of the following except: 5. (TCO 6) Factors that may affect the BPO agreement structure include all of the following except: 6. (TCO 6) Sometimes a seller is selected based solely on lowest price. However, sometimes this is not always the most efficient or effective way of selecting a seller. What are some of the other evaluation criteria that a buyer may use to help select a seller? 7. (TCO 7) Issuing an RFP to only one vendor may be appropriate when: 8. (TCO 7) Explain the purpose of an RFP. What are some common elements of an RFP? 9. (TCO 8) What is an independent estimate and why should a buyer produce an independent estimate before selecting a seller? 10. (TCO 2) Part 1: Explain the various steps of the project procurement process. Part 2: Using the simple decision of packing and moving your home furnishing from the east coast to the west coast, provide an example of what you would do under each of the six steps of the project procurement process. Part 3: The buyer determines the contract pricing structure during which step of the project procurement process? 11. (TCO 1) Part 1: What are the four contract pricing structures available? Part 2: Describe the appropriate utilization of each and the impact of risk to the buyer and seller. Part 3. What contract pricing structure would you use if you had little to no scope defined? PROJ 410 Midterm Exam 2 1. (TCO 2) A firm should concentrate on its _____ processes while outsourcing its _____ processes. 2. (TCO 3) Explain the difference between a contract  administrator and a project manager in a procurement situation. 3. (TCO 4) What is the difference between the Cost-Plus-Percentage-Fee (CPF) contract structure and the Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee (CPFF) contract structure? 4. (TCO 5) To assess the impact of a contract on both the buyer and seller, an analysis of exposure can be completed. Categories analyzed in this exposure analysis include all of the following except: ______. 5. (TCO 6) Factors that may affect the BPO agreement structure include all of the following except: ______. 6. (TCO 6) Three commonly used evaluation criteria listed in an RFP are overall cost or financial proposal, reputation, and experience. What can the buyer glean from this information and how can the buyer use it to make a decision on a particular seller? 7. (TCO 7) All of the following are common RFP topics, e xcept: ______. 8. (TCO 7) Explain the purpose of an RFP. What are some common elements of an RFP? 9. (TCO 8) What are the two ways to rank the seller’s proposals before selecting a seller? 10. (TCO 2) Part 1: List and define the six phases of the project procurement management process. Part 2: How could you organize a simple project such as renovating a bathroom into the six steps in the project procurement management process? Part 3: The buyer determines the contract pricing structure during which step of the project procurement process? 11. (TCO 1) Part 1: Discuss the following types of contract pricing: (a) fixed price, (b) cost-plus price, (c) time & materials, and (d) unit price. Part 2: Explain the appropriate utilization of each contract pricing type and the impact of risk to the contracting parties. Part 3: What type of contract pricing structure misaligns the buyer’s motivations with the seller’s? 12. (TCO 3) Identify and describe the benefits that procurement outsourcing will bring to the organization. 13. (TCO 1) Discuss the importance of obtaining support for the process of Business Process Outsourcing. Who would be important to involve and why? PROJ 410 Midterm Exam 3 1. (TCO 2) A firm should concentrate on its _____ processes while outsourcing its _____ processes. 2. (TCO 3) What activities is the contract administrator responsible for in a contract situation? What about the project manager? 3. (TCO 4) What is the difference between the  Cost-Plus-Fixed Fee (CPFF) and the Cost-Plus-Incentive Fee (CPIF) contract structures? 4. (TCO 5) To assess the impact of a contract on both the buyer and seller, an analysis of exposure can be completed. Categories analyzed in this exposure analysis include all of the following except: ______. 5. (TCO 6) The Term, Contracting Party, Integration, Retained Assets, and Performance Standards are all: _______. 6. (TCO 6) List three commonly used evaluation criteria listed in an RFP and explain why a buyer would want this information before selecting a seller. 7. (TCO 8) What is an independent estimate and why should a buyer produce an independent estimate before selecting a seller? 8. (TCO 7) For most customers, requesting multiple bids is the preferred approach because it: _______. 9. (TCO 7) Describe the common sections of the RFP. 10. (TCO 2) Part 1: List and define the six phases of the project procurement management process. Part 2: How could you organize a simple project such as renovating a bathroom into the six steps in the project procurement management process? Part 3: The buyer determines the contract pricing structure during which step of the project procurement process? 11. (TCO 1) Part 1: Discuss the following types of contract pricing: (a) fixed price, (b) cost-plus price, (c) time & materials, and (d) unit price. Part 2: Explain the appropriate utilization of each contract pricing type and the impact of risk to the contracting parties. Part 3: What type of contract pricing structure misaligns the buyer’s motivations with the seller’s? 12. (TCO 3) Evaluate the most common business drivers for outsourcing business processes. Which two drivers would be among the most important? 13. (TCO 1) List and describe the directives to consider the process of outsourcing if you are a senior manager. COPY THIS LINK TO YOUR BROWSER: http://oassignment.com/PROJ-410-Midterm-Exam-03-Sets-1687.htm

Interview with a Doctor

The current American healthcare system and its problems The interview is with Dr. John Tomas who is a surgeon in New Jersey. Dr. Tomas has been practicing medicine for over twenty years so he has a lot of experience in the medical field. Dr. Tomas deals with plenty of people who are from the middle and lower class. Those people are so concerned about the costs of the healthcare bills and they have a lot of trouble handling these costs.. The healthcare discussion should also be seen from a doctor’s perspective and that is why this interview is valuable Dr.Tomas has also a lot of knowledge about the politics of the healthcare system in the United States. He has a personal view of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act which is another term for Obama care. 1- What is your view of current American healthcare system? The current American healthcare system has a major problem which is the cost. The cost for the American healthcare system is 2. 5 trillion dollars per year whi ch is much higher than any other industrialized country in the world. The medical expenses on every citizen are $7,960.Other industrialized countries spent average of $3,233 annually per person which is much lower and these people from other countries get more medical valuable care. 41 percent of working Americans have problem with paying their medical bills. Taxpayers don’t receive the service that they actually pay for and a lot of people go easily bankrupt because they can’t afford to pay their medical bills. The American government covers 46 percent of these expenses and that is one of the reasons why we are in a huge debt and it is another factor for the major economic crisis in the United States. -what are the current major problems with the current American healthcare system? I think there are too many regulations in the current American health care system. There are also a lot of politicians and lawyer that get involved in the medical field. When these factors get involved, the insurance costs get higher and the medical expenses become very expensive. Practicing medicine is not pleasurable to me personally anymore because I am afraid to get sued and lose my insurance. All these outer factors that get involved in our field make practicing the profession of medicine much tougher for doctors. -Do you think defensive medicine is good or bad for the American healthcare system? In the United States we have a major problem with regulations that are involved in the medical field. In the United States, doctors have to do a lot of tests and plenty of consultations with other physicians before performing any operation. The reason for that is because the doctors are afraid of the lawsuits that could cause them losing their insurance or even their license. American doctors follow the defensive medicine by doing a lot of unnecessary tests that significantly increase the costs of healthcare.In other countries where there are not too many regulation†™s in the medical field, doctors in other countries do the operations with the same outcomes but in much lower costs. This is obviously an issue and it has its advantages and its disadvantages but the American defensive medicine system is much safer and the foreign medicine system is much cheaper. 4-Do you think that Obama care will lower the costs for the current healthcare system? I don’t think so because when government gets involved in any filed, the cost usually get much higher.Obama care will cost $1. 165 trillion dollars over the next ten years. The government hasn’t been very successful with Medicare or Medicaid which proves my point. The healthcare should stay as a private business that is managed by private healthcare companies. If the government takes over the healthcare system, the country will spend a massive amount of money and the quality of the care will be lowered significantly. 5-Do you think that Americans could have a better healthcare system if t hey follow the socialized healthcare system of Canada and Europe?And what are your solutions for the problems that we have with our healthcare system. I have been to Canada and Europe. I also have a lot of friends who are physicians in these countries. They don’t like what they have there. Patients could wait six months to get an operation in Canada. There are risings costs of medications in Canada and Europe. Those increasing of the cost of the medications make it harder for people to get a good care under the socialized healthcare system. A lot of Europeans countries are going bankrupt eventually and the socialized healthcare system is one of the reasons of that.The solution to our healthcare problem is not going backwards by following a socialized healthcare system. The solution comes with creating more competition between healthcare companies that take advantage of the American people. Even though we had a recession in the last few years, the profit of the insurance compa nies has been increased by 56 percent. Creating the competition between those insurance companies will definitely lower the costs and the medical bills that have been a heavy weight over the shoulders of the American pope.The healthcare discussion is very important because unlike fancy cars or fancy clothes, everybody needs to have healthcare. Plenty of Americans are suffering every day because they don’t have the money to cover the expenses of their medical bills. People go bankrupt because of these expensive costs and that is rare in any other industrialized country. The reason why the cost is too expensive in this country is because there are too many regulations, politics, lobbyists, lawyers and unfairness in our healthcare system.Obamacare could be another disaster for our healthcare system because it is going to raise the costs of the healthcare system and our economy is already in a very bad shape. The most practical solution to our healthcare system is to create a fai r competition between healthcare companies which will significantly lower the costs of the current healthcare system. If I have a second chance to do a second interview, I will also discus the medicine field with the person that I am having interview with because the topic is very interesting.

Yeltsins Critical Inactivity †Government (300 Level Course)

Yeltsins Critical Inactivity – Government (300 Level Course) Free Online Research Papers Yeltsin’s Critical Inactivity Government (300 Level Course) Boris Yeltsin took the office of the Russian presidency in 1991 under a black cloud, following a failed coup against then president Gorbachev. Yeltsin’s presidency has become synonymous with failure and by the question of â€Å"what went wrong?† This question of what has gone wrong during the Yeltsin era is an almost bottomless topic. Yeltsin struggled through his first term from the attempted coup in 1991 to the foolish decision to invade Chechnya in 1994. Still all of these troubles can be contributed to the critical time period immediately following Yeltsin’s coming to power. This time period can be analyzed in three ways. First, in the actions that Yeltsin took. Second, in the actions that Yeltsin did not take. Thirdly, by what steps that Yeltsin should have made. These three things point to a final conclusion. Boris Yeltsin as the new Russian president should have moved quickly to schedule new elections and the adoption of a new constitution. Boris Yeltsin came to power during a tumultuous time in Russian history. In hindsight, the table was set for immense change and he was the only man to do it. He had the popular support of a people that were otherwise up in arms. Yet when studying the events of ten years ago in today’s classroom, little attention is paid to this important question of â€Å"what steps did Yeltsin take?† Why is such little attention paid to this question? Because Yeltsin did next to nothing to create change. In his own memoirs, Boris Yeltsin says, â€Å"the idea of dissolving the Congress and scheduling new elections was in the air, although we did not take advantage of it.† Years later he himself admits to his inaction at such a critical time. At a time when Russia was as vulnerable as they have ever been, their new president chose an attack on an economic front, leaving the reorganization of the government to compromises and political games. This is an evident failure on the part of Boris Yeltsin. So just what did the newly elected president of Russia do at this time? Yeltsin attempted to impose central control on the far-flung territories of the new Russian Federation. However, in this endeavor he was entirely by himself. Whereas Gorbachev had the Communist Party for backing, with its crumble by 1991, Yeltsin was all alone. So without the vast party apparatus and the potent ideology that the Communist Party had provided Russians leaders, this attempt became an administrative nightmare. Therefore all that Yeltsin could do in an effort to form a lasting chain of command was to appoint presidential representatives to be his eyes and ears in the Russian territories following the coup. Yeltsin took all of these steps with the best of intentions, yet they were in too small a scale to provide any change of be of any effectiveness. This leads to the question of what Boris Yeltsin should have done. What he should have done was to scheduled new elections. The Communist Party was the rock that Russia stood upon. It’s membership declined so badly that Yeltsin banned the party in September of 1991. Yeltsin should have also worked to adopt a new constitution. Yeltsin’s memoirs told of his fears that the adoption of new elections or a constitution would only lead to another revolution, as in 1917. Yet this is simply a cowardly excuse on Yeltsin’s part, as the conditions were far from the same as some seventy years earlier. Yeltsin leads the reader to believe that he was not powerful enough to prevent such a catashphrophe. Yet despite everything that had transpired from 1990-1991, the public preferred Yeltsin to his communist opponents in parliament. These were the same men that Yeltsin was afraid of, in a time when he could have used his popularity to reappoint them with non-communist m embers who supported him and adopted a new constitution. However like many world leaders before him, he neglected to take action when it was necessary and sat idle hoping for change instead of going out and getting it. Therefore no one should feel any sympathy for Boris Yeltsin. If they should feel anything at all, pity may be more appropriate. Yeltsin should have acted to revive Russia, but instead he let its reigns slip out of his hands. There were things that he simply did not do. The steps he did take were clearly not aggressive enough. And he seemed totally oblivious to the steps that needed to be taken. What should pain any historian however is Yeltsin’s clear cut ignorance. Hindsight is the most reveling perspective that anyone can have. They can easily see what they should have done, even if at the time it was not at all clear. It is in this one opportunity then that Yeltsin could earn some respect for himself, by admitting that although it did not look like it then, today he realizes that he should have acted on new elections and a new constitution. But he only states that he would not change anything, and thus, buries his own reputation. Research Papers on Yeltsin’s Critical Inactivity - Government (300 Level Course)Appeasement Policy Towards the Outbreak of World War 2Quebec and CanadaBringing Democracy to AfricaAssess the importance of Nationalism 1815-1850 EuropePETSTEL analysis of IndiaResearch Process Part OnePersonal Experience with Teen Pregnancy19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenCapital Punishment

Women and World War II - Women in the Government

Women and World War II - Women in the Government In addition to thousands of women who took government jobs in support of the war effort or to free up men for other jobs, women played key leadership roles in government. In China, Madame Chiang Kai-shek was an active promoter of the Chinese cause against the Japanese occupation. This wife of the Nationalist leader of China was head of Chinas air force during the war. She spoke to the US Congress in 1943. She was called the worlds most famous woman for her efforts. British women in government also played important roles during the war. Queen Elizabeth (wife of King George VI, born Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon) and her daughters, Princesses Elizabeth (future Queen Elizabeth II) and Margaret, were an important part of the morale effort, continuing to live at Buckingham Palace in London even when the Germans were bombing the city, and distributing aid in the city after bombing raids. Member of Parliament and feminist, American-born Nancy Astor, worked to keep up the morale of her constituents and served as unofficial hostess to American troops in England. In the United States, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt played an active role in building morale among civilians and military forces. Her husbands use of a wheelchair and his conviction that he must not be seen publicly as disabled meant that Eleanor traveled, wrote, and spoke. She continued to publish a daily newspaper column. She also advocated for responsible roles for women and for minorities. Other women in decision-making positions included Frances Perkins,  US Secretary of Labor (1933-1945), Oveta Culp Hobby who headed the War Departments Womens Interest Section and became director of the Womens Army Corps (WAC), and Mary McLeod Bethune who served as director of the Division of Negro Affairs and advocated the commissioning of black women as officers in the Womens Army Corps. At the end of the war, Alice Paul rewrote the Equal Rights Amendment, which had been introduced into and rejected by each session of Congress since women had achieved the vote in 1920. She and other former suffragists expected that womens contributions to the war effort would naturally lead to the acceptance of equal rights, but the Amendment didnt pass Congress until the 1970s, and eventually failed to pass in the required number of states.

The School Nurse Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The School Nurse - Essay Example However, in today's world the school nurse position is not given the resources necessary to accomplish this goal and the role has become so unmanageable and the task so encompassing it may be placing education and students at risk. The number of students taking Ritalin has doubled since 1990 and now exceeds 3 million students (Goldberg, 1). The over worked nurses must medicate these students to insure the proper dose to the correct student. The pervasiveness of lunchtime medication has become so involved and lines of children outside nurses' offices so prevalent, that in Boston, schools are now facing a challenging dilemma; Who should have responsibility for the medicating According to Carey Goldberg, reporter for the New York Times, "...school officials have proposed that individual nurses be given permission to delegate the distribution of their ''meds'' to handpicked, supervised staff members". Many nurses who advocate the addition of higher paid nurses as a solution rather than reducing their roles have discredited the plan as unsafe. However, school officials see it as a reasonable cost cutting measure in this New World of psychoactive drugs. Untrained personnel handing out sensitive and dangerous drugs a re certainly placing the students at an increased risk. School nurses are called upon to walk obese students, insert catheters, and administer diabetic insulin. These are disciplines that call on the highest order of medical training. Food poisoning, infectious diseases, sexually transmitted diseases, and injuries from student violence complicate these situations. The nurse is required to perform the duties of a general practitioner while having the training of a nurse and the attendant pay scale. Still, school systems balk at the possibility of adding more nurses to the staff due to cost considerations. While the National Association of School Nurses recommends that a school system have one nurse per 750 students, the national average is one nurse per 1350 students (Vail). Attending to the students medical needs should be a priority to assure that the system is promoting adequate and fair education, but staffing at a 50% level can not guarantee success of the health of the student body. Obesity is running rampant through the school corridors and nutrition and healthy food have come into the spotlight. Once again, the school nurse is called on to make recommendations and plans to provide a healthy diet and reduce the problem of overweight children. Nutrition is a special discipline and often runs counter to the school's agenda of providing vending machines and a junk food cafeteria. There is more profit in a McDonald's station than there is in a healthy dietary offering. The American Medical Association advocates a proactive approach based on food types and amounts that are to be offered through school lunches ("Expert Committee Recommendations", 8). Dedicated school nurses can not be expected to protect the health of children in the existing political and economical climate of many school boards. They are not trained as nutritionists and do nor serve the political function of being socially

360 Degree Feedback Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

360 Degree Feedback - Assignment Example 360-degree feedback system may however not be effective in assessing result-oriented performance, which are more quantitative such as sales and market share. When compared to the traditional performance appraisal, the 360-degree feedback can be said to be advantageous in how it ensures active participation by major stakeholders including employees themselves (Kaye, 2010). Such participation is enabled because includes an employee self-assessment to start the process. This way, the eventual outcome of the appraisal can be said to be the exact representation of employee performance. The feedback system may however be disadvantageous when an organization has to deal with a very large employee size. This is because such large size of employee and the use of 360-degree feedback may be highly time consuming. This is situation could also delay the turn-around time to get employees assessed. When used to measure ineffective and effective performance, the 360-degree feedback guarantees an in-depth understanding of factors that account for employee performance. This is because of the qualitative nature of the feedback system. but in cases where an employee’s performance is dominated by quantitative and numeric outcomes, the feedback system becomes inappropriate in measuring effective and ineffective