Community and Population Health Essay

Introduction I currently reside in Denver County, Colorado. I have chosen to assess and analyze this community for this assignment. Denver, Colorado is located east of the Eastern Foothills of the Rocky Mountains. Denver County is centrally located within the city of Denver, Colorado and includes the Denver International Airport located north-east of the city. The elevation of this county is 5,277 feet and therefore is nicknamed the â€Å"Mile-High City†. Denver County contains 154.9 square miles of land with a large amount of parks and rivers, of which 1.4 miles is water. (City and County of Denver, 2011). Population Economic Status According to the 2010 census, Denver County has a population of 600,158 people with a median age of 33.7 years old (U.S. Census Bureau, 2010a). Denver County’s population is approximately 50% male and 50% female (U.S. Census Bureau, 2010a). The ethnicity of Denver County is predominately White (52.2%), with Hispanic (31.8%) and Black (9.8%) ethnic groups comprising the next largest population groups (U.S. Census Bureau, 2010a). The median household income in Denver County from 2008-2012 was is $49,091; compared to $58,244 for the entire state of Colorado (U.S. Census Bureau, 2010b). From2008-2012, 18.9% of households were at or below poverty; compared to an average of 12.9% for the entire state of Colorado (U.S. Census Bureau, 2010b). The average reported unemployment rate for persons ages 16 + in Denver County was 8.6% (with a +/- 0.4% margin of error) (U.S. Census Bureau, 2010a). Denver County has a high percentage of educated workforce. In 2008-2012, 36.7% of the population age 25 + had obtained their Bachelor’s Degree, or a higher level of education; compared 28.5% for the entire US (U.S. Census  Bureau, 2010b). Although Denver County has a large percentage of educated residents, it also has a high number of homeless residents. In a survey taken in January 2013, an estimated 11,167 people were homeless in Denver (including employed homeless) (Metro Denver Homeless Initiative, 2013). Of those individuals, 43% were women and 62% were adults with children (Metro Denver Homeless Initiative, 2013). The birth rate in Denver County in 2012 was 9,236 (Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, 2012). This was average compared to the previous two years – in 2011 there were 9,431 births compared to 2010 where there were 9,584 births (Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, 2012). Denver County’s death rate in 2012 was 4,220 (Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, 2012). This number was average compared to the previous two years as well – in 2011 there were 4,156 deaths and in 2010 there were 4,210 deaths. The number one cause of death in Denver County from 2010 – 2012 was cardiovascular disease (Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, 2012). The majority of deaths related to population was individuals age 85+ (Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, 2012). Denver County offers two primary basic food assistance programs. These programs are called SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and WIC (Women, Infants, and Children). For the fiscal year of 2013, Colorado had an average of 47,636,090 persons from a total of 23,052,396 households were signed up for SNAP benefits (USDA, 2014a). This number had increased by approximately 1,027,016 persons from 2012 fiscal year (USDA, 2014a). For the fiscal year of 2013, Colorado had an average of 8,662,591 persons (including women, infants, and children) were receiving supplemental nutrition from the WIC program (USDA, 2014b). This number decreased by 245,249 persons from 2012 fiscal year (USDA, 2014b). Cultural Assessment The population size and sex of the cultural group I interviewed was of twenty white women. Out of the twenty women I interviewed, ten women were between the ages of 20-29 years old and ten women were between the ages of  30-49 years old. All twenty women are currently registered nurses on the internal medicine/oncology floor at the hospital I am currently employed at. The amount of nursing experience these individuals have ranges from two years to 29 years of experience. All twenty individuals interviewed have health insurance. The attitudes toward age and aging of the twenty individuals surveyed varied with a similar goal of staying healthy to prevent the onset of diseases. The younger group interviewed felt it was important to eat healthy and exercise to promote internal health and longevity of life in general. The older group interviewed were more specific with their answers and felt it was important to maintain low stress lifestyles to promote good mental and physical health, to exercise to promote strong bones/balance, to perform mental exercises to help prevent the onset of dementia, and to regularly attend appointments. Both groups agreed that positive vs. negative attitudes directly affect physical health and one’s quality of life. When I asked both groups of their opinions regarding what age adolescents are considered adults, I received drastically different answers. The younger group felt as if ages 18-19 years old are considered adults related to society’s description of an adult, the independency promoted with high school graduation, and the onset of college. The older group felt as if ages 22-23 years old are considered adults primarily related to maturity, life experiences, and the beginning of an entry level career after completion of a college degree. Both groups felt as if college education was an expectation. All of the individuals interviewed currently have their degree in nursing with an active nursing license. Approximately one-third of those interviewed have their Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing and several of those interviewed possess recognizable specialty healthcare certifications. As an entirety, the group interviewed is healthy. Over half of those interviewed have no prior diagnoses regarding their state physical of health. The most obvious physical characteristic that both groups share is being overweight with eleven out of the twenty women interviewed currently being overweight according to their projected BMI. The entire population interviewed shared the mental challenge of overcoming the stress presented at work regarding difficult/challenging patients and all women interviewed believed they have compromised their safety while caring for a patient at one time or another in their career. When I asked this group what the usual sources of stress are, work was number one for all twenty women interviewed. The younger population interviewed stated that children/family and educational goals are some of their secondary sources of stress. The older population interviewed stated that aging/retirement and the health of other family members are their secondary sources of stress. Both groups primarily use the mountains/nature and outdoor activities, such as skiing and hiking, to cope with stress. Five of the individuals drive nearly sixty miles to work (one-way) daily, related to owning a home in the mountains to escape the â€Å"rush and chaos† of the city and helping to find a â€Å"balance in life†. Out of all twenty individuals interviewed, over 3/4 of the woman are married and/or have a significant other. When asked what their number one priority in life was, family was consistently number one. Most all other interests and goals were related to benefiting or bettering the family. Some of the answers named were continuing educational goals, buying a new home, having a baby, planning retirement, and helping their parents with activities of daily life. Of the cultural group identified, all of them share a team attitude while still exhibiting individualist perspectives unique to personal preferences and opinions. Neighborhood/Community Safety Denver is divided into about 80 different official neighborhoods within Denver County (City and County of Denver, 2011). Those 80 different neighborhoods have been divided into seven police and fire districts; including Denver International Airport with has its own district (Denver Police Department, 2014; Denver Fire Department, 2014). The average response time for the Denver Police Department varied in 2013 from 14.9 minutes to respond to urgent, emergency calls (from the time a 911 call was received to the time an officer arrived on the scene) to 16.9 minutes for an officer to respond to a non-emergency call (Maass, 2013). According to Lt. Matt Murray from the Denver Police Department, these slow response times  have been directly correlated with a lack of officers (Maass, 2013). According to Murray, the Denver Police Department can have as many as 1,426 officers and as of October 3, 2013, the Denver Police Department had only 1,350 officers (Maass, 2013). A new class of 70 recr uits are currently in training in hopes to decrease the department’s response times in 2014 (Maass, 2013). The Denver Fire Department maintains 34 different fire stations that are strategically split into seven districts (Denver Fire Department, 2014). Firefighter’s each work an average of three 24-hour shift with an average of 180 firefighter’s on-duty per shift (Denver Fire Department, 2014). The Denver Fire Department responds to a variety of calls including Fire Suppression, Rescue Operations, Hazardous Materials Response, Technical Rescue, Urban Search and Rescue, Water and Ice Rescue, High Angle Rope Rescue, Confined Space and Trench Rescue, Wildland Firefighting, and Emergency Medical Services. They also perform thousands of building inspections annually, daily training and certifications, public and community education, school fire drills, and organize other special events (Denver Fire Department, 2014). According to the Denver Fire Department 2012 Annual Report, there were a total of 101,531 alarms/calls made in 2012 that required the response of the fire department team (Maass, 2013). Out of those 101,531 calls made to the fire department, 54,350 were for medical calls, 8,103 were for auto accidents, 2,248 were for fires, and approximately 37,000 calls required other services or rescues (Maass, 2013). Denver County has a significant amount of violence, crime, and gang activity within the community. In January/February 2014 there were a total of 7,268 crimes captured by the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) (Denver Police Department, 2014). According to this reporting system, the crimes are broken down into four categories; (1) crimes against persons, (2) crimes against property, (3) crimes against society, and (4) all other offenses (Denver Police Department, 2014). The top two offenses in Denver County per category included (1) simple assault and aggravated assault, (2) larceny and criminal mischief/damaged property, (3) drug/narcotic violations and prostitution, and (4) disorderly conduct/disturbing the peace and  criminal trespassing (Denver Police Department, 2014). These figures are slightly elevated from a total of 6,822 crimes in January/February 2013 (Denver Police Department, 2014). There is a variety of different gang activity in Denver County. In 2003, Denver police estimated that there were 14,000 gang members in Denver who were affiliated with 220 different gangs (Gang activity in Denver, 2013). The Denver Police Department has since created gang prevention programs including education, a gang hotline, outreach programs for former gang members, crime stoppers anonymous tips hotline, and the Denver Police Department Gang Bureau (Denver Police Department, 2014). Even with gang prevention involvement in the community and with these prevention programs in place, from January-September 2013 there was a total of 143 total crimes that could be directly related to gang activity (Gurman, 2013). These crimes included homicides, sexual assault, robberies, and aggravated assault (Gurman, 2013). Denver County is also populated with a high level of alcohol and drug abuse. The availability of marijuana with the recent legalization of recreational marijuana makes marijuana the most widely abused drug in Denver County (Mendelson, 2014). Alcohol, methamphetamines, heroin, cocaine, and prescription drugs are all found within the city limits of Denver as well (Mendelson, 2014). Denver County is centrally located between two interstates; I-25 and I-70. These interstates have many different entry and exit points to and from the city that provide easier access for drug trafficking and other illegal activities. Denver County has many different programs protecting its air and water quality. The Environmental Quality Division (EQD) is responsible for a variety of measures including conducting compliance inspections of air emissions, monitoring pollutant levels, issuing permits, and constructing models of air pollutant levels in the Denver area (Department of Environmental Health, 2014a). In February 2014 Colorado became the first state to regulate methane emissions from hydraulic fracking (Kroh, 2014). This new regulation will directly increase water quality and decrease smog in the Denver area. The Department of Environmental Health (DEH) is responsible for monitoring the quality of water in Denver’s lakes and  streams. The DEH collects an average of 13,000+ water samples and conducts more than 50,000 tests annually to ensure that Denver’s drinking water is clean and safe (Department of Environmental Health, 2014c). The goal is for the city of Denver to have fishable and swim mable waters in all the lakes and streams by 2020 (Department of Environmental Health, 2014c). Denver’s Departments of Environmental Health, Public Works, and Parks and Recreation are all work together to ensure that the City meets this goal (Department of Environmental Health, 2014c). Denver’s current number one pollutant is trash and litter. Urban Drainage and Flood control district alone collects approximately 100 tons of trash from the streams and rivers in Denver annually (Department of Environmental Health, 2014b). There are several health risks living within Denver County. These risks include earthquakes, hazardous materials, winter storms, and severe thunderstorms with hail, lightening, tornados, and/or flooding (Office of Emergency Management, 2014b). Hit and run injuries have become an epidemic in Denver County with an increase in fatal crashes in Denver County. Denver police reported 18,662 hit-and-run accidents, both sustaining injuries and sustaining no injuries, during 2011-2013 (Hubbard, 2014). At least one person in Denver metro area is injured every day by a hit-and-run driver and nearly three times a month a pedestrian is fatally injured by a motorist who flees the scene (Hubbard, 2014). Colorado legislators have recently increased the potential prison sentence for hit-and-run cases resulting in bodily injury and/or death. They have also formalized an alert program to inform the public on suspects, vehicles, and/or license plate numbers in an attempt to help in track down perpetrators (Hubbard, 2014). Disaster Assessment and Planning The state of Colorado and city of Denver has worked hard to organize a variety of disaster and emergency preparedness plans within the community. One source of information, READYColorado, offers a variety of data sources for the community. Their website, READYColorado.com, offers awareness and disaster preparedness for a variety of natural disasters, technological disasters, and human caused disasters. The website also contains statistics, facts, and a calendar list of current events and training exercises. It offers links for volunteer opportunities regarding community involvement and educational classes and it also lists ways to stay informed of emergencies  from such sources such as radio, television, text, live twitter feeds, and blogs. Three critical facilities in Denver County include three specific venues; Coors Field with 50K capacity, The Pepsi Center with 19K capacity, and Sports Authority at Mile High Stadium with 76K capacity (City and County of Denver, 2011). The most vulnerable populations to these disasters are the 22.3% of households with children less than 18 years of age, the approximately 23,000 individuals 65+ that live independently, and the residents in 51 long term care facilities within Denver County (City and County of Denver, 2011). The primary disaster of concern for the Denver County is winter weather. Winter weather is an expectation living in Colorado. READYColorado contains information for home and vehicle preparation, emergency communications planning, proper dress for indoors and outdoors to protect the body from hypothermia, and hypothermia/frostbite warning signs. One can also find more information at Ready.gov, Colorado Department of Transportation, NOAA watch, and the American Red Cross regarding winter weather and the risks involved. Avalanches are of great threat to the mountainous regions of Colorado but do not pose a threat within Denver County. The risk of earthquakes is low in Denver County. However if an earthquake was to occur, the city would be very susceptible to extensive damage. Residencies and some of the older buildings in Denver are not made to withstand earthquakes and would most likely suffer damage to their structures (Office of Emergency Management, 2014b). Severe thunderstorms bringing hail, lightening, and tornados pose threats to the Denver County annually. Residents of the Colorado’s Front Range area are located in the heart of â€Å"Hail Alley† which begins mid-April and lasts through mid-August. The Front Range and Denver County receives a high frequency of large hail annually, averaging three to four hailstorms a year, and costing at least 25 million dollars in insured damage for each event (READYColorado and the State of Colorado, 2014b). Lightening poses the greatest threat to areas where the mountains and plains intersect (READYColorado and the State of Colorado, 2014b). Three deaths related to  lightning strikes have known to occur in Denver since 2001 (National Weather Service, 2011). Tornados pose a threat to all areas of Colorado; however tornados to not typically get high intensity ratings within Denver County (City and County of Denver, 2011). Flying debris from high winds cause most injuries. NOAA weathe r radio, telephone alerts, and television sources provide alerts severe thunderstorms and the destructive events that they bring. Denver County also has an outdoor warning siren system consisting of 76 electro-mechanical sirens that sound when there are tornado alerts and warnings (Office of Emergency Management, 2014a). Wildfire ignition by lightning is a bigger concern rural Colorado areas compared to the city. Respiratory problems can still result from the inhalation of smoke spread by wind. Wildfires burn thousands of acres and destroy hundreds of structures annually in Colorado. These fires are generally ignited by lightening or human causes and can easily be fueled by drought conditions, insect infestations, and heat. READYColorado offers information on risk assessment, home preparation, evacuation plans, and shelter information. More information regarding wildfires can be found at Ready.gov, Ready, Set, Go!, Surviving Wildfire, The Red Cross, US Fire Administration – FEMA, and Colorado State Forest Service websites. Colorado Wildfire Risk Assessment Portal is also a useful tool in determining fire risks. Currently, Denver’s fire risk is between lowest intensity and moderate intensity risk (Colorado State Forest Service, 2014). Flooding has a big impact on Colorado and in 2013 challenged many residents in the Denver area. NOAA Weather Radio, commercial radio, television, and internet sources provide information on flood watches and warnings, including flash floods in Denver County. Flash flooding along streams such as Cherry Creek, Clear Creek, and Harvard Gulch pose the greatest threats within the Denver area. The Corps of Engineers, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, and the Urban Drainage and Flood Control District websites provide 2013 flood information, current projects, and resources for flooding preparation and damage control in Colorado. Health risks involved from flooding include contamination from bacteria (ie. E.coli), parasites (ie. giaria), and viruses (ie. Hepatitis A), respiratory infections from mold and other irritants, and bodily injury from swiftly moving currents, electricity hazards, and hypothermia. It is very important for all Denver County residents to be up to date with Tetanus  vaccinations. Terrorism poses a rather unpredictable threat to Denver County. Denver County has a large metropolis population and houses both government buildings and military installations, contains large sports stadiums and an international airport. It is known that failure of the Cherry Creek Dam would cause catastrophic damage to both life and property within Denver County (City and County of Denver, 2011). There have been known international and domestic terrorist groups identified in Colorado during previous years (City and County of Denver, 2011). Education regarding the â€Å"eight signs of terrorism† can be found at multiple terrorism related websites including READYColorado.com. Denver also has specialized units including Denver Police Department Mounted Patrol, S.W.A.T.(Special Weapons And Tactics) who’s primary objective deals with hostage negotiation, drug busts and counterterrorism (City and County of Denver, 2011). Hazardous material spill have an increase potential in Denver County related to the many different companies storing hazardous materials within city limits. There are approximately 400 facilities storing reportable quantities of hazardous materials on properties located throughout the county (Office of Emergency Management, 2014). Each company is regulated by law to hold emergency plans that would go into effect if an accidental release of substance was to occur. The interstates bring added risk to Denver County related to the traffic along I-25 and I-70. These two interstates pass through densely populated areas of Denver County Denver fire and police have Hazardous Materials Response teams in place that are trained to respond to such an event(s). Denver County has nearly a dozen different hospitals with a vast amount of public transportation options such as bicycle, RTD bus and light rail services, taxi cabs, car2go, and Lyft services. Denver County has excellent communications and response teams in the event of a disaster with a vast amount of online education; however this information is published mostly in the English language. With such a large population of homeless in Denver County and 18.9% of all households at or below poverty level (U.S. Census  Bureau, 2010), the internet is not a good primary option for learning. Also, approximately 28% of all households speak a language other than English (City and County of Denver, 2011). Community Diagnosis Denver County is a very strong community regarding the number of educated workforce, median household income, number of hospitals, amount of public ground transportation, the protection of air and water quality, and the number of fire and police with specialty training teams and programs operating within the community. There is a very small percentage of residents 65+ who live independently and slightly over 1/5 of all households have children less than 18 years of age. The primary language is English and the community culture has a good overall team mentality. Denver County’s birth rate double the death rate with the leading cause of death cardiovascular disease in a primary death rate existing in the population 85+ (Colorado Department of Public Health, 2012). Denver County has many open avenues regarding opportunities and readiness attitudes within community. The population of Denver County is approximately 50% male and 50% female with a median age of 33.7 years old (U.S. Census Bureau, 2010a). This provides the community with the opportunity to explore young ideas and diversity among sexes. Denver County has a large number of homeless population with approximately 1/5 of the total population at or below poverty. These numbers exceed the national average. Denver County has two specific food programs being utilized greatly; SNAP and WIC benefits. There is a high number of crime, violence, and gangs within Denver County. There is a high level of alcohol and drug abuse within the community as well. Specialized police teams and community resources/programs assist with deterring these types of activities and assist in recovery efforts for those individuals. Colorado has recently legalized recreational marijuana which could be positive in terms of tax revenue for the state and future funding of programs and resources for the community. There could also be negative consequences regarding adolescent drug use and the increase of impaired drivers on the streets; however these statistics have not yet been measured and studied. Denver County is  contains a 100% urban population. This is both a strength and weakness to the city in terms of emergency evacuation. There are three critical facilities that exist in Denver County at specific venues with a capacity between 19K and 76K (City and County of Denver, 2011). Denver County is centrally located between I-25 and I-70 which can be an opportunity for evacuation or a barrier regarding avenues for drug trafficking and other illegal activities. There is a high ratio of hit-and-run injuries and fatalities within Denver County. Colorado legislators have recently increased potential prison sentences for hit-and-run cases resulting bodily injury and/or death. They have also formalized an alert program to inform and involve the public as an attempt to help track down perpetrators. The formulation of a city-wide educational program focusing on the prevention of hit-and-run occurrences may be beneficial in reducing these numbers as well. It is important for the Denver Police Department to have quicker response times to both emergent and non-emergent calls. Hopefully with the addition of new recruits for the force who are currently in training, Denver County will see quicker response time to all calls made. This will also hopefully decrease the amount of gang-related crimes and deter community activity in general. It is evident that Denver County has a large trash and litter problem. The initiation of more trash cans and recycle containers parallel with city-wide education would be beneficial in decreasing this problem. It would also be of benefit to the community and the court systems to enact a community service program that revolved around helping clean up the neighborhoods and streets. Denver County has good disaster and emergency preparedness plans within the community; however educational resources to the public need to be explored with a variety of different materials and other languages for maximum effectiveness. The primary educational method is by internet with most of the materials written in the English language only. Nearly 1/3 of all households in Denver County speak a language other than English. References City and County of Denver. (2011, Oct). Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment. Retrieved March 8, 2014, fromhttp://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source =web&cd=1&ved=0CCUQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.denvergov.org%2FPortals%2F428%2Fdocuments%2FDenver%2520Hazard%2520Identification%2520and%2520Risk%2520Assessment.pdf&ei=AvEtU6etF8OJogSh5oDwDw&usg=AFQjCNEEQhg_2-JDt_OVeX3pIyYSKGcx9g&bvm=bv.62922401,d.cGU Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. (n.d.). Health Statistics: 2012. Retrieved March 10, 2014, from http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s& source=web&cd=1&ved=0CCUQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chd.dphe.state.co .us%2FResources%2Fvs%2F2012%2FDenver.pdf&ei+I14tU9zPA-SNygGZ-IDYBw&us G=AFQjCNH_VbyYxdRvmxNekgRu-y0LhIgrzw&bvm=bv.62922401,d.aWc Colorado State Forest Service. (2014). Colorado Wildfire Risk Assessment Portal. Retrieved March 10, 2014, from http://www.coloradowildfirerisk.com/map Denver Fire Department. (2014, January 7). In Wikipedia. Retrieved March 9, 2014, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denver_Fire_Department Denver Police Department. (2014, January 6). Reported Offenses In The City And County Of Denver By Month. Retrieved March 8, 2014, from http://www.denvergov.org/police/ PoliceDepartment/CrimeInformation/CrimeStatisticsMaps/tabid/441370/Default.aspx Denver’s Water Quality Program. (2014, February 14). Sampling Results. Retrieved March 9, 2014, from https://www.facebook.com/DenversWaterQualityProgram?sk=app_190322 544333196&app_data Department of Environmental Health. (2014a). Air Quality Program: Our Role In Protecting Air Quality. Retrieved March 9, 2014, from http://wwwdenvergov.org/environmental Health/EnvironmentalHealth/EnvironmentalQuality/EnvironmenatlAssessmentPolicy AirQuality/tabid/444649/Default.aspx Department of Environmental Health. (2014b). Water Quality Program: Trash and Litter. Retrieved March 9, 2014, from http://wwwdenvergov.org/environmentalhealth/ EnvironmentalHealth/EnvironmentalQuality/WaterQuality/tabid/444650/Default.aspx Department of Environmental Health. (2014c). Water Quality Program: Water Quality In Lakes and Streams. Retreived March 9, 2014, from https://wwwdenver.gov.org/environmental health/EnvironmentalHealth/EnvironmentalQuality/WaterQuality/tabid/444650/Default. Aspx Gang activity in Denver. (2013, August 17). In Wikipedia. Retrieved March 9, 2014, from http:// en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gang_activity_in_Denver Gurman, Sadie. (2013, October 15). The Denver Post. Denver Police: Gang violence rises this year, involves more victims. Retrieved March 9, 2014, from http://www.denverpost.com /breakingnews/ci_24309448/denver-police-gang-violence-rises-this-year?source=rss Hubbard, Brent. (2014, Feburary 17). Rocky Mountain PBS. Hit-and-run fatal crashes rising in Colorado. Retrieved March 10, 2014, from http://www.coloradoan.com/article/201 40217/WINDSORBEACON01/302170069/Hit-run-fatal-crashes-rising-Colorado Kroh, Kiley. (2014, February 24). Climate Progress: Colorado Become The First State To Regulate Methane Emissions from Fracking. Retrieved March 9, 2014, from http:// thinkprogress.org/climate/2014/02/24/3322651/Colorado-methane-fracking/ Maass, Brian. (2013, October 3). CBS Denver. Denver Police Response Times Worsen, Complaints Rising. Retrieved March 9, 2014, from http://denver.cbslocal.com/2013/ 10/03/denver-police-response-times-worsen-complaints-rising/ Mendelson, Bruce. (2014, Feburary). National Institute on Drug Abuse. Drug Abuse Patterns and Trends in Colorado and the Denver/Boulder Metropolitan Area – Update: Jan 2014. Retrieved March 9, 2014, from http://www.drugabuse.gov/about-nida/organization/work groups-interest-groups-consortia/community-epidemiology-work-group-cewg/meeting- reports/highlights-summaries-january-2014-4 Metro Denver Homeless Initiative and National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty. (2013, January). The Gathering Place – Homelessness and Poverty Statistics. Retrieved On March 8, 2014, from http://www.tgpdenver.org/homelessnessfaq?printable National Weather Service. (2011, June 21). Colorado and National Lightning Casualty Statistics. Retrieved March 10, 2014, from http://www.crh.noaa.gov/pub/?n=/Itg/Itg_stats_index. php Office of Emergency Management. (2014a). Alert and Warning Systems. Retrieved March 10, 2014, https://www.denvergov.org/AlertandWarning/tabid/391430/default.aspx Office of Emergency Management. (2014b). Potential Threats. Retrieved March 9, 2014, from http://www.denvergov.org/Redirect_404/tabid/391429/Default.aspx? READYColorado and the State of Colorado. (2014a). Retrieved March 10, 2014, from https:// www.readycolorado.com/ READYColorado and the State of Colorado. (2014b). Severe Weather/Thunderstorm. Retrieved March 10, 2014, from https://www.readycolorado.com/hazard/severe-weatherthunder storm READYColorado and the State of Colorado. (2014c). Tornado. Retrieved March 10, 2014, from https://www.readycolorado.com/hazard/tornado READYColorado and the State of Colorado. (2014d). Wildfire. Retrieved March 10, 2014, from https://www.readycolorado.com/hazard/wildfire

How to Build a Professional Portfolio Essay

Professional Portfolio -Copies of all certificates and degrees -Copies of your resumes -Course Completion transcripts or certificates -Evidence of a Clinical Practicum -Awards and Recognition Developing your professional portfolio isn’t an easy task, but once its complete you can update it periodically and relatively easily. The portfolio will allow you to be organized when you start to complete applications. You can develop an online portfolio but you should probably start it using a 3 ring binder in effort to keep all of your copies. What Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors Do Substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors advise people who suffer from alcoholism, drug addiction, eating disorders, or other behavioral problems. They provide treatment and support to help the client recover from addiction or modify problem behaviors. Work Environment Substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors work in a wide variety of settings, such as mental health centers, community health centers, prisons, and private practice. Most work full time. How to Become a Substance Abuse or Behavioral Disorder Counselor Educational requirements range from a high school diploma to a master’s degree, depending on the setting, type of work, state regulations, and level of responsibility. Pay The median annual wage for substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors was $38,520 in May 2012. Job Outlook Employment of substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors is projected  to grow 31 percent from 2012 to 2022, much faster than the average for all occupations. Growth is expected as addiction and mental health counseling services are increasingly covered by insurance policies. Similar Occupations Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors with similar occupations. More Information, Including Links to O*NET Learn more about substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.

(Persuasive Speech) City-Wide Wifi Essay

Intro: WiFi, WiFi everywhere. WiFi everywhere you go, no more bad connection. You can’t escape it. When you step outside, free WiFi. When you step inside, free WiFi. When you go to your technologically impaired Grandma’s house, free WiFi. When you’re going for a bike ride, free WiFi. This, is what happens when you have citywide WiFi. Aren’t you tired of getting nagged by your parents about going over your data limit on 3G or 4G? Aren’t you tired of those super expensive phone bills? The cheapest 2-year plan for an iPhone is $1,799.76. If that’s not expensive to you, then listen to this. The most expensive 2-year contract for the iPhone costs $3,360.00. Imagine getting to keep all of that money. You’d have thousands of dollars over just a few years. Free public WiFi for the entire city is not impossible, and it has been done. Corpus Christi has free public WiFi for the whole city, and when I went there, I didn’t have to use 3G on ce. Have you ever been to one of your friends houses and had to nag them for the WiFi password? Imagine never having to know the WiFi password for anything ever again. You could get a free texting app and save thousands of dollars a year. Imagine what you could do with that money. Buy a car. Buy the new XBox. Buy a bunch of new video games. With all of that money, you might be able to afford to buy one snack at the movie theatre. The only price you would pay for WiFi would be just a little extra tax. With a free public WiFi, you could watch videos, stream music, and download stuff without using any data.Public city WiFi has the potential to change the cell phone industry forever. If more cities adopt a public WiFi, then eventually, expensive 3G and 4G prices will go down, or go away completely! Are you tired of bad connection to school WiFi, where everything fun is blocked? Just connect to the city WiFi! Since the urban population relies on technology so much in our new generation,a free public WiFi could be very beneficial to our society. Thesis: Because our world is more technology based than ever, city WiFi will be easier than any other way of connecting to the Internet. — #1 Attention-getting topic sentence: Free public wifi has the potential to bring society to a whole new level of sophistication. Analysis: People could communicate freely and without data-lag. Business owners could communicate with their employees about meetings, freely, and effortlessly. People would grasp a whole new idea of social media.People could share their thoughts, ideas, and concepts without hassle, so others could see them, and learn from them. Advertising ideas and products to the city would be as easy as 1-2-3. Cause/Effect/Reasons/Evidence: Mashable.com states that â€Å"The public networks would be much stronger than average household network—their signal would hypothetically travel for long distances and penetrate thick walls and other objects.† which means that you could get wi-fi in your house, in the grocery store, or anywhere else. Many of the major cell phone carriers, including AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile, are going against the proposal of free public wi-fi. Their argument? Well, they believe that free public wi-fi would cause people to cancel their cell-phone data contracts and would lose them money. In easier terms, these companies don’t want wi-fi because they want to keep ripping us all off. From an artical on mashable.co m i also found that Google and Microsoft, have partnered up in a rare move to support the public Wi-Fi networks. They argue that national Wi-Fi networks would spark a wave of technological innovation. Both companies also manufacture devices which would benefit from massive public Wi-Fi networks, from Google’s Android operating system to Microsoft’s Windows Phone and Xbox gaming consoles. If microsoft wants free public wi-fi for the xbox gaming console, you know the wi-fi will be blazing fast. this is because xboxes need an enormous amount of bandwidth to run smoothly. so if microsoft wants wi-fi, they will want it to be fast so their xbox customers are satisfied with their product. Free wi-fi will create a huge debate between the people who want to rip you off, and the people who want to give you the best technological entertainment possible. would you rather continue on this path of slow, expensive service, or would you like to see the other side of the spectrum?-blaz ing fast internet service that anyone can afford an can use at anytime. Concluding Sentence: Free public wi-fi has the opportunity to not only change the way people communicate, but also change they way people work and play. — Attention Getting Topic Sentence: You may think that WiFi is more of a luxury than a necessity, though with current smartphone technologies it becoming of a necessity rather than luxury. Analysis: Public WiFi can be used for educational tools, emergency services, daily web browsing, and much more†¦ Some consumers already use their 4G data on their smartphones but what about the others who don’t own smartphones. It’s estimated that approximately 94% of city dwellers own an internet capable device. With such a high rate, it’s highly necessary for public WiFi. This will allow more businesses to communicate news with others also providing helpful and cost saving services with their users. Cause/Effect/Reasons/Evidence: Providing public WiFi for consumers is like a long-term investment. The government will add local long range hotspots into the city. Many competing businesses and consumers can pay credit to the government by buying advertising licenses and paying a little bit of extra taxes. Many companies would try to compete with this opportunity by lowering their service costs and increasing their demand. This change would affect you by lowering down your monthly cell pho ne bill. Also another great reason to encourage WiFi is with all the communication that’s occurring. Communication can be expressed in many different ways or forms. As humans, it’s impossible for us to not communicate. Communication is a right rather than a privilege, therefore it should always be free. Free public WiFi would offer your free communication to whether it’s to your penguin friend in Antarctica or to your local supermarket. It doesn’t have to be a quick call. Public WiFi offers texting, calling, instant messaging, emailing, video chatting, and violent slaughtering! Maybe not. Today’s generation is pleading for communication as it’s required for work, school, militaries, etc. Remember, WiFi is not a luxury. It’s a major necessity in a developing country like America. Concluding (Sentence): Overall, free public WiFi is a great necessity to have but it can’t be done without your support. A developing country like America needs more integrated connections among citizens and a small boost in the economy. Free public WiFi is the solution. Conclusion: Citywide Wifi does more good than bad. It will help both the people, and the city.The networks will help the economy of the community by attracting more people to the city. It will also be a service to the people living in the area who don’t have the money to experience the magical world of the interwebs. The applicability of using it is so easy, and everyone can do it. You don’t even need 3G or 4G to connect, all you have to do is connect to the city WiFi. Everywhere you go, you can experience free WiFi. People will visit certain stores, go to a certain restaurant, or visit a fixed library just to experience their wifi connection. With the city free wifi, you can do whatever you want without having to worry about connecting to the once privately owned wifi services. Wifi is not even a indulgence anymore honestly, people literally will do anything for the internet. We depend on technology nowadays, to the point where we cannot live without our phones. That’s where we are heading, and we should take advantage of the utilities we have access to, and try to gain something valuable from them, such as knowledge about something we like, or lessons that teach us amazing life skills. We can learn things from our devices, and have them for our entertainment as w ell. Wifi belongs to everyone, and not just for the people who can actually pay for it.Everyone should have. It will help enhance the curiosity for knowledge in kids that don’t have access to wifi, and make them ask more questions. People NEED access to modern technology, and wifi is the most basic form of modern technology. Everything we do is now electronic. Everything we are taught is now based on electronics. Books will always be there for us, but when we don’t have the certain book for us to answer a question, we need an answer somewhere. This is an idea that we can put to the test. Let’s try to make a citywide wifi plan which will benefit us all, rich and poor, curious and young,and and old. Let us grasp information like never before, and use it. Let’s be the generation of extraordinary wealth in knowledge.

Common Law Case and Civil Case Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Common Law Case and Civil Case - Essay Example â€Å"Company directors and senior employees to whom the board of directors has delegated managerial duties have a fiduciary relationship with the company. All directors and any person occupying the position of director by whatever name called or persons who purport to act as such are still regarded as directors, whether or not they are designated or otherwise described as a company director, are required to act in good faith in the interests of the company, to act for proper purposes and to avoid conflicts of interest and duties and also not to delegate powers except with proper authorisation. They also have the duty of care and still 6†. To some extent, the case of Green vs.Bestobell Industries Ltd can be said to that one of lifting the corporate veil. The company’s operation and its corporate entity were not considered simply cause of the acts of directors who acted arbitrarily. The principle of the separate entity was not aptly taken into consideration in order to safeguard the interests of the company. A director who acts even though for the the interest of the company but then without the powers bestowed upon him, the principle of separate entity need to be invoked for the sole purpose of protecting the corporate. The difference between Gilford Motor Co.Ltd vs. Horne and Shangai Kiangdong Equipment Ltd vs. Xu In Gilford Motor Company the director signed an agreement with the company Gilford Motor that while employment and after employment that he shall not solicit the customers of the company. But upon exit from the company, the former director went as far dishonoring in agreement with the company. The court ruled he was bound by the agreement. Even though the doctrine of separate legal entity was not properly followed because an individual and the company are different people as long as Mr. Horne was operating for the interest of the company, there was an apparent need for the honorable court to lift the corporate veil and observe behind the veil in order to have the directors answerable for the acts done allegedly on behalf of the company.

Social Phenomena Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Social Phenomena - Essay Example Each of these views relies upon more or less legitimate arguments and evidence, but neither of them is flawless. Functionalist perspective still remains arguably the most influential tool for understanding the phenomenon of deviant behavior. Since the term 'deviant behavior' is rather broad, only two types of social deviance will be closely analyzed within this project: crime and suicide. Functionalist explanation of the causes and social outcomes of these types can lead us to understanding of functionalist perspective on deviant behavior in general. Emile Durkheim, the famous French sociologist of the 19th - 20th century, was probably the first scholar to adopt the logic of the functional approach studying the phenomenon of deviant behavior. Thus, Durkheim claimed, "When . . . the explanation of a social phenomenon is undertaken, we must seek separately the efficient cause which produces it and the function it fulfills. We must determine whether there is a correspondence between the fact under consideration and the general needs of the social organism, and in what this correspondence consists" (Durkheim, 1930 in Coser, 1977: 143). Ut Utilizing these principles Durkheim focused on the way a society stimulates individuals demonstrate deviant behavior than on individual characteristics of those whom demonstrate such behavior, though majority of sociologists of those days viewed crime, suicide, and other forms of social deviance as an outcome of inborn psychological characteristics of the individual. Durkheim considered such approach flawed. Instead, the scholar argued that deviance in general and crime in particular was by no means abnormal or dangerous for the society: "Crime is normal, an inevitable and necessary part of every society [although] it may take abnormal forms, such as when the crime rate is unusually high (Durkheim, 1961: 872). Durkheim's views on another form of deviance - suicide - were absolutely the same. "La Suicide" was the third major work of Emile Durkheim. This book was the first sociological research that established the traceable empiric connection between the phenomenon of individual suicide and social environment, and defined certain social functions of suicide. In the end of the 19th century suicide or self-destruction was considered a form of deviant behaviour that occurred in insane individuals. Durkheim challenged this traditional standpoint that suicide was an unpreventable pathology. Instead, he provided " a sociological explanation for a phenomenon traditionally regarded as exclusively psychological and individualistic" (Thompson, 1982: 109). In fact, Durkheim formulated the founding principles of functionalist perspective on deviance precisely in his study of suicide. Even today, despite abundance of recent studies, Durkheim's work remains the most significant sociological analysis of s uicide in modern societies. Suicide is a complex phenomenon that can be caused by numerous factors. Many reasons both individual and social have been demonstrated to have certain correlation with self-destructive

Busi man Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Busi man - Essay Example The customers can stir the direction of the growth of an organization, and so it is up to the management and how the employees’ commitment to satisfy the customers, are being stressed and practiced that can ensure the upward direction in the progress of the company. Customer’s satisfaction is best achieved when there is conscious effort on the part of management to deliver the quality of service that the customers would expect. On the other hand, management should be well aware, that there are various kinds of customers. Naturally, they should cater only to the kind of customers who can bring about profit to the company. Those are the customers who have the capacity to pay the price of the services or products that will be made available to them and at the same time, they should look for the customers who are in need of the products that a company can provide. There are customers who go about complaining, but in reality, have no intention of letting go of their hard-ear ned money, unless they can haggle for the cheapest price. In this instance, it would be best that management is convinced that they are proud of the services that they can provide, and also best to remember that he who trims himself to suit everyone will soon whittle himself away . The most splendid achievement of all is the constant striving to surpass oneself and to be worthy of personal approval. Many times, management fails to satisfy the customers. This is where customers’ expectations come into play. The customers usually know what they desire in the services that they expect, and the perception of the quality of service that one company provides is relative, because customers differ from one another, and no matter how a company would try, it is simply impossible to please everyone. The customers would normally compare the products or services, based on

BMW Group Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

BMW Group - Case Study Example The limited profits earned by the company were due to the "model life-cycle factors" which significantly enhanced the car sales volumes. During this period, the BMW group sold less than 350,000 automobile units, which includes BMW, Mini and Rolls-Royce. The figure of the units sold was less than 5percent against the units sold in the previous year. During the contemporary year, more than 1,200,000 units were sold in the market which is approximately 2percent greater than previous year's figure. The financial performance of the group is severely restricted by the "market conditions for the motorcycle business"; the conditions are regarded as severe and crucial for the market. The sales of the motorcycles produced by BMW have shown similar trend, during the third quarter of the running year the sales volume is almost equivalent to the sales of the previous year. The units of motorcycles sold in the market were less than 3percent of the figures sold in the previous year. The financial c risis has been responsible for the negative impact of the BMW group. In the wake of international economic crisis, the customers have practiced reluctance in procurement of the automobiles unit, "the third-quarter revenues reported by the company, decreased by 8.6 % to euro 12,588 million". During the running economic recession, the company was able to collect revenues of euro 40,425 million, which was highest than the figures of than the figures of the previous year. The variation in the foreign exchange rates was also responsible for the improvement in the revenue generation, "the BMW Group revenues for the nine-month period were up by 5.1percent". The BMW group was controlled its expenses, and residual expenses have been eliminated, "the company increased the cumulative amount of expense recognised for additional risk provision for residual value and bad debt risks to a total of euro 1,037 million". The brief financial outlook for the BMW group for the third quarter of the runnin g year is reduction in the earnings by euro 258 million, profit dropped by 60percent to euro 387 million. The pre-tax earnings of the BMW group were truncated by the external factors, "pre-tax profit stood at euro 279 million for the third quarter, the amount is 63percent lower than one year earlier, while that for the nine-month period fell to euro 1,522 million" (Citigroup, 2008). The net profit earned by the company stood at euro 298 million for the third quarter. The running economic recession has severely dampened the financial outlook of the company for the years to come (Bilgen, 2004). The business conditions are not encouraging, the market is volatile, and this has "deteriorated further for the BMW Group over the past months". The financial crisis has escalated, and there is strong possibility of this recession will cause "noticeable reduction in consumer spending in numerous markets" (Citigroup, 2008). The BMW group is yet to experience the environmental challenges; the growing understanding of the consumers about green house gases emission has developed reluctance among the customer to acquire goods which shall be detrimental for the environment. The BMW group is trapped by "significant level of volatility on the financial and commodity markets, this poses the risk of even greater uncertainty". The purchasing power of the consumer has depleted, "private consumption and consumer confidence have dipped perceptibly, particularly in the USA and Europe".

Moscow Olympics 1980. Urban Policy. Urban Regeneration Speech or Presentation

Moscow Olympics 1980. Urban Policy. Urban Regeneration - Speech or Presentation Example The problem is that although Moscow was experiencing the Soviet war in 1980, its urban infrastructure warranted it an opportunity to host Olympic Games (Real 1996). Other cities did not have the standardized infrastructure to accommodate the event. In return, the event did not run as expected because some nations like the US amongst others boycotted the event. Since then, cities are on the run to standardize their infrastructure so as to be given the opportunity to host Olympic Games. This problem is worth discussing because; if there were other urban areas of the same urban standards as Moscow and not experiencing cold war, the Olympic Games could have been held there. Today every other city in the world has sought urban policy or urban regeneration to be in a position to host international events like Olympic Games. The differing perspective of this topic is that since the Moscow Olympic games of 1980, the society has made Olympic Games more visible and spectacular (Andranovich & Heying 2001). The International Olympic Committee (IOC) which is the body that conducts Olympic sports has to be very specific in outlining the requirements needed by a city to host the event. The staging is done on a manual detailing where it has to be evaluated in the bi dossiers of candidate cities. The demand for hosting Olympic Games has gone up due to the urban transformation or regeneration which has taken place since 1980 when Moscow hosted Olympic Games. Cities have regenerated their transport sectors, technology, cultural programmes, art and environmental management among other critical sectors which can deny them the opportunity to host international events li ke the Olympic Games. Once a city has been selected to host the event, it is monitored closely in planning and preparing for the event by the IOC coordination committee to ensure everything is up to standard. Sometimes the commission

Capital Budgeting Process Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Capital Budgeting Process - Assignment Example The foremost reason for going public is to raise additional capital by issuing shares to the general investing public. This means other funding sources such as internally generated profits or financing through bank loans had been considered and set aside in favor of an IPO. Owners of private companies will now have to contend with the fact that they will lose some control by the issuance of new shares but they have other compensation in return for doing it such as new funds for expansion (new products and new markets), increased liquidity for the current shareholders by creating an active market for the stock to trade and change hands, the stock itself can become a valuable currency to fund new acquisitions (some mergers are made using company stock instead of cash payment), increase employee motivation through stock options to compensate good performance and in general enhance a companys reputation via a well-executed IPO process from start to end. Preparations are made long before the actual IPO itself and it involves three main participants: the issuing firm, the underwriter and the public. The initial public offering can become a difficult and contentious issue if not handled properly because of the conflicting claims and interests of the three main parties mentioned. An important factor that determines if an IPO is successful is correct timing. As they say, timing is everything, from setting an ideal price range that maximizes the funds that will be generated to the market's reception of the offering. If a decision had been made to go through with the IPO, there are two considerations to be made regarding correct timing: firstly is the stage of the firm's development.

Was the Post-1967 Settler Movement a Continuation of the Founding Essay

Was the Post-1967 Settler Movement a Continuation of the Founding Zionist project, or an Independent Development - Essay Example With Israel emerging as the victor from the war, territories expanded in areas such as Gaza, west bank, east Jerusalem and the Golan heights. This was in contrary to Arab predictions before the war that Israel would face extinction. The country was now stable to attack its enemies as well as protect its territories from attacks. The win was not taken easily by the religious Zion’s who termed the win as mere miraculous attempt by Israel. Instead of giving credit where it is due, Zionists used divine proof in their favor and praised themselves from the historical achievements in the past occurrences. In the process of trying to confer the new terms of Israel, the religions Zion got transformed into a system, which incorporated nationalism. At the same time, they got the limelight in the center stage showing their power through the secular enterprises. After same war settler, movement arose a move, which got incorporated to fight for the displaced in the society. They used makesh ift tents same as those used by the Zionists in the 1930s in a bid to escape from mandatory and forceful power of the Palestinian nationalism1. Many questions, therefore, have arisen as to the source of the settler movement due to the many things that the movement shares with the Zionists. Consequently, the patrons and leaders of the settler movements got identified as leaders from the Zion society, a factor that leaves beyond doubt that settler movement was a product of the Zionists. It is from this perspective that I tend to defend the fact that all the basic similarities found between the settler and Zionists was not coincidental2. Settler movement is, therefore, a product of the Zionists as proven by the following subsidiary points. To start, the settler movement main agenda was, to provide settlement for displaced persons from the war. In addition, it engrossed the nationalists’ impulse, which included mixing religious ideologies such as biblical â€Å"Eretz Israel† rhythm. This was a perquisite of the religious redemption of the Christians by the time a move, which aimed at providing sustainable housing as well as settlement for the displaced persons from the six-day strenuous war. From a close analysis of its agendas, settler movement show sighs of shared ideas. This is because some of the settlement ideologies can be traced back to Zionists thinkers like Abraham Isaac Kook who was the first chief of the rabbi pre-state period3. From this perspective settler, movement formulated after the 1967 war gets viewed as a product of the Zionists, as they could not formulate their own ideologies, but took the ideologies from the Zionists movements. Subsequently, it leaves certainty beyond any doubt that the religious legitimacy that prevailed in the settler movement was a product of the Zionists. This, therefore, proves that fact that settler movement erupted from the Zionists. The Zionists made use of secular elements and instruments in the proces s of reestablishing the land of Israel and motivation of Jewish renaissance. According to Kook, one of the founders of Zionist movements, the move aimed at restoring the civilization match in the people of Israel. Consequently, it geared towards ensuring moral progress and in turn creating a modal society where everybody had transformation. Notably the dream of the Zionists was to transform the whole Israel community and create a barrier from the past in terms of development and emergence. A close observation of the settler mo

In support of the legalization of marijuana for medical use Essay

In support of the legalization of marijuana for medical use - Essay Example Medically, the drug has been effectual in treating various diseases as discussed by Jocelyn Elders, the former U.S surgeon in her article, Myths about Medical Marijuana 2004. Still, this research is affirmed by Mathre (8) who in his article outline how the drug kindle appetite and lessen cachexia, alleviate vomiting and nausea linked with cancer chemotherapy, reduce intraocular pressure, and treat analgesia and neurological along with movement disorders. Unlike many drugs prescribed in the market, marijuana does not cause a terminal overdose. No one dies out of overdose due to its therapeutic applications such as decrease of spasms, muscles, chronic pain, and intraocular heaviness. Still, the CDC does not have a category of death by marijuana unlike other drugs approved by the FDA. Deaths have been noted as a result of legal drugs despite having the FDA approval. Although there are perilous effects of smoking marijuana, it has been approved medically to treat some ailments. This pape r seeks to discuss all these issues in detail in support of the legalization of marijuana for medical use. Joycelyn Elders (1) highlights the medical benefits of using marijuana. Her insights are awesome on how the drug relieves pains, reduces vomiting along with other symptoms of chronic diseases. Marijuana does this safely as it is less toxic than other drugs prescribed by physicians. Joycelyn focused her argument on the medical benefits of using the drug in which she believed that it improves the overall quality of patient’s life. From her argument, marijuana is best known to reduce neuropathic or chronic pain. The effect is important to HIV patients who often suffer from such pain and the drug becomes effective in pain reduction. Secondly, marijuana is beneficial in increasing appetite as it stimulates the body’s metabolism. The drug is effectual in reducing the symptoms of chronic diseases such as HIV and cancer as patients lack

Negative speech for legalization of divorce Essay Example for Free

Negative speech for legalization of divorce Essay A divorce formally dissolves a legal marriage. While married couples do not possess a constitutional or legal right to divorce, states permit divorces because to do so best serves public policy. To ensure that a particular divorce serves public policy interests, some states require a cooling-off period, which prescribes a time period after legal separation that spouses must bear before they can initiate divorce proceedings. Courts in the United States currently recognize two types of divorces: absolute divorce, known as divorce a vinculo matrimonii and limited divorce, known as divorce a menso et thoro. To obtain an absolute divorce, courts require some type of evidentiary showing of misconduct or wrongdoing on one spouses part. An absolute divorce is a judicial termination of a legal marriage. An absolute divorce results in the changing back of both parties statuses to single. Limited divorces are typically referred to as separation decrees. Limited divorces result in termination of the right to cohabitate but the court refrains from officially dissolving the marriage and the parties statuses remain unchanged. Some states permit conversion divorce. Conversion divorce transforms a legal separation into a legal divorce after both parties have been separated for a statutorily-prescribed period of time. Many states have enacted no-fault divorce statutes. No fault divorce statutes do not require showing spousal misconduct and are a response to outdated divorce statutes that require proof of adultery or some other unsavory act in a court of law by the divorcing party. Nevertheless, even today, not all states have enacted no fault divorce statutes. Instead, the court must only find 1) that the relationship is no longer viable, 2) that irreconcilable differences have caused an irremediable breakdown of the marriage, 3) that discord or conflict of personalities have destroyed the legit ends of the marital relationship and prevents any reasonable possibility of reconciliation, or 4) that the marriage is irretrievably broken. Look to various state laws to determine the divorce law within a particular jurisdiction. The Uniform Marriage and Divorce Act may provide further guidance. PROPERTY DIVISION Following a divorce, the court must divide the property between the spouses. Before legislatures equalized property allocation between both spouses, many divorce statutes substantially favored property allocation to the wage-earning spouse. These statutes greatly disadvantaged women disproportionately because during the 18th, 19th, and early-20th centuries, the participation of women in the workplace was much less than it has become during the latter-half of the 20th century and early part of the 21st century. The statutes failed to account for the contributions of the spouse as homemaker and child-raiser. Modern courts recognize two different types of property during property division proceedings marital property and separate property. Marital property constitutes any property that the spouses acquire individually or jointly during the course of marriage. Separate property constitutes any property that one spouse purchased and possessed prior to the marriage and that did not substantially change in value during the course of the marriage because of the efforts of one or both spouses. If the separate property-owning spouse trades the property for other property or sells the property, the newly-acquired property or funds in consideration of the sale remain separate property. Modern division of property statutes strive for an equitable division of the marital assets. An equitable division does not necessarily involve an equal division but rather an allocation that comports with fairness and justice after a consideration of the totality of the circumstances. By dividing the assets equitably, a judge endeavors to effect the final separation of the parties and to enable both parties to start their post-marital lives with some degree of financial self-sufficiency. While various jurisdictions permit recognition of different factors, most courts at least recognize the following factors: contribution to the accumulation of marital property, the respective parties liabilities, whether one spouse received income-producing property while the other did not, the duration of the marriage, the age and health of the respective parties, the earning capacity and employability of the respective parties, the value of each partys separate property, the pension and retirement rights of each party, whether one party will receive custodial and child support provisions, the respective contributions of the spouses as a homemaker and as a parent, the tax consequences of the allocations, and whether one spouses marital misconduct caused the divorce. Most jurisdictions also give the family court judge broad jurisdiction by providing judges with the right to consider any other just and proper factor. When assigning property, judges cannot transfer the separate propert y of one spouse to another spouse without the legislature having previously passed an enabling statute. Whether such an enabling statute exists varies between jurisdictions. Alimony refers to payments from one spouse to the other. A court can order one spouse to pay three different types of alimony permanent alimony, temporary alimony, and rehabilitative alimony. Permanent alimony requires the payer to continue paying either for the rest of the payers life or until the spouse receiving payments remarries. Temporary alimony requires payments over a short interval of time so that the payment recipient can stand alone once again. The period of time covers the length of the property division litigation. Similar to temporary alimony, rehabilitative alimony requires the payer to give the recipient short-term alimony after the property division proceedings have concluded. Rehabilitative alimony endeavors to help a spouse with lesser employability or earning capacity become adjusted to a new post-marital life. Courts allocate alimony with the intention of permitting a spouse to maintain the standard of living to which the spouse has become accustomed. Factors affecting whether the court awards alimony include the marriages length, the length of separation before divorce, the parties ages, the parties respective incomes, the parties future financial prospects, the health of the parties, and the parties respective faults in causing the marriages demise. If a couple had children together while married, a court may require one spouse to pay child support to the spouse with custody, but one should note that alimony and child support differ.

Development of Regulatory Mechanism

Development of Regulatory Mechanism Critical Analysis of Role of IRDA (Regulator) In the Last Decade In Respect of  General Insurance Companies In India, insurance has a very deep-rooted history. Insurance in India has evolved over time heavily drawing from other countries, England in particular. The history of general insurance dates back to the Industrial Revolution in the west and the consequent growth of sea-faring trade and commerce in the 17th century. It came to India as a legacy of British occupation. General Insurance in India has its roots in the establishment of Triton Insurance Company Ltd., in the year 1850 in Kolkata by the British. In 1907, the Indian Mercantile Insurance Ltd., was set up. This was the first company to transact all classes of general insurance business. In 1968, the Insurance Act was amended to regulate investments and set up minimum solvency margins. The Tariff Advisory Committee was also set up then. In 1972, with the passing of the General Insurance Business (Nationalization) Act, general insurance business was nationalized with effect from 1st January, 1973. 107 insurers were grouped into four companies, namely National Insurance Company Ltd., the New India Assurance Company Ltd., the Oriental Insurance Company Ltd. and the United India Insurance Company Ltd. The General Insurance Corporation of India was incorporated as a company in 1971 and it commence business on 1st January, 1973. Evolution of IRDA In 1993, the Government set up a committee under the chairmanship of RN Malhotra, the former Governor of RBI, to propose recommendations for reforms in the insurance sector. The objective was to complement the reforms initiated in the financial sector. The committee submitted its report in 1994 wherein, among other things, it recommended that the private sector be permitted to enter the insurance industry. They stated that foreign companies should be allowed to enter by floating Indian companies, preferably a joint venture with Indian partners. Following the recommendations of the Malhotra committee report, in 1999, the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) was constituted as an autonomous body to regulate and develop the insurance industry. The IRDA was incorporated as a statutory body in April, 2000. The key objective of IRDA includes promotion of competition so as to enhance customer satisfaction through increased consumer choice and lower premiums, while ensuring the financial security of the insurance market. The IRDA opened up the market in August 2000 with the invitation for application for registrations. Foreign companies were allowed ownership of up to 26%. The Authority has the power to frame regulations under Section 114A of the Insurance Act, 1938 and has from the year 2000 onwards framed various regulations ranging from registration of companies for carrying on insurance business to protection of policyholders interests. In December, 2000, the subsidiaries of the General Insurance Corporation of India were restructured as independent companies and at the same time GIC was converted into a national re-insurer. Parliament passed a bill de-linking the four subsidiaries from GIC in July, 2002. Today there are 24 general insurance companies including the ECGC and Agriculture Insurance Corporation of India. IRDA plays a vital role in shaping the growth of the insurance industry as a whole. Ever since IRDA came into existence and started regulating the insurance industry, there were many changes which were brought in the insurance industry which immensely helped the customers in choosing the right policies as well as helped the insurance companies in delivering the right policies to its customers as well as the insurance company. IRDA made a huge impact of its presence in the insurance industry since it started regulating the insurance industry firmly and stiffly as well as imposed many new regulations on the insurance companies to protect the policy holders interests and help the insurance companies grow and have a healthy competition among each other so that no insurance companies are declared bankrupt. Insurance companies were made to comply with all the regulations framed by IRDA and IRDA had full authority to penalize any insurance company for non-compliance of the guidelines of IRDA. IRDAs role in shaping the whole insurance industry has been a challenging job since its inception because the insurance companies enjoyed the freedom of non-regulation before IRDA came into existence. This is the reason why IRDA worked tiresomely in order to put everything in place and faced so many challenges for regulating the insurance industry as a whole. Mission Statement Of The Authority To protect the interest of and secure fair treatment to policyholders; To bring about speedy and orderly growth of the insurance industry (including annuity and superannuation payments), for the benefit of the common man, and to provide long term funds for accelerating growth of the economy; To set, promote, monitor and enforce high standards of integrity, financial soundness, fair dealing and competence of those it regulates; To ensure speedy settlement of genuine claims, to prevent insurance frauds and other malpractices and put in place effective grievance redressal machinery; To promote fairness, transparency and orderly conduct in financial markets dealing with insurance and build a reliable management information system to enforce high standards of financial soundness amongst market players; To take action where such standards are inadequate or ineffectively enforced; To bring about optimum amount of self-regulation in day-to-day working of the industry consistent with the requirements of prudential regulation. Composition of Authority As per section 4 of IRDA Act, 1999, Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority specify the composition of Authority: The Authority is a ten member team consisting of: a Chairman; Five whole-time members; Four part-time members. (All the members are appointed by Govt. of India) Review of Literature Insurance Regulatory Development Authority IRDA since its inception has done a wonderful job in carrying out its duties, powers and functions without failing. The powers and functions of IRDA are such that it has the authority to issue to the applicant a certificate of registration, renew it, modify it, withdraw, suspend or cancel such registration. IRDA plays an important role in protecting the policy holders interests in matters concerning assigning of policy, nomination by policy holders, insurable interest, settlement of insurance claim and other terms and conditions of contracts of insurance. IRDA also specifies the requisite qualifications, code of conduct and practical training for intermediary or insurance intermediaries and agents. It clearly states the code of conduct for surveyors and loss assessors as well as promotes efficiency in the conduct of insurance business and regulates the professional organizations connected with the insurance and re-insurance business. IRDA always calls for information related to undertaking inspection, conducting enquiries and investigations including audit of the insurers, intermediaries, insurance intermediaries and other organizations connected with the insurance business. IRDA fully controls and regulates the rates, advantages, terms and conditions that are offered by the insurers in respect of general insurance business which were earlier not so controlled and regulated by the Tariff Advisory Committee. IRDA also specifies the form and manner in which books of account shall be maintained and statements of accounts shall be rendered by the insurers and other insurance intermediaries. Now to discuss some of the guidelines and regulations framed by the IRDA in respect of General Insurance Companies, IRDA issued some regulations relating to protection of policy holders interests which stated that an insurer or its agent or other intermediary shall provide all material information in respect of a proposed cover to the prospect to enable the prospect to decide on the best cover that would be in his or her interest. Where the prospect depends upon the advise of the insurer or its agent or and insurance intermediary, such a person must advise the prospect dispassionately. Except in case of marine insurance cover, whereby current market practices do not insist on a written proposal form, a proposal for grant of cover for general business must be evidenced by a written document. It is the duty of an insurer to furnish to the insured free of charge, within 30 days of the acceptance of a proposal, a copy of the proposal form. Every insurer should have proper procedures and effective mechanism in place in order to address complaints and grievances of policy holders efficiently with speed. An insured or the claimant should give notice to the insurer after any loss has occurred arising under the contract of insurance at the earliest and within specified time period which may be allowed by the insurer. On receipt of such a communication, the insurer has to respond immediately and give clear indication to the insured on the procedures that he or she should follow. In case a surveyor is appointed for assessing the loss, it shall be done within 72hours of the receipt of intimation from the insured. On receipt of the survey report, the insurer should offer a settlement of claim to the insured within a period of 30days. If the insurer for any reason decides to reject or repudiate the claim under the policy, it has to do so within a period of 30days from the receipt of the survey report. Non-Tariff Regime In the year 2005, General Insurance Companies and other stake holders in the insurance market voiced the demand for removal of tariff as the existence of tariff was considered contrary to free market principles and insurance products needed to be priced based on market forces. IRDA accordingly considered moving to a tariff free regime. IRDA stated that in a market free of tariffs, all the insurance companies should have in place internal capabilities, procedures and controls. It also stated that the functions of underwriting and rating of insurance business should be independent of the business development function and not be made subservient to the business development function. Employees with authority were to be trained to evaluate proposals, underwrite and rate the risks as per the guide tariff. Following the decision of the tariff advisory committee to de-tariff Marine Hull Insurance, IRDA issued certain guidelines in respect of Marin Hull Insurance. All the general insurers who had wish to underwrite marine hull business, should follow the exact existing policy wordings, terms and conditions including clauses such as the Institute clauses as it was before de-tariff regime. It was also indicated and stated that all the insurance companies who wanted to underwrite marine hull class of business should file separately with the IRDA regarding the reinsurance arrangements for protecting the net account exposures. Guidelines Pertaining to Corporate Agents Outsourcing of Activities All the non-life insurers were directed to lay down minimum business requirements for Individual agents. The said provision of minimum business requirements is extended to all Corporate Agents as well. Accordingly, all the non-life insurers were directed to lay down minimum business requirements for Corporate Agents and monitor the performance of Corporate Agents as often as it is required. Insurers in India increasingly used outsourcing, as a means of both reducing cost and accessing expertise, not available internally and in order to achieve strategic aims. IRDA in respect of outsourcing stated that, all applicants will carry on functions in respect of insurance business including management of investment, within its own organization. It was observed that certain insurers were even outsourcing the core activities such as investment, underwriting and policy servicing. IRDA said that it was not desirable to outsource the core and important activities which will immensely affect the corporate governance, protection of policy holders, solvency and revenue of flows of insurer. IRDA further stated that outsourcing arrangements should neither diminish its ability to fulfill its obligations to policy holders nor impede effective supervision by IRDA. Insurers therefore were to take steps to ensure that the service provider employs the same standards in performing the services as would be employed by them if the activities were conducted in house. Accordingly, Insurers were not to engage in outsourcing that would result in their internal control, business conduct or reputation being compromised or weakened. Therefore, IRDA does everything that they can in order to protect the policy holders interest as well as control the Insurance Industry as a whole for betterment. Need of the Study What is the purpose of IRDA in regulating the General Insurance Companies? How IRDA framed and implemented the policies. Role of IRDA. Objectives of the Study A comprehensive wide case analysis of the role of IRDA in the last decade in respect of General Insurance Industry will aid and help in understanding the details regarding the benefits of the guidelines bestowed upon on the General Insurance Companies by the IRDA as well as to know the problems faced by General Insurance Companies in complying with IRDA regulations. Rationale of the topic Insurance industry in India has come a long way since the time when businesses were tightly regulated and concentrated in the hands of a few public sector insurers. Following the passage of the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority Act in 1999, India abandoned public sector exclusivity in the insurance industry in favour of market-driven competition. This shift has brought about major changes to the industry. This topic will help in identifying the role of IRDA and its impact on the General Insurance Industry since its inception. IRDA plays a vital role in shaping the growth of the insurance industry as whole due to which it is very important to understand how IRDA framed and implemented the policies in order to protect the policy holders and bring transparency in the insurance market. This is the reason why it is very important to critically analyze the role of IRDA since its inception and find out whether the general insurance companies have strictly adhered to the rules framed by IRDA and followed it without any problems faced. Research Methodology Research method: Descriptive Research Sampling tool: Questionnaire Data collected: primary Statistical tool used: Microsoft excel Data collection methods Primary data: the primary data will be collected by means of a survey. Questionnaire will be prepared and the General Insurance companies will be approached to fill up the questionnaire. The filled up information will later be analyzed to obtain the required information. Hypothesis Null: H0: Guidelines framed by the regulator are useful. Alternative: H1: Guidelines framed by the regulator is not useful. Null: H0: IRDA treats all the insurance companies both Public and Private, equally and fairly. Alternative: H1: IRDA doesnt treat all the insurance companies both Public and Private, equally and fairly. Data Analysis Interpretation Q1. Insurance Regulations includes all the objective of insurance business. Code Response Frequency Precentage 1 Agree 10 100 2 Disagree 0 0 According to the survey collected from 10 respondents one each from 10 general insurance companies, it was found that the regulations framed by IRDA includes all the objective of insurance business. Q2. Regulator Examines the documents thoroughly before issuing a license to any new insurance company. Code Response Frequency Precentage 1 Agree 10 100 2 Disagree 0 0 As per the pie chart above, we can easily interpret that all the respondents agree on the fact that the regulator examines the documents thoroughly before issuing a license to any new insurance company. Q3. Insurance Companies are able to meet the capital requirement set by the regulator. Code Response Frequency Precentage 1 Agree 10 100 2 Disagree 0 0 The response on the capital requirement is that Insurance Companies are able to meet the capital requirement set by the regulator as responded by the survey respondents. Q4. True disclosure of the working of insurance company ensures the soundenss of the business of the insurance company. Code Response Frequency Precentage 1 Agree 10 100 2 Disagree 0 0 According to the respondents, all of them agree to the fact that true disclosure of the working of insurance company does always ensures the soundness of the business of the insurance company thus showing transparency in the workings of insurance companies. Q5. Regulator has a very important role in the selection of the management. Code Response Frequency Precentage 1 Agree 2 20 2 Disagree 8 80 As the chart speaks for itself, we can clearly see that 80% of the respondents does not agree to the fact that regulator has a very important role in the selection of the management as opposed to 20% who agree to the statement. This shows that regulator is not so important when it comes to the selection of management. Q6. Guidelines framed by the regulator are useful Code Response Frequency Precentage 1 Agree 9 90 2 Disagree 1 10 According to the survey conducted, it shows that 90% of the respondents feel that guidelines framed by the regulator are useful whereas 10% feels it is not useful meaning that majority of the insurance companies feel that the guidelines are very useful for insurance companies to sustain and grow in the market. Q7. Filing a new product with regulator for approval is easy. Code Response Frequency Precentage 1 Agree 1 10 2 Disagree 9 90 The survey on the filing of new conducted concluded with 90% denying the fact that filing a new product with the regulator for approval is easy meaning that they feel it is difficult to file a new product. Only 10% feels it is easy which is quite bad. Q8. Setting up of the customer grievance cell as the directives by the regulator helps in satisfying the policy holders and getting more business for the company. Code Response Frequency Precentage 1 Agree 9 90 2 Disagree 1 10 90% respondents feel that setting up of the customer grievance cell as directed by the regulator helps in satisfying the policy holders and getting more business for the company where as 10% of the respondents doesnt support the statement. Q9. Establishment of the IRDA to regulate the insurance industry was a wise step taken by the government of India in order to protect the policy holders interest and insurance industry as a whole. Code Response Frequency Precentage 1 Agree 10 100 2 Disagree 0 0 The above pie chart shows that all the insurance companies that were surveyed feels that establishment of the IRDA to regulate the insurance industry was a wise step taken by the government of India in order to protect the policy holders interest and insurance industry as a whole. Q 10. IRDA treats all the insurance companies both public and private equally and fairly. Code Response Frequency Precentage 1 Agree 10 100 2 Disagree 0 0 All the 100% respondents agree to the fact that IRDA treats all the insurance companies both public and private equally and fairly. Q11. IRDA takes strict actions on insurance companies for non-compliance with the regulator. Code Response Frequency Precentage 1 Agree 10 100 2 Disagree 0 0 According to the pie chart, we can easily come to a conclusion that all the respondents from 10 general insurance companies accepts that IRDA is very strict and that it takes strict actions on insurance companies for non-compliance with the regulator. Findings Insurance Regulations does include all the objectives of insurance. IRDA always examines the documents thoroughly before issuing a license to any new insurance company. Regulator doesnt have much role in the selection of management according to the general insurance companies. Guidelines framed by the regulator are very useful for the insurance companies. Filing a new product with the regulator for approval is not at all easy. Establishment of the IRDA to regulate the insurance industry was a wise step taken by the government of India in order to protect the policy holders interest and insurance industry as a whole. IRDA treats all the insurance companies both public and private equally and fairly. IRDA takes strict actions on insurance companies for non-compliance with the regulator. Suggestions Since regulator doesnt have important role in the selection of the management, I think the regulators should take part in the selection of the management so that there is a fair and transparent management. Since filing of a new product for approval from the regulator is not so easy, IRDA should take into account such problems and issues so that various types of products are available immediately in the market which would help the customer choose the best suited product. IRDA can try to increase their man power and examine the new products filed thoroughly in a quick moment. Although guidelines framed by the regulator are useful, few insurance companies feel it is not due to which IRDA should also take the consent of the insurance companies for sharing their ideas on the guidelines, then note it down and if the regulator feels it is valid, then adapt that guideline. Conclusion The study of the topic Critical Analysis of the Role of Regulator (IRDA) in the Last Decade in Respect of General Insurance Companies it was found that regulator plays a very vital role in protecting the policy holders interests as well as growing and shaping the insurance industry as a whole. It was also found out that establishment of IRDA to regulate the insurance industry was a wise step taken by the Government of India as well as the most important factor for IRDA to be a very prominent and successful regulator is due to the hard work and wise firm decisions and steps taken by the Government as well as the Management of the regulator. The study also found out that there was not much gaps and flaws in the functioning of the regulator since the regulator has properly framed the guidelines taking into account the customers protection and the Insurance Industrys protection as a whole. The general insurance companies are all satisfied with decisions taken by IRDA and do appreciate the presence of IRDA. So finally, it is concluded that IRDA as a regulator does play a very important role in shaping the whole insurance industry and that IRDA should maintain the same henceforth so that even the new insurance companies would also stick to the norms and proper procedures. Sonam Tobgay

Management Information System In Toyota Management Essay

Management Information System In Toyota Management Essay Toyota has established new areas for development through innovations made in their management information systems assigned for shipment. The company is functioning all over the world with clients and global leaders to enhance the process of shipment. To attain this, Toyota looked to analyze present shipment systems utilizing their clients as well as data from other organizations. Pursuing these enhancements to shipment systems was a tremendous development area for Toyota, since they were able to improve their client base and the needs of present clients. The usage of management information systems and networking were critical to aiding the company to attain success in enhancing its shipment systems Not only do the MIS systems of Toyota enable the gathering of huge amounts of business information, but they also offer a significant time saving advantage to the employees. Where in the past business data of Toyota had to be manually analyzed for documentation and analysis it can now be keyed in immediately and comfortably onto a computer by a data processor, enabling quicker decision making and more immediate reflexes for the company in its entirety. . To attain effective MIS, Toyotas planning procedure involves taking into account the MIS needs at the strategic levels. For instance, at the strategic stage MIS systems and reports of Toyota helps the yearly operating scheme and budgetary procedures of the company. They are also utilized in support of the future strategic MIS and business preparation activities. Without the establishment of an efficient MIS, it will be difficult for Toyota to evaluate and check the effectiveness of new activities and the development of current programs. Two basic instances of this would be the handling of mergers and partnerships or the consistent progress and the integration of new products and services. Introduction The business setting is characterized by intense competition. As a result, organizations have to provide clients with effective and dependable service. If they fail to do so, clients will transfer to more client efficient organizations. In addition, as organizations increase in size, it becomes more difficult to monitor the increasing level of client data. If an organization does a terrible job of managing and maintaining client accounts and information, it can lead to issues for both the organization and the client. This essay will concentrate on Toyota, and the way the company enhanced its customer service and minimized expenses by enhancing its management information system (MIS). References used involved business articles and websites with facts and discussion on Toyota. Defining of Concept: Management Information System (MIS) A management information system (MIS) pertains to a subcategory of the total inner controls of an organization encompassing the application of individuals, information, technologies, and processes by accountants to resolve business issues like putting a value on a commodity, service or a business plan. Management information systems are different from ordinary information systems in that they are utilized to study other information systems used in functional tasks in the company. Academically, MIS is normally utilized to pertain to the cluster of information management processes connected to the automation or assistance of individual decision making (Clarke, 2007). At the beginning, in companies and other firms, internal documentation was done manually and only quarterly, as an output of the accounting system and with some extra figures, and provided limited and disrupted the data on management performance. In the past, information had to be isolated individually by the people as per the need and policy of the company. Eventually, data and information was differentiated and rather than the gathering of mass of information, significant and accurate information that was needed by the company was the only one saved (Laudon, 2007). In their early years of existence, company computers were utilized for the logical business of calculating the payroll and monitoring the accounts payable and receivable. As programs were created that offered leaders with data regarding sales, stocks, and other information that would aid in controlling the company, the word MIS emerged to pertain to these types of companies (Cleland, 2006). At present, MIS is utilized widely in various subjects and involves: decision support systems, workforce control programs, project management and database storage programs. The establishment and maintenance of information technology tools helps leaders and the employees in undertaking any activities connected to the analysis of data. MIS and business systems are particularly helpful in the gathering of business information and the generation of reports to be utilized as tools for making choices. SECTION 1 1.1. Company Overview: Toyota Motor Corporation The Toyota Motor Company is one of the biggest car manufacturers in the globe. Toyota has established a reputation as both an engine producer and the manufacturer of luxury vehicles. While the organizations headquarters are still situated in Japan, it has several manufacturing facilities all over the globe and sales departments in various nations where the vehicles are transported (Toyota Motor Corporation Global Site, 2010). Toyota has a distinct business structure and the manner it pursues the vehicle manufacturing with its effective quality standards which developed the industry. Toyotas just-in-time supply-chain idea has turned into a standard for car companies all over the globe. The Toyota Production System (TPS) calls for the finished vehicle to be pulled through the production system (Toyota Production System Global Site: TPS, 2010). By concentrating on smaller manufacturing lots and generating only what clients need when they demand it, Toyota has established a versatility and responsiveness that keeps on becoming the guideline for the industry. Due to its concentration to consistent development, Toyota has obtained die-changeover and machine-set periods that are way ahead of its rivals. Therefore its capability for responding immediately to new market developments makes TPS an effective system in the present days quickly developing world business setting. Toyota understands that it is necessary in guaranteeing quality management and the provision of dependable products to clients (Liker, 2005). The primary advantage of Toyotas management information systems is their capability to merge their corporate objectives all over the world by utilizing their systems properly. For instance, Toyota connects to its clients in various sectors by utilizing various Internet based web systems for various global regions (Hino, 2005). Even though there are numerous Internet sites and networks for each of the global continents, the management information systems all connect back to a global Internet site. 1.2. MIS of Toyota Toyota Comprehensive Warehouse Management System (Toyota WMS) These management information systems offer effective management for warehouses of the whole procedure from the period products are obtained, to storage and location control, to shipment. Individuals, products, and data are addressed, wastes are removed, and everyday enhancements are advocated. The Toyota WMS are tasked to offer an important function in generating comprehensive reports out of huge volumes of warehouse information that would otherwise be primarily considered as junk to decision makers. By analyzing these outputs warehouse management officers of Toyota can determine patterns and trends that would have stayed invisible if the raw information were consulted in manual terms (Toyota Comprehensive Warehouse Management System, 2010). Jidoka If any issue emerges at any point of the manufacturing process, Toyotas error identification system, or Jidoka, determines the problem and allows line workers to make the important measures to resolve it immediately even if that implies stopping the manufacturing process (Toyota Motor Corporation Global Site: Jidoka, 2010). By determining the equipment where the problem initially happened, this management information system makes it more comfortable to determine the cause of the issue and stops defects from developing to the succeeding phases of production. 1.2.3. Hybrid Synergy Drive (HSD) The Toyota HSD is an innovation to a traditional geared transmission with an electromechanical transmission. Since a car engine provides power effectively only over a limited range of speeds, the crankshaft of the engine is normally connected to a geared transmission by a clutch that enables the person driving to vary the speed that can be produced by the engine to the speed necessary to make the car move (Miller, 2004). The mixture of excellent vehicle design, effective brake systems, electrical energy storage and effective engine design provide the HSD enabled vehicle with critical efficiency benefits. The intense rivalry in the automobile industry with huge penetration and exit expenses has resulted to Toyota in searching for a competitive advantage in their management information systems (Fujimoto, 2001). As the car industry has been affected by huge fuel and crude oil expenses, Toyota has come up with a computerized engine system that tracks engine efficiency and makes power utilization in the car as productive as it can be. 1.2.4. Andons Toyota utilizes management information systems that employ visual controls to immediately convey the status of production. On the production area, for instance, management information systems help inform a worker with a single glance whether the station is operating properly, whether there is something wrong being checked or whether the production has been halted. Management information systems also give critical data like which machine did not operate, the operator and the real time situations when it malfunctioned (Magee, 2007). 1.2.5. PokaYoke Toyota utilizes a variety of these affordable, highly dependable management information systems throughout its production process to stop defects. While computers of Toyota cannot establish business plans by themselves, they surely have helped the management in knowing the impacts of their plans, and aid in the process of effective decision-making (Morgan, 2006). The PokaYoke are tasked to convert information into data helpful for decision making. SECTION 2 Application of MIS in Toyota 2.1. MIS across Departments 2.1.1. Operations The operations of Toyota have been impacted by tremendous developments in technology. Because of this, manufacturing operations within the company have significantly improved. For instance, vehicles and car parts are transported ahead of time, and this prevents large amounts of money from being utilized for storing activities (Fujimoto, 2001). The Toyota Comprehensive Warehouse Management System offers remedies for the organization concerning car and process structuring and planning for the smooth flow of operations. The Toyota Comprehensive Warehouse Management System aids the organization with regard to the enhancement of the operational procedures (Toyota Comprehensive Warehouse Management System, 2010). The smooth flow of operations is accomplished within Toyota through the Toyota Comprehensive Warehouse Management System, where the structuring of each car model and warehousing processes from the prototyping level to the production phase is attained in one structure (Shingo, 1989). This limits unnecessary repetition of processes and the need for interfaces as data is secured in a centralized system. Excellent coordination with suppliers offers great opportunities for more efficient product development with suppliers via the Internet. Productivity and efficiency in the operations within Toyota is accomplished through the Model-mix structuring and the excellent planning aspects of this MIS. Model-mix structuring allows Toyota to enhance the operational procedures that are important for the organization (Ineak, 2009). The excellent planning options enable effective processing of assembly and parts of make-to-order deals. SAP gathers specialized production orders from Toyotas planning system. The orders include the car parts essential to assemble each car; some Toyota cars, for example, have plenty of components detailed in the list. SAP generates the shipment schedules for each part to match Toyotas assembly-line procedures (SAP, 2007). Toyota delivers these detailed information and precise shipment schedules to its suppliers. The significant suppliers obtain the information through electronic data interchange. Other providers log on to the Toyota online portal, where the company details the provisions to provide the updates on its shipment activities (Hino, 2005). By going to the website of Toyota, suppliers can monitor this information in real time, including release schedules, receipts, and other important information. When they deliver car parts, the suppliers send Toyota shipment details to give them with the latest information in this matter. Car parts going inside the Toyota storage facilities are then obtained and delivered quickly to the line. There, Toyota uses its Jidoka to monitor the assembly process in real time. Jidoka tracks the production verification and consumption information consistently. Parts utilized in the production are removed from the stock list, and costs are presented to detail the value of work in process (Toyota Motor Corporation Global Site, Jidoka, 2010). Customer desires for various Toyota cars warranted a solution that would properly improve and help organize production. These MIS help the organization to reduce order-to shipment period, enhances its supply chain activities with regard to demand analysis and tracking of deliveries, and improves inventory activities all over its establishmentsà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ enabling Toyota to significantly reduce time to customer for its excellent vehicles. 2.1.2. Finance In 2003, Toyota started to implement SAP software system which also provides financial information to the finance department of the company and its concerned personnel. The people of the finance department of Toyota analyzes previous and current financial figures, anticipates future financial outputs, and checks and handles the utilization of capital over time by making use of the information generated by SAP (SAP, 2005). The SAP provides options that enable sales and pricing of cars through configuration and monitoring of available parts. Vehicle customization and pricing via the Internet enhanced car sales of Toyota by offering customers with the choice of designing their vehicles. Once the vehicle is designed, the SAP will determine the worth of the vehicles based on the design. Vehicle search enables Toyota to locate vehicles that address the specific designs, accomplishing faster delivery to customers (Hoseus, 2008). 2.1.3. Marketing The SAP helps the marketing operations of the organization with regard to product development, pricing activities, marketing, and sales forecasts. Just like other important company operations, Toyota relies on external sources of data. These sources entail the opinion or feedback of customers. (SAP, 2007) 2.2. Decision Making at the Three Tiers of Management 2.2.1. Operational Level Systems To transform the operational level decision making within Toyota very fundamental and productive, the MIS of Toyota aids in providing and sending reliable information to all executors. The Toyota Comprehensive Warehouse Management System is established to enhance the reporting of information that will be important in the proper decision making within the operational level of Toyota. Furthermore, the SAP is able to effectively collect and process data, process results, and able to adjust, cope and address inaccuracies right away. (SAP, 2007) 2.2.2. Management Level Systems The Toyota Comprehensive Warehouse Management System has effective internal controls that aid in the management level decision making tasks in Toyota. Information is collected through efficient processing and inner control tracking. An effective internal and outer audit process is utilized within Toyota through the MIS (Magee, 2007). 2.2.3. Strategic Level Systems To have a productive and efficient strategic level decision making, important data within Toyota is processed and handled properly through its Material Handling System. Differences in the way information is collected and documented can change information and trend studies. Also, because data collection and documentation activities will eventually change through time, Toyota management has established flexible methods to allow systems developments through the MIS. These procedures are always well structured, properly informed to employees and has a tracking system that helps in the strategic level decision making of Toyota (Toyota Material Handling USA, 2010). 2.3. Managing Business Processes The integration of various MIS within Toyota is the effect of the integration of system management. The employees and leaders of the company are the users of the MIS who know the present customer demands and also have the capacity to plan the funds for new initiatives. In order to control its business procedures properly, Toyota has persevered in managing ownership that promotes effectiveness in its business processes and helps ensure being responsible. Even though the MIS does not reduce expense altogether, the integration of this essential system, and its properly utilization reduces the periods that wrong decisions in company procedures are accomplished because of inaccurate information (Morgan, 2006). Terrible company decisions simply misuse precious assets. This may result in a negative effect on revenues and/or budget. Conclusion The MIS of Toyota has been proven to provide a great deal of advantages to its various business units. Toyota strives hard to keep discovering new methods to utilize their MIS to accomplish their business goals. While the management information systems of Toyota are totally helpful in producing statistical documents and information analysis they are also utilized as a tool where the leaders and employees of the company agree upon a set of goals for the employees to try to accomplish within a specific time frame. Goals are established utilizing the SMART standard: that is, goals have to be Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Time-Specific. The target of these goals is to offer a set of performance standards by which Toyota can compare the output of a worker or program. The effectiveness of any goal in Toyota relies upon the consistent monitoring of developments. In monitoring this performance it is tremendously helpful for Toyota to make use of its management information systems. Because all goals must be quantifiable they can be monitored through the establishment of management documents to be studied by the leaders of Toyota (Magee 2007). Each market dominant company will have a minimum of one major competency à ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ that is, a task or operation they do better than their rivals. In the case of Toyota, by establishing a formidable management information system it became possible for the company to move ahead of its rival companies. The MIS systems of Toyota offer the tools essential to obtain a better knowledge of the market as well as an improved knowledge of the company itself. The establishment of effective MIS in Toyota is the consequence of the implementation of an environment of system ownership. The owner is a system user who understands the present clients and their necessities and also has the capability to finance new programs. Establishing ownership builds confidence in corporate procedures and aids in guaranteeing responsibility. Even though the MIS of Toyota does not completely minimize costs, the establishment of important systems, and their effective usage, will reduce the chances that erratic choices will be done due to unreliable data. Only a management information system that is versatile and effective could undertake such activities economically possible. This management information system not only aids in removing waste, which makes it more friendly to the environment, it also implies that clients can be guaranteed that Toyota cars will adhere to the best standards of quality, dependability and innovation.