Understanding the basics of management accounting

A variety of organisations affect our daily lives. Manufacturers, retailers, service firms, agribusiness companies, non-profit organisations and governmental agencies provide us with a vast array of goods and services. All of these companies share two common things. First, they all have a set of goals or objectives. A bank's goals might be profitability and customer service, or a hotel's goals might be total quality services and cost minimisation. Second, in pursuing an organisation's goals, managers need accurate information. The information management needs range across financial, production, marketing, legal, and environmental issues. Generally, the largest the organisation is, the greater is management's need for information.

Managerial accounting is the process of identifying, measuring, analysing, interpreting, and communicating information in pursuit of an organisation's goals. Managerial accounting is an integral part of the management process, and managerial accountants are important strategic partners in an organisation's management team. The management team seeks to create value for the organisation, by managing resources, activities, and people to achieve the organisation's goals effectively. The day-to-day work of the management team comprises four activities: decision making, planning, directing operational activities and controlling.

Nowadays managerial accounting analysis is considered so crucial in managing an enterprise that in most cases, far from playing a passive role as information providers, managerial accountants take a proactive role in both the strategic and day-to-day decisions that confront an enterprise. Although much of the information they provide is financial, there is a strong trend toward the presentation of substantial non-financial data as well. Actually, they supply all kinds of information to management and act as strategic planners in support of management's role in decision making and managing the organisation activities.

Compared to financial accounting, managerial accounting is a young discipline that focuses on the needs of managers within the organisation, rather than interested parties outside the organisation. As a result, managerial accounting concepts and tools are still evolving as new ways are found to provide information that assists management. Moreover, the business environment is changing rapidly. For managerial accounting to be as useful a tool in the future as it has been in the recent past, managerial accounting has to be studied and improved.

In the 21st century the business environment is changing very rapidly. These changes are reflected in global competition, rapidly advancing technology, and improved communication systems, such as the Internet. The activities that make an enterprise successful today may no longer be sufficient next year. A crucial role of managerial accounting is to continually assess how an organisation stacks up against the competition, with an eye towards continuously improving. In fact, moving away from a historical cost accounting perspective and towards a proactive cost management is the challenge that an enterprise has to face. Assigning the costs to a larger number of cost pools that better represent those activities that are responsible for their birth, portrays the general idea upon which future managerial accounting will evolve.

Critical illness - a disease response

One of the things that has made 21st century an absolute joy to live in is the availability of plenty of services that are devised with the specific intention of providing maximum benefits to people. This has gone on to make life a smooth affair in today's life with minimum of hiccups. This is a godsend, especially in today's times when the price of every commodity has gone up alarmingly. So much so that people are forced to live strictly within their budget. Any sudden expense can actually throw the smooth functioning of any household out of gear. Imagine in this scenario what happens if one of your close relative is down with critical illness and you don't have enough money to get him treated. Imagine the plight of a family who cannot get his only son treated. Needless to say that it would be heart breaking for them.

It is here that sickness insurance comes into play and ensures that one is relieved from the trauma of arranging for finance to get the 'critical illness' treated, whatever the cost. The respite that such a service brings to families is beyond description. It is for this very reason that sickness insurance has a huge fan following in UK. Thanks to services like sickness insurance, even critical illness holds no fear for people.

However, to gain from sickness insurance one must ensure that one goes through the policy carefully before signing. One must also see to it that the policy comes to life as soon as it is signed as well as the illnesses that it protects from. One would also do well to find out that the insurance company takes care of all the expenses that come on the treatment of critical illness or only a part of it.

If precautions like these are taken then one can be rest assured that an invest like sickness insurance will actually go a long way in providing a security cover against all types of illnesses. Then whether it is a critical illness, one not need to worry about the cost side. It is easy to conclude that health insurance will become even more popular in times to come.

Scrubs Revolution - How Designer Scrubs Made it Chic

Just like everything else in this universe the medical profession has also evolved as time has gone by. And this evolution is not just in terms of the facilities and knowledge but also in terms of the medical uniforms worn by the medical practitioners.

The latest development is seen now in the 21st century. Now with the amazing progress in the medical field, how can the medical scrub be left behind? The most colorful, designer and stylish hygienic medical uniforms have been developed.

First the hospital uniforms consisted of a butcher's apron but now medical scrubs are used which are an integral part of the medical uniform. The old aprons have given way to medical uniforms consisting of nursing scrubs and the scrub hats, which are now available in a wide array of colors or designs.

Earlier, all the medical staff used button-down white garments, which kind of gave the medical field an identity. This was in the earlier 20th century. The garments were not thoughtfully made as they were not made out of hygienic materials. On the other hand, the medical scrubs available now are extremely hygienic and safe.

The main reason for this is that the medical field was not as advanced as it is now. The practitioners did not have adequate knowledge of the spread of diseases or the need for sanitation. They had this idea that germs spread spontaneously and were not aware of the spread of germs due to unhygienic conditions. That is why sanitation was not given much importance. There were times when doctors would roam around the hospitals wearing the same apron they would for all the surgeries which would suggest the surgeon to be very busy and a prominent personality in that hospital. The blood and body fluids on the apron led to the spread of infections. Eventually this was the cause for the high mortality rate in those times

Now the times have drastically changed with everyone very health conscious and also conscious about cleanliness. So trendy drawstring pants with a pullover top or mandarin collar tops have replaced the old apron. The customary front or back-buttoned nursing scrubs are now a thing of the past. They are replaced by fresh and hygienic scrubs, which are extremely comfortable and easy to use.

The newly styled medical scrubs made all types of patients more comfortable and at ease as it bought colors, designs and even cartoons characters creating a jovial and a fun loving atmosphere Although scrubs started out in white color, as white gives out the message of being pure, hygienic and clean. But white is very easy to get soiled and soon it gets a ragged look. They also cause a strain on the eyes under the bright lights in the hospital rooms.

That is why, white colored uniforms have been phased out and in their place green or other color scrubs have been made available. The material now used to manufacture these colorful scrubs is a blend of cotton and polyester because this material is comfortable and odor-resistant.

So now scrubs are made available in a variety of colors and shades. For the nurses and doctors working in the childcare and pediatric ward, there are scrubs available with cartoon characters or floral designs. These medical uniforms make the medical practitioners look friendlier and create an atmosphere of fun and happiness.

Now again the best place to find a variety of poly-cotton scrubs is the Internet. You can get a wide variety of prices as well as colors. And you can always compare prices of these items available and pick out what suits your pocket.

But just be sure to ensure that you are buying from an authentic company and not being duped. Also be sure to see that the companies have return policies. Most of the sites on the Internet will be offering discounts if you make a wholesale purchase of hospital uniforms. Here is an example to give you an idea regarding the prices.

If the price of a solid dye scrub is in the range of $15 then it is possible to get it at a cheaper price of around $10 if it is bought in wholesale. There also various payment and shipping options available with return policies and discounts.

So all you now have to do is choose the medical scrubs which you like among the available deigns, colors and patterns, and you would also need to check with the hospital authorities so that they permit you to wear these trendy scrubs. You'll definitely have something would have been happy to work every day.

Moving to Des Moines, Iowa at a rate of a better life

The capital of Iowa, Des Moines is a sprawling city noted for kicking off the U.S. Presidential campaigns every four years. If you are looking for a more traditional place to raise a family, this may be the place.

Des Moines also serves as the seat of Polk County, and is the center of a growing metropolitan area. With an estimated 196,857 residents in 2006, Des Moines has experienced marginal growth since 1990. The core population peaked at 208,982 in 1960. Since then, outlying suburbs have boosted the overall metro population to over 534,230. While Des Moines has successfully annexed bordering areas, a plan to merge governments with Polk County was soundly rejected by voters. The median age of city residents was 35.6 years in 2006 with 76% of the population being White non-Hispanic. Another 8% were African American, 10% Hispanic and 4% Asian. The African American and Hispanic populations are significantly higher than the Iowa average. About 10% of residents were foreign born, significantly higher than the state average. Over 25% of residents claimed German ancestry. Families made up 62% of Des Moines households. The 2006 median income for households in Des Moines was $41,651, slightly under the state average. It was somewhat below the national average of $46,242. Unemployment in 2006, at 6.8% among the civilian workforce, was greater than the national trend. About 15% of the population lived in poverty, equal in percentage to the number of dropouts in Des Moines.

In 2007, Forbes magazine ranked the Des Moines metropolitan area 4th on its list of "Best Places For Business And Careers." They based it on factors such as the cost of doing business, cost of living, educational attainment and crime rate. The city has been nicknamed "The Hartford of the West", as the economy relies heavily on financial service and insurance industries. Des Moines' largest employer with 7,900 jobs is Principal Financial Group, the only Fortune 500 Company to have its headquarters in Iowa. The insurance industry brings over 150 company headquarters and regional offices to the metro area. Anchored by a strong health care sector, about one fourth of all jobs in Des Moines are attributed to the service industry. Some of the area's best-known manufacturers are Pella Windows, Maytag, Amana, and Rockwell Collins Avionics. Fiber optics is also an emerging industry. If you are moving to Des Moines, it boasts a well-educated workforce. However, wages are somewhat lower than average. The most popular jobs for men was in construction at 12% of the workforce, followed by finance and insurance at 7%. For women, finance and insurance accounted for 16% of their jobs, followed by health care at 14%.

Des Moines and surrounding areas are attractive for housing values and a favorable cost of living. The median monthly housing costs for mortgaged owners in 2006 was $1,114, while renters were paying $631 monthly. About 54% of renters reported spending 30% of their income on housing, only 32% for mortgaged homeowners. Estimated median home value in 2005 was $106,300, on par with the state average. The housing market in Des Moines is incredibly affordable when compared with a national figure of $167,500. Even state and local taxes are lower than the U.S. average. In the third quarter of 2004, the ACCRA Cost of Living Index was just 94.9, about five points under average. While experiencing suburban growth, Des Moines has eye-catching upscale buildings and a rising skyline. Some of the tallest buildings are 30-45 stories high. Skyscrapers took over downtown during the 1970s and 1980s. Life in Des Moines was brought to a halt in 1993 when the city was declared a national disaster area. Flooding of the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers caused over $250 million in damages. The resulting construction projects helped renovate and update the city, bringing it into the 21st century by changing the downtown appearance. Several existing downtown buildings are being converted to loft apartments and condominiums. By retaining its small-town atmosphere with big-city amenities that lend to its quality of life, Des Moines was renamed an All-America City in 2003. Hoping to increase tourism and conventions, the area has undergone $1.5 billion in development projects. Among these is a shopping complex, IMAX theater, state science center, riverfront amphitheater, and central library.

If you are moving to Des Moines, there many colleges in its midst. The most significant is Iowa State University, about 33 miles away, with its full-time enrollment of over 24,000 students. Crime in Des Moines took a sharp turn upward in 2005, rising 200 points above the national crime index of 325.2. However, serious offenses like murder have steadily declined in recent years to 2.6 murders per 100,000 residents in 2005, making it one of the safest big cities. On the banks of the Des Moines River, farmers in the Des Moines area enjoy fertile farmland. During the heart of the growing season (early May to early October), about 60% of the 33 inches of annual rainfall is recorded. Harvest time is met with conditions favorable for drying and harvesting crops. However, the weather can become harsh and drastically change.

Summer heat peaks at highs averaging 86 degrees in July and plummet to about 12 for the low in January. During winter, subzero temperatures and drifting snow can impede transportation with over 30 inches of snowfall annually. The area is a tornado zone with a 118% higher risk of a twister than the rest of the country. The city has notable natives like actress Cloris Leachman, members of the rock group Slipknot, famed fashion designer Halston, a female NASCAR driver, an NFL quarterback, a PGA Masters Champion and a former U.S. President, who was a local radio personality, Ronald Reagan.

Internet commerce for cars

Right now there are many companies all trying to get you to buy their particular insurance plan for your car. From quacking ducks to talking lizards, there is an overabundance of advertisements, all done with the intent to get you sign up for their company.

But which one is right for you?

One of the better solutions that I found is to go online and compare the different automotive insurance policies. That way, it is easy to find one that fits your particular situation. In addition, I have found that utilizing the Internet is the best way to save money.

Before you go out and buy from the first company that offers you a car insurance policy, it is important that you understand which items are important for protecting you and your assets.

As you probably know most insurance policies look the same. So it is important to understand both the company and your unique situation.

First you should decide the maximum amount that you can use to pay for your insurance. This step means a careful analysis of your budget. It is a question of how much you can afford.

This leads to our second item for consideration. How much do you need to cover? For people that have a lot of assets, it is vital that they get enough insurance to personally protect their money in case of a catastrophic accident.

Many penny pinchers elect to get the lowest coverage. While it important to save money, it is equally important to prevent one accident from wiping you out. The funny thing is that even if you do elect for lower coverage, you wind up not saving that much money.

The next step is to check out the individual car insurance companies. As a result, it is vital that you get quotes from at least five different auto insurance companies. The method that I use is to go online and compare some of the top companies that show up. Here is a brief list of companies that offer Top-rated Auto Insurance

• 21 Century Insurance

• Geico

• USAA

• Safeco Insurance

• MetLife Auto

• Liberty Mutual

• Allstate

• Direct Unitrin

• Esurance

• Progressive

• State Farm

• AIG Auto Insurance

GMAC Insurance •

• nationwide

• Eastwood

• Friends

• AAA

Oncefind quotes from different companies, you should create a strategy of the various costs involved with purchasing car insurance. This includes deductibles, collision, comprehensive, and the total costs. For each company, try to get quotes on different levels of coverage. That way, you can develop an accurate portrayal of the price for each car insurance quote.

The final step is to understand how much each company will cover. While you might save money from one particular company, they might offer little to no coverage in case you get into an accident. While you might save some cash in the short term, the long term consequences could be disastrous.

When you have done your analysis, you will have a list of companies that offer quality insurance at an affordable price. With a little effort and research, you can properly cover yourself within your budget requirements.