Federal emergency management agency (FEMA) Term Paper

Federal emergency management agency (FEMA) - Term Paper Example The FEMA also secures state and local governments with the resources and the expertise in specific areas where help is needed (FEMA, 2012a). They also provide funds for rebuilding; and release funds for infrastructure relief by allowing affected individuals to secure low interest loans. This agency also secures funds for the training of emergency response personnel within the US and other territories (FEMA, 2012a). The FEMA’s mission is to support citizens and â€Å"first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from and mitigate all hazards† (FEMA, 2012b). The goals of the FEMA include the preparation of communities for emergencies. In effect, it secures resources to improve the capacity of federal, state, and local government agencies in order to secure best practice and secure grants for local communities (Malcolm, 2012). Another goal of the FEMA is to mit igate the damage caused by disasters. These mitigation goals come about before and after disasters occur; this is when risk management is carried out before disasters and grants are offered for affected individuals in order to mitigate the impact of such disasters (Malcolm, 2012). Another goal is to protect communities from external threats and more importantly to respond to disasters and emergencies. Supporting recovery in communities impacted by disaster is also a significant goal for the FEMA (Malcolm, 2012). The objectives of this organization include the securing the participation of agency employees for the renewal process; emphasizing mitigation as a means of reducing the risks to people, property and communities of disasters; securing a culture of assistance among citizens by ensuring national emergency management partnerships; establishing an all-hazards resource in emergency management; maintaining close relationships with federal agencies in most areas of emergency manage ment; establishing flexibility in the state and local emergency management programs; securing a quick and effective administration in assistance claims; and establishing means by which the efficacy of the FEMA programs can be assessed (FEMA, 2012c). The structure of the FEMA leadership is primarily lodged with the President of the United States from whom main orders for the mobilization of the organization resides (FEMA, 2012d). The FEMA is headed by an administrator, assisted by a deputy administrator and the chief of staff. Staff members would include the directors for the following offices: Executive Secretariat, and the Office of the National Advisory Council. The Chief Counsel would also form part of the administrative staff, including the senior advisor to the Secretary for Emergency Management and the Deputy Administrator of the office for Protection and National Preparedness (FEMA, 2012d). Under the Protection and National Preparedness office are the following assistant dire ctors in specific areas: national preparedness, grant programs, national continuity programs, and the Office of National Capital Region Coordination. The Administrator for the US Fire Administration would also form an office under the FEMA administration (FEMA, 2012d). An associate administrator for t

Transaction Cost Economics and Organized Labor Essays -- Economics Mar

Cooperation and exchange among individuals often organize in firms rather than adhering to market institutions. This anomaly of market systems can be explained through what Oliver Williamson calls â€Å"Transaction Cost Economics.† Transaction costs are defined as the â€Å"costs of running the economic system† (Williamson 18). Similar to friction in a physical system, transaction costs may be small compared to other costs such encountered by market players, but basing entire models on a ‘frictionless’ system is unrealistic. It is these transaction costs explain the development of firms and hierarchies rather than contracting by market forces. There are three limitations to a market system: bounded rationality, opportunism and asset specificity. Bounded rationality describes the limitations of knowledge by market players. Whereas they will act rationally in a market situation, they are not always presented with all the information required to make a rational decision. Opportunism arises when certain market players are unwilling to accept the status quo and believe they have the ability to improve their position. Finally, asset specificity refers to certain players having technical and contractual inseparabilites. An example of asset specificity is an accounting firm with a long term contract with a given company. After the long term contract expires, the accounting firm would be first in line to renew their contract with the given company. There may be other accounting firms in the market that could also offer similar accounting services, but the company will likely keep its original accounting firm. Switching wo uld incur transaction costs such as transferring of files over to the new accounting firm, legal fees associate... ... asset specificity can no longer be ignored as in classic market models. A highly trained employee is a very specific asset since a firm would incur great costs in training a novice employee and bringing the novice’s productivity up to that of a highly trained employee. Thus, a firm could not easily replace the highly trained employee as the case would be in a market situation. Thus non market contracts are forged to keep the specific asset that is high human capital. Williamson and Coase use transaction cost economics to explain why labor is often organized in firms rather than relying on market institutions. The increasing effect of asset specificity on the labor market is a key validation for their analysis. Firms are more efficient than market institutions in that they save on transaction costs associated with writing, signing and enforcing contracts.

Computer benefits Essay

In today’s modern world, computers are needed everyday. Around the world, children use computers from the time they are little. It’s true that children should have fun when they are young; however, in my opinion, a child who knows how to use the computer will be more successful in the future. My reasons for this view are personal, academic and professional. From a personal point of view, computers can help young people to learn more about the world. For example, some children use the Internet to find information on different subjects. In this way, they learn to find answers by themselves. By using the computer when they are little, children feel more comfortable around computers. They also know how to use the computer for different reasons. From an academic viewpoint, children have to learn how to use this new invention. For instance, when I was in college, many students used to bring their laptops to class. They used to take notes, do research and share information. They wrote their essays, made presentations and created useful lists. Children who can use the computer when they are young have more confidence than other children. From a professional perspective, the computer is found in every kind of office. Today, employers will still hire people who cannot use computers and give them computer training. But tomorrow, companies will expect people to have these skills already. As a result, by encouraging children to use the computer for a short time every day, parents are preparing their children for future jobs. In conclusion, it is clear that computers are now a part of our regular life. Children who can use computers easily and confidently will do better in the future.

Mgt2 Task 1 Tools Matrix Essay - 2326 Words

GenRays Matrix Template Project Management Knowledge Areas Recommended Tool(s) Justification for Tool Project Integration Management †¢ Expert Judgement †¢ Project Management Information System †¢ Change Control Meetings Expert judgement is the primary tool used to bring the project together. From development of the project charter and development plan, to execution, monitoring and changing, and close of the project, expert skills and experience is used to manage and carry out the tasks to project completion. The project manager must use their expert judgement, with inputs from stakeholder interviews and the project management office to manage the project successfully. A project†¦show more content†¦Product Analysis is an important tool in the definition of the project scope. The identified vendors’ HRIS solutions should be analyzed to identify if their software functionality matches the collected requirements. Decomposition is another tool that will be used to break the requirements documentation down into identifiable work portions, or a work breakdown structure (WBS). GenRays resources will be assigned to the project team based on their work experience and general project team experience to effectively perform the necessary work in the WBS. Inspection will verify that the scope of the project is the intended result of the collection of requirements and the work necessary to complete the project. Once the project scope is approved by the GenRays project sponsor and project execution is underway, inspecting the scope often to produce updates, change requests, or deliverable acceptance will be important. Project Time Management †¢ Dependency Determination †¢ Scheduling Tool †¢ Project Management Software †¢ Critical Path Method †¢ Three-point Estimates Dependency Determination is a tool that the project manager will employ managing time on this project. The