Healthcare Payment Trends Matrix

/in , , , , /by

Healthcare Payment Trends Matrix

(Healthcare Payment Trends Matrix)

HCS/385 – HEALTH CARE FINANCE: Finance Environment Matrix

Create a matrix in which you:

  • Identify at least 3 economic trends of the health care payment system.
  • Identify ethics and compliance issues associated with those trends.

Cite 3 peer-reviewed, scholarly, or similar references to support your chosen trends and issues.

Note: This assignment is meant to be a high- level look at these issues where you primarily identify what the issues are. You will cover the issues in more depth in the Week Five Finance Trends assignment.

please if you do this assignment i really will like you to do week five assignment to because they are connected both.

Finance Environment Matrix

Economic Trend Description Ethics Issues Compliance Issues
Value-Based Care Models Value-based care shifts reimbursement from volume to quality, rewarding providers for improved patient outcomes rather than number of services. Ethical concerns arise over equity in access; providers may avoid high-risk patients who could hurt quality metrics. Compliance requires accurate coding, outcome documentation, and transparency in reporting performance metrics.
Rising Out-of-Pocket Costs for Patients Patients bear a larger share of costs through deductibles, copays, and coinsurance, affecting affordability and access. There is an ethical obligation to ensure financial transparency and to protect vulnerable populations from being priced out of care. Compliance with cost transparency laws (e.g., Hospital Price Transparency Rule) is mandatory.
Growth of Alternative Payment Models (APMs) APMs such as bundled payments and accountable care organizations (ACOs) are expanding to promote cost-efficiency and coordination. Ethical concerns include fair distribution of shared savings and avoiding cost-cutting that compromises care quality. Must comply with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) regulations and anti-kickback statutes.

References

  1. Berwick, D. M., Nolan, T. W., & Whittington, J. (2008). The triple aim: Care, health, and cost. Health Affairs, 27(3), 759–769. https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.27.3.759

  2. Rice, T., & Unruh, L. Y. (2016). The economics of health reconsidered (4th ed.). Health Administration Press.

  3. Mechanic, R. E. (2017). Value-based payment and health care delivery reform: The urgent need for alignment. Health Affairs, 36(3), 436–444. https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2016.1050

 
Do you need a similar assignment done for you from scratch? Order now!
Use Discount Code "Newclient" for a 15% Discount!

Developing Internal Advancement Strategies

/in , , , , /by

Developing Internal Advancement Strategies

(Developing Internal Advancement Strategies)

Review the Week 2 Individual Knowledge Check.

Read Ch. 5, Incident 2, “I am Qualified, Why Not Me?”

Write a 700- to 1,400-word analysis, using your research, of the incident, “I am qualified, Why Not Me?” Include the following in preparing your response:

  • Discuss whether or not you believe that Bobby has a legitimate complaint. Does any organization, like Crystal Productions, have a responsibility to provide training and development opportunities to enhance promotion from within?
  • Explain the advantages and disadvantages of a promotion from within policy and whether such a policy would be appropriate for Crystal Productions.
  • Identify, if you were the head of HR, the first step in creating the policy, who should be involved in developing the policy, and what you would do in preparing for implementation.
  • Recommend the desired goals/outcomes of such a policy and the impact your new policy would have on staffing and performance management strategies.
  • Summarize what impact the changing workforce might have on your new policy.
  • Summarize a brief policy that addresses hiring from within.

INCIDENT 2 I Am Qualified, Why Not Me?

Five years ago, when Bobby Bret joined Crystal Productions as a junior accountant, he felt that he was on his way up. He had just graduated with a B+B+ average from college where he was well liked by his peers and by the faculty, and had been an officer in several student organizations. Bobby had shown a natural ability to get along with people as well as to get things done. He remembered what Roger Friedman, the controller at Crystal, had told him when he was hired, “I think you will do well here, Bobby. You’ve come highly recommended. You are the kind of guy that can expect to move right on up the ladder.”

Bobby felt that he had done a good job at Crystal, and everybody seemed to like him. In addition, his performance appraisals had been excellent. However, after five years he was still a junior accountant. He had applied for two senior accountant positions that had opened, but they were both filled by people hired from outside the firm. When the accounting supervisor’s job came open two years ago, Bobby had not applied. He was surprised when his new boss turned out to be a hotshot graduate of State University whose only experience was three years with a large accounting firm. Bobby had hoped that Ron Greene, a senior accountant he particularly respected, would get the job.

On the fifth anniversary of his employment at Crystal, Bobby decided it was time to do something. He made an appointment with the controller. At that meeting, Bobby explained to Mr. Friedman that he had worked hard to obtain a promotion and shared his frustration about having been in the same job for so long. “Well,” said Mr. Friedman, “you don’t think that you were all that much better qualified than the people that we have hired, do you?” “No,” said Bobby, “but I think I could have handled the senior accountant job. Of course, the people you have hired are doing a great job too.” The controller responded, “We just look at the qualifications of all the applicants for each job, and considering everything, try to make a reasonable decision.”

 
Do you need a similar assignment done for you from scratch? Order now!
Use Discount Code "Newclient" for a 15% Discount!

McDonald’s Strategic Case Studies

/in , , , , /by

McDonald’s Strategic Case Studies

(McDonald’s Strategic Case Studies)

Business Policy and Strategy, CSU (Case Studies – Units I – VII)

Unit I Case Study

Read the Cohesion Case on pages 27-37 in the course textbook. Create a five- to seven-page PowerPoint presentation in which you a) briefly describe your view of McDonald’s strategic position, and b) answer Step 4 of the Assurance of Learning exercise on page 37.

Unit II Case Study

Complete the Assurance of Learning Exercise 3D on page 87 of the course textbook. In addition to completing Steps 1, 2, and 3, summarize your findings in a two-page APA formatted paper and discuss your views of McDonald’s strategic

prospects based upon your analysis of the external assessment and consideration of the opportunities to grow, as well as threats from competitors and the macro environment.

Unit III Case Study

Complete the Assurance of Learning Exercises 6A and 6B on page 205 of the textbook. Use the completed SWOT and SPACE matrices to draw conclusions regarding both the long term and short term strategies you would recommend in light of your findings. Summarize in a two-page APA formatted paper. NOTE: It is not necessary to consult other students

to complete these exercises in the textbook.

Unit IV Case Study

Complete the four elements of the McDonald’s organization chart exercise in the Assurance of Learning Exercise 7A on page 248 of the textbook. Once the organizational chart recommendation is completed, create at least one high-level objective for each functional group in the organizational chart. State your rationale for each and briefly state how each

would be measured. Compile your work into a minimum two-page APA formatted paper.

Unit V Case Study

Read the Assurance of Learning Exercise 8A and 8B on page 282 of the textbook. Prepare a product positioning map, and perform the EPS/EBIT calculations given in 8B. Discuss, in a two-page APA formatted paper, how the product positioning is aligned with McDonald’s corporate strategy. Identify potential gaps in the product line or weaknesses in

positioning. Describe the relevance of the EPS/EBIT chart and why it is significant with respect to strategy implementation.

Unit VI Case Study

Follow the instructions for the Assurance of Learning Exercise 9A on page 306 of the textbook. Create a minimum two-page APA formatted paper evaluating McDonald’s strategy. Choose at least one of McDonald’s competitors and discuss its position relative to McDonald’s. Comment on McDonald’s prospects of success against this competitor.

Unit VII Case Study

Complete the Assurance of Learning Exercise 10A on page 326 of the textbook. You will be asked to analyze and to compare and contrast the code of ethics of both Starbuck’s and McDonald’s. Summarize your analysis and findings in a two-page APA formatted paper

 
Do you need a similar assignment done for you from scratch? Order now!
Use Discount Code "Newclient" for a 15% Discount!

Health Reform & Stakeholder Impact

/in , , , , /by

Health Reform & Stakeholder Impact

(Health Reform & Stakeholder Impact)

HEALTH POLICY ASSIGNMENTS

Case Study Reflection

Write a 4-5 page paper. Your written assignments must follow APA guidelines. Be sure to support your work with specific citations from this week’s Learning Resources and additional scholarly sources as appropriate. Refer to the Pocket Guide to APA Style to ensure that in- text citations and reference list are correct. Submit your assignment to the Dropbox by the end of this Unit.

In 2007 San Francisco began its Healthy San Francisco Plan designed to provide health care for all San Francisco citizens. In 2007, it was estimated that San Francisco had 82,000 uninsured citizens. Under the plan, all uninsured citizens residing in San Francisco can seek care at the city’s public and private clinics and hospitals. The basic coverage includes lab work, x-rays, surgery, and preventative care. The city plans to pay for this $203 million coverage by rerouting the $104 million the city currently spends treating the uninsured in the emergency rooms, mandating business contributions, and requiring income-adjusted enrollment fees. The plan requires all businesses with more than 20 employees to contribute a percentage toward the plan. Many business owners consider this a burden and warn they will not stay in the city. The Mayor sees universal health access a moral obligation for the city.

Take one of the following positions.

· San Francisco has an obligation to provide its citizens with health access.-OR-

· San Francisco does not have an obligation to provide its citizens with health access.

Discuss the following in your assignment:

1. What is the government’s role in regulating healthy and unhealthy behavior?

2. Has the balance between personal freedom and the government’s responsibility to provide health and welfare of its citizens been eroded? Why or why not?

3. Written Assignment

4. Review the following report at:

5. https://kapextmediassl-a.akamaihd.net/healthSci/HA545/HA545_1703C/u5_as.pdf

6. Using this Congressional Report for members of Congress and your textbook, write a 5-page memorandum/paper on the topic of rulemaking.

7. You are a summer intern with Harry Smith, a Congressman from your home district. He has to advise his congressional committee on the impact of interest groups on legislation. Write the memorandum to explain the purpose and influence on rulemaking in the operation of the legislation. You should offer suggestions on the importance of the implementation phase of the legislation.

Paper

Write a 7-9 page paper with bibliography. Your written assignments must follow APA guidelines. Be sure to support your work with specific citations from this week’s Learning Resources and additional scholarly sources as appropriate. Refer to the Pocket Guide to APA Style to ensure in-text citations and reference list are correct.

You will synthesize your understanding of why Medicare Part D passed, as well as the influence of the various interest groups and governmental entities during this process. Make sure to discuss both the policy process and the policy environment—that is, the key players involved and other circumstances that shaped this policy-making effort. For this assignment, address the following questions, doing further research as needed:

· How did various stakeholder groups influence the final outcome of Medicare Part D legislation?

· What were the specific strategies and tools that were used most effectively?

· Does the fact that Medicare Part D passed corresponds with your understanding of policy and politics, or did this surprise you? Explain your response.

Paper

Write a 7-9 page paper with a References List. Your written assignment must follow APA guidelines. Be sure to support your work with specific citations from this week’s Learning Resources and additional scholarly sources as appropriate. Refer to the Pocket Guide to APA Style to ensure in-text citations and reference list are correct.

You will synthesize your understanding of why Clinton’s Health Plan was unsuccessful. Discuss the features of the Clinton health care reform plan and provide reasons why it failed and describe the influence of the various interest groups and governmental entities during this process. Make sure to discuss both the policy process and the policy environment—that is, the key players involved and other circumstances that shaped this policy-making effort. Consider and discuss the following:

1. Take a position in support or opposition

2. Discuss the context of this legislation – name the expected demanders and suppliers as outlined in our textbook, Chapter 3.

3. Describe the expected interest groups and there specific arguments.

4. Describe the expected interplay between demanders and suppliers, interest groups and analyze the public policy environment.

 
Do you need a similar assignment done for you from scratch? Order now!
Use Discount Code "Newclient" for a 15% Discount!

Patient-Centered and Safe Care

/in , , , , , /by

 

Patient-Centered and Safe Care: Ensuring Quality in Health Care Delivery

(Patient-Centered and Safe Care)

The Institute of Medicine (IOM) developed six specific aims to ensure the delivery and improvement of health care. Choose two from the six aims: Safe, effective, patient-centered, timely, efficient and equitable (Institute of Medicine, 2001). Of the two aims you chose, discuss the effects on the delivery of quality care. Give an example of how a hospital or physician practice can meet these aims.

 

Your initial post should be 250-500 words and utilize at least one scholarly source from the Ashford University Library to justify your choices. Sources must be cited in APA format as outlined in the Ashford.

Patient-Centered and Safe Care

Ensuring Quality in Health Care Delivery

The Institute of Medicine (IOM), now known as the National Academy of Medicine, identified six essential aims to transform health care delivery: safe, effective, patient-centered, timely, efficient, and equitable care. Among these aims, patient-centered and safe care are fundamental for enhancing the quality of health services. Both aims not only address immediate patient needs but also contribute to long-term health outcomes by minimizing risks and prioritizing patient preferences.

Patient-Centered Care and Its Impact on Quality

Patient-centered care emphasizes the importance of understanding and respecting each patient’s unique preferences, values, and needs. This approach encourages active patient participation in decision-making processes, fostering a sense of empowerment and collaboration. By prioritizing patient involvement, health care providers are better positioned to deliver care that aligns with the individual’s expectations, ultimately improving satisfaction and trust.

For example, a hospital implementing patient-centered strategies may create personalized care plans, actively engage patients and families in discussions about treatment options, and offer culturally sensitive care. Such measures help bridge communication gaps, reduce misunderstandings, and ensure that care plans reflect patient desires and health goals. Research has shown that when patients feel respected and heard, adherence to treatment protocols improves, and clinical outcomes are more favorable (Epstein & Street, 2011).

A practical example of patient-centered care in action is the use of shared decision-making models in chronic disease management. In a primary care setting, physicians collaborate with patients to explore various treatment pathways, weighing the benefits and risks of each option. This shared responsibility not only educates patients about their health conditions but also enhances their commitment to follow prescribed therapies, resulting in better health outcomes and reduced hospital readmissions.

Safe Care and Its Impact on Quality

The IOM defines safe care as the prevention of harm to patients during the provision of health services. Ensuring safety in healthcare settings requires systematic efforts to prevent medical errors, reduce risks, and maintain a secure environment for patients. Safe care is a cornerstone of quality because it directly affects patient survival, recovery rates, and overall trust in the healthcare system.

Hospitals can meet the aim of safe care by implementing evidence-based protocols that minimize errors and enhance patient monitoring. For instance, the use of checklists in surgical settings has been proven to reduce the incidence of preventable complications. A study by Haynes et al. (2009) demonstrated that the implementation of a surgical safety checklist led to significant reductions in morbidity and mortality rates. This tool ensures that critical steps are not missed during surgery, improving patient safety and confidence in the healthcare team.

Meeting Both Aims in Practice

To effectively integrate both patient-centered and safe care, healthcare organizations can adopt Electronic Health Records (EHRs) that enhance communication, streamline documentation, and facilitate access to patient information. EHRs allow physicians to track patient histories comprehensively, reduce medication errors, and customize care plans according to patient needs and medical history.

By prioritizing both patient-centered and safe care, healthcare providers can significantly improve the delivery of quality services, ensuring that patients receive not only effective but also compassionate and secure care. These principles, grounded in evidence-based practice, pave the way for a more resilient and trustworthy healthcare system.

References

Epstein, R. M., & Street, R. L. (2011). The values and value of patient-centered care. Annals of Family Medicine, 9(2), 100–103. https://www.annfammed.org/content/9/2/100.full

Haynes, A. B., Weiser, T. G., Berry, W. R., Lipsitz, S. R., Breizat, A.-H. S., Dellinger, E. P., … & Gawande, A. A. (2009). A surgical safety checklist to reduce morbidity and mortality in a global population. New England Journal of Medicine, 360(5), 491–499. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMsa0810119

 
Do you need a similar assignment done for you from scratch? Order now!
Use Discount Code "Newclient" for a 15% Discount!

Public Health On Hiv/Aids

/in , , , , /by

Public Health On Hiv/Aids

(Public Health On Hiv/Aids)

Public Health

please read attachments…. please…Your public health presentation should be 10 slides in length, use an appropriate application (PowerPoint, Prezi, etc.), and comprehensively address the public health issue using speaker notes and scholarly resources for support. Support for your speaker notes will come from scholarly resources, including the following: at least two scholarly resources for the background of the public health issue, at least two scholarly resources for response to the problem, and at least two scholarly resources for current directions to address the problem.

It should be a complete, polished artifact containing all of the critical elements of the final product.

I am attaching the topic and artifacts and critical elements for your 10 slide public health presentation.

General Guidance for Presentations Consider your presentation as consisting of two complementary elements: the narrative and the visual. Your speaker notes are the equivalent to the narrative, so write them clearly, succinctly, and with proper grammar and spelling, so they are easily understood by a general audience. (Note that you will not be speaking, just writing.) The visual element, the slides themselves, support the narrative. Visuals keep the eyes involved in the presentation while the presenter speaks. As such, they should not repeat the narrative. Graphics that support the narrative are best: charts, tables, timelines, illustrations, and photographs. Visuals should never be simply “window dressing,” like a group photograph of a meeting; they must specifically support the points being made in the narrative. Bullet points are acceptable in combination with or, if necessary, without graphics. If possible, keep each bullet point to a single line. Powerful quotes from your resources can sometimes drive home your point. Finally, do not be tempted to fill the entire visual space. Insufficient white space results in visual clutter, prompting your audience to spend too much effort figuring it out (distracting the audience from the speaker) or simply ignoring it. The following are recommended steps for each section:  Write your speaker notes first, using the worksheets from your milestone assignments.

 Create the visual element.

 Read the narrative to test for easy comprehension.

 Add visual elements that support the speaker notes. Try to visualize what the notes are saying.

(Public Health On Hiv/Aids)

Develop a presentation (using PowerPoint, Prezi, etc.) that describes a public health issue and national goals set for that problem on Healthy People 2020. The presentation will give an overview of the distribution of the problem in the United States, factors associated with the problem, social determinants of the problem, and any health disparities. Your presentation must contain speaker notes that fully address the contents below. Support for your speaker notes will come from scholarly resources. Specifically, the following critical elements must be addressed:

I. Background: Provide a clear background of your selected priority public health issue. Be sure you address the issue’s goal statements and relevant context for the issue in terms of the ecological model, citing scholarly support.

II. Epidemiology

A. Analyze the epidemiological patterns, causes, and effects of the health issue in the population. For example, how is the issue distributed in the population?

B. Describe the social determinants associated with the issue. How do these determinants impact the health of those affected by the issue?

C. Describe known disparities (i.e., socioeconomic, demographic, cultural, and geographic) associated with the health outcomes of your specific population with regard to the public health issue.

(Public Health On Hiv/Aids)

III. Public Health Interventions: In this section, you will examine public health interventions published in the scholarly literature for how they addressed your selected public health issue.

A. Analyze two published public health interventions used to address the issue, including the theoretical basis of each intervention. In other words, what were the strategies used to address this problem and what was the rationale for those actions, according to the scholarly resources?

B. Explain how the selected interventions reflect primary, secondary, and/or tertiary intervention strategies for public health prevention.

C. Explain how the interventions address social determinants of health and the disparities in healthcare associated with the issue.

IV. Public Health Response: In this section, you will inspect the public health landscape to identify who is involved in responding to your public health issue and what actions they are taking.

A. Describe the public health organizations involved in the response to the public health issue at the national and local levels. Use examples that show which entities are working on the issue and what they are doing. For example, what federal and local agencies and/or not-for-profit entities are involved, and what are their roles in the response?

B. Explain the specific public health subdisciplines involved in understanding and responding to the issue, including what their roles are. Examples of public health subdisciplines include biostatistics, epidemiology, maternal and child health, and disaster-response planning.

C. Explain the public health services involved in the response to the issue. What types of services, programs, or campaigns have been offered by organizations in response to the problem? Be sure to provide examples.

(Public Health On Hiv/Aids)

V. Current Directions: Based on your understanding of the health goals and interventions, identify gaps in the response and draw connections to the broader field of public health.

A. Explain the overall effectiveness of the public health response to your issue, based on any gaps between its goals and the current information and strategies. In other words, given what you understood about the distribution of the public health issue and the strategies that have been undertaken to address it, what are the obstacles to this public health response meeting its goals?

B. Discuss the unique perspective that public health theoretical  frameworks provide in addressing this issue. In other words, how is the public health approach different from the way other medical models might address this issue, and what advantages do public health frameworks have in terms of promoting positive health outcomes with regard to the issue?

C. Reflect on the connections between the public health response to this issue and broader ethical questions of social justice, poverty, and systematic disadvantage. Specifically, how does the response help to improve conditions for people in their communities? Keep in mind ethical theories and principles studied in this course

 
Do you need a similar assignment done for you from scratch? Order now!
Use Discount Code "Newclient" for a 15% Discount!

Analyzing Sun Coast Data

/in , , , , /by

Analyzing Sun Coast Data

(Analyzing Sun Coast Data)

Correlation And Regression Analysis Using Sun Coast Data Set

Sun Coast Remediation Course Project Guidance

Background

To help make a connection between business research and its use in the real world, this course will use an iterative course project. Throughout the term, you will serve as the health and safety director for Sun Coast Remediation (Sun Coast).

Sun Coast provides remediation services to business and governmental organizations. Most of their contracts involve working within contamination sites where they remove toxic substances from soil and water. In addition to the toxicity of the air, water, and soil their employees come into contact with, the work environment is physically demanding and potentially contributory to injuries involving musculoskeletal systems, vision, and hearing. Sun Coast genuinely cares about the health, safety, and well-being of their 5,500 employees, but they are also concerned about worker compensation costs and potential long-term litigation from injuries and illness related to employment.

Health and Safety Director Task(Analyzing Sun Coast Data)

Sun Coast hired you last month to replace the previous health and safety director, who left to pursue other opportunities. This is a critical position within the company because there are many health and safety-related issues due to the nature of the work. The former health and safety director was in the midst of analyzing these issues through the implementation of a research project when she left the organization.

Throughout the term, you will use your knowledge of research methods to bring the research project to fruition. You will conduct a literature review, develop research questions and hypotheses, create the research design, test data, interpret data, and present the findings. Each unit will accomplish one of these tasks. It has already been decided that the business problems will be best addressed using a quantitative research methodology. You will not collect any data for this project. The former health and safety director had already collected the data, which is provided for you in an Excel spreadsheet.

Statistical Tools

You will conduct the data analysis using Microsoft Excel Toolpak. View these links for information: https://support.office.com/en-us/article/load-the-analysis-toolpak-in-excel-6a63e598-cd6d-42e3-9317-6b40ba1a66b4 and https://www.excel-easy.com/data-analysis/analysis-toolpak.html

Sun Coast Remediation Course Project Sections

Since this is a quantitative research study, there are specific steps that should be followed. The following is a template that will help you develop your project. (It is also provided as a template in Unit VII.) Use this information to guide your completion of the course project.

Table of Contents

Include the table of contents here. There is a tool for creating a table of contents in the References tab of the Microsoft Word tool bar at the top of the screen. Remember to delete this text and the instructions from the previous page before you begin.

Executive Summary

The executive summary will go here. The paragraphs are not indented, and it should be formatted like an abstract. The executive summary should be composed after the project is complete. It will be the final step in the project. Delete this text before you begin.

Sun Coast Remediation Course Project

Introduction(Analyzing Sun Coast Data)

Note: The following introduction should remain in the research project unchanged. Delete this note before you begin.

Senior leadership at Sun Coast has identified several areas for concern that they believe could be solved using business research methods. The previous director was tasked with conducting research to help provide information to make decisions about these issues. Although data were collected, the project was never completed. Senior leadership is interested in seeing the project through to fruition. The following is the completion of that project and includes the statement of the problems, literature review, research objectives, research questions and hypotheses, research methodology, design, and methods, data analysis, findings, and recommendations.

Statement of the Problems

Note: The following statement of the problems should remain in the research project unchanged. Delete this note before you begin.

Six business problems were identified:

Particulate Matter (PM)

There is a concern that job-site particle pollution is adversely impacting employee health. Although respirators are required in certain environments, PM varies in size depending on the project and job site. PM that is between 10 and 2.5 microns can float in the air for minutes to hours (e.g., asbestos, mold spores, pollen, cement dust, fly ash), while PM that is less than 2.5 microns can float in the air for hours to weeks (e.g. bacteria, viruses, oil smoke, smog, soot). Due to the smaller size of PM that is less than 2.5 microns, it is potentially more harmful than PM that is between 10 and 2.5 since the conditions are more suitable for inhalation. PM that is less than 2.5 is also able to be inhaled into the deeper regions of the lungs, potentially causing more deleterious health effects. It would be helpful to understand if there is a relationship between PM size and employee health. PM air quality data have been collected from 103 job sites, which is recorded in microns. Data are also available for average annual sick days per employee per job-site.

Safety Training Effectiveness(Analyzing Sun Coast Data)

Health and safety training is conducted for each new contract that is awarded to Sun Coast. Data for training expenditures and lost-time hours were collected from 223 contracts. It would be valuable to know if training has been successful in reducing lost-time hours and, if so, how to predict lost-time hours from training expenditures.

Sound-Level Exposure

Sun Coast’s contracts generally involve work in noisy environments due to a variety of heavy equipment being used for both remediation and the clients’ ongoing operations on the job sites. Standard ear-plugs are adequate to protect employee hearing if the decibel levels are less than 120 decibels (dB). For environments with noise levels exceeding 120 dB, more advanced and expensive hearing protection is required, such as earmuffs. Historical data have been collected from 1,503 contracts for several variables that are believed to contribute to excessive dB levels. It would be important if these data could be used to predict the dB levels of work environments before placing employees on-site for future contracts. This would help the safety department plan for procurement of appropriate ear protection for employees.

New Employee Training

All new Sun Coast employees participate in general health and safety training. The training program was revamped and implemented six months ago. Upon completion of the training programs, the employees are tested on their knowledge. Test data are available for two groups: Group A employees who participated in the prior training program and Group B employees who participated in the revised training program. It is necessary to know if the revised training program is more effective than the prior training program.

Lead Exposure

Employees working on job sites to remediate lead must be monitored. Lead levels in blood are measured as micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood (μg/dL). A baseline blood test is taken pre-exposure and postexposure at the conclusion of the remediation. Data are available for 49 employees who recently concluded a 2-year lead remediation project. It is necessary to determine if blood lead levels have increased.

Return on Investment

Sun Coast offers four lines of service to their customers, including air monitoring, soil remediation, water reclamation, and health and safety training. Sun Coast would like to know if each line of service offers the same return on investment. Return on investment data are available for air monitoring, soil remediation, water reclamation, and health and safety training projects. If return on investment is not the same for all lines of service, it would be helpful to know where differences exist.

Literature Review

After providing a brief introduction to this section, students should include the literature review information here. Important Note: Students should refer to the information presented in the Unit I Study Guide and the Unit I Syllabus instructions to complete this section of the project. Delete this before you begin.

Research Objectives

After providing a brief introduction to this section, students should include research objectives here. Students should compose short, direct statements about the objectives of the study. Research objectives should relate to the problems that have been identified above, and there should be one objective for each problem as shown in the example below. Important Note: Students should refer to the information presented in the Unit II Syllabus instructions to complete this section of the project. Delete this before you begin.

Example:

RO1: Determine if a person’s height is related to weight.

RO2:

RO3:

RO4:

RO5:

RO6:

Research Questions and Hypotheses(Analyzing Sun Coast Data)

After providing a brief introduction to this section, students should state the research questions and hypotheses. Each research objective should have a corresponding research question and a null and alternative hypothesis as shown in the example below. In total, there should be six research questions and twelve hypotheses. Important Note: Students should refer to the information presented in the Unit II Study Guide and the Unit II Syllabus instructions to complete this section of the project. Delete this before you begin.

Example:

RQ1: Is there a relationship between height and weight?

H01: There is no statistically significant relationship between height and weight.

HA1: There is a statistically significant relationship between height and weight.

Research Methodology, Design, and Methods

After providing a brief introduction to this section, students should detail the research design they have selected and why it is an appropriate research approach for addressing the business problems. Use the following subheadings to include all required information. Important Note: Students should refer to the information presented in the Unit III Study Guide and the Unit III Syllabus instructions to complete this section of the project. Delete this before you begin.

Research Methodology

Explain the research methodology chosen for this research project and provide rationale for why it is appropriate given the problems.

Research Design

Students should explain whether the research design is exploratory, causal, or descriptive. Provide rationale for the choice.

Research Methods

Students should describe the research methods used for this research study based on the research methodology, research design, and research questions, and provide a rationale as to why they were chosen. They might include a combination of experimentation, descriptive statistics, correlation, and causal-comparative methods.

Data Collection Methods

Students should specify how the data were most likely collected to test the hypotheses. Data collection methods include, but are not limited to, survey, observation, and records analysis.

Sampling Design

Students should briefly describe the type of sampling design that was most likely used for the data that were collected. Choices include, but are not limited to, random sample, convenience sample, etc. Explain your rationale for your sampling design selection(s).

Data Analysis Procedures

Students should specify the statistical procedures used to test each set of hypotheses from among correlation, regression, t test, and ANOVA. They should explain why each procedure was the most appropriate choice.

Example:

Correlation is the preferred procedure to use to test the RQ1 hypotheses since the interest is whether a relationship exists between an independent variable (IV) and dependent variable (DV). Correlation will indicate if there is a relationship between height (IV) and weight (DV), the strength of the relationship, and the direction of the relationship.

Data Analysis: Descriptive Statistics and Assumption Testing(Analyzing Sun Coast Data)

After providing a brief introduction to this section, students should provide the Excel Toolpak results of their descriptive analyses. Frequency tables, histograms, and descriptive statistics tables should be cut and pasted from Excel directly into the final project document. Important Note: Students should refer to the information presented in the Unit IV Study Guide and the Unit IV Syllabus instructions to complete this section of the project. Delete this before you begin.

Correlation: Descriptive Statistics and Assumption Testing

Students should include this information here. Include frequency table, histogram, and descriptive statistics table. Evaluate and discuss the descriptive statistics and make an explicit statement about whether the assumptions for parametric statistical testing were met or not met. Delete these statements before you begin.

Simple Regression: Descriptive Statistics and Assumption Testing

Students should include this information here. Include frequency table, histogram, and descriptive statistics table. Evaluate and discuss the descriptive statistics, and make an explicit statement about whether the assumptions for parametric statistical testing were met or not met. Delete these statements before you begin.

Multiple Regression: Descriptive Statistics and Assumption Testing

Students should include this information here. Include frequency table, histogram, and descriptive statistics table. Evaluate and discuss the descriptive statistics and make an explicit statement about whether the assumptions for parametric statistical testing were met or not met. Delete these statements before you begin.

Independent Samples t Test: Descriptive Statistics and Assumption Testing

Students should include this information here. Include frequency table, histogram, and descriptive statistics table. Evaluate and discuss the descriptive statistics, and make an explicit statement about whether the assumptions for parametric statistical testing were met or not met. Delete these statements before you begin.

Dependent Samples (Paired-Samples) t Test: Descriptive Statistics and Assumption Testing

Students should include this information here. Include frequency table, histogram, and descriptive statistics table. Evaluate and discuss the descriptive statistics, and make an explicit statement about whether the assumptions for parametric statistical testing were met or not met. Delete these statements before you begin.

ANOVA: Descriptive Statistics and Assumption Testing

Students should include this information here. Include frequency table, histogram, and descriptive statistics table. Evaluate and discuss the descriptive statistics, and make an explicit statement about whether the assumptions for parametric statistical testing were met or not met. Delete these statements before you begin

Data Analysis: Hypothesis Testing(Analyzing Sun Coast Data)

After providing a brief introduction to this section, students should provide the Excel Toolpak results of their hypothesis testing. The statistical output tables should be cut and pasted from Excel directly into the final project document. For the regression hypotheses, the students should display and discuss the predictive regression equations. Important Note: Students should refer to the information presented in the Units V and VI Study Guides and the Units V and VI Syllabus instructions to complete this section of the project. Delete this before you begin.

Correlation: Hypothesis Testing

Students should include this information here. Restate the null and alternative hypotheses, cut and paste the statistical output from Excel Toolpak, discuss the p-value in relation to alpha and explicitly accept or reject the null and alternative hypotheses. Delete these statements before you begin.

Simple Regression: Hypothesis Testing

Students should include this information here. Restate the null and alternative hypotheses, cut and paste the statistical output from Excel Toolpak, and interpret and explain the simple regression analysis results below the Excel output. Your explanation should include: multiple R, R square, alpha level, ANOVA F value, accept or reject the null and alternative hypotheses for the model, statistical significance of the x variable coefficient, and the regression model as an equation with explanation. Delete these statements before you begin.

Multiple Regression: Hypothesis Testing

Students should include this information here. Restate the null and alternative hypotheses, cut and paste the statistical output from Excel Toolpak, and interpret and explain the simple regression analysis results below the Excel output. Your explanation should include: multiple R, R square, alpha level, ANOVA F value, accept or reject the null and alternative hypotheses for the model, statistical significance of the x variable coefficients, and the regression model as an equation with explanation.

Independent Samples t Test: Hypothesis Testing

Students should include this information here. Restate the null and alternative hypotheses, cut and paste the statistical output from Excel Toolpak, discuss the p-value in relation to alpha and explicitly accept or reject the null and alternative hypotheses. Delete these statements before you begin.

Dependent Samples (Paired Samples) t Test: Hypothesis Testing

Students should include this information here. Restate the null and alternative hypotheses, cut and paste the statistical output from Excel Toolpak, discuss the p-value in relation to alpha and explicitly accept or reject the null and alternative hypotheses. Delete these statements before you begin.

ANOVA: Hypothesis Testing

Students should include this information here. Restate the null and alternative hypotheses, cut and paste the statistical output from Excel Toolpak, discuss the p-value in relation to alpha and explicitly accept or reject the null and alternative hypotheses. Delete these statements before you begin.

Findings(Analyzing Sun Coast Data)

After providing a brief introduction to this section, students should discuss the findings in the context of Sun Coast’s problems and the associated research objectives and research questions. Important Note: Students should refer to the information presented in the Unit VII Study Guide and the Unit VII Syllabus instructions to complete this section of the project. Restate each research objective, and discuss them in the context of your hypothesis testing results. The following are some things to consider. What answers did the analysis provide to your research questions? What do those answers tell you? What are the implications of those answers? Delete these statements before you begin.

Example:

RO1: Determine if a person’s height is related to weight.

The results of the statistical testing showed that a person’s height is related to their weight. It is a relatively strong and positive relationship between height and weight. We would, therefore, expect to see in our population taller people having a greater weight relative to those of shorter people. This determination suggests restrictions on industrial equipment should be stated in maximum pounds allowed rather than maximum number of people allowed.

RO2:

RO3:

RO4:

RO5:

RO6:

Recommendations(Analyzing Sun Coast Data)

After providing a brief introduction to this section, students should include recommendations here in paragraph form. This section should be your professional thoughts based upon the results of the hypothesis testing. You are the researcher, and Sun Coast’s leadership team is relying on you to make evidence-based recommendations. Delete these statements before you begin.

References

Include references here using hanging indentations, and delete these statements and example reference.

Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2018). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (5th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

 
Do you need a similar assignment done for you from scratch? Order now!
Use Discount Code "Newclient" for a 15% Discount!

Strategic Consensus Organizing Principles

/in , , , , /by

Strategic Consensus Organizing Principles

(Strategic Consensus Organizing Principles)

The Strategic Principles of Consensus Organizing

Can you teach people how to be strategic? It’s a question that trainers and teachers often ask as they approach a new training program or a classroom full of eager faces. Thinking strategically and pragmatically is the hallmark of a good consensus organizer. Consensus organizing is based on several key strategic principles that are the fundamental beliefs and values that guide the implementation of the model and its activities. These principles also express the philosophy and the attitude behind the consensus organizing approach. As consensus organizers begin to enter a community, these principles are at the forefront of their minds as their organizing strategy takes shape. This chapter explains these principles and why they are important to consensus organizing.

Table 3.1 summarizes the five core strategic principles of consensus organizing (Consensus Organizing Institute, n.d.).

Table 3.1 Strategic Principles of Consensus Organizing

Strategic Principle Key Strategies Example
Solutions to local problems should come from affected communities.
  • Strategies and objectives are set by the community.
  • Incorporate community’s existing social networks.
  • Analyze and identify individual self-interests and mutual community interests and build relationships based on those interests.
 Residents bring recent crime problems to the attention of the local police and ask for assistance in developing a crime watch program. The local police work with residents to develop a neighborhood watch. Relationships are built between residents and the police.
Pragmatic leadership is present in communities, though not always recognized.
  • Identify trusted, respected, behind-the-scenes leaders.
  • Position leaders to take responsibility for effort.
  • Build leaders’ skills and confidence to succeed.
 An older woman to whom young mothers turn for parenting help.
A teacher who stays after school hours to help his students with their studies.
Self-interest can be harnessed as a motivation for improving the welfare of communities.
  • Analyze and identify the interests of members of external power structure (e.g., government, philanthropy, corporate, social service).
  • Position them to make genuine contributions aligned with their and the community’s interests.
 A local foundation director who has $1 million to improve housing in local distressed neighborhoods, but who does not have relationships with community-based organizations located in those neighborhoods.
If a project achieves its short-term goals without positioning the participants to make even greater gains in the future, then an opportunity has been missed.
  • Position community leaders to take the lead on projects.
  • Use short-term projects to build community’s skills and relationships with power structure to lay the foundation for more comprehensive efforts.
 A neighborhood cleanup that builds relationships among residents and between residents and the city can lead to new opportunities, such as improved code enforcement and the rehab of dilapidated housing in cleanup area.
Building relationships and strategically positioning leaders to make a program work requires time, care, and finesse.
  • Understand and gain trust of leaders of the community and power structure.
  • Break down stereotypes and misperceptions that community and power structure have of one another.
  • Invest the time up front to position leaders of the community and power structure to develop genuine strategic partnerships.

 

 Going to churches, agencies, and community organization meetings, and meeting residents one-on-one in their homes. Attending local housing symposiums, city council meetings, and chamber of commerce meetings, as well as meeting one-on-one with members of the e
 
Do you need a similar assignment done for you from scratch? Order now!
Use Discount Code "Newclient" for a 15% Discount!

Transforming Hospital Organizational Effectiveness

/in , , , /by

Transforming Hospital Organizational Effectiveness

(Transforming Hospital Organizational Effectiveness)

Case Study Essay

Read the below case and then write a paper.

you must have a minimum of 3 scholarly sources (peer-reviewed journal articles). Please ensure that you follow standard APA formatting. Your paper must have a title page and a reference page. You must have a minimum of five (5) in-text citations.

During the paper, answer these questions. DO NOT put this in a question and answer format. Make sure there is an introduction and conclusion, and some parts of the questions as headings and subheadings and follow the recommended outline to ensure that all questions are answered.

Respond to the following questions in an essay (3 page minimum).

1. Assemble the diagnostic data into a framework and prepare feedback to the senior administrators of the hospitals. What’s your sense of the organization’s current structure and employee involvement issues?

2. What changes would you recommend? Is a total quality management intervention appropriate here? What alternatives would you propose?

3. Design an implementation plan for your preferred intervention.

Be sure that you describe the most common organization structures used today as well as their strengths and weaknesses.  Describe the employee involvement and how it relates to performance. Consider whether there should be a sociotechnical systems work design.

Selected Cases THE SULLIVAN HOSPITAL SYSTEM

PART I(Transforming Hospital Organizational Effectiveness)

At the Sullivan Hospital System (SHS), CEO Ken Bonnet expressed concern over market share losses to other local hospitals over the past six to nine months and declines in patient satisfaction measures. To him and his senior administrators, the need to revise the SHS organization was clear. It was also clear that such a change would require the enthusiastic participation of all organizational members, including nurses, physicians, and managers.

At SHS, the senior team consisted of the top administrative teams from the two hospitals in the system. Bonnet, CEO of the system and president of the larger of the two hospitals, was joined by Sue Strasburg, president of the smaller hospital. Their two styles were considerably different. Whereas Bonnet was calm, confident, and mild-mannered, Strasburg was assertive, enthusiastic, and energetic. Despite these differences, both administrators demonstrated a willingness to lead the change effort. In addition, each of their direct reports was clearly excited about initiating a change process and was clearly taking whatever initiative Bonnet and Strasburg would allow or empower them to do.

You were contacted by Bonnet to conduct a three-day retreat with the combined management teams and kick off the change process. Based on conversations with administrators from other hospitals and industry conferences, the team believed that the system needed a major overhaul of its Total Quality Management (TQM) process for two primary reasons. First, they believed that an improved patient care process would give physicians a good reason to use the hospital, thus improving market share. Second, although the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) had enacted policies some time ago encouraging hospitals to adopt continuous improvement principles, SHS’s system was sorely behind the times. The team readily agreed that they lacked the adequate skills and knowledge associated with implementing a more sophisticated TQM process. This first meeting was to gather together to hear about how TQM, engagement, and other strategic change processes had advanced and the issues that would need to be addressed if more sophisticated processes were to be implemented. During the meeting, you guided them through several exercises to get the team to examine methods of decision making, how team-based problem solving had advanced, and explored their understanding of the hospital’s current mission, goals, and strategies.

Although you were concerned about starting the process with a workshop that explored a solution rather than understanding the problem, you remembered Roger Harrison’s consulting rule, “Start where your client is at,” and agreed to conduct the workshop. You were assured by Bonnet that the hospital system was committed to making substantive changes and that this was only the first step. In addition, and in support of this commitment, Bonnet told you that he had already agreed in principle to begin a work redesign process in a few of the nursing units at each hospital and had begun to finalize a contract with a large consulting firm to do the work. The workshop was highly praised and you convinced the team to hold off on the work design implementation long enough to conduct a diagnosis of the system.

Following the retreat, your diagnosis of the SHS organization employed a variety of data collection activities including interviews with senior managers from both hospitals as well as a sampling of middle managers and staff (for example, nurses, ancillary professionals, and environmental services providers). Questions about the hospital’s mission garnered the most consensus and passion. There was almost unanimous commitment to the breadth of services provided and the values that played a prominent role in the delivery of those services by a Catholic-sponsored health care organization, such as SHS. A mission and values statement was clearly posted throughout the hospital and many of the items in that statement were repeated almost verbatim in the interviews.

From there, however, answers about the organization’s purpose and objectives became more diverse. With respect to goals and objectives, different stakeholder groups saw them differently. Senior administrators were fairly clear about the goals listed in the strategic plan. These goals included increasing measurements of patient satisfaction, decreasing the amount of overtime, and increasing market share. However, among middle managers and supervisors, there was little awareness of hospital goals or how people influenced their accomplishment. A question about the hospital’s overall direction or how the goals were being achieved yielded a clear split in people’s perceptions. Some believed the hospital achieved its objectives through its designation as the area’s primary trauma center. They noted that if someone’s life were in danger, the best chance of survival was to go to SHS. The problem, respondents joked, was that “after we save their life, we tend to forget about them.” Many, however, held beliefs that could be labeled “low cost.” That is, objectives were achieved by squeezing out every penny of cost no matter how that impacted patient care.

Opinions about the policies governing the hospital’s operation supported a general belief that the organization was too centralized. People felt little empowerment to make decisions. There also were a number of financial policies that were seen as dictated from the corporate office, where “shared services” existed, including finance, marketing, information systems, and purchasing. Further, several policies limited a manager’s ability to spend money, especially if it wasn’t allocated in budgets.

In addition to the managerial sample, a variety of individual contributors and supervisors were interviewed either individually or in small groups to determine the status and characteristics of different organization design factors. The organization’s policy and procedure manuals, annual reports, organization charts, and other archival information were also reviewed. This data collection effort revealed the following organization design features:

(Transforming Hospital Organizational Effectiveness)

· • The hospitals’ structures were more bureaucratic than organic. Each hospital had a functional structure with a chief executive officer and from two to five direct reports. Both hospitals had directors of nursing services and professional services. The larger hospital had additional directors in special projects, pastoral care, and other staff functions that worked with both hospitals. Traditional staff functions, such as finance, procurement, human resources, and information services, were centralized at the corporate office. There were a number of formal policies regarding spending, patient care, and so on.

· • The basic work design of the hospitals could be characterized as traditional. Tasks were narrowly defined (janitor, CCU nurse, admissions clerk, and so on). Further, despite the high levels of required interdependency and complexity involved in patient care, most jobs were individually based. That is, job descriptions detailed the skills, knowledge, and activities required of a particular position. Whenever any two departments needed to coordinate their activities, the work was controlled by standard operating procedures, formal paperwork, and tradition.

· • Information and control systems were old and inflexible. From the staff’s perspective, and to some extent even middle management’s, little, if any, operational information (that is, about costs, productivity, or levels of patient satisfaction) was shared. Cost information in terms of budgeted versus actual spending was available to middle managers and their annual performance reviews were keyed to meeting budgeted targets. Unfortunately, managers knew the information in the system was grossly inaccurate. They felt helpless in affecting change, since the system was centralized in the corporate office. As a result, they devised elaborate methods for getting the “right” numbers from the system or duplicated the system by keeping their own records.

· • Human resource systems, also centralized in the corporate office, were relatively generic. Internal job postings were updated weekly (there was a shortage of nurses at the time). There was little in the way of formal training opportunities beyond the required, technical educational requirements to maintain currency and certification. Reward systems consisted mainly of a merit-based pay system that awarded raises according to annual performance appraisal results. Raises over the previous few years, however, had barely kept pace with the cost of living. There also were various informal recognition systems administered by individual managers.

PART II(Transforming Hospital Organizational Effectiveness)

This diagnostic data was discussed and debated among the senior team. A steering committee composed of physicians, managers, nurses, and other leaders from both hospitals was convened, and creating a vision for the system and the change effort became one of their first tasks.

The steering committee spent hours poring over vision statements from other organizations, discussing words and phrases that described what they thought would be an exciting outcome from interacting with the hospital, and trying to satisfy their own needs for something unique and creative. When the first draft of a statement emerged, they spent several months sharing and discussing it with a variety of stakeholders. To their dismay, the initial version was roundly rejected by almost everyone as boring, unimaginative, or unreal. The group discussed the input gathered during these discussions and set about the task of revising the vision. After several additional iterations and a lot of wordsmithing, a new and more powerful vision statement began to emerge. The centerpiece of the vision was the belief that the organization should work in such a way that the patient felt like they were the “center of attention.” Such an orientation to the vision became a powerful rallying point since many of the hospitals’ management teams readily understood that there was an existing perception of poor service that needed to be turned around.

The three months spent working and adapting the vision statement was well worth it. As it was presented to people in small meetings and workshops, each word and phrase took on special meaning to organizational members and generated commitment to change.

 
Do you need a similar assignment done for you from scratch? Order now!
Use Discount Code "Newclient" for a 15% Discount!

Leadership Theories 3

/in , , /by

Leadership Theories 3

Leadership Theories 3

(Leadership Theories 3) NO PLAGIARISM

PLEASE READ ALL DIRECTIONS AND FOLLOW ACCORDINGLY

Resources: The Art and Science of Leadership, Ch. 3 and Leadership Theories Matrix

As a leader, you often need to display or clarify a concept.  A matrix is a grid that contains information and offers a visual model of ideas.  For this assignment, you will create a matrix that explains leadership theories.

Research the following five leadership theories and include these in your matrix (use the matrix template provided):

  • Trait theories of leadership
  • Behavioral theories of leadership
  • Contingency models of leadership
  • Skills approaches to leadership
  • Situational methods of leadership

Develop the definition and characteristics of various leadership theories and approaches to leadership (trait leadership, behavioral leadership, contingency leadership, skills leadership and situational leadership). 

Trait Leadership

Trait leadership focuses on inherent qualities. Effective leaders possess traits such as confidence, intelligence, and integrity.

Characteristics include innate abilities. These leaders naturally exhibit charisma, decisiveness, and strong communication skills.

Behavioral Leadership

Behavioral leadership emphasizes actions over traits. Leaders can develop effective behaviors through learning and practice.

Key characteristics involve task-oriented and people-oriented behaviors. Effective leaders balance these behaviors to achieve goals.

Contingency Leadership

Contingency leadership suggests the best leadership style depends on the situation. There is no one-size-fits-all approach.

Characteristics include adaptability. Leaders must assess situational variables and modify their style to be effective.

Skills Leadership

Skills leadership highlights the importance of learned abilities. Effective leaders develop specific skills through training and experience.

Characteristics involve technical, human, and conceptual skills. These skills enable leaders to manage tasks, people, and ideas effectively.

Situational Leadership

Situational leadership adapts based on followers’ needs. Leaders adjust their approach according to the development level of their team.

Key characteristics include flexibility and responsiveness. Leaders diagnose the situation and apply the appropriate leadership style.

Provide one or more examples to support the definition or characteristics of each form of leadership. 

Write out your explanations in each section using about 150 to 200 words for each section. First person writing may be used for this assignment.

Format your Leadership Theory Matrix with the template and consistent with APA guidelines.

Spell check and proofread the matrix carefully.

References

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/293885908_Leadership_Theories_and_Styles_A_Literature_Review#:~:text=Main%20theories%20that%20emerged%20during,and%20Laissez%20Faire%20leadership%20theory.&text=Content%20may%20be%20subject%20to%20copyright.

 
Do you need a similar assignment done for you from scratch? Order now!
Use Discount Code "Newclient" for a 15% Discount!