Abstract
The paper analyzes Chris Murphy's article "What's Next" that focuses on current IT outsourcing practice and Lee and Margaret Covell's article "A Strategic Approach to Overhead Management" that discusses operations cost-cutting. The paper then looks at Joseph Bozada's article "Generating Shareholder Value: Much More Than Cost Cutting" that suggests that worker layoffs might be counter-productive and finally, the paper examines the editorial in the Measuring Business Excellence magazine that explains how improved cost-efficiency can also be achieved through an innovative use of accounting and financial processes. The paper notes that all four authors agree that companies need to look beyond such traditional cost-cutting methods as layoffs, outsourcing and downsizing.

Outline:
Introduction
Analysis: New Perspectives on Outsourcing and Operations Cost Cutting
Analysis: Novel Approaches to Cost Cutting
Conclusion

From the Paper
"In today's challenging business environment, companies are considering cost-cutting strategies more often than just a couple of years ago. There are three well-established methods of cost cutting: downsizing, outsourcing and cutting the costs of operations (Crampton & Hodge, 2007, p.341). Managers usually turn to one or a combination of these strategies during difficult economic times and/or situations of company underperformance. However, according to many analysts, such behavior might be counterproductive and even dangerous (Bozada, 2004, p.17). While hasty layoffs and downsized operations might improve the immediate financial situation, in the longer term they might create a strategic disadvantage and even cut into future revenue gains. According to Bozada, this happens because "This approach primarily focuses on cost cutting and will, by definition, only produce limited results" (p.17). What is needed therefore is a strategic and innovative approach to the concept of cost cutting."

Tags:layoffs, downsizing, accounting, outsourcing, operations

Abstract
Discusses the economic costs and advantages to organizations. Transaction theory. Focus on health care industry and employee turnover. Goal of hospitals for health care excellence and cost control. Impact of employee turnover on hospital budgets; drain on profits and efficiency. Staff shortages and elimination of services. Threat to revenues.

From the Paper
"Transaction cost theory, as proposed by Ronald Coase and Oliver Williamson, states that organizations experience enormous economic costs and corresponding economic advantages in each and everyone of their captivities or transactions (Slater & Spencer, 2000). For many years, the dominant neoclassical approach to the theory of the firm suggested that nothing significant would be gained from peering into the "black box" called the firm and that it was enough to know that a firm operated to maximize profits. In the core model of perfect competition, this was achieved subject to known technology and known prices.

Transaction cost theory takes into account the assertion that the firm exists because of its capacity to economize on the costs of market-oriented production (Slater & Spencer, 2000). The firm itself emerges as the most superior economic device for the ..."

Abstract
The paper relates that the goal today is to reduce the cost of health care without compromising the patient's health and safety. The paper calls for a change that involves reallocating and redistributing funding in the system, but explains that at the same time, to make certain health and safety are not compromised, a program of quality assurance will be needed along with a process of continuous improvement and a health information management system.

From the Paper
"The goal today is to reduce the cost of health care without compromising patient's health and safety. Costs need to be reduced while maintaining effectiveness and efficiency. One change that would bring this about is to make the most of what is already in the health care system. This change involves reallocating and redistributing funding in the system. At the same time, to make certain health and safety are not compromised, a program of quality assurance will be needed along with a process of continuous improvement and a health information management..."

Tags:teams, leadership, roles

Abstract
Examines current thinking among industry analysts and economists as to the efficiency produced by e-commerce. Role of prices and productions costs. Key easons for the growth of e-markets; extended reach and market penetration. Reduction of business operating costs by Internet use. Advantages to buyers & sellers of creating more efficient markets.

From the Paper
"E-commerce and Market Efficiencies: Cost Transparencies and Reduction of Elements in the Value-Added Chain

Introduction
The emergence of the Internet as a locus for commercial activities in the form of "e-commerce" has led some economists to conclude that new possibilities for development of a truly and generally efficient marketplace are being created (Anonymous, The Economist, 2000). Prior to the advent of the Internet, most economists recognized that they were unlikely to encounter a truly perfect, perfectly competitive, and therefore fully efficient market outside the pages of textbooks. The Internet, however, is being viewed as having almost this potential. From the perspective ..."

Abstract
This paper explains that the Department of Defense (DoD), with more than $1 trillion in assets and a budget that accounts for about half of the federal government's discretionary funding, has a need for accurate accounting processes. The author points out that ABC captures quantified cost and time data and translates it into information for making decisions by measuring process and activity performance, by determining the cost of business process outputs, and by identifying opportunities to improve process efficiency and effectiveness. The paper concludes that the ultimate decision will be based on a blended action that minimizes cost and time, while creating a better outcome.

Table of Contents
Big Need for Accurate Accounting
ABC in the Military
Process Decision Example
Success Stories
NASA
Fleet and Industrial Supply Center (FISC)
Military Resistance to ABC?
Who Might Benefit in the DoD?

From the Paper
"In the 1990s, the RAND Corporation, including its defense-oriented federally funded research and development organizations, offered a better way for the DoD to pay for its purchases, one it thought would improve the interactions; after all, if a unit overspent in one year, then the next year it would be looking for lower prices. That meant that the organization it purchased from would experience a loss, or potentially could, which in turn could affect the service or product quality or delivery. However, the WCF arrangement bore the stamp of approval of the DoD Comptroller's office, which suggested that the WCF approach has saved "billions of dollars by providing managers with greater visibility into the costs of DoD support operations.""

Tags:rand, budget, time, cost, website, purchases

Abstract
The transaction cost theory as proposed by Ronald Coase and Oliver Williamson, states that organizations experience enormous economic costs and corresponding economic advantages in each and every one of their captivities or transactions. The paper shows that for many years, the dominant neo-classical approach to the theory of the firm suggested that nothing significant would be gained from peering into the "black box" called the firm and that it was enough to know that a firm operated to maximize profits. In the core model of perfect competition, this was achieved subject to known technology and known prices. The paper shows that transaction cost theory takes into account the assertion that the firm exists because of its capacity to economize on the costs of market-oriented production. The firm itself emerges as the most superior economic device for the reduction of market costs. Consequently, the efficiency advantages of any organization or firm are regarded by Coase as greatest where long-term contracts are negotiated. The paper shows that long-term contracts -- including contracts and other arrangements that address staffing and employment issues -- will be preferred unless the costs of negotiation and enforcement of separate or short-term market contracts are low. The paper focuses on the health care industry, with transaction costs understood in the context of employee turnover.

From the Paper
"At the same time, Kazemek and Shomaker (1990) also noted that hospital staff shortages caused by both turnover and national vacancy rates in critical patient care areas pose a considerable revenue threat. A substantial number of health care institutions have begun to reduce their workforce and to eliminate services. Murphy and Murphy (1996) claim that health care organizations which have implemented across-the-board workforce reductions as a transaction cost savings mechanism have actually tended to experience decreased service quality, increased employee turnover, and minimal savings in labor costs. This phenomena suggests that work process analysis might be useful prior to a downsizing effort."

Tags:hospital, restructuring, methodology, recruitment

Abstract
This paper describes the many functional requirements of a port, the basic facilities it must have, and the operational facilities needed so that it can be most effective and cost efficient. The paper also describes some of the major costs associated with running a port and explains the differences between dry bulk carriers and container carriers.

From the Paper
"A definition of the dry bulk carrier should start from the particular elements forming the concept, dry and bulk. Bulk cargo is "a shipment such as oil, grain, or one which is not packaged, bundled, bottled, or otherwise packed and is loaded without count" or, simply put, "commodities carried in bulk" . In this sense, there are two types of bulk carriers, dry bulk carriers and liquid bulk carriers. The former refer to such goods as grain, ore, minerals, etc., practically anything that is not liquid. The liquid bulk carriers are generally referred to as tankers and are used for crude oil."

Tags:seaborne, trade, overcapacity, environmental, accidents, liquid, transport, storage

Abstract
The paper explains that activity-based costing (ABC) allows accountants to obtain a more precise view of the costs associated with specific products or services. This paper uses a case analysis to explore how ABC can help to achieve greater cost effectiveness in the healthcare industry. The paper concludes that although ABC can play an important role in reducing healthcare costs, little can be done to reduce direct costs associated with a procedure without a sacrifice of patient safety.

Outline:
Introduction
Objective of the paper
Analysis, Findings & Discussion
Suggestions, Recommendations & Conclusions

From the Paper
"Activity-Based Costing (ABC) allocates the costs of production to specific products or services. It is more precise than older methods of accounting that involved adding a broad percentage of expenditures to direct and indirect costs. The definitions of direct and indirect costs varied and were often a judgement call on the part of the accountant. ABC allowed accountants to obtain a more precise view of the costs associated with specific products or services."

Tags:accounting, direct, indirect, costs, efficiency, expenditures

Abstract
The paper looks at the introduction of Medicare and Medicaid, managed care and cost controls that have been utilized to lower healthcare costs. The paper argues that in order to achieve improved performance, the US needs to implement more effective strategies to measure health outcomes, ensure a higher degree of price sensitivity among purchasers and correct its administrative efficiencies. The paper maintains that the focus of legislators needs to be upon health as a value and on health priorities rather than on fragmented strategies for controlling healthcare costs. The paper includes graphs of Medicare and Medicaid statistics.

From the Paper
"The central problem with the US healthcare system appears to be related to perspective. Efforts to control costs have predominated over the delivery of quality health care. The goal of limiting government and private expenditures for health care while improving health outcomes results in health care productivity being a significant policy issue not only in the United States but across the globe. Although productivity is only one aspect of the performance of any health care system, improvements in productivity can make it easier to achieve other health system goals, such as greater access to care and protection from the financial losses resulting from ill health. Ever since the mid-1970s, the US healthcare system has been troubled with three major concerns: quality, costs and access (Odom & Garcia, 2005)."

Tags:malpractice, suits, managed, care, Medicare, Medicaid

Abstract
This paper discusses the creation of TANF, a part of the welfare reform program of President Clinton. The paper explains the purpose of TANF, how it was designed to operate, and the problems that arose as a result of its focus on cost-effectiveness. The paper also looks at the general public's perceptions of TANF, how the social worker must operate within the TANF framework, and outside interests influencing the operation of TANF.

From the Paper
"Federal programs often operate according to a theoretical standard that tends to account for the reality of future situations in various degrees of viability concerning operation on state and even local levels. Programs begin and end rather arbitrarily in terms of time-lines and may appear exceedingly distant from the public they are intent on serving. On the other hand, without federal initiatives, development in terms of a common vision shared by these programs is lacking. It is a difficult balance between federalism and standardization that often results in the federal program going through a continuous process of being retooled as various powers come and go in terms of drafting, approving, and amending legislation. Welfare reform is not held separate from this process. With the instigation of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or TANF, initiatives in the mid nineties, welfare reform was set in terms of cost effectiveness. Since, the economy has undergone a downturn that has resulted in the termination of many workers who started working with the program, which highlights welfare-to-work incentives, and are not able to collect from TANF due to preset time constraints within the system."

Tags:citizen, benefits, racial, equality, justice, affirmative, action, hhs, programs, work, responsibilities