Monday, December 30, 2019

Seven Steps to Solving the Housing Crisis - 1113 Words

The crisis that America has found herself in, to be completely blunt and honest, all revolves around stupidity and bad choices. American citizens that had absolutely no business even thinking of buying a house flooded the market and were encouraged by greedy bankers that were out to make a profit, without thinking of the consequences or morals involved. Now the government has over stepped their boundaries and are spending this country into such deep debt, which makes one think that that light at the end of the tunnel is an oncoming train with no hope of slowing down, let alone stopping. The solution to this economic crisis is outlined in seven easy baby steps: 1. America needs to create a small emergency fund (at least a million†¦show more content†¦Houses would be paid for, jobs would open up, the stock market would probably not shift as much as it does, welfare programs would become obsolete, over 70% of Americans would stop living pay check to pay check, and everyone w ould retire with dignity. Everyone could get themselves educated, which would make us all winners, and broke people would stop buying houses that they can’t afford. If everyone bought houses that they could afford then there would be no more foreclosures; especially if everyone had an emergency fund to give them an alternative if something happened. If businesses weren’t built on debt, especially sole proprietorships, then businesses wouldn’t have to lay a bunch of people off or cut down productivity. America needs to save to help take care of her people and Americans need to take care of themselves so that we all win in the end. Lastly, America needs to build a bunch of wealth and give a bunch of it away. This concept is for the government and her people because when one gives and it becomes a habit, that person is forever changed. It reminds them that it’s not all about them. It’s not about getting a bunch of stuff that they can’t afford to impress people that they don’t even like. It’s about taking care of your neighbor; it’s about being a selfless person and nation in a selfless world. America needs to invest in herself again, because the best invest oneShow MoreRelatedThe Current World s Population1409 Words   |  6 Pagesworld s population is approximately seven billion people, and the amount of time that it takes for the population to increase by another billion is decreasing with each billion. According to the World Population Data sheet, there will be about eight billion people by the year 2020, and this is due to its continuation of growth (Southwick 159). A clear understanding of the causes and what might possibly happen is the first step to dealing with the population crisis. The world s human population hasRead MoreThe Community Action Partnership Of San Luis Obispo County1431 Words   |  6 Pagescan only house up to 235 occupants at a time (SLO Homeless...). At any given time, as I had mentioned earlier, between 2,000 and 4,000 people are homeless in our county. It doesn’t take a mathematician to figure out that there is not nearly enough housing options available to those in need. Now, that’s not to say that there are only two places that offer programs to help the homeless. We have many programs such as the Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo which offers many different servicesRead MoreEmotional Wellness1692 Words   |  7 Pagesto have accepted the way I look at myself physically, as in body image, and accept that I am different. * My family * My job, I seem to volunteer a lot for my internship * The feeling that I am almost reached my dream, just a few more steps up the staircase. Part2. Depression. Depression  may be described as feeling sad, blue, unhappy, miserable, or down in the dumps. Most of us feel this way at one time or another for short periods. True clinical depression is a mood disorder inRead MoreFoster Care Crisis : The Mirror For Society2803 Words   |  12 PagesBrittany King Adrian Chevraux-Fitzhugh Soc 305 26 April 2014 Foster Care Crisis: The Mirror for Society There can be no keener revelation of a society s soul than the way in which it treats its children. –Nelson Mandela America idolizes youth, dubbing it a time of freedom, innocence, and incorruptible joy. However, approximately 400,000 foster kids in the US might understand childhood as something very different (Children’s Bureau).To them, youth may represent chains to an unstable, corruptRead MoreEssay on Environmental Ethics2347 Words   |  10 Pageslife on Earth, and discus our social obligations to refrain from further damaging our environment, health and life for future generations. I will discus the need for appropriate actions and the ethical application in the decision making process on solving environmental concerns. Environmental Concerns The environment has been under attack since the dawn of man. Without the environment, man could not exist. Herein lies the dilemma, man takes from the earth what he needs to survive, food, water, shelterRead MoreCommunity and Family Studies - Preliminary Study Notes3223 Words   |  13 PagesThere are two levels of needs. Primary needs are those needs that are essential for survival; for example, air and water. Secondary needs are those we require to achieve optimal wellbeing, but which we don’t need in order to survive; for example, housing and education. 2) Needs can be classified into five areas – social, physical, emotional, cultural, and spiritual. If optimal wellbeing is to be met, an individual must have met all of their needs. Certain needs will change over time and with differentRead MoreRecovery Manager, Coordinator, And Computer Operations Coordinator2266 Words   |  10 Pagesafford seven positions, we are going to make those positions into three. First let us understand the importance of all the positions so that we can eliminate or combine those positions into three. Recovery Manager – The Recovery Manager is said to be the manager of the team called Recovery Management Team. The recovery manager has the power to take final decisions during the recovery process. Recovery manager must be able to deal with the situations under pressure. He should be best in solving problemRead MoreThe Disproportionate Number of African-American Males Incarcerated Within the United States2992 Words   |  12 Pagesis a difficult social dilemma that needs to be more fully understood and addressed. This paper will explore the mass incarceration of African-American men. The paper will look into the prevalence, causes, consequences, and offer solutions to this crisis. Specifically, seeking to find what factors have created such high levels of criminal justice control for African-American males, and explore the impact on the family and community. Incarceration is immense in the United States. Since the 1980sRead More12 Social Determinants of Health3971 Words   |  16 PagesKEY DETERMINANT -- 1. Income and Social Status UNDERLYING PREMISES EVIDENCE Health status improves at each step up the income and social hierarchy. High income determines living conditions such as safe housing and ability to buy sufficient good food. The healthiest populations are those in societies which are prosperous and have an equitable distribution of wealth. Why are higher income and social status associated with better health? If it were just a matter of the poorest and lowest status groupsRead MoreThreats to Bioreserves4807 Words   |  20 Pageseconomy, climate change, exponential human population growth, ecological overshoot, biotic impoverishment and reduction of biodiversity, renewable resource depletion, energy allocation, environmental refugees) would produce a ripple effect in the other seven and probably throughout the entire biospheric life support system (Solomon et al. 2009). Reducing risk in the context of the eight interactive global crises would be a difficult undertaking even if the task only involved scientific evidence. Mixed

Sunday, December 22, 2019

The Time of Change - 847 Words

The Time of Change â€Å"You can’t tax business. Business doesn’t pay taxes. It collects taxes.† by Ronald Reagan. This quote really stands out because in this time period there are high taxes. Taxes were one of the big problems in the progressive era. There were extremely high tariffs and the percentage was different in other parts in the U.S. During the late 1800s and early 1900s there were reforms done Economically and Socially . Economically, There were lots of Acts published by Woodrow Wilson talking about how the consumers pay way too much for taxes. The Underwood Tariff Act of 1913 decreased the tax by ten percent. Woodrow Wilson then enforces tariffs because he wanted to win the election and people liked him because he was going to do something that the citizens would like. Socially, there were progressives who didn’t like how them and there peers were being treated because it was disgusting and filled with filth. There air was polluted and there were diseases sprea ding every where. Progressives paid and helped the citizens with their living conditions. Socially, the U.S. in the 1890-1920s was a time for reform. Due to the slums, health, working wages this motivated a man named Jacob Riis. He was a muckraker, that being said he would expose the slums of New York City with horrible and disgusting photographs in newspapers and in meetings. This attracted many citizens around the world. The images were so graphic that it hit many people. The health in this time inShow MoreRelatedThe Time of Change1346 Words   |  6 Pages A Time of Change How could this happen and why? My brother and I were shocked and wondered why we had to move away. My parents explained to us why we had to move. My dad had gotten a new job far from home and the travel time was too much for him. I stayed awake all night trying to think of how to explain this to my friends. I thought why me and why now, what am I going to do? The next morning me and my brother met Ian, Luke and Abby our good friends. I explained to them about the move. WeRead MoreThe Importance Of Time To Change902 Words   |  4 PagesTime to Change has been successful in creating a movement and campaign against mental health stigma in England. Their national surveys show an overall attitude trend between 2008 and 2016 was positive with a 9.6% change, which is an estimated 4.1 million people with improved attitudes towards mental. They have also seen a positive trend in peoples willingness to live with, work with and continue a relationship with someone with mental health prob lems improved by 11% (Time to Change). These statisticsRead MoreClimate Change in Time815 Words   |  3 PagesClimate change is when there are different measures of climate during a period of time. It includes, big changes in the weather regarding temperature, wind patterns and more that occur over several years. (EPA, 2014) The term sometimes is applicable to climate change caused by human activity, as opposed to changes in climate that were a result of the natural processes of the Earth. The words Climate change now has the same meaning as anthropogenic global warming. (Conway, 2008) Observed Changes in theRead MoreThe Changes Of Time For The Interview884 Words   |  4 PagesThe changes of time For the interview, I interviewed my Nana (my grandmother). My Nana was born in 1930, and was the youngest of 11. Her family never had any use for a car until she married my Papa in 1950. In the 1950’s, things started changing in the world, and it started getting more typical for families to have a car. My Nana got her first car three years after she married my Papa in 1953. They bought the car specifically for her, because my Papa was about to leave the following month forRead MoreA Time For Change Again !2439 Words   |  10 PagesA Time for Change; Again! With the way this election has turned out and the thoughts that are had by most, change of the election process has come up multiple times by all kinds of people. We see this is the posts on social media, the protest that have happened across the nation, and the speeches from politicians to give the president elect a chance. There are family and friends that are no longer talking to each other and rules that have been set for holiday gatherings that certain topics areRead MoreFashion Changes Over Time1425 Words   |  6 PagesFashion Changes Over Time   Ã‚  Ã‚   Many people care about fashion and how they look. As we can see lately, fashion has had a great change over the years. As the historical changes, fashion seems to show aspect changes in adapting to the new era. Even today, as years pass, fashion continues to change. Looking at fashion, even after many years had passed, people can see the different styles between today and life back then. Everyone cares about how they look and what kind of clothes they wear, it has alwaysRead MoreWar Changes Throughout Time720 Words   |  3 Pagesintegrity, and discipline. War has not only changed over the past 150 years but in the 3 or 4 years that war is actually going on. People, weapons, and motives are all changing from the time the first boy takes a step onto the journey to finding himself. From the first face you see to the last everything changes some good, some bad but in the end all you can do is march forward. War has changed in many ways one being the sensitivity of war. It has decreased from the the moment the war starts toRead MoreLegalization Of Marijuan The Time For Change1359 Words   |  6 PagesLegalization of Marijuana: The Time for Change Marijuana has been an ongoing controversial issue for quite some time now. According to the national institution on drug abuse, â€Å"Marijuana—also called weed, herb, pot, grass, bud, ganja, Mary Jane, and a vast number of other slang terms—is a greenish-gray mixture of the dried, shredded leaves and flowers of Cannabis sativa— the hemp plant.† (National Institution on Drug Abuse). Today twenty-three states and the District of Columbia currently haveRead MoreForeclosure Crisis: A Time for Change1105 Words   |  5 Pagesperson should be a homeowner. According to a speech by President William Clinton in 1995, he boasted about making homeownership a reality, â€Å"The goal of this strategy, to boost homeownership to 67.5 percent by the year 2000, which would take us to an all-time high†(Wooley). As a result of political ploys like this, banks and lending institutions came up with products such as the 107% financing, interest only loans, negative amortization programs which allowed loans to start at a 1% interest rate, sub-primeRead MoreNurses And Grieving : A Time For Change1762 Words   |  8 Pages Nurses and Grieving: A Time for Change Elli Hunt Denver School of Nursing Abstract Individuals enter nursing with a wide array of experiences in how they grieve the loss of someone or something. These experiences follow them into their career and express themselves in the way they grieve for the loss of a patient. Evidence shows that this has historically been inadequate and unhealthy. To prevent the negative impact that ineffective grieving has upon the individual the approach to the grieving

Saturday, December 14, 2019

A Case of Itp Case Study Free Essays

1. How and where are platelets produced in the body? Platelets are known as thrombocytes and are produced in red bone marrow. They are stimulated when a blood vessel becomes injured and breaks. We will write a custom essay sample on A Case of Itp Case Study or any similar topic only for you Order Now Platelets are responsible for clotting a vessel to stop the body from losing all of its blood. 2. Describe the role played by platelets in hemostasis. Hemostatis involves constriction of blood vessels, activity of platelets, and activity of blood clotting factors. Platelets work together with other blood proteins to form fibrin. The fibrin forms a net that traps blood cells in order to create a clot. The clotting balanced by the clotting that is stopped when the vessel is healed 3. Define thrombocytopenia and list the more common causes of this condition. Thrombocytopenia is a shortage of thrombocytes which can be caused by many different diseases, such as: leukemia, HIV, myelofibrosis, Gaucher’s disease, or immense blood transfusions. 4. What are the potential consequences of a low platelet count? Difficulty to cease bleeding is a major consequence. Symptoms such as skin bleeding, petechiae, huge bruises from slight injuries, bleeding gums, blood in stool or urine, and intense menstrual periods are all consequences of having a low platelet count. 5. What drugs have been associated with the development of thrombocytopenia? Heparin, quinidine, quinine, sulfa-containing antibiotics, and some oral drugs for diabetes, rifampin and gold salts are all drugs that are associated with thrombocytopenia. . How is thrombocytopenia treated in individuals diagnosed with the condition? If it is caused by a drug, then discontinued use is recommended. Corticosteroids or intravenous immune globulin can be used to temporarily block the effects that destroy platelets. The spleen can also be surgically removed or the patient can receive plasma transfusions. 7. How might removal of the spleen (splenectomy) result in an increase in the number of circulating platelets? The spleen’s function is to remove antibodies. If the spleen is removed, there will not be a production of protective antibodies aimed at the autoantibody and platelets will increase. 8. What is Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP)? ITP is a bleeding disorder brought about by thrombocytopenia, but it is not connected with a general disease. Most of the time, it is chronic in adults and acute in children. It results from antibody development aimed at an autoantibody. How to cite A Case of Itp Case Study, Free Case study samples

Thursday, December 5, 2019

Honeywell International Success free essay sample

This paper introduces the reader to Honeywell International Inc. We will write a custom essay sample on Honeywell International Success or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Honeywell is a world leader in the application of lean manufacturing and its Six Sigma Plus processes. With the use of carefully monitored cost standards, net present value in investment decisions, and the transparency of the company’s financial statements are all methods that Honeywell has successfully implemented and utilized to reach and maintain their status as a world-wide competitor. The company has continued its growth, despite the market downturn that began in 2007, and continues to prove its resilience and pioneering spirit by continually improving their product lines, globally expanding their market, and, monitoring and maintaining financial stability. Its forward thinking and willingness to take risk will provide Honeywell the capacity to maintain its role as a major competitor and contributor to the growth and recovery of our economy. Table of Contents Page Abstract2 Company Overview4 Six Sigma and Lean Manufacturing8 The Use of Standard Costs11 The Use of Net Present Value14 Summary15 References18 Honeywell International Inc. is an American based advanced-technology company that manufactures aerospace and automotive products; residential, commercial, and industrial control systems; specialty chemicals and plastics; and engineered materials. Its assent into history can be traced back to 1885, spanning 125 years of history. Honeywell International is a $38 billion diversified technology and manufacturing leader, with 132,000 employees in over 100 countries and it a Fortune 75 Company. It is a diverse and global-wide organization and is a leading supplier of avionics and electronics, consumable hardware, engine controls, environmental controls, landing systems, power systems, propulsion engines, aerospace services and space products, and systems for the aerospace industry, as well as Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) of commercial, regional, business and military aircraft and spacecraft. Today, its main competitors in the aerospace defense product and service industry are BorgWarner Inc. , Johnson Controls Inc. and United Technologies Corp. State-of-the-art technology, world known brands and global solutions have placed Honeywell in the unique position as one of the premier worldwide suppliers in the aerospace industry, offering solutions of systems, products and services to the largest aerospace and airline companies in the industry. Throughout their 125 years in business, Honeywell has helped revolutionize the aerospace industry with its dedication to research and development and its enthusiasm to advance technology in their various markets. Honeywells reliable and efficient aerospace services and support programs deliver the right level of engineering expertise, maintenance services and asset availability solutions to simplify operations while keeping systems and equipment at peak operational performance. It has proven to be successful in its quest for growth and global expansion from the time of inception. Their quest to acquire and expand began in 1927; the original company, Minneapolis Heat Regulator Company, and Honeywell Heating Specialty Co. merged to form the Minneapolis-Honeywell Regulator Co. From the merger, the name Honeywell was adopted and has remained the same since. In the course of its acquisitions, Honeywell purchased other businesses whose focus was in the controls area; among those acquisitions, was Brown Instrument Co. who was a wide-reaching leader in the field of industrial controls and indicators. This acquisition further increased their already successful market to a wider range of customers, as Minneapolis-Honeywell Regulator Co. had already established an overseas trading agreement with Japanese distributors such as Yamatake Trading Company. It was no surprise that, in 1934, Honeywell pursued and eventually acquired Time-O-Stat Controls Corporation. With the acquisition of Time-O-Stat, Honeywell further expanded its global presence, establishing offices in Toronto, Canada and The Netherlands; a few years later, they had offices in London and Stockholm. By 1941, Honeywell had expanded into markets in Chile, Panama, Trinidad, New Zealand, Argentina, and South Africa. By 1972, it operated 25 wholly-owned subsidiaries, 142 branch offices, and joint ventures in five countries outside the U. S. True to its reputation as a risk taker, Honeywell ventured into the computer industry. This venture was brief and by 1991 Honeywell was on longer in the computer business. Even though the venture was short lived, it proved to be of great value; Honeywell used the knowledge gained from their digital computer experience and applied it to the traditional field of automation control, integrating sensors, and activators. In 1986, Honeywell purchased Sperry Aerospace, and markedly enhanced its position in the aerospace industry. Edson Spencer, Honeywell chairman and chief executive officer, said the purchase was among the most important his company had made, It is an outstanding opportunity for Honeywell that positions us for the long term in a market that is expected to have significant growth for the next 10 years commercial and military aviation (Arnold, 2012). This purchase made Honeywell the worlds leading integrator of avionics systems, incorporation flight controls, space vehicles, and the first FAA-certified wind shear warning system. It continued to expand, and by 1993, the company continued its world-wide expansion by opening affiliates in Abu Dhabi, China, Oman, Romania, and the Ukraine. In a span of 26 years, Honeywell had operations in 95 countries through 83 wholly-owned subsidiaries and 13 joint ventures. One of the most noted and discussed mergers occurred in 1999 when AlliedSignal, a diverse manufacturer, bought Honeywell for $13. 8 billion in stock. AlliedSignal kept the Honeywell name, merging offices, and closed its Morristown, New Jersey headquarters. The merger resulted in a major restructuring for Honeywell which added to its product line and services. The deal created a company with $25 billion in annual sales and a market capitalization in excess of $45 billion. The merger gave the combined company the marketing edge, providing their airline customers to take advantage of new technology that would boost cost savings for both parties. In an unexpected turn, the early part of 2001 brought difficulties for Honeywell when the European Commission rejected the purchase of Honeywell by General Electric (GE). In October 2001, Honeywell and GE, the largest corporation in the world and the number one producer of jet engines, announced the intent to embark on one of the largest industrial mergers in history. The plan was for GE to acquire Honeywell, the largest worldwide supplier of non-engine aerospace equipment. During negotiations it was anticipated that there would be no antitrust problem; as GE and Honeywell were not competitors and not part of the same supply chain. The merger was intended to bring together complementary products that were component parts of large jet aircraft. The deal would have been the largest industrial merger in history. Instead, it became recognized as the first, and so far only, merger between US companies to be derailed solely by the European anti-trust authorities, while being cleared by the US Department of Justice (DoJ). On July 3, 2001, in an unprecedented act, the EU officially rejected the planned $42 billion acquisition of Honeywell International Inc. , by GE. The merger was denied by the EU after concluding that the merger would create or strengthen dominant positions on several markets and that the remedies proposed by G.E. were insufficient to resolve the competition concerns resulting from the proposed acquisition of Honeywell. The merger between G. E. and Honeywell, as it was notified, would have severely reduced competition in the aerospace industry and resulted ultimately in higher prices for customers, particularly airlines† (Pellegrini, 2001). Despite the fact that the GE buyout failure was a stumbling block, Honeywell used the experience to strengthen its core businesses by continuing to develop and introduce new products. The company started an aggressive acquisition strategy with the goal to increase revenues and decrease cost in a strategy that, â€Å"†¦divested small, underperforming operations, reduced the number of suppliers, and streamlined operations in small ways elsewhere† Honeywell History, n. a. ) The results paid off for Honeywell, as they continued to win a large percentage of their contract bids, sales were ahead of budget, and the rate of turnover in managers did not significantly increase from the same period in the prior year, and customer satisfaction was up. Honeywell faced some challenges after the GE debacle, however, by making changes it displayed that tenacity, hard work and a willingness to take risk, can result in huge payoffs. Honeywell continued to streamline and improve their lean manufacturing processes, i. e. Six Sigma Plus, implement and ensure compliance of the company code of conduct and maintain its dominance as a government contractor. Honeywell began its Six Sigma process and concept of self-managed teams in 1995 to â€Å"drive data-based decision making, ensure quality levels, and improve customer satisfaction† (Crager, 2007). Through training, leadership, and senior management support, Honeywell successfully developed their Six Sigma program. In late 2001 Honeywell combined the concepts of lean manufacturing and Six Sigma in a program called Six Sigma Plus to create a more robust program. The program was designed to align improvement objectives directly with business needs by integrating top talent and generating bottom-line results. Six Sigma Plus is an overall strategy to accelerate improvements in all processes, products and services, and reduce the punitive cost of poor quality through elimination of waste and reduction of defects and variations. One of the ultimate aims documented in the Six Sigma Plus strategy is providing maximum value to customers by applying a logical and structured approach to all business processes. One of the pluses of Six Sigma is that it empowered employees, allowing them to make decisions that impacted how their unit or line was performing. This provided Honeywell an excellent tool that is a highly respected measure of excellence. (M. Calderon, personal communication, May 1, 2012) Honeywell took the basic concept of Six Sigma and created its own version which is known as Six Sigma Plus. It is currently used across all businesses and brands to drive growth and productivity. â€Å"The standard operates by providing a measurement of how effective the organization is in eliminating defects and variations from processes. To meet its requirements, a process must operate at 3. 4 defects or less per million opportunities. This equates to 99. 9997% error free† (Six Sigma Plus, n. d. ). Conscious application of the Six Sigma methodology to all business processes delivers greater value to its customers and makes Honeywell a more desirable business partner. The implementation of lean manufacturing processes has enabled Honeywell to maintain tight controls in all aspects of the managerial accounting processes. With the use of managerial accounting, Honeywell has ensured that their productions and service is well planned and controlled. With the budget cuts facing government, private sector job loss, and tightened markets, it is impressive that Honeywell has continued to maintain its sales growth in the United States. The diversity of Honeywell’s world-wide enterprise, exemplifies the importance of a creative corporate marketing approach. Honeywell consists of unique business units, with each, offering a variety of products and services. Strategies and implementation of those strategies must be developed and executed at the corporate, business unit, and product levels. Overall, strategy and long-term planning are guided by the company’s vision and stated mission. At the business level, planning begins with an examination of the current situation, including technological changes and competitive effects. By using this type of analysis, Honeywell is better equipped to address and identify threats and new business opportunities. Decisions to pursue new opportunities are followed by establishing a set of objectives, often stated in terms of market share, sales volume, or profitability. Subsequently, business and marketing strategies are developed to achieve those objectives. Effective execution of strategy in implementation must then occur for objectives to be realized. Effective financial statement analysis will be a primary indicator that indicates the progress and demonstrates whether company goals are being met. Honeywell has been a leader in their industry in planning and control and have used financial analysis in depth to evaluate and control their growth and profitability. It continues to be effective in identifying opportunities to improve the organization’s efficiency and in developing strategic plans to realize those opportunities. By using a diversity of analytical tools Honeywell is better prepared in making operating decisions, such as how and where products are to be manufactured and serviced, whether insourcing or outsourcing is more equitable, and whether to expand and the area to expand to. Timely and accurate financial statement preparation is critical to the success or failure of a business. The financial officer, owner, partner or members management team of a business must review the business financial statements and have a good understanding of them. Financial statements are critical to Honeywell’s ability to make solid, informed decisions. Such decisions are needed in order for Honeywell to meet one of its primary goals, which is to realize a high rate of return on their investments. The measurement and success of this initiative is arrived at by measuring it against other industry averages. This information helps Honeywell understand that current initiatives do show a market response. In view of the fact that the industry average can be general in nature the industry average should be used as a guide. A failure to use the data appropriately can mislead investors and have a disastrous affect on Honeywell’s reputation and marketability. Achieving their strategic plan will not only involve Honeywell’s internal planning and controlling, but it will also involve the support of creditors and investors. Both are key players in providing capital needs to support new initiatives and milestones; the use of financial statements in this process will no doubt be the backbone of the decision making process. It is difficult to know the health and direction of a company if financial statements are not reviewed in a timely manner. In its pursuit of investors, or the success in the results of an external audit, the financial statements are the ultimate representation of company’s financial position. In general accounting practices, Honeywell uses process costing for its furnace thermostats (home products division) and job costing for customized aerospace contracting products. When thinking in terms of standard costs and whether they would be beneficial, one factor to consider is the fact that Honeywell is a world-wide producer with operations in many countries outside of the United States (US). There are ramifications when doing business overseas as well as doing business in the US and each scenario has its own benefits and consequences that are unique to specified circumstances. Honeywell, like their competitors has migrated to low cost countries because of the labor rate differential. The move to overseas production creates additional concerns and dynamics. World-class manufacturing in today’s competitive environment demands more than a single-minded focus on eliminating defects. Since the introduction of Six Sigma and Lean tools to their operations over a decade ago, Honeywell has delivered significant results for customers in terms of the quality, delivery and value of our products and services. To achieve competitive advantage in today’s environment, Honeywell has continued to build on its Six Sigma and Lean foundation, and identify new ways to differentiate themselves. Benchmark companies such as Toyota and Nissan use Six Sigma and Lean tools. Like Honeywell, they also have a disciplined management system that standardizes work and engage employees in improving work processes. In doing this, organizations have achieved tremendous performance improvements. The Honeywell Operating System is a comprehensive, integrated approach to managing their organization. It is characterized by a consistent focus on results for the benefit of our customers, not on the use of specific tools. The objective is to simplify and standardize processes everywhere, to remove variation across operations, and to drive significant and sustainable improvements in safety, quality, delivery and cost. Employees are encouraged use tools such as Six Sigma, in achieving a common purpose: global wide use of an operating system that consistently yields excellent results for the customers and the company. Implementing standardized cost standards is not an easy task and it will take time. Honeywell maintains that standardization will evolve to fit different business environments and changing customer needs and will become an essential part of the process that will bind their company across business and geographic boundaries. Honeywell’s workforce consists of residents of the country they are in to satisfy requirements imposed by foreign nations. It is almost mandatory to have overseas operations to reduce labor and material costs; however, these operations come with high risk. Foreign workers are not always equipped with the necessary skills to perform the manufacturing duties required by a highly technical company. The expense of employing and developing such a workforce can create additional costs. In determining what the additional costs, standard costs prove beneficial because they would provide Honeywell the ability to budget costs with a great understanding and degree of confidence. A standard cost system allows a company to factor in methods that would absorb the periods in which higher costs are identified due to foreign employment development and when costs are low or minimal due to workforce stabilization. In its foreign production, Honeywell will have to set attainable standards in order maintain its performing baseline. Another factor in foreign operations is the volatile condition of the world. The United States is not always welcomed in other countries. It is not uncommon for a common protest to turn into a major world crisis. Such examples are those of the uprisings in Israel and Libya. Honeywell hosts operations in Israel, where relations between the government and the general population are volatile and unpredictable. In addition, we have seen several instances where regimes have changed power and attitudes toward the US in a matter of days. Standard costing is paramount as an aide for monitoring and managing the risk of unpredictability. It is a healthy practice that can protect Honeywell from severe monetary damage if a foreign tragedy should affect the business. The information obtained from standard costing aides Honeywell against the volatility of today’s markets and the strategy of its competitors. Honeywell is continuously improving its processes, products and management style to maintain their competitive edge. To be competitive, Honeywell will continue to use their standard cost system to help them execute planning and control of their strategic priorities. Tracking costs will also help Honeywell identify weakness and variances in their production system. Undetected problems in the areas of materials and labor can eventually raise variance to a point of hindering Honeywell from maintaining their core competencies. Consequently, today’s market provides no room for error, but every opportunity for a competitor to gain the lead. In many respects, some of the rationale that goes into using standard costs also applies to formulating the right strategy to gain a positive Net Present Value. Honeywell’s reach is global and therefore its investment opportunities are also global. Due to the unique factors involved with global markets, it is necessary for Honeywell to perform critical planning for investment decisions. Honeywell has a reputation as an organization that is willing to take risks to make money. It has done that by acquiring other business or expanding its existing facilities for future business. Such expansions are expensive and these expansions require additional staff which adds to the cost of investment. Large expenditures are a challenge to control the net present value (NPV) and require clear identification of cost and risks in order to be a success. Strategic moves, such as partnering with the national government, can leverage the way to a positive NPV. In this approach, there are tradeoff between the corporation and the government in which both interests can be mutually met. Corporation’s like Honeywell utilize these paths in order to reduce investment costs and have accurate projections for calculating and incorporating NPV baselines. Because of the ongoing activity of many investments occurring at one time, it is critical that Honeywell has complete knowledge of their NPV and ensure profitable investments are achieved. Failing to do this can result in major losses, especially when an unplanned shortfall occurs. Although the investment sounds promising, it is critical that NPV is properly measured. It is also advisable from an NPV and program management position that Honeywell phase its investment into NPV milestones which help determine if they should move forward to the next phase of the investment. This process would provide a safeguard while allowing the innovation to prove itself. While the actual rate of return (IRR) that  a given project ends up generating will often differ from its estimated IRR rate, a project with a substantially higher IRR value than other available options would still provide a much better chance of strong growth. IRRs can also be compared against prevailing rates of return in the securities market. If a firm cant find any projects with IRRs greater than the returns that can be generated in the financial markets, it may simply choose to invest its retained earnings into the market. The need for Honeywell to practice continuous NPV drills in a market with circumstances such as those faced in China by US companies, is critical. While both countries maintain a civil business partnership, there is an unspoken adversarial relationship which creates instability. China is strategically positioning itself as a global power therefore, the relationship between both countries is precarious and any misstep by Honeywell could severely damage the existing business relationship. Another potential concern for Honeywell is that China is currently the largest lender to the US. At the point that China reaches the economic capacity to sustain its prosperity internally, we have to ask ourselves if they will request repayment by the US prior to maturity dates. As we have seen in several European countries, a request of that magnitude could destabilize an already fragile US economy. In consideration of this scenario, and other contributing factors, Honeywell should be careful in investment planning, and phase its activities so that the NPV is not contingent upon results that will take a long period to realize a return. In summary, Honeywell has proven itself as a world leader of technology. This corporation is known world-wide and is a household name. Honeywell leads the way in advanced switching and sensing technology in their home division, and its aerospace division. In spite of the GE failure, it has kept its mark on the global economy through market highs and lows and has maintained its dominant position in an extremely competitive industry. As a long-time survivor and global competitor on the world stage, Honeywell continues to make its mark in history by developing innovative safety products, driving the modernization of global air traffic management, revolutionizing combat technology and their commitment to improving operational efficiencies. Honeywell continues to display their dominance with its diversity and profitable risk taking ventures. Perhaps Honeywell’s greatest strength has been the fact that it has adapted to a world that is ever changing and has embraced the challenge that other companies find daunting. With the continued vision to improve processes for safety, quality and cost, reducing waste, and using integrated strategies Honeywell continues to be a standard for their industry. They continue to be innovative and competitive and have a strong commitment to bringing profitable products that their customers need and want. Due to the diversity and competitive market that Honeywell has chosen to operate in, it is of extreme importance that the company maintains sound financial practices that will support the moral fiber and marketability of the company. As Honeywell moves into the future I believe they will continue to perfect their processes to produce the right financial statements, useful in calculating their position in the market, and providing the best advice for investment decisions. The proper use of standard costs and net present value are an example of the critical tools that ensure Honeywell continues to thrive in today’s unknown global conditions. Also critical to the success of Honeywell is the continued utilization of strong and proper ethical practices as the company is well known, world-wide competitor and a representative of the American business ethics and values. Whether it is in the Middle Eastern or the Far East, Honeywell is known and recognized; such a position makes it important for Honeywell to be transparent in its fiscal disclosures. Sound financial practices are essential to Honeywell in order for the company to continue its success and market dominance. Primary emphasis on these practices will serve to maintain Honeywells status and help them make the most profitable investment decisions for their investors and the company. As recent as April 23, 2012, Honeywell declared a â€Å"regular quarterly dividend of $0. 3725 per share on the companys outstanding common stock. The dividend is payable on June 8, 2012 to shareowners of record at the close of business on May 18, 2012† (Honeywell Declares Quarterly Dividend, 2012). If this is any indication, Honeywell will continue to be a viable global competitor and financial contributor to our financial and job market. Honeywell is an excellent example of an organization that is forward thinking and proactive. It has operated with a strong ethical code of conduct, strong financial discipline and an ever present focus on the future. This methodology and ideology will ensure their continued financial growth and market expansion. It is apparent that their cost standards, lean processes, and disciplined managerial financial management has enabled them to overcome obstacles, secure their position as a global competitor and a viable contender in today’s competitive, technology-oriented world.