Life Cycles, Standards and Best Practices Life Cycles Essay

This paper will outline the systems development life cycle as it pertains to both the development of a custom application and the selection of proprietary systems. The major types and classifications of health care information standards and specific organizations that develop and regulate standards will be explained. The need for security information systems will be revealed and the methods to accomplish security of these systems will be addressed. Three best practices for effective IT alignment and strategic planning will be outlined. Running head: Life Cycles, Standards and Best Practices 3 Description of Systems Development life Cycle as it Pertains to Both the Development of a Custom Application and the Selection of Proprietary Systems The Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC), is a six step project development process that was designed to help the development team develop the end product. The players involved are the users, systems analysts, programmers and technical specialists (Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC), 2006-2013). In the first step of the Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC), an examination of the economic, technical, behavioral or organizational aspect of the business is reviewed. A determination will be made as to what needs to be done during this step (Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC), 2006-2013). In the second step, the organization examines any identified problems that need to be corrected. Proposals may be drafted outlining the solutions that must be satisfied. The third step identifies how the system will accomplish the tasks. The physical and logical designs come together in this step of the process; the computer hardware is joined with the communication and security issues (Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC), 2006-2013). In the forth step, the new system is actually developed. Once all the necessary components are received and programs installed, then all the users of new system must now be trained. Once the system is up and running and users are using and becoming acclimated to the new system, the system’s performance must also be tested. Adjustments will be made accordingly and respectively (Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC), 2006-2013). During the fifth step, the system is now being used. Either the old system is going to be shut down completely and the new system used immediately, or the new will be implemented Running head: Life Cycles, Standards and Best Practices 4 and the old system will be gradually phased out (Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC), 2006-2013). During the sixth step, the system has been in operation for a while and has been evaluated many times over. It is important that the users are kept in the loop regarding any changes to the system (Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC), 2006-2013). After the six steps have been completed and accomplished, the system must go on, therefore, it is important to maintenance the system accordingly ensuring updates, are being done, new features installed properly and debugging when necessary (Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC), 2006-2013). Description of Major Types and Classifications of Health Care Information Standards and the Specific Organizations That Regulate These Standards The Standards Development Process consists of four methods: Ad hoc, De facto, Government mandate and Consensus. ISO (International Organization for Standardization) is and organization that oversees the flow of documentation and the international approval of standards developed by its members. The members of the organization hale from many different countries. ANSI (American Nation Standards Institute) is the United States body of the ISO (International Organization for Standardization). ANSI (American Nation Standards Institute) as stated is the United States body of the ISO (International Organization for Standardization). The ANI (American Nation Standards Running head: Life Cycles, Standards and Best Practices 5 Institute) oversees the work of SDO (Standards Development Organization) and publishes the SDO (Standards Development Organization) standards. SDO (Standards Development Organization) must be accredited by the ANSI (American Nation Standards Institute) and must follow strict guidelines to develop standards within the ANSI (American Nation Standards Institute) criteria. There are well over two hundred fifty SDOs (Standards Development Organization) which represent many industries to include health care. It is noteworthy to point out that recently within the last ten years, the IT industry has moved away from the formal process of development standards through the SDO (Standards Development Organization). The route that IT is taking is a less formal approach. The Linux is an example of IT establishing a standard with little formal input (Wager, Lee, & Glaser, 2009). There are many types of vocabularies and to date there is still no one single vocabulary. Common coding and classifications systems include ICD-9, CPT and DRGs. The International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) is used in the United States for the purpose of coding diseases and procedures. The federal government publishes an update each year and it can be used by virtually everyone. It is also noteworthy that many companies also republish the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9), creating a more user-friendly version. Initially it was created to compare illness and death all over the world but then it took a role in hospital reimbursement (Wager, Lee, & Glaser, 2009). Current procedural Terminology (CPT), introduced in 1966, is published and updated each year by the American Medical Association (AMA). Originally the Current procedural Running head: Life Cycles, Standards and Best Practices 6 Terminology (CPT) was used in the medical field as a source for uniform language to describe any type of medical and surgical services. Currently the Current procedural Terminology (CPT) is being used as standard for reimbursement services in doctor’s offices, facilities offering outpatient services and also ambulatory care (Wager, Lee, & Glaser, 2009). Diagnosis related Groups (DRG) are used for insurance purposes for determining inpatient reimbursements. The Diagnosis related Groups (DRG) is a classification scheme that basically identifies the types of patients a hospital treats in relation to what said treatment cost the hospital. Diagnosis related Groups (DRG) are divided into twenty major systems and then they are further subdivided into over five hundred subdivisions the Medicare reimbursement (Diagnosis-related group (DRG), 2013). Discuss the Need for, and Identify Methods of, Accomplishing the Security of Information Systems Threats the health care information systems come in many forms, such as technology malfunctions and tampering. Human nature, which we have no control over, can also cause threats to security information systems in the form of floods, fires or power outages (Wager, Lee, & Glaser, 2009). Whether the threats are caused by internal, external, intentional or unintentional factors, the organization has to safeguard itself from all types of threats. Internal threats can be caused by employees logging on to inappropriate websites. External threats can be caused by someone outside the company such as a hacker. Intentional threats can be caused by an employee who was terminated. Because of the termination, the employee may sabotage documents, files or the hardware on the computer itself. For this reason, employers do not allow employees to return to Running head: Life Cycles, Standards and Best Practices 7 the work area after they have been terminated. If the employee is permitted to return, it is with a security officer and then only long enough to collect personal effects. Another more serious example of an intentional threat is computer viruses. They can pose serious damage to patient information (Wager, Lee, & Glaser, 2009). Unintentional threats are also very serious and these are the threats that occur when the employee logs on to a website or checks his personal email from work and that website attaches a virus. Computer viruses as stated above are considered intentional, but in this respect, I believe that the employee is not thinking about viruses when he or she is checking personal email or going on websites such as Facebook, but the virus can be critical to the organization. For this reason, most employers have the employee sign an Affidavit stating that the employee understands and agrees with the organizations policies about computer and even phone use. The necessity for a security information system is a must as this can be vital to the success of the organization. The organization’s information must be protected. The company needs to ensure that there is no unauthorized disclosure of classified information. In order to do this, the organization must put administrative, physical and technical safeguards in place (Wager, Lee, & Glaser, 2009). Administrative safeguards come in the form of risk analysis which is an eight part process designed to identify risks and threats that can cause vulnerability in any area within the organization. Risk analysis is quite new to the healthcare industry. It has also established policies and procedures and specific consequences for all employees that do not adhere to these policies and procedures (Wager, Lee, & Glaser, 2009). Running head: Life Cycles, Standards and Best Practices 8 Physical safeguards are necessary to protect all equipment and computer hardware and software. Certain employees may be assigned to specific duties to ensure the safeguard of computers and workstations (Wager, Lee, & Glaser, 2009). Technical safeguards are vital as the organization must protect patient information. It is important for employees not to share passwords. All computers must be logged off or shut down appropriately after use. The organization should do audits often to ensure the safeguard of data and files. The internet is used commonly in all organizations. In an effort to further safeguard the organization, firewalls are built between the organization’s network used in house and the internet (Wager, Lee, & Glaser, 2009). One of the most common problems with computers in general is viruses. Virus can come in many forms and can be fatally destructive. The most typical type of virus is the worm which can come in the form of an email. The unsuspecting person opens the email; the worm stores itself on the computer and then starts to duplicate itself over and over again. This type of email usually is mass produced to many email addresses and each person may be subject to this virus. This is why people are encouraged not to open suspicious looking email or email from unknown parties. To help prevent becoming victim to such viruses, antivirus software is recommended. Create at Least Three (3) Best Practices for Effective IT Alignment and Strategic Planning In an effort to reach the goal of IT alignment and strategic planning, there must be a sound relationship between what IT invest will cost and the organization’s goals. Both the alignment and the organization’s strategy must be understood by the organization and both meet the organizational needs. Running head: Life Cycles, Standards and Best Practices 9 The three best practices for effective IT alignment and strategic planning I found that will be suffice in creating the relationship between IT and the organization’s goals are diversity within the groups, looking at the big picture and open dialogue among senior management of all levels. In order to achieve the set goals, the organization must realize that excluding areas in the organization may be harmful to the success and some people may feel slighted. This is why it is imperative for the company to include people from all areas of the company. Those people included in the group should also include all types of managers from lower level management all the way up to senior an executive managers. Including all types of managers provides the diversity among the group. They understand the day to day operations of the organization and each area, each manger can bring something viable to the table (Strategic Communications, 2010). No one should be stifled. Everyone should have a voice. This open dialogue should be encouraged and it should be understood from the beginning that no one is there to criticize and because there is diversity among the group, there will be times that something is said that may not set well with another department or perhaps a manager. It should be understood that all dialogue should be constructive. Strategic planning is not an easy task and everyone should realize that it is for the betterment of the organization that everyone works together in an effort to accomplish the goal (Strategic Communications, 2010). Everyone in the organiztion must keep their eyes on the big picture. The organization’s misison, vision and values must be kept in the forefront of everyone’s mind. During the strategic planning process, there will debates as everyone will not agree, but it is important for the goup to Running head: Life Cycles, Standards and Best Practices 10 remember why they are holding the planning process and also what goal they are attempting to achieve. In summary, the organization must include all the key players, but it must not forget about the key stakeholders. The key stakeholders are those people that will be charged with implementation of the plan. The orgaziniation may also find it beneficial to give these stakeholders a voice along the way as well. With open dialogue, management at all levels and a sound plan, the organization will most likely stay on the path to success.

Lockheed Martins Acquistion of NationScape, Inc Case Study

Lockheed Martins Acquistion of NationScape, Inc - Case Study Example The US, for example, combines more of diplomacy and military engagements known as soft power. By acquiring NSI, Lockheed should be able to provide support services for government agencies such as USAID and the United Nations agencies. Military stability support, reconstruction and security transition are major engagements for the department of defense. NSI will enable Lockheed to take advantage of government contracts aimed at promoting these engagements. NSI will enable Lockheed to globalize its operations. Over 90% of Lockheed, staff is in the United States. This does not help the company to have a global outlook and therefore its revenues are constrained in the hosting country (Petrescu & Relly 73). NSI has operations in more than 50 countries across six continents and it is still looking to increase its operations in more countries in Asia and African region. Acquiring NSI will, thus, enable Lockheed have a global outlook, unlike its current position. It will be easier for Lockheed to enter other non-traditional markets when it has this global outlook. Lockheed will also take advantage of the NSI staff located in different parts of the world. This will enable the company to expand its operations without significantly increasing its labor costs. Lockheed will make more money from engagements with the Department of State and development assistance, which had a budget off over $31 billion (Petrescu & Relly 123). In addition to the increased budgetary allocations, other customers such as the Department of Defense, international organizations such as NATO and allied foreign governments are also increasing their spending programs. This means that Lockheed will be assured of a ready market since acquiring NSI puts the company at a competent position to meet the high demand. Increasing its global coverage should enable Lockheed to achieve its vital corporate strategies. This will lead to

ASC Research F Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

ASC Research F - Essay Example The rationale behind treating this division as discontinued operation and held for sale has been discussed here and reporting of the position of financial statement for such division has been explained. A component of an entity can be considered discontinued operation if it does not have any involvement with the operation of the component after the disposal transaction. The sale of such asset or disposal group is probable or likely to occur and the transfer of such asset is expected to qualify for recognition as a complete sale within one year. Again the sale has been actively marketed at a reasonable price in relation to its current fair value. The period in which such transaction has occurred, the income statement of a business entity or statement of activities for not-for-profit entity (NFP) for current and prior periods should report the result of operation of component along with the gain or loss recognized in discontinued operations. The result of operation of a component of an entity either been disposed of or classified as held for sale will be reported in discontinued operations on the fulfilment of following conditions: On occurrence of the disposal transaction, the operation and cash flow of the component is required to be eliminated from the continuing operations of entity. Further, the entity is not required to have continuing involvement with the operation of the component after such disposal transaction. In a period in which the component of entity which has been disposed of or classified as held for sale, the income statement of the business entity or statement of activities of not-for-profit (NFP) entity should have the result of operation of component and gain or loss incurred in discontinued operations. The result for discontinued operation less income taxes applicable should be reported as a separate component of income before extraordinary items. Any adjustment to any amounts that has been previously reported under discontinued operations a nd is directly related to the disposal transaction in prior period is required to be separately classified under discontinued operations in current period. Such type of adjustments may arise in circumstances like resolution of adjustment of purchase price, retaining of product warranty and environmental obligations by seller, settlement of obligations of employee benefit plan provided the settlement should be related directly to the disposal transaction if there is a demonstrated relationship of direct cause and effect and the disposal should occur within one year following the disposal transaction unless delayed by circumstances beyond the control of entity. The business memorandum entailing the underlying principle for mining division of ABC Company which is to be sold off has been enclosed. BUSINESS MEMORANDUM ABC COMPANY MEMORANDUM TO: MATT ROGERS, CFO FROM: STAFF ACCOUNTANT DATE: 6/3/2013 SUBJECT: REPORTING OF MINING DIVISION INTRODUCTION It is known that ABC Company having six major divisions has recently decided to sell off its mining division. The company is actively seeking a buyer and has priced the division at fair value of the division’s assets and liabilities and it expects that the division will be sold during the next fiscal year. However, the division has been considered an operating segment; this memorandum entails the details of reporting the mining division in financial statement. BODY Research has been made on this issue from Accounting

The Important of the Immigrants in the USA Essay

The Important of the Immigrants in the USA - Essay Example The actions of immigrants to reach United States in the modern world have come to be derided and admired in equal measure but this has not deterred immigrants from putting in the effort to get to this country because they believe that they can have better lives within it (Foner & Fredrickson 2005, p.46). Those who deride immigration, whether legal or illegal, often do not take into account that it is immigrants who help in the development of a large chunk of the economy as well as its society and political scene so that America has become a unique and diverse society. Most of the immigrants to United States in the eighteenth century tended to come from northern Europe specifically Germany, Britain, Netherlands, and Scandinavian countries. These immigrants often came to this US to take advantage of the opportunities available and start their life afresh. The immigration that took place between the mid eighteenth century and the first half of nineteenth century was as a result of the agrarian revolution in Europe which forced many peasants out of their land, which they had worked for generations (Evans, 2001). As a result, many of them came to United States because it held the promise of significant land holdings, as well as work in its growing and developing cities. Those immigrants who came to United States after 1850 were predominantly of eastern European origin as well as of Irish descent. While the former often came to United States to escape the almost unceasing state of conflict and poverty that affected their homelands, the Irish immigrated mainly because of the potato famine that hit Ireland during this period. Most of these immigrants to United States from Eastern Europe were illiterate and often ended up working menial jobs in cities as New York and Chicago in order to make ends meet. From mid-20th century, immigrants ceased being predominantly from Europe and instead from across the world, as many individuals wanted to come to

Homeland Security Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Homeland Security - Essay Example While larger agencies are more likely to utilize computers for data retrieval as well as communications, the smaller agencies lag behind (p.25). Third, data sharing among agencies at all levels has become a critical component of an effective and efficient system. Again, there needs to be a focus on funding and "substantial federal assistance for technology enhancement" aimed at the smaller local agencies that may lag behind in this area (p.26). Fourth, advances in technology have made the recognition of individuals increasingly possible and important. Biometrics such as face recognition or iris scans can serve to discourage false identities and uncover deceptive practices. 2.) The ability and need to share information between the various agencies, from the federal level to the local, is a key factor in maximizing the efficiency of the system. Information sharing serves to insure that the information available is comprehensive, current, and complete. Information sharing serves a number of vital functions such as eliminating redundant processes and procedures, and identifying patterns in criminal or terrorist activity. These functions make law enforcement more efficient and the elimination of redundant activities can be a cost saving process. A key consideration for information sharing is the cost of system, which includes installation and maintenance. In addition, as with all technology based products, it may have a relatively short life span. In the past, systems such as the Wide Area Network (WAN) and Regional Information Sharing Systems (RISS) have been used with success in numerous locations (Russo and Labriola, 2003, p.31). The major drawback to t hese systems has traditionally been their reliance on large amounts of computer and networking hardware that incurred a significant cost (Russo and Labriola, 2003, p.31). Russo and Labriola (2003) suggest the use of a Virtual Private Network (VPN) as a means to emulate a Local Area Network (LAN), Intranet, or WAN at a fraction of the cost. Because the VPN utilizes the existing Internet structure, it is easy install and operate. In essence, the VPN is a highly secure Internet connection, and most facilities already have the equipment required to establish a VPN. In addition, modern encryption techniques can assure the safety of the data and can "shift many aspects of community policing from a reactive to a proactive mode" (Russo and Labriola, 2003, p.31). 3.) A community must continually evaluate the threats that they are exposed to, and constantly update their relationship to these threats. Flynt and Olin (2003) have developed a threat assessment model that can provide a cursory assessment for use by communities and organizations. The Flynt and Olin (2003) model uses a Venn diagram to illustrate whether the relevant threats are being adequately addressed. Plotting the threats, and the policy response, will reveal if all threats are being adequately addressed, as well as if threats are being addressed that do not exist (Flynt and Olin, 2003, p. 35). The model uses three colors, red, blue, and gray to indicate the threats, the self, and the environment. The threats would include known threats and threat actors. These threats need to be analyzed in regards to their "motive, means, methods, and mission" (Flynt and Olin, 2003, p.36). This will help managers develop a greater understanding of the threat and how the self will address the threat. The

How Corporate Tax Is Used by the United Kingdom Government to Support Essay

How Corporate Tax Is Used by the United Kingdom Government to Support Industry - Essay Example This report has looked at the way the UK is supporting the industry. This includes making the taxation system better by reducing corporate taxes, making the UK a better place to start and even grow a business by removing costs that would making businesses spend a lot. In addition, it encourages investment as a way of balancing the economy and finally, making the youth better in terms of education and giving them internship and apprenticeship programmes. This would help them to become more skilled on their areas of specialisation. This report makes a conclusion that these measures are just the start and the government is trying to streamline these ones and see if it can introduce others that will help in supporting the industry. It has been noted that, a better taxation system is through dropping the corporation tax system by one percent. This will help the investors and encourage other companies to increase their production. Another way is through changing the old rules of the Controlled Foreign Company with better and more attractive rules. The government is also removing the old taxation system and has put in a commission to create a newer, more effective and simplified ways of income tax. The reporter say that for the United Kingdom to be one of the best places to start and grow a business, the government should give start up loans at low interest rates and give the business people a longer time to repay the loans. This will help them work to make a profit and pay their loans on time.

Why Companies Should Green Their Supply Chain Management Research Paper

Why Companies Should Green Their Supply Chain Management - Research Paper Example Sourcing of raw materials with right quality and lower price necessitated movement of materials across the continents. On the other hand, shifting of production facilities to the places where the cost of labor is cheap is also considered by the companies. These twin strategies result into movement of raw materials and finished products from place to place cutting across the borders of the nations. The increase in the level of activity in the flow of the movement of goods over the period of time necessitated revisiting of the strategies by the corporate companies in respect of supply chain management with a view to reduce cost. However, the developments that have been taking place in the environmental front warrant corporate social responsibility (CSR) in view of atmospheric pollution which leads to global warming, water pollution, human rights issues involved, and extinction of animal and plant species. Judicious use of natural resources in the process is very important for maintaini ng ecological balance and the welfare and rights of the future generations. Also, growth at the current level with the accelerated use of natural resources is not sustainable in the long run. ... Green supply chain management Parry, P., Martha, J. & Grenon, G. (2007) state â€Å"the supply chain is the production and distribution network that encompasses the sourcing, manufacturing, transportation, commercialization, distribution, consumption, and disposal of goods, from the ore mine to the trash can†. Primarily, the uninhibited consumption of energy at various levels leads to inflation in the energy prices. The cascading effect of the increasing fuel prices results into inflation in food prices and becomes a threat to food security. The impact of greenhouse gas emissions is considered to be very serious as the damage to the environment could be irreversible. Supply chain management needs to play an important role in reduction in the consumption of energy in an organization. This could be achieved through a comprehensive corporate strategy which encompasses conservation of energy on voluntary basis, compliance with the regulations as a good corporate citizen, savings i n cost by reducing emissions, adoption of standards issued by various agencies and environmental auditing, water and effluents treatment, recycling, waste disposal and renewable energy. For instance, according to a study by Canning, P. et al. (2010) food processing showed the largest growth in energy use. Recycling of packing materials, generation of electricity from waste and avoiding use of environmentally unfriendly packing materials in the industry would not only be beneficial to the environment and the society but also results into cost saving. According to Bruntland report  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Development that meets the  needs  of the present without compromising the  ability  of future generations to meet their own needs† (The World Bank Group, 2001). Emission of