Assessment 2 Instructions: EHR Life CycleCreate a slide presentation (12-15 slides; 20 minutes long) for a HIM team of a health care organization that is considering upgrading its existing EHR or implementing a new one. Address in the presentation: SDLC, migration plans, and best practices for successful EHR implementations.Take a minute to think about this scenario:The hospital where you work spent more than $1 million dollars designing and developing an EHR system. However, hospital leadership decided not to train employees on the new system. Why? They were operating under the assumption that in our technology-oriented society, everyone knows how to use computers. Right? The first day the system went live, everyone relied on paper records. No one documented anything in the brand new, $1 million EHR system.What went wrong?HIM professionals can help their organizations find solutions to critical, expensive problems like these. Knowledge of the systems development life cycle (SDLC) and skills in using this cycle can help to answer these questions. Remember that the EHR is a system. And like other information systems, it follows the six stages of the SDLC. These are:Identify need.Specify requirements.Design or acquire.Develop or Implement.Maintain.Monitor results.In particular, HIM professionals’ focus on the SDLC’s design, implementation, and maintenance phases and how those phases interact can add tremendous value to a successful EHR implementation. For example, in the design phase, HIM professionals skilled in using different tools within the EHR for workflow and process mapping can help to ensure that the business processes are organized in a way that produces the organization’s desired results each and every time.Likewise, knowledgeable HIM professionals can offer value in the SDLC’s implementation phase by citing credible, authoritative evidence to show their organizations that successful EHR implementations expend resources on end user training. The people using the system need to learn how to use the system so it can help them do their jobs more effectively and efficiently. After all, whether or not an EHR implementation is successful depends on whether the people using the system want to make it work and know how to make it work.In addition, HIM professionals can help their organizations understand the importance of regular, ongoing maintenance of its EHR system. Just as regular, ongoing maintenance of a house can prevent costly repairs and a depreciation of value, the same holds true for an EHR system.In this assessment, you will have the opportunity to educate fellow HIM team members about the SDLC and its application to EHR implementation as Vila Health considers an important strategic initiative. Should it keep and upgrade its existing EHR system, EHR Go? Or would it be better served by replacing the existing system with a new one?Demonstration of ProficiencyBy successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the course competencies through the following assessment scoring guide criteria:Competency 2: Evaluate the strategies for EHR design and implementation in the SDLC.Describe the SDLC stages.Explain the requirements for a successful EHR implementation. Evaluate a migration plan for an EHR implementation. Evaluate workflow and needs assessment in relation to EHR implementation. Competency 5: Communicate in a professional manner to support health data management.Create a clear, well organized, professional presentation that is generally free of errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling.Follow APA style and formatting guidelines for citations and references. PreparationEHR GoComplete these specific EHR Go activities before beginning Assessment 2. You will be incorporating information from these activities into your assessment:This activity will provide you with a chance to document new information in an EHR. As you complete the activity, think about the workflow process. How could it be improved?EHR Go: Documenting a Patient Phone Call.This activity will help you identify best practices for an EHR implementation. It will also introduce you to meaningful use. As you complete the activity, think about the workflow process. How could it be improved?EHR Go: EHR Implementation.Case StudiesFor Assessment 2, select a different case study than you selected for Assessment 1. This time, choose a case study that allows you to focus on various aspects of the system development life cycle (SDLC). Analyze your selected case study and then incorporate appropriate elements into your assessment. Remember: Choosing a case study that allows you to meet the assessment’s scoring guide criteria is your responsibility. HealthIT.gov. (n.d.). Case studies. Retrieved from https://www.healthit.gov/case-studiesAt this link, you will find EHR implementation stories from providers around the country. In addition, case studies from specific categories, such as meaningful use and health information exchange, are provided. On the left hand side of the screen, be sure to click the + sign to open the list of case studies.Michigan State Medical Society. (n.d.). EMR in physician practices: A summary of 14 case studies to guide Michigan physicians [PDF]. Retrieved from https://www.msms.org/Portals/0/Documents/MSMS/Reso…These studies fill a gap in research by providing physicians with examples of adoption by practices of various sizes and settings.Capella Library Databases.This link takes you to a list of all Capella Library databases. Within this list, PubMed Central is a good resource for case studies. Search electronic health records to get started.Independent ResearchIf you are less familiar with EHRs, you may wish to conduct additional independent research. The suggested resources provide a good starting point. You may also wish to consult the Health Care Administration Undergraduate Library Research Guide for research tips and help in identifying current, scholarly and/or authoritative sources. Audio Recording of Your PresentationTo prepare for the audio recording of your presentation:Set up and test your microphone or headset using the installation instructions provided by the manufacturer. You only need to use the headset if your audio is not clear and high quality when captured by the microphone. Practice using the equipment to ensure the audio quality is sufficient.Microsoft PowerPoint allows you to record your narration with your slides. If you choose to record your presentation using this tool, simply submit your presentation to the appropriate area of the courseroom. Your narration will be included with your slides. Consult the Using Kaltura [PDF] for guidance in how to record your presentation and upload it in the courseroom if you elect not to use Microsoft PowerPoint to submit your slides and narration.Note: If you require the use of assistive technology or alternative communication methods to participate in this activity, please contact Disability Services to request accommodations.InstructionsIn this assessment you will continue on in your role as Vila Health’s EHR implementation consultant. Your boss, the HIM director, wants HIM department staff members to be informed about best practices for EHR implementation because Vila Health is considering whether to implement a new system or upgrade its existing one, EHR Go. The HIM director has asked you to prepare a 12–15 slide deck and present it at the next HIM department meeting. You will have a maximum of 30 minutes to deliver your presentation (20 minutes for the presentation and 10 minutes for Q&A;). Specifically, your boss wants you to cover SDLC, migration plans, and best practices for a successful EHR implementation. Your director also wants you to weave into your presentation examples from a case study, from the independent research you have conducted, and from your personal experiences.Your boss has approved the outline below. Use the notes portion of your presentation to build out what you will say during the presentation. As a reminder, be sure your slides cover highlights. Your notes section will spell out what you will say. Welcome (1 slide)How will you open your presentation in a way that engages your audience? For example, consider a compelling quote, a startling fact or statistic, or a thought-provoking question.Best Practices (1 slide)What is a best practice?How do we know something is a best practice?System Development Life Cycle (SDLC) Stages (2 slides)What are the SDLC stages? What occurs during each stage?Why is it important for your audience to understand the SDLC stages?Successful EHR System Implementation Requirements (2 to 3 slides)What are the best practices for a successful EHR system implementation? Was the EHR implementation from your case study successful or not? Why or why not?What could have been done differently for a more successful implementation?Migration Plans for EHR Implementation (2 slides)What were the process steps (migration plan) used to implement the EHR in your case study?How effective was the migration plan for the EHR implementation in your case study?What could have been done differently in the migration plan for a more successful implementation? Workflow and Needs Assessment for EHR Implementation (2 slides)What are best practices for workflow and needs assessment for EHR system implementations? How effective were the workflow and needs assessment processes in your case study?What could have been done differently in these processes for a more successful implementation? Be sure to provide examples from your EHR experience in this course or in the workplace.Closing (1 slide)Prepare a list of three to five questions that you would expect to receive during the Q&A; session.References (1 slide)List any references used during the presentation.Once you have completed your slides and prepared your presentation notes, your next step will be to practice giving your presentation multiple times and then record it. Additional RequirementsFormat: Slide deck with 12–15 slides and notes. Include your voice-over narration (maximum of 20 minutes) with your slides.Visuals: Balance visuals and text in your slides. Incorporate appropriate charts, graphs, tables, diagrams, pictures, visuals, et cetera to help convey your message. Avoid making your slides too text heavy. Place additional information in your notes. APA: Follow APA style and formatting guidelines for citations and references. This guide is a good refresher on APA style and formatting guidelines: APA Style and Format.Writing: Create a clear, well organized, professional presentation that is generally free of errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling.Activity: Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC)SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT LIFE CYCLE (SDLC)Click the linked Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC) title above to participate in a short interactive activity. In it, you will review various steps associated with the SDLC and determine to which of the six phases of the cycle the steps belong. This exercise will help prepare you to complete Assessment 2 which requires you to develop and deliver a slide presentation that addresses the SDLC to fellow HIM professionals.Resources: WorkflowAmatayakul, M. K. (2017). Health IT and EHRs: Principles and practice (6th ed.). Chicago, IL: AHIMA Press. Available from the bookstore.Chapter 5, “Healthcare Workflow and Process Mapping,” pages 125–156.Ayatollahi, H., Roozbehi, M., & Haghani, H. (2015). Physicians’ and nurses’ opinions about the impact of a computerized provider order entry system on their workflow. Perspectives in Health Information Management, 1–16.Aziz, H. A., & Alsharabasi, O. A. (2015). Electronic health records uses and malpractice risks. Clinical Laboratory Science, 28(4), 250–255.Capella University Health Care Administration Undergraduate Library Research Guide.Please consult this guide as needed to conduct independent research on course topics. This resource will direct you to scholarly, peer-reviewed, and authoritative resources.Resources: EHR ImplementationAmatayakul, M. K. (2017). Health IT and EHRs: Principles and practice (6th ed.). Chicago, IL: AHIMA Press. Available from the bookstore. Chapter 6, “Change Management for Health IT,” pages 157–178.Chapter 8, “Health IT Project Management: Roles in Designs and Implementation,” pages 213–248.Chapter 9, “Health IT System Implementation, Training, and Ongoing Maintenance,” pages 249–280.Gomillion, D. L. (2017). Comprehensive care and the re-adoption of an electronic health records system: Preparing for a successful adoption after a failed attempt. Journal of Information Systems Education, 28(2), 83–91.Resources: Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC)Catapult Staffing. (2017). System development life cycle in seven phases. Retrieved from https://catapultstaffing.com/system-development-li…Dever, M. (2016, October 19). Five steps to a successful EHR data migration. Retrieved from http://patagoniahealth.com/five-steps-to-a-success…Sarkar, A. K., Khan, R. A., & Pandey, C. M. (2017). Challenges in data migration in super specialty tertiary care hospital: A case study. International Journal of Advanced Research in Computer Science, 8(7).Yasaira, R. T., Huang, J., Mihlstin, M., Juzych, M. S., Kromrei, H., & Hwang, F. S. (2017). The effect of electronic health record software design on resident documentation and compliance with evidence-based medicine. PLoS One, 12(9).

Review the Marion, Ohio facility (now closed) and comment using the end questions in the discussion board. 
Three basic goals

Obedience/conformity
Reeducation/development
Treatment

Overall objective in most – safe secure and humane environment. Official Description – Marion Juvenile Correctional Facility (MaJCF) is an American Correctional Association (ACA) accredited facility located in Marion, Ohio.
The facility’s 12 housing units can accommodate various population needs. The Chemical Dependency Unit provides a treatment focus that strives to break the dependency cycle that leads to felonious behavior. The Transition Unit assists youth to prepare for a successful reintegration into society. The Behavior Intervention Unit (BIU) enables the housing and management of youth who have difficulty conforming to agency rules and regulations, therefore causing a threat to themselves and to facility security. There is also an Intensive Mental Health Unit to address the unique treatment needs of this population. All of the residents are male. Marion’s accredited Hickory Grove High School provides a diverse curriculum encouraging youth to achieve high school graduation. The school also provides several vocational opportunities such as warehousing and distribution, barbering, auto mechanics, office technology, graphics communications, and horticulture. Graduates are provided actual work experience that will translate into employment opportunities upon release
My Visit to Marion
Marion is trying to enrich their offerings to juveniles. The following is a little background on the facility. They are the juvenile facility in Ohio where the worst juveniles are sent. Most have a history of serious crimes, many of those violent. The juveniles generally are older. The facility has some dorm style rooms but it also has many traditional single cells. The single cells face a central room where the juveniles watch television and yell out at each other. During the daytime the juveniles are given time to go eat, exercise and take part in school and/or vocational training. There is a very strict schedule. I observed juveniles marching back and forth from their housing to breakfast and school.  
The facility does have a high school that offers high school diplomas and GED’s. Most of the students are processed out of the facility within a year. Because they rotate out it is difficult for the juveniles to get a high school diploma. Many take classes and move on. The school is focused on getting students a GED. Teachers are brought in from outside the school. Some have been assaulted, but most appear to be dedicated to the students. Students lose their education rights if they display conduct problems.
Vocational activities as I saw them included the building trade, auto mechanics, computer usage, graphic design and barbering. A closer look at the vocational activities reveals the following: computer usage is tied closely to school. Individuals get to work on the various programs that one generally comes across in an office. The programs are stand alone and are not tied into the working components of the facility. The graphic design department is responsible for printing fliers and such for the prison. The printers are tied into several computers. The building trades shop consists of students learning to build walls. The walls are built using materials supplied at no cost to the facility. After the students build the walls they stop. The walls are torn down (the remnants were in a pile when I visited) and then new walls are rebuilt in the same spot. No other projects are attempted and the prison can’t sell barns or other built projects because the wood is donated. In auto mechanics three donated cars were in the garage area. The vehicles have never been driven after they entered the shop. Students take turns changing the oil, rotating tires, doing some engine work and changing the oil. Students remove clean oil they likely put in before and change brakes that have never been used. The lug nuts are wearing out due to excessive tire rotation. Cars in the state motor pool are not brought in for service due to regulations. Most of the juveniles prefer to work in the barber shop. It is the social center of the jail where information and talk is freely exchanged. The juveniles get to cut each other’s hair using barbershop implements.
All youth committed to Ohio’s juvenile system will eventually return to their communities. In 2005, nearly 2,000 youth were released onto parole. Unfortunately, statistics predict that within 1 year, 30% of those youth released will come back to DYS or be committed to the adult correctional system. After three years, the number jumps to 50%. 
In the Module Four discussion board discuss the following:

Are the juveniles in Marion being adequately prepared for life after detention?
What is wrong and how could it be improved?
What are we preparing them for? What are they in detention for and how can we help them overcome their problems?

first reply:
In my opinion I do not feel that the juveniles in Marion are adequately prepared for life after detention. Many of these juveniles will not have the proper education or the proper tools that are needed to become model citizens.
The things that I found wrong with the Marion facility are the lack of challenges for the programs that they supply at the facility such as the building trades, and automotive programs. If the facility gave these juveniles more to do within the program it would keep them more interested in pursuing the trade as a career. Also, if they know how to do more it would allow them to seek stable employment once they are released. I also feel that making sure all of these teens achieve their diploma should become a priority among this facility.
I feel that we should be preparing these juveniles to be obedient/conformed, reeducation/development, and treatment. The majority of the juveniles in this facility have a history of serious crimes, in which many are violent offenders. I know that it is especially important to find out where all the anger is coming from. Anger Management should be a mandatory class that all violent offenders must pass successfully in order to be released. Drug treatment should also be a requirement for everyone with a chemical dependency. If these juveniles get the treatment as well as the tools needed for stable employment, I feel that these juveniles will be successful.

second reply:
No, I do not feel as if the juveniles are being properly prepared for their futures. Yes, the detention center has opportunities and programs for them to participate in different activities and jobs. Yet, what they are being taught can only help them to a certain point. Take for instance the class where they build walls, then tear them down for the next group to come in and build them back up. They cannot make things to see because the wood has been donated. They also offer the option of going to school but rarely are the offenders there long enough to get their actual diplomas. They more often suggest them getting the GED’s instead of the actual diplomas. I think setting a plan into place ahead of time, so they can actually graduate would be beneficial. They would know what needs done by when and how long they have to complete the task. This is a form of goal setting for them that could be worked into their treatment plans. They also seem to all enjoy the barbershop the most out of all of the activities and trades they can choose from. I would feel this class gives them the most freedom and ability to speak to the other inmates more often. If they are there to learn to build but you tear down things after they build it only to start it all over again, what does that teach them? If they are there to learn to work on cars, then why are they not able to have actual running cars to work on? They are changing the oil and tires of perfectly good vehicles, so wouldn’t this not show them the proper colors or looks of oil and things when they need changed? I feel as if some of these classes are put into place just to keep the young men busy while they are in there. They need to work on new programs for them and more opportunities for them to work and actually gain the experience of the job. You tell them you are giving them job experiences but then they get out into the real world not knowing anything about the job. In my opinion they are not preparing them for anything, as these classes they offer them don’t really show them to trust aspects of the jobs. They are being kept busy in my opinion and not be taught anything. They are in this place because of their actions and not being productive members of society. They need to realize they can get out there and do anything they put their minds too. They need to be taught real crafts and tradesmen work so they can apply it when they get back out into the real world. They need to give them the opportunity to continue their class and studies for diplomas when they move onto their next facilities.

third reply:
Are the juveniles in Marion being adequately prepared for life after detention?
The Marion facility is a facility where the worst juveniles in the state are sent. This, in of itself puts restrictions on the facility that other juvenile facilities would not have to deal with. The book tells us that many juveniles enter the juvenile justice system with drug and alcohol addictions, truancy or minimal education, social skills, defiant to authority, and gang affiliations. The Marion facility has programs and specific units to deal with all of the predominate issues youthful offenders suffer from. The Behavioral Unit deals with those who lack the ability to conform to rules and regulations. They are separated from others because of their threat to themselves and the staff. The Transition Unit helps prepare the juveniles to prepare to reenter society. They have the Chemical Dependency Unit to focus on treatment and break the dependency cycle. They have Mental Health Unit to address those needs. Finally, they have a school to provide the opportunity to achieve high school graduation. The curriculum is diverse and include a trade school that offers several vocational opportunities. Overall, the Marion facility appears, in theory, to be adequately preparing juveniles for life after detention with the programs offered at their facility. What I do not know is if the programs are successful. While the summation tells us the Ohio will see a 30% recidivism rate within a year of being released and a 50% recidivism rate within three years, it does not mention the recidivism rate for juveniles that were incarcerated in their facility.
What is wrong and how could it be improved?
What I find wrong with the Marion facility is the educational aspect. In order to achieve a high school diploma or GED, there is time needed for the juveniles to complete this task. According to the summation, most students are processed out within a year, which makes it difficult for them to finish. For some juvenile offenders, they have never worked hard at something to completion and the ability to do so would be a huge self-confidence booster. In turn, this would make them more marketable in society. One way to improve that opportunity with juveniles being processed out within a year is the ability to do live-streaming of the class. This would fix two problems. Moving on to another facility where the juvenile could complete the program and fix the concern of teachers being assaulted. We have the technology of Zoom and other platforms where students can interact with a teacher who is not physically in the room. Providing a staff member in the room to make sure the students participated would be required, but this could help both the graduation rate and zero out the assaults on teachers. It also open up the opportunity to other subjects taught by teachers who may otherwise not want to teach in person for fear of an assault.
What are we preparing them for? What are they in detention for and how can we help them overcome their problems?
The Marion facility is preparing those in their custody to return to society and providing resources to become a productive citizen of society. They are providing the basic needs, and some, that they did not receive at home. Education at the basic level, chemical dependency treatment, mental health treatment, and behavior modification. In essence, all of the programs available at the Marion facility can adequately prepare the youthful offenders with life outside the criminal justice system. When recidivism is at 30% within one year and 50% after three years, the blame shifts to the offender. What are YOU doing to make yourself a productive citizen? What job fairs have you attended? What applications have you filled out? Are you staying away from your old crew that may have landed you in the juvenile system to begin with? Are you using the trade you learned in the Marion facility, or have you thought about higher education in college? There are too many options the juvenile court has to offer that can assist a juvenile to become productive. It is not a handout, but work hard and use some self-motivation, and success can follow. 

ASSESSMENTS 7 AND 8 CONTEXTSince Assessments 7 and 8 address interrelated issues of longer-term investments as well as working capital, this document provides helpful background for both assessments.Financing Long-Term InvestmentsEvery company will make long-term investments, usually invoking the capital budgeting process to determine which investments are the most lucrative. Financing those investments becomes the domain of capital structure—how do we raise the money to fund the investments needed to maximize our shareowner value? It is important to maintain a balance of debt and equity such that the overall cost of capital is minimized. In this way, shareowner wealth is improved by the investment itself and by how the investment is financed.Central Questions for Corporations in Regard to ShareholdersHow Much Equity is Right?Almost all corporations access long-term capital markets, bonds and stock in particular. The reason to access capital other than common stock is because it is usually less expensive than equity. Therefore, if you can borrow at 10 percent and earn 15 percent on the money, you just made money for the shareowners and your stock price should go up.But too much debt, though it may be cheaper in appearance, carries risk. A key characteristic of that risk is that the interest payments must be made in good times and in bad. Conseco is a recent example on a long list of successful companies that took on too much debt (in Conseco’s case, to finance acquisitions) and ultimately could not meet its interest payments, which resulted in bankruptcy.Using debt to enhance shareowner wealth is called financial leverage. It is the art of knowing how much of other people’s money to use to maximize your return to shareowners. If you use too little financial leverage, it means you are not taking the opportunity to create earnings; if you use too much, you could wind up bankrupt.How Much Income Should Shareowners Receive?As much as possible if you ask them, and after all, they are the owners. But, as much as possible does not necessarily mean the income must all be in cash. Shareowners get their return in two basic forms: dividends and capital gains from changes in the stock price, a lot of which has to do with how effectively management can invest the earnings not paid out in dividends. Financial managers therefore have to decide what percentage of profits are to be paid out to the owners and how much they will reinvest.A lot goes into this analysis, including shareowner preferences. These preferences may be affected by the recent debacles in which several large companies’ managers were not good stewards of the shareowners’ money.Answers to Management QuestionsThe answers to these management questions should be guided by the principle of maximizing shareowner wealth. There are many tools that management uses, but often theory and philosophy dominate these tools. Two identical companies might take very different courses because of managerial preference. It is certainly possible to be successful by being either conservative or aggressive. In the end, it is the management of the company that determines the success of the business. This success depends on management’s ability to exercise sound judgment when considering these fundamental philosophies.What is Working Capital?You have examined capital markets and capital budgeting. Then, the focus was on longer term investing and the financing of those investments. Turn your attention to the money needed to run the business daily. If you can appreciate the dilemma of having to pay for the raw materials and labor that go into your product long before you actually sell it and collect the money from that sale, you will understand the role of working capital.Working capital is simply the short-term capital needed to run the business day-to-day–that is, to pay the bills, make your products, and run your business. We are generally talking about short-term assets like cash in the bank, short-term investments (also known as near-cash), inventory, and accounts receivable. When you deduct the short-term liabilities (such as accounts payable, accrued payroll, and the short-term portion of long-term debt), then you have net working capital.The Importance of Net Working CapitalThough it may seem more tactical and therefore less glamorous than the strategic nature of long-term investments, financial managers (and managers in general) spend most of their time on the daily business operation. As someone once said, “If you don’t get the short-term right, then the long-term doesn’t matter.”One way to determine the health of a company is to look at the net working capital. If it is negative, chances are that the company might not be able to cover its near-term obligations from readily available funds. From the work you did on financial ratio analysis, this would manifest in a current ratio of less than 1.0.The company may have to raise some additional working capital to remain solvent. Yet as sound as this may seem, consider the recent trend toward zero working capital. Money that is owed you but not received or inventory that has been paid for but not sold is not really very useful, yet this is what working capital is (along with cash in the bank, which also is not really a great investment). Therefore, the more recent theory is that companies should minimize working capital, even to the point where net working capital is negative—this is a good thing to have.How Do You Get Negative Net Working Capital?If you think about what net working capital is, it becomes clear how to minimize it:CashYou should not have any more cash or cash equivalents than you need for things like compensating balances (for example, the cash banks may require if you take a loan, avoiding service charges) and meeting immediate commitments. You can usually borrow for temporary spikes in cash demand.Accounts ReceivableIdeally, have your customer pay in advance or at the same time as shipped. If you cannot get payment until after the sale (which is usually the case), then provide trade credit terms that provide an incentive for early payment. Example: 2/10, net 30 means the customer gets a 2 percent credit if paid within 10 days or else the total amount is due in 30 days. Essentially you are charging 2 percent interest for 20 days—pretty substantial, but not uncommon in many industries. This will get the money in sooner and therefore reduce the accounts receivable. (Of course, this is a double-edged sword in that you are giving up a lot of the invoice just to get the money in a little earlier.)InventoryIn the past several years, a concept of just-in-time (JIT) inventory management has come into being. It means, as the name implies, that you do not get the stuff until you really need it so it has minimal shelf time. A lot has to go well for this to work because there is little margin for error, but some companies are getting it down to the point where parts are shipped at the point of sale and all show up the next day for assembly. There is quite a bit going on around this in supply chain management (SCM), which is currently a major area of study in most companies to manage the supply of the product.Accounts PayableThe longer you can avoid paying someone the better. You want this account as large as possible without damaging your standing with your vendors. On the other hand, you might say it is not how big it gets, but how long you can postpone buying materials, and that is an even better strategy. If you go back to what was said about JIT, then you are not really buying your materials and components until the last minute, so you are in effect postponing the trade debt. Therefore, you are deferring the ultimate payment without protracting the credit period and possibly straining your vendor relationships. (As for employee payroll, there usually is not much you can do here except run lean; of course, almost all companies pay employees in arrears, which is okay, and some companies intentionally drag their feet on paying expenses, which has both a positive cash impact and a questionable ethic.)By following these broad strategies, a company can reduce working capital.So What?Inventory represents cash you once had. Accounts receivable represents cash you would like to have. Accounts payable represents cash you would like to hang onto a little longer. When you reduce net working capital, you create a one-time windfall, which can be put to better use buying things you need or acquiring new sites or facilities. In addition, however you put that cash to work generates ongoing earnings each year. Many companies that get this right have been known to generate $100 million or more; so suddenly they have a lot of money to invest, and if those investments earn the 20 percent or so that investors are typically looking for, there is another $20 million each year.What Makes It All Work?Ever since Deming and Juran (two of the original quality gurus in the 1950s and 1960s), American companies, who fell behind in quality management, have been improving in this respect. In particular, Japan adopted the concepts of total quality management (TQM) in the 1950s when Deming, an American who was unsuccessful at getting American corporations’ attention, took his disciplined approaches to Japan, known at the time for poor quality. Within a decade or two, there was suddenly a quality crisis in America; not because our quality had slipped, but because Japanese and, predictably, other foreign nations’ quality had vastly improved under the principles of TQM. TQM is beyond the scope of our course, but it suffices to say that it is about eliminating errors from your manufacturing or other business processes, finding where errors occur, determining their causes, and eliminating those causes.If you can rely upon your processes, you can be aggressive at minimizing the waste and, with the use of predictable technology, become an efficient operation that almost always has a reduced or even negative net working capital.Complete both parts of this assessment.Part 1. Analysis of Working Capital (3–5 pages)Examine the importance of minimizing working capital as well as the challenges associated with minimizing working capital. Use the Internet and the Capella University Library to gather a minimum of three resources on this topic.To complete this assessment, research and write an essay on the following:Why is it important to minimize working capital?What are the challenges in minimizing working capital?Use at least three research resources to support your ideas.Part 2: Receivables InvestmentIn addition to your solution to each computational problem in this part of your assessment, you must show the supporting work leading to your solution to receive credit for your answer.If you choose to solve the problems algebraically, be sure to show your computations.If you use a financial calculator, show your input values.If you use an Excel spreadsheet, show your input values and formulas.XYZ Inc. sells on terms of 2/10, net 30. Total sales for the year are $1,000,000. Consider that 30 percent of the customers take discounts and pay on the 10th day, while the other 70 percent pay, on average, 45 days after their purchases.What is the days’ sale outstanding?Determine the average amount of receivables.For the customers who take the discount, what is the percentage cost of trade credit?For the customers who do not take the discount and pay in 45 days, what is the percentage cost of trade credit?What would happen to XYZ’s accounts receivable if it created a new collection policy that required all non-discount customers to pay on the 30th day?Additional RequirementsLength: Your analysis of working capital should be 3–5 typed, double-spaced pages. In addition, include a title page and references page.Written communication: Written communication should be free of errors that detract from the overall message.Style and Formatting: Your essay should be formatted according to APA style and formatting to cite your references.Resources: You must use at least three references.Font and font size: Times New Roman, 12 point.Minimizing Working Capital Scoring GuideCRITERIANON-PERFORMANCEBASICPROFICIENTDISTINGUISHEDExplain the importance of minimizing working capital.Does not explain the importance of minimizing working capital.Discusses minimizing working capital but does explain the importance.Explains the importance of minimizing working capital.Evaluates the importance of minimizing working capital.Explain the challenges in minimizing working capital.Does not explain the challenges in minimizing working capital.Discusses minimizing working capital but does not explain the challenges.Explains the challenges in minimizing working capital.Evaluates the challenges in minimizing working capital.Calculate the receivables investment.Calculates the receivables investment; uses incorrect calculations.Calculates the receivables investment; uses incorrect calculations.Calculates the receivables investment.Calculates the receivables investment and provides a detailed analysis of the calculation.

Week four 
INITIAL POSTS
Your initial posts will be due by Sunday of each week of the module. All original threads should be at least 250 words. This parameter helps to promote writing that is thorough, yet concise enough to permit other students to read all the postings. The thoughts and opinions expressed in your thread need to be substantiated by research and literature (from the textbook or outside sources). All references should be in correct APA style. While this is a formal discussion environment, you are allowed to use the first person perspective in all your posts since you will be expressing your personal opinions. All original threads should: Bring clarity to the issues being discussed. Raise new and novel (yet relevant) points. Relate issues to personal experience. Rationally defend your stated position.
The Swatch Group and Cultural Uniqueness
This activity is important because as a manager, you must be able to understand the effect of cultural differences within and across countries on your business. Different countries and societies demand cross-cultural literacy in managers.
The goal of this exercise is to demonstrate your understanding of cultural differences and how they influence business decisions. To be successful, many companies need to adapt their products and services to the local culture.
Read the case and answer the questions that follow.
The Swatch Group (swatchgroup.com) with its headquarters in Biel, Switzerland (Europe), is a manufacturer of watches and jewelry. The company was founded in 1983 by Lebanese-born Nicolas Hayek from the merging of Allgemeine Gesellschaft der Schweizerischen Uhrenindustrie and Société Suisse pour l’Industrie Horlogère. It is now the world’s biggest watchmaker.
Nicolas’s daughter, Nayla Hayek, has been chair of the board of directors of the Swatch Group since her father’s death in 2010, and she is also CEO of the luxury jeweler Harry Winston Inc., which was acquired by the Swatch Group in 2013. Georges Nicolas “Nick” Hayek Jr. has been the CEO and president of the Swatch Group since 2003. Today, the Hayek family controls nearly 40 percent of the company.
Swatch and its 37 global subsidiaries employ about 37,000 people, and the company’s revenue is about 9 billion Swiss francs (CHF), or about $9 billion in U.S. dollars. The company’s headquarters in Biel sits on the language border between French- and German-speaking parts of Switzerland and is, by design, bilingual and culturally diverse. In fact, everything that Swatch engages in is based on diversity and culture. This cultural diversity is embedded in its overall brand and global strategizing.
For example, many of the Swatch brands have become cultural icons among a strong core following of customers in the global marketplace. Some even talk about the “Swatch Revolution” that began when Nicolas Hayek founded the company. It was the combination of legendary Swiss watch making (with the Swiss being famous for watch brands such as Patek Philippe, Rolex, Jaeger-LeCoultre) and the unexpected appearance of an affordable plastic watch that turned the watch world upside down.
Suddenly, a watch was more than a way to measure time. It was a new individualized culture, a new language, and a way to speak from the heart without words. By definition, “swatch” means a sample of material or color, oftentimes referring to a small piece of fabric. It is remarkable how Swatch has been able to develop culturally unique watches while also building the fabric for a globally integrated world by its watch making.
The Swatch Group’s brands go far beyond the iconic Swatch watches, though. They also include top Swiss brands like Blancpain, Breguet, and Omega along with unique and classic products such as Balmain, Calvin Klein watches and jewelry, Certina, Flik Flak, Glashütte, Hamilton, Harry Winston, Jaquet Droz, Léon Hatot, Longines, Mido, Original, Rado, Tissot, Tourbillon, and Union Glashütte. These brands form the “art” of Swatch—a focus that is almost always emphasized upfront in the company’s annual report and something the Swatch Group nurtures in various ways, such as via its Instagram account.
On Swatch’s Instagram (instagram.com/swatch), the storyline is clear. Swatch wants you to create your own unique way of accessorizing by the use of a Swatch watch. A person can showcase his or her individualized Swatch use by tagging #MySwatch. The new line of “Skin” watches also helps users “dance with the unknown,” break down barriers, and make #YourMove with Skin. The product is minimalist in style but unique, stylish, yet culturally diverse—much like Swatch has created its cultural uniqueness for decades in the global marketplace. Swatch’s own description of its brand captures this cultural uniqueness:
“Everyone knows a Swatch when they see one. There’s clearly something that makes Swatch different from every other watch brand. What is it? The look, the colors, the plastic? The design, perhaps, or the fact that it’s Swiss made and versatile enough to be worn with almost anything. There are Swatch watches for people of all ages, and a Swatch for every occasion. But there’s more to Swatch than market coverage. Swatch is an attitude, an approach to life, a way of seeing. The sight of a Swatch excites emotion. Wearing one is a way to communicate, to speak without speaking. Heart to heart.”
The Swatch Group is not just about being culturally diverse or a company marketing products globally to customers of different cultures. In many respects the company is actually creating the values, beliefs, norms, and artifacts that form a globally unique culture worldwide. So, Swatch’s large-scale production of watches and jewelry is used to help create individually and culturally based customer uniqueness.
Sources: Corinne Gretler, “Swatch CEO Nick Hayek Sees Swiss Watch Turnaround in 2017,” Bloomberg BusinessWeek, February 2, 2017; Silke Koltrowitz, “Swatch Group Seeing Strong Demand So Far in 2017,” Reuters, March 16, 2017 (www.reuters.com/article/us-swatch-results-idUSKBN16N15B); “The Amazing Adventures of the Second Watch,” Swatch History 2017 (www.swatch.com/en_us/explore/history); “Swatch Is Challenging Google and Apple with Its Own Operating System,” Fortune, March 16, 2017.
With the Hayek family controlling nearly 40 percent of The Swatch Group, how do you think the family influence impacts the type of corporate culture in the company? What about the company’s international culture being impacted by the Hayek family?
Many of the Swatch brands have become cultural icons among a strong core following of customers in the global marketplace. Some even talk about the “Swatch Revolution” that began when Nicolas Hayek founded the company. Why do you think Swatch has such a strong cultural following?
Week Five
INITIAL POSTS
Your initial posts will be due by Sunday of each week of the module. All original threads should be at least 250 words. This parameter helps to promote writing that is thorough, yet concise enough to permit other students to read all the postings. The thoughts and opinions expressed in your thread need to be substantiated by research and literature (from the textbook or outside sources). All references should be in correct APA style. While this is a formal discussion environment, you are allowed to use the first person perspective in all your posts since you will be expressing your personal opinions. All original threads should: Bring clarity to the issues being discussed. Raise new and novel (yet relevant) points. Relate issues to personal experience. Rationally defend your stated position.
Woolworths’ Corporate Responsibility Strategy
This activity is important because as a manager, you must be able to recognize doing good as it pertains to your business. To do this, you must have an understanding of the ethical, social responsibility, and sustainability issues around the world.  
The goal of this exercise is to demonstrate your understanding of the dilemmas businesses face as they pursue social responsibility initiatives. Identifying the correct course of action is a complex task that often lacks a clear direction.
Read the case and answer the questions that follow.
The Woolworths Group (woolworthsgroup.com.au) is an Australian conglomerate corporation founded in 1924. The headquarters is in Bella Vista in New South Wales. Colloquially known as “Woolies,” the company has extensive retail interests in the Oceania region, particularly in Australia and New Zealand, but it also has a foothold in India. The Woolworths Group consists of three core businesses (Woolworths Food Group, Endeavour Drinks, and Portfolio Businesses); employs more than 200,000 people; and has revenue of about 60 billion Australian dollars, or 46 billion in U.S. dollars. Across the three core businesses, Woolworths has 13 different business subsidiaries.
Integrating these 13 subsidiaries into a corporate social responsibility program is a challenge for a company with more than 200,000 employees and diverse interests. To accomplish its objective, Woolworths Group’s Corporate Responsibility Strategy 2020 identifies 20 corporate responsibility and sustainability goals that the company plans to implement by the year 2020. These goals cover a broad range of Woolworths’ stakeholders (e.g., customers, team members, suppliers, and local communities in which Woolworths operates). Woolworths’ Corporate Responsibility Strategy is based on a framework of People, Planet, and Prosperity.
The focus on People is about encouraging diversity. The target goals include striving for gender equity by targeting at least 40 percent of executive and senior manager positions to be held by women. Woolworths is also setting a goal of no salary wage gap between male and female employees of equivalent positions at all levels of the company. And rooted in Australian business, the company is embracing diversity by increasing the number of Indigenous employees in line with the company’s stated commitments under the Australian Federal Government’s Employment Parity Initiative.
The focus on the Planet includes two major initiatives. Woolworths is working toward zero food waste going to landfills. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 20 percent of what goes into municipal landfills is food. Woolworths is also trying to reduce its carbon emissions or footprint by 10 percent. Many of our daily activities (e.g., using electricity, driving a car, or disposing of waste) cause greenhouse gas emissions. A carbon footprint is defined as the total set of greenhouse gas emissions caused by an individual, event, organization, or product, and it is expressed as a carbon dioxide equivalent. Such emissions trap heat in the atmosphere, which according to most scientists contributes to disruptive climate change.
The focus on Prosperity is founded on trusted relationships. Woolworths’ targets are to achieve a top quartile ranking in how the business engages fairly and equitably with its suppliers, as measured by independent supplier surveys. Inspiration is also built into prosperity in the form of the company implementing activities to inspire customers to consume all of Woolworths’ products in a healthy, sustainable way. The most transparent Prosperity initiative, though, is to invest the equivalent of 1 percent of total earnings in community partnerships and programs.
Woolworths’ People-Planet-Prosperity strategies drive how the company does business. The strategies state that Woolworths is committed to hard work and that its integrity is resolute. The foundation is a down-to-earth culture and family friendly values. Every aspect of Woolworths’ business exists for the purpose of making the customers’ lives simpler, easier, and better. Underpinning Woolworths’ operations is a working relationship built on mutual trust with suppliers. More than 80 percent of the company’s suppliers have been strategic partners with Woolworths for a decade or longer.
Sources: Dimitri Sotiropoulos, “Woolworths Sets Sights on Sustainability,” Inside Retail (Australia), February 14, 2017; Justin  Smith, “How Woolworths Is Building Resilience in Its Food Supply Chain,” Sustainable Brands, April 11, 2016; Jason LaChappelle, “Woolworths Sees Benefits of Working with Sustainability Standards,” Iseal Alliance, September 19, 2014; “Woolworths Group’s Corporate Responsibility Strategy 2020,” https://woolworthsgroup.com.au/page/community-and-responsibility/group-responsibility.
What challenges do you think a company like Woolworths Group is facing when developing and implementing a companywide corporate social responsibility strategy that takes into account the more than 200,000 employees, diverse interests, and stakeholders?
Woolworths Group is trying to reduce its carbon emissions or footprint by 10 percent. Based on where we are as a world, is 10 percent enough of a reduction? Perhaps global warming is not real, what do you think?

Write a 4-5 page evidence-based proposal to support the need for a nurse informaticist in an organization who would focus on improving health care outcomes.Introduction
As you begin to prepare this assessment, you are encouraged to complete the Team Perspectives of the Nurse Informaticist activity. Completion of this will help you succeed with the assessment as you explore the nurse informaticist’s role from the different perspectives of the health care team. Completing activities is also a way to demonstrate engagement.Nurses at the baccalaureate level in all practice areas are involved in nursing informatics through interaction with information management and patient care technologies. Nurses must not only demonstrate knowledge of and skills in health information and patient care technologies, but also how to use these tools at the bedside and organizational levels. Moreover, nurses need to recognize how information gathered from various health information sources can impact decision making at the national and state regulatory levels.Your Online ePortfolio
Creating an ePortfolio is not required in the BSN program, but you may find it helpful to create one to attach to your professional resume while job hunting. Online ePortfolios serve two key purposes: 1) to support learning and reflection, and 2) to be used as a showcase tool. Your learning journey can be documented, and ePortfolios contribute to lifelong learning and growth through reflection and sharing. Online ePortfolios can also be shared with employers and peers to present artifacts that demonstrate your accomplishments at Capella.Using ePortfolio to Build Your Career
As you are preparing to tell your story in the professional world, leverage your ePortfolio artifacts to demonstrate the knowledge and competencies you have gained through your program in professional conversations, performance reviews, and interviews. To do that, reflect on the knowledge and skills you have gained from your courses and the elements you have put in your portfolio, along with how you have already applied these things to your professional life or how you might apply them in the future. Next, create your story or talking points to tell your professional story.Privacy Statement
Capella complies with privacy laws designed to protect the privacy of personal information. While you may voluntarily share your own information publicly, you are obligated to protect the personal information of others that may be associated with your academic or professional development. Before sharing information and material in any ePortfolio that is set up to be shared externally to your program at Capella, please consider privacy obligations in relation to protected populations who may be included or referenced in your academic or clinical work. Refer to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and/or the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) if you have specific questions or concerns about your choices.Scenario
For this assessment, assume you are a nurse attending a meeting of your state’s nurses association. A nurse informaticist conducted a presentation on her role and its impact on positive patient and organizational outcomes in her workplace. You realize that your organization is undergoing many technological changes. You believe this type of role could provide many benefits to your organization.You decide to pursue proposing a nurse informaticist role in your organization. You speak to your chief nursing officer (CNO) and human resources (HR) manager, who ask you to prepare a 4–5 page evidence-based proposal to support the new role. In this way, they can make an informed decision as to whether the addition of such a role could justify the return on investment (ROI). They need your proposal before an upcoming fiscal meeting. This is not an essay, but instead, it is a proposal to create a new Nurse Informaticist position.One important part of this assessment is the justification of the need for a nurse informaticist in a health care organization and references from relevant and timely scholarly or professional resources to support the justification for creating this nurse informaticist position. The term justify means to show or prove that the nurse informaticist position brings value to the organization. This justification must include evidence from the literature to support that this position will provide a return on investment for the organization.Preparation
To successfully prepare for this assessment, you will need to complete these preparatory activities:

Review assessment resources and activities. 

Conduct independent research on the nursing knowledge and skills necessary to interact with health information and patient care technology.
Focus your research on current resources available through peer-reviewed articles, professional websites, government websites, professional blogs, wikis, job boards, and so on.

Consult the BSN Program Library Research Guide for help in identifying scholarly and authoritative sources.
Interview peers in your network who are considered information technology experts. 

Ask them about how information technology advances are impacting patient care at the bedside, at the organizational level, and beyond.

Proposal Format
The chief nursing officer (CNO) and human resources (HR) manager have asked you to include the following headings in your proposal and to be sure to address the bullets following each heading:Nursing Informatics and the Nurse Informaticist

What is nursing informatics?
What is the role of the nurse informaticist?
Nurse Informaticists and Other Health Care Organizations

What is the experience of other health care organizations with nurse informaticists?
How do these nurse informaticists interact with the rest of the nursing staff and the interdisciplinary team?
Impact of Full Nurse Engagement in Health Care Technology

How does fully engaging nurses in health care technology impact: 

Patient care?
Protected health information (security, privacy, and confidentiality)? 

In this section, you will explain evidence-based strategies that the nurse informaticist and interdisciplinary team can use to effectively manage patients’ protected health information, particularly privacy, security, and confidentiality. Evidence-based means that they are supported by evidence from scholarly sources.

Workflow?
Costs and return on investment?

Opportunities and Challenges

What are the opportunities and challenges for nurses and the interdisciplinary team with the addition of a nurse informaticist role? 

How can the interdisciplinary team collaborate to improve quality care outcomes through technology?

Summary of Recommendations

What are 3–4 key takeaways from your proposal about the recommended nurse informaticist role that you want the CNO and the HR manager to remember? 

This is the section where the justification for the implementation of the nursing informaticist role is addressed. Remember to include evidence from the literature to support your recommendation.

Additional Requirements

Written communication: Ensure written communication is free of errors that detract from the overall message.
Submission length: 4–5 double-spaced pages, in addition to title and references pages.
Font: Times New Roman, 12 point.
Citations and References: Cite a minimum of three current scholarly and/or authoritative sources to support your ideas. In addition, cite a minimum of one current professional blog or website to support your central ideas. Current means no more than five years old.
APA formatting: Be sure to follow APA formatting and style guidelines for citations and references. For an APA refresher, consult the Evidence and APA page on Campus.
Competencies Measured
By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and scoring guide criteria:
Competency 1: Describe nurses’ and the interdisciplinary team’s role in informatics with a focus on electronic health information and patient care technology to support decision making. 

Define nursing informatics and the role of the nurse informaticist.
Explain how the nurse collaborates with the interdisciplinary team, including technologists, to improve the quality of patient care.
Justify the need for a nurse informaticist in a health care organization.

Competency 2: Implement evidence-based strategies to effectively manage protected health information. 

Explain evidence-based strategies that the nurse and interdisciplinary team can use to effectively manage patients’ protected health information (privacy, security, and confidentiality).

Competency 5: Apply professional, scholarly communication to facilitate use of health information and patient care technologies. 

Follow APA style and formatting guidelines for citations and references.
Create a clear, well-organized, and professional proposal that is generally free from errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling.

Nursing Informatics in Health Care Scoring Guide
CRITERIA NON-PERFORMANCE BASIC PROFICIENT DISTINGUISHED Define nursing informatics and the role of the nurse informaticist.Does not define nursing informatics and the role of the nurse informaticist.Defines nursing informatics and the role of the nurse informaticist, but the description lacks detail or is missing important information.Defines nursing informatics and the role of the nurse informaticist.Defines nursing informatics and the role of the nurse informaticist. References current data, evidence, or standards to support and refine definition. Explain how the nurse collaborates with the interdisciplinary team, including technologists, to improve the quality of patient care.Does not explain how the nurse collaborates with the interdisciplinary team, including technologists, to improve the quality of patient care.Identifies but does not explain how the nurse collaborates with the interdisciplinary team, including technologists, to improve the quality of patient care.Explains how the nurse collaborates with the interdisciplinary team, including technologists, to improve the quality of patient care.Explains how the nurse collaborates with the interdisciplinary team, including technologists, to improve the quality of patient care. Makes explicit reference to scholarly or professional resources to support explanation. Justify the need for a nurse informaticist in a health care organization.Does not justify the need for a nurse informaticist in a health care organization.Proposes but does not justify the need for a nurse informaticist in a health care organization.Justifies the need for a nurse informaticist in a health care organization.Justifies the need for a nurse informaticist in a health care organization and references relevant and timely scholarly or professional resources to support the justification. Explain evidence-based strategies that the nurse and interdisciplinary team can use to effectively manage patients’ protected health information (privacy, security, and confidentiality).Does not explain evidence-based strategies that the nurse and interdisciplinary team can use to effectively manage patients’ protected health information (privacy, security, and confidentiality).Describes but does not explain evidence-based strategies that the nurse and interdisciplinary team can use to effectively manage patients’ protected health information (privacy, security, and confidentiality).Explains evidence-based strategies that the nurse and interdisciplinary team can use to effectively manage patients’ protected health information (privacy, security, and confidentiality).Explains evidence-based strategies that the nurse and interdisciplinary team can use to effectively manage patients’ protected health information (privacy, security, and confidentiality), with reference to specific data, evidence, or standards to support the explanation. Follow APA style and formatting guidelines for citations and references.Does not follow APA style and formatting guidelines for citations and references.Partially follows APA style and formatting guidelines for citations and references.Follows APA style and formatting guidelines for citations and references.Follows APA style and formatting guidelines for citations and references with flawless precision and accuracy. Create a clear, well-organized, and professional proposal that is generally free from errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling.Does not create a clear, well-organized, and professional proposal that is generally free from errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling.Creates a proposal that lacks clarity and/or has errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling.Creates a clear, well-organized, and professional proposal that is generally free from errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling.Creates a clear, comprehensive, well-organized, and professional proposal that is error-free in grammar, punctuation, and spelling.