Occupational safety and health - OSHA Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Occupational safety and health - OSHA - Essay Example The next step involves an inspection of the damage at the assembly area and document findings and analysis of the outcomes. The most critical information to have right away would be the causal factors that triggered the occurrence of the accident at the assembly area such as the status of the equipment in use at the time of the incident (Burke et al., 2011). I would tell the engineers and the supervisors to compile documented evidence regarding the standards, design technology, and codes of the equipment that caused the incident and the suitability of such equipment for their intended purpose as at the time of the incident. Moreover, I would request them to provide an analysis of the causes and outcomes of the accident in relation to composition, human activities, external factors, equipment and functions that impacted the incident. As the OH&S professional, I would meet with the facility manager immediately and inform him or her about the incident, the number of hourly employees who have sustained injuries as well as their health condition, the nature of injuries sustained, and the medication offered. In addition, I would convey the causal factors about the information provided by the affected hourly employees concerning the cause of the incident. The facility manager would also be informed of the need for Participatory Ergonomic Inter vention (PEI) teams and initiatives to enhance safety related behaviors and outcomes as well as compensating the affected hourly employees (Burke et al., 2011). It would be recommended that I meet with the hourly employees and inform the affected employees about the findings attained following an investigation of the incident. In addition, education and training on OH&S along with the components of safety management would be discussed. I would also use the analysis of the incident to intensify safety related behaviors of

Competitors Analysis for Hoi Tin Tong Essay Example for Free

Competitors Analysis for Hoi Tin Tong Essay Hung Fook Tong (HFT) founded in 1986 and more than 120 stores in China and HK. HFT turned traditional herbal tea shop into a modern and innovative enterprise over the years which have over 100 products, including herbal jellies, herbal tea, homemade soups, and preservative-free healthy drinks. An innovation that helped both the popularity and the portability of herbal tea, they have more than 3000 retail points across the territory, including supermarkets, convenience shops, schools and restaurants. Kung Wo Tong (KWT) was established in 1904 by an imperial physician in the Qing Dynasty, there are total 10 stores in HK and 1 in China. The stores located along a main street and keeps old-fashioned herbal drinks shops in typical sized with limited even no decoration over hundred years. Most of shops sell four to six kinds of herbal drinks, but the herbal jelly is one staple that seldom miss the list. They keeps tradition way and focus more on the health benefits rather than its taste. HealthWorks (HW) started as a traditional Chinese herbal tea shop in 1989 and decided to modernize the company in 2000 in order to follow their global expansion plan. HW use modern technologies involves in develop, produce and distribute an array of traditional Chinese natural nourishing productions including herbal soup, herbal tea, medicinal tea, herbal jelly and other Chinese medicinal diet. There are 22 shops which mainly at MTR stations with trendy decoration and more than 1500 point of sales distributing ready-to-drinks herbal tea in various supermarkets and convenient stores Compare to HTT, customer regard KWT is more traditional and believe the products have more medical function while HFT and HW are trendier and provide health supplement goods. So, customers who go to HTT and KWT will be the local people who believe traditional herbal benefits, mainly the adult and elderly. The customers who go to HFT and HW will be younger age customers with health conscious and even tourists. HTT lost the competitive advances to HFT on product range and market coverage due to HFT do a good job at distribution strategy which has lots of products and large distribution channels. HFT also use price strategy to set their price is the lower among these competitor, these advances make HFT become the biggest herbal tea group in HK according to survey by AC Nelson. HTT use location strategy and branding strategy better than other competitors who have many chain stories and strong image, so HTT have competitive advances on sales network, number of chain stores and customer loyalty.

Differences between the consumer market and business

Differences between the consumer market and business Some book authors define Market as a group of potential or actual buyers who are willing to buy certain product or service (Kolter Armstrong, 2006, p. 7; Kurtz Boone, 2006, p. G-7; Lau, 2007, p. 56). When we mentioned business to business (B2B) and business to consumer (B2C), there are two groups of market: the first one is business market and the later one is consumer market. First, discussion will start with differences between consumer and business market. Then, the second part will be followed by the influences of key factors that differentiate business marketing and consumer marketing. Differences between consumer and business market Kolter Armstrong (2006, p.161) stated that consumer and business markets have similar characteristics in some ways. Meanwhile, many researchers also argued that business market is different from consumer market in many ways (Webster, 1978; Ames, 1970; Cooke, 1986; Lilien, 1987; Kolter Armstrong, 2006, p. 161). Kolter Armstrong (2006, p. 161) classified key difference between business and consumer markets into three broad groups, namely: market structure and demand, nature of the buying unit, type of decisions and decision process. Their classification is parallel with Lau (2007, p. 6), whom stated that both markets are different in terms of number and size of customers, buying expertise and process, decision making, geographical concentration, derived demand, and relationships. From the review, total of seven key differences are identified. Type of customers First of all, a very obvious difference is the type of customer on both markets served (Coviello Brodie, 2001). According to Lau (2007, p. 12), customers in the business market can be classified into commercial enterprises, government and public organizations, and institutional organizations. In contrast, customers in the consumer market are individuals or households (Sashi Kudpi, 2001). In consumer market, target market for a juice drink is working woman with 12 years old youth at home. Nevertheless, target market for industrial products such as steel or cement will be different from consumer market. For instance, customers for industrial products such as steel or cement will be a group of people or organization whom doing business. This two examples show that type of customer for consumer market is more concern on individuals or households whereas business market is more concern on a group of people. Number and size of customers Despite type of customer, business markets and consumer markets are different in terms of number and size of customers (Lau, 2007, p. 6). Unlike consumer market, business market has fewer customers. However, customers in the business market buy larger quantities than consumer market. As Kaplan (2000) and Olsen (2000) stated that the market size for consumer market is normally measured in millions whereas business market is measured in thousands. Thus, conclusion can be drawn where a company might have millions of customers where each customer buys in small quantity. On the other hand, a company might only have thousand of business customers whom each of the organization buy in large quantity. For example, consider an apple pie seller and an individual buyer that buy apples for different use. In this situation, the apple sellers might have several apple pie business buyers but many individual apple buyers. Meanwhile, apple pie business buyers will buy larger quantities than the indivi dual consumer because the business buyers demand more apples to make apple pies for sale. Buying knowledge and process Other than that, purchaser of business market has greater buying expertise than consumer market (Lau, 2007, p. 7). Hence, business decision process is different from consumer decision process when business buyer has greater knowledge (Kolter Armstrong, 2006, p. 170; Blackwell, Miniard Engel, 2006, p. 70). Blackwell et al. (2006) stated that consumer decision for goods and services including seven stages: need recognition, information searching, pre-purchase evaluation, purchase behavior, consumption, post-purchase evaluation and divestment (p. 70). Examples will be as followed: An individual found that he needs a new printer to replace the old one. After that, he searches printers information available in internet/ seek information from his friends. From the searching stage, three alternatives are found and he evaluate different printers brand in terms of quality, after sale services, prices and etc. He decided to buy Printer B after evaluation and bring it home / install and use it. During the usage, good or bad perception towards the new buying will determine his satisfaction which further determines his loyalty to the brand. That is, consumer decision process is that simple. In contrast, business buying process has eight stages: Problem recognition, need description, product specification, supplier searching, proposal solicitation, select supplier, order-routine specification, and performance review (Kolter Armstrong, 2006, p. 171). Example is as followed: New entrant, XYZ automobile Sdn Bhd need new business suppliers to supply aluminums for cars produced. Before searching for suppliers, they list down their need and product specification. Then, they start search number of suppliers which supplies what they want. The pool of suppliers then compete and bidding for the projects. Eventually, the company selects BIBI aluminums Sdn Bhd which they think BIBIs offer /services best suit their needs and product specification. After that, XYZ listed down the order-routine items and all the specification/order with BIBI. Once the supplies process has started, XYZ will review and evaluate the performance of BIBI in terms of deliver, product quality, services and others performance. The evaluation will determine whether XYZ want to continue the business relationship or terminate it in the future. From the example, conclusion can be drawn where business market has more complex and formalized buying decision process than consumer market because business buyer has to follow specific procedures or get approval before buying decision are made (Kolter Armstrong, 2006, p. 163; Lau, 2007, p. 7). Despite greater knowledge, business buyer is responsible to purchase with huge resources (Lau, 2007, p. 7). Hence, they tend to spend more effort and time to evaluate products and services offered before buying decision are made (Lau, 2007, p.7). For example, a consumer buyer might not go through the stage of pre-purchase evaluation and buy an inkjet printer just because he or she likes it. But when it comes to business buyer, they cannot skip the formal procedure or approval to buy inkjet printers for office use just because he or she likes to do so. Buying decision making Besides that, business market made decision differently from consumer market (Lau, 2007, p.7). In business market, salesperson has to deal with number of individuals. Buying decision making involved more than one person, whom possesses different roles either to build or maintain the relationship with the supplier (Homburg et al., 1997). Those persons involved in buying decision making are known as the members of buying center (Lau, 2007, p.47-48). In the buying center, those members include decider, purchaser, influencer, initiator, gatekeeper and user (Schellhase et al., 1999; Lau, 2007, p. 47 48). For instance, in an automobile manufacturing company, a production team might be initiator or user for a machine. Then, another team in purchase department will act as buyer for the machine. Meanwhile, finance team will act as gatekeeper in decision making process which functions as budget control role. Lastly, Chief executive officer might act as influencer and decider which he or she w ill decide whether to buy or not to buy at the end. Salesperson in business marketing deals with more than one person in, but salesperson commonly deals with an individual in consumer market. For instance, materials purchase decision (new task buying) for car manufactured will only be made when the agreement across different functional department and vertical management levels have reached. Purchase decision will not be made when conflict between different departments has not yet solved. However, a mother (purchaser) will buy a dress for her daughter (user) without the consent of other family members (e.g. son, father). Demand In addition, business and consumer market can be differentiated in the view of economic perspective. Demand in business and consumer market is different. Demand in business market is derived from demand of the products that business suppliers help produce (McConnell et al., 2009). This is known as derived demand. Derived demand can be referred as Association demand between resource and product in which demand for industrial product is linked with demand for goods and products that made from the resource (Kurtz and Boone, 2006). For example, demand for cotton is derived from consumer demand of shirt. According to the news, consumers will be paying high prices for shirt for the coming New Year since cotton prices has increased (The star, 2010). According to law of demand, demand for shirt will drop as price goes up due to elasticity (McConnell et al., 2009). From here, we can conclude that demand for shirt will be affected by consumers directly. However, demand for cotton at business m arket is inelastic (Lau, 2007, p. 8). Demand for cotton is depending on consumer demand for shirt. It is in contrast with law of demand where changes in prices will not increase or decrease demand for business products. On other words, it means that decrease in prices will not encourage sale for business products (Lau, 2007, p. 8). Nevertheless, demand for cotton is being affected by demand for shirt. For instance, although cotton price is escalating, demand for cotton is still remaining or increasing if demand for shirt is greater. Geographical concentration As business is moving towards globalize, customers are everywhere. Business products buyers with similar business tend to be geographical concentrated. According to McDonald et al. (2001), geographical concentration serves as one of the characteristics of the term Cluster. The term cluster can be defined as a group of producer whom produce similar products are located near to each other (Schmitz, 1992, p. 65). Cluster and industrial district are used interchangeably (McDonald et al., 2001). Marshall (1890) claimed that one of the reasons for being geographical concentration is to grab economies of scale. For instance, consider automobile business companies: Nissan, Ssangyong, BMW, Daihatsu and Proton edar. These automobile business companies set up their headquarters office in Selangor. These companies are in the same industry: automobile selling industry. Similarly, they need raw materials such as steel and aluminum etc. to produce automobile. In contrast, customers in consumer mark et can be found everywhere and they are not that geographical concentrated as compare to business markets customers. Relationship When talk about relationship, relationship development for consumer market and business market is both important. Thus, customer relationship management in consumer market plays an important role. However, when comes to business to business relationship, relationship will even play a more critical role to determine business success or failure. In business market, need of coordination between business supplier and business customers is greater (Lau, 2007, p.10). In business market, Cann (1998) stated that long term relationship between business suppliers and customers is vital for business to be succeeded. According to some researchers, there are several reasons for business suppliers and customers to maintain long term relationship. For example, Sheth (1994) stated that maintain long term relationship will gain more benefits and risk of doing business will decrease. Apart from that, maintain existing relationship is less costly than acquired a new one and existing business partner is easy to work with (Cann, 1998; Congram, 1991). For instance, when an automobile company decided to replace a new supplier instead of the existing one, cost will incurred. New supplier is much likely will perform slow and not that effective in the beginning. This is because they are new joined supplied which they are not familiar to their new customer as compare to old supplier. As a result, operation efficiency decrease and cost incurred. Put it as conclusion, sellers have to develop close relationship with customers in customer market. But, business suppliers have to develop much closer relationship with customers and coordinate well with business customers. Table 1: Summarize differences between business and consumer market Key differences Business market Consumer market Type of customers Commercial enterprises Government and public organizations Institutional organizations Individuals households Market structure and demand Number and size of customers fewer customers large buyer more customers small buyer Geographical concentration More Concentrated Customers are less geographical concentrated Demand Derived from the demand of other products Derived directly from consumer Nature of the buying / Type of decision / Decision process Buying expertise and process Greater buying expertise/knowledge Complex and formalized buying decision process more professional effort in purchasing less buying expertise Simple and less formal buying decision process Buying decision making Decision made by a group of people More complex buying decision Decision made by individual Less complex as compare to Business to business Relationship Closer relationship Long term Close relationship Short term Sources: adapted from Lau (2007); Kolter Armstrong (2006). In conclusion, business and consumer market is different in several key characteristics: type of customers, number and size of customers, geographical concentration, demand, buying expertise and process, buying decision making and relationship (Table 1 summarize the differences between business and consumer market). Next, we look at how these seven key differences have caused business marketing different from consumer marketing. Business marketing and Consumer marketing Business to business marketing can be defined as the process of sale or purchase of goods and services involve at least two parties in which the buyer will buy the products from supplier for operation, production or resale purpose (Kurtz and Boone, 2006, p.188). Consumer marketing can be referred as the process of sale or purchase of goods and services between sellers and individual buyer (Noori and Salimi, 2005). There are different arguments towards marketing approaches for business and consumer market. Some researchers argued that differences in consumer and business market did not constitute to different marketing approaches (Fern Browns, 1984; Jackson Cooper, 1988). However, it is widely discussed that different marketing approaches should be used for business and consumer market (Cooke, 1986; Webster 1978, p. 24). For example, due to the differences between consumer and business market, Lilien (1987, p.16) suggested that marketers should use different marketing strategies to approach consumer market and business market. Comparison between business to business marketing and consumer marketing When mentioned about marketing, we should not overlook marketing mix. Marketing mix refers to the blending of four P strategies (Kotler and Armstrong, 2006, p. 48). Kurtz and Boone (2006, p.189) compared business to business and consumer marketing based on marketing mix: First, Business to business and consumer marketing is different in terms of product strategy. Business products are normally technical in nature whereas consumer products are in more standardized form (Kurtz and Boone, 2006). As a result, they claimed that accompanying services are more important in business products marketing as compare to consumer products marketing. Business customers have to be handled individually and personal selling is needed for business products marketing (Hakansson et al., 1967; Kaplan, 2000; Olsen, 2000). Second, Business to business and consumer marketing can be compared in terms of promotion strategy. Kurtz and Boone (2006) stated that business to business marketing should focus on personal selling whereas consumer marketing should focus on advertising. Other than that, Business to business marketing is different with consumer marketing in terms of distribution strategy. In business to business marketing, business marketer distribute business products direct channel which did not involve any intermediaries and the distribution channel is short whereas consumer products marketer utilize indirect channel to approach their customers (Kurtz and Boone, 2006). Lastly, Kurtz and Boone (2006) differentiated business to business marketing from consumer marketing in terms of price strategy. They stated that there will be competitive bidding in business to business despite list price whereas consumer products is more standardized thus using list price. From the review, example of consumer marketing is as followed: An instant noodle is standardized product. Despite sales promotion, business marketer for instant noodles will promote their products through advertising. The manufacturer uses list price to price their products. Then, pack and distribute their products by using indirect channel, which buyers can buy it from retailers. In contrast, example for business to business marketing is as followed: An electronic product is technically in nature, an accompanying service is needed. To convince business customer to buy electronic products, the company will send sales representative team to market their product to their customers due to the complexity of the marketed product. The sales representative will approach their customer directly rather than go through intermediaries. The supplies company might have to bid for the price because there are normally more than one companies are marketing similar products to the same customer. At the end, the project will goes to the best product quality and lowest price provider. However, Comparison between Business to business marketing and consumer marketing should look beyond marketing mix (Coviello and Brodie, 2001). Hence, we will discuss in depth regard the influence of key factors of business and consumer market in marketing practices. Differences between business and consumer marketing will be discussed based on each of the key factors listed in table 1. Mass marketing versus one-to-one marketing Since the number and size of customers are different, customer acquisition method for both markets also is different. Due to the differences, business organizations customers should be handled individually (Hakansson et al., 1967). Kaplan (2000) and Olsen (2000) stated that communication with business to consumer market is more relied on mass marketing. As mentioned, size of customers in consumer market is large. When size of customer is large and homogeneous, mass communication such as advertising will be used to approach the customers. In contrast, business market is more relied on one-to-one marketing. Customers in business market are fewer but large, they are more expert and making decision in group as a whole. Hence, business market customer should be handled individually (Hakansson et al., 1967). According to Kaplan (2000) and Olsen (2000), personal selling is normally used in business to business marketing. For example, salesperson engaged in business to business marketing wil l use direct selling rather than mass communication to approach their targeted customers. Argument of Kaplan (2000) and Olsen (2000) is parallel with Kurtz and Boone (2006, p. 189), which Kurtz and Boone also stated that promotion strategy in business marketing is more focus on advertising whereas consumer marketing is more focus on personal selling. Marketing strategy As seen in Table 1, type of customer for business and consumer market is different. Thus, marketing strategy for both markets will be different as well. In fact, type of customers might help business marketer to segment market group based on type of customers (Kurtz and Boone, 2006). Indeed, understanding customers needs and wants for both market is important as well. In consumer marketing, marketers market their products to individuals or household. Thus, marketer offered products to satisfy customers needs and wants or to make customer pleasure. Meanwhile, customers might buy the products which they do not really need, they buy just because for pleasure. However, types of customers for business supplier are a group of person whom doing a business. Product purchase is critical for their business operation. Unlike customer in consumer market, they are not purchase for pleasure. Hence, to convince business customers, business marketers have to understand and focus needs of business cu stomers but end user. Then, market their products by demonstrating how their products can help business customers in daily operation in long term period. Second, when demand for industrial products is driven from other products, customer demand for that particular product will determine the demand for industrial products as well. Since law of demand stated that any changes prices will stimulate consumer demand, marketer for consumer market might manipulate product price to stimulate the demand for consumer product. However, since demand for industrial products is inelastic, price manipulation would not increase the demand for industrial products unless demand for consumer demand is being stimulated. This explains why cooperative advertising is employed by manufacturer and channel members. Cooperative advertising is a manufacturer and channel members joint advertising (Cadeaux, 1997). When manufacturer and business customers agree to engaged in cooperative advertising, upstream channel partner such as manufacturer will bear certain percentage for product advertising (Kurtz and Boone, 2006, p. 423). Due to derived demand phenomenon, bus iness supplier such as manufacturer willing to spend money for cooperative advertising because they understand that increase in end user demand will eventually increase the demand for industrial products as well. From here, we know that price manipulation is not the solution for industrial products marketing. In contrast, cooperate with channel partners and develop relationship with channel partners and come out a comprehensive marketing strategy will help business suppliers business to growth further. Other that than, since business customers are geographical concentrated, business marketer has to identify where is the key district for their business customers to run operations. For example, as mentioned in first part, automobile business companies set up their head office in Selangor. From here, business marketers should able to identify that Selangor serve as key district for their business customers to run operations. When business customers are geographical concentrated, the distribution channels in business marketing is shorter than consumer marketing (Kurtz and Boone, 2006, p. 189). In conventional distribution channel, the channel involves numbers of intermediaries to distribute products to the market, this is known as indirect channel distribution (Peter and Donnelly, 2009, p. 145). In fact, business suppliers such as manufacturer will use short and direct channel to approach their business customers which means that distribution is shorter as compare to consumer products distribution (Peter and Donnelly, 2009, p.145; Pelton et al, 2001). In contrast, since consumer market is less geographical concentrated as compare to business market, distribution channel for consumer products normally involve participation of intermediaries to reach the dispersed consumer. Besides that, the distribution channel for consumer market is long (Kurtz and Boone, 2006, P. 189). This also explains why business marketing is relying more on personal selling whereas consumer marketing is relying on mass marketing. Besides, business expertise and buying process in business market also contribute to the different use of marketing strategy in both markets. Since business organization has trained expert to conduct purchase, they normally understand what the organization want. Most significant, they possess more knowledge on how to make purchase which best fulfill those requirements. (Lau, 2007, p. 7). Thus, when the trained person has skills and knowledge, this key factor differentiates business marketing from consumer marketing. In consumer market, customers tend to possess less knowledge about the products as compare to business customers. As a result, impulse purchase is likely to happen in customer market rather than business market (Lau, 2007, p. 7). For instance, a female customer might did not plan to buy body wash during shopping time. However, the customer encounters a salesperson for AAA brand body wash and bought the product eventually because she was told by the salesperson that the bo dy wash is good. From here, impulse purchase was happened in consumer market, and marketers can easily manipulate strategy to convince consumer to buy. Nevertheless, impulse purchase would not happen in business market since business customers would not buy business supplier products merely because business salespersons claimed that their supplies are good. For instance, an automobile would not purchase aluminum (raw material) to produce the car without proper evaluation of the products. Thus, to market industrial product to business customers, business marketer must possess greater product knowledge. Besides, fulfill business customers specific requirements and demonstrate how marketer products can solve their problems is a must in order for transaction to deal successfully. When comes to buying process, business customers have more formalized procedure to be followed (Lau, 2007, p.7) as compare to customers in consumer market. In such situation, understanding on business customers buying procedure is a must if business marketers hope to have a deal with them. Since there are no formalized procedure for individuals or households to purchase a product, marketers can freely approach customers in consumer market. But, if business marketers wish to approach business customers, marketers must understand clearly the formalized business buying procedure and adhere to their procedure (Lau, 2007). Business marketers must ensure any of their actions do not conflict with the specified procedure. In fact, decision making process of both markets advocated marketers to apply different marketing strategy in business and consumer market. In consumer marketing, marketers normally deal with individuals or household. Thus, marketer might only have to address and interact with individual if they wish to convince customer in consumer market to buy. However, different situation is in business marketing. Kurtz and Boone (2006, p. 202 203) identified four factors which will influence decision making process in business market: The four factors include environmental, organizational, interpersonal and buyer role. From these four factors, interpersonal factors do play greater influence in decision making process. According to Kotler and Pfoertsch (2007), customer in business market is much more rational. Hence, Sashi and Kudpi (2001) stated that organization will perform analysis of potential business suppliers in procurement decision. Unlike consumer market, they are more than one person involve in buying decision making. Thus, business marketer not only has to address buyer needs, marketer also has to address and interact with all parties involved in buying decision making (Kurtz and Boone, 2006). For example, initiator and buyers might want to buy material supplies from XYZ Company. However, Influencer and decider might not agree that; buy the supplies from XYZ Company will benefits their company. As Ghingold and Wilson (1998) claimed that different parties in buying center having different perspective or perceptions in regards to problem, needs of the organization. Hence, to convince business customers, business marketers have to make sure all the relevant parties involve in decision making and ensure all parties needs have been addressed. Some researchers even argued that brand plays an important role in business buying decision making (Bendixen et al., 2004; Michell et al., 2001). Webster and Keller (2004) stated that brands will help in gaining consensus of di fferent parties on buying decision. Relationship marketing Today, either consumer marketing or business marketing, relationship does play an important role for business successfulness; accordingly we have seen the emergence of customer relationship management (CRM), which this CRM system aid companies to interact with customers and response quickly to them (Nguyen et al., 2007; Anderson, 2006). Hence, buyer-seller relationship development in consumer marketing is important. Nevertheless, importance of relationship development is much greater in business marketing. Since business market is different with consumer market in terms of several factors, relationship marketing is commonly employed in service industry and industrial industry (Ahmad and Buttle, 2001). Relationship marketing can be defined as Achieving objectives of both sellers and customers by develop, maintain and enhance relationship (Gronroos, 1990). As mentioned earlier, seller-buyer relationship in business market is closer and long term relationship should be developed with th em (Ford, 2003). Hence, needs of coordination between business supplier and customer is greater in business market. As Simatupang et al. (2002) stated that greater coordination between distribution channels members will allow the entire distribution channel system become more flexible and allow them quickly response to the market changing. On other means, the way business supplier maintains relationship with their customer is vital to determine their long term sustainability and profitability. This emphasizes how development of business relationship or networking between business supplier and customer is vital in business marketing. In consumer marketing, marketers can utilize Customer relationship management system and gaining customer satisfaction and loyalty, hope that customers will stay loyal to the brand and buy it again. In business marketing, relationship development is much more complex. Cann (1998) suggested that there are eight steps for a business supplier develop busine ss relationship with customer; marketing goals, strategies, culture, customers orientation and socialization are critical in order for business supplier to develop business relationship. From these eight steps, it showed that business relationship development is much more complex in business to business world. Conclusion As a conclusion, there are seven key factors that differentiate business market from consumer market. The seven identified key factors include type of customers, demand, geographical concentration, buying expertise and process, buying decision making, seller and buyer relationship, number and size of customers. Structure in business market is much more complex than consumer market. Hence, handled business customer individually is more suitable. In fact, combi

Is Our Money Safe? :: essays research papers

<a href="http://www.geocities.com/vaksam/">Sam Vaknin's Psychology, Philosophy, Economics and Foreign Affairs Web Sites Banks are institutions wherein miracles happen regularly. We rarely entrust our money to anyone but ourselves – and our banks. Despite a very chequered history of mismanagement, corruption, false promises and representations, delusions and behavioural inconsistency – banks still succeed to motivate us to give them our money. Partly it is the feeling that there is safety in numbers. The fashionable term today is â€Å"moral hazard†. The implicit guarantees of the state and of other financial institutions moves us to take risks which we would, otherwise, have avoided. Partly it is the sophistication of the banks in marketing and promoting themselves and their products. Glossy brochures, professional computer and video presentations and vast, shrine-like, real estate complexes all serve to enhance the image of the banks as the temples of the new religion of money. But what is behind all this ? How can we judge the soundness of our banks ? In other words, how can we tell if our money is safely tucked away in a safe haven ? The reflex is to go to the bank’s balance sheets. Banks and balance sheets have been both invented in their modern form in the 15th century. A balance sheet, coupled with other financial statements is supposed to provide us with a true and full picture of the health of the bank, its past and its long-term prospects. The surprising thing is that – despite common opinion – it does. The less surprising element is that it is rather useless unless you know how to read it. Financial Statements (Income – aka Profit and Loss - Statement, Cash Flow Statement and Balance Sheet) come in many forms. Sometimes they conform to Western accounting standards (the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, GAAP, or the less rigorous and more fuzzily worded International Accounting Standards, IAS). Otherwise, they conform to local accounting standards, which often leave a lot to be desired. Still, you should look for banks, which make their updated financial reports available to you. The best choice would be a bank that is audited by one of the Big Six Western accounting firms and makes its audit reports publicly available. Such audited financial statements should consolidate the financial results of the bank with the financial results of its subsidiaries or associated companies. A lot often hides in those corners of corporate ownership. Is Our Money Safe? :: essays research papers <a href="http://www.geocities.com/vaksam/">Sam Vaknin's Psychology, Philosophy, Economics and Foreign Affairs Web Sites Banks are institutions wherein miracles happen regularly. We rarely entrust our money to anyone but ourselves – and our banks. Despite a very chequered history of mismanagement, corruption, false promises and representations, delusions and behavioural inconsistency – banks still succeed to motivate us to give them our money. Partly it is the feeling that there is safety in numbers. The fashionable term today is â€Å"moral hazard†. The implicit guarantees of the state and of other financial institutions moves us to take risks which we would, otherwise, have avoided. Partly it is the sophistication of the banks in marketing and promoting themselves and their products. Glossy brochures, professional computer and video presentations and vast, shrine-like, real estate complexes all serve to enhance the image of the banks as the temples of the new religion of money. But what is behind all this ? How can we judge the soundness of our banks ? In other words, how can we tell if our money is safely tucked away in a safe haven ? The reflex is to go to the bank’s balance sheets. Banks and balance sheets have been both invented in their modern form in the 15th century. A balance sheet, coupled with other financial statements is supposed to provide us with a true and full picture of the health of the bank, its past and its long-term prospects. The surprising thing is that – despite common opinion – it does. The less surprising element is that it is rather useless unless you know how to read it. Financial Statements (Income – aka Profit and Loss - Statement, Cash Flow Statement and Balance Sheet) come in many forms. Sometimes they conform to Western accounting standards (the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, GAAP, or the less rigorous and more fuzzily worded International Accounting Standards, IAS). Otherwise, they conform to local accounting standards, which often leave a lot to be desired. Still, you should look for banks, which make their updated financial reports available to you. The best choice would be a bank that is audited by one of the Big Six Western accounting firms and makes its audit reports publicly available. Such audited financial statements should consolidate the financial results of the bank with the financial results of its subsidiaries or associated companies. A lot often hides in those corners of corporate ownership.

Cell Transport Mechanisms and Permeability: Computer Simulation

Simple Diffusion 1. The following refer to Activity 1: Simulating Dialysis (Simple Diffusion). Which solute(s) were able to pass through the 20 MWCO membrane? According to your results, which solute had the highest molecular weight? ______________________________________ Which solute displayed the highest rate of diffusion through the 200 MWCO membrane? __________________________ Using the data from Chart 1, explain the relationship between the rate of diffusion and the size of the solute. Facilitated Diffusion 2. The following refer to Activity 2: Simulating Facilitated Diffusion. Did any of the substances travel against their concentration gradient? Explain why or why not. Using your results from Chart 2, what was the fastest rate of facilitated diffusion recorded? _______________. Describe the conditions that were used to achieve this rate. ___________________________________________________________ Name two ways to increase the rate of glucose transport. _____________________________________________________ Did NaCl affect glucose transport? ____________________________________________________________ __________ Did NaCl require a transport protein for diffusion? Why or why not? ___________________________________________ Cell Transport Mechanisms and Permeability: Computer Simulation E X E R C I S E NAME ____________________________________ LAB TIME/DATE ________________________ version 8 Osmotic Pressure 3. The following refer to Activity 3: Simulating Osmotic Pressure. For NaCl, which MWCO membrane(s) provided for the net movement of water without moveme nt of NaCl? Explain how you determined this. (Hint: Correlate your results to the data in Chart 3. ) ______________________________ For glucose, which MWCO membrane(s) provided for the net movement of glucose without net ovement of water? Explain how you determined this. ____________________________________________________________ ___________ Is osmotic pressure generated if solutes diffuse freely? _______________________________________________________ Explain how the solute concentration affects osmotic pressure. ________________________________________________ Filtration 4. The following refer to Activity 4: Simulating Filtration. Using your results in Chart 4, which MWCO membrane had the greatest filtration rate? ____________________________ Explain the relationship between pore size and filtration rate. ________________________________________________ Which solute did not appear in the filtrate using any of the membranes? _________________________________________ What is your p rediction of the molecular weight of glucose compared to the other solutes in the solution? _______________ What happened when you increased the driving pressure? ____________________________________________________ Explain why fluid flows from the capillaries of the kidneys into the kidney tubules. How do you think a decrease in blood pressure would affect filtration in the kidneys? _____________________________ PEx-18 Review Sheet 5B 5. The following refer to Activity 5: Simulating Active Transport. With 1 mMATP added to the cell interior (left beaker) and the extracellular space (right beaker), was all of the Na moved into the extracellular space? Why or why not? ____________________________________________________________ _ Describe the effect of decreasing the number of sodium-potassium pumps. _______________________________________ Describe how you were able to show that the movement of sodium was due to active transport. ______________________

International Marketplace Essays - Offshoring, Canada, Free Essays

International Marketplace Essays - Offshoring, Canada, Free Essays International Marketplace Jason Racki English 123 Ms. Gigliotti Term paper The Everyday Effects of the International Marketplace American is increasingly connected to the rest of theworld as a global economy becomes more important. We participate in the international marketplace both as providers of goods and as consumers. How we buy and sell affects us both in terms of what goods we can choose from, but also what jobs are available, and what kinds of industries will come to dominate our economy. One of the most important changes in recent years in our place in the global economy is the dropping of trade barriers with such political moves as the approval of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). This has had an impact on our economy which has filtered down to the everyday lives of our people, both as workers and as consumers. On the one hand, NAFTA has been good in that it has caused the dropping of tariffs by Mexico and Canada, making U. S. goods more affordable in those countries. This has helped to stimulate some areas of the American economy by opening up new markets to sell our products abroad. In urging the passage of NAFTA, the Clinton Administration publications said that NAFTA would increase high wage jobs, boost U.S. growth, and expand the base from which U.S. firms and workers could compete in a world-wide market. It predicted job gains of approximately a million due to increased Mexican exports, and suggested that by 1995 there would be approximately 200,000 more high wage jobs created due to the opening of free markets. The industries most expected to benefit were those dealing in computer technology, machine tools, aerospace equipment, telecommunications equipment, electronics, and medical devices all areas where wages were already 12 per cent higher than the national average (Expanding (1993), 3-5). Such growth in jobs would have an effect on the workers and their communities, giving a boost to both individual wealth and the community itself. These benefits spread outward to other areas of the economy, helping people who have jobs in retail, construction, and oth er areas where workers spend their paychecks. However, there is another effect. As a result of the cheaper labor in Mexico, participation in this part of the international marketplace has led to the loss of many American jobs in certain industries, such as the garment and textile industries. After four years of stability, apparel industry jobs plunged suddenly last year, falling more than ten percent from 945,000 at the end of 1994 to 346,000 in 1995. In addition, 42,000 jobs vanished in the fabrics industry for at total shrinkage of 141,000 jobs. These jobs represented 40 percent of all manufacturing jobs lost in the United States last year (Squeezing (1996), D1). Carl Priestland, an economist for the American Apparel Manufacturers Association, predicted that this year another America will likely lose up to another 50,000 jobs in the industry (Squeezing (1996), D1). These losses especially affect workers in small towns like Pisgah, Alabama, and Granger, Texas. The approximate 100 people let go in Pisgah this year were emotionally devastated. Not only are they seeing their specific jobs disappear, they are also faced with seeing the entire industry vanish from their area, taking their opportunities with it. One example, Martha Smith, who lost her job sewing children's clothes, is now enrolled in a state-sponsored program to learn clerical skills. She is thereby trading a blue-collar position for one which is in a low-paying and overcrowded field. In fact a great many of the over 650 people who lost sewing jobs in Alabama this year are women struggling to support their families (Squeezing (1996), D1). They face a market where they have few skills and little to offer. Given the largely female makeup of the sewing industry, it is unfeasible to try to fit all these displaced workers in the clerical field. And on top of that, when a plant such as the one in Pisgah closes, the entire town and region suffer. Many such towns are dependent on one employer. When that employer leaves for cheaper labor in Mexico, the local economy cannot easily recover. Local merchants lose their customer base; suppliers to the mills lose their markets. In the textile

Women In Ancient India essays

Women In Ancient India essays In ancient India, women occupied a very important position with, in fact a superior position to, man. Literary evidence suggests that kings and towns were destroyed because a single woman was wronged by the state. For example, Elango Adigal's Sillapathigaram teaches us Madurai, the capital of the Pandyas was burnt because Pandyan Nedunchezhiyan mistakenly killed her husband on theft charges. Valmiki's Ramayana teaches us that Ravana and his entire clan was wiped out because he abducted Sita. Veda Vyasa's Mahabharatha teaches us that all the Kauravas were killed because they humiliated Draupadi in public. To instill such high ideals in humankind, Indian ancestors created a plethora of godesses who enjoyed equal status with their husbands. The concept of Ardhanareeshwarar, where God is depicted as half-man and half-woman, is a concrete example to support this argument. In many philosophical texts God is referred to a Tat, meaning It and that God is beyond gender. And, one would find a comparable Godess for each God. Further, we know for a fact that ancient India was permissive; women could have multiple husbands, widows could remarry, divorce was permitted for incompatability or when estranged. In contemporary India, women occupy a paradoxical status. On the one hand, there are godesses featuring in the "Hindu" pantheon and revered by men. On the other, some wives are burnt because they did not bring enough "dowry" (the horrible institutionalized and illegal practice of expecting the woman's parent to provide a large purse to the groom); women are victimized by powerful local political figures and their family; some women are abducted by rich youths with impunity; and there are credible stories of female infanticide in rural India. Surely, these cases are not the norm. Nevertheless, it is horrifying to see that they happen. Some may argue that these incidences no way compare to the domestic violence rate i ...

Advantages and disadvantages of a Web Presence

Advantages and disadvantages of a Web Presence Free Online Research Papers The Internet is a world wide market place consisting of transactions and opportunities to digitally interact with consumers. It is a new way of selling. More and more customers expect to find your product news and specifications on the web. But even on the Net, you have to advertise your product. Using Internet as a media to advertise your product is different from traditional media. Through Internet companies can be present all over the world. Using the web as an advertising tool is the cheapest way to be discovered at every time. You can also quickly change your promotional campaign, in order to gain attention that may lead the consumer to the product. Online services become so popular because they provide two major benefits to potential buyers: Convenience: Customers can order products 24 hours a day wherever they are. They dont have to sit in traffic, find a parking space, and walk through countless aisles to find and examine goods. And they dont have to drive all the way to a st ore, only to find out that the desired product is out of stock. Information: Customers can find reams of comparative information about companies, products, and competitors without leaving their office or home. They can focus on objective criteria such as prices, quality, performance, and availability. Customers can expect the advantage to pull the information, to be drained into detailed catalog or other information about products and services for sale that they are looking for. They do not feel forced, they are looking for the information by themselves. Nevertheless it seems that Web advertising is much more price than image oriented. Web advertising does not seem the appropriate way to advert a product. According to BMRB International (annex 1) 37% of UK Net shoppers are not ready to purchase off-line They always fear to give their account number to a company they do not know. Today a well-known brand is a real competitive advantage. BRMB International has shown that 16% of purcha ses has done thanks to an implicit trust of established brands. Nevertheless it does not mean that it will stay an advantage in the future. Moreover the difference with more traditional media is that customers come to you and not you to the customers. You cannot retain their attention if they feel that it does not worth it. When you wish to expand your market share trough Internet, you have to consider the specificity of your target audience. At the present time people who buy through Internet are young, daily users of computers. But there are not only people used to Internet. Because e-business is growing up (annex 2), we can assume that most people have no experience in e-business. The audience can be both good Internet users and beginners. Dealing with communication interaction Security The World Wide Web is the fastest growing part of the Internet. Increasingly, it is also the part of the Internet that is the most vulnerable to attack. For users, a secure web server is one that will safeguard any personal information (bank account number) that is received or collected. It is one that supports their privacy and will not subvert browser to download viruses or other rogue programs onto their computer For a company, a secure web server is resistant to a determined attack over the Internet or from corporate insiders. In order to increase security, you can use a system for automatically encrypting information as it is sent over the Internet and decrypting it before it is used. One of Netscape Communications early innovations was its SSL. You can also use firewalls, which is a device that isolates an organizations internal network from the Internet at large, allowing specific connections to pass and blocking others. Marketing / Communication It is really important to get people inform of the existence of your web site. You will have to shout it from the roof tops! You can use your letterhead, your cards or your leaflets to write your web address. You can also through a TV or board advertising campaign let people know about your site existence. As Jim Sterne says: your web site can be funny, pretty, useful, crisp and clean, but if you dont promote it, its message wont be seen. By the way you can also manage to register different key words on browsers in order to put make know your web site when people look for information in your business area. Deliveries and Payment If you use e-commerce on your website, once the buyer has searched through a catalog and mad e his decision to purchase, the order, the payment, the handle fulfillment and other aspects of order management have to be processed. The order processing must include the ability to group items together for later purchase; this capability is called a shopping cart in the case of retail transactions; it usually includes the ability to modify the contents of the shopping cart at any time. This way the buyer can discard items, add new ones, change the quantities and so on. To the purchase, the buyer will have additional charges such as sales taxes and shipping costs. The order processing system presents the buyer with an itemized order form including all the charges so the buyer can pay for the items. Information effect With the Internet, it is now possible to obtain accurate and immediate feedback from your customers (A daemon can count the number of hits). With access to this information, your business will be able to add the most personalized value to the customer. Tool such as th e World Wide Web helps you to build more of your business decision-making based on outside information, and find out more about your non-customers and what non-customers and what they are doing, and why they are not customers. Fiscal and legal implications Internet is still largely unregulated. Because Internet is global (no territorial limits), electronic (no writing) and digital (perfect copies can be made almost instantaneously and repetitively), it is a source of different problems. The state of California tries to regulate e-business in California (annex 3). It seems very complex to set up a world wide regulation and, at the present time nobody knows what to do if something going wrong in the cyberspace. Concerning taxation, applying existing tax rules and system to the Internet world is tempting but does not answer to the needs of this marketplace. One key aspect to resolving the taxation issue of Internet commerce is to keep tax policies universal, uniform, and neutral. Resources needed to maintain the Site Obviously, resources need to maintain a web site is going to depend on the size of the web site. Whatever the size you firstly need to ask you few questions such as: Will this solution be flexible enough to accommodate change? Do we have the technical competencies to support Internet initiatives? Is this solution customizable to our needs and our customer needs? Do we have the technological infrastructure (network services; hardware, software) required to develop and scale? Do we have sufficient funding for ongoing web site maintenance? Do we have operations capabilities to support our Internet strategy? Web creation There are two different ways to create a web site. You can do it yourself or ask an agency to manage the creation of your web site. If you decide to create yourself your web site, you will need special coding software. But if you decide to delegate the creation to an agency, it might cost you around $750 for a basic web site (annex 4). Web maintenance However you must also take into consideration the maintenance. When you have created your web site, you must care to make it alive. You need to care about your human resources skills According to the Business Marketing Web Consortium the following roles should be filled: A Web Editor.Depending on the size of the site, this could be a part-time or a full-time person. The Web editor is responsible for content for a site. A Web Master, responsible for the infrastructure and technology supporting the website. Making sure that links link, and the site performs An Infomaster responsible for timely response to inquiries An overall Technology Leader, defining corporate standards and resources required Poor maintenance can severely damage a companys image Site Design and Structure As we have pointed out since the beginning, e-business is a new w ay of selling. When a potential customer gets connected to your site, you have not sell anything yet. There are different ways to attract customers to your product. Firstly, you need to care about your web design. It means that you should not forget that if there are too many pictures or electronic animations, download is going to take a while. If your site require downloading applications, they should downloaded in twenty seconds or less. Users of Internet expect fast and functional site (avoid horizontal scrolling). Web sites must be customers oriented rather than product oriented. Information value is much more important than glizz. Customers stay loyal because of the service, not because they like your web site. Simplicity and speed differentiate your site, making it easy for business customers to order. Secondly, Web marketers must ask if their markets are comfortable with English. Global marketers recommend adding local languages when needed. Thirdly, in order to maintain interest in your site, you have to make it interactive. Internet is both a business and communication tool, you must provide to users a page where you give relevant information on your product but also on your industry area. It is recommended to let customers express their feelings through email. But you do not do it only for the fun, your site must be professional (ie: updated, fast answers), that is why you have to deal with your e-customers as you are used to do with your offline customers. In order to support the design of your future web site, we would like to present this tree structure. Research Papers on Advantages and disadvantages of a Web PresenceAnalysis of Ebay Expanding into AsiaThe Project Managment Office SystemMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever ProductBionic Assembly System: A New Concept of SelfPETSTEL analysis of IndiaOpen Architechture a white paperDefinition of Export QuotasIncorporating Risk and Uncertainty Factor in CapitalAnalysis Of A Cosmetics AdvertisementRelationship between Media Coverage and Social and

Rosenfeld and the Chocolate factory Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Rosenfeld and the Chocolate factory - Essay Example Rosenfeld and the Chocolate factory During the period 1969 to 2008, the company Cadbury was formally known as Cadbury Schweppes plc. This company was one of the finest confectioneries of UK and other countries. The company’s approach in managing the human resources and business strategy was very systematic and unique. The company followed the traditional human resource management principles and approaches. Most of the traditional human resource approaches use the external factors to determine the Human Resource (HR) policy of the company and resource utilization factors. Cadbury had always maintained a congenial and pleasant working atmosphere. Most of the industries during the period 1879 to 1899 in UK lacked trade unions. Cadbury was incurring meagre amount of losses during this period but still the management gave incentives to the workers. The company had become popular because of its employee friendly nature and the workforce increased from 230 to 2685 during the period 1879 to 1899. Traditionally it was be lieved that labour was a cheap source of capital but Cadbury believed that economizing on labour was unethical and the workers should be regarded as invaluable asset of the company (Price, 2007). Till now Cadbury has taken certain human resource initiatives like sharpening of employee learning skills by imparting extensive training program and conducting managing by value programs (Kozami, 2002). The program focused on interacting and understanding the values of the employees. The company was a member of organizations like Business in the Community and Institute of Business Ethics. (Simms, 2005). Cadbury Schweppes believed that for a successful company a set of business ethics is very important because it improves the productivity of the workers and employees. Cadbury Schweppes was taken over by Kraft Foods Group Inc in the year 2010 by ?11.5 billion (House of Commons, 2011). Employment Values of Kraft Food Group Inc The takeover of Cadbury over Kraft Foods was disapproved largely b y the employees of Cadbury and the Britishers. The employees of Cadbury were unsure about the security of their jobs. The management of Kraft had claimed that after the acquisition they would not shut down any of the Cadbury’s plants and had made some commitments to employees. Kraft had failed to keep its commitment by closing down the Somerdale factory which was one of the major chocolate manufacturing industries of Cadbury (House of Commons, 2010). Some economist believed that the management of Kraft lacked sufficient knowledge and expertise to operate the Somerdale Factory. The management of the Kraft Foods stated that it would honour the terms and condition given to workforce of Somerdale factory after the closure of the factory. The HR director of Kraft, Mr. Richard Doyle claimed that along with severance packages, a job centre facility was available to the workforce of Somerdale factory (House of Commons, 2010). The CEO of Kraft foods Ms. Irene Rosenfeld did not give an y specific job guarantees to the workforce of Cadbury. Kraft Foods is preparing to close the salary pension scheme that was provided to the workforce of Cadbury and cut up to 150 jobs. Moreover, the former employees of Cadbury have not been feeling safe and secure about their future. This can hamper the productivity of Kraft Foods. Answer 2 Organizational change of values and relationships Leadership

Quantity Surveying Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Quantity Surveying - Essay Example Quantity Surveyor (QS) controls the construction costs by measuring accurately the work required, the application of expert knowledge of costs and prices of work, labour, materials and plant required, an understanding of the implications of design decisions at an early stage to ensure that good value is obtained for the money to be expended. (Wikipedia). To be a quantity surveyor you should have the following qualities: Private Practice surveyor is that quantity surveyor who works on a private company. The role of Quantity surveyor in a private practice is that it acts as the financial and development consultant to the construction and property development. The quantity surveyor in a private practice includes advising clients on the optimal use of funds as well as strategies to maximize human and physical resources. The traditional QS in a private practice have the following functions: A quantity surveyor in a construction company has a broader role than that of the private practice. In the construction company you need to deal with different kind of people. From the project supervisor, to the engineers and to the workers. An extended knowledge in the surrounding is important. The construction surveyor is concerned with the accurate measurement and position of points on the earth's surface, and to establishment of boundaries. They can do this by measuring the relative horizontal and vertical position of points on the ground, aided by a theodolite or similar optical instrument. QS, In a construction site is much more complicated than that of the private practice. Although there is some role in the private practice that is also being done by the QS in the construction company such as: talk to architects, engineers, builders, contractors, suppliers and project owners study architectural and engineering drawings and specifications prepare a 'Bill of Quantities', which lists the individual components required to construct the project check on changes of design to assess the effects on cost assess and recommend payment to contractors during construction prepare monthly cash-flow forecasts for clients and tax depreciation schedules undertake feasibility studies to assist in decisions about the worth of a project proceeding act as consultants to business and government. Contractors' quantity surveyor is responsible for all legal and commercial matters within the contracting organization. As shown in the graph

Technology Studies Case Study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4500 words

Technology Studies Case Study - Essay Example It is no surprise that moisture is one of the main dilemma of the hotel maintenance department because UK copes up with something like 25,000 gallon of water annually. Nearly all moisture problems are much less severe than they actually look. Moisture can be very dangerous to our health. It can intensify respiratory problems and it can even encourage mites and moulds to grow. The properties of moisture can be very serious and even makes the whole surrounding cold and unpleasant to see. Moisture can be anywhere. They could be on the roof, on the walls, on the floors, windows, doors and pipeline. Oftentimes, the presence Saturated up through permeable materials like concrete hollow blocks into the floors and walls of the home, and it usually occurs in building which did not have any waterproofing in the track of its construction. Consequently, rising moisture can be detected easily. We can conclude that there is rising moisture in the area if, the wall is in contact with the ground, if the walls feel dampy and cold to touch and if there are stains on wall decorations. Nevertheless, rising moisture rarely goes up above one meter on the wall. Penatrating moisture is frequently caused by the building plumbing. The trouble comes in when the water is tolerable to enter the property. Symptoms of rising moisture frequently becomes noticeable during the rainy season. It usually affects roofs, ceilings and walls. Water marks appear if water continues to enter the house. It can be caused by groove or roof problems which had allowed rainwater to trickle in and soak area of walls. This is frequently seen in old houses that has solid wall. Penetrating moisture is very Not easy to find and may require proficient help. There are many ways of treating moisture. Rising moisture is worse at the bottom of a wall than at the top. Aside from blocked airbricks, the most frequent cause is 'bridging", this is when soil from the garden climbs up directly on the house wall and trap moisture. This problem is frequent and it can be easily worked out. Excavate the soil from the house so that the soil can no longer knock against the wall. A technique used in old properties is the inoculation of chemical in the problem areas. If the moisture is getting higher through the floorboard, a moisture-proof membrane maybe frayed so it is best to have a refitting. Penetrating moisture More often than not forms when water get into the property. Check up in details grooves, downpipes, flashings and window frames. It will be best to check everything inside and around the property area. Check the sealing of window frames to make sure that there must be a drip groove to get rid of rainwater. If there are blocks, clear them comprehensively. An ill-fitted roofing on a flat roof will probably cause moisture and a fractured wall can let water in. Repair a fractured wall with protective material and fit insulation rubber to all door frames. Application of Outdoor water proofing fluid will be helpful if the outdoor brickwork is already absorbent. A moisture proof track is also one means of avoiding increasing moisture. This is a process where in two layers of bricks with a space between can avoid moisture. This is frequent

The importance of human touch (like hugs) in personal health and how Research Paper

The importance of human touch (like hugs) in personal health and how the amount of touch a person receives varies depending on that persons culture - Research Paper Example It has been demonstrated that hormonal reactions take place with hormones such as oxytocin being released leading to production of beneficial effects. One instance of beneficial effects is experienced during emotional support shown by human touch such as by a hug. According to Berkman (1995), lower cardiovascular risk is experienced by emotionally supported patients through hugs. Consequently, the adverse effects of the condition such as related mortalities considerably fall in people experiencing emotional support such as by hugs. Besides human touch, there are other quality practices expressing emotional support that contribute to personal health by producing beneficial effects to the body systems. Such practices include friendly facial expressions, speech and quality of words, hand holding and sitting together. Health benefits experienced through touch can not leave out enhanced oxytocin activity, a hormone with several roles in the body human systems. According to Insel and Young (2001), oxytocin roles in social recognition as well as partner preference are major sources of connectivity between individuals. Stimulation of oxytocin release by mere touch is useful in the mechanism of its operation especially in emotional touches such a hug. The specific benefit of reduction in blood pressure assists in personal health stability especially in healing conditions. In an experiment conducted by Amico et al (2005), it was observed that pre-menopausal women who live with emotional support from their husbands are exposed to lower blood pressure due to high oxytocin levels produced on touch. Emotional support is paramount to healthy existence according to the authors. Keating in her book (1987), lists several beneficial impacts of hugging in relation to personal health which range from easing tension to fighting insomnia. Physical touch among human beings is portrayed as a powerful tool for healing processes, and the author reports that the

Gay Marriages Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Gay Marriages - Essay Example As the report declares in Oklahoma, we're introduced to a rancher named Sam. When Earl, his spouse of 25 years, died, he left the farm to Sam. But a few of Earl's cousins, who were of the mind that the land belongs to them, sued for it and won, which now means Sam, who has nary a cent to his name, has to find someplace else to go. His children, from a previous, heterosexual marriage, try to sell a few of Sam's horses, but the asking price is insultingly low. This essay stresses that De Seve uses shots of rallies and protests, fragments from interviews with gay public figures. The history of marriage from medieval times to now is explained, it is said that the concept of mar-rying for love, not the business of survival, is a relatively modern act and that marriage is an ever-evolving institution. De Seve invokes the case of Richard Loving and Mildred Jeter, a white man and black woman whose marriage led to the 1967 Supreme Court decision ending legal restrictions on marriages based on race. The film makes us understand, that it is very important to be tolerant towards those who are not like you, and even if you are a heterosexual, you should understand homosexuals and their desire to have a family. Matters of civil justice often can be quite serious, as it is shown in â€Å"Tying the Knot†. But there can even be life-threatening consequences: in most states, gays cannot make medical decisions for their partners in an emergency.

Business Law questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

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The importance of human touch (like hugs) in personal health and how Research Paper

The importance of human touch (like hugs) in personal health and how the amount of touch a person receives varies depending on that persons culture - Research Paper Example It has been demonstrated that hormonal reactions take place with hormones such as oxytocin being released leading to production of beneficial effects. One instance of beneficial effects is experienced during emotional support shown by human touch such as by a hug. According to Berkman (1995), lower cardiovascular risk is experienced by emotionally supported patients through hugs. Consequently, the adverse effects of the condition such as related mortalities considerably fall in people experiencing emotional support such as by hugs. Besides human touch, there are other quality practices expressing emotional support that contribute to personal health by producing beneficial effects to the body systems. Such practices include friendly facial expressions, speech and quality of words, hand holding and sitting together. Health benefits experienced through touch can not leave out enhanced oxytocin activity, a hormone with several roles in the body human systems. According to Insel and Young (2001), oxytocin roles in social recognition as well as partner preference are major sources of connectivity between individuals. Stimulation of oxytocin release by mere touch is useful in the mechanism of its operation especially in emotional touches such a hug. The specific benefit of reduction in blood pressure assists in personal health stability especially in healing conditions. In an experiment conducted by Amico et al (2005), it was observed that pre-menopausal women who live with emotional support from their husbands are exposed to lower blood pressure due to high oxytocin levels produced on touch. Emotional support is paramount to healthy existence according to the authors. Keating in her book (1987), lists several beneficial impacts of hugging in relation to personal health which range from easing tension to fighting insomnia. Physical touch among human beings is portrayed as a powerful tool for healing processes, and the author reports that the

Business Law questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Business Law questions - Essay Example Thirdly, it must examine whether the agency went outside its authority. Fourthly, it must examine whether the agency followed the required procedures in making the decision. Fifthly, it must determine whether the decision is so clearly wrong that it disserves to be abandoned. It is uncertain arguing that the agency always wins or loses because the final decision of the U.S District Court is determined by the validity of the dispute and the degree of correctness or wrongness that the agency’s decision was. In 2 (a) there are three procedures that are available for FDA in making new rules. First, it has to provide a Notice for Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) which is a proposal published in the Federal Register for members of public to review and comment on it. Secondly, it is should consider the comments received on the rule during the comment period. Thirdly, it should comply with the â€Å"Effective Date† Rule that determines when the proposed rule will become effective. In 2 (b), a business engaged in importing food could participate in these procedures through reviewing the proposed rule and criticizing it, taking note of the final rule and complying with the â€Å"Effective Date† rule. In 3 (a), there are three laws that affect the records of an administrative agency. First, the Freedom of Information Act renders agency records subject to disclosure and outlines the various procedures that ought to be followed. Secondly, the Administrative Procedure Act dictates the ways through which each agency should avail public information. Thirdly, the Public Records Act specifies that personal information maintained about an individual shall not be disclosed without the person’s consent except for various explicit exceptions (Browne, 6). In 3 (b), the Freedom of Information Act would help my business to obtain information about the activities of my competitors. On the other hand, the Administrative

Type II Diabetes in African Americans Essay Example for Free

Type II Diabetes in African Americans Essay Introduction                                                    The 1986 report of the Secretarys Task Force on Black and Minority Health called notice to the upsetting excess morbidity as well as mortality from chronic illnesses for instance non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), cancer, and heart disease that exists in minorities in the United States. Besides the added disease burden, restricted research in the area of minority health has exacerbated the problem in the African-American population by reducing the knowledge essential for understanding the contributing factors plus planning effective intervention strategies. Diabetes mellitus, one of the diseases targeted for augmented investigate focus among minorities, carries on to have overwhelming consequences on the African American population. It is anticipated that about 1.8 million African Americans are affected with the disease (Report of the Secretarys Task Force on Black and Minority Health, 1985). Furthermore, the occurrence and mortality from diabetes are almost double as high among African Americans as in the U.S. White population (CDC, 1990). Consequently, there remains a critical need for research intended to explain the aspects contributing to the augmented diabetes-related morbidity as well as mortality in this ethnic group. Biomedical definition and Epidemiology of Diabetes Mellitus Diabetes mellitus is a heterogenous group of disorders that are typified by an abnormal augment in the level of blood glucose. It is a chronic disorder of carbohydrate metabolism ensuing from inadequate production of insulin or from insufficient utilization of this hormone by the bodys cells (Professional Guide to Diseases 1998:849). Diabetes mellitus takes place in 4 forms classified by etiology: Type I (insulin-dependent), Type II (noninsulin-dependent), other special types (genetic disorder or exposure to certain drugs in chemicals), as well as gestational diabetes (occurs during pregnancy). http://etd.fcla.edu/SF/SFE0000527/AfricanAmericanWomen.pdf When studies are performed to evaluate the epidemiology and public health impact of diabetes mellitus on the African-American population, non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) plus insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) are most frequently considered. Though, further forms of glucose intolerance have as well been studied, together with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), gestational diabetes (GDM), and other atypical diabetes syndromes. Categorization of these diabetes subtypes is usually footed on standards published by the National Diabetes Data Group (NDDG) (1979) and the World Health Organization (WHO) (1980). The analysis of diabetes is recognized by a finding of fasting plasma glucose (FBS) value greater than 140 mg/dl or a value of 200 mg/dl 2 hours after a 75-gram glucose challenge on the oral glucose tolerance test (OGGT). Non-Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus The initial estimates, footed on national samples, of the incidence of diabetes in African Americans came from data collected on male World War II registrants age eighteen to forty-five, which recommended that the occurrence of diabetes was greater in White than Black males (Marble, 1949). Since these data were collected over age ranges with a prevalence of distribution toward younger age, where diabetes rates may mainly reveal insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, they may not offer a factual picture of the occurrence of NIDDM in the races at that time. More current and dependable data from the National Center for Health Statistics point out that, in the United States, the occurrence of known diabetes is higher among African Americans than White Americans mainly among individuals age forty-five to sixty-four, when the rate for Blacks is 50.6 percent higher (Harris, 1990). The occurrence of diabetes augments with age for U.S. Black adults and is about 1.2 times higher for females (Harris, 1990). Among African Americans, the occurrence of diabetes is inversely associated to educational achievement and is highest among individuals in the low income group. Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus The occurrence of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus pursues a different racial prototype from that of NIDDM: White children have approximately twice the rate of Black children. (Lipman, 1991). Across the United States, there is much greater inconsistency in the occurrence of IDDM for African-American children than White children. It is probable the variability in IDDM incidence among African-American children might consequence from variations in degree of White admixture in the different registry locations. There is proof that White admixture differs by geographic region in the United States with greater admixture in northern areas than in the south. This is reliable with the drift for more European-American genetic admixture in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, where the occurrence of IDDM in African Americans is higher, than in Jefferson County, Alabama (Reitnauer et al., 1982) and the incidence of IDDM is lower. Atypical Diabetes Atypical diabetic syndromes, typified by normoglycemic reduction with ensuing periods of hyperglycemic deterioration, generally needing insulin for glycemic control, have been explained in African-American and further Black populations. Winter et al. (1987), accounted an atypical diabetes in young African Americans that shows with features typical of IDDM however lacks the HLA association’s trait of the disease. The insulin dependence in this syndrome was irregular or steadily declined all through the course of the illness. Diabetic syndromes presenting in adulthood with alike phasic insulin dependence have as well been reported. Whereas further forms of diabetes together with protein deficient pancreatic diabetes and fibrocalculus pancreatic diabetes take place in some Black African populations, so far they have not been revealed to be important for African Americans. Type I diabetes reports for three percent of all new cases of diabetes diagnosed every year in the United States. Type I can build up at any age, thus far the majority cases are diagnosed when the individual is under thirty. Type II, the more widespread form of the disease, normally has a steady start, generally appearing in adults over the age of forty (Managing Your Diabetes 1991). It has an effect on an estimated ninety percent of the six million Americans diagnosed with diabetes yearly. The probability of developing Type II is about the same by sex however is greater in African Americans, Hispanics, and Native Americans. Main risk factors comprise a family history of diabetes, obesity, being age forty or over, hypertension, gestational diabetes, or having one or more infants weighing more than 9 pounds at birth (Professional Guide to Diseases 1998). Diabetes mellitus is a main clinical as well as public health problem in the African American community. African American men have an occurrence of diabetes that is eighty percent higher than that for European American men, whereas African American women have occurrence ninety percent higher than that for European American women (Herman et al. 1998:147). These diabetes statistics point out that not merely are there characteristic differences between African Americans and European Americans in the occurrence and hospitalization rates related with diabetes however as well that research is required to find out if any other factors, for instance social and cultural, may be causative to the large difference of diabetes-related problems (Bailey 2000). Cultural Perceptions of Diabetes Mellitus In a study to find out differences in self-reported adherence to a dietary routine, Fitzgerald et al. (1997) analyzed one hundred and seventy-eight African American and European American patients at a Michigan suburban endocrinology clinic from 1993 to 1994. They establish that the 2 groups of patients with non insulin-dependent diabetes (NIDDM) reported similar adherence to dietary recommendations; similar on the whole adherence, beliefs, plus attitudes as calculated by their diabetes care profile scale; and a similar percentage of ideal body weight (Fitzgerald et al. 1997:46). Further analyses, though, exposed that African Americans and European Americans differed in the opinion of diabetes and the view of adherence to the dietary routine for diabetes. Fitzgerald et al. (1997) speculated that among African American women the inspiration to lose weight frequently is not for health reasons however for improved look. The significance of weight loss to ones diabetic condition is de-emphasized, and more significance is placed upon losing weight for better look. If weight loss does not take place, then unconstructive beliefs and attitudes may reduce the individuals inspiration and endorse a â€Å"why bother† attitude, in that way causing nonadherence to the dietary regimen for diabetes (Fitzgerald et al. 1997:46). To work against this â€Å"why bother† attitude as it affects weight loss and dietary adherence, Fitzgerald et al. (1997) recommended that health educators require to assist patients distinguish their feelings regarding diabetes, recognize the habits that their feelings influence their behaviors, and build up tactics for managing with their feelings. The cultural/social functions of food and what food â€Å"means† plus â€Å"represents† to the individual must be measured when developing meal plans and educational interventions for the African American diabetic patient. So as to study more of the fundamental cultural health beliefs related with diabetes mellitus, Maillet et al. (1996) carried out a focus group of African American women with NIDDM and those endangered for this disease. Six African American women susceptible for noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus contributed in the northeastern urban medical university in a tranquil and relaxed classroom. The main themes that appeared from the focus groups were the significance of family and social support, a tendency to binge or overindulge when food limitations were placed by family members, difficulties with dietary changes, incapability to build up an exercise program due to multiple barriers, lack of clarity regarding diabetes complications, value for however lack of knowledge regarding prevention of complications, as well as a need for future programs that are ethnically responsive to African American women (Maillet et al. 1996:44). Additionally, a constant theme of this focus group was that family support or a lack of support had an impact on ones stated capability to make dietary alterations. Particularly, Maillet et al. recommended that older African American women discover it hard to make dietary changes for the reason that altering their diet disturbs a lifetime of culture within the context of family. Culture may directly manipulate diabetes education and have to be understood and included into intervention programs to persuade success (Maillet et al. 1996:45). Consequently, when providing care to African American women of all ages, Maillet et al. recommended that the primary health care providers have to be sensitive to the role that culture plays in diet, weight loss, plus diabetes self-management. By means of qualitative and quantitative data collection techniques to examine health beliefs and health care-seeking outlines of African American and Euro-American diabetics, the fieldwork project was performed in 2 phases at the diabetes clinic in the Regenstrief Health Center at Indiana University, Indianapolis. The qualitative phase 1 occurred from June to August 1991, and the quantitative phase 2 from June to December 1992 (Bailey 2000:178). From 9 total site visits over the 5 months, the following noteworthy themes come into view regarding the African American diabetic patient: Appraise the source of the patients diabetes; Effort to dispel any delusions of diabetes; Make active the patient for self-care of diabetes; Carry on to reeducate the patient on blood glucose monitoring as well as insulin injection; and Hearten social and familial support for devotion to diabetic regimen.   Besides, other qualitative results pointed out that physicians required to (1) recognize the sociocultural restraints of a patients keeping appointments; (2) regulate the dietary alteration of the patient to his or her lifestyle and cultural dietary pattern; (3) build up more permanence of care; (4) find out new skills to build up understanding and trust with patients; and (5) give emphasis to the significance of the diabetic condition to the patient (Bailey 2000:182).   Phase 2 (Bailey 2000) consisted of performing qualitative and quantitative observations and interviews of African American and Euro-American diabetic patients. For instance, during the six-month period of phase 2, African American patients shared the following comments:   Patient Informant #1 (African American female): Im not sure what caused my diabetes. I know that there is a family connection to diabetes and my weight has something to do with it, but I dont take all of it too seriously. www.ecu.edu/cs-dhs/ah/upload/Bailey.ppt When asked to assess her capability to pursue the doctors set diabetic dietary regimen, patient informant #1 stated:   My sons and husband want their meals the way they normally have it. They dont want no unseasoned meals, so what am I supposed to do? www.ecu.edu/cs-dhs/ah/upload/Bailey.ppt Patient Informant #2 (African American female): I was on those diabetic pills, but I had to be placed on insulin injections. I hate taking these injections, but I have to do it. www.ecu.edu/cs-dhs/ah/upload/Bailey.ppt   Fascinatingly, patient informant #2 was placed on diabetic pills and told to watch her diet years ago. Though, she stopped taking the pills on a regular basis and did not stick to the diabetic diet routine. Now that she is on insulin injections and closely adhering to the diabetes dietary routine, her insulin injections have slowly been reduced.   Patient Informant #3 (African American male): I was really not shocked when I was diagnosed with diabetes simply because my father and aunt have diabetes and I knew it was a matter of time before I would develop it. www.ecu.edu/cs-dhs/ah/upload/Bailey.ppt   Diabetes is widespread among African Americans and this is because of dietary eating pattern—fried foods and not sufficient vegetables.   Even though patient informant #3 thought that it was a matter of time before he would build up diabetes, he is still unsure of the procedure and the reasons why he developed Type II diabetes. He came to the clinic merely to discover what was wrong with his stomach. To his shock, he was diagnosed with Type II diabetes. The qualitative findings that tend to be more related with the African American diabetic patients than with the Euro-American diabetic patients were as follows: The doubt of the real source of ones diabetes; The lack of perceived importance of ones diabetic condition; The perceived incapability to stick to the diabetic routine; The lower ranking of ones health as compared to other social and family obligations. These qualitative outcomes pointed out that numerous sociocultural issues still require to be further examined in the African American diabetic population (Bailey 2000:184).   Lastly, the former president of the National Medical Association, Yvonnecris Smith Veal (1996), utters that there are three fundamental causes why diabetes carries on to plague the African American community. First, there is the way of life and behavioral patterns related with African Americans for example poor eating habits, obesity, restricted access to enough medical care, and restricted funds. African Americans generally tend to eat foods high in calories and loaded with saturated fats and sugar and to have an inactive lifestyle—all of which are causative factors to being overweight. Second, African Americans have a history of making foods with lard and other heavy oils. This sort of food preparation, together with the incapability to get a balanced diet, contributes to the risk factors related with diabetes. Third, African Americans require more choices to decide dietary diabetic routines that fit the preferences for certain foods plus eating practices among all segments of the African American population (Bailey 2000).   Factors Influencing the Occurrence of Diabetes in African Americans Significant factors influencing the incidence of diabetes mellitus in African Americans comprise personal characteristics for instance genetics, age, sex, plus history of glucose intolerance (IGT, GDM). Further routine factors for instance physical activity plus obesity, which are related with altering socioeconomic as well as cultural climates within countries, to a great extent have an effect on the risk of developing the disease. Even though the exact etiological interactions remain arguable, it is definite that a mixture of most of these factors is accountable for precipitating the disease. Genetics An individuals risk of developing diabetes mellitus is significantly influenced by his/her hereditary background. Individuals who are first-degree relatives of diabetes patients are at noticeable augmented risk of developing the disease compared to unrelated individuals in the general population. (W.H.O. Multinational, 1991). Proof from studies of identical twins specifies a concordance rate of about ninety percent for NIDDM and fifty percent for IDDM, representing that the influence of genetics is greater in the former than in the latter (Barnett, Eff, Leslie Pyke, 1981). The investigation for the hereditary reasons that rates of diabetes fluctuate in different ethnic groups has caused hypotheses that try to report for the observed frequencies of NIDDM and IDDM in African Americans. (Tuomilehto, Tuomilehto- Wolf , Zimmet, Alberti Keen, 1992) Thrifty Gene Hypothesis Neel (1962) recommended that populations exposed to intermittent food shortage would through natural selection augment the incidence of genetic traits, thrifty genes, that incline to energy conservation. These genes would augment survival during times of famine by permitting for adept storage of fat in times of abundance. In the absence of feast and famine cycles, in times of continued profusion, these genes would turn out to be detrimental, predisposing to the growth of obesity and an augmented frequency of NIDDM. This hypothesis would be constant with the observation of much higher rates of diabetes and obesity among African Americans and urban Africans compared to Black Africans residing in conventional environments. Age and Sex In the majority populations the occurrence of diabetes differs with age and sex. For African Americans, the peak age range for diagnosis of IDDM is about fifteen to nineteen years of age, whereas NIDDM occurs more often after age fifty-six, when it is 3 times more common than in the White population (Roseman, 1985). African-American females are more probable to build up IDDM compared to Black men are more probable to develop NIDDM than Black men, White women, and White men, correspondingly (Harris, 1990). The sex discrepancy for IDDM may be because of differences in vulnerability or experience to etiologic agents (Dahlquist et al., 1985). Differences in NIDDM by gender may be because of differences in the levels of related risk factors such as obesity plus physical activity.   Socioeconomic Status (SES) Racial differences in disease rates may reveal socioeconomic differences. In the United States socioeconomic status and the frequency of NIDDM have a converse relationship. The impact of SES on NIDDM rates among African Americans may be particularly strong. Studies concerning socioeconomic status to the development of IDDM have been contradictory. Some studies establish a positive relationship. Others have found a negative (Colle et al., 1984) or no relationship at all. It appears improbable that socioeconomic status contributes considerably to racial differences in the frequency of IDDM in the United States. Obesity Obesity, usually measured as body-mass index (BMI)), is the most important risk factor for NIDDM. Overweight is a severe problem for the African-American female, with the level of obesity (that is BMI 27.3) being greater than fifty percent among women older than age forty-five (Van Itallie, 1985). Compared to White women, African-American women are more overweight. African-American men demonstrate a similar prototype of obesity when compared to White men (Van Italie, 1985).   The development of NIDDM is not merely influenced by the presence of obesity however as well by where the body fat is distributed. The danger of developing NIDDM is greater for individuals with central or android obesity. African Americans have been accounted to have a greater propensity to store more fat in the trunk than Whites, which could clarify part of the excess occurrence of NIDDM in the Black population (Kumanyika, 1988). Physical Activity There is proof that physical inactivity is an independent danger factor for developing NIDDM (Taylor et al., 1984). On the other hand, exercise perhaps a strong defensive factor against the development of the disease. On the whole there is a converse association between levels of obesity and physical activity. Consequently, higher levels of obesity among U.S. Blacks compared to Whites propose that reduced levels of physical activity among African Americans may donate to their higher rate of diabetes. Insulin Resistance The danger of developing NIDDM is absolutely related with fasting levels of circulating insulin. It has been revealed that insulin resistance, typified by hyperinsulinemia, can predate the development of NIDDM for years. besides diabetes, insulin resistance causes numerous interrelated disorders together with hypertension, body fat mass and distribution, as well as serum lipid abnormalities (Ferrannini , Haffner, Mitchell Stern, 1991). This has encouraged speculation that hyperinsulinemia and/or insulin resistance may be the phenotypic expression of the thrifty genotype anticipated by Neel (1962). Impaired Glucose Tolerance (IGT) and Gestational Diabetes Impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are 2 types of glucose intolerance that are strong risk factors for developing NIDDM and IDDM. Gestational diabetes denotes the development of diabetes during pregnancy and a subsequent return to normal tolerance following parturition, whereas IGT is the class of glucose tolerance where fasting glucose values are between normal and diabetic. (OSullivan Mahan, 1968). The risk of developing obvious diabetes among individuals with IGT is associated to the severity of impaired tolerance plus presence of further risk factors, together with a positive family history of diabetes and obesity (Harris, 1989). Numerous risk factors for GDM have been recognized among African-American women, including age, gravidity, hypertension, obesity, plus family history of diabetes (Roseman et al., 1991).   Diabetes Mortality At present, diabetes mellitus is the 3rd most recurrent cause of death from disease among African Americans. Higher rates of diabetes mortality in African Americans compared to the White population may partly be because of their higher occurrence of diabetes. When mortality among individuals who have developed diabetes is measured, though, it emerges that African Americans have a lower mortality rate than Whites with the disease (Harris, 1990). In recent years, there has been a leveling off in the rate of mortality from diabetes for both races.   Diabetic Complications Chronic diabetes mellitus is related with numerous overwhelming complications that reduce the quality of life and cause early mortality. These comprise hypertension, diabetic retinopathy, neuropathy, nephropathy, as well as macrovascular complications.   In the United States, African Americans with diabetes have higher rates of hypertension than Whites. The constancy of high rates of hypertension among African Americans and Afro-Caribbean populations (Grell, 1983) has caused the proposition that Western Hemisphere Blacks are offspring of a highly selected group of Africans who were efficient at retaining salt, which permitted them to uphold sodium homeostasis and survive the long sea voyages from Africa (Grim, 1988). Recent proof proposes that high rates of hypertension among African Americans might be associated to hyperinsulinemia plus abnormal renal sodium transport (Douglas, 1990). Information on the incidence and impact of other diabetes-associated complications are limited. Though, retinopathy, neuropathy, and stroke emerge to be more recurrent in African Americans than Whites with diabetes (Roseman, 1985). The rate of lower limit amputations ensuing from diabetes has been reported to be considerably greater among U.S. Blacks than Whites. Occurrence rates of diabetic end-stage renal disease (ESRD) have been revealed to be greater for African Americans than for Whites. After developing ESRD though, U.S. Blacks emerge to survive longer than Whites. There is as well some implication that certain cardiovascular complications including angina and heart attack may take place less often among African Americans than among Whites with diabetes (Harris, 1990).   It has been recommended that the on the whole higher rates of diabetes complications among African Americans might be associated to poorer metabolic control. Additionally, the high rate of hypertension among African Americans with diabetes may make worse or make haste the start of other complications for example retinopathy and nephropathy. Other significant risk factors for diabetes complications comprise age of onset, education, cigarette smoking, socioeconomic status, plus access to medical care (Roseman, 1985).   Prevention and Intervention Strategies The main metabolic defect of type 2 diabetes is insulin resistance in association with a relative and progressive deficiency in insulin secretion. This insulin resistance, present in many tissues, makes its primary contribution to hyperglycemia by reducing peripheral glucose uptake in muscle and failing to suppress hepatic glucose output. Additionally, resistance in adipose tissue to insulin-mediated suppression of lipolysis results in an elevation of free fatty acids (FFAs) and a further aggravation of hyper-glycemia. The degree of insulin resistance observed in diabetic subjects may vary according to a subjects ethnic background, body mass index (BMI), and physical activity. Pharmacologic intervention with either metformin, a biguanide, or a thiazolidinedione (TZD) has been successful in reducing insulin resistance in subjects with type 2 diabetes. In the management of the majority forms of diabetes, there is a need to be concerned concerning the acute complications of hypoglycemia and ketoacidosis and/or development of acute hyperosmolar crises. Hypoglycemia, a major treatment concern in type 1 diabetes, is much less frequent with type 2 diabetes and is discussed later in association with specific therapies. Although DKA and hyperosmolar crises have been reported in children with type 2 diabetes, they are uncommon, in our experience after initial presentation, but such crises have been reported. About 10-15% of children and adolescents with type 2 diabetes present at diagnosis with DKA, hyperosmolar crisis, or a combination of these states. The long-term goals in the management of type 2 diabetes are twofold: first, the prevention of microvascular complications, including retinopathy, nephropathy, and neuropathy; secondly, the prevention of macrovascular complications such as atherosclerosis of the coronary, cerebral, and large arteries of the lower extremities. These lead to myocardial infarction, stroke, and amputation, and are the major causes of morbidity and mortality with type 2 diabetes. The development of these complications is multifactorial, but is influenced by associated hypertension, dyslipidemia, and hyperinsulinemia in addition to the effects of hyperglycemia. The aim of therapy in type 2 diabetes is to specifically target the underlying metabolic defects of this disorder, which are obesity, abnormal insulin secretory function, and the insulin resistance present in the three primary insulin responsive tissues skeletal muscle, fat, and liver. The first approach is to reduce obesity through lifestyle interventions in diet and exercise. In addition, the introduction of an ÃŽ ±-glucosidase inhibitor may be considered to delay carbohydrate digestion and absorption, reducing peak postprandial hyperglycemia. A second therapeutic approach is to address insulin secretory dysfunction with insulin secretagogues such as sulfonylureas or meglitinides. Alternatively, or if these secretagogues are ineffective, exogenous insulin can be initiated. A third approach is to address tissue-specific insulin resistance. Metformin can decrease hepatic glucose output and improve peripheral insulin sensitivity. Thiazolidinediones have been successful in improving peripheral insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes in adults; however, experience with these therapeutic agents is limited in children. At present, diabetes mellitus remains a serious problem tackling the African Americans population. High diabetes mortality rates reflect merely part of the problem. The viewpoint of increasing diabetes occurrence rates casts a threatening shadow over the future for the African Americans community. The morbidity related with diabetic complications places a great financial burden on individuals and communities least able to bear the cost of such an illness. Evidently, the challenge of addressing the problem of diabetes mellitus in the African Americans population is great and will need a multidisciplinary approach involving government, researchers, educators, as well as members of the African Americans community. Health Promotion Of main importance is the requirement for distribution of information regarding diabetes and its consequences into the African-American community. An uneducated African-American community may be inclined to undervalue the diabetes problem or to pay less attention to the signs and symptoms of its commencement. This may outcome in late diagnosis or care, thus raising the probability of rapid start of complications. Consequently, ethnically sensitive strategies intended to get involved and educate African Americans on the subject of the behavioral and environmental risk factors for diabetes plus its complications are necessary. Undoubtedly, in order for African Americans to take steps to lessen the diabetes linked morbidity and mortality in their communities they have to have the capability to make informed decisions regarding the disease. Cooperative Efforts for Provision of Health Services Rates of diabetes mortality and complications may depend on the accessibility and permanence of care. There is some sign that African Americans with diabetes may be underserved regarding medical care (Harris, 1990). Cautious study of this problem is needed, and innovative solutions have to be developed. The African-American community must as well become empowered to expect and demand the essential care they deserve. To have an effect on such change, community based institutions, for instance the church, can build up programs for using the health professionals within their congregations to offer care or therapy to diabetics and their families. Organizations concerned with minorities, for instance the UrbanLeague, can comprise diabetes and further health problems in their national agendas to generate concern and act at the community and national levels.   Governmental agencies and institutions engaged in training health professionals, for example medical schools and schools of public health, must institute action to augment the pool of African Americans in the professions concerned with the care of individuals with diabetes. Federal agencies, for instance the National Institutes of Health, may as well offer special grant programs to hearten submission of research grants to study diabetes in African Americans and to improve the growth of minority researchers in the area.   Research The inadequate data presently accessible on diabetes among African Americans raise numerous questions however deliver few answers regarding the etiology and natural history of diabetes plus its complications in this racial group. Up to now, a small number of studies of diabetes in the United States have included representative samples of African Americans. This inadequacy has to be addressed if future studies are to give way valid conclusions concerning the factors accountable for the incidence of the disease in the African-American population. In the Report of the Secretarys Task Force on Black and Minority Health (1985), numerous research priority areas for addressing the health disparity between Black and White Americans were recognized. These areas are mainly pertinent to diabetes mellitus and comprise the following: (1) investigation into risk-factor recognition, (2) investigation into risk-factor occurrence, (3) investigate into health education intrusions, (4) investigation into prevention services interventions, (5) investigation into treatment services, as well as (6) investigation into sociocultural factors and health outcomes. The recognition of these target areas for investigation and other recent efforts by the Department of Health and Human Services to endorse the study of diabetes in the African-American population (Sullivan, 1990) are significant steps toward addressing the gap in awareness of how diabetes have an effect on African Americans. 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Report of expert committee on diabetes mellitus. Technical Report, Series no. 646. Geneva: World Health Organization. http://etd.fcla.edu/SF/SFE0000527/AfricanAmericanWomen.pdf www.ecu.edu/cs-dhs/ah/upload/Bailey.ppt