Wednesday, August 26, 2020

Medicare Benefits Schedule Item Statistics

Question: Talk about the Medicare Benefits Schedule Item Statistics. Answer: Presentation: In the first place, direct unoriginality brings about replicating of an entire sentence, section or whole report. It is prudent to precisely cite the duplicated area and utilization of bracket on the segment as Martin and Nakayama, 2013 affirm to stay away from in exactly the same words written falsification. Also, self copyright infringement can be forestalled when an understudy initially gets the chance to comprehend what the writer passed on in his/her works at that point writes in his/her words however keeping up the importance and stream of substance. Once more, as an understudy staying away from self copyright infringement involves recognizing your past works in the event that you present it on another bit of work. Thirdly, to keep away from plot, it is viewed as astute to begin your work by offering credit to the creator's work. At that point as you progress depend on your mind and experience to draw out the thoughts that are precise and unique. On the off chance that you find erroneously or purposefully acquired words consider utilizing equivalent words as bolstered by Wilcox et al., 2015. Besides, when filling in as a gathering it is shrewd to grow great listening abilities and later produce a one of a kind paper. Moreover, to maintain a strategic distance from coincidental unoriginality legitimately or in a roundabout way, it is prudent to put quotes around the term and notice the creator's name (Wilcox et al., 2015). In the wake of editing guarantee that as much as the sentences are cognizant, they are not quite the same as the first content. In conclusion, it is of critical incentive for individuals to grow great note-taking abilities in order to grasp recognizing someone else's work. For example, during talks and instructional exercises recording significant thoughts by the writer, for example, date of distribution, year, the name of the writer, and the name of distributer permit an understudy to show obtained thoughts in his/her composition. Echocardiography is a noninvasive ultrasound assessment (Al-Kaisey et al., 2015). The survey can occur in any room as it utilizes basic clinical gear, for example, the transducer, sonogram, and a PC. The technique has less pre and post tests as it is viewed as a straightforward practice. Echocardiography as a rule goes on for around forty minutes. During the assessment, a color is utilized to permit away from of the heart on the reverberation pictures. Likewise, a transducer is utilized during the test to record the low-recurrence sound waves in the heart (Williamson et al., 2017). Then again, cardiovascular catheterization assessment involves the utilization of a catheter embedded in the wrist or the crotch and afterward guided to the heart (Fanaroff et al., 2015). Heart catheterization is a significant specialized activities with both pre and post tests to set up the patient for the assessment and to keep away from the event of wounds. Pre tests rehearses incorporate estimating the pulse while post exams incorporate a bedrest of around 60 minutes. Echocardiography Ultrasound assessment takes less time when contrasted with cardiovascular catheterization. Additionally, the echocardiography assessment isn't excruciating as there is no infusion. The utilization of the gel on the core of the patient guarantees no radiation stays in the body after the assessment. Also, heart catheterization rendered dangerous to pregnant ladies because of the radiations and the infusion on the crotch or the wrist (Stub et al., 2015). All things considered, it is, along these lines, conceivable to perceive that it is sheltered to remain adjacent to a patient experiencing echocardiography assessment in light of the fact that the procedure is noninvasive and doesn't utilize ionizing radiations as repudiated to cardiovascular catheterization which utilizes X-beams to get photos of the heart. The X-beams radiations from the imaging tests during heart catheterization may cause present moment and long haul medical issues (Heiberg et al., 2016). Transient wellbeing distortions incorporate changing the skin shading on the uncovered zones while long haul medical issues incorporate malignant growth (Heiberg et al., 2016). To maintain a strategic distance from the X-beams, medical attendants have extraordinary apparel and remain at assigned areas during the assessment. In addition, aside from being innocuous, echocardiography ultrasound assessment includes the guideline of light brilliance to being faint in order to get away from of the heart. Nonetheless, as much heart catheterization has clear view caught by the utilization of X-beams, it is viewed as destructive to the medical attendant or specialist remaining next to the patient. Once more, the catheter utilized may bring about blood coagulating in the vein subsequently requiring an activity to be performed to expel the coagulation. The best differentiation between a urban emergency clinic cardiology center and a rustic cardiology facility is the offices and paces of confirmation and release (Falster et al., 2015). Most neighborhood cardiology medical clinics, for example, the one in Northern Australia are little in size when contrasted with The Prince Charles Hospital Cardiology Unit which is a condition of craftsmanship cardiology unit (Falster et al., 2015). The rustic cardiology centers in Northern Australia records not many Medicare releases: roughly 1/3 of the all out number when contrasted with a significant emergency clinic cardiology unit, for example, the cardiothoracic unit of the Royal Adelaide Hospital which records more than of the all out Medicare releases (Falster et al., 2015). Little rural cardiology centers represent under 20% of the assessed $50 billion inpatient releases because of less remain of Medicare releases. Significant clinic cardiology units are required to represent 46% of the $50 billion inpatient releases because of the more extended remain in inpatient cardiology units (Hart et al., 2015). Likewise, little rustic cardiology centers have a higher all out discharge charges and auxiliary charges per understanding when contrasted with a urban cardiology unit which has a marginally low absolute release expenses and accidental charges because of the considerable assignment of assets by the service of wellbeing. Another key thing to recollect is that in most country cardiology centers the death rates are high when contrasted with significant emergency clinic cardiology units because of the effectiveness in rescue vehicle reaction (Falster et al., 2015). Ongoing examinations demonstrate that in most provincial cardiology centers in Australia the passing rate is higher than the recorded proportion in urban cardiology units because of emergency vehicle reaction in the field being moderate (Gudes et al., 2015). A report by the WHO showed that most rustic cardiology centers go about as a referral for the essential medical clinic cardiology units (Gudes et al., 2015). The thought i s because of absence of present day hardware fundamental for performing cardiovascular assessments, for example, the echocardiography ultrasound assessment and heart catheterization lab angiogram assessment in most nearby cardiology units. As much as the fundamental contrast lies in the condition of offices and release, it is likewise conceivable to have the hole among urban and country cardiology units in regards to protection spread. Most significant emergency clinic cardiology units in Australia are gotten to using general medical coverage strategy while country cardiology facilities permit access to clinical administrations using private medical coverage. In examination, both the significant emergency clinic cardiology units and little rural cardiology units have qualified wellbeing experts with a client arranged disposition. Also, it is recorded that both urban and provincial cardiology medical clinics work connected at the hip with the state and the government to battle heart-related issues (Falster et al., 2015). Besides, both fundamental emergency clinic cardiology units and rustic cardiology facilities are overseen by the government either under private part or open division. At long last, both provincial card iology facilities in the northern Australia and the focal urban cardiology in Queensland have both in-understanding and out-quiet units. Medicare demand is the duty gathered by the government through the state governments (Podger, 2014). The duty applies to every single Australian resident put something aside for the individuals who are winning low: where seniors and beneficiaries acquiring under $21,000 and $33,000 are absolved (Podger, 2014). Also, there is a staging in extend charge which influences seniors and retired people gaining up to $26,000 and $42,000 individually. Likewise, the duty is forced distinctively relying upon the sort and condition of the family: single guardians have an alternate toll conspire when contrasted with a family with the two guardians. Because of the developing need of subsidizing and guaranteeing the impaired in the public arena, the Medicare demand was expanded from 1.5%-2% in the year 2014 (Podger, 2014).Notably, Podger, 2014 affirms that a Medicare Levy Surcharge curtailed as the MLS was acquainted with target individuals with high livelihoods to take on private clinics with the u tilization of private health care coverage while those acquiring less to have general medical coverage significant in open emergency clinics. What is more is that the move helped in decongesting the general human services framework in Australia and permitted abuse of assets in the private wellbeing industry. Medicare benefits plan is a draft by the national government to permit the arrangement of normalized clinical administrations (Australia, 2014). The Medicare Benefits Schedule shortened as the MBS gives specialists, attendants, and pharmaceuticals with a range to charge their patients decently. Late examinations show that the plan is utilized in general human services frameworks by low-salary residents (Australia, 2014). The MBS conceals to 75% of medical clinic charges and permits space for emergency clinic protection strategy to provide food for the staying 25%. In any case, because of various medical coverage strategies, specialists have various expenses and on occasion some cost all the more creation the patient dive somewhere down in his/her pocket to take care of the tabs. In this way, the last has seen most medical coverage covers structuring hole spread' to permit wellbeing experts to charge inside reasonable reaches (Australia, 2014). Medicare wellbeing net is a discount given by the social insurance framework in contact with the central government to individuals who bring about more than the normal clinical expenses (Searles et al., 2013). Medicare wellbeing nets are of two typ

Saturday, August 22, 2020

Amendment Right

Numerous American residents underestimate their common freedoms. Many don't understand how significant their privileges and benefits under the United States Constitution truly are, until they start to be removed. The Fourth Amendment, basically the privilege to protection, is gradually being taken from the American resident. The utilization of TEMPEST, or refined listening stealthily innovation to block data, including phone checking and video observation, is illegal under the Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution.The Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution expresses that individuals reserve the privilege to protection in their individual, houses, papers, and impacts against outlandish ventures and seizures, and that individuals ought not be disregarded, and no warrants gave, except if there is reasonable justification. (â€Å"U. S. Constitution: Fourth Amendment†, 2009) The Fourth Amendment obviously traces that the American resident has a privilege to protection from the legislature. This incorporates security in their homes, however out in public.For occasion, anybody can watch another out in the open, for example, strolling down the road. In any case, when law implementation authorities start to watch normal residents in their regular daily schedule, for example, going to work, setting off to the supermarket, getting their kids from school, and such, that resident's entitlement to security has been abused. To see how complex listening in innovation to capture data is an infringement of the Fourth Amendment, one must acknowledge how it works.TEMPEST is a code name for studies and examinations of bargaining spreads. Trading off transmissions are unexpected signs that can send data to a remote source. For example, PCs, phones, and video reconnaissance cameras discharge impedance into their general condition. This impedance makes flags that bear some relationship to what was initially gotten. Basically, TEMPEST hardware can remote ly reflect what is being done on another gadget. This is, in its most flawless structure, eavesdropping.(Pike, 2000) For the situation of Kyllo versus the United States, which was contended on February 20, 2001 and settled on June 11, 2001, is a case of the infringement of the Fourth Amendment. Law requirement was dubious that pot was being developed in applicant Kyllo's home in a triplex, and hence, utilized warm imaging gadgets to distinguish uncommon warmth sources, maybe from heat lights important for developing weed. Checking the outside of the house, the specialists recognized problem areas originating from Kyllo's garage.The operators acquired a court order, and did in reality discover cannabis plants. The proof was then seized from Kyllo's home. The Ninth Circuit Court concluded that the warm imaging was not infringing upon the Fourth Amendment on the grounds that Kyllo had demonstrated no endeavor to cover the warmth originating from his home, and regardless of whether he h ad, law implementation operators were still free on the grounds that the warm imaging didn't uncover any private subtleties of Kyllo's life. In any case, law requirement utilized gadgets that were not when all is said in done, open use.They utilized these gadgets to â€Å"explore subtleties of a private home that would beforehand have been mysterious without physical interruption. † On these grounds, Kyllo chose to bid, holding quick to the case that the reconnaissance was an infringement of the Fourth Amendment. At last, the Court concluded that the utilization of the warm imaging gadget to acquire data was an infringement of Kyllo's entitlement to protection under the Fourth Amendment. The Court dismissed law implementation's contention that the warm imaging must be maintained in light of the fact that it identified just warmth from the outside of the house.Law authorization's contention was dismissed on the grounds that it left the property holder to the benevolence of inn ovation. Law implementation's contention that the warm imaging must be maintained in light of the fact that it didn't identify personal subtleties was additionally dismissed on the grounds that all insights about a house are close subtleties. (â€Å"Kyllo v. Joined States†, 2001) Technology has progressed to the point that people in general ought to know about conceivable recording and different sorts of listening stealthily. For instance, shrouded cameras examined the essences of the entirety of the Super Bowl participants as they entered the arena in January of 2001.The pictures were then contrasted and nearby, state, and FBI documents of known hoodlums and psychological militants. The participants had no clue they were being viewed. The central government, notwithstanding nearby law requirement, is starting to strip away Americans' entitlement to protection. On September 11, 2001, the assaults on the World Trade Centers uncovered the defenselessness of America to fear base d oppression. Accordingly, Congress immediately passed the Patriot Act. The Patriot Act should give significant national safety efforts, for example, the evacuation of a resolution on restrictions for fear based oppression offenses.However, it additionally expanded the administration's capacity to direct ridiculous observation on guiltless people without ensuring that maltreatment of intensity were constrained. These models represent the pressure between protecting national security and forestalling ridiculous government encroachment on common freedoms. This encroachment is an infringement of the Fourth Amendment. (Chandler, 2006) In the months following the assaults on September 11, 2001, everybody rushed to bring up a potential terrorist.People focused on what others stated, and how they said it, and people gave more consideration to what they were stating to other people. For example, it was inside the domain of plausibility that a man in a market, having an easygoing discussion with another person, makes reference to his conflict with the United States government. Astounded by the FBI at his home a couple of hours after the fact, he is educated that the individual he had the discussion with at the market accepted that his conflict with the United States government was justification for illuminating bureaucratic law authorization regarding conceivable psychological oppressor actions.Not just did situations, for example, this occur, however the administration checked phone discussions. The law was that phone discussions can be observed by law authorization or by the phone organization. The phone organization can screen discussions for various reasons, including to offer support, assess the phone framework, screen the nature of the administration, or to ensure against administration burglary or provocation. In any case, law requirement can just tune in on phone discussions with â€Å"probable cause.† (â€Å"Wiretapping/Eavesdropping†, 1993) at t he end of the day, on the off chance that one is known to be a hired gunman, law authorization can listen in on that person's phone discussions not exclusively to see whether he will proceed with submitting murder, yet in addition to discover who else is included. Law requirement must get a court request to listen in on others phone discussions. Notwithstanding, after September eleventh, it was reputed that the government checked all phone discussions for watchwords, for example, bomb, fear monger, etc.The Bush organization over and over demanded that the main phone discussions they listened in on without court orders were the individuals who were associated with being connected to al Qaida or other psychological oppressor gatherings. It is valid, nonetheless, that after September eleventh, the Bush organization put forth attempts to gather tremendous measures of data about Americans' movement, duty and clinical records, messages, and Visa buys. (Landay, 2008) This was completely do ne under the appearance of the Patriot Act, which basically made the Fourth Amendment invalid and void.In expansion to tuning in on phone discussions, the United States watches the American open through observation cameras. A huge number of cameras, both open and private, spot parks and city lanes. When an individual is out in the open, the Courts consider those people as done having any security, at any rate while they are out in the open. A great many people don't know that they are being viewed. In the event that they do know, they don't control what their pictures are being utilized for. Most cameras are mounted in trees, on streetlight and traffic posts, on open structures, on metro stages, and introduced in transports and tram cars.These cameras are all over the place, and there are more that can't be seen. Police authorities won't educate people in general concerning where different cameras are on the grounds that they guarantee that data would â€Å"undermine law requiremen t's viability. One of the serious issues with concealed cameras in open territories is that cameras enter further than anybody gazing at a person. On the off chance that someone else is gazing at somebody, all that individual needs to do is gaze back to dishearten the interruption. Be that as it may, one can't gaze back at a camera on the off chance that they don't have the foggiest idea where it is. Regardless of whether they knew where it was, the eye of the camera would not stop staring.People act diversely when they think they are distant from everyone else, and regardless of whether one knows about the cameras, the cameras at that point don't fix the issue. Shrouded cameras fill in as â€Å"super cops. † These cameras can zoom in to single out a specific individual or to peruse a letter somebody is holding, and can find in obscurity because of infrared innovation. Before, police couldn't do this without reasonable justification and acquiring a court order. Notwithstandin g these advantages to law requirement, cameras can be placed in places where a person couldn't in any way, shape or form be, for example, roosted high on the side of a building.These cameras were initially touted as instruments to help in the getting of fear based oppressors and brutal lawbreakers, and to forestall genuine wrongdoings. The cameras have not done this. The main hoodlums these cameras have gotten are minor wrongdoers, for example, negligible cheats and show pass hawkers. For instance, in Washington D. C. , New York City, and San Diego, cameras that were initially intended to get genuine wrongdoers now just catch red-light sprinters, speeders, and other people who park unlawfully. The issue is this: The essences of rando

Friday, August 21, 2020

Kratom Withdrawal Symptoms, Timeline, and Treatment

Kratom Withdrawal Symptoms, Timeline, and Treatment Addiction Coping and Recovery Overcoming Addiction Print How Long Does Withdrawal From Kratom Last? By Corinne O’Keefe Osborn linkedin Corinne Osborn is an award-winning health and wellness journalist with a background in substance abuse, sexual health, and psychology. Learn about our editorial policy Corinne O’Keefe Osborn Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on March 18, 2019 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on August 06, 2019 More in Addiction Coping and Recovery Overcoming Addiction Methods and Support Personal Stories Alcohol Use Addictive Behaviors Drug Use Nicotine Use In This Article Table of Contents Expand Overview Signs and Symptoms Coping and Relief Warnings Long-Term Treatment Resources View All Back To Top Kratom is an herbal supplement made from the leaves of a tropical tree (Mitragyna speciosa). It is grown and cultivated throughout Southeast Asia. Kratom contains powerful alkaloids that have stimulating, pain-relieving, and mood-altering effects on the brain. It has also been used by some to relieve the symptoms of opioid withdrawal. Over the past few years, kratom use has increased in the United States. Longer-term use can result in dependence and withdrawal from kratom isn’t always easy. Here is everything you need to know about withdrawal symptoms, your timeline, and how to get help. Illustration by JR Bee, Verywell   Overview While Kratom use in Asia goes back hundreds of years, it is a relative newcomer to the Western world. At this point, doctors and scientists are learning more about its effects on the human body, both positive and negative. Frequently cited positive effects include pain relief, relaxation, improved mood, and increased energy. Common negative effects, however, include tolerance, dependence, and withdrawal. The results of a recent online survey found that kratom users in the United States tend to be middle-aged, middle-income people living with pain. Most of the over 8,000 survey respondents said that they were using kratom to treat pain or improve their mood. A smaller, but significant, number said they were using it to help them quit opioids or treat opioid withdrawal. Whatever your reason for turning to kratom, you should know that it isn’t the magic solution some people claim it is. According to FDA research, kratom is an agonist that binds to the mu-opioid receptors. This is the same part of the brain that is activated when you take opioids, like prescription pain killers or heroin. This means that kratom is, essentially, a natural opioid. Like all opioids, it comes with a risk of tolerance, dependence, and withdrawal. Kratom withdrawal resembles opioid withdrawal, although it is typically shorter and less intense. Reports show that the withdrawal experience is different for everyone, with many people experiencing no symptoms at all. Survey data found that only about 9 percent of respondents reported withdrawal symptoms. Most of these people described their symptoms as a level two on a scale of one to five, where one is the most severe and five is the mildest. Frequently cited symptoms include fatigue, cravings, tremors, and muscle aches. Signs and Symptoms Using advanced computer modeling, the FDA came to the conclusion that kratom contains opioid compounds. Opioid withdrawal is, of course, notoriously difficult. Kratom withdrawal appears to be less severe, shorter, and less common. Whereas pretty much anyone taking traditional opioids for an extended period of time will experience withdrawal when they stop their dose, withdrawal symptoms seem to appear in a much smaller portion of kratom users.   Research suggests that people taking large doses of kratom several times per day are more likely to experience moderate to severe withdrawal symptoms than more moderate users. A study of heavy users in Malaysia who self-identified as “dependent” on kratom, found that 65 percent experienced mild withdrawal symptoms and 35 percent experienced moderate to severe symptoms. This is considerably more than the 9 percent of Unites States-based survey respondents who reported withdrawal symptoms. This may have something to do with differences in patterns of use or daily doses. Commonly cited kratom withdrawal symptoms include: Muscle achesInsomniaFatigueCravingsNausea or vomitingCrampingTremorAnxietyDepressionDiarrheaSweatingWatering eyesRunny noseHot flashesRestless legs   According to the U.S. and Malaysian surveys, symptoms of kratom withdrawal typically appear within 12 to 48 hours of your last dose. Symptoms typically disappear within 3 days. Anecdotal reports suggest that some heavy kratom users suffer from whats known as post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS). PAWS happens to some people after withdrawal from a variety of substances. People tend to experience depression, anxiety, and insomnia that comes and goes in waves. It may be a few weeks or months before you feel like yourself again. Coping and Relief Kratom withdrawal can be difficult for some people. When it comes to quitting kratom, you have two options. One is to quit cold turkey. The other is to slowly taper down your dose. Tapering means taking progressively smaller and less frequent doses over the course of several weeks. Some people prefer a gentle tapering strategy, but others want to get withdrawal over with as quickly as possible. Whatever you decide to do, there are ways to make withdrawal more tolerable. Here are a few tips to ease the pain of kratom withdrawal: Talk to your doctor. Explain the situation to your doctor and tell them you expect symptoms similar to opioid withdrawal. Your doctor may prescribe detox medications that can help alleviate problems such as anxiety and nausea.Try OTC medications. There are several medications available over-the-counter that can help treat the symptoms of kratom withdrawal. Examples include antidiarrheals, sleep aids, and pain relievers.Take a shower. Kratom withdrawal leaves some people feeling depressed and exhausted. A shower can help boost your mood, increase your energy, and soothe your aching muscles.Go for a walk. Many people have found that exercise, even a brief walk outside, can relieve some of the discomforts. It’s a great way to distract yourself from cravings and work out excess tension.Keep busy. It may be tempting to take a few days off work and avoid your friends, but keeping busy may be just what you need to get through the worst of it.Remember why you’re quitting. It can help to write down the top reasons why you want to stop using kratom. Keep this list handy and refer to it when cravings hit. Warnings Kratom withdrawal isn’t dangerous. In most cases, it is mild, like a bad cold. Unless you have special medical needs, withdrawing at home should be fine. If you are pregnant, talk to your OB-GYN about your kratom use as soon as possible. There is a case study in the medical literature about an infant born in kratom withdrawal. If you have struggled with drug abuse, talk with a doctor before quitting kratom. If you have been using kratom to help you get off opioids, then you are at risk of relapse. Due to changing tolerance levels, opioid relapses can be very dangerous. Taking kratom instead of opioids may be a type of harm reduction strategy. While scientists still have a lot to learn about kratom, it may be safer than both prescription and illegal opioids. When people overdose on opioids, it is because the drug causes them to stop breathing. Kratom, even in large doses, does not appear to affect the respiratory system. This means that kratom, on its own, is unlikely to cause a fatal overdose. As with any opiate problem, ask your doctor for a prescription for Narcan, the opioid overdose reversal drug, before you quit kratom. Long-Term Treatment If you were using kratom to self-medicate a mental health disorder, such as depression, anxiety, or PTSD, you should consider making an appointment with a psychiatrist or other mental health professional. You may find that a combination of therapy and prescription medication helps you manage your symptoms much better than kratom ever did. Resources If you are going through kratom withdrawal or are planning to quit, it may be helpful to reach out to other people who have been where you are. There are several active online discussion boards on Reddit that you may find helpful, including r/kratom, which has over 61,000 members and r/quittingkratom, which has about 7,000. Both are filled with helpful information. Some users post updates daily about their quest to quit kratom. Just remember that this population is not indicative of the general publicâ€"people are unlikely to post about not having dependence or withdrawal symptoms. In other words, people with dramatic or traumatic stories are disproportionately represented.     A Word From Verywell Most people start using kratom with good intentions. They want a safe, natural way to treat pain and anxiety. And it may work for a while. But when kratom use starts to take over your life, you know it’s time to quit. Quitting may be a bit harder than you thought it was going to be, but it probably won’t get too bad. If you’re struggling, reach out for help. Is Suboxone Better for Treating Opiate Addiction?

Kratom Withdrawal Symptoms, Timeline, and Treatment

Kratom Withdrawal Symptoms, Timeline, and Treatment Addiction Coping and Recovery Overcoming Addiction Print How Long Does Withdrawal From Kratom Last? By Corinne O’Keefe Osborn linkedin Corinne Osborn is an award-winning health and wellness journalist with a background in substance abuse, sexual health, and psychology. Learn about our editorial policy Corinne O’Keefe Osborn Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on March 18, 2019 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on August 06, 2019 More in Addiction Coping and Recovery Overcoming Addiction Methods and Support Personal Stories Alcohol Use Addictive Behaviors Drug Use Nicotine Use In This Article Table of Contents Expand Overview Signs and Symptoms Coping and Relief Warnings Long-Term Treatment Resources View All Back To Top Kratom is an herbal supplement made from the leaves of a tropical tree (Mitragyna speciosa). It is grown and cultivated throughout Southeast Asia. Kratom contains powerful alkaloids that have stimulating, pain-relieving, and mood-altering effects on the brain. It has also been used by some to relieve the symptoms of opioid withdrawal. Over the past few years, kratom use has increased in the United States. Longer-term use can result in dependence and withdrawal from kratom isn’t always easy. Here is everything you need to know about withdrawal symptoms, your timeline, and how to get help. Illustration by JR Bee, Verywell   Overview While Kratom use in Asia goes back hundreds of years, it is a relative newcomer to the Western world. At this point, doctors and scientists are learning more about its effects on the human body, both positive and negative. Frequently cited positive effects include pain relief, relaxation, improved mood, and increased energy. Common negative effects, however, include tolerance, dependence, and withdrawal. The results of a recent online survey found that kratom users in the United States tend to be middle-aged, middle-income people living with pain. Most of the over 8,000 survey respondents said that they were using kratom to treat pain or improve their mood. A smaller, but significant, number said they were using it to help them quit opioids or treat opioid withdrawal. Whatever your reason for turning to kratom, you should know that it isn’t the magic solution some people claim it is. According to FDA research, kratom is an agonist that binds to the mu-opioid receptors. This is the same part of the brain that is activated when you take opioids, like prescription pain killers or heroin. This means that kratom is, essentially, a natural opioid. Like all opioids, it comes with a risk of tolerance, dependence, and withdrawal. Kratom withdrawal resembles opioid withdrawal, although it is typically shorter and less intense. Reports show that the withdrawal experience is different for everyone, with many people experiencing no symptoms at all. Survey data found that only about 9 percent of respondents reported withdrawal symptoms. Most of these people described their symptoms as a level two on a scale of one to five, where one is the most severe and five is the mildest. Frequently cited symptoms include fatigue, cravings, tremors, and muscle aches. Signs and Symptoms Using advanced computer modeling, the FDA came to the conclusion that kratom contains opioid compounds. Opioid withdrawal is, of course, notoriously difficult. Kratom withdrawal appears to be less severe, shorter, and less common. Whereas pretty much anyone taking traditional opioids for an extended period of time will experience withdrawal when they stop their dose, withdrawal symptoms seem to appear in a much smaller portion of kratom users.   Research suggests that people taking large doses of kratom several times per day are more likely to experience moderate to severe withdrawal symptoms than more moderate users. A study of heavy users in Malaysia who self-identified as “dependent” on kratom, found that 65 percent experienced mild withdrawal symptoms and 35 percent experienced moderate to severe symptoms. This is considerably more than the 9 percent of Unites States-based survey respondents who reported withdrawal symptoms. This may have something to do with differences in patterns of use or daily doses. Commonly cited kratom withdrawal symptoms include: Muscle achesInsomniaFatigueCravingsNausea or vomitingCrampingTremorAnxietyDepressionDiarrheaSweatingWatering eyesRunny noseHot flashesRestless legs   According to the U.S. and Malaysian surveys, symptoms of kratom withdrawal typically appear within 12 to 48 hours of your last dose. Symptoms typically disappear within 3 days. Anecdotal reports suggest that some heavy kratom users suffer from whats known as post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS). PAWS happens to some people after withdrawal from a variety of substances. People tend to experience depression, anxiety, and insomnia that comes and goes in waves. It may be a few weeks or months before you feel like yourself again. Coping and Relief Kratom withdrawal can be difficult for some people. When it comes to quitting kratom, you have two options. One is to quit cold turkey. The other is to slowly taper down your dose. Tapering means taking progressively smaller and less frequent doses over the course of several weeks. Some people prefer a gentle tapering strategy, but others want to get withdrawal over with as quickly as possible. Whatever you decide to do, there are ways to make withdrawal more tolerable. Here are a few tips to ease the pain of kratom withdrawal: Talk to your doctor. Explain the situation to your doctor and tell them you expect symptoms similar to opioid withdrawal. Your doctor may prescribe detox medications that can help alleviate problems such as anxiety and nausea.Try OTC medications. There are several medications available over-the-counter that can help treat the symptoms of kratom withdrawal. Examples include antidiarrheals, sleep aids, and pain relievers.Take a shower. Kratom withdrawal leaves some people feeling depressed and exhausted. A shower can help boost your mood, increase your energy, and soothe your aching muscles.Go for a walk. Many people have found that exercise, even a brief walk outside, can relieve some of the discomforts. It’s a great way to distract yourself from cravings and work out excess tension.Keep busy. It may be tempting to take a few days off work and avoid your friends, but keeping busy may be just what you need to get through the worst of it.Remember why you’re quitting. It can help to write down the top reasons why you want to stop using kratom. Keep this list handy and refer to it when cravings hit. Warnings Kratom withdrawal isn’t dangerous. In most cases, it is mild, like a bad cold. Unless you have special medical needs, withdrawing at home should be fine. If you are pregnant, talk to your OB-GYN about your kratom use as soon as possible. There is a case study in the medical literature about an infant born in kratom withdrawal. If you have struggled with drug abuse, talk with a doctor before quitting kratom. If you have been using kratom to help you get off opioids, then you are at risk of relapse. Due to changing tolerance levels, opioid relapses can be very dangerous. Taking kratom instead of opioids may be a type of harm reduction strategy. While scientists still have a lot to learn about kratom, it may be safer than both prescription and illegal opioids. When people overdose on opioids, it is because the drug causes them to stop breathing. Kratom, even in large doses, does not appear to affect the respiratory system. This means that kratom, on its own, is unlikely to cause a fatal overdose. As with any opiate problem, ask your doctor for a prescription for Narcan, the opioid overdose reversal drug, before you quit kratom. Long-Term Treatment If you were using kratom to self-medicate a mental health disorder, such as depression, anxiety, or PTSD, you should consider making an appointment with a psychiatrist or other mental health professional. You may find that a combination of therapy and prescription medication helps you manage your symptoms much better than kratom ever did. Resources If you are going through kratom withdrawal or are planning to quit, it may be helpful to reach out to other people who have been where you are. There are several active online discussion boards on Reddit that you may find helpful, including r/kratom, which has over 61,000 members and r/quittingkratom, which has about 7,000. Both are filled with helpful information. Some users post updates daily about their quest to quit kratom. Just remember that this population is not indicative of the general publicâ€"people are unlikely to post about not having dependence or withdrawal symptoms. In other words, people with dramatic or traumatic stories are disproportionately represented.     A Word From Verywell Most people start using kratom with good intentions. They want a safe, natural way to treat pain and anxiety. And it may work for a while. But when kratom use starts to take over your life, you know it’s time to quit. Quitting may be a bit harder than you thought it was going to be, but it probably won’t get too bad. If you’re struggling, reach out for help. Is Suboxone Better for Treating Opiate Addiction?

Sunday, May 24, 2020

Ole Kirk Christiansen and the History of LEGO

Hailed as the â€Å"Toy of the Century,† the plastic Lego bricks that make up the Lego System of Play were invented by Ole Kirk Christiansen, a master carpenter, and his son, Godtfred Kirk. From these small interlocking bricks, which can be connected to assemble an infinite number of designs, Lego has evolved into a huge worldwide enterprise that makes toys and movies and runs theme parks. But before all that, Lego began as a carpentry business in the village of Billund, Denmark in 1932. Although he initially made stepladders and ironing boards, wooden toys became Christiansen’s most successful product. The company adopted the name LEGO in 1934. LEGO is formed from the Danish words LEg GOdt meaning play well. Fittingly enough, the company later learned that in Latin, lego means I put together. In 1947, the LEGO company was the first in Denmark to use a plastic injection molding machine for making toys. This allowed the company to manufacture Automatic Binding Bricks, created in 1949. These larger bricks, sold only in Denmark, deployed the stud-and-tube coupling system that was the forerunner of the Lego bricks the world has come to know.   Five years later, in 1954, the redesigned components were renamed LEGO Mursten or LEGO Bricks and the word LEGO was officially registered as a trademark in Denmark, positioning the company to launch the LEGO System of Play with 28 sets and 8 vehicles. The current LEGO stud-and-tube coupling system was patented in 1958 (Design Patent #92683). The new coupling principle made models much more stable. Today Lego is one of the biggest and most profitable toy companies in the world, with little sign of slowing down. And the LEGO brand has gone well beyond plastic toys: dozens of video games based on LEGO have been released, and in 2014 debuted to critical acclaim.

Wednesday, May 13, 2020

Progressive era of the late 1800s to early 1900s - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 2 Words: 571 Downloads: 4 Date added: 2019/10/10 Did you like this example? Introduction The first part of the essay is about how progressive era of the late 1800s to early 1900s was a direct response to the â€Å"guided age of the mid-late 1800s†. The second part of the essay describes the guided age, outlines the major events, people, and ideas and how the things in question spur on the progressive movement and the changes that took place during that period of time. According to the progressive era (John, 1900 ) by the end of the year 1900th   century as the American entered into the first world war, the progressive era came with dramatic variations to the America’s commercial, administrative, and collective sectors. Progressive comprised all humankind from different backgrounds, class hierarchy, and professions who confronted the old way of life of Americans. The game changers engaged in a war to minimize the poor leadership qualities, embezzlement of public funds and other resources and the deficient lifestyle of the low living classes. They were convinced that setting up of industries and towns would bring about enormous social challenges such as the inclusion of city slums alongside work mishandling by uncaring organizations. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Progressive era of the late 1800s to early 1900s" essay for you Create order According to politics, reform, and expansion (Harold, 1890), the epoch of those years was matched by turning point of American history. On one the side, the ancient America- the one that was mostly in the grass roots and practiced agriculture dedicated its concentration to the downfall of the landform that was happy about the seclusion from the First World War and was approved positive minded in thinking and living in disposition. The part of America that was mostly industrial, was engaged in world political arena and the world wars experiencing massive changes in a number of people, economy, a level of know-how, and the day to day way of living hence causing many troubles that brought their gumshoe over the commitment in the future days. The cause of progressivism is described to have begun in the mid-late 1800s, when furious and small traders made the Grange and earlier the Populist Party to attack the unethical practices of large businesses. Progressive writers fought the well up the class in series of books and other written materials that condemned the â€Å"bloated trust† for motivating and planting corruption and screening wrongdoing. At the end of the century,  Ã‚   immoral behaviors were exposed as the big business. The media was directed to wholly expose disgraceful sections. Social challenges were most for the investigation by magazines. The slum situations attracted the major attention. Some progressives encouraged more views to bring about educated Europeans. Although they disassociated themselves from the logical descriptions, they later picked up his thoughts about speech and morality. Fundamental progressive supported attempts to marriages and cheap divorces as they forced programs to educate people on sex and birth control measures. As essential progressives forced to reshape America, a Protestant group ministers controlled the gospel body to bring about religious policies into the trading world. Conclusion The progressive era came with dramatic variations to the America’s commercial, administrative and collective sectors by the end of 1900th.According to politics, reform, and expansion, the epoch of those years was matched by turning point of American history. The cause of progressivism is described to have begun in the late 1800s when furious and small traders made the Grange and earlier the populist party to attack the unethical practices of large businesses. Immoral living characters were exposed as the big business.

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Top Essay Editor Reviews!

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Tuesday, May 5, 2020

Housekeeping Performance for Professional Skills - myassignmenthelp

Question: Discuss about theHousekeeping Performance for Professional Skills. Answer: To Mr. Guillaume Resort Manager Company Subject: Action Plan Suggesting Recommendations Regarding Housekeeping Low Score Dear Sir, This is to inform you that I regret the recent low ratings and negative reviews our company has been receiving since the last few days and I understand the present inability of the housekeepers to offer satisfactory service to the consumers. However, it is clearly evident that despite all the efforts, most of the housekeeping staffs are unable to perform their duties properly. I am glad to inform you that I have been able to chalk out an action plan that can solve the problem. In order to enhance and groom the professional skills of the employees, I suggest am action plan, which I wish to be implemented within a couple of days. Kindly go through the action plan attached below and approve the same so that it can be implemented with no further delay. In case of any further assistance, do not hesitate to contact me. Thanks and Regards Name Designation 14.8.17 Action Plan: Action Type Action Objective Time-Scale Resources Arrange an interactive discussion with the housekeepers explaining them about the low ratings, and announcing incentives on good ratings and reviews. This will help the management authority remind the employees about the importance of client satisfaction in business, as well as to motivate them to satisfy the employees as much as possible. 6 months Time Money Soft skill employee training will be provided to the employees so that they can keep on interacting with the clients and the clients also find them approachable. This will develop the soft skills of the housekeepers such as their communication skills making them more guest-friendly and approachable to the visitors. This will help in improving the performance of the housekeepers. 2 months Money Training Providing Organization Time management training program to help the housekeepers accomplish all their tasks without missing out on the most urgent duties they are required to attend. This will help the housekeepers stay learn to manage the time more efficiently and work productively helping them to handle emergencies in time. 1 month Money Time Training Providing Organization Senior employees for in-house training. Professional training should be organized for the employees so that the employees can learn to serve the clients better. This will help the employees cater to the varying needs of the visitors in the most effective way, by providing them guest service, luggage service, emergency guest service round the clock, as and when required. 2 months Money Training Providing Organization

Friday, April 3, 2020

About Lady Diana Spencer free essay sample

Diana Spencer Lady Diana Spencer Diana was born in 1961 as the third daughter of Edward John Spencer and his wife Frances Ruth Burke Roche. Diana grew up in a very privileged family that had a long history of close ties with the royal family. When Dianas paternal grandfather passed away in 1975, Dianas father became the 8th Earl of Spencer and Diana gained the title of Lady. Diana attended school at West Heath in Kent and then spent a short time at a finishing school in Switzerland. Although she was not an excellent student academically, her determined personality, caring nature, and cheerful outlook helped her through it. After returning from Switzerland, Diana rented an apartment with two friends, worked with children at the Young England Kindergarten, and watched movies and visited restaurants in her free time. It was about this time that Prince Charles, in his early 30s, was under increasing pressure to choose a wife. We will write a custom essay sample on About Lady Diana Spencer or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Dianas vibrancy, cheerfulness, and good family background caught the attention of Prince Charles and the two began dating in mid-1980. It was a whirlwind romance for on February 24, 1981, Buckingham Palace officially announced the couples engagement. At the time, Lady Diana and Prince Charles seemed truly in love and the whole world was awed by what seemed like a fairytale romance. Less than a year after the wedding, Diana gave birth to William Arthur Philip Louis on June 21, 1982. Two years after William was born, Diana gave birth to Henry Charles Albert David on September 15, 1984. While Diana quickly gained the love and appreciation of the public, there were definitely problems in her marriage by the time Prince Harry was born. Although she tried to maintain a positive public persona, at home she was crying out for help. Diana suffered from bulimia, cut herself on her arms and legs, and made several suicide attempts. Prince Charles, who was jealous of Dianas extra media attention and unprepared to handle her depression and self-destructive behavior, quickly started to drift away from her. This led Diana to spend the mid- to late-1980s, unhappy, lonely, and depressed. Diana found that her presence comforted many who were sick or dying. She dedicated herself to a number of causes, most especially to the elimination of AIDS and landmines. In 1987, when Diana became the first famous person to be photographed touching someone with AIDS, she made a huge impact in dissolving the myth that AIDS could be contracted merely by touch. In December 1992, a formal separation was announced between Diana and Charles and in 1996, a divorce was agreed to which was finalized on August 28. In the settlement, Diana was given $28 million, plus $600,000 per year but she was to give up the title, Her Royal Highness. Dianas hard-won freedom did not last long. On August 31, 1997, Diana was riding in a Mercedes with her boyfriend (Dodi Al Fayed), bodyguard, and chauffer when the car crashed into a pillar of the tunnel under the Pont de lAlma bridge in Paris while fleeing from paparazzi. Diana, age 36, died on the operating table at the hospital. Her tragic death shocked the world . Initially, the public blamed the paparazzi for the accident. However, further investigation proved that the primary cause of the accident was that the chauffer had been driving under the influence of both. Diana endeared herself to the public through her warmth and caring. As the wife of Prince Charles, Diana not only gave birth to the future British king, she became a princess of the people. Diana brought attention to worthy causes such as the elimination of AIDS and landmines. Also, through her own experiences, Diana became a role model for those who suffer from depression or bulimia. drugs and alcohol.

Sunday, March 8, 2020

The Purpose of Life

The Purpose of Life Free Online Research Papers Life is a big trap. As the great philosopher Hume once said that we are put on the big stage of life, being concealed from why everything happens. We have no wisdom to foretell the future, nor can we prevent those unfortunate things from happening. We are suspended in the eternal air of unknown and fear. We don’t know why our lives began. It’s out of our control. One day, our parents came together and said to each other, why don’t we have a baby? Then, a baby was done. Our lives may be just an accident at the very beginning. We don’t know the purpose of our lives. You may imagine you are the chosen people of the God, but you can never know for sure. Every day, there are people who choose to commit suicide out of pain of living. It’s said that there’s a heaven after here, and there’s perpetual happiness in the heaven. But you can never know for sure because it is also said that there’s a hell. We are trapped here on the earth between birth and death, not knowing when and where is our terminal station. Fortunately, life is an enchanting trap. Life also gives us gifts. He gives us enormous energy to explore the unknown world and the joy of getting to know; he gives us wisdom to change the world and create meaningful things and the bliss out of achievements; most importantly, he gives us heart to feel the unknown but beautiful world. We are young; we own every new sun in every morning. But what if one day we were told that tomorrow would not be our another spare day? Life recently re-taught me the beauty of being living. I was hospitalized following a severe cough which brought out several mouthfuls of blood. At first, I thought I’d got a cancer. I felt death was coming for me. I never thought about I would be caught by a fatal disease before; I never thought about being deprived of tomorrow so quickly; also, I never thought about tomorrow would turn out to be so beautiful only because I was later told by the doctor that it’s not a fatal disease! At the same time, tens of thousands of people lost their lives in the earthquake. The whole country was thrown into a great shock and enormous grief. The disaster once again told us the truth of the fragility of our lives, in such a cruel way! Those who have gone are gone forever; It is responsibility of us who are still living to cherish our lives. â€Å"Come on, China!† All Chinese people get united and shout loudly. To me, â€Å"come on, China.† means â€Å"come on, everybody.† Whenever life seems hard to endure, come on! It is until now when we really get trapped under the earth, being in the darkness, not able to move that we begin to realize how much life has long been given us: freedom, sunshine, water, food, etc. Life is enchanting because it teaches. The value of it is seldom known until it is lost. Another grand essential that makes life enchanting is love. Parents’ love, love between man and woman, and love between friends, all are ingredients that make our life sweet and fragrant. Love opens the door of our hearts to let others in and blend with you jubilantly in both sorrows and happiness of life. As what has been elaborated by the American thinker Emerson: â€Å"When something sensational happens to us, sharing the happiness of the occasion with friends intensifies our joy. Conversely, in times of trouble and tension, when our spirits are low, unburdening our worries and fears to compassionate friends alleviates the stress.† With love, life gets us enchanted. At last, life is also enchanting because of work. Although more than once people find work tiring and dream of eternal relaxation without any work, work is a significant source of human satisfaction and happiness. The American journalist David Grayson said, â€Å"Happiness, I have discovered, is nearly always a rebound from hard work.† Work, like food, gives us the essential nutrition of life. We apply our wisdom and creativity in work, through which we prove our value, draw sense of achievement and get the meaning of our lives. Research Papers on The Purpose of LifeLifes What Ifs19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraThe Effects of Illegal ImmigrationThe Spring and AutumnHip-Hop is ArtGenetic EngineeringTwilight of the UAWAssess the importance of Nationalism 1815-1850 EuropeMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever ProductAppeasement Policy Towards the Outbreak of World War 2

Thursday, February 20, 2020

Investigate the arguement for restricting trade and provide argunmats Essay

Investigate the arguement for restricting trade and provide argunmats for not restricting trade. Also list and explain some coun - Essay Example In time, trade has gone through revolutionizing changes with the advent of a legal tender system. This saw trade become widespread and global in perspective because of the new terms of valuation. These new terms of valuation made it easier to conduct trade because, unlike barter trade, it was easier to carry money for long distances than the actual goods. This paper aims at investigating the arguments for restricting trade and those for not restricting trade. Restrictive trade originated in the late 1800s where rich merchants involved in trade of high value products and services sought to create monopolies in the market so that they could control the market (GILLIES, 2004: 862). This amounted to restricting trade through the formation of international organisations for traders and manufacturers of a few select items that were of high value and demand in the market. An organisation like this is allied, by agreement, to control the natural elements of supply and demand, in the market. They achieve this by fixing prices and quotas for sales, divide markets and limit supply (GILLIES, 2004: 867). These restrictive trade practices end up eliminating competition in the market, which creates a precedent for consumer exploitation. Competition, in the market, keeps all the players, in check, by ensuring that they all strive to satisfy the consumers’ needs, or risk losing out to those who fulfil their customers’ needs. Without competition in the market place, the consumers would be faced, with the aspect exploitation from unscrupulous traders out, to make a profit at the expense of consumers. When a system of trade restricts trade practices among its players, it predisposes consumers to exorbitant and unaffordable prices. Consumers are supplied with substandard goods and services because there is no alternative source of the products they seek. Elimination of competition by restricting trade robs consumers of the freedom and right of choice regarding the qua lity and supply of commodities they desire and need (BRUCE, 2001: 56). Limitation of supply creates high demand for goods and services, which exposes consumers to abuse through over pricing. Restricting trade has seen a decline in trade volume because it reduces consumers’ purchasing power and decreases the number of traders allowed to participate, in a given trade. Restriction on trade has also contributed to protection of inefficient and unqualified traders in the market who add no value to consumers or the economy of the country. Restriction on trade has seen to the development of domestic and international organisations that operate like cartels because of their characteristic monopolising of markets of their interest (FRANK & BERNANKE, 2003: 419). Beneficiaries of these organisations advocate and support these cartels by arguing that they help protect participating firms that are weak thus shielding them from unfair competition. According to most studies, business entiti es that benefit from restricted trade systems postulate that this structure of trade helps these firms deal with limitations caused by high business operating tariffs (BRUCE, 2001: 78). Cartels created because of restrictive trade systems are able to distribute risks and profits equally amongst themselves which acts as a cushion against uncertainty in the market. This uncertainty can be

Wednesday, February 5, 2020

Teaching Evaluation Tool Paper Research Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Teaching Evaluation Tool - Research Paper Example As the tools for appraising the performance of teachers differ in structure, Figure 1 (please see Appendix A) indicates a wider range of subject classification included during evaluative period. In particular, a number of domains are being assessed in the tool: â€Å"data-driven planning, instructional delivery, assessment, learning environment, communication, professionalism, student achievement.† Preliminarily, planning stage needs to be anchored with stable database on individualized background of students, for appropriate planning strategies to work. This way, strong foundations for exhibiting more effective delivery of lessons are attained, coupled with multi-dimensional methods in assessing whether teaching strategy has been a success or not. The subsequent domains are interconnected, dealing with direct associations between teachers and students in a conducive learning environment; which in turn, can be fostered by skills in communication and maintenance of professional attitudes in academic settings. In a positive academic atmosphere, learning is conducive, enhancing teacher performance as the advent of professionalism exists through respectfully treating their students as collaborative partners in education.

Monday, January 27, 2020

The Issues Facing Mercedes Benz Cyprus Developing Conceptual Framework Business Essay

The Issues Facing Mercedes Benz Cyprus Developing Conceptual Framework Business Essay The project concentrates on the issues facing Mercedes Benz Cyprus developing and implementing an efficient and cost-effective conceptual framework for measuring and managing sales performance. As a concrete outcome of this research, a roadmap and a website for non technical business users will be developed, giving them the capability to apply the conceptual framework to measurable and manageable business activities. The project provides evidence that indicates successful application of measuring and managing sales performance techniques through the use of reports, trainings, communication capabilities and presentation skills. It creates a new political and organisational challenge for the staff of the organisation which in its turn must learn to interact fast and effectively in order to achieve their targets. The main topics that emerged from the research are defined in derived conceptual framework based on the comprehensive review and analysis of the different models and frameworks that can be found in performance measurement literature. Substance considers the external and internal influences impacting on a sales organisation and how management team and staff can offer an actively sought process to monitor business performance on an on-going basis and to generate recommendations for changes. The research indicates that there is no single model or process for developing performance objectives and measures, nor is there a process that will guarantee good results. It has been essential to synthesise and extend the existing models and frameworks with the aim to produce the most suitable conceptual framework based on the size, kind, and available resources. Additional it is difficult to become a successful implementation of a sales performance measurement management system without connecting with a blended training activities based on the culture of continuous improvement with apply of personal professional development of the stakeholders supporting them to identify their weakness for improvement. Preface Award My target award is Doctorate in Professional Studies Development and Implementation Issues for Managing Sales Performance. Sales Performance is the basic term under which this project focuses. I propose to outline a general focus on performance with particular reference to automotive industry. The project report will provide a dynamic, systematic and permanent conceptual framework on management and measurement of sales performance from the view of the business user for the Mercedes- Benz Cyprus. The final product will be a practical user-friendly document and a website, based on sound research, for non technical business users supporting them to measure and manage sales performance. It will provide practical and useful information with real business examples and arguments for measuring and managing sales performance. Furthermore, it will serve as a standard and quick reference for business users, monitoring and evaluating tools and methodologies that are critical in measuring and managing sales performance. The website will be an online learning support area for where you can find online material to support the subject of sales performance together with discussion areas. It is also anticipated to use this programme as an opportunity to my continuous learning and development in the area of sales performance. My favourite motto from the Greek, Athenian statesman, lawgiver and poet Solon is the motivation for my continuous learning and development, I grow in learning as I grow in years (Plutarch Langhorne, 1857). As Kolb (1984) has documented, we seek to grow and develop because we must do so to survive as individuals and as a world community. Coherence of the Programme The bellow topics provide a rationale for the combination of modules and Recognitions and Accreditation of Learning (RAL) claims on the programme and how are argue for the coherence and viability of this proposed programme. DPS 4520: Review of Learning The module of the Review of Learning provided me with a summary and evaluation of my experiences and education to date, and an analysis of their relevance to my future learning and development. My education and work experiences have impacted my personal development, as I have gained a mixture of both academic teaching and hands, on business experience. Most of my experience comes from progressive roles that I have held with Mercedes Benz. With Mercedes Benz, I have been fortunate to have a career that has spanned multiple disciplines including Information Technology, Quality, Sales and Marketing. I present my learning in a chronological and thematic approach, with the following diagram Figure 1:0 to reflect on my learning, which shows my lifelong learning stages. Starting from school and during my first university degree I have had special focus in Mathematics which helped me to develop my analytical and logical thinking for my doctorate project. My first-degree in Mechanical Engineering, as an Engineer, helped me understand how to bring together knowledge of previously solved problems and understand the current need to combine new solutions. Following my first degree as a Mechanical Engineer I chose, and successfully applied, for a Master degree covering a range of subjects related to Business and Operational Research. The subjects of this Master Degree provided an excellent learning opportunity, and greatly broadened my knowledge and understanding of Business issues. It has had an important impact on my professional and academic development. As Neely (2002) states researchers with functional backgrounds as diverse as accounting, operations management, marketing, finance, economics, psychology, and sociology are all actively working in the field of performance measurement. The research project that I have undertaken for my Master dissertation studies was a Statistical Analysis of Labour Accident in Greece. Statistical Analysis can integrate with the business performance management. It helped me develop my Statistical Thinking. Statistical Thinking is the philosophy of learning and the action that builds the foundation for successful decision making in any process (Britz et.al, 2000). Additionally, my Master Dissertation gave me my first opportunity to develop an appropriate research strategy. It has provided me with the basic framework for my research approach to identify the research methods and data collection techniques which are required for my research project. I have worked in engineering as Plant Manager for a year with one of the most important construction companies in Saudi Arabia and Cyprus. Living in Saudi Arabia strengthened my motivation to work in a hard environment and made me challenge my perception of the importance of simple things in our everyday life and work. Furthermore, working in the desert alone with my team represented a new type of knowledge and a different way of learning for me. I learnt about personal influence and negotiation. Leading a team was an excellent learning opportunity for me, and one that was very different from my past ways of learning. I also gained specific skills including project management and managing contractors, as I was responsible for installing equipments at our sites. Having decided to change my direction, I successfully applied to Mercedes Benz Cyprus for the position of the After-sales Analyst. My education and training from DAIMLER A.G, a highly innovative company with a global presence, has enabled me to understand the practical application of theories, especially at the management level. With the need to improve the stock levels and control the transport cost of spare parts, I developed several information systems. Increasingly I became involved in data analysis and interpretation of data, which strengthened my skills in these areas and helped me to develop my thinking about how information is used. In particular, I began to think about how the end-users of information could influence the way in which that data is produced, interpreted and presented, and the way this can change the meaning of information. The Board of Director of Mercedes Benz Cyprus offered me the challenge of the combined position of Assistant Sales Marketing Director and Quality and Business Manager. My duties have three main directions. Firstly, the developing and managing of the passenger car Sales Marketing business at both the importer and retailer levels; secondly the designing, the developing and implementing of new Information System for supporting the Sales Marketing Business and thirdly the developing, carrying out and maintaining of the Quality systems of the organisation. My current role has provided me with valuable experience and opportunities for learning. This has allowed me to develop a deep understanding of various functions including Finance, Sales Marketing, Quality, Service and Human Resources. Finally, the module Review of Learning helped me realise my strengths and weaknesses and identify the areas in which I need to develop skills. Recognition and Accreditation of Learning (RAL 4): Professional Learning The Master Degree in Business Management and Operational Research has had an important impact on my professional and academic development. It equipped me with skills and experiences such as leading me to the research process starting from clarification of the problem until the presentation of the findings to stakeholders which are necessary for my project. An important subject undertaken was Total Quality Management (TQM) and Operational Research. It was my first experience with tools to control and develop business. Another important subject in my Master was Economics and Law which was directed at understanding the basic notions of modern economic science, with emphasis on microeconomic concepts and macroeconomic analysis. The style of teaching in my Master involved a large element of discussion of issues, and involved a major piece of group project work, which greatly contributed to my understanding of group dynamics. I had actively engaged the discipline in a way not possible simply by listening to lectures and reading textbooks, but through the reflection from the process of research. Writing and peer review helped me to understand my own behaviour within a group situation. Another main subject was Management Information System (MIS) . It helped me understand how to develop, analyse and design computer applications for organisation s and offered me the opportunity to see solutions with the help of technology to some of the most important company problems. Recognition and Accreditation of Learning (RAL 4): Research and Development Project Capability This claim is based on the dissertation topic submitted as part of my Master Degree. The study was broad and high-level, focusing on data mining and data statistical analysis with special information systems. Also it was important in the conclusion to forecast the trends of labour accidents in Greece. In planning and designing my research I found tools and methods which gave me the opportunity to forecast the future and helped me understand the past. My ability to analyse and combine information was developed, and my thinking was expanded in terms of working with very different types of information to those that I had been previously used. The experiences with high-level information systems as main tools in my method for my study represented a new type of knowledge. Moreover in the research project I had an extend focus in data preparation, as most real-life data sets contained missing data. This gave me the challenge of understanding data mining, which is one of the most important rules for efficient and effective strategy. RAL 5: Advanced developments in professional practice I have submitted a claim based upon two projects, the design and development of Information Technology and Business Management Systems. They have been supported by theoretical background, literature review in the area of business and management information systems, areas which constitute integral and essential parts of business performance. Project 1: Design, developing, performing and maintaining the Management Quality System ISO 9001:2000 for the Mercedes Benz Cyprus. Since 2003, with the decision of the Board of Directors of our company, I have been leading the project of designing, developing, implementing and maintaining the Management Quality System ISO 9001:2000 for Mercedes Benz Cyprus. I realised that for this significant project it was essential to improve my knowledge in the subject of the Quality Management. I did an extensive literature review on the subject of quality systems, which brought me up to date with what is current in the field. Based on this literature, I have established a system of monitoring, measuring, analyzing and improving business performance so that service conformity was demonstrated, conformity to the Quality Management. An important part of the implementation was the collection and analysis of appropriate data. I have established statistical methods to determine its overall performance and level of customer satisfaction. These analyses were useful in the conversion of market data into market studies, of quality data into quality reports and of customer satisfaction data into information on customer loyalty. As the company developed, there was a greater urgency to focus around the customers, thus allowing management to invest well and wisely to meet their needs. The only way to achieve such a goal was to analyse the data for business and process monitoring. This information was reviewed at management meetings. Data on service problems were collected throughout the process. This data was analysed and prioritised for investigation. Management identified root causes and proposed long-term solutions and preventive actions with mandates for improvement teams. The data analysed included the following: Customer surveys and complaints Audit findings and nonconformity reports Outputs from data analysis Staff suggestions, complaints, training and competence. The procedure for preventive action included the methodology adopted for instituting such action on processes and work operations, which affect process quality. The flowchart presented in Figure 0:2 below outlines the approach taken by the Company to resolve potential nonconformities. Project 2: Design and developing of the live information system for the Sales Department in Mercedes-Benz Cyprus Main targets to achieve for this project were to design an intelligent information system that can quickly give access to the auto customer details, easily keep contact notes, track and manage car sales opportunities, create summaries and reports, and be intuitive and simple for managing new car sales. An important aim to achieve was the time spent by the Salesman in front of the computer screen would be no more of 15% of the total time. In this way, more time remains available for the salesman to establish contact in an active and purposeful manner. For the design and development of the information system project, it was necessary to have a deep knowledge of literature reviews on the theories and approach on how to build an enterprise data warehouse. The interface of the information system, as shown Figure 0:3, came about from the observation of the way in which waiters take orders through a touch screen monitor. Only one screen in front of the users, without menus, only big clickab le icons which are different from user to user and from level to level.

Sunday, January 19, 2020

Somalia vs United States Essay -- Compare Contrast Comparison

Somalia vs United States Somalia, which is about the size of Texas, is a small country located in Eastern Africa next to the Indian Ocean. The United States, which is located on the Western Hemisphere, is bordered by Mexico and Canada and is between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. Separated not only by the Atlantic Ocean, Somalia and the United States are also separated by the differences in economies and populations. These two countries that are quite opposite in size have some similarities in their governments and education systems. Somalia is one of the world’s poorest and least developed countries (Campbell). Because of the Civil War, which broke out in 1991, much of Somalia’s economy has been devastated. The war left many homeless and drove them to raise livestock as a means of survival. The economy used to be based on exports of cattle, goats, and bananas but as of early 1992 much of the economic trade had come to a halt. Now the economy is primarily based on the raising of livestock, which accounts for 40% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) (Alhaus). Due to overgrazing, soil erosion, and the clearing away of many trees, Somalia has very few natural resources, which have not been exploited. Known deposits include petroleum, copper, magnesium, gypsum, and iron (â€Å"Somalian Economy"). Before the war, Somalia had a well-functioning democratic republic government. Under the 1979 Constitution, the president held executive power. The president was the head and leader of the country’s sole legal political party, The Somali Revolutionary Socialist Party. Elected to serve a 7-year term, the president was nominated by the party’s central committee. Ever since the civil war in 1991, when the government collapsed, Somalia has been in a state of civil war and anarchy (â€Å"Somalian Government†). Somalia is one of the countries in the world with the least diversity among the people. 98.8% of the population is made up of ethnic Somalis (Kraus). Other minority groups include Arabs, Indians, Italians, and Pakistanis. Most Somalis are nomadic or semi nomadic herders of livestock. The rest are either crop farmers or inhabitants of the few urban centers. The official languages of the country are Somali and Arabic and the state religion is Islam (â€Å"Somalian People†). Primary education for children of at least six years was mandatory for Somalians. Many ... ...CD-ROM. Rediman: Microsoft, 1999. 7. â€Å"Somalian Economy.† 1 March 1999. Country Profiles. 8 Sep. 2001 Photius.com/wfb/wfb1999/Somalia/Somalis_economy.html>. 8. â€Å"Somalian Government.† 1 March 1999. Country Profiles. 8 Sep. 2001 Photius.com/wfb/wfb1999/Somalia/Somalia_government.html>. 9. â€Å"Somalian People.† 1 March 1999. Country Profiles. 8 Sep. 2001 Photius.com/wfb/wfb1999/Somalia/Somalia_people.html>. 10. â€Å"United States.† The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia 6th Edition. Columbia University Press, 2001. 8 Sep. 2001 13247.html. 11. â€Å"United States of America.† Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of Nations, 2nd ed. U*X*L, 1999. Reproduced in Student Resources Center. Farmington hills, Mich.: Gale Group. December 2000 . 12. â€Å"United States Economy.† The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia 6th Edition. Columbia University Press, 2001. 8 Sep. 2001 articlesnews/13247Economy.html. 13. â€Å"United States People.† The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia 6th Edition. Columbia University Press, 2001. 8 Sep. 2001 13247People.html. 14. Vick, Karl. â€Å"Building a government form scratch. After 10 chaotic years, Somalia has a president.† Washington Post 24 Nov. 2000: A45.

Saturday, January 11, 2020

B2B Report

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The report will firstly analyze the external audit of Processed Food & Food Service and Confectionery & Bakery industries, which consist of two parts – market analysis and customer analysis. From these two parts, the opportunities and threats of the suppliers in these industries, especially DKSH, will be outlined. In the market analysis, business environment, the market and competitors will be examined respectively.Particularly, the opportunities about the increase in demand or a good signal of industrial development will be explained in social factors, economic factors and industry part; these factors will give general information about Vietnam young population and their Western culture receptivity, which will easily increase the demand in such industry.On the other hand, legal factor will threaten DKSH due to the strict requirement in canned food industry that the firm needs to take caution in order to adapt to new regulation; while the economic factors onc e again strengthen the opportunity from social factors due to the increase in GDP growth and income. However, the inflation rate should also be considered because it could cause the inconstant demand and be difficult to forecast future demand in the future. The market part also gives some general information about the size based on the value of packaged food industry around US$12. billion in 2011 with the prediction of 4. 2% growth rate in next two years, which promises the development of these two clusters in the near future. Secondly, customer analysis is divided into two main features, which are current customers and potential customers. In current customer analysis, the report will give the information about each cluster’s market share of the top companies holding the highest percentage; Masan in sauce market, Acecook in instant noodles market, and Kinh Do in confectionery & bakery market.Then, more details information about these current customers will be examined in ter m of sales, their expectation such as building up deeper relationship with their multinational suppliers, and difficulty such as high input cost. After that, potential customer part is analyzed based on proposed potential customer list; this part contains some companies regard to Lien Hoa, Hieu Cau Den in processed food; and Huu Nghi and Hai Ha in bakery and confectionery. Especially, some reasons will be given based on the research and analysis about these companies in order to prove that they re ideally potential customers of DKSH. Thirdly, the internal audit is conducted to give the brief idea about the company; DKSH sales structures are activated in product and geographically based, and the strengths of the company about qualified staffed and good value added service are figured out in resources and marketing mix management part. From industry and customer analysis, the SWOT gives the summary of company strengths and weakness; and opportunities and threats in graph illustration form. Next, the marketing plan is proposed in order to give the best fit with the SWOT.The marketing objective that applied SMART approach will aim to increase the demand, brand awareness as well as the way to approach to potential customers with the specific point of time which is from 1st October 2012 to 1st April 2013. Then, the implementation plans relied on marketing mix, including direct marketing, personal selling and sale promotion will be planned specifically. To give more visual prospect about the marketing plan, the marketing program gives detail schedule as an action plan; and finally the performance evaluation will give some idea about how to evaluate the success of this marketing plan.Contents I. Introduction5 II. External Audit6 A. Market Analysis6 1. Business Environment6 2. The Market8 3. Competitors10 B. Customer Analysis11 1. General Information11 2. Current Customers13 3. Potential Customers17 III. Internal Audit23 A. Company Analysis23 1. Sales23 2. Management o f marketing mix23 3. Resources23 IV. SWOT25 A. Strengths25 B. Opportunities25 V. Marketing Objectives26 VI. Implementation Plans26 VII. Marketing Program27 A. Direct Marketing27 1. Telephone Marketing27 2. Email Marketing27 B. Personal Selling29 C.Sales Promotion29 D. Action Plan29 VIII. Performance Evaluation31 IX. Conclusion32 X. Appendix33 A. Potential Customer List33 B. Mapping Itinerary37 1. Southern37 2. Northern40 XI. Reference41 * Introduction DKSH is one of leading companies in market expansion services that has been established in 1865 and exist for 150 years in Asia. Thus, â€Å"Think Asia, Think DKSH† is recognized as company's slogan and that could tell how successful DKSH is in Asia. With a strong financial performance that has increased rapidly from 2002 to 2011 that exceed 8. % in net sales, DKSH becomes a strongest successful market leader recently. Obviously, its objectives are to help firms to grow their business in new and existing market by supplying know ledge, advice, relationship to reach each individual's goal, expand company's revenue opportunities and increase their market shares by making sure that their client's products are always visible on the shelves at all times. DKSH's business units are divided into 4 main business lines: Food ; Beverage (F;B), Personal Care, Pharmaceuticals and Specialty Chemicals.In fact, this report is going to analyze on 2 small clusters: Confectionary ; Bakery, and Processed Food which included in F;B industry in order to help DKSH to remain on the existing market and expand their business to the new market. To be more specific, integrated marketing communication tools that are direct marketing (telephone ; email), personal selling and sales promotion (trade promotion) will be applied to support push strategy in order to approach to potential customers. External Audit Market Analysis Business EnvironmentSocial Factors According to General Statistics Office (2010), Vietnam population in 2010 is aro und 88 millions with 51. 9% of this figure is younger than 30. Hence, it could become an opportunity for confectionery and processed food markets in increasing demand for consuming these kinds of product due to the receptivity of young population as well as the influence of Western culture. For this reason, suppliers of ingredients for these products can potentially enhance the number of customers as well as their sales in Vietnam market.Legal Factor According to Civil Law Network (2010), the ministry has implemented a new regulation for food safety, and requires all enterprises in food industry to strictly comply with the law of standard safety food. To be more specific, the Government encourages food manufactures in using high quality ingredients and adding more nutrition in their products. Moreover, they also require the manufactures in focusing on managing the supply of ingredients from upstream.Consequently, it could be the threat for food manufacturing companies to manage and have a specialized knowledge about supplied ingredients and their suppliers are expected to invest more in innovating their products in order to meet the regulation and more persuasive for the manufacturing firms to use their products. Furthermore, the regulation for environmental friendly packaging in food service also stricter (Civil Law Network 2010). Thus, it requires food service suppliers to put more effort in investing new or innovating current kinds of packaging that could adapt to environment issues.Economic factors In 2010, Vietnam’s GDP growth rate was 5. 83% (tradingeconomics. com 2012), hence the monthly average income per capital had increased to 39. 4% compared to 2008 and was estimated to be 1,387 thousand VND. As the result, this increase in income have gradually shifted Vietnamese consumers in premium segments such as sweet, ice cream or cakes and consumers also have higher requirements of diverse tastes, food quality, and nutrition for package food and also bakery (Vietnam package food, 2011).It is the good opportunities for supplying companies to catch up with these trends by developing current and new ingredients in respond with these market trends. However, the significant influence of the inflation rate cannot be denied. Based on tradingeconomics. com data, the Vietnam inflation rate in the third quarter in 2011 was around 22. 42% whish was the highest rate in Asia (bbc. co. uk). Hence, the demand in food market had declined in this period; therefore, manufactures can be threatened in forecasting future demand due to some unpredictable economic factors.Consequently, the suppliers are also affected by that because it could be difficult for them to rank the potentiality of their customers in near future. The Market In the report â€Å"Newzealand Trade;Enterprise† (2011), the author states that the value of packaged food industry in Vietnam was approximatelyUS$13. 3 billion in 2011 with the average growth rate at 4. 2% in the next two year. In addition, based on General Statistics Office website (2011), the value of confectionery sales is predicted to increase to US$ 471. 6 million at the end of 2012 and this figure is going to increase more than 10% each year for the next four years. These numbers indicate that there is a very highly potential demand for confectionery and processed food industry. * Competitors Connell Brothers, DKSH and Brenntag have been ranked as top 10 leading chemical distributors in Asia in 2011. Specifically, they all operate in Vietnam and engage in many types of industries such as food ; beverage, personal care, specialty chemicals, and pharmaceutical industry.As shown in the graph, it can be seen that DKSH has much less sales as well as power compared to Connell Brothers in the global market in 2011. At the meantime, the sale of DKSH and Brenntag is slightly different. Therefore, DKSH is required to put more efforts to gain its market share globally in order to build further di stance with Brenntag and shorten the distance with Connell Brothers. Customer Analysis General Information First of all, the paper is going to show some figures related to market share of some leading firms in Vietnam (2011) for two industries: processed food and bakery.For processed food market, market share of sauce and instant noodles have been displayed; while in bakery industry, confectionery and biscuit market have been demonstrated. Market Share- Processed Food (Source: Euro Monitor International) Sauce market For the diagram above, it shows that Masan owns comparatively larger market share than any other firms in such market. But since the portion of â€Å"others† still has 25% of the marker share, it is believed that some potential customers in this category can be found. Instant noodles marketThe major key player in this industry is Acecook, with 51% of market share while the other firms are holding less than 20% respectively. The report selects Masan food as an ins tance to explore knowledge under current customer analysis. Market Share – Bakery (Source: Euro Monitor International) Confectionery market Confectionery market is diverse, with many firms hold similar portion of shares. Among them, Kinh Do takes the 1st place in the market, follow by Huu Nghi and Hai Ha. The 2nd and 3rd key players in the market can be the potential customers for DKSH.Further information related will be given below in â€Å"Potential customer†. Biscuit market There are mainly two key players in the market, Kinh Do and Kraft Food, while each of other firms retain from 4~11% as their market share in the biscuit industry. Due to Kinh Do has an outstanding performance on the market share, the report will take it as a specimen in analyzing current customers. Current Customers There are many customers that DKSH is currently having connection with, including both local and foreign firms.The paper will choose one customer from each cluster, Masan Food and Kin h Do, to analysis the position of it through searching on background information, sales performance, and then raise opportunity and threat. Masan Food (Processed food) Mason Food is belonged to Masan Group, a firm that specialized on Techcombank financial services. After years of operation, Mason Food has become leading brand of processed food market in Vietnam, which has dominance on market share in some product categories. The product range includes fish sauce, soy sauce, instant noodles (74%, 78%, 14% of the market respectively) and other kinds of product.Sales Performance (Source: Business Monitor International ) Opportunity Despite Masan Group is established as a local enterprise, it recently decides to build a relationship of acquisition with Nuiphao Mining Joint Venture Company Ltd, becoming one of the largest private sector resources companies (Masan Group Investor Update n,d). Cooperating with local or foreign investment is an opportunity for firm to receive more capital to invest in its operations. Due to DKSH is a multinational firms already, the business is expected to be enrich by cooperating with local firms in other industries to expand the operation range.Threat As a processed food manufacturer, Masan Food faces a problem that sometimes the price for raw materials is fluctuating(Business Monitor International, 2012). For the earning benefit point of view, Masan Food should pass the costs from consumers, but that can threaten the chance of losing customers. To illustrate, the FMCG industry is a price sensitive environment that contains many brands at similar level. If one brand’s price is higher result from increasing costs to reflect its margin, customers can easily choose another brand because the switching cost is low.Volatile input costs can be a threat to the food manufacturer because the manufacturer needs to choose whether to burden itself or to pass on customers. Same story is applicable in DKSH’s case, if the input price h as a significant increase, DKSH has to decide whether to bear the costs or compensate from its customers; both decisions are having certain drawbacks needed to be considered. Sales Breakdown (Source: hsc company update) Kinh Do Corporation (Bakery and Confectionery) Kinh Do is a local brand that established in 1993, which is one of the largest food producers in Vietnam nowadays.The core business of the firm is food related products: confectionery (cakes, candies), beverage (water, juice) and dairy products. Kinh Do also involved in some other industries such as real estate and grocery retailing. The brand creates a good image that allows them to gain certain customer awareness and even awarded as top ten of Vietnam’s best brands (Ha 2011). Sales Performance (Source: Business Monitor International) Opportunity As indicated before in the report, health awareness has raised from customers when they purchasing confectionery product.Consequently, higher level of quality is require d from food manufacturer in order to satisfy customers. As showed from annual report, Kinh Do provides best materials in manufacturing their products, aim to satisfy its customers in a better extent. Indeed, sellers should be responsible to meet the requirement when there is a concern about product’s specification such as â€Å"health† mentioned above. Without doubt, they can gain more recognition if they can achieve the condition. DKSH is getting involved in this health concerned manufacturing process due to it is one of sellers of Kinh Do.If DKSH can attain the requirement, which it already does, it is expected that the buyers will be satisfied, and they are willing to create more opportunities to corporate with DKSH in the future. Threat Kinh Do depends largely on the domestic market but that makes the company fragile with the fluctuating customer demand (Business Monitor International, 2012). Actually, change in customers’ preference can affect organizationa l demand in both positive and negative ways, but here it seems more likely to be threat from the view of the Kinh Do.Because local buyers are the main sources of generating sales, if the number of them is not stable, firm’s overall performance will obviously be affected. Likewise, inquiry that DKSH received from food manufacturers is affected by customer’s demand. If the perception of buyers is low, sellers will gain lesser results from the declining demand, and vice versa. Being instable with the demand can be interpreted as the firm is actually dependent by the market trend. In this case, DKSH has no control over the changing demand; therefore it can be a threat. Sales Breakdown (Source: hsc company update)Potential Customers Apart from keeping relationship with current customers, exploring new customers is also important for a business. To give our more precise information, the report lists four potential customers from the two clusters, with background information, product range and reason why it is recommended as being â€Å"potential†. Detail contacts of other potential customers can be founded in appendix. Lien Hoa (Processed food) Lien Hoa was established since 2008, by Thierrty Pham, an industrialist who has more than 15 years’ experience in the industry.The firm operates following European standard to ensure the quality of the products. As mentioned from the official website, Lien Hoa has signed exclusive contract with other brands such as Uni-President and Siam Brothers to be its business partners. Moreover, the products of Lien Hoa are widely distributed with supermarkets like Giant, Metro and Big C (Lien Hoa, 2011). Reason Although the brand is new compares to some other existing sellers in the market, it is expected to grow due to qualified and experienced methodology used by the firm.Furthermore, the brand has shown its ambition to boost the market by cooperating with well-known brands like Uni-President. Product rang e Hieu Cau Den Sausage (Processed food) It is a sub branch of Black Bride Food from Taiwan. The brand mainly offer traditional Taiwanese dished rice dumplings, meat floss, and some products commonly seen in Vietnam such as sausage and dumplings. The brand is also an importer for some food and beverage from Taiwan. Even though the brand is not as famous as other brands in the existing market, it is quite popular among the Taiwanese because the products fit their taste better.Reason Situation is slightly different compares to dealing with other brands in this case because the brand is not really concentrating on mass market but more likely on niche market, for Taiwanese currently. Becoming the supplier of it creates an opportunity to enhance brand awareness towards foreign consumers. Moreover, the location is in the same district with DKSH, and therefore it will be easier for DKSH to access. Product range Huu Nghi (Bakery and Confectionery) Huu Nghi is known as a noticeable confection ery brand in Vietnam since 1950’s. is having more than 120,000 retailers throughout Vietnam. Similar to other brands in confectionery industry, the brand holds eligible qualifications as criteria to control fabric of the products. The business expands its relation across the nation to many countries: United States, Japan and Singapore. In addition, Huu Nghi also exploits the business to agricultural products such as pepper and corn (Huu Nghi, 2011). Reason The firm possesses proficient knowledge in trading with businesses across the country, thus, it is foreseeable that their experience can abound the business prospects.Also, as DKSH is a multi-national enterprise, Huu Nghi can understand the operation or regulations better result from their sophisticate. Product range Hai Ha (Bakery and Confectionery) Hai Ha Confectionery Joint Stock Company (HaiHaCo) has set up for more than 40 years and turns it status from public to private in 2003, aiming to provide qualified products to serve its customers. With advanced technology, Hai Ha can utilize its equipment plus the specialists to maximize its effort to engage in confectionery industry.Consumers of Hai Ha choose it as â€Å"Vietnam high-quality goods† for continuous 13 years (Hai Ha, 2011). Reason Apart from dominant brands like Kinh Do, Bibica and Kraft, Hai Ha ranked as 4th in market share of both confectionery and biscuit sector in Vietnam. It can be a great opportunity if DKSH can work with them as a seller due to Hai Ha’s high portion of sales caused by variety products. Product range Sales performance (Source: hsc company update) Internal Audit Company Analysis Sales DKSH has structured its sales force by product based, in which different sales team will be organized based on business lines.This method has created the strength for sales team as it can offer professional and skillful staffs with deep knowledge about their products. Face to face communication facilitates the interaction w ith customers by allowing them to question and negotiate directly, and thus lead to the opportunity to build long-term relationship. Additionally, to ensure the effectiveness of sale team, DKSH also divides its sales force based on geography, in which each sales team will be located and responsible for different areas across Vietnam.Management of marketing mix The annual report of DKSH claimed that DKSH will work with its customers to understand their needs, and then provide customized solutions to them. This is indicated that they are achieving cooperation relationship, which integrated into NPD (new product development) and new resolutions. Moreover, in order to strengthen their relationship, DKSH has provided customers the access to knowledge, advice, relationship, and logistics. At the mean time, DKSH ensures that the customers’ products will successfully grasp the right market.This is shown that there is a chance to build long-term collaborative relationships between the m. If this relationship remains well, then there will be potential to create long term alliances – to build specialist knowledge or strategic partnerships. Resources Due to the world wide sourcing network in more than 70 markets and the expertise in each cluster, DKSH is very confident in providing any needed ingredients for its customers. Moreover, for highly applicable purpose, research and analysis service can also help customers in creating and developing new or customized product ideas.Obviously, this is also one of DKSH strengths as it helps customers to be able to sustain in their market and differentiate their product offerings over competitors. DKSH has applied SalesForce. com as its own tool to manage sale teams. It allows each individual sales person to organize the new, potential and current customer’s information and the managers then can look at the working process of their inferiors. Moreover, DKSH can also translate all customer data to up date informat ion in timely manner. Another strength of DKSH is that it can efficiently manage its distribution channel.To allocate the channel tasks, the firm needs to achieve four main factors regarding reduce complexity, increase value, transaction efficiency and service quality. DKSH has industry expertise and offer â€Å"comprehensive Market Expansion Services†; therefore the firm can help its customers to reduce the number of separate exchange that they need to take place in order to collect different ingredients that are needed for their production. The firm does not only provide materials to manufactures but it also provides the concepts and formulations that go with these materials.For this reason, understanding what customers expect is one of the necessary key that takes part in DKSH’s success; therefore value is added in each process. Moreover, DKSH offers the whole supply chain management; hence its customers can be beneficial in getting lower operational costs and also in increasing the value. Non-stop in innovating the new sources or materials to meeting customer’s needs for their own application or market trend is one of the advantage that illustrates for DKSH’s good service quality.Furthermore, the organization also have good after sales services such as monitoring of technical staff at customer site, order processing and warranty timely delivery. SWOT Strengths DKSH recruits experienced staff and professions in the field, the prominent knowledge level can be a base for providing stronger technical support. Instead of only supplying for ingredients, DKSH offers formulation description discussion with customers to understand them better for value-added services. With this tradition, DKSH can set up a long term relationship with its customers. DKSH offers â€Å"comprehensive market expansion service†.This benefits customers by reducing the number of exchanging points to go through. Consequently, operating and transaction cost s can be lessen. Opportunities Purchasing power of customers in Vietnam is enhanced caused by an increase in GDP; they have better earning to make purchase and thus greater demand of luxury food items can results. It is expected that lifestyle of young population in Vietnam will differ from Generation X, preferring more ready meal like confectionery products and processed food. Hence, a growth in demand is foreseeable. Marketing Objectives Objectives of the marketing plan will be outlined based on SMART approach.Firstly, the new potential customer list which does not include in DKSH’s current customer list helps DKSH to expand its customer database in its internal network regard to salesforce. com. Secondly, the direct marketing such as telephone and email marketing plan will be proposed from 1st October 2012 to 8th March 2013 in order to approach the potential customer list step by step and enhance the brand awareness in both current and potential customers. It will be able to achieve 40% of number of potential customers who are willing to answer through phone call or email.Thirdly, personal selling plan is applied from 15th October 2012 to 31st October 2012 to achieve the remained number of potential customer from above step; hence the sales of the company is estimated to increase by 30%. This plan will be conducted according to the mapping itinerary which helps the sale team easily to visit customer based on the efficient action plan. Finally, sales promotion program is planned as the boom strategy in order to help DKSH easier to create the demand among potential customers that applied in direct marketing and personal selling plan.Implementation Plans The most appropriate B2B marketing communication strategy that should be used to approach to potential customers as well as make them become DKSH’s â€Å"current† customers is push strategy. Specifically, direct marketing, personal selling, and trade promotions will be used by DKSH to make its potential customers aware of its products and create demands, as well as to maintain and strengthen relationships with the current customers. Marketing Program Direct Marketing Telephone Marketing Potential customersIn direct marketing, telephone marketing should be used to directly communicate with these potential customers; DKSH should come up with the calling schedule, which indicates the number of sales people and the number of manufacturers (potential customers) need to be contacted in each region in one day. To illustrate, there are around 60 potential customers founded by the research team; DKSH can assign its sales people to make the call to 10 manufacturers in one day. This means DKSH will reach all 60 manufacturers within 6 days.In order to save customers’ time and the company’s costs, the sales persons should not introduce too much about DKSH’s history and its achievements via telephone. Instead, they should go straight to the core information su ch as types of products or ingredients that the customer needs, the price, and what DKSH can do for them. Moreover, the good point of this strategy is that it offers two-way communication and thus allows customers to question directly. For this reason, it is very important for DKSH to assign skillful spoken sales people to this project. Current customersIn addition, it is also important to schedule the calls to current customers in order to inform them about DKSH’s new products or ingredients, promotions, as well as to remain relationships with them. To illustrate, DKSH now has totally 105 current customers for food ; bakery cluster; assume that it will call to 10 customers in 1 day, so it will finish calling to all 105 customers within 11 days. It is recommended that DKSH should make this calling schedule every six months; at the beginning of each month for the current customers in order to keep frequent contact with them to update their latest situation and their new demand s.Email Marketing Potential customers As mentioned above, telephone marketing is used for the purpose of reaching potential customers by going straight to the core issue and providing them the core information. Therefore, other general information such as company’s background, history, achievements, number of skillful staff and techniques, and types of business lines will not be discussed in detail via telephone marketing. For this reason, it will be a good idea to email this information to DKSH’s potential customers so that they can have a clearer sight about DKSH.It is recommended that DKSH should email to the potential customers that it cannot successfully reach in telephone marketing for once a month to remind them and make them aware of DKSH products; it should do this at the beginning of each month. Current customers In telephone marketing, the sales people will inform the current customers about new products or ingredients, and the promotions. Then, in the email marketing, these sales people will email to the customers the related information in detail, such as the price table that indicates the price of each type of new product.Obviously, this tool is faster and incurs lower costs compared to other tools. Moreover, it tends to be more convenient to the customers compared to the telephone marketing. To illustrate, some contacted customers are so busy that they cannot listen too much what DKSH sales people want to tell them. In this case, email will be a better choice. As mentioned above, DKSH should make calling to the current customers every 6 months to frequently update their new demands.Simultaneously, DKSH should also try to come up with new products every 6 months to help its current customers to sustain in the competitive market as well as to retain them. Then, the sales people will email this related information in details to these customers; also do this for every 6 months, and at the beginning of each month. Personal Selling In pe rsonal selling, sales representatives of DKSH will be assigned face-to-face to these potential manufacturers in each region; these manufacturers (potential customers) are those that DKSH cannot catch in direct marketing.The number of sales representatives will be decided relying on the number of manufacturers in a particular region. To be more specific, DKSH can go to visit 4 manufacturers in 1 day; keeping doing this until it can catch up all of the potential customers that left in direct marketing. The main task of these representatives is to try to understand customers’ purchasing criteria as well as to provide brief information about DKSH’s main industries and products in order to increase the product awareness. Moreover, it is important to emphasize the benefits that DKSH can bring to them. Sales PromotionIn trade promotions, the telephone marketers and sales representatives should emphasize that DKSH will offer lower prices (5% discount) compared to the market pr ice to its potential customers for their first purchases; this means the more they purchase, the more discount they can get. Therefore, it will be the incentive for these customers, and this type of promotion will be applied to the potential manufacturers in all regions. Action Plan Task| Timeline| | 1st October – 31th December 2012| | W1| W2| W3| W4| W5| W6| W7| W8| W9| W10| W11| W12| Telephone Mkt| | | | | | | | | | | | |Email Mkt| | | | | | | | | | | | | Personal Selling| | | | | | | | | | | | | Sales Promotion| | | | | | | | | | | | | | Timeline| | 1st January – 1st April 2013| | W13| W14| W15| W16| W17| W18| W19| W20| W21| W22| W23| W24| Telephone Mkt| | | | | | | | | | | | | Email Mkt| | | | | | | | | | | | | Personal Selling| | | | | | | | | | | | | Sales Promotion| | | | | | | | | | | | | Performance Evaluation | Objective| Strategies| Evaluation| 1| Increase Brand Awareness| * Telephone * Email * Personal Selling| * Numbers of customer who are willing to answe r a call and give helpful information. Numbers of customer who reply email and make a request for further discussion. * Numbers of customer who are willing to interact with sell person and distribute in the conversation. | 2| Increase Sale| * Personal Selling * Sale Promotion| * Numbers of customer who accept to make a contract with DKSH in supplying necessary ingredients. | 3| Create Demand | * Sale Promotion| * Number of customers who firstly have no demand in finding new suppliers but changing later due to competitive proposed price. Conclusion In this report, the general information about Processed Food ; Food Service and Confectionery ; Bakery clusters will be analyzed in order to outline the SWOT analysis for DKSH. Additionally, Push strategy will be applied to reach 60 potential customers. Specifically, integrated marketing communication tools such as direct marketing (telephone and email marketing), personal selling and trade promotions will be used to support the push strat egy to approach to the potential customers.At the same time, these tools can help to retain and strengthen relationships with the current customers. Appendix Potential Customer List Mapping Itinerary Southern Northern Reference 1. ‘DKSH seeks a boost in Asia’ 2012, ICIS news, posted 13th August, viewed 1st September 2012, ;https://docs. google. com/a/rmit. edu. vn/viewer? a=v;pid=gmail;attid=0. 1;thid=1392e4d1b429e96b;mt=application/pdf;url=https://mail. google. com/mail/u/0/? ui%3D2%26ik%3D0e4ae12cf9%26view%3Datt%26th%3D1392e4d1b429e96b%26attid%3D0. %26disp%3Dsafe%26zw;sig=AHIEtbQnvWZ6Rh09SpbtN_3J-u-kBRPiKg; 2. Agri-Food Canada 2011, Package Food in Vietnam, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, viewed 14 August 2012, ; http://www. gov. mb. ca/agriculture/statistics/agri-food/vietnam_packaged_food_en. pdf; 3. BBC 2011 â€Å"Vietnam Inflation Rate Hits 13. 9%†, BBC, 22 March 2011,viewed 15 August 2012, ; http://www. bbc. co. uk/news/business-12845809; 4. Brenntag Asi a Pacific 2012, Brenntag Vietnam Co Ltd, viewed 28th August 2012, ;http://www. brenntag-asiapacific. com/en/pages/Brenntag_Asia_Pacific/Lo