Thursday, January 30, 2020
Risks and Internal Controls for Kudler Fine Foods Essay Example for Free
Risks and Internal Controls for Kudler Fine Foods Essay Internal controls are policies and procedures a company uses to ensure the accuracy and validity of their data. Risks are threats to that data that could be internal or external of the company (Hunton, Bryant, Bagranoff, 2004). The following paragraphs will identify and analyze the risks and internal controls as they relate to the information systems for Kudler Find Foods. This will give Kudler information on how to evaluate risks and the application of the internal controls and this document will discuss other external risks associate with buying a new accounting information system (AIS). Identifying and Analyzing Risks There are many types of risks that a company has to confront each day in information technology (IT). The four main types of risk are business, audit, security, and continuity risks. A business risk is when a company will not be able to achieve its goals and objectives; this could be union issues, a competing company, fraud, or production equipment failure. Audit risks include misstatement of financials by an auditor or a failure by an auditor to uncover fraud or material errors. A security risk can be a host of things that would ruin the integrity and access of the data, which can also lead to fraud or misuse of other information from internal (like employees) to external (like hackers) sources. And, finally, continuity risks are information system risks that have to do with backup, recovery and day to day availability of the system. When unplanned risks occur, management and auditor need to act quickly to intercept the risk, balance the risk with cost-effective countermeasures, since it is impossible to plan all risks (Hunton, Bryant, Bagranoff, 2004). It is important to thoroughly evaluate the AIS selected for risks as it includes confidential customer, vendor, payroll and corporate information within the master databases. The types of risks associated with Kudlerââ¬â¢s new AIS system are system setup, data transfer and implementation issues, the AIS exceeding server capacity, other technology issues, and internal security breaches such as fraud, loss, or misuse of data. Typically the risks to AIS systems are primarily internal threats, as processing occurs behind the Companyââ¬â¢s firewalls and system access is usually limited to only company employees. Kudler has multiple stores, so it might be web-enabled, allowing vendor users and employees to access the system over the Internet, which will expose their system to external threats. This increased connectivity might make unauthorized access easier for hackers and therefore data loss, industrial espionage, fraud and system outages could occur as well (Goldenberg, 2011). Internal controls are vital to put into place from this point of assessing the risks. Identifying and Analyzing Internal Controls The purposes of internal controls for an AIS are to protect the data resources against fraud, damage, and loss. It is also to ensure accuracy, validity, and reliability of the financials and operating data, which will help Kudler to stay compliant with its policies and procedures of the company and make better decision making strategies. For best business practices, internal controls need to be put into place, as the risks are many for Kudler, but in order for management to document their understanding of internal controls, they should use a flowchart to highlights risk issues and areas needing control. Attached are Appendix A, B, C, and D Data Flowcharts for Kudler. On these charts are highlighted areas of possible risks and potential internal controls to put into place (Apollo Group, 2013). The first step to developing an effective internal control system is to identify the areas where exploitation or errors are likely to occur. Separation of duties is the key to eliminate many fraudulent concerns surrounding accounting and finance. No employee should handle more than one of the following responsibilities: record keeping, authorization, reconciliations, and custody of assets. The following areas in accounting should also be reviewed for internal risks: * Cash receipts and disbursements: This will include deposits recorded and made promptly to the bank, checks signed and reviewed by management, petty cash secured and roperly recorded, bank reconciliations are done monthly and reviewed by Management, AP and AR master data files are secured with end user controlled passwords. * Payroll: This will include that all payroll changes should be approved by a supervisor, that disbursements are for actual employees, and tax filing are filed in compliance. * Fixed Assets: This will include all purchases of Fixed Assets are properly labeled and recorded and are used solely for work purposes, should be reviewed by Management monthly. Ordering (Inventory): This will include all orders are approved before placing, audits are done of inventory regularly, and inventory is properly recorded in compliance with depreciation schedules. * System changes: Approval of all changes that will occur to the system must be assigned by the Security Administrator to the Programmers and the Programmers must work with the end users for the changes and then get approval from Management before implementing the changes (BDO Consulting, 2009). Controls Outside of the System Other controls outside of the system that Kudler should evaluate for risks and improvement could be environmental controls, such as physical access to the building or utilities, or operational controls, such as personnel policies, strategic planning, administration, and supply chain, or even reputation controls, such as internal or external communications and media issues. Achieving understandable business controls on any level requires Kudler to clearly state procedures for handling each area, including a system of checks and balances in which segregation of duties has been established from beginning to end of the process. Management has the responsibility for setting a tone and degree of accountability and preciseness regarding the companyââ¬â¢s assets and responsibilities. Management fulfills that responsibility in part by approving many aspects of the internal controls (Disaster Recovery Journal, 2011). Conclusion It is the responsibility of Kudler Fine Foodsââ¬â¢ management to understand, monitor, and control risks. This document has shed some light on potential risks the company could face, but being prepared for all risks is impossible. Evaluating and implementing a system of internal controls allows the company to have peace of mind that the organization is able to deal effectively with managing its data, resources, and operations from certain risks. Internal controls also support reliable reporting and compliance with laws and regulations, which are necessary for best practices in business.
Wednesday, January 22, 2020
The Significance of Brown v. Board of Education Essay -- Case Review
In 1954, the Supreme Court of the United States was confronted with the controversial Brown v. Board of Education case that challenged segregation in public education. Brown v. Board of Education was a landmark Supreme Court case because it called into question the morality and legality of racial segregation in public schools, a long-standing tradition in the Jim Crow South, and threatened to have monumental and everlasting implications for blacks and whites in America. The Brown v. Board of Education case is often noted for initiating racial integration and launching the civil rights movement. In 1951, Oliver L. Brown, his wife Darlene, and eleven other African American parents filed a class-action lawsuit against the Board of Education of Topeka, and sued them for denying their colored children the right to attend segregated white schools. They sought to change the policy of racial segregation in their school district. The plaintiffs collaborated with the leadership of the local To peka NAACP to overturn segregation in public schools. In the fall of 1951, the parents tried to enroll their children into the neighborhood schools, but they were denied enrollment in the white schools and told to attend segregated black schools. The District Court noted that segregation in public education had a harmful effect on black children, but denied the need to desegregate schools because ââ¬Å"the physical facilities and other ââ¬Ëtangibleââ¬â¢ factorsâ⬠in Topeka, Kansas were all equal. The District Court confirmed the precedent established in Plessy v. Ferguson by the Supreme Court in 1896 and upheld state laws permitting, or requiring, segregation in public education. The battle for civil rights has deep roots in American history, and African America... ...eclaration of Human Rightsâ⬠in Major Problems in American History: Volume II: Since 1865, 3rd ed. Elizabeth Cobbs Hoffman, Edward J. Blum, and Jon Gjerde. (Boston, Wadsworth, 2012), 363-365. 4. U.S. Supreme Court, Brown v. Board of Education, 347 U.S. 483-496. (1954) in Major Problems in American History: Volume II: Since 1865, 3rd ed. Elizabeth Cobbs Hoffman, Edward J. Blum, and Jon Gjerde. (Boston, Wadsworth, 2012), 365-366. 5. Ibid. 6. Ibid. 7. Martin Luther King Jr., speech given to Holt Street Baptist Church, Montgomery, Alabama, December 5, 1955, in Major Problems in American History: Volume II: Since 1865, 3rd ed. Elizabeth Cobbs Hoffman, Edward J. Blum, and Jon Gjerde. (Boston, Wadsworth, 2012), 366-367. Hoffman, Elizabeth Cobbs, Edward J. Blum, and Jon Gjerde. Major Problems in American History: Volume II: Since 1865. 3rd ed. Boston: Wadsworth, 2012.
Monday, January 13, 2020
Meaning of life â⬠2006 singles Essay
Have you ever wondered what the meaning of life is, the purpose of our existence. Life is truly a mystery we know very little of our own selves. Something beautiful as a life is something amazing to watch. A life is considered priceless. Life is a treasure among treasures. I consider it a miracle that I am alive and talking to all of you today. The chances of me being here is 1in 5 million, and yet I am here. The same goes for all of you present here today. All of us should feel blessed that we get to experience the privilege of living. The miracle of life begins with the love of two people because of this love a life is created. One good thing leads to another. Theyââ¬â¢re maybe time that we are challenged, but we should never yield instead we take these challenges as an opportunity to grow in life. If somehow you fall all you need to do is simply stand up again and again. Life is not just a bed of roses we need to fight for what we want and stand for whatever we believe in. Donââ¬â¢t be afraid to encounter risks. It is by taking chances that we learn how to be brave. Donââ¬â¢t shut love out of your life by saying itââ¬â¢s impossible to find time. The quickest way to receive love is to give; the fastest way to lose love is to hold it too tightly; and the best way to keep love is to give it wings. Donââ¬â¢t run through life so fast that you forget not only where youââ¬â¢ve been, but also where you are going. Donââ¬â¢t forget, a personââ¬â¢s greatest emotional need is to feel appreciated. Donââ¬â¢t be afraid to learn. Knowledge is weightless, a treasure you can always carry easily. Donââ¬â¢t use time or words carelessly. Neither can be retrieved. Our generation is so attached to technology that we become like machines. We spend so much time on our gadgets that we fail to notice the things around us. We fail to see the beautiful world around us. Living is not simply eating and breathing is if we spend so much time on our cell phones and playing computer games then we were never alive in the first place. Our life is the greatest gift we are given. The memories we make with our friends and family. We laugh, cry, love and hate these are the proof that we are truly alive. Each and every one of us is irreplaceable all of us are one of a kind. Donââ¬â¢t think of your life as something insignificant maybe just by the act of living you are making someone happy. There is one thing to remember Life is not a race, but a journey to be savored each step of the way.
Sunday, January 5, 2020
A Slave By Solomon Northup Essay - 1594 Words
The name of the book that brought several to tears, but gave us all hope was Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup. This book was written in 1853 and has been republished in several editions. Itââ¬â¢s thought of to be a memoir and a slave narrative by Solomon Northup himself. In 1984, PBS created a movie referred to as, Solomon Northupââ¬â¢s Odyssey, that was directed by Gordon Parks and 2013 there was a movie product of the book that was directed by Steve McQueen. There are several arguments that are realize throughout this book concerning why Solomon needed to write his book telling his story. The reason Solomon Northup wrote this book was to bring the treatment of slaves to the frontline. He wanted to express the reality of slavery and what it was like to be a slave. He strived to teach people that were blinded from slavery within the North of how slave was in the South. Solomon decided to give an account of him being a slave and the way African Americans were being treate d within the southern states. Solomon wanted others to see that slaves were people that grew weak and tired also. By reading this book I saw that this was an experience of a naà ¯ve man. This book was in great detail and was ordered by Solomon Northââ¬â¢s encounters while being a slave. He was able to think about all of the points he believe was necessary enough to inform the world. This book is also inspiring as a result of most slavery books that were written by ghostwriters. Many other slaves couldnââ¬â¢t tell theirShow MoreRelatedThe Slave System By Solomon Northup1618 Words à |à 7 PagesThe slave system was kept in existence for many years since the early 1600ââ¬â¢s. A never ending cycle of pain, and harsh conditions From being in 12 years of slavery, Solomon Northup recounts the time when he had once been a free man to be kidnapped of that freedom back in 1841. The relationships that Northup encountered were neither positive or negative . From friends he gained or his slave masters, the relationships were shaped by slavery and helped intact the slave system. In those relationshipsRead MoreTwelve Years A Slave By Solomon Northup1070 Words à |à 5 PagesTwelve Years A Slave (1853) By Solomon Northup Publisher: Miller, Orton Mulligan, 1855 # of pages: 336 Kamila Piloto Mr. Deliard Period 4 Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup is a story about a slave whom was once free but was abducted and was sold into slavery. This story is an explanation of the suffering of slaves in the antebellum period and a demonstration of the inhumane treatment. ââ¬Å"Before I came here I was free, a free man.â⬠The setting of the story was in New YorkRead MoreTwelve Years A Slave By Solomon Northup1472 Words à |à 6 PagesTwelve Years a Slave is a book which is written by Solomon Northup. He was born in New York. The book retail the authorââ¬â¢s life story as a free black man from the North. He lived, got married to Anne Hampton, a woman of mixed (black, white, and Native American) and worked in New York, where is his family stayed. Besides, he was a great laborer and a violin player. In 1841, at the age of 33 a two con men offered him a profitable work with a high-paying job as a musician playing violin in the sierkRead MoreNineteen Years A Slave By Solomon Northup1493 Wo rds à |à 6 Pages Twelve Years a Slave, a memoir penned by Solomon Northup, is a poignant and extremely touching piece of literature, on the plights of an American slave. It is the autographical journey of the writer himself, and the twelve years he spent in bondage. Born as a free African American in New York, Solomon was tricked into slavery, and beaten black and blue to when he tried to regain freedom. He worked as a cotton picker, a carpenter, a mill-worker, and faced severe cruelty. His final reunion with hisRead MoreNineteen Years A Slave By Solomon Northup Essay1737 Words à |à 7 Pagesslavery unless they have experienced it themselves. 12 Years a Slave is a phenomenal book because, being a reflection of Solomon Northupââ¬â¢s life, it accurately portrays the life of a black slave during that time period, including intense detail that arises a variety of emotions in the reader throughout the book. Published in 1853 in New York by Derby Miller, and written by Solomon N orthup himself, his memoir entitled, 12 Years a Slave is a phenomenal narrative of the accounts he experienced as aRead MoreSolomon Northup, An African American Slave1176 Words à |à 5 PagesAfrican-Americans were inferior. The slaves were forced into labor, punished, and treated poorly. Slaves involvement took away the most important thing in human life, freedom. During this time there were many influential slaves. Solomon Northup, an African-American slave who was kidnapped and sold into slavery was one of them. He is one of the worldââ¬â¢s most important historical figures. Solomon is known world wide for the movie and book based on his biography, 12 Years a Slave. By publishing the unbearableRead MoreTwelve Years A Slave By Solomon Northup1636 Words à |à 7 PagesMarina Ajayby Mrs. Fred Jordan History 2010 30 November 2015 Twelve Years a Slave Twelve Years a Slave is a book which is written by Solomon Northup. He was born in New York. The book retail the authorââ¬â¢s life story as a free black man from the North. He lived, got married to Anne Hampton, a woman of mixed (black, white, and Native American) and worked in New York, where is his family stayed. Besides, he was a great laborer and a violin player. In 1841, at the age of 33 a two con men offered himRead MoreNineteen Years A Slave By Solomon Northup980 Words à |à 4 PagesTwelve Years a Slave is a 1853 narrative memoir written by Solomon Northup and later adapted into the 2013 film, 12 Years a Slave. This compelling narrative contains two major themes: race and slavery. Each of these concepts is historically relevant in creating a stereotype of African Americans as uneducated lower-class citizens. ââ¬Å"Hundreds of blacks lost their freedom through the operation of kidnapping rings,â⬠and in 1841 Northup fell victim to one. Northup had taken to the violi n at a very youngRead MoreNineteen Years A Slave By Solomon Northup2429 Words à |à 10 Pages The historical fiction, 12 Years A Slave by Solomon Northup, was first published in the United States of America by Derby and Miller in 1853 but the newest addition was published in 2014. The novel is an autobiographic account of Solomon himself who had been born a free man in the state of New York in July of 1808. Shortly after creating a great life for himself he was kidnapped drugged and sold into slavery. As the title suggests he lived his life as a slave for 12 years and was put through thingsRead MoreTwelve Years A Slave By Solomon Northup1284 Words à |à 6 Pages Twelve Years a Slave Eric Marek HIST1301 Professor Belt 28 December 2015 In the opening of Twelve Years a Slave, it shows slaves cutting sugar cane with their ââ¬Å"mastersâ⬠continuously barking out orders for the them to follow. In the next scene, while the slaves are eating their meals in a beat up shack, Solomon Northup distinguishes the dark coloration of the blackberries and attempts to make a quill and ink. Despite solid labor, because of the thinness of the juice, his efforts
Saturday, December 28, 2019
A Government And A Tobacco Company - 1003 Words
I find the topic of ethics in business very interesting. The choices we make have consequences and those choices are made based on the context of the situation. I believe that we as people try to make the best choice for everyone. Therefore, I will discuss how a government and a tobacco company feel that they are justified in banning or opposing tobacco advertising in India. The government of India serves the people. When a product is produced that affects the health of the people the government is justified to take action. With Tobacco products India banned the advertising and sponsorship of sport and cultural events (IBS Center for Management Research (ICMR), 2001). Those in favor of the ban cite the French who stated that Tobacco advertising ban was to protect public health. They also, state the World Health Organizationââ¬â¢s (WHO) death toll numbers. These numbers show that tobacco products are one of the leading causes of death in the world are continuing to grow. People who are in favor of the banning of advertising for tobacco products use a World Bank report that shows a substantial decline in smoking when ban of advertising in enacted for all forms of media. Finally, the fear of children becoming addicted to smoking has helped to support the justification to ban advertising on tobacco products. With these reasons we can understand and suppo rt a governments action to ban advertising on tobacco products. The TobaccoShow MoreRelatedThe Ban Of Tobacco Companies Essay1121 Words à |à 5 PagesFebruary 26th, 2001 the Indian government announced they were going to enforce a ban regarding advertising their products in their country. The problem was that tobacco companies in India promote their products through every conceivable medium, including radio, television, newspapers, magazines, billboards and the internet. The government realized that most of these tobacco companies were adapting creative new ways to publicize their brands to young people. Some tobacco companies also decided to use indirectRead MoreIndia s Tobacco Advertising Ban1018 Words à |à 5 PagesIndia s Tobacco Advertising Ban The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that worldwide, five million tobacco users die annually and estimates that one million Indians die each year prematurely from tobacco use (2015). As late at 2009, India was ââ¬Å"the worldââ¬â¢s second-largest consumer and third-largest producer of tobaccoâ⬠(Economist, 2009, p. 5). In an attempt to reduce consumption, India introduced its first adverting ban on tobacco in 1990, followed in 2003 by the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco ProductsRead MoreBAN ON TOBACCO ADVERTISEMENT IN INDIA800 Words à |à 4 PagesBAN ON TOBACCO ADVERTISEMENT IN INDIA In 2004 the government of India banned tobacco companies from advertising their products and sponsoring sports and cultural events. The objective was to discourage adolescents from consuming tobacco products as well as empower the government with the power to launch an anti tobacco program. . This issue created a serious problem in that it was both ethical and commercial, the government on one hand, believe it was its responsibility to protect the welfare ofRead MoreThe Fight Against Smoking1162 Words à |à 5 PagesThe Fight Against Smoking Tobacco has been a huge part of economic success in many countries for over a century now. Tobacco use has greatly increased since its discovery in the late 1400s by the European settlers in the new world otherwise known as the United States. Tobacco companies are very aware of the health risks of cigarettes, but continue to sell them for the high amount of revenue they make off of them. Cigarettes kill millions of people around the world each year and the death tollRead MoreThe War on Tobacco1539 Words à |à 7 Pages Tobacco Regulation Tobacco companies have been in a battle with anti-smokers for a while about regulating tobacco, and there has been a war between tobacco companies and anti tobacco crusaders, because of regulating tobacco and some lawsuits. For one viewpoint regulating tobacco would be a good thing to do, anti tobacco crusaders are saying that regulation of tobacco is necessary to protect public health; on the other hand the other viewpoint is say that the tobacco companies are saying ââ¬Å"regulationRead MoreEssay Cash Crop: The Silent Killer847 Words à |à 4 Pagesin humanity. Tobacco Companiesââ¬â¢ love of money causes them to continue to promote and sell tobacco products even though these products are excessively harmful to their customers. During advertising campaigns, tobacco advertisers research people most likely to use their product and target that audience by mentioning the positives of using tobacco. Tobacco companies attempt to sell their products through carefully crafted messages accompanying every tobacco advertisement. In tobacco ads, advertisersRead MoreBan On Tobacco Advertising And The Conflict Of Interest That It Presents1126 Words à |à 5 PagesBan on Tobacco Advertisement in India The discussion of advertising tobacco products is a controversial topic, there are relevant points on both sides of the argument, so it is hard to determine a true ethical decision. Indiaââ¬â¢s government announced the bill banning tobacco companies from advertising their products in February 2001, their goal is to prevent adolescents from taking up smoking or any other form of tobacco products. Initiating this bill is the government answer to an ethical challengeRead MoreShould Big Tobacco Be Sued for Health Care Bills? An Analysis998 Words à |à 4 Pages Should big tobacco be sued for health bill? An analysis A recent ruling by the Supreme Court of Canada on the subject of smoking is the main topic of my articles. The landmark ruling made on September 30th gives the province of British Columbia ammunition against big tobacco companies. The decision allows British Columbia to sue tobacco companies for damages related to smoking-related health care costs dating back 50 years (Bell Globalmedia Inc [BGMI], 2005). Many expect theRead MoreThe Ban On The Tobacco Industry950 Words à |à 4 PagesWhen the Government of India dropped the news on the ban on the tobacco Industry, the objective of such a ban was to discourage adolescents from consuming tobacco products and also arm the Government with powers to launch an anti-Tobacco program but the ethical aspects of Government objectives was in question because the tobacco company was a major revenue earner for the government in past years. these fact of ethics situation was no news to the populace that s why a statement was madeRead MoreBan On Tobacco Advertisements By The Government Of India1444 Words à |à 6 PagesBan on Tobacco Ads by the Government of India Tobacco is one of the worldââ¬â¢s most profitable industries. The top three producers of tobacco are: China, Brazil, and India, in that order. These industries provide direct and indirect work for many people in developing countries. Thus, like any good company it wishes to expose its products to the public by investing in ads and other merchandise of its product. All companies end goal (and of course this included tobacco) is to increase the appeal and
Friday, December 20, 2019
Ladakh Road Essay - 1098 Words
Ladakh generally remains cut-off from the rest of Indian mainland during winters as these roads gets closed after the start of the winter snow in November/December and open in end May or June depending on the weather forecast. The Border Roads Organization (BRO) is responsible for operation and maintenance of these highways. Earlier, these routes used to be closed officially after October 31. However, an account of post winter opening of Leh-Ladakh Road via Rohtang pass in last five years indicate considerable change in snow fall pattern. For Manali-Srinagar-Leh axis, there are indications over last 5 years of the snow season starting late in December and continuing till end May. However, in the last winter, secondary information showsâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦The snow accumulation at Zojila pass is generally about 40-60 feet. Some of the captions below provide an account of snow in these regions. In 2017, BRO provided an annual snow clearance grant of INR 70 per cum for 2 lane roads in altitudes above 2400m. Considering that both these routes fall in these altitudes, and assuming on average 5 m of snow cover on two 2-lane roads (7 m wide). The cost of snow clearance operations combined for these two routes (474 km + 424 km) is around INR 2,200 Mn, besides there are additional grants for air support provided to ground staff for airlifting persons, supplying fuel and spare parts and other things by helicopter. High altitude roads in heavy snowfall areas experience a major drainage problem during spring thaw. The snow melt water flows with tremendous velocity over the pavement, causing its erosion covered on either side by snow accumulated on berms during snow clearance operations. The water released by thawing collects in the centre of the pavement and the road itself acts as a drain. At times, this running snow melt water freezes on the pavement and causes skidding. Thaw water penetrates through the potholes and crevices in the pavement. When subsequent freezing occurs, this thaw also freezes and expands causing damage to the pavement. This alternative cycle of road thawing and freezing is one of the major causes of damage to the pavement in snow bound areas. BROShow MoreRelatedWater as a Source of Future Conflict in Sa26984 Words à |à 108 PagesNeomalthusians, consider on water as a basis of violent conflict. This approach was initially developed from Thomas Malthus[1] writings about the connection between population pressure and societal capacity for supporting means of livelihood in ââ¬ËAn Essay on the Principle of Populationââ¬â¢ (1798). Although not adopting such a strict view of the situation as Malthus, the Neomalthusians dwell on population growth in combination with other factors such as economic and industrial development. In concert, such
Thursday, December 12, 2019
Healthcare External and Internal
Question: Create a mission and vision statement for your organization. Determine three specific strategic goals that align with the ideals in those two statements. Answer: External And Internal Factors Affecting Healthcare Organizations The present scenario for hospitals is very unpredictable, uncertain and complex. To sustain in the business of healthcare, organizations need to provide quality care to the patients, meeting their need and satisfaction. Patients satisfaction is associated with their loyalty and belief in the organization, adding up to the profitability. However, currently one of the major challenges to the healthcare system is the advent of patient protection and affordable care act- 2010 (PPACA), which further affects the internal functioning of hospitals. According to the act, hospitals and physicians will be altering their practices by demanding lesser fees and providing technologically and clinically efficient treatment for better health outcomes of patients. Thus, it has put an extra burden on these organizations to sustain their services, causing many of them to shut. Although being one of the most regulated industries, healthcare industry is getting weaker owing to this act, wherein underpayme nts to physicians has compromised the patient care. Hence, to provide quality care to the patients and remain financially solvent, strategic management has become a necessity. Internal and External Factors in Healthcare A clear understanding of antecedents to quality care can help develop a better strategy and framework for an organization to excel in medical services. Proper functioning of an organization is dependent on its productivity, profitability, and patients satisfaction. Hence, firstly it needs to identify the internal and external forces in their growth. (Templeton et. al., 2016) External factors. a) Government laws. Certain state and federal level regulations by government in favor of the patients negatively impact the healthcare organizations. The PPACA act in US has pressurized the healthcare systems to cut down the cost and increase the quality and technology of treatment. However, in small scale organizations like ours, due to lack of sufficient finance it gets difficult to implement the changes. Additionally, lowering down of primary physician fees and prescription of less costly generics as compared to innovators will ultimately affect revenue and profitability of the hospital. Thus, making it all the more complex in installation of advanced equipments and systems for patient control. The Medicares physician reimbursement further increases the burden by increasing the staffing cost to hospitals while decreasing reimbursements, thus, disturbing the balance within the organization as a result of decreasing quality of service (Fodeman, 2016). b) Availability of resources. Quality of services and profits are highly dependent on the availability of healthcare resources. Due to higher demand for advanced diagnostic equipments and effective medicines, the resources are becoming limited. Therefore, the problem of allocation of resources and funds arise, leading to insufficient infrastructure, limited access to new effective drugs and hence low quality service and patient dissatisfaction. As a consequence, it can cause poor patient reviews further leading to shutting down of the organization (Mosadeghrad, 2013). Internal factors. a) Job dissatisfaction. Changes in the regulations have led to an increase in job dissatisfaction among the physicians and nurses. Some of the factors crucial in job satisfaction are pay, management, policies in the organization, job security, promotions etc. With changes in laws, most of the healthcare providers are getting paid less in comparison to the amount of work and time they devote to patients. To maintain previous income they are forced to treat more number of patients. This, on the more is responsible for increased employee turnover in the organization. Thereby the organization to get its finance has to increase the number of beds with limited attention to the patients. Thus, the burden of this is faced by the patients, with decrease in face-time with doctors, compromised care, and quick discharges. The regressive environment of the hospital ultimately hinders the quality of care. Moreover, the promotion rules, being majorly based on the number of articles published, years in service and exams passed rather than quality of service provided and patients treated, have added to the dissatisfaction among the doctors (Scheppersa et.al., 2006). b) Physician competence and skills. Keeping all the other factors aside, for a hospital to have excellent quality of service, it is necessary to have competent physicians. Technically sound workforce, with knowledge, experience and capability is a key to success. No matter how adverse the other situations are, if a hospitals staffs and physicians are superior, patients will believe in its service. Additionally, being acquainted with recent therapies, treatments and discoveries in their field, the employees should also be well informed of the organizations culture and regulations. This necessitates the modification in the recruitment and management procedures of our organization, wherein attitude, knowledge, skills, expertise etc. of a physician should be kept forth (Mosadeghrad, 2014). Competitive strategy development. For the care and services to prosper in the organization, it is essential to develop a strategic planning that recognizes and deals with the changes in external and internal threats. But targeting these factors with a single competitive strategy is a challenge for the management. Changes in government laws, job satisfaction and resource limitation are somewhere linked to each other. However, for efficient workforce development, approaches such as training programs and stringent recruitment procedures are required. These identified factors weaken the hospitals position in the external competitive environment, questioning its managerial system. With changing government laws, it is complex to balance between the finance/funds and services of the hospital, including payment to the staffs and physicians, which leads the employees to switch their job. As a result, the organization runs short of good healthcare providers and treatments. This will further hamper the strategy building process , as lack of good and satisfied staffing will make the strategy implementation even more difficult. Additionally, the factors identified make it complex for the management to decide whether to allocate funds on physicians salary, recruitment of excellent physicians and staffs or on advanced treatment procedures and resources for achieving quality care. Therefore, an efficient strategy needs to be built for minimizing the negative impacts of these factors (Rivers and Glover, 2008). Addressing threats with strategic planning. In the recent scenario, with all the new discoveries being made in the healthcare sector and introduction of new techniques, the competition has increased. This has further strengthened the impact of the above factors. Hence, for maintaining the momentum of strategic plan and becoming resilient to changes in the healthcare sector, the organizations goals should first be made clear with focus on limited number of services. Supplementary to this, a deep study of all the threats, their possible causes and consequences along with their relational perspectives must be done. To address the currently persisting major issues the management should utilize the factory approach i.e. focusing on specific diseases such as cancer, diabetes and heart diseases. This will minimize the resource allocation problem and increase efficiency of patient treatment and quality of care. It further solves the problems of job dissatisfaction among the physicians due to low pay, as the limited number of specialists for specific diseases can be paid higher. Additionally, narrowing down the scope paves way for patient-centered treatment approach that facilitates more attention to the patients rather than less face-time. This patient-centered approach, educating the patients about their health, and providing full freedom to participate in the decision making process, will make them more comfortable and satisfied (Kim et. al., 2015). Patients satisfaction increases their loyalty for an organization and helps in improving its reputation and profitability, because when it comes to health people opt for quality rather than paying less. Conclusion Although in the current scenario, with changes in external environment the internal hospital momentum is getting disturbed. However, with the application of several analytical models, these negatively impacting forces can be analyzed. The organization must not divert from the original goal, which is patients welfare, other requirements including profitability, employee satisfaction and resources will follow that ultimately. References Fodeman, J. The new health law: bad for doctors, awful for patients. The institute for healthcare consumerism. Retrieved January 13, 2016, from https://www.theihcc.com/en/communities/policy_legislation/the-new-health-law-bad-for-doctors-awful-for-patie_gn17y01k.html Kim, H.S., Kim, Y. H., Woo, J.S., and Hyun, S. J. (2015). 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