Revenue Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

tax - Essay ExampleIncome encompasses both revenue and gains. (ec.europa.eu, p. 2) Revenue IAS 18 defines revenue as the gross inflow of economic benefits during the period arising in the course of the mean(a) activities of an entity when those inflows result in increases in equity, other than increases relating to contributions from equity participants (ACCA, 2013.) Gain An increase in the value of an summation or property. A gain arises if the selling or disposition price of the asset is higher than the headmaster purchase or acquisition price (Investopedia, n.d.) Normally the word profit is used in line of reasoning context in the place of gain. It is also very important that that revenue and the related expenses should be matched with the business relationship period, and this is called matching principle. When the selling price of a product includes an identifiable mensuration for subsequent servicing that amount is deferred and recognised as revenue over the period durin g which the service is performed. The amount deferred is that which will cover the evaluate costs of the run, together with a reasonable profit on those services (ACCA 2013). ... sale and repurchase should be dealt with together. Section 14 of IAS 18 stipulates the conditions for revenue recognition in respect of sale of goods. These following dickens conditions are relevant for discussion in respect of accounting of execution related to Witney. (a) the entity has transferred to the buyer the fundamental risks and rewards of ownership of the goods (b) the entity retains uncomplete continuing managerial involvement to the degree usually associated with ownership nor effective take over the goods sold Section 20 states When the outcome of a transaction involving the rendering of services spate be estimated reliably, revenue associated with the transaction shall be recognised by reference to the stage of completion of the transaction at the end of the reporting period. This pri nciple is relevant for discussion in respect of support services to PC4U. Case Study Sale of electrical goods When sale has been accounted properly, the goods covered should not be treated as stock and the sale is not treated as stock by the company. Snowfall and delay in delivery cannot alter the position. Once the goods are despatched to the buyer, the seller has no control over the same. The following conditions u/s 18 are important in this respect (a) the entity has transferred to the buyer the significant risks and rewards of ownership of the goods and (b) the entity retains neither continuing managerial involvement to the degree usually associated with ownership nor effective control over the goods sold. Therefore, no adjustment is required on account of this transaction. Contract with Witney The total amount owing to Ibi Ryan from Witney is ?600,000 at thirty-first March. It is assumed that includes the sum

Climate Change Debate Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Climate Change Debate - Essay ExampleDebating on the natural and valetkind actions which come upon the climate of a particular region it can be inferred that natural actions takes resort of in all the above mentioned factors darn as regards to human activities the climaticalal transfers are fabricateed through the generation of atmospheric and topographical changes. An other set of natural factors which likewise govern the climatic changes though in an internal commission are alterations in the oceanic and atmospheric conditions which in turn emit a lot of vitality into the outer atmosphere causing climatic changes. Owing to the intricate relationship of the variables involved the event of climatic change takes a debating turn as to the nature factors viz. human and natural. 1 Causes of Climate Change The climatic changes in the modern periods have become the potential contributor to the event of global warming. The heating up of the climatic temperatures by the turn of t he twentieth century are attributed to a number of natural factors. many an(prenominal) natural events like the happening of the El Nino factor, which has its emergence with the change in the oceanic currents, happen to affect the external atmosphere. Similarly the topography of the earth is too affected by events like volcanic activity and earthquakes, which also result considerable heat and energy to the earths atmosphere causing changes in climatic temperatures. The atmosphere of the earth also gets directly affected owing to changes in the flow of radiations emanating from the solar prove, which is also accountable for climatic changes. tho the huge amount of volcanic eruptions on the earths surface emits an abundance of harmful gases and chemicals along with heavy dust and ashes into the atmosphere. Some of the gases emitted directly affect the Ozone layer of the atmosphere, which henceforward becomes responsible for climatic changes. Like the host of natural factors menti oned above which contribute to the event of climate change and rising temperatures the planets climatic system is also affected by various manmade activities. The human beings on the earths surface from time immemorial have contributed to the burning down of trees and other fossilized energy sources like petrol, which also emit lot of harmful gases and other substances into the atmosphere. Thus both natural and human factors are responsible for the environmental degradation and change in climatic temperatures. Further research conducted shows that the development of human activities related to the burning of fossil fuels and the spread of the industrialization along with several(prenominal) scientific experiments have caused a great impact in altering the climatic conditions of the summer and overwinter anneals. It is found that owing to the growth of anthropogenic activities the days of the winter season have been considerably trim down while the summer days have got extended. T he incidence of such factors has reduced the effect of the winter season while on the contrary the summer season has obtained a further impetus. Again the effect of the growth of manmade activities have led to such climatic changes that some regions are experiencing more amount of heat waves while other regions are getting considerably colder. The gaseous emissions from both the volcanic eruptions on the earths surface and as well as from large nature of human activities are also study to affect changes in the oceanic temperatures causing it get much cooler than earlier. 2 3 Further studies conducted on the manmade factors which render an impact on the climatic temperat

Definitional Arguments Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Definitional Arguments - Essay shellNotably, definitions appear in almost every argument, though sometimes they atomic number 18 hidden or tacitly accepted. But they rarely appear in isolation the challenge in definitional arguments is for an individual to find the definitional claims that underlie other claims in academic, civic or other types of arguments. Pier Jennifer and Pattakos Alex provide a deeper understanding of definitional arguments finished their respective articles The Reprehensibility of the White Lie and The Meaning of association in a Social-Networked World. In from each one article there is a central issue or argument, which has been developed through a serial publication of steps. In the article The Reprehensibility of the White Lie, the central issue is the white lies. In this article, Pier uses mixed examples that are familiar to provide an understandable definition of white lies. For instance, Pier uses daily conversations to define the notion of white l ies. Amongst the aspects that Pier uses to define white lies include of course, it was a blast, and it wasnt me. Piers master(prenominal) concern is the evasion of responsibility in as far as white lies are have-to doe with throughout her article. In order to support her definition, Pier uses various criteria. ... Another claim that Pier uses to loose the definition of white lies is the creation of the distinction between white lies and other forms of duplicity. Thirdly, Pier claims that white lies are destructive. The second criterion that Pier uses to release the definition of white lies is crafting of definitions. One of the definitions crafted by Pier is the in operation(p) definition of white lies. Pier tries to find a common perfect lie capable of trying on all the mentioned claims or qualifications. Lastly, Pier used the criterion of mapping the formulated claims and crafted definition to come up with a convincing conclusion in regards to definition of white lies (206-2 09). In the second article, The Meaning of Friendship in a Social-Networked World, Pattakos main or central issue is friends and how their acquisition contributes to a essence(prenominal) life. Just like Pier, Pattakos uses familiar examples and concepts to help in defining friends. In addition, Pattakos uses ideas from different stakeholders and scholars such as Aristotle and Mark Zuckerberg to try and establish the definition of friends and its relationship with substantive life. In a bid to justify the definition, Pattakos employs various criteria. The first criterion employed by Pattakos in the article is the use of claims. Pattakos has employed various claims in a bid to justify the definition of friends. The first claim is that friends significantly contribute to meaningful life. Another claim that Pattakos makes in relation to finding the definition of friends is that various reasons prompt the search for the meaning of friends. For instance, the intrinsic motivation of pe rsons and the fact that it is a megatrend within the 21st century to understand and

Merger, Acquisition, and International Strategies Essay - 1

Merger, Acquisition, and International Strategies - Essay casingIn acquisition, one partnership purchases other and establishes itself as a new owner. Normally, the dissolving company has to charm the approval to compound with another through a majority vote of the share holders or as stipulated in the companys constitution. The driving principle in conjugations and acquisition is to make investor value. This means that afterward the merger the value of the two companies must exceed the value of the individual companies before the merger. It is important to blood that the reasons behind mergers are far reaching, especially during the hard economic times. During such periods, big companies take the prefer of receding companies through share purchases with a view of creating a competitive advantage while achieving terms reduction. Any meaningful merger should be able to gain greater market share and efficiency. one time an agreement has been reached, then it should be made l egal and its implementation done within the period stipulated in the agreement. The culture and working environment of the target companys workforce must be considered at the time of merger acquisition strategy. When this is done, the workforce will not feel left out in the agreement and this boosts morale. The treat of merging and acquisition is vital deal whose signing determines the gains and profits of the merging corporations. The process should therefore, be conducted in defined steps. The decision to have merging between two companies is complex in nature. This is because if it is not done carefully, it can affect the gains intended for in the merger or acquisition. In addition, merger and acquisition process should be conducted in steps as earlier stated. The initial step is the calling valuation step in which the value of stock is assessed. In the assessment, the current financial performance as well as the estimated future performance is examined. Such steps should be ge ared towards profitability (Rosenbaum, 2008). 2. signalise one (1) company that would be a profitable candidate for the corporation to acquire or merge with and explain why this company would be a profitable target. Alcoa is a leading aluminum company in the United States of America. This public corporation was formed in 1907. The acronym Alcoa was coined in 1910 because of a merger with another company, which later in 1999 adopted it as an official bring up in 2001 Alcoa went into an acquisition agreement with atomic number 13 Corporation of china (Chalco) buying from them 9% of their shares. Alcoa has had a number of challenges since its inception, for instance in 1938, the department of justice-sued Alcoa for nerve-wracking to monopolize. It also faced a financial crisis in 2004 leading to the sale of one of its divisions to Rhone Group, which has adopted the name Almatis Inc (Kazmi, & Kazmi, 2008). in the present day. In 2005, Alcoa acquired Russia and Belaya Kaliva producti on facilities that were major industry players to boost its performance and gain external recognition. It was during this time that Alcoa began improving on its performance when it started the construction in Iceland. This was the companys first Greenfield smelting magnetic core. This centre has been in existence for the last 20 years amid criticisms of corruption. In 2006, Alcoa shifted

BOOK REVIEW Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

BOOK recap - Essay ExampleEating is a basic human need and the author is sending a message that the book can be considered as an essential element for survival, taking all the nitty-gritty in and not specifically. On page 7, the author compared reading the script to stepping out of the cave into the accepted world found on Platos analogy. Parts two and chapter three is about learning from the bible and not using the content to personal advantage. In page 22, it is expressed by the author based on the bible that it is important to eat the book because it should be nourishment. The third billet until the fifth part explores the different roles of scriptures such as being the text that give lessons to learn, the form which is about following the course of Jesus, and as script which is to be shared to the world (pp. 22-76). The second and third chapters are in attainment look on the specific concepts and instructs and the manner of understanding them. Topics within the chapters Lectio Divina and The Company of Translators provide structure to the teaching and scriptures and point out the importance of participatory reading. The author has the last part of the third chapter to the issue regarding explanation of the bible and the effect on understanding its content.Reading the book can encourage readers to read the bible. It is a different, open and light approach to a serious literary work that is respected by faith. The title can be considered as a witty way to denote the urgent need to engulf the message of the book since it is essential to human beings survival. The authors being religious is greatly reflected in the book. His passion regarding his faith and the need to make people realize that eating the book or metaphorically digesting its content is evident in every line. Even the last half where the author has the initiative to rede the bible from the original language to be able to achieve the message version reflects the need he

Arroyo Fresco Study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Arroyo Fresco Study - Essay ExampleThis case study solution assesses the Arroyo Fresco corporation Health Clinics strategy under the Baldrige National Quality Program criteria and proposes new strategies to assist the organization in meeting their operation worth goals.Arroyo Fresco (AF) is a nonprofit Community Health Center (CHC) serving Western Arizona from 11 clinics and 4 mobile service vans. AF serves leash counties- Yuma, Mojave, and La Paz in a service area of over 23,000 square miles, but with a population of fewer than 400,000 people. Arroyo Frescos stated mission is to provide residents of Yuma, Lap Paz, and Mojave counties easy and timely addition to high-quality and safe health care services responsive to their diverse cultural and socioeconomic needs, regardless of their competency to pay (AF Case Study).In general, AFs senior leadership have implemented a centralise on results that created value through the development of the FOCUS (Financial Performance, Or ganizational Learning, Clinical Excellence, Utilization, and Satisfaction) framework, which allows the organization to address describe strategic challenges and align its efforts on key areas to maximize the use of limited resources (nist.gov). AF demonstrated favorable performance levels in key results areas, including some clinical outcome measures that show favorable trends for the past four to fivesome years (nist.gov) but there are several areas with opportunities for improvement.Under the Baldrige criteria, health care performance excellence is embodied in seven categories leadership strategic planning customer focus measurement, analysis, and knowledge steering workforce focus process management and results.values (VMV) is not clearly articulated in their strategy, specially how this is conveyed to patients, other customers, and suppliers. There does not appear to be a well-defined approach for senior leaders to empower and motivate all staff and

Toyota - The Rise of a Global Corporation Essay

Toyota - The jump on of a Global Corporation - Essay ExampleIn this paper provides the answers to five questions of the case discover Toyota The Rise of a Global Corporation.1. Toyota after the 1950s when its production began to increase that it could not afford to stick to the American sit down of manufacturing most parts in-house. The firm did not like the American model because it spend a pennyd many inefficiencies. Toyota decided that to follow a model of outsourcing work and keeping close relationships with its suppliers. Among the inefficiencies that Toyota identified from the American model that the company could avoid by outsourcing are 1) high capital expenditures need to increase the manufacturing capableness to create components and parts, 2) reduce the risk by maintaining low manufacturing capacity in case of a slump in auto sales, 3) Ability to take for granted advantage of lower labor costs of small firms (Hill, 2007). The company created the cruddy relationshi p with its suppliers. The company when a step further by investing between 20% to 40% stake in the operations of many of its suppliers. This allowed to company to work in alliance with the suppliers and implement its Kaban governing body with the suppliers to share information and minimize farm animal stocks. The company practically eliminated the need for a buffer inventory count. Outsourcing in the 21st century has become a vital strategy in order to take full advantage of the globalization movement (Kotler, 2002) Some of the drawbacks of the system were the need to invest money in other companies. Another drawback of the system is that buying auto parts ends up raising the cost of the fomite since the parts themselves is a cheaper alternative.2. In 1981 the United States government put a strain on the capacity of Japanese auto manufacturers to import autos by establishing a voluntary import quota. The quota places a limit on the amount of auto import that could enter the US mar ket. The agreement the Japanese government entered into limited the event of Japanese auto imports to 1,680,000 units per year (Copper, 2009)

Business Aticate Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Business Aticate - Essay Exampletion and bribery in Saudi Arabia is rife but it is all because the Saudis wee different way of doing business and that has in like manner contributed to the western perception. Giving the genesis of the complaints the westerns he says that this perception was developed in the oil boom old age and in modernization drive. Actually, those were the Americans European corporations which paid the huge bribes to the well connected Saudi agent to move lucrative deals in the kingdom. The complaints have become less common as the western have big(p) more than familiar with the Saudi ways and it is relatively a calmer business environment. The reason of dying come in the above mentioned perceptions was the availability of excess cash which helped promoting wasteful consumption. In the subheading Business Ethics (207) salubrious says, the bottom line is that what a Western observer call bribery or influencing paddling does not have the same taint to Saud i. For the Saudi, providing a personal connection as legitimate business service, for which it is natural to stop be paid. In the past, payment has meant whatever the market would bear--------- in other words, whatever you can light away with. But in recent years, the Saudi government---- sensitive to the Western cries of corruption------ has regulated agents fee more closely. -------- For some observes, corrupt mean departing from locally accepted norms of behavior, in which case the Saudis are merely by-line their own cultural traditions. Such practices, indeed, are common throughout the Middle East. You might have a less forgiving look out, but thats your business. Literally.Well coins a phrase of mental compartment to explain the praxis of thinking of the Saudis. What this means is that the Saudis tend to see a choice from only one point of view at a time, and to ignore its possible consequences in different areas.(214)Riad is of the view since itsSaudi Arabia out of the fo rmer nance

Work Life Balance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Work Life equipoise - Essay ExampleFrom the research a throw- tone balance is a metaphor through which work is tacit in terms of life. However, what constitutes a balance between work and rest of life to one exclusive may not be the same for another. As employers and policy makers argon pressured to respond to the work-life challenges that todays workforce is facing, it willing become more and more important to understand what these individuals are looking for in terms of work-life balance. A major driver that has led to the increased interest in work-life balance is the changing face of the Workforce. There are a number of significant demographics changes taking place in the workforce today, changes that will alike continue well into the future. Those organisations that understand how todays workforce is changing will be better able to adapt. Furthermore, those organisations will become the leaders in attracting, hiring, and maintaining good employees. Although this is a com paratively overlooked phenomenon in business arena, evidence will come from current research and case information example that demonstrate new ideas in practice and show the benefits of what is already being achieved. This ethnographic take in will give a voice to employees who are struggling to balance their work and personal lives, exclusively it is only a beginning. The meaning of work-life balance is elusive. In one sense, it describes the descent between the institutional and cultural times and spaces of work and non-work. In another sense, it describes a state of equilibrium, in which the demands of both a persons line of products and personal life are equal. Although the focus is different, what these descriptions have in common is that they highlight the importance of the relationship between work and life. In particular, the first description focuses primarily on the relationship between work and non-work time and space, whereas the second focuses on the relationship between the demands associated with work and life. Of course, if we consider examples of such demands, we may also find ourselves back to the notion of time and space. What this raises is the importance of understanding how people describe the relationship they are seeking between work and life. In order for employers and policy makers to put strategies in place to arouse a healthy work-life relationship there needs to be an understanding of what that means to employees. It may be that a continuum of work-life relationships exists throughout various stages of an individuals life and/or career. Furthermore, it might not matter what people key it, but rather how well they are able to articulate the relationship between work and life that works for them, and whether or not they are capable of managing that relationship. The type of balance sought by umteen individuals may not imply equal emphasis in both areas. Furthermore, it is important to recognise that individuals may

An overview of prevailing trend of Chinese hotel joining hotel chains Essay

An overview of overabundant trend of Chinese hotel joining hotel chains - Essay ExampleWith the exposure to the foreign grocerys most of the sensation hotels argon adopting the trend of joining the chains in order to get the advanced facilities with continuous restitution and updation. Increasingly the chains are offering a transgress and better selection of services and products from well-nigh the world, which is rapidly exposing the Chinese consumers to products that they would otherwise not have the opportunity to sample. (Tibbits, 2003)The growth of mainland Chinas inbound tourism foodstuff appears to have matched its economic growth and has consistently outstripped the world wide average. Between 1990 and 2000, international visitor arrivals to China increased by an average of 11.8% pa, while global tourism grew by a modest 4.3% pa. During 2001, the discrepancy was magnified. In the face of a global decline of 1.3%, international visitor arrivals to China increased by 6.7% to reach 89.0 million. This growth continued into the first half-dozen months of 2002, with international arrivals increasing by 9.4% over the six months to June 2001.The World Tourist Organisation recently announced that China was set to overtake Italy, US, Spain and France and become the chair destination by 2020, attracting 130 million international visitors (Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels, October 2002)Most of the hotels in China are undergoing the surgical operation of management improvement. The new techniques of planning by objectives and improved decision making are being apply by following the lines of the foreign hotels in order to achieve the competitive edge among the industry participants. some other trend, which is gaining popularity in the industry, is the collaborative projects and ventures of the domestic and foreign hotels proving fruitful for both. The foreign personnel trains the trains the domestic employees about the advanced(a) techniques on the other hand t he local hotel facilitates environmental and legal adjustments of the foreign hotels in the market.The Chinese regulative bodies have opened the hospitality industry for the foreign hotels but restricted them to the level of 3 leash hotels in order to save the domestic hotels having weak position (Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels, October 2002). But with encouraging the foreign hotels to take over the domestic hotels the Government has taken cautious measures to limit the role of the foreign hotels to effect the tourism market of the country.Most of the Chinese individual(a) hotels are joining into hotel chains in order to undertake better development and provision of strong financial back up in order to respond to the ambition posed by the foreign hotels laced with most advanced facilities management and booking system.Most of the single hotels need to undertake strong and aggressive strategic steps to keep themselves present in the market. This rushing of drastic steps forces them to affiliate with the foreign large hotel chain such as Six continents, which are the symbol of aggressive and effective strategies.The adoption of the pattern of joining the hotel chain by the single hotels in China has lead to the domination of the large international hotel chain domination in the

The impact of culture on entrepreneurial management Essay

The impact of civilization on entrepreneurial steering - Essay ExampleHofstede defines culture as the collective programming of the mind, which distinguishes the members of one human group from other. Culture, in this sense, includes systems of values and values be among the building blocks of culture (Hofstede & Hofstede, 2005). Culture is learned and not inherited. Individuals are born into and shaped by that culture which has been existing. This culture influences the way we think, behave and act. Culture can be referred as the acquired knowledge that people use to interpret experience and to generate social behaviour (Rugman & Hodgetts, 2002). heathenish differences can be found at the regional, national, ethnic, and organizational levels. Hence, Hofstede (1991) suggested that cultural influences on organizations are most all the way recognizable at the national level (cited by Justin, 2002). This has been the most widely accepted definition of culture and this essay will d e borderine the impact of culture on indigenous entrepreneurs, immigrant entrepreneurs and women entrepreneurs.Culture influences attitudes and behavior, varies within and crossways nations and within and across ethnicities, and is strongly embedded in indigenous communities. (Lindsay, 2005). Culture influences the motives, values, and beliefs of individuals (Hayton, George, & Zahra, 2002) that reflects on their attitudes. In term of business, people would view and conduct their business differently according to their attitude, which is derived from their own culture. If we learn anything from the history of economic development, it is culture makes all difference (Landes, 1998). Maznevski et al., (2002) state that culture is a group-level phenomenon, but it influences individuals perception, values and behaviour, especially with keep to social interaction. It is thus evident that culture is an important factor of economic success. Culture is a life-sized influence

Recent changes in local laws in various countries set requirements for Essay

Recent changes in local laws in various countries set requirements for National Oil Companies (NOCs) participation in rock oil and ga - Essay precedentJoint ventures are common among the operators within the oil and gas industry in order to tray and understate operation risks as swell up as technical challenges often faced while in the universal operations in the industry. Companies involved in exploration of oil and gas, general exploitation of the same as well as appraisal and production activities are in recent times universe non executed by single companies but through collaboration by many companies. These joint ventures therefrom share in towards contributing for expenditures and different costs incurred and share the proceeds realized in the exploration and exploitation of the commodity according to individual companys contributions. Joint ventures operate on the plan of sharing on capital investments as well as skills and expertise, which necessitates one company, w hich would lack such to reach from the partner(s) in the venture. Joint ventures within the oil and gas industry enjoy such privileges as being unincorporated and hence they are not taxed and cannot sue or are sued for the reason of not having hard-hitting legal personality. The terms of licensure of operations by joint ventures imposes some liabilities on them as stipulated by the governing body authority, which the joint operating balance purposely addresses. The JOA therefore have particular roles in regulating the obligations, relationships as well as the rights that govern the parties in a joint venture. Normally, the agreement is binding over life story or until the joint operations ceases because of completion of a task or oppositewise as would be determined in termination of a contract. It stipulates the funding procedures as well as the voting procedures and has other stipulations on mechanisms to address corrective measures instituted in the event that a partner fail s to act in conformity to the agreement. Therefore, the general infrastructure of the legal framework guiding the joint operating agreements is binding and well lay out. The parties therefore undertake a critical outlook into the structure of the JOA regarding any unforeseen eventualities, which would occur in the future. However, it is worth noting that the formulation and adoption of a JOA framework must be based on an breathing legal structure such as the English law, which then stipulates the institutional framework that would govern the lead of the agreement between the parties engaged in the joint venture (Jensen and Failat, 2013, p. 1-13). National governments as well as foreign companies interact in the industry of oil and gas through consent through negotiated contracts. NOC (National oil companies) normally gets involved in the exploitation of and exploration for oil through signing into contracts such as concession agreements, service contracts, joint venture contract s as well as production sharing agreements, which involves collaborating with other external companies in the oil and gas deals. Nevertheless, the operations of such contracts involving the national oil companies as well as other external companies necessitates the operation-ization of a structure that would be instrumental in outlining the operations of the agreement and this is formalized through the JOAs. The evolution of legal structures that govern the

Reinforcement Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Reinforcement - Research Paper Examplember Scholarship class introduced in the year 1973, which has now been renamed as the Leadership Scholarship program encourages the restaurant employees to participate in community activities and enhance their leadership skills. The play along has so far offered over $32 million in financial assistance to team members (Chick fil A, 2014).At McDonalds the positive reinforcement strategy is used in melodic phrase with its pay and rewards program whereby the employees argon rewarded based on their performance. The pay for performance management philosophy incarnate by the management ensures that the employees are remindd to perform better in order to earn greater pay opportunities (McDonalds, 2014).McDonalds uses both short- margin as well long-term incentives, over and above the base pay, to motivate employees to perform better. The short-term incentives refer to incentives offered to the employees based on their annual performance while the l ong term incentives refer to LTI stock awards that are granted to eligible employees who are likely to continue working at McDonalds for a long-term and contribute to its growth and development (McDonalds, 2014).The guild offers various recognition programs whereby the strong performers are recognized and reward for their contribution. The awards are offered to both - individuals as well as teams for their effort. For instance, the Presidents Award is given to the visor 1 % of individual performers worldwide, thus providing a strong incentive / motivation to work harder and perform better. The lodge also gives away the Circle of Excellence Award to top teams for the efforts and contribution in helping the company achieve its desired goals and objectives (Mcdonalds, 2014).The Company Car Program is a type of incentive offered by the company to its eligible employees whereby the selected employees are afforded an opportunity to choose from a range of vehicles, based on their design ation and train at workplace, to be used for

Analyzing a Pricing Strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Analyzing a determine Strategy - Essay ExampleThe comp all chosen here for the pricing strategy analysis is Givenchy which is a world renowned household for perfumes and luxury goods. This partnership has maintained its market quantify and product superior since years and their pricing strategy is well balanced with their customer demand and need. The customers ar the life of any business and their needs and demands are evaluated by studying the market segmentation and their value attribution. The Companys pricing strategy is entirely formulated with the aim of delivering highly qualitative products which can be place as the status symbol of wealthy people. The company has disparate product line as perfumes, clothes, jewelry and other fashion accessories. The company has a phenomenal product value among the world wide consumers and for the truly same reason it does not compromise much on its pricing. This is because the price of the product is which conveys the consumers ab out the value and fibre of the product.Market segment is a sub set of consumer market, which caters to the profitability of a firm. A company creates value for a market segment by adding advantages and benefits to their products in accordance with customer tastes. Givenchy is an international firm which manufactures branded goods and luxury items and hence its customers are mainly aristocrats and wealthy population. Here the value for products is given by attributing quality and uniqueness to product they sell. This is because the wealthy consumers look primarily for a product which is of outstanding quality with extra ordinary features. Givenchy existence a renowned luxury brand creates value for their product in the international market by establishing their brand film, quality consistency and status symbol quotient. In decree to create product value in their market segment, the company makes use of various endorsements, promotional offers, discounts and advertizement campai gns. The endorsement of Givenchy products are done by international celebrities who are considered as fashion icons and divas. This ensures the consumers that the Givenchy product lines are highly in vogue and have the characteristics of unique designer wear. Moreover, advertisement is considered as the potential pith of creating brand image and value among market segments. Givenchy employs top rated models for their products launch and as their brand ambassadors. This delivers the consumers a substance that the product is of exquisite standard and flamboyance. Additionally, the sophisticated company website and services offered, re-instates their product value and brand image among its consumers worldwide. 2. Does the company use different price offerings for different market segments? Describe these and evaluate how effective they are. A. Givenchy being an international brand has well planned strategies to absorb effectively into the global market. The pricing strategy of a comp any is based on a market research performed by the company in different market segments. A company keeps in mind, the demand for a particular product, competitors price, acquire power of the customers and the good will of the product to formulate a viable pricing strategy for their products. nevertheless though, Givenchy has wide market segments around the globe, there price offerings are

Technological Change and Economic Growth Research Paper

Technological alter and Economic Growth - Research Paper ExampleMoreover, it is very essential to understand here that engine room does not refer only to the information and technology but it signifies the transfer of knowledge, both theoretical and hard-nosed knowledge (Amesse & Cohendet, 2001, pp. 1459-1478) that influences the process of victimization positively and/or negatively. In order to understand the role of proficient change in sparing growth and broadly, stinting development, it is very imperative to understand the definition of the basis itself that will subsequently indicate the role. Particularly, it has been an observation that economic development (Borensztein & Lee, 1995, pp. 115-124) has often been taken only in terms of economic progress of a state in other words, in terms of its double-dyed(a) domestic production. However, in current era, economic development is more than an increase in GDP and divers(a) factors play a role in determining positive or nega tive economic development of a country. ... Here, one can notice various indicators in this list cannot be analysed quantitatively and therefore, economic development is more than quantitative progress of a country. The World Bank (2013) data confirms strong blood of technological change with economic growth of countries. Analysis of its findings has indicated that countries that have invested more in technological advancements, peculiarly in the sectors of education and business have been successful in providing basic facilities to its population, which has resulted in their overall economic growth and/or development. In other words, when a government ensures secure and encouraging social milieu by working towards increased technological advancements, it automatically results in higher economic growth of the country. This certainly is an indication of the role of technological changes that facilitates economic growth of a country. While the paper includes discussion on the role of technological change in economic growth of a country, it will be unfitting to overlook the particular role of multinational enterprises that they play by bringing FDIs especially in develop countries. For many decades, quantitative indicator of economic growth (Victor, 2008, pp. 5-11) has remained an essential requisite for developing countries to transform into modern-day and developed economies. In the year 1972, Gould (pg. 1) defined economic growth as the sustained increase in real per capita incomes. Here, one can see that economic growth does not consider short-term alterations since it focuses on sustained increase. In this regard, one cannot overlook the significant role of

Critically evaluate budgeting as a tool for planning and control Essay

critically evaluate computeing as a tool for planning and control - Essay ExampleAccording to them, non lonesome(prenominal) is budgeting a time consuming undertaking, it also is prone to manipulation by the focussing. Proponents of the budgeting parade asseverate that it is only through budgeting process that firms can achieve proper financial planning. Despite having its advantages, budgeting has its disadvantages too. This paper aims at evaluating the pros and cons of budgeting, with reference to previous research done by different authors. Libby & Lindsay agree that budgeting has its own advantages and disadvantages. According to Libby and Lindsay, nigh arrangings find budgeting as an important key in managing their control systems. Budgeting plays a number of major roles to the oversight in fulfilling their managerial roles in an organization. Through budgeting, coordination, communication, as well as performance evaluation of an organization is possible. Consistently, and over a long time, external evaluators have used the budget as a bar of organizational performance. The ability of the organization to meet its budgetary commitments determines the organizations performance. Although in some regions, budgeting has woolly-headed meaning, in others, such as North America, it is still a very important element of management control. While many financial experts agree on the need for adopting better budgeting methods, organizations conceive that budgeting is an internal process, create by the individual organization and the management. The fact that budgets are a means of communicating in the organization, and ensuring coordination in spite of appearance the organization makes the budget a very important managerial element. Therefore, organizations cannot do away with them completely. Internal as well as external communication of an organization is an important element of organizational triumph. Although some managers believe that budgeting is an outdated process, there are organizations that attribute their performance to their budgeting process. Libby & Lindsay (2007, p. 48) suggests that the efficiency of budgets to an organization in achieving its goals and objectives determines the perception of the budgeting process to an organization. Some believe that budgeting is a normal process, with little or no significance ion the performance of the organization. on the other hand, there are some that believe that without budgeting, achieving organizational goals and performance is unlikely. Therefore, it is the duty of the management to determine the contribution of budgeting to its organizations goals. Vaznoniene & Stonciuviene (2012, p. 158) argue that budgets play a big role not only in the harmonization of business activities and enhancing cooperation between business units, but also in the delegation of duties and apportioning of incurred expenses. According to Vaznoniene & Stonciuviene (2012, p. 160), while some of t he organizations believe that budgets only act as a means of evaluating faculty performance, they also act in supporting internal control systems of the organization. Jehle does not believe that budgeting as a process has lost its significance altogether. Despite the challenges that it faces, it remains a key factor in the success of the organization. Jehle argues that good managers know the advantages of having a good budget, which is not just consolidating the numbers (1999, p. 56). A good budget according to him is a roadmap, which can guide the company to achieving a competitive advantage. Since

Declining Economic and Military Power Essay Example for Free

Declining Economic and Military Power EssayAs the fall in States prepared to project the twenty-first century, it could reflect upon the fact that the twentieth century was truly the the Statesn century, even with its declining sparing hegemony and resulting put down of military hegemony. The U. S. entry into World warfare I tilted the balance against the triple alliance. It was the U. S. forces that played the study part in the defeat of the Axis powers in World War II .It was the U. S.men and material that contained Soviet Communist expansion until it self-destructed. Even though its military power was unrivaled, the fall in States had to confront the re-emergence of traditional isolationism at home, the creation of shifting bonds around the world, and most importantly, its declining frugal power in the world. In the 1940s and the 1950s, the United States was extraordinarily competitive in the world market . Virtually anything it produced, it could sell.Although partl y the aftermath of World War II, which had destroyed most of Americas industrial competitors, this situation alike reflected an Ameri fuel monopoly in high-technology industries and American productivity in lower-technology ones. The United States had a handsome surr poleer in its international balance of trade, and this surplus could in turn finance large-scale expenditures on U. S. military forces to be deployed overseas in the territories of Americas allies, including West Germany, Britain, Italy and lacquer.A productive and competitive economy with high employment also provided a healthy base for federal taxation and spending. In such a happy condition, the United States could offer a vast system of military alliances and spend 10 percent of its GNP on defense. In the slogan of the Eisenhower administration , the former was underwritten by the latter. Then all this started to change with seeming suddenness. Japan appeared to heft forward at incredible speed. Through the 19 70s its rising indices of industrial production seemed to proceed it above the industrial levels of the United Kingdom, the European Community, the Untied States.As the Soviet Union faltered and then collapsed, Japan and subsequently also West Germany increasingly became the symbols of so-called young economies, in which organized capitalism could hit miracles which old capitalism could no longer deliver. The inventory of China and Japans successes was stressed ofttimes . Its rapid pace of economic harvest-tide, its systematic allocation of vast resources to gross fixed capital formation, its translucent progress in high-tech consumer-oriented production, and its impressive penetration of the global markets all received their due.In contrast, the United States was increasingly depicted as an aging, stumbling giant, losing its preeminence and its leading abilities. From the mid(prenominal) 1970s on, a vast publications asserted with much conviction that the United States was de industrializing, losing the battle of high tech and unduly shifting its toil force toward services while complacently accommodating itself to falling productivity, low pass judgment of saving, low rates of capital formation, failure in export markets, incessant trade deficits, and growing international indebtedness .If we just add together economic and military power there is little doubt that the United States ashes the hegemon. But it is important to recognize that military hegemon is dependent on economic hegemony, because the military is wildly expensive. Declining economic hegemony creates pressure to cut back on military expenditures. This pressure has been temporarily relieved because of the recent economic growth and the new revenues available to the U. S. federal state. However, it is doubtful that this trend of relatively greater economic growth will continue.Indeed, a collapse of the stock bubble could lead to a U. S. economic crisis that would force a major restruct uring of its military capabilities and increase the pressure for other core states to take up the slack. Whether this happens quickly or slowly, predictions show that U. S. economic hegemony will continue to decline, and its military hegemony will follow. This will lead to a new period in which economic power and military power come once again to be recalibrated in a system of more than equally powerful and competing core states.This current situation is shut to similar in most structural respects to that at the end of the nineteenth century. Declining Britain was still advocating free trade, while the other core states and upwardly mobile semi-peripheries were shifting back to economic nationalism and protectionism. By arguing whether or not this happens in the next few years and to what could prevent other rack of war over world leadership in the last chapter, a new window of photo to warfare among core states will arrive.The institutional structures of global collective secu rity will again be tested. It is in all humanitys interest that these institutions be strong enough to prevent another war among core states. With the termination of the Soviet Union and the Soviet Empire in the early 1990s, it became put right that there were no large specific military threats facing the United States . As General Colin Powell, the ch ambianceperson of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) from 1898 to 1993, noted in early 1992, the real threat we (the United States) now gift is the threat of the unknown, the uncertain.Moreover, despite reductions in its defense capabilities from their Cold War levels, the United States was still far superordinate militarily to any nation or likely combination of nations in the world. The challenge for the United States was to give the sufficient order in the international system so that it could pursue its economic interests. At the end of the Cold War, the United States became one of the largest importer and exporter . Its economi c well-being was consequently almost totally dependent upon the absence of chaos in the international arena.Since no one nation posed a specific military threat to the United States like the Soviet Union during the Cold War, the Pentagon was compelled to develop illustrative situations or scenarios in which American interests could be sufficiently jeopardized so that military force would have to be used. Before, there were also seven scenarios created in order to illustrate possibilities of a withdrawal of an approach path on Iraqi or a battle plan on Baghdad . In early 1992, the Pentagon developed seven more scenarios with regards to the countries that could launch an attack against them.The first scenario is a repeat of the Iraqi infringement of Kuwait. This scenario assumes that sometime in the mid 1990s, the worlds support for the embargo against Iraq slackens, the regime in Iraq rebuilds its military to 1990 levels, and launches a blitzkrieg attack southward. Unlike August 1 990, the Iraqis do not s sack up at the Saudi touch, but move into northeasterly Saudi Arabia and take control of its oil fields and major export terminals before the United States and its coalition forces can respond.The second illustrative scenario involves an all-out attack on southward Korea by some 300,000 sexual union Koreans. To help the South Korean forces counter this invasion, the United States would deploy five combat divisions to augment South Koreas 800,000-man army. In addition, this nation would send five aircraft carrier battle groups, two Marine expeditionary forces and 20 land-based air squadrons. This force of about 250,000 Americans and 1 million South Koreans would take about 3 months to prevail against the forces of Kim II Sung. The third scenario is a combination of the first two.It assumes that the Iraqi and North Korean invasions occur simultaneously and that the United States has to fight a two-front war with over 500,000 people, some 5,000 miles apart. The fourth scenario involves an invasion of the Baltics by an expansionist, authoritarian government in Russia . The Pentagon postulates that 18 Russian and six Belarusian divisions would attack along the Lithuanian-Polish border to protect Russian minorities living in the Baltics. To respond to this situation, the U. S. would deploy seven combat divisions, 49 land-based air squadrons, six aircraft battle groups, and a Marine expeditionary force.Augmented by an additional 11 ground-divisions and 17 tactical fighter squadrons from NATO, Western forces would prevail in three months. The fifth and sixth scenarios involve one-wee invasions of the Philippines and Panama. The invasion of the Philippines by Marine amphibious forces and army paratroopers is made necessary by the chaos that results from a failed coup and endangers some 5,000 Americans in Manila. The Panamanian invasion of airborne and amphibious troops follows from an attempt by rightwing elements close the Panama Canal.Th e final scenario is based on the possibility that in the next century a revived Russia or an emerging superpower adapts an adversarial military strategy and capability to threaten U. S. interests around the world. The U. S. response would be to reconstitute its Cold War military force and its alliance strategy. The first and second scenarios were also the focussing of the Clinton Administrations Bottom-Up Review, published in September 1993. Despite all these scenarios and the decline in both economic and military hegemony, the United States can still be considered to be on top of its league.In addition to this, the end of the Cold War resulted to the shifting of budget due to the cutting or decrease of military budget . Despite the decrease in the economy of the United States and the rapid growth of its competitors such as China, still, the GDP of United States is greater . As such, just like a spring, it can be said that United States is merely pulling itself back in order to sp ring hike beyond the others.References Switzerland (10/07). (October 2007). Retrieved March 9, 2008, from http//www. state. gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/3431. htm Bay, A.(July 18, 2007). Iraqi Withdrawal Seven Scenarios Electronic Version. Strategy Page. Retrieved March 9, 2008, from http//www. strategypage. com/on_point/200771813240. aspx Binnendijk, H. , Simon, J. (December 1995).Baltic Security and NATO Enlargment. Retrieved March 9, 2008, from http//www. ndu. edu/inss/Strforum/SF_57/forum57. html Calleo, D. (2005). Hegemony and Decline Reflections on Recent American Experience. March 9, 2008, from http//www. sens-public. org/spip. php? page=imprimersansid_article=138 Ching, P. -y. (December 9, 2006).American Imperialism and its Domination Over Asia. Retrieved March 9, 2008, from http//www. aprnet. org/ Corn, D. , Perry, M. (April 3, 2003). The Battle Plan for Baghdad? Washington Post. Huntington, S. P. (Winter 1988/89). The U. S. Decline or switch? Foreign Affairs. Pianta, M. (1988). Ne w Technologies Across the Atlantic. Retrieved March 9, 2008, from http//www. unu. edu/unupress/unupbooks/uu38ne/uu38ne00. htmContents Shaplen, J. T. , Laney, J. (December 2007). The Decline of U. S. Power in Northeast Asia Electronic Version. Washingtons easterly Sunset.Retrieved March 9, 2008, from http//www. foreignaffairs. org/20071101faessay86606/jason-t-shaplen-james-laney/washington-s-eastern-sunset. html Spring, B. (June 2, 1998). House Resolution Tells President Defend All Americans from Missile Attack. Retrieved March 9, 2008, from http//www. heritage. org/ search/MissileDefense/EM530. cfm Taylor, C. W. (1993). Alternative World Scenarios for a New Order of Nations DIANE Publishing. Woolley, J. T. , Peters, G. The American Presidency Project. Retrieved March 9, 2008, from http//www. presidency. ucsb. edu/ws/index. php? pid=10120.

The process a person has to undergo to open a bank account Essay Example for Free

The summons a someone has to undergo to pass a m one(a)y box number EssayThe bank go forth pay back in place a plow that customers must have to follow to enable them open an cover. This go involves various activities that the application must have to go through with(predicate) before a ratiocination can be made to open an account. The initial turn starts once the customer enters the Bank and speaks to a Customer Service Adviser about source a naked as a jaybird bank account. The adviser go out asks the customer various questions in rove to establish the customers banking needs. This enables the adviser to clarify what kind of account is to a greater extent suitable for the customer.Since the customer does not know what kinds of bank accounts atomic number 18 available, the Customer Service Adviser enables this process to take place. Without the support of the adviser, the process of opening the account might have been more difficult and cartridge clip consumi ng. The customer is also advised on the m duration it might take in the process of opening the account. The customer then has to fill in an application stress which enables the process to move to the future(a) stage. The customer can call on the adviser for assistance in filling out the form at any point in time.Once the form has been properly filled in, it is processed by the bank staff (using affect softwargon on the computer by sending the information to a referencing agent to check if the applicant details atomic number 18 correct and for a credit check to unwrap out if the customer has any adverse credit history. These are guides used by the bank to larn whether the information given by the applicant is true and to decide on credit facilities that might know with certain bank accounts). The information move off is then verified and sent back to the bank. totally the information sent are assigned scores using guides (software) that the bank has installed to rack up t he process more efficient. Depending on the customers score, a suitable account would be recommended. A decision will then be taken in regards to the opening of the account and details of the account are entered into the computer. At this point of bear upon the account, some delays would be experienced while the adviser inputs the details of the new account into the computer. While this is cosmos facilitated, the customer then receives details of his/her account.The customer leaves now as their input into the process of opening the bank account has been completed. The account details and customer information relevant to operating the account is then sent for printing to the card manufacturing company. The machinery, plastic and paper used in the process of manufacturing the relevant items for the bank enables the process of opening the account to be completed. The cheque book, card and pin number for use with the account are then mailed by the printing company to the banks custome r or sent to their local discriminate for collection.Once the cheque book, card and pin are received by the customer, it enables the use of the bank account and without this, the operation of the account would be made more problematic. Volume looks at how many different jobs one person performs in the business. In a supermarket, each person works one station on a shift and rarely swaps during it unless it is extremely necessary. In some cases, at that place are enough flock employed in the supermarket so that they only ever have to perform one duty during their time employed there.In the supermarket, there are sometimes 20 people working on the tills during the busy issues but often there are not this many people working in a bank at any one time. By having this high Volume, you will find that the each person will find their job extremely repetitive as it is all they perform all mean solar day long. In some cases, people will work behind a till for 8 hours a day, 5 days a wee k for several years. This high repeatability often isnt appealing to a mess hall of people though. However, since people are performing the same tasks day in and day out, they become an nice in their area.This leads to highly specialized people in the supermarket which is respectable for the business. In a bank, there are normally two or three people who deal with the individuals bank accounts, and processing cash transactions, and then there is one person who deals with opening bank accounts, another working on loans, and someone possibly dealing with mortgages. This low volume of staff means that if anyone is sick, then the other staff will be require to cover the area for the duration. If you work in a bank, your position is often changed to where you are required most so you need to be multi-skilled and have good knowledge of the job.Variety looks at the academic degree in which the business responds to different customer requirements. A supermarket would have high variety as they frame in a wide variety of products, made by different brands and sometimes of different pagan origin to appeal to a wide variety of tastes. This means that the supermarket is flexible about what it orders, in order to sate the needs of the customer. A bank has very low variety in terms of the accounts they offer. They have their standard set of accounts such as Flex account Savings and ISA but there are few variations off the standard model.90% of people who go into the bank to open up a savings account will leave with the same account. These standardised accounts make the whole process of opening up a bank account very routine and so the staff working there could do it with their eyes closed. Variation In Demand is how much demand changes over a period of time. In a bank, the accounts very rarely change. The main changes to them are the interest rates but this is ordinarily determined by the government and so changes are infrequent.This keeps the bank in a routine, an d also proves them to be very predictable in what they offer to the customer. This means that it doesnt matter when an individual opens a bank account as it will almost always be the same. In a supermarket however, there are seasonal changes constantly. They cater for all of the holidays that occur over the year, Christmas, Valentines Day, Easter, Summer Holidays and Halloween. They need to order in the seasonal goods in advance to the holiday so that it entices people to buy them early.They can also adjust their ordering to meet customer demand, i. e. if the store holds a Buy One Get One Free offer on a particular popular product, then they know that they are going to sell a covey of it therefore they will adjust their ordering accordingly. After the promotion finishes, it is highly unlikely that they will breed to sell the same numbers so they will reduce the amount ordered. Visibility relates to where the process is carried out. In a bank, you mark very little of the processe s being carried out in front of you therefore there is low visibility.Credit Checks are done online by an independent company, cards and chequebooks are manufactured in another place alto realiseher, Money is taken from you and put into a till and your account credited electronically. Sometimes, peculiarly if you are paying in a cheque, there is a time lag between processing your transaction and seeing the results. It can take up to a week to send out new cards, new chequebooks, or new PIN numbers if you lose them and so this could be problematic for the consumer, as they may not have access to any money during that period of time.In a supermarket though, you see quite a few processes occurring in front of you. You can see people continuously stacking up shelves to ensure there is food available for the customer and you see your food being processed through the tills. This leads to low waiting tolerance however, and the consumer always wants their product immediately and often voic es their dissatisfaction if they are unable to get just now what they want. On the Deli counter, you can see your choice of meat being cut exactly how you want it to be and wrapped for you, and in some supermarkets, you can even choose for someone to make your own personal pizza for you.In order to offer these services, there needs to be good customer service skills in place so that any questions regarding anything in the store can be answered if needed. Company success relies heavily on consumer satisfaction and so the store must ensure that the shelves are full, that there are a wide range of products on offer, and that customer service skills are excellent. By offering all of these things, the supermarket can ensure good satisfaction and repeat business.

Working as a registered nurse Essay Example for Free

Working as a registered nurse renderI devote been exploiting as a registered nurse in Tacoma, WA since 2011 and I fetch chosen to assess the conjunction wellness of push up County. Tacoma is the county seat of hurtle County and the largest urban center in the county and trinity largest metropolis in the conjure up (US count Bureau, 2014). stuff County is located south of Seattle and is comprised of 1,679 sq. miles, much of which front the Pu piss Sound. Yankee scopes of the county ar comprised of islands and peninsulas only penetrationible by bridges or boats. It besides contains one of the nations national parks and the states tallest peak, Mount Rainier. The Parks boundaries largely define the east border of the County and the White and Nisqually Rivers make up the North and South boundaries respectively. (schnozzle Hollow Designs, 2014) existence Economic position AssessmentNearly 820,000 flock call stuff County alkali. It boasts a tall population de nsity with 481 populate per sq. mile. Urban atomic number 18as comprise 93 part of the county. (City-Data, 2014) The median ho lend oneselfhold income in 2013 was estimated to be close to $60,000 and 12 percent of residents atomic number 18 living below the p every backsidety level. (US Census Bureau, 2014) Blacks and African Americans make up the legal age of low-income mint despite the fact that they comprise only 7 percent of the County population. The majority of residents (76.5 percent) are snow-white, 10 percent are non-black Hispanics and 6 percent are Asians. The median resident age is 35 geezerhood and 12 percent of residents are 65 courses or older. (University of Wisconsin Population health Institute, 2014). More than a third of Pierce County children are eligible for free lunch benefits and 8.9 percent of residents are unemployed.As legion(predicate) as 16 percent of residents are uninsured despite a per capita face-to-face health use of $8,160 annually. Te n percent of those uninsured are children. Whats more, close to 6 percent of residents make little(prenominal) that $10,000/year. Its estimated that 15 percent of residents are not able to see a health do by provider when they need to be possess they cant afford it. When they can afford to, primarycare providers (PCP) are in short supply and overworked. There are an estimated 1500 patients for every PCP in Pierce County. (University of Wisconsin Population health Institute, 2014)Medicare is the primary payer of health care expenditures for 10 percent of County residents. (City-Data, 2014)Pierce County has some of the highest evaluate of obesity in the nation with a 31 percent obesity prize. This is despite the fact that approximately 80 percent of residents tracked exercising in the previous month. (University of Wisconsin Population health Institute, 2014)The County has numerous parks, hiking trails, walkway paths and enjoys a tempe run climate with little snow accumulatio n and mild summer temperatures. Poor feeding is exchangeablely a key contri merelyor with 16 percent of residents classified as nourishment insecure. The County has the last(a) approaching to healthy foods with 8 percent of people living in urban areas where the nearest grocery store store is more than a mile from their home. approach shot to convenience stores is slightly better. (University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute, 2014). area and Community SafetyAny Pierce County resident can testify to smelling the Aroma of Tacoma on a regular basis. At various discloses of the daylight, a pungent smell not contrasted that of rotten eggs fills the air. The source of the stench is attrisolelyed to industries located at the Port of Tacoma, the forest industry, car exhaust, or the tidal changes on the Puget Sound. The extent of air pollution in the area is large. More than three quarter of county residents drive alone to work every day. Just 3 percent take public transpo rtation. The County ranks sixteenth in counties reporting high carbon monoxide one hour concentration. It is among the dirtiest 10 percent of US counties for its exclude of water and carcinogens. Chief among these deadly chemicals is methanol and hydrochloric acid. (City-Data, 2014) (Good Guide, 2011)There are four Superfund Sites in the County that continue to cause contamination of drinking water. One of these sites is outset Bay, the hub of the Port of Tacoma, one of the worlds plentyiest ports. The biggest polluter in the area is the Simpson Tacoma Kraft Comp some(prenominal), a forest productcompany that prides itself on using every part of the tree except its shadow. (Simpson, 2014) Another agencyy- cognise polluter and also a major area employer is the US Military. Superfund Sites exist at both McChord AFB and the US Army Fort Lewis Range. (Good Guide, 2011) Cultural AssessmentFor a personal perspective of life inside Pierce County I consulted with a colleague who whol e caboodle as a lactation consultant. She is a 50-year-old college-educated white female who also works as an instructor in a local vocational college. She reports that her cohorts attitude toward aging is not altogether positive. She is beginning to tincture the gradual decline in her bole functions and says that she and others like her find it frustrating that their bodies dont work as well as they did in their youth. That attitude of reluctance disposes to affect how readily her peers seek assistance, specially if it means accepting the realities of aging. Some of the physical health problems common in her cohort involve vision, pause apnea, joint pain, and decreased stamina.She states that individuals in her cohort tend to be individualistic and prefer their yards, both physically and metaphorically, to be fenced. This perspective crosses over to how children are parented with a high value placed on raising adults that are independent and self-sufficient. Her children prep are either graduated from college or are currently attention university. She considers financial independence a mark of adulthood. A ritual associated with adulthood is moving out of the family home and their own.One of the challenges she sees in her cohort is that of obtaining access to moral health care. A colleague modernly unconnected her son to suicide after numerous attempts to help him gain access to care failed and he move suicide. She feels that only those who are going to hurt others or hurt themselves are recipients of care in a broken dodging. Because so many are aching for help in the companionship and a great awareness of the need, the result has been a reduced stigma associated with noetic infirmity. Acknowledging that genial illness is far from universe treated on plane with biological illness, she reports that the awareness of an individuals lackof control over what is a real disease is growing.Disaster Assessment and PlanningThe incredible amount of phys ical ravisher present in Pierce County is also a source of danger to its residents. The area has been declared as a disaster area 19 times in recorded history. Most of these slips were the result of direful storms that caused implosion therapy, landslides, and mudslides. The area is situated on or near several tectonic plates giving it an earthquake take a chance that is 355 percent greater than the national average. In 2001, a magnitude 6.8 earthquake was centered just 10.8 miles from the city center and caused tens of thousands in damage. An earthquake centered as yet farther away could affect the county via a ensuant Tsunami. Coastline areas comprise many of the Countys industries, parks, and homes and could be destroyed by a tsunamis tidal surge. Mt. Rainier frames many of Tacomas picturesque views but it is a volcano that could come back to life at any moment. Its last eruption is estimated to progress to occurred more than 150 years ago but a recent eruption could caus e massive downstream flooding in nearly the entire County. (City-Data, 2014)Disasters caused by flooding precipitated by a tsunami, volcanic eruption, or one of the areas many rainstorms could displace many residents from their homes and block access to urgent and chronic healthcare services. Sewage systems could be affected by the flooding as well as decrease access to clean water. A massive earthquake could destroy many of Tacomas older buildings, many of which were built in the early 1900s and well before any seismic edifice rules went into effect. Falling objects from an earthquake and resulting fires could result in massive injuries in the short-term and damage to public radical in the long-term. (Pierce County Department of parking brake Management, 2010) Many of the possible disasters that could strike the area do not have the luxury of advance warning. Severe storms may give as little as a day or dickens notice, tsunamis and flooding just a few hours. Many residents are unlikely to determine the severity of a disaster until they are in its midst.Because the residents lack the ability to prepare, The Pierce County Department of Emergency Management has five departments to deal with every day emergencies andlarge-scale disasters. The services include hint management, intensify 9-1-1 services, fire prevention, communicate communications and an urban search and rescue task force. The Department is working to infix all residents in an emergency officious system via text. electron orbit hospital employees also have an alert system that sends a text message to employees to report to duty in the event of an emergency. The enhanced 9-1-1 system automatically finds the street address for landline calls. The radio communications team works to ensure that radio remains active in the event cell towers fall during an earthquake or are discredited during severe flooding. Urban Search and Rescue can provide vital services in the event of an earthquake, mud slide, avalanche or abandoned mine collapse. (Pierce County Department of Emergency Management, 2010)Windshield beHousingThe majority of housing options usable in Tacoma are single-family detached homes. A housing boom in the nineties resulted in many sassyer homes and apartment buildings in both high and poor-income areas. Housing density appears to be highest in high-income neighborhoods. Many homes in both areas have grassed front and back yards. Although the area was heavily wooded when colonized in the 1890s, much of the native evergreen trees are gone. Tree replacement appears limited to higher(prenominal)-income areas and is limited to non-native broadleaf trees. Housing in degrade-income neighborhoods appears to be in fair to mollify repair. Very few homes in these areas have bars over windows or penetrations. (Patamia, 2015)Open SpaceIn Tacoma, on that point appears to be a moderate amount of open space, especially considering it is an urban area. I saw a large str ip of expensive waterfront in the Ruston area dedicated to a walking path and docks used for office space and dine. The gem in the crown of the Tacoma Metropolitan Park System is Wright Park, a 27-acre parcel spanning more than 10 city blocks in the heart of the city that features an arboretum, lawn bowling, vacation spots, and a pond. In addition, Mt Rainier subject field Park has more than 235,000 dry land of protected forestland and numerous State parks dot the County. All of these spaces are open for public use and park passes are enveloped as part of the residents vehicle tax.BoundariesThe boundaries of the area are largely natural features like rivers and mountains. Neighborhoods begin and end without notification but poorer areas tend to have more chain link fences, less shopping areas, and homes that lack tonic paint and ornamental landscaping. Ironically, the nigh expensive homes in the county have roads that are either gravel or so unkempt that potholes dominate.Co mmonsPeople in the county tended to foregather or so grocery stores and the strip malls that surround them. I visited an upscale grocery store in the lay of the day and found parking difficult despite an ample lot. Areas surrounding the Port of Tacoma business order tend to always have a large amount of trade, especially large trucks carrying containers to and from the ships docked in Commencement Bay.TransportationPierce County, despite the low numbers of residents who use public transportation has numerous options for acquiring out of your car. Buses locomotion to every part of the county, even across the Tacoma Narrows Bridge to the Olympic Peninsula town of lancet Harbor. Residents can travel to Seattle using rail or bus. Residents enjoy the capability of attaching their bikes to city buses but since the area is very hilly and frequently rainy, few take advantage of the service. For all of its access capabilities in Tacoma, getting some in surrounding communities is diff icult.Interstate 5 intersects the county, enabling tardily access for Port of Tacoma traffic to Canada and the western states. Several state highways run through the community and many are currently undergoing sublime improvement projects. Long-term plans include expanding Seattles light rail into Tacoma but recent initiatives to expand inter-county bus services was voted down by residents.Service CentersOne of the most impressive things about Pierce County is how new and beautiful its schools are. Around these areas, its easy to spot social service centers such as YMCAs or Community Healthcare Clinics. Even in the poorest areas of the County, I saw many dentist offices, parks withplayground facilities, and sidewalks. I drove by a newer looking middle school several times during my canvass and always saw it occupied by students despite heavy rain.StoresCommercial areas in the county appear to be centered on large chain grocery stores. There are few non-chain, independent dining o ptions and those that are tend to offer high-calorie, high-fat options like hamburgers and milkshakes. I did not see any signs advertising farmers markets but there were more than a few community gardens where residents could grow their own fruits and vegetables. I was also impress by how few grocery stores there were outside of major shopping areas and how far even the wealthiest had to travel to buy food. In more than one area, there were several grocery stores in close law of proximity to each other.People Out and AboutI saw several people walking somewhat the County during my survey but all of them appeared to be walking for exercise and leisure, not for transportation. Almost all of these walkers were white and non-obese. A majority of those I saw were wearing Seahawk jerseys and/or colors. It was so persuasive that I mat out of place with an orange sweatshirt. Dogs accompanied many of the walkers and every dog was leashed.Signs of Community VibrancyThe Pierce County Commun ity is very diverse but in nearly every area I traveled, I saw signs of vibrancy testifyd by hanging flower baskets, children playing outside, areas of preserved natural beauty, easy access to healthcare, and a lack of abandoned homes, stray animals, or countless homeless people.Race/Ethnicity effrontery that nearly three-quarters of Pierce County residents are white, its not surprising to see mostly white people in the County. Surprisingly, there are two major Indian Reservations, the Nisqually and Puyallup, inside Pierce County yet less than 2 percent of residents are Native American. Most of the County looks and feels American with few ethnic grocery stores or signs in a language other than English. Areas where whites live tend to be predominantly white but areas with larger populations of Blacks, Asians, andHispanics are well integrated. In one strip mall, there was a Mexican taqueria next door to an Asian grocery store.ReligionWhile only 30 percent of Pierce County residents report macrocosm affiliated with a religious congregation, nearly half of them are non-denominational Christian churches. A third of residents report an affiliation with a Roman Catholic Church. I saw many more churches in the less affluent areas of the County than I did in wealthy ones. I also saw one Buddhist tabernacle and Muslim Mosque.HealthThere are 10 hospitals serving Pierce County the largest of which is Tacoma General Hospital that has more than 400 beds and a level II trauma center. A few blocks away with the areas second level II trauma center and a level III NICU is St Joseph medical examination Center with 367 beds.Signs of homelessness are slightly invisible in Pierce County and tend to be clustered around area shelters or service providers such as the Union Gospel Mission and the YWCA. Its estimated that 2,000 people including children are homeless on any given night in Tacoma. One of the area hospitals, western sandwich State Hospital, provides services liquid e cstasyly to the mentally ill but the lack of services to the homeless and mentally ill is striking. There are an estimated 368 mentally ill people for every mental health provider in Pierce County.Top performing counties have 521 providers per patient. The State ranks 49th in number of open psychiatric beds and several agencies have recently closed their doors or decreased services due to the sparing turn down. ( alliance of Women Voters Pierce County, 2013) (Good Guide, 2011) Forty percent of female tenth-grade children are classified as depressed. The Tacoma Pierce County Health Department lists mental health as its 1 priority in the coming years.PoliticsI toured the area in January when the nearest election was months or years away. Cars I viewed had a mix of bumper stickers that indicated the metropolitan area voted for Obama in the previous presidential election, juts the legalization of marijuana, and is a fan of the Seattle Seahawks. MediaNo matter the area, evidence of s atellite dishes was seen on nearly every home. I did not see any newspaper boxes around area stores. It seems that the primary form of communication medium is through television and the Internet. Television stations accessed by residents are primarily in English but there are two stations that are exclusively in Spanish.Physical EnvironmentAs mentioned previously, Pierce County is a very beautiful place with views of mountains, water, dense forest, and even a volcano visible from nearly every corner of the County. During my survey, I even viewed a pair of bald eagles playing over the Puget Sound. The areas around the Port of Tacoma and the two Indian reservations tend to be the least attractive areas of the city where billboards for nearby tribal-run casinos predominate the landscape.Scavenger HuntWomen, Infants, and Children (WIC)WIC is a nutrition program that helps ensure that pregnant women, nursing moms and children under five have access to healthy foods. They also provide he alth education and breastfeeding reward including peer counselors. Women who use WIC get money to purchase fresh fruit and vegetables, milk, cheese, whole grain breads and tortillas. They also ensure that children are vaccinated and stay on recommended emergence curves. A family of four is eligible for WIC benefits if they have an annual income equal or less than $43,000. portaling the services requires visit a WIC location, which are located on major bus routes near hospitals, health clinics, or in tribal offices. There are more than 15 WIC locations in the county and offer services in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean, Russian, Tagalog, and Cambodian. (Tacoma Pierce County Health Department, 2015) YMCAThe YMCA of Pierce and Kitsap Counties offer a variety of services including seven healthy living centers, a summer camp and more than 70 child care sites. Their mission is to offer programs that build a healthy spirit, mind and body for all. (YMCA of Pierce and Kitsap Counties , 2014) Monthly fees that are based on household income support membership and financial aid isavailable. There are steep discounts for members of the military and their families. The variety of services available at the healthy living center is broad. Members of the Tacoma facility take piano lessons, learn how to box, and enjoy an indoor(a) pool.Family Renewal tax shelterThere are 16 different resources for those dealing with domestic violence in Pierce County. Among them is the Family Renewal Shelter. They provide emergency services by way of confidential shelters, self-defense classes, sacred support, and pet therapy. They also offer help with access to vehicles, educational scholarships, and relocation. reassert for the scheme comes from private donations from individuals, foundations, businesses, and churches. Access to services is via the organizations 24-hour crisis line. Information about domestic violence is available on the organizations website including a button that allows a user to leave the site quickly and eliminate a computer trail. (Family Renewal Shelter, 2014)National Alliance on Mental Illness Pierce CountyThe purpose of NAMI is to support people and those who love them with the challenges of mental illness. Members are people whose lives have been touched by mental illness and can share resources, lessons learned, and empathy with one another. They also advocate for change on local and legislative issues. Support group meeting occur three times a week and are located in a local Episcopal Church. They are free to attend. NAMI Walks occur several times a year and help to reduce the stigma of mental health and expand services, especially in education of mental health issues with police, fire and other first responders. (NAMI Pierce County, 2015)Planned ParenthoodA group of community volunteers opened the first Planned Parenthood clinic in Tacoma in 1972 to address concerns about high evaluate of teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. The organization believes that everyone has the right to choose whether and when to get pregnant and works to prevent unwanted pregnancies. They rely heavily of individual donor support to provide basic cheap health care, adoption planning, vasectomy services, and fitting for menstrual cups. They also provide abortion services and arefrequented by protestors. (PPGNW, 2015)Tacoma Rescue MissionThere are more than 36 homeless shelters in Tacoma offering everything from emergency shelter, transitional housing, and assisted housing for people dealing with domestic violence, drug addiction, and sexual trafficking. They are a Christian organization funded by the United Way of Pierce County and the cities of Lakewood and Tacoma in addition to funding from Pierce County itself. They report that they provide shelter to more than 400 people nightly and provide food for 26,000 people who have no other access to food. They work to help people overcome drug and alcohol addiction w ith rehabilitation serves, educational assistance and case management. (Tacoma Rescue Mission, 2015)Interpretation of Collected DataEpidemiology examines how health status or health events are distributed across a community and what determines it. The preceding examples give a broad stroke painting of health in Pierce County. Overall, the birth rate (15 per 1000) exceeds the death rate (7.3 per 1000) in Pierce County and the infant mortality rate (6.5 per 100,000) is in line with the national average (6.15 per 1000). (City-Data, 2014)Pierce County offers many assets that empower the health of its residents. Among these are a large population of college-educated people with 90 percent of adults 25 years and older completing at least high school or obtaining a GED. Although 8 percent of residents are foreign born, more than 80 percent of these report speaking English fluently. The people of Pierce County have access to nature and local foods, including the nations largest crop of rhub arb. besotted faith communities with social outreach programs help neighbors in need. The community brims with people who are largely open-minded and access complementary care such as massage, acupuncture, and chiropractic adjustments is common. (Tacoma Pierce County Health Department, 2014)Community DiagnosisIn my outline of the data collected, it appears that Pierce Countys top three problems are access to mental health services, high rates of obesity, and access to quality health care.Access to mental health servicesA community that is mentally healthy is productive, enjoys fulfilling relationships with others in the community and is resilient through lifes challenges. Without it, even the healthiest body can fall into disrepair quickly. Its no wonder then that mental illness is one of the most common causes of disability. The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that as many as one in every 17 people has a seriously debilitating mental illness. The good news is that m ental, emotional, and behavioral disorders can be prevented. We know more about how the brain functions than ever before and current interrogation indicates that greatest opportunity to prevent illness is to get people into treatment early and often. ( goodly People 2020, 2015)With working capital States dismal rankings in the availability of psychiatric beds and the high patient load of mental health care providers in the County, there is much work to be done. Healthy People 2020 goals state that 87 percent of primary care facilities should provide mental health treatment onsite or by paid referral. This goal represents a 10 percent improvement over the baseline rate of 79 percent in 2006. (Healthy People 2020, 2015)High rates of obesityPierce Countys high rate of obesity is well above the national average and may be attributed to large number of food deserts, especially in urban areas. People who have healthy weights and access to fresh foods have lower rates of chronic disease and a higher quality of life. Addressing obesity is complex, however, and requires a multi-faceted approach. As with mental health, the most powerful interventions are aimed at prevention.According to Healthy People 2020, more than 10.4 percent of children ages two to five were considered obese in 2008. The 2020 goal is to reduce that number to 9.4 percent. (Healthy People 2020, 2015)One of the most cost effectual ways to achieve that goal is to increase the number of children who are breastfed. A history of breastfeeding, especially exclusive breast milk feeding for the first six months, is associated with an estimated 40 percent reduction in puerility obesity. (AHRQ, 2009) Unfortunately, just14.1 percent of infants born in 2006 achieved this. Healthy People 2020s target is 25.5 percent. (Healthy People 2020, 2015) Access to quality healthcareOptimal health is not a state achieved without support, education and intervention. Ensuring that Pierce County residents get the help the y need when they need it is a big part of preventing chronic disease, improving quality of life, and preventing extra death. Some of the reasons people do not see a health care provider are they cant find one, they cant afford it, or they dont have policy coverage.The most recent data suggests that as many as 16 percent of County residents do not have health insurance. (Good Guide, 2011) According to Healthy People 2020, the national average is slightly higher at 16.8 percent. The objective is an ambitious one with 100 percent of individuals covered by private insurance or Medicaid/Medicare by 2020. (Healthy People 2020, 2015)According to Washington States Department of Public Health, there are approximately 543 providers in Pierce County including doctors, ARNPs, CNMs, and PAs. A little more than half of them report that they are accepting new Medicaid and Medicare patients. (Washington State Department of Public Health, 2011) Interestingly, Healthy People 2020 has yet to define item goals for increasing the number of practicing providers in all areas. (Healthy People 2020, 2015)Primary Prevention TopicWhen John Snow, the paternity of epidemiology, was investigating cholera outbreaks in mid-nineteenth century London, the chief cause of unnecessary death was communicable disease. Today, chronic disease that damages the heart, pancreas, and lungs are more likely to kill than bacteria. A large contributor to hypertension, diabetes, and heart failure is obesity. In a society obsessed with weight loss and thinness, obesity rates in adults and even children are growing. Just as John Snow found the source of the disease that was claiming lives in his community, we must also find the source but it is unlikely to be in a anchorite water pump in the middle of the city.Preventing obesity appears to be a life-long task best started at birth. The data demonstrate that increasing breastfeeding rates is a powerful tool in decreasing childhood obesity. Breastfeeding rate s for older, educated and more affluent women are already at Healthy People 2020 targets but women who are young, have low levels of education and who are poor are more likely to never breastfeed and are extremely unlikely to continue to do so for six months. (Grummer-Strawn, Scanlon, Darling, Conrey, 2004)An organization in the community that helps low-income women establish and maintain breastfeeding is the Women, Infants, and Children Program. A team of peer counselors who have themselves struggled with issues common to low-income breastfeeding women including pumping in the oeuvre help new moms navigate a difficult terrain and provide their children with the best start in life. Area hospital-based birth centers are working toward or have already achieved certification as a pander Friendly Hospital. This designation indicates that the facility employs evidence-based practice that lead to dramatic increases in breastfeeding rates. (DiGirolamo, Grummer-Strawn, Fein, 2008)Given that the problem of obesity is large in Pierce County, the rewards for reducing it great, and the interventions that are most likely to help are known and inexpensive, I am focusing my primary prevention topic on promoting breastfeeding as a means to reduce obesity in Pierce County.BibliographyAHRQ. (2009). Breastfeeding, Maternal Infant Health Outcomes. Retrieved January 22, 2015, from Agency for Healthcare explore and Quality http//archive.ahrq.gov/clinic/tp/brfouttp.htmCity-Data. (2014). PIerce County, WA. Retrieved January 16, 2014, from City-Data.com http//www.city-data.com/county/Pierce_County-WA.htmlDiGirolamo, A., Grummer-Strawn, L., Fein, S. (2008). Effect of Maternity-Care Practices on Breastfeeding. Pediatrics , S43-S49.Family Renewal Shelter. (2014). About the family renewal shelter. Retrieved January 21, 2015, from Family Renewal Shelter www.domesticviolencehelp.org/aboutfrs.htmlGood Guide. (2011). Good Guide. Retrieved January 17, 2014, from Score Card The Pollutio n Information Site http//scorecard.goodguide.com/community/index.tcl?zip_code=98404set_community_zipcode_cookie_p=tx=11y=11Grummer-Strawn, L., Scanlon, K., Darling, N., Conrey, E. (2004). racial and Socioeconomic Disparities in Breastfeeding . Atlanta Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Healthy People 2020. (2015). Access to Health Services. Retrieved January 22, 2015, from Healthy People.gov http//www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics-objectives/topic/Access-to-Health-ServicesHealthy People 2020. (2015). Maternal, Infant, and Child Health. Retrieved January 22, 2015, from Healthy People.gov http//www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics-objectives/topic/maternal-infant-and-child-health/objectivesHealthy People 2020. (2015). Mental Health and Mental Disorders. 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Hazard Identification and risk of exposure Assessment. Retrieved January 17, 2015, from Pierce County Emergency Management http//www.co.pierce.wa.us/DocumentCenter/View/7032PPGNW. (2015). Who We Are. Retrieved January 21, 2015, from Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest http//www.plannedparenthood.org/planned-parenthood-great-northwest/who-we-areSimpson. (2014). Environment. Retrieved January 17, 2015, from Simpson Company http//www.simpson.com/Environment.aspxSnob Hollow Designs. (2014). County Maps of Washington. Retrieved January 17, 2014, from County Maps of Washington http//www.countymapsof upper-case letter.com/pierce.shtmlTacoma Pierce County Health Department. (2015). Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children. Retrieved January 21, 2015, from Health and Wellness http//www.tpchd.org/health-wellness-1/wic-nutrition-program/Tacoma Pierce County Health Department. (2014, August). Pierce County Community Health Improvement Plan. Retrieved January 15, 2015, from Pierce County Community Health Improvement Plan http//www.tpchd.org/files/ program library/474287fe72cf69af.pdfTacoma Rescue Mission. (2015). Rescue Mission. Retrieved January 21, 2015, from About Us http//www.rescue-mission.org/about usUniversity of Wisconsin Population Health Institute. (2014). County Health Rankings and Roadmaps. Retrieved January 17, 2014, from Washington Pierce County http//www.countyhealthrankings.org/app/washington/2014/rankings/pierce/county/outcomes/overall/snapshotUS Census Bureau. (2014, December 4). State and County Quick Facts. Retrieved January 16, 2013, from United States Census Bureau http//quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/53/53053.htmlWashington State Department of Public Health. (2011, July). Primary Care Provider Survey Pierce County. Retrieved January 22, 2015, from Office of Community Health Systems http//www.doh.wa.gov/Portals/1/Documents/Pubs/689048.pdf YMCA of Pierce and Kitsap Counties. (2014). About Us. 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