Activity-based costing Essay Example for Free

Activity-based costing Essay There are many different types of cost systems a company can choose from when calculating their costs. Two of the most frequently used cost accounting systems are a volume based cost system and an activity based cost (ABC) system. Each system has their own advantages and disadvantages and some are more common among certain industries. Wilkerson, like many other companies, used a simple/volume based cost accounting system. Under this system, Wilkerson was inappropriately allocating their costs by assigning the overhead expenses based on direct labor, thus calculating their total costs and operating income incorrectly. If Wilkerson continues to operate their company ignoring the fact that their costs are inaccurate, it is possible that they may make poor business and pricing decisions in the future. Although Wilkerson’s costs are currently being calculated incorrectly, if they decide to use an activity based costing system, they may achieve more accurate results. Using a simple cost accounting system is often easier and less time consuming than an activity based costing system, but it is also less accurate. Wilkerson’s implementation of an ABC system would most likely be very beneficial to the company in terms of both determining their costs more precisely and making overall better pricing and business decisions. An ABC system at Wilkerson would look very different than their current volume based system. Wilkerson’s ABC system would use machine-related expenses, setup labor cost, receiving and production control, engineering, and packaging and shipment as the cost pools. The revised per unit product costs under this system would be $46.17/valve, $58.20/pump, and 115.38/flow controller and the margins would be 46.3%, 33.1%, and -9.9%, respectively. The results when calculating product costs are so different depending on the cost system because we are now actually determining the costs per unit with multiple cost pools because each resource uses a different amount of the indirect resources rather than assigning the manufacturing overhead cost solely based on the direct labor costs. Based on this new accounting information I would recommend that Wilkerson try to make an improvement in their flow controller product. Since the gross margin for this line is negative, if adjustments are made but there is no improvement in its profitability, I would tell Wilkerson to consider dropping the line completely. Although Wilkerson would lose $420,000 in sales, their costs would be reduced by more than this amount, ultimately increasing overall profits for the company. Unfortunately, there are some limitations in our analysis of Wilkerson’s alternative cost systems. One limitation is that we are unable to easily assess how the market will react to a change in the flow controller line. A second limitation that we have to consider when looking at our analysis is that although our cost allocations are much more accurate than before, these costs are still the averages for each product, which could impact how accurate we are in determining the costs. However, if we are able to look past these limitations, our analysis of Wilkerson is beneficial in shaping how the company can more accurately calculate costs as well as be more profitable in general.

Asians and Kill Bill Essay -- Stereotyping Asia Asian Movie Film Essay

Asians and Kill Bill Sitting in the movie theater, I was baffled to see so many stereotypes touched on in one single film. These stereotypes were not just any kind of stereotype – they were those pertaining to Asians in particular. The obviousness and sheer transparency of the stereotypes made the movie look like a complete joke. The film? Kill Bill. The majority of today’s films starring Asian actors and actresses often contain numerous stereotypes. They cater to the biased views that most non-Asians have of Asian ethnicity and culture. What they do not know they make up for in ignorance and ridicule in one of today’s top forms of mass media. By using a widespread style of media in today’s pop culture, more and more people are being displayed the fabricated stereotypes of Asians. In one of the more commonly portrayed stereotypes in film, Asians are often portrayed as great martial artists. Martial arts seem to come less as a skill and more a natural ability to someone who is Asian. Somehow, it’s right in our blood. Actors who have contributed to t... Asians and Kill Bill Essay -- Stereotyping Asia Asian Movie Film Essay Asians and Kill Bill Sitting in the movie theater, I was baffled to see so many stereotypes touched on in one single film. These stereotypes were not just any kind of stereotype – they were those pertaining to Asians in particular. The obviousness and sheer transparency of the stereotypes made the movie look like a complete joke. The film? Kill Bill. The majority of today’s films starring Asian actors and actresses often contain numerous stereotypes. They cater to the biased views that most non-Asians have of Asian ethnicity and culture. What they do not know they make up for in ignorance and ridicule in one of today’s top forms of mass media. By using a widespread style of media in today’s pop culture, more and more people are being displayed the fabricated stereotypes of Asians. In one of the more commonly portrayed stereotypes in film, Asians are often portrayed as great martial artists. Martial arts seem to come less as a skill and more a natural ability to someone who is Asian. Somehow, it’s right in our blood. Actors who have contributed to t...

Impact Public Management Health Social Health And Social Care Essay

( Question and Undertaking ) What is New Public Management? Critically discuss the impact of New Public Management on the bringing of Health and Social Care in the UK? New Public Management ( NPM ) , as the name indicates is a new planetary phenomenon, which shifts the focal point of public disposal to a more up-to-date public direction. Through NPM, the modern direction techniques holding their beginning in the private sector, is happening application in to the populace sphere besides. Moore et Al. ( 1994:13 ) high spots that â€Å" the cardinal feature of NPM is the attempt to originate or imitate, within those subdivisions of the public service that are non privatized, the public presentation inducements and, the ordinance and control that exist in a market environment. † NPM is no more an Anglo-Saxon phenomenon, as it was thought ab initio ; it is a planetary tendency. There are several factors lending to new public direction reforms in a state: societal, economic, political factors to pick the most of import. Technological factors like the rapid growing of information engineering to play a cardinal function as a taking factor towards NPM reforms. In the instance of most developed states, the changeless demand for increased efficiency of bringing of public services through cost cuts has accelerated the thrust for NPM. There was a demand for extremist alterations in the direction of the authorities with the chief aim of increased efficiency, effectivity of the system as a whole and economic system of running it ( Metcalfe and Richards, 1990 ) . In the recent old ages, the construct of public assistance province has undergone considerable alterations and up steps, as per the demand in the society, and this has challenged the traditional construct of province ‘s duties with regard to public services. The increased credence gained by the alleged ‘neoliberal thoughts ‘ in the 1980s and thenceforth has redefined these traditional constructs. Harmonizing to these neoliberal constructs, economic efficiency can be achieved merely through market competition, which offers free market pick to the populace ( Massey, 2005 ) . However, the instance of most developing states is different. There, chiefly external force per unit areas, which were strengthened after financial and economic crises they faced in the 1970s, have driven the NPM reforms. These include loaning conditions and other models imposed by external loaning bureaus like the IMF, World Bank, etc and their changeless accent on structural accommodations in the name of good administration. The increased usage of international advisers for structural reforms has surely added to this tendency, and they act as â€Å" alteration agents † for the reform processes. Decentralization of direction at assorted degrees within public services is the most of import component of NPM. This include the sloughing of governmental duties like the degeneration of fiscal control by the authorities through one-year budgets and the institutional restructuring steps like puting up of independent bureaus. Public services are thrown unfastened to competition by increased usage of markets like undertaking out of cardinal maps. The accent displacement to client orientation through high quality public presentation and better end products. Downsizing of authorities mechanism needed for the specific undertaking, and the spreading civilization of user charges are of import facets associated with NPM. In the instance of a figure of crisis provinces, reform of province owned endeavors have taken the challenge of reforms through undertaking out its cardinal operations associated with bringing of public services. Performance contracts are given in the instance of public public-service corporations like conveyance and electricity where the province retains the answerability for public presentation. Transparency of maps signifiers portion of the nucleus values of NPM. Contestability and value for money are similar of import values of NPM. NPM introduces and puts a type of quasi markets in topographic point. The wellness attention systems in UK can be viewed as an illustration of this. Again, private money is allowed to flux in freely, as in the instance of University fees in UK. In the procedure of coaction between two organisations, as portion of the NPM reforms, their civilizations play a critical function. The integrating of civilizations must non take to tensenesss and misgiving and hence forced integrating is non good for anyone. But at the same clip, culturally different organisations, if merged together, can be able to make a synergism and may be able to organize an advanced entity. Wherever implemented, NPM has been successful in power displacements towards new equilibriums. The strengthening of senior general direction and weakening of trade brotherhoods can be seen in this context. There is a tendency to authorise consumers of services in topographic point of public sector manufacturers ( Powell, 2007 ) . 2.0 New Public Management in UK The new reforms in UK started in the twelvemonth 1979 under the premier curate ship of Mrs. Margaret Thatcher. The mechanism was called â€Å" Prior option reappraisal † and was intended to analyze the activities of assorted authorities sections. For more than a century, UK populace sector was dominated by the old Public Administration original where probity and due procedure was emphasized more than existent results. The NPM original comes as a replacement to this old original and this is an illustration of a successful original alteration ( Greenwood et al, 1993 ) . It had the twin steering rules of directors and markets. Though due to widespread public sentiment, the NHS ( National Health Service ) was non privatized, this was thrown unfastened for competition. Two typical organisations were created: the DHAs ( District Health Authorities ) and hospital trusts. The DHAs were responsible for the wellness attention in a designated geographical country. They were granted specific budgetary support based on the population they were designed to provide. The position of infirmary trusts were modified into independent trusts in topographic point of their earlier â€Å" not-for-profit † position. A fund-holding strategy was besides introduced, through which the DHAs transferred their budget to group patterns depending on the class of patients and their figure. The figure normally varied between 1500 and 1800. The doctor who holds the fund on behalf of the patients is required to negociate with infirmaries and private clinics straight and take the most cost effectual wellness attention. This passage was non all of a sudden, but took about 20 old ages to make the full-blown province. The alterations were slow and limited in the beginning, as they started with the debut of the general direction. However, the procedure gained impulse later on and the quasi market experiment of 1990s was synoptically restructured. But since 1997 there was few harnessing back of market finding forces, particularly in sectors like primary wellness attention. However, in other sectors, the private finance flow has steadily been increasing. With in wellness attention systems of audit public presentation direction and assessment mechanisms have steadily improved and matured. Managerial functions have been more and more detailed. General direction was introduced and clinical professionals and physicians were bit by bit involved in the direction of wellness attention system. They performed the function of portion clip directors. This had the consequence of a displacement in power focal point within wellness attention systems. The managerial block emerged as the clear victor of the conflict for power equilibriums with in wellness attention organisations. The liberty of clinical professionals was no more absolute and their trade brotherhood dickering power has been well weakened ( Felie et. Al, 2002 ) . Therefore, every bit far as UK wellness attention sector is concerned, it can be boldly said that the NPM original has grown in to a full-blown province. Peoples have started to take the one time fresh ways as taken for granted. Kitchener in 1998 pointed out that the advancement towards a â€Å" Quasi market original † was about complete. However, there was a powerful clinical presence in topographic point of a simply managerial government. The word ‘quasi market ‘ is used because although market mechanisms have been introduced, it has to run with in some major restraints, which are absent in the private sector. The most of import of these restraints is that, the handiness of financess in the market is determined by the authorities each twelvemonth through the budgets. Therefore, no participant in the market can increase the entire size of the market. 3.0 NPM and Performance of UK in Health Care Among the states of the European Union, UK has a relatively low cost wellness system. It spends about 6.7 % of its GDP on wellness, where as it is 10.6 % in Germany, 9.6 % in France, and 8.6 % in Netherlands. But in footings of public presentation, UK has a comparatively better place in malice of such lower disbursement. It is placed 14th on a list of 29 states of the OECD in footings of critical indexs like infant mortality. In the instance of life anticipations besides the image is non that bad. If we take the illustration of USA with mostly private participants in the wellness attention sector, the disbursement is much more in footings of per centum of GDP, but its public presentation is non so attractive in comparing with other industiralised states. This raises echt uncertainties on the premise that public wellness attention system is ever inferior and under executing in comparing to a private system ( Dawson et. Al, 2002 ) . The chief characteristic of the populace sector in UK is its uninterrupted public presentation measuring. This includes marks set antecedently in a centralised mode, the regular coverage of the informations and steps to modulate the system behavior through wagess and punishments. Clarkson ( Clarkson et. Al, 2009 ) point out that the societal attention establishments in UK have improved their public presentation over the old ages after the NPM reforms, whereas the corresponding state of affairs in Northern Ireland is more or less inactive. Different types of evaluations are used for the intent. There are many public presentation arrows, which are clearly mapped on to drumhead studies of a New Performance Management System analysis. But there are unfavorable judgments that direction in action of a heath attention system seek to pull strings inspectors for accomplishing higher evaluations than they deserve ( Ferguson, 2009 ) . In the instance of NPM reforms of wellness attention in UK, some argue that it is dubious whether the competition ushered in as portion of the reforms has lead to improved wellness results in existent footings. The application of NPM has given topographic point for larger suppliers like insurance companies and large infirmaries, but the existent betterment in the wellness attention is still problematic ( Simone, 2008 ) . The most of import unfavorable judgment of NPM is that it has a inclination to concentrate on the procedure instead than the results ( Glasby, 2008 ) . Therefore, it is like seeing the forests and non the forest. The integrating becomes an terminal in itself, instead than going a agency to an terminal, Internet Explorer ; integrating of assorted procedures to hold the consequence of improved service bringing to the users. Most of the researches besides give undue importance to the procedure of integrating without giving equal attending to the jobs originating out of that. For the successful execution of NPM, the context of reforms, i.e. how good the bing system is working and what is the demand for integrating should be clearly borne in head. Then the specific constructions needed to accomplish the coveted results must be carefully designed. The focal point should be on give voicing the possible benefits in positive footings. E.g. in the recent reforms in kids ‘s servicesA in UK, alternatively of ‘preventing the maltreatment on kids ‘ the focal point was on more wide construct of ‘keeping kids safe and good ‘ . Another of import thing is to be unfastened and true, particularly to avoid misgiving and cynicism. The donees of the procedure can be the users of the services, the staff or the organisation itself. It is of import to specifically province that who is chiefly benefited. Sometimes there is a inclination that the confederates may truly be seeking benefits for the spouses, but creates an feeling that it is all done for the benefit of the users of services ( Glasby, 2007 ) . There are besides academic deliberations on the consequence of NPM on the basic moralss and values of public services. It is widely criticized that NPM has eroded the equity, nonpartisanship and probity of public services and has damaged the â€Å" human face † of these cardinal services. If person assumes that the acceptance of NPM reforms is good in all instances, it would be a hapless apprehension of the topic. Though there could be many advantages particularly in developed states, the acceptance of NPM in the instance of crisis provinces can be ( and would be ) debatable to a considerable degree. Therefore, execution of NPM reforms is non a Panacea in such instances. The public sector in such crisis provinces needs a more careful execution of the reforms and the extent of the reforms should be limited to selected sectors.

The Price Of Life Aids

1. This communication piece is presented in the form of a documentary. The documentary is titled â€Å"The price of life† and is part of a series called â€Å"The money programme†. The documentary was aired on BBC2; the reporter was Nils Blyth and was about the aids epidemic in Africa and how their government is not funding treatment for those who suffer from aids. 2. I think the fact that this documentary was aired on BBC2 an educational television channel along with the complexity of some of the wording and terminology in the documentary suggests this article would be aimed at a target audience of professionals, such as people working in the medical profession, people in government and people working in the pharmaceuticals industry. However I think this documentary would also be of interest to anyone who has a general interest in the subject of aids. 3. I think the initial purpose of this documentary is to provide information. The documentary provides information such as the percentage of people infected by aids, medical treatments and other health issues that affect people once infected by the aids virus. This is achieved by shown interviews with different professionals throughout the documentary such as university professor Alan Whiteside, Aids consortium director Morna Cornell and Doctor Sean Drysdale. Another purpose of the documentary I think was to shock people, I think you would have t watch a documentary like this one to get a good insight to the suffering that goes on in Africa due to aids, I for one was very shocked by their living conditions, medical care and their lack of what seemed to me as their understanding of the seriousness of unprotected sex and their risk of contracting the aids virus. 4. I think this documentary achieves the purposes outlined in answer three by the way the reporter Nils Blyth presents the documentary he speaks in a professional manner covering all the issues, he has good eye contact and good body language. Another speaker in the documentary is Busi Chamane where she talks about her own battle with the HIV virus and how it affects her and her daughter's everyday life, listening to Busi gives you a personal insight of an aids sufferer. 5. This documentary is about aids in Africa and the struggle the people have to receive any sort of medical treatment. The documentary shows a woman Busi Chamane an HIV sufferer and talks a bit about her experience coping with aids. Busi was infected with the HIV virus by her husband who worked away from home, Busi's husband left her and her children and sold their home; Busi was then sacked from her job due to being HIV positive and was also throwing out by her family. On top of this the biggest fear Busi was going through was that her daughter who was born after Busi was infected would also be infected with the HIV virus but after months of tests her daughter was giving the all clear. The documentary also touches upon the issue of government funding for medical treatment for those who suffer from the virus. British made drug AZT (Glaxxo Welcome) is a drug that can prevent the virus being passed from mother to child and is being offered to Africa at a cut price 75% but the African Government say they wont bulk buy as they have doubts in regards to the price, safety and effectiveness. The documentary also films the workers of the platinum mines where hundreds of men work they all live around the mines sharing hostels and are away from their wives and families all year only returning home once. The mines are surrounded by shanty towns and prostitutes who have contributed to 45% of the miners carrying the HIV virus and taken it home to their wives. 6. Busi Chamane showed a few different feelings and emotions throughout the documentary at the start of the documentary you see Busi looking happy and singing at church but throughout the documentary her feeling about being infected with the HIV virus become more apparent. Busi said when she first found out she was infected she was was angry, scared and in denial and also feared for her daughters health. Throughout the time Busi has been infected she has managed to come to terms with her virus and is determined to make the most of the rest of her life, however she still shows anger towards the government and the drugs companies who appear to have the attitude that profits are more important than life. 7. I think this documentary has been very effective in achieving the purposes outlined in question three, it achieves this by the good communication, body language, eye contact, good vocabulary. It films people in their homes, out in their community and in the hospitals where you see one patient dying surrounded by family and friends singing and praying around her bedside. It also achieves the purpose of giving information by talking to professionals i.e. medical, government, university professors and people working for the aids consortiums. It shows good footage of the miners drinking and mixing with prostitutes and also talks to a girl who worked as a prostitute who is now campaigning for safer sex in order to help stop the aids epidemic from rising further.

George Brown V. George Kendall 1850 †United States Law Paper

George Brown V. George Kendall 1850 – United States Law Paper Free Online Research Papers George Brown V. George Kendall 1850 United States Law Paper Facts: There were two dogs, one belonging to the plaintiff and one to the defendant, respectively, were fighting in the presence of their masters; that the defendant took a stick about four feet long, and commenced beating the dogs in order to separate them; that the plaintiff was looking on, at the distance of about a rod, and that he advanced a step or two towards the dogs. In their struggle, the dogs approached the place where the plaintiff was standing. The defendant retreated backwards from before the dogs, striking them as he retreated; and as he approached the plaintiff, with his back towards him, in raising his stick over his shoulder, in order to strike the dogs, he accidentally hit the plaintiff in the eye, inflicting upon him a severe injury. Judicial History: The lower court ruled for defendant, as well as the Appellate and Supreme Issues: Whether the defendant is guilty of trespass for assault and battery Rules: No. The lower court ruled in favor of the defendant stating that the burden of proof was on the plaintiff to establish the want of due care on the part of the defendant. The Supreme Court affirmed. Analysis: In order to separate the dogs the defendant was using due care in ending the dog fight. The plaintiff should have used reasonable caution when the defendant was trying to separate the dogs. The court found that it was proper and lawful to separate the dogs. If he hit the plaintiff in the eye it was an accident and unavoidable. Conclusion: The plaintiff failed to provide the court with the needed burden of proof and he is not entitled to recover the damages. Research Papers on George Brown V. George Kendall 1850 - United States Law PaperUnreasonable Searches and SeizuresPETSTEL analysis of IndiaNever Been Kicked Out of a Place This NiceThe Hockey GameQuebec and CanadaThe Spring and AutumnPersonal Experience with Teen PregnancyCapital PunishmentAssess the importance of Nationalism 1815-1850 EuropeThe Effects of Illegal Immigration

Legalization Of Marijuana In America Assignment

Legalization Of Marijuana In America - Assignment Example Lately, discussion and push for legalization of the drug by pro-marijuana activists have intensified to an extent of triggering serious political interests. This has manifested through the recent comment by President Barrack Obama that marijuana is just like cigarette and alcohol with a promise that Federal government will not interfere with marijuana laws established by individual states. Moreover, governors and state legislatures have publicly commented alongside declaring their positions as far the discussion about the legalization of the drug is concerned. Apart from the initial introduction of marijuana in America in 1545 by Spanish, marijuana laws began to exist as early as the 1920s. Michael and Renee (2003) attribute the widespread popularity of marijuana in the 1920s to the prohibitive laws established during the Prohibition Era. The era saw the outlaw of alcoholic drinks and people had to resort to marijuana that came from the widespread hemp plant. The laws restricted the use of recreational marijuana to the jazz musicians who only took the drug when in dance clubs entertaining people. According to Pfeifer (2011), between 1850 and 1942, the government of USA listed marijuana in Pharmacopeia and prescribed for conditions like nausea, labor pains and rheumatism. During the 1850s through to 1930s, marijuana gained popular use as an intoxicant. Another marijuana law called Marijuana Tax Act came into force in 1937. The purpose of the law was to levy the tax of one dollar on all growers, importers, buyers, sellers, veterans, physicians and any person prescribing it, using commercially or possess it. Failure to adhere to the Act and handling o marijuana without tax stamp of the Treasury Department would attract a fine of up to $2000, five-year imprisonment or both (Michael & Renee, 2003).

Managing Information Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Managing Information - Essay Example XV. Govt. regulations/ registration procedures to be taken care of. A publishing house itself comprises of a number of departments like; News Gathering Section: This section requires information about the sports correspondents working for snow skiing, details of sports bodies, information sources of the rival's magazine. Editorial Section: This section requires information about news gathering as well as editors available on snow skiing. At times we need to hire the services of experts and guest editors having the background of the concerned sport. Content Development Section: This section requires information about the quality of paper to be used, advertisement sources, content developers, etc. Subscription Department: This section requires information concerning the rates of subscription prevalent in the market, so that it can decide about the price of the magazine and subscription schemes to attract new subscribers. Publicity/ PR Section: This section is supposed to tell the target market about the availability of one more (if there are already some magazines in the market) HR & Admin Department: This department is to keep the finances and manpower available for successful running of the magazine. Sources of Information: Magazines available in market: Just go through the magazines available in the market and surf the content. This will provide the requisite information about its content and quality. This will also provide information about the subscription schemes. Rules, regulations and registration procedures: Notified gazette notifications of the respective state and federal governments. Snow skiing facilities: All such information can be gathered by getting...At times we need to hire the services of experts and guest editors having the background of the concerned sport. Subscription Department: This section requires information concerning the rates of subscription prevalent in the market, so that it can decide about the price of the magazine and subscription schemes to attract new subscribers. Magazines available in market: Just go through the magazines available in the market and surf the content. This will provide the requisite information about its content and quality. This will also provide information about the subscription schemes. Mailers to Existing Readers/ Patrons: Sending mailers/ other communication to existing subscribers (since the publishing house is already having some magazines under its fold) will help in getting a feel about the salability of a new magazine. Word of mouth campaigns: Talk to your own employees (as they are an integral part of the society) and try to gather their responses towards starting yet another magazine, as to whether they are cool or enthusiastic about the idea. Processing of Information: All such information is analyzed at the managerial level and once we have concrete knowledge (information analysis leads to knowledge) about the market requirement, budgeting, promotional requirements, staff requirements etc, such information/ guidelines can be passed on to the c