Creativity in Maths Essay

The purpose and value of creativity in primary mathematics education Within this essay I am going to discuss the complex notion of creativity, In specific relation to creative teaching within the subject of mathematics. I will define the Issues of Interpreting creativity and the debates surrounding these issues. Secondly I am going to look at theories of creativity and the different views which have been argued. In relation to pedagogy, I will examine if the amount of assessment that teachers are now required to do restricts how creative they can be within their delivery of the curriculum. Furthermore, I will analyse the difficulties of creative pedagogy and the implementation of creative learning across the curriculum, focusing on mathematics. Creative learning can be highly beneficial for children’s learning and development, I will highlight the reasons for this and look at key theories relating to the debate. Lastly, I will look at policies and reviews which suggest that creative teaching approaches should be used across the curriculum. Wlthln education there are complex Issues relating to creativity. Creativity Is defined by different people In many different ways. Duffy (1998 cited In Brock, Dodds, Jarvis nd Olusoga, 2009) defines creativity as a means of forming new connections in a way that is meaningful to the individual. In this way creativity can be very useful for learning, due to the fact that it can help individuals create new distinctions within their learning and gain a firmer understanding of what they are being taught. Similarly Kohl (2008) suggested that creative activities are about exploring exciting and advanced ideas in the hope of discovering something new. Through experimentation learners may stumble across knowledge that was previously unknown to them, which gives them the opportunity to expand on their nderstanding. By provldlng children with creative opportunities practitioners are giving them a chance to expand their knowledge through self-directed learning, In a way that Is of Interest to them as an Individual. Freud (1900 cited in Woolfolk, Hughes and Walkup, 2008) took a psychoanalytical approach to creativity. He believed that creativity is present in all individuals within their unconscious mind and that it is brought about due to a wish to fulfil that individuals desires. Freud argued that all individuals have a creative potential, they just do not always display the use of it. Within children he identified creativity as ideation, a process of creating new ideas. When engaging in certain activities children will be creative In order to gain more enjoyment from what they are doing. Maslow (1943), however took a humanistic approach to the Idea of creativity. He suggested that the drive to learn is intrinsic as Individuals strive to reach self- actualisation. Maslows hierarchy of needs depicts levels of needs which Individuals can meet, starting with very basic needs and moving up to more complex needs which individuals have to strive for in order to achieve. He argued that in order for an Inalvlaual to reacn selT-actuallsatlon at tne top 0T tne pyram10 tney neeaea to extend their thoughts and actions through problem solving, creativity and morality. There are a number of issues surrounding creativity as it can be interpreted differently when put into different contexts. The core areas of learning within education are now heavily assessment based and there is a strong emphasis on literacy and numeracy, which is having a negative effect on creative pedagogy (Eaude, 2011). Within the teaching of core subjects there is very little time allocated to creative activities, instead the pedagogical focus is more on the acquisition of nowledge and facts Cones and Wyse, 2004). It could be argued that if teachers look beyond this structured approach to learning there is plenty of scope for fostering creativity in children’s learning within all areas of the curriculum. In the area of mathematics, children are taught specific skills and knowledge which they will need in order to achieve the level that they are expected to in accordance with the National Curriculum (DfEE, 1999). However, certain areas of mathematics involve a large amount of problem solving, which requires an individual to adapt their thinking n order to develop and discover how best to solve the problem at hand. Problem solving is seen as a creative process (Piggott, 2007). According to Cropley (2003, cited in Jones and Wyse, 2004) problem solving is intrinsic to creativity therefore the learner can be encouraged to use their creative thinking skills within the area of mathematics. On the other hand, children are often still given boundaries to work within, which again will stifle their chance to be creative or explore further possibilities. Creativity has been highlighted to be highly beneficial for children’s learning. Using creative methods of teaching can help to keep children engaged and motivated in their learning. Steiner (1861 – 1925 cited in Wood and Attfield, 2005) stated that within creative activities children become more engaged in their learning and therefore are more likely to learn from the activity that they were participating in. If children are provided with activities that they find captivating and interesting, they are more likely to actively participate, and therefore will gain something from the experiences that they encounter. In order for children’s creativity to flourish, within heir learning they need to be given a chance to do things for themselves (Wilson, 2008). Nickerson (1998 cited in Adams, 2005) suggested that allowing children to have a choice in the task that they are given enhances their creativity. Also the fact that they have chosen the activity for themselves means they will have more motivation to work towards their goals. If children can direct their own learning, by being given their own choices, they will use their current knowledge in a creative way to decide how best to approach the given task. Teaching mathematics in a creative way is seen by many teachers as a challenge. Mathematics is often regarded as a subject with set rules and structure; with right and wrong answers (Wilson, 2005). However, mathematics is not always recognised in it’s full capacity and can be present in areas which are not always deemed to be mathematically inclined, therefore making it a difficult subject to approach in a creatlve capaclty. Most teacners Delleve tnat matnematlcs snou10 De taugnt In a conventional and structured manner, although it could be argued that the reason for this is that teachers may not be confident enough to teach it any other way Cones and Wyse, 2004). Cropley (2001) would argue that conventional methods of teaching can have a negative effect on attitudes and motivation towards individuality as children may be encouraged to work in a certain way in order to logically work out the answers. In order to be creative within their teaching of mathematics, teachers need to provide children with opportunities in which they can extend their thinking and build on previous knowledge. It is often argued that creative mathematics is only accessible to the more able pupils, however it is possible to include all abilities. Furthermore, children of all bilities will always be willing to engage in mathematics creatively if they are given the opportunity. The DfES/QCA (1999) stated that mathematics as a creative discipline can stimulate exciting new achievements for learners and therefore teachers should facilitate all children’s learning by giving them a chance to engage creatively within the subject area. Introducing creative pedagogy in the area of mathematics can have a substantially positive effect on children’s development. Children who previously had little confidence within the subject can be taught different ways of dealing with athematical knowledge. Introducing children to different teaching methods and expanding mathematics using a cross-curricular approach will give children the opportunity to make comparisons and links between mathematics and other curriculum subjects (Cropley, 2001). The use of cross-curricular teaching will give the children the opportunity to partake in learning which links to a subject area that is of interest to them. Mathematics can help develop children’s thinking skills and it is important for children to be able to think creatively within all areas of the curriculum (Cropley, 2001). Within mathematics in particular children sometimes may need to think outside the box in order to discover the answers to what they are looking for. Mathematics can also be a chance for the involvement of abstract thinking skills as children learn to calculate mathematical sums cognitively. Mental arithmetic may be seen as something children commonly engage in, however they need to be able to deal with numbers and mathematics in an abstract context before they can fully develop these skills. Overall, the subject area of mathematics is much more widespread than is always recognised. The use of mathematics can be applied across he curriculum and within children’s every day life. Therefore it is essential to children’s educational development. The National Curriculum (DfEE, 1999) highlights the importance of fostering creativity while still ensuring that pupils gain the essential numeracy skills that they require. The National Curriculum suggests that all areas of the curriculum can be taught creatively, even the core subjects such as mathematics. A number of schools work towards the development of key skills which are outlined in the National Curriculum Handbook, while also including opportunities to be creative within mathematics NCSL, 2005). I ne Natlonal curriculum ) InTormea teacners tnat wltnln mathematics children should be taught to develop thinking skills, problem solving and learn to communicate mathematically. However this document focused more on the attainment of the children rather than the approaches that teachers could take in order to build upon these aspects using creative pedagogy. In 2000, the National Numeracy Strategy (DfE, 2000) was published in order to look at the teaching of mathematics in depth and to suggest to teachers ways in which they could incorporate better pedagogy within the area of mathematics. In his review, Williams (2008 cited in DSCF, 2008) looked at pedagogy for primary mathematics in the curriculum. He argued that in order for the content of a curriculum to be effective it must be partnered with excellent standards of teaching. He talked about developing positive attitudes towards the subject through delivering mathematics in interesting ways which will engage the learner. Through the use of creative pedagogy teachers can provide positive experiences which captivate the learner and therefore help them develop good attitudes towards the subject of mathematics. Similarly to Williams (2008 cited in DSCF, 2008), Ofsted (2010) drew parallels between the National Curriculum and creative approaches to teaching. They reported that children are more motivated by creative ways of learning, suggesting that providing experiences linked to the subject material within the National Curriculum, in which children can develop their creative learning, will in turn have a positive effect on their attitudes towards the subject. In conclusion, creativity is highly important within all aspects of the curriculum. Although it can be interpreted in different ways, this could have a positive effect as it llows for even more originality and diversity within teaching methods.

Project Risk Management – Fluidity in Risk Planning Case Study

Risk Paper 2 Project Risk Management- Professor Hurst Fluidity in Risk Planning – A Case Study One of the most important steps within a project is risk management because it plans for and responds to risks that impact the overall project deliverables including budget and timeframe. Risk management is used to mitigate risk in ways that align with each individual risk and its potential impact. During the risk management process risks are identified and defined and a plan to control, monitor and eliminate them is created.Risks from all areas are brought up during these brainstorming sessions of the risk management planning phase and are planned for accordingly. The work breakdown structure of the project is used as a guide when compiling a risk matrix that will identify potential risks, their severity and impacts. The case study in chapter 13 reflects two different risk response strategies with regards to the tender review process of a project’s deliverables.The first phas e of the case study aligns more closely with a thorough and effective risk planning process plan while the second phase builds on the baselines determined by the first phase to generate a more solid and final risk assessment that will continue to be fluid throughout the project. Risk management is a crucial step of the project planning stage that continuously evolves throughout the project. During phase one of the case study this stage is considered a high importance and value step thus resulting in the proper planning of the risks based of off the WBS.The objectives of phase one are clearly identified and the intention to identify major risks of the project, which will be used as a baseline when comparing each individual tender to the project’s risk outcomes, is clear and all major steps to do so are taken. Step one of the creating the tender phase one case study calls for the â€Å"project structure to be reviewed with the project manager and key staff† and creating â€Å"an agreed risk WBS†. (Cooper, Grey, Raymond, Walker, 2005, p. 52) The first step calls for a meeting of all parties involved to review the WBS and start brainstorming on potential risks. This is a highly advised step because it allows for proper risk identification and mutual understanding of the risks amongst all parties. Phase one does a solid job identifying risks using human resources, quantifiable measures and adequate documentation. Phase two uses the outcomes of phase one as a baseline and works of off those when comparing each tenderer’s offer to the risks and determining the impact the tender will have on each individual risk.Phase two uses the exact same process as phase one except it already has a baseline to work with whereas phase one creates the baseline. Both steps are highly regarded steps yet step two does a better job at identifying risks because it uses the baseline of potential risks and compares them to the introduction of a new major risk, t he tenderer, while measuring its impact on the overall project. Phase two is the more solid one of the two phases because it demonstrates the fluidity of the risk planning process while quantifying each change to the baseline using the same approach as in phase one.The case study states that during phase two all â€Å"revised risk likelihood and impact measures should be converted to numeric scales and risk factors [should be] recalculated†. (Cooper, Grey, Raymond, Walker, 2005, p. 160) Thus phase two also does a better job at quantifying the risks because it compares each changed risk to the baseline and adjusts its ratings based on the proposed changes creating a more realistic understanding of the potential risk likelihood and impact. The case study was interesting because it showed the pre planning phase of the risk planning process.The pre planning phase was phase one because it created a baseline of assumed risks while phase two built on this fluidity and showed the imp acts each tenderer would have on these risks. Essentially phase one of the case study directed phase two since phase two could not be completed without the identified baselines. Phase one was a simpler stage of the case study because it consisted of brainstorming and risk identification without taking into consideration the positive or negative impacts a third party would have. This does not mean that it didn’t plan for those as phase two was to follow once tender submissions were received.Phase two, however, had a more compelling assessment of risk because it had a map already outline and it just needed to follow it to arrive at the best possible location or situation. The first phase identified risk assessment formulas to quantify the risks; it created a baseline of risks and audit proof steps to follow. With those results in mind, the second phase was more concrete because it followed the steps set forth by the first phase, analyzed the impact of the actions of the tendere r on the baseline risks, assessed those, anked them and then assigned numerical values using the formula set forth in the first phase. These two cases are so much alike yet they are so different as well. They are alike because they use the same process to identify and rank risks but their baselines are different. The first case, phase one, started with a blank slate using the WBS to identify risks while the second case, phase two, used the baseline set forth by the first phase and used the WBS to explore new ways and their impacts on the overall project.Both phases of this case study are crucial in risk management projects and are enforceable whether a tender is requested or not. Risk management is a fluid process that calls for constant adjustments to achieve the best possible outcome with minimal if not zero interruptions of the project’s deliverables. This case study showed the importance of constant review of risks and the work that goes into risk avoidance and mitigation .Risk avoidance does not only occur during the initial phase of risk planning but it is something that project managers prefer to keep in mind with every step they take, whether this means hiring contractors, employees or support staff, each individual and their actions will impact the overall risk of the project, the question is how severely? References Cooper, D. , Grey, S, Raymond, G. , Walker, P. (2005). Project Risk Management Guidelines Managing Risk in Large Projects and Complex Procurements. West Sussex, England : Wiley and Sons.

A report on dry bulk shipping

A report on dry bulk shipping Shipping is indubitably one of the fascinating industries in the world. It requires vast knowledge and skill to cop up with the day to day operations because of the complexity of the industry and its dependence on world economics. Dry Bulk ships carry dry cargoes in bulk from one port to another and can be categorised into handysize,  handymax,  panamax,  capesize, and very large bulk and ore carriers according to their sizes. The performance of the bulk shipping market depends on the demand for and supply of bulk shipping services, as well as the characteristics of the market structure. The importance of shipping cycle in case of dry bulk carrier is that they plays a vital part in the economics of shipping industry by managing the investment risk in an industry ,where there is large uncertainty about the future (Stopford,2009) Section 1 Literature Review One of the major aspects affecting the future of dry bulk shipping is the quality and the safety perspective. Nominal freig ht differentiation between ‘quality’ and ‘other’ tonnage has been observed occasionally and much services has been paid to promoting the need for younger and safer ships (Tamvakis  and Thanopoulou,2000) Another factor that can influence maritime flows of dry bulk commodity is seasonality patterns .Spot rates for bigger vessels shows higher seasonal variations compared to smaller vessels, although differences in seasonal fluctuations between sectors are removed as the contract duration increases.   (Kavussanos and Alizadeh,2001) Investing in shipping industry has an entirely new aspect by the introduction of private equity and the development of a hedging strategy, now this can be treated as a portfolio optimization problem. The freight futures provide a comparatively novel medium for hedging risk in  dry bulk  shipping markets. New uprising financial strategies in dry bulk shipping in future can revolutionize the entire market.( Cullinane,1995) Dura tion analysis done by Bijwaard G.E and Knapp.S provides an insight to the effectiveness of prolonging ship lives and the empirical data solidifies the idea about the life span of dry bulk carrier. Life span is an important aspect in predicting the ship cycle(Bijwaard and Knapp,2009)Scrapping of ship is done at a particular time and this is done when the ship is retired from the current use or when shipping cycle demands it. Gain and losses after the scrapping of a ship . entirely depends on the market condition. Demand of Dry bulk shipping is always related to the scrapping industry.(Knapp,2008) The Government is proposing that the UK’s CO2 emissions should fall by at least 80% by 2050 . Release of exhaust gases and particles from oceangoing  ships is an important and growing provider to the total emissions from the transportation sector. New strategies like slow steam, alternate fuel and new logistic approach like jumbo ore carriers etc will be used in future to make the s hipping sector more eco friendly(Eyring et al,2010) Research Hypothesis Marine flow of dry bulk goods in 2050 will be largely influenced on numerous factors and the background study done above concretes this statement. From the background study done above following hypothesis are made.

Successful transition Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Successful transition - Essay Example Mercantilism in this aspect involves a system of economic operation which focuses on unification and improving the levels of power of a certain state majorly monitory wealth through restricted governmental monitoring of an entire economic dimension by use of regulations, policies in order to: Ensure a balance of trade, promote agricultural and technological advancement through the creation of international market monopolies (Atkinson 2012 pg. 4). To begin with, the mercantilism nature of Chinese economy has led to the attraction of a large number of foreign investors especially from the United States. This condition has been related to the intended undervalued currency and the cheap labor available within the Chinese populace; this has created job opportunities to majority of the population as well as to the foreign investors who are presented with a platform to operate their businesses. Additionally, the deliberate undervaluing of the Chinese Currency presents an advantage to both the foreign investors in China and the Local Chinese producers. It enables them to successfully export their goods hence having the access to a large market. In relation to the Chinese Government, the mercantilism has created various advantages for instance: It has enabled the Chinese government to be in possession of an extensive foreign exchange reserve specifically the dollar dominated property which currently stands at 265 billion US dollars. Consequently, there is also the aspect of a higher rate of an increasing Foreign Direct Investments (FDI); this has also been attributed to the intended undervaluing currency of China, availability of cheap labor as well as an influx of foreign business investors major from the United States of America and other major economies such as the Great Britain, Japan, Singapore and the Korea (Davis 2011, pg. 1). Despite the

How the Brain Mediates and Controls the Sensation of Pain Term Paper

How the Brain Mediates and Controls the Sensation of Pain - Term Paper Example Now, with the advent of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, and other non-invasive assessment technologies, the less invasive, but more direct and accurate examination of the brain has been made possible. The areas of the brain which now respond and which manage pain perception and sensation can now be laid out and understood by practitioners. The more technical processes of pain sensation and mediation can now be assessed and evaluated. It is popular knowledge that the brain controls and manages all types of sensation and feelings in our body. Understanding the more specific patterns which explain these control functions in the brain are more complicated and need a more thorough analysis. This study shall now seek to discuss how the brain mediates and controls the sensation of pain. It shall first present an anatomical discussion of pain sensation, and then a deeper analysis of brain mediation and control of pain shall be carried out. An emphasis on the central mechanisms of pain and the bi ological and neurochemical processes underlying them shall be presented in this paper. This study is being undertaken with the purpose of establishing a clear and comprehensive understanding of the brain functions as it mediates and controls pain sensations. ... In effect, sensitized nociceptors can cause secondary shifts in the central activity processing which causes hyperactivity, making input from the A? fibers to be felt as pain (Baron, 2000). As a result, these patients spontaneously experience pain alongside sensitivity to heat. A similar analysis by Pawl (1999) discussed pain as assessed by the brain through function images. In his analysis, he was able to confirm that during the pain experience, increased activity in the sensory pathways from the thalamus to the sensorimotor cortex was apparent. Pawl (1999) also established that the contralateral hippocampus became active during experimental heat pain; during acute pain, activity in the amygdala was also increased. In studies covering chronic pain, the nociceptive disruptions often activated the same areas; but these same areas were manifestly less active in instances of pain which originated psychogenically (Pawl, 1999). This analysis implies the more apparent pathways for pain dep ending on the kind and the source of pain. Based on the analysis by Yaksh (1999), the regulation of afferent processing is at the level of the spine. Yaksh analysis is more detailed in terms of the involvement of the NMDA and the NKI receptors. Aside from systems which can reduce excitability, the post-tissue injury pain condition is marked by the upregulation of gain. As a result, continuous small afferent excitation triggers a cascade which is instigated by the release of amino acids and peptides. With the activation of the NMDA and NKI receptors, there is a rise in intracellular calcium and the stimulation of the kinases and the phospholipase A2 (Yaksh, 1999). The NMDA then acts as the phosphorylate membrane channels and receptors; while the NKI causes the

The Importance of the Various Internal As Well As External Essay - 4

The Importance of the Various Internal As Well As External Environmental Factors of Tesco in Determining Its Strategies - Essay Example The researcher states that the principal objectives of Tesco plc have been centralized towards serving the customers with better satisfaction as well as with the motive of developing the communities where the company is operational. Moreover, the company also seeks that the employees, customers as well as shareholders are treated in a fair manner and with loyalty. Contextually, it can be stated that strategic positioning or the company, along with its available strategic choices and strategy in action plays a vital role to determine its competencies in the targeted market. Based on this perspective, the discussion henceforth will emphasize on the strategic position, strategic choices and strategy in action as the core elements of strategic management in Tesco. Hence, the discussion will aim to reveal the importance of the various internal as well as external environmental factors of Tesco in determining its strategies as well as in improving its business operational efficiencies crea ting a strong impact on its core elements of strategic management. In this regard, it can also be argued that the company has been facilitated with positive political support. Economic factors have also been significant considerations for Tesco imposing a direct impact on the demand for its products and/or services, pricing structures, costs incurred and profits obtained by the company. It is in this context that Tesco has been responding well towards the global economic fluctuations in order to perform its business operations with greater profitability, targeting the rapidly developing customer groups and also by offering competitive pricing benefits as per the convenience of the customers in the worldwide periphery. Additionally, when operating in the global market, Tesco has to comply with a diverse range of customer preferences owing to the prevalence of distinct cultural dimensions. Hence, it often becomes a challenge for the company to function with equal competencies in every sphere of its global market constituting its social environment. Perhaps, it has been influenced by this particular factor that Tesco has been performing significantly better than compared to its performances in the global marketplace. Similarly, when concentrating on technological factors, a country with more advanced technology is likely to assist the company in performing its business operations in an effective manner. It is in this context that Tesco has been facilitated with technology advancements in the UK while it had to witness significant competition in integrating technology within the global platform. Environmental factors can also be observed to have a significant influence on the effective strategic performances of Tesco.

Distribution Models in Emerging Countries Essay

Distribution Models in Emerging Countries - Essay Example In the past nine years, the last-mile submission problem has been an issue for many, 139 public business owners who have joined the Santa Clara School International Social Benefit Incubator.   The cost of transport and middlemen often make it uneconomic to provide essential goods and services to under reserved areas.We have observed that the key issues seem to be:†¢ Build or partner with a channel,†¢ Product mix†¢ Retention, and compensation.With respect to the channel, there are three common alternatives (listed here in order of increasing capital and operating costs): Make use of current route and facilities. Microventures’ Hapinoy expanded in a wide horizon from dinner to remedies by increasing the buying power of current stores in inadequate areas in the Malaysia. They also lease transport from popular â€Å"Jeepney† vehicles to avoid the costs of pickups and individuals.Establish a route using existing social categories or organizations. Solar Sist er works with ladies categories to select well-connected sales-agents to spread solar products in non-urban Africa.Complicated goods and services may require creating techniques to incorporate customers. Husk Energy Systems has used a â€Å"micro-franchising model† to supply equipment and training to local business owners to set up and work town power-systems in India.Choosing the right product mix and determining if service and support are required is not prioritized a decision for all three programs.... Establish a route using existing social categories or organizations. Solar Sister works with ladies categories to select well-connected sales-agents to spread solar products in non-urban Africa. Complicated goods and services may require creating techniques to incorporate customers. Husk Energy Systems has used a â€Å"micro-franchising model† to supply equipment and training to local business owners to set up and work town power-systems in India. Choosing the right product mix (which impacts exercising, strategies and margin) and determining if service and support are required (which impacts abilities and training) is not prioritized a decision for all three programs. To increase and complement income from purchase of solar illumination systems in non-urban Indian, ONergy also provides â€Å"energy review,† individual exercising, fix, and update services.(Genuario, 2006) Business Significance: There are indications of advancement, however, with the restrictions on fore ign-investment companies with store passions in Chinese suppliers being put overdue in 2004, and the government’s latest contract with Avon to fight its 1998 ban on network marketing, starting the way for Avon to begin using its international business in Chinese suppliers. Avon was one of the first newcomers to Chinese suppliers, having designed regional research ability and a collection that involved 30 % products designed for regional customers before the 1998 law. Up to now they have created a multiple style of 6,300 shops with immediate sell employees and 1,600 surfaces in shops, according to The NPD Team. Avon earnings are approximated to have started 24 % last year and the company desires Chinese suppliers to be a $1 million market for them in the next few years. Procter &

Holistic approach to health Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Holistic approach to health - Essay Example The use of complementary therapies and CAM widely based in specific disease entities such as cancer, cystic fibrosis and asthma, in clinical settings such as obstetrical care and paediatric oncology and by international geographic locations (Yeh et al. 2000; 56). The concept of holism, which is an appreciation of the inter-relationship between body, mind and spirit, and recognition of the socio-cultural factors are fundamental to complementary therapies and medicine (Tiran 2006; 341). A number of definitions for complementary therapies and medicine have been proposed by different researchers. One of the definitions given is a broad domain of healing resource that encompasses health systems, modalities and practices and their accompany theories and beliefs, other than those intrinsic to the dominant health system of a particular society or culture in a given historical period (Snyder and Lindquist 2001; 6). According to Uzun and Tan (2004; 239), complementary therapy is defined as therapy used in conjunction with conventional therapy. Existing studies on complementary therapies and medicine focus mainly on two things. One is the focus on the specific mechanisms of actions such as particular herbal remedies, homeopathic medicines and essential oils, often with regard to assessing their safety and efficacy; the other one is focusing on specific therapies and medicine modalities such as herbal medicine, homeopathy and aromatherapy, as if they are stable or not, uniform and constant forms of health care practice (Williams 2000; 163). There is a steady increase in the use of complementary therapies and CAM by the general public in the last two decades (Ernst and White 2000: 32). This is parallel to their increased used in health care settings, including the UK NHS (Richardson 2001). In 1998, only 10% from 22 million visits to

Basketball Point Guard Training Program Research Paper

Basketball Point Guard Training Program - Research Paper Example which they are able to perform different actions but also must consider all those actions that are required to develop their performance on continuous basis (Hatfield & Brody, n. d.). Conversely, outcome goals are mainly concerned with the end results that the athletes desire to achieve. It has been apparently observed that outcome goals are closely associated with process goals. The process goals are considered to be the paths that lead the athletes to achieve the positive outcomes (Hatfield & Brody, n. d.). The athletes should divide the goals into such activities that can be easily achieved as short-term goals. The achievement of these goals will certainly make the training programs interesting as well as boost the confidence of the athletes by a greater extent. On the other hand, long term goals rely upon the successful achievement of short-term goals. In this regard, failure to achieve short term goals will ultimately lead towards collapse in accomplishing long-term goals (Hatfield & Brody, n. d.). Training is regarded to be important aspect for any athletes that sharpens and develops necessary qualities as well as skills in order to render outstanding performances particularly in the sports arena. Athletes become more efficient and skillful only when they are provided with quality training program. In relation to basketball training program, it has been observed that it is quite difficult for a basketball team to succeed in any competition without a strong point guard. Any basket ball teams greatly rely upon point guards for their success in the competition. Point guards often act as a catalyst between the teammates and their likely performances to attain success. The prime objective of point guard training program is to develop certain skills of the athletes like dribbling, outside shooting, conditioning, passing and faking skills for achieving highest performance during the competitions (Special Olympics Nova Scotia, 2007). The point guard also called

Sustainable engineering Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Sustainable engineering - Essay Example employed schemes are the building research establishment environmental assessment method(BREEAM) and leadership in energy and environmental design(LEED). BREEAM was officially launched by the building research establishment(BRE) and consequently adopted by the United Kingdom as one of its systems. LEED was by us institution United States green building council (USGBC) and officially accepted as the benchmark for green building practices. All these two schemes are based on effective system for collecting credits that are used for a wide of building, both the existing buildings and the new buildings. These systems cover a wide range of issues that include energy, pollution, building site, water indoor environmental quality and materials one of the most important in both the two schemes that is the key sustainable development is energy consumption expressed in another language as resulting to carbon emissions from the buildings. It is therefore clear that robust building environmental assessment schemes will possibly play a very critical role in assessing the building energy performance. According to Lee and Bumet(2008) it is important to understand this schemes interms of their scopes, performance criteria, credit scales and methodologies. Lee et al conducted a comparison of the baseline buildings, their performance criteria, credit scales and their simulative tools between a number of schemes while Asdrubali et al (2008) undertook a comparative study of energy regulations in Spain and Italy based on a semi-detached house. In this study more emphasis is put on the assessment of energy performance of new building within the BREEAM and LEED. For easy assessment of the energy performance of buildings and effective calculation of the corresponding energy rating in BREEAM and LEED schemes, a computational simulation was applied. Even though there are many energy simulation software that are available in the market, there is need to choose the one that suits the aim of

Organizational structures Essay Example for Free

Organizational structures Essay Organizations have distinct structures for organizing business entities. An organization can be of different structures depending upon size of the business organization. The complexity in organizing demands segregating the responsibilities. The important organizations structures are pre-bureaucratic, bureaucratic, Functional, Divisional and post bureaucratic structures. Pre-bureaucratic organization has typically small management team, typically one man show format, low on profits and easy to organize. Bureaucratic organizations has a complex organization structure, large business entity with varied functions to take of, the decision making process needs to run in hierarchical phase and it may delay the decision making process. Functional organization is concerned with large organizations with different entities. A FMCG company may have toilet soaps, detergents, cosmetics etc is a perfect example of functional structure. The organizational structure will have more freedom to product enhancement. Cross functional organizing will be difficult to organize. Matrix organization segregates distinct functional profiles and organizational operational aspects. Different departments will separately work on a specific project like the engineering, marketing, operations and administration. Post organizational structure deals with the unique features of an organizational which are having virtual importance than the conventional organizational responsibilities. The functions like the quality management, employee benefits and cross cultural management are taken into account. Not many organizations can bear the non revenue profiles like the above as these facilities are expensive and complex to implement.

Overview Of Strategic Sourcing Initiative Management Essay

Overview Of Strategic Sourcing Initiative Management Essay 1. Gillet and the 7 Step Methodology The Gillette Company launched a Strategic Sourcing Initiative to create savings to invest in company brands, fund research and development. They employed a formal 7-step strategic sourcing methodology to competive source and evaluate suppliers on cost, quality and services provided. Enabled by a strong commitment from Senior Management and cross-functional global teams, this strategy produced savings and improved the quality of the products and services procured.   Step 1 Develop the Category Profile. Teams are formed to develop a comprehensive understanding of their category profile. They must understand what we buy, who we buy it from, what are the product/service characteristics/specifications, what is the current cost, and who and how the spend is managed internally. They must understand market trends and economics that impact these purchases as well as our current negotiation leverage with suppliers. This comprehensive understanding of the Category also enables to break down spend into subcategories, components, services, transportation costs, administrative costs or other divisions to be either be consolidated with one supplier or divided among several suppliers. Indeed, this sourcing step facilitates procurement managers in setting supplier diversity targets and strategies. Step 2 Generate the Supplier Portfolio. Teams must include minority suppliers as well as non-traditional suppliers. They must look at companies that provide total outsourcing capabilities and suppliers who are best in class in specialized spend categories. Then through a rigorous process of researching suppliers, evaluating and prioritizing capabilities, the list of suppliers is converted to a manageable list. This step reduces the workload of reviewing RFPs and negotiating with suppliers later in the strategic sourcing process. Step 3 Develop sourcing strategies. The sourcing team develops a supplier survey for both incumbent and potential alternative suppliers. The survey helps evaluate the suppliers capabilities to serve as well as their costs to serve. At this time, the team will also verify spend information with the data that incumbent suppliers may have from their sales systems. Category should be assesed in a Category Position Matrix. This process aids teams in developing their sourcing strategies. Teams must evaluate the complexity of the market, the competitiveness, the ability to switch suppliers, and the number of suppliers in the market. They must also position their Category in terms of business impact, how much total spend and how does this category impact core business operations. In doing so, teams will find their category falls into one or two of the following boxes: Leverage Category, Strategic Category, Non-critical Category or Bottleneck Category. From this positioning matrix, teams can determine which of the sourcing strategies are most appropriate.   Typically, teams who find themselves in the Leverage or Non-critical Categories will use the left side of the Sourcing Gemstone: Volume Concentration, Best Price Evaluation or Global Sourcing. Teams who confront more complex markets, may want to consider Product Specification Improvements, Joint Process Improvements or Relationship Restructuring strategies. In a Volume Concentration strategy, teams will often look to reduce cost by consolidating volumes from different facilities, regions, or business units. This strategy encourages suppliers to lower their costs in anticipation of greater volumes.   Teams may also consider a Best Price Evaluation strategy, where they select various suppliers who have the best offering for each segment of the spend. Best Price Evaluation allows yousegment and optimize your spend. Step 4- Select implementation path. The combination of the first three steps provides important input to developing a sourcing strategy and applying it in this step. The sourcing team has two sets of constituencies: 1) the people who use the things that are bought, and 2) the executives who manage overall costs. The people who use the spend category accept cost reductions as long as they a) start in another department; b) dont change suppliers; and c) dont create any complaints from the supply base that might affect any part of the relationship. For users, all change is bad. For executives, cost and service competitiveness is a key objective, but they too are users of various corporate services, so they often have a split personality between executive pursuit of cost improvement and being users who resist change. In order to mobilize users and executives to support the category sourcing strategy, it is necessary to communicate benefits and overcome potential risks. Step 5- Negotiate and select suppliers.   Preparing a request for proposal and preparing and soliciting bids. This will define the basis for competition to the prequalified suppliers. It includes product or service specifications, delivery and service requirements, evaluation criteria, pricing structure and financial terms and conditions. Also a communication plan will be executed that will attract maximum supplier interest. The RFP is then sent out to all suppliers and they are given enough time to respond completely, with follow-up messages sent to encourage supplier response and field questions. The sourcing team applies its evaluation criteria to the supplier responses. If more information beyond the RFP response is needed, its requested. The negotiation process is conducted first with a larger set of suppliers then narrowed to a few finalists, if it is done manually. Step 6 Implement agreements. Finally, the winning suppliers are notified and invited to participate in implementing recommendations. Implementation plans vary depending on the degree of supplier switches. For new suppliers, a communication plan has to be developed that manages the transition from old to new supplier at every point in the companys process that is touched by the spend category. Step 7- Continuos improvement. It is particularly important to measure the new supplier closely in the first several weeks of performance. Being able to demonstrate performance equal to or better than the former incumbent one will be particularly important during that sensitive time. Gillette Companys Strategic Sourcing Initiative has not only produced significant cost savings, but has enabled and advanced Gillettes Supplier Diversity Initiative. 2. Nestlà © and its mix of purchasing strategies To leverage Nestlà ©s purchasing volume as a strength in a business environment where the impact and importance on many spend categories is increasing, it requires planning and strategy determination, It is necessary to understand that supply markets are not and will not always be in surplus or excess, so the assurance of long term competitive supply through purchasing planning and strategy implementation is key to the realisation of Nestlà ©s growth and profitability objectives. The evaluation of different purchasing strategies can only take place once a detailed spend analysis has been completed. Strategic options must take into account: business sector objectives; total cost of ownership; supply market and its evolution; appropriate purchasing approach (e-Auctions, tenders, negotiations); value creation opportunities; emphasis on price management through competitive bidding; key stakeholders involvement and their support. Rationalisation and Standardisation This strategy is based on working with suppliers to have fewer and standardised specifications. Specification rationalisation will not only allow higher volume price leverage but also expose efficiencies throughout the supply chain, resulting in lower costs. Subcontracting/Outsourcing A key strategy in sourcing products and services is Subcontracting/Outsourcing. The responsibility of subcontracting activities rests with Technical and Production. Normally a Strategic Buyer will lead this process and manage crossfunctional teams to monitor the commercial relationship as well as to ensure optimum terms and conditions for Nestlà ©. Subcontractors are required to adhere to Nestlà ©s Corporate Business Principles. Cross-Functional Teamwork Purchasing must continue to work within and expand the use of cross-functional teams. Depending on the scope of the project, such teams may also involve suppliers and third-party expertise. Nestlà © acknowledges and encourages the role suppliers can play in innovation, creativity and the identification of new business proposals, which will improve and add value and growth to both companies. Nestlà © also considers suppliers as an important information source and relies on their objectivity and expertise. As the relationship progresses, it may well evolve into that of a preferred supplier. Purchasing wil retain the overall responsibility for the relationship and interface with suppliers. Supplier Management To better manage the supplier base and reduce transactional costs, Nestlà © may request suppliers to: offer their products or services via e-Requisitioning (catalogues), accept payment by P-card, deliver materials through a vendor managed inventory (VMI) or consignment stock initiative and collaborate using e-Supply Chain tools. Approval/Accreditation The extent or degree of approval/accre ditation as a supplier to Nestlà © depends on the sophistication or sensitivity of the material, product or service, the suppliers reputation and record with Nestlà ©, as well as their ability to offer competitive terms and conditions. Quality Management To achieve Nestlà ©s objective of offering consumers high quality nutritional products, they expect suppliers to guarantee the quality of the goods they supply or the service they provide. Nestlà ©s goal is to be able to rely on our suppliers competence and ability to implement jointly their quality programmes. Suppliers must be fully aware of Nestlà ©s quality and safety standards, understand their quality policy; share their objectives and work together to achieve them. In particular they consider their suppliers responsibility to ensure the traceability of all materials used in their own production or process. Supplier Audit Suppliers of raw and packaging materials must be incorporated into a formal assessment covering audits and inspectionsof their quality records. Formal audits of the suppliers quality assurance system and technical capabilities must be carried out. Suppliers need to be open and responsive to Nestlà ©s requirements and provide all necessary information on the composition and manufacture of their products. E-Procurement Nestlà © encourages and promotes the use of electronic tools to optimise the value chain to lower costs, create efficiencies, drive product availability and enhance customer service.   Purchasing evaluates and promotes the use of e-Procurement tools both within the company and within the supplier base. Benchmarking With the trend towards closer relationship with suppliers, benchmarking becomes an essential tool for measuring performance and highlighting opportunities. The concept of benchmarking should be seen as a continuous process of evaluation to ensure that results are quantifiable and actionable; it must be supported by a direct management commitment and should be clearly defined in terms of what is to be compared. 3. Procter Gamble sourcing networks and expressive competition Procter Gamble put into practice an approach to build sourcing networks, called expressive competition. It is a vision that looks past lowest-price reverse auctions and combinatorial packagebidding toward a highly expressive business relationship with suppliers. It enables suppliers to make electronicoffers that express rich forms of capabilities and efficiencies. As the buyer, PG also uses an expressive languageto state constraints and preferences. The detailed expressions of supply and demand are brought together viaan advanced optimization engine to decide the optimal allocation of business to the suppliers. In the process, PGs suppliers benefited from the winwinapproach: expressive competition matched demand to the most efficient means of production- rather thansqueezing suppliers profit margins- and removed the exposure risks in making offers. Beyond direct monetarysavings, the benefits included the re-design of supply networks with quantitative understanding of the trade-offs. The relationships between companies that purchase materials, goods, and services and their suppliers can be viewed as a network, because many companies both purchase and supply. Traditionally, the buyer configures the network and then asks offers from suppliers. This approach produces suboptimal results because it ignores suppliers alternative capabilities. With the new process this will be reversed by first collecting offers and then using optimization to configure the optimal network based on those offers. CombineNets (software currently used) approach is particularly relevant in transportation sourcing. By considering the most efficient routings that carriers can offer, both individually and collectively, it develops more efficient networks than the current networks. Buyers can construct supply chains in light of supplier capabilities as expressed in their offers. Companies can now make decisions on large baskets of items to be procured, rather than in a number of submarkets, naturally improving the allocation decisions. PGs use of expressive competition enables it to manage and exploit complexity and rich data to obtain the best value. In short, PG is now faster, more rigorous, and better able to leverage its purchasing experts than it was. It obtains greater savings with every analysis than it could before it adopted this process. 4. HONDA Global and Local Sourcing Traditionally, the standard metrics used by Japanese automakers in choosing suppliers wee quality, cost, delivery and technology. In the case of Honda, three other factors drive their spurchasing strategy. They depend on suppliers for more than 80% of components in their cars. They procure components from an estimated 400 tier one suppliers in Japan. Globally, Hondas supplier total number is close to 1,000 including more than 600 in North America. The main reason for this large number of North American suppliers: the distance between Hondas main assembly plants in North America is sufficiently long to make logistics a critical cost issue for suppliers wishing to serve all six Honda plants from a single location. Three of four Honda vehicles sold today are global models. Where possible, they prefer to use global suppliers forthese global cars. Honda defines group suppliers as affiliated companies in which it holds a larger than 20% equity stake or which depend on them for 70% or more of their sales; or the other way around: which Honda turns to for more than 70% of purchases of a particular system or component. That is the case of Denso Corp., Toyotas leading group supplier, is also a Honda group supplier as it manufactures an estimated 95% share of their heater requirements in Japan and 60% of air-conditioners. There seems to be no set rule on whether Honda doubles or triples sources or what even constitutes double or triple sourcing. For most components, Honda relies on multiple suppliers. But on a model base, it tends to single source. Hondas core suppliers have largely followed the OEM into North America and Asia. Keihin, Hondas main group supplier of car electronics, has set up 16 plants outside Japan including four in the US, while Stanley Electric has lighting plants in London, OH, and Battle Creek, MI. In general, there is a feeling that Honda depends more on non-Japanese suppliers at its overseas plant. Meanwhile, they continue to make steady progress in expanding local content at plants outside Japan. 5. Hewlett-Packard Total Cost Management Strategies HP recognized that it could leverage advances in Total Cost Management strategies, processes and technology to improve its overall financial performance. Over a five-year period the company put together an impressive record of cost savings, transforming its Indirect Procurement function into a strategic asset for the company. The significant cost reduction results came from an evolution and maturation of HPs Total Cost Management also called Spend Management, strategies, processes, and technologies as the company itself evolved. Like many companies, HP started with the traditional spend consolidation and price negotiations strategies of the late 90s. With the Compaq merger, HP had both a challenge and opportunity to advance its Total Cost Management strategies. Going forward, the role of HPs Indirect Procurement has evolved to a broader perspective as a strategic asset in driving down the total cost of procurement to achieve world-class cost structures. HP knew that companies like itself were leveraging new spend management tools to drive procurement decisions and wanted to take advantage of the new selling channel to increase revenue. With a strategy of being an early supporter of the Ariba Supplier Network and working to make it easy for customers to integrate and do business with HP, it has been able to generate $1 billion in revenue, making it the largest IT supplier to Total Cost Management customers using the Ariba Supplier Network. They realized that increased growth would be very hard if the company did not restructure to take advantage of its economy of scale. They decided that indirect procurement was a good candidate for centralization, as the existing decentralized model with fragmented local organizations provided little leverage. Indirect Procurement was given responsibility for managing nonproduction spend categories: information technology, human resources, marketing, travel, real estate and workplace solutions, finance, and labor. Its scope was to manage the strategic, tactical, and operational aspects of procurement, including global and regional sourcing, local buying and order fulfillment, and deployment of e-procurement programs. They deployed a standardized purchasing platform, Ariba, to reduce cost of transactions and develop and implement new policies, practices, and standards. Later, they were able to identify the â€Å"low-hanging fruit† in a centralized model and redefined their procurement areas and strategies as shown in the figures below. New Structure 6. International Clothing Retailers main sourcing strategies Marks and Spencer (United Kingdom) Is one of the UKs leading retailers of clothing, foods, homeware and financial services, serving 10 million customers a week in over 350 UK stores. They rationalized its supplier base, with efforts for sourcing and the accelaration of the design to store lead time. MS now manages a complex international supply chain involving 650 factories worldwide. Their priority is to maintain the quality of fabrics and clothes wherever they are manufactured. To support this objective, MS has established quality audit teams in Morocco and Sri Lanka, and will introduce them over the coming year in China and Turkey and all their main centres of manufacturing. Hennes and Maurizt (Sweden) HM is an expansive Swedish company. Over the past three years, HM has increased the number of stores by nearly 40 per cent.   HM has 21 production offices: ten in Europe, ten in Asia and one in Africa. Around 700 people work at the production offices, by far the majority of whom are drawn from the local population. They are responsible for contracts with the approximatly 750 suppliers (primarily Bangladesh, China, Turkey) that manufacture HMs products. The production offices ensure that the buyer places his order with the right supplier, that the goods are produced at the right price and with good quality and controls that production takes place under good working conditions. Ensuring the safety and quality of the goods largely takes place at the production offices and is the result of extensive testing, including checking for shrinkage, twisting, colourfastness and dry rubbing. In HM lead times vary from two to three weeks up to six months, depending on the nature of the goods. In recent years HM has reduced the average lead time by 15-20 per cent through developments in the buying process. Inditex (Spain) The Inditex Group comprises mainly companies engaging in the manufacturing and marketing of textiles and footwear, managed on a centralised basis by applying policies and strategies at group level. A significant proportion of the production takes place in the factories belonging to Inditex, which fundamentally carry out the manufacture of the garments containing a greater element of fashion and through external suppliers. In the case of in-house production -between 40 and 50 percent of the total- Inditex directly carries out the supply of fabrics, the marking and cutting and the final finishing of the garments, subcontracting the garment-making stage to specialised companies located mainly in the north-west of the Iberian peninsula. As regards external suppliers, a high percentage of which are European, in many cases they are also supplied by Inditex with the fabric and other elements needed for the production of the garments. For Inditex, time is the main factor to be considered, a bove and beyond production costs. Mix of sourcing: external fabrics sourcing 60%; internal fabrics sourcing 40%; in-house manufacturing 50%; external manufacturing 50%. Gap (Usa) Gap is a leading international specialty retailer offering clothing, accessories and personal care products. It operates with more than 4,200 stores worldwide. Gap has world headquarters in the San Francisco Bay Area, product development offices in New York City and distribution operations and offices coordinating sourcing activities around the globe. Design and merchandising teams are working more closely from the beginning of the product development cycle, resulting in a more efficient process and, over time, faster speed to market. Gap will be building more strategic relationships with suppliers, including sharing more planning and forecasting information, to further leverage sourcing capabilities. Located around the globe, employees in Gaps sourcing and logistics group, along with buying agents, draw up production schedules and place orders with approved third-party factories in the more than 50 countries that produce goods. Third-party manufacturers ship merchandise to Gap distr ibution centers, which sort and redistribute it to the stores. Gap has a list of countries approved for product sourcing, located in five main areas: Africa/MiddleEast, Europe/Mediterranean, Southeast Asia, East Asia, Americas. CA (Holland) CA was founded in 1841. Over 100 Stylists work together with 360 buyers. The European headoffice is located in the north of Brussels. It has 1.200 suppliers, monitored by Socam. The name Socam reflects the concept â€Å"Service Organisation for Compliance Audit Management† and its purpose is to oversee and monitor responsible business standards in merchandise buying on behalf of the CA retail companies, which operate in Europe. An audit is performed in a total of 40 countries. Because the Far East is a significant supply market and because many of the key issues tend to be more prevalent in that part of the world, Socam also operates through a subsidiary company Socam Services Pte. Ltd located in Singapore. Socam has full and independent authority to monitor the standards which are defined by the CA Code of Conduct for the Supply Merchandise. To sum up, retailers prefer to choose the cheapest sources worldwide in order to maximize gross margin. Or, in order to decrease time to market, retailers may choose sourcing alternatives that may not bring the cost advantage of a cheaper supplier but do offer the advantage of diminishing logistics costs and lost sales. 7. IKEA selectivity strategy Under increasing pressures to reduce costs, companies have shifted, and continue to shift, sourcing from local suppliers to low cost country-based suppliers. Furthermore, the lower prices offered by low-cost country suppliers rarely translate into significantly lower total costs of ownership. Despite the popularity of global sourcing across both service and manufacturing industries, research into global sourcing is still playing catch-up and remains poorly conceptualized, for example in comparison with research on buyer-supplier relationships or industrial networks. The trend towards global sourcing is likely to fundamentally change the dynamics of buyer-supplier relationships and networks, but little research to date has examined the implications of this trend. Affordability through low cost is the core of the companys business idea. For IKEA, growth is a core and explicit objective.A key component in the low cost strategy at IKEA has been to own only a small proportion of the means of production. Therefore, the products that are sold in IKEA stores are sourced from a global network of suppliers. Well functioning and close relationships with suppliers is an important but sometimes seemingly ignored driver of the success of IKEA. In the mid- 1990s, IKEA had more than 2,000 suppliers, but in 2009 its supply base had been reduced to less than 1,400 despite increasing sales volumes. The background to the supply base reduction during recent years is the increasing need to secure and build capacity for continued growth. In 2008, IKEA sourced furniture from 54 different countriesm through 30 purchasing offices distributed over strategic locations all over the world. In 2009, IKEA had around 1400 suppliers. Almost two-thirds of its products (64%) were sourced from European countries; the largest single supply market was China with a 22% share of the supply, and the second largest supply market was Poland with a 16% share. Coordination and communication with suppliers was channelled through trading offices situated strategically around the world. Without close collaboration with suppliers, the balancing act between stock costs and avoiding the risk of stock-outs would not be possible. In addition, IKEA seems to conce ntrate on as few suppliers and as few supply markets as possible. This selectivity means that IKEA is effective in balancing its market choices; concentrating its sourcing activities in certain geographic areas by committing to and investing in some markets, whilst having to decide to forego opportunities in others For IKEA, cost reductions were the principal driver towards, initially, international purchasing and, later, global sourcing. The search for lower costs in new sourcing markets creates pressure on the supplier network of IKEA to source internationally or to develop global sourcing through world-wide coordination and integration of sourcing operations. A main reason for IKEA to preserve relationship with swedishs suppliers is to secure capacity if, or when, problems were met in the Chinese sourcing market. 8. Conclusions The Strategic Sourcing methodology is used to identify, evaluate, select and implement sourcing alternatives for specific sourcing groups.   It emphasizes the process for evaluating, selecting and aligning with suppliers to achieve improvements and support strategic objectives. It focuses on total costs and not just on the purchase price. This process enables the company to obtain a good understanding of its requirements, mapping the existing supply market and develop a plan for short andlong-term objectives. Sourcing strategies should be reviewed and updated periodically by supply managers. Suppliers should be invited to be part of the process depending on the class of category or market dynamics. Strategic sourcing results should be tracked in terms of performance metrics and cost savings. The process should be regularly reviewed to incorporate new sourcing tools and approaches, new supplier market opportunities and developments in benchmarking and best practices. Supply managers must collaborate internally with a multifunctional team on new supply opportunities. Collaboration demonstrates the value of supply management. Besides the traditional competitive approach to sourcing, there are more alternatives depending on the category or business trends. Some could be, collaborating with suppliers to reduce complexity and build productivity into their process, or create joint process improvements that reduce the cost of doing business, or set up a partnership where a company invests in supplier operations to guarantee access to supply, new technology or process improvements. Another option could be strategic alliances which decrease the total cost of ownership, increase quality, have a faster response and enable new product development with supplier involvement, among other benefits. Or even, e-procurement which can decrease the unit cost as well as the cost of transactions and processes. Overall, not only a right sourcing strategy or model of management is enough; it is also a matter of being aligned with the companys key obkectives and to have the right methodology, the right metrics and the right team of people.

Hand Controlled Car For Disabled Individuals Engineering Essay

Hand Controlled Car For Disabled Individuals Engineering Essay Introduction Definition of Car Car was defined as a motor vehicle with four wheels and normally driven by an internal combustion engine. The main function of car was used for the transport of passengers. Nowadays, a car is the most common transportation for personal use in travelling, working and also shopping (Kameda 2009). Generally, a standard car is invented for normal person who is capable to use both their hands and legs to control the oil pedal, brake pedal, steering wheel, shift lever and also the clutch pedal for manual car in transmission control. However, in this recent year, automatic transmission car is more popular than the manual transmission car and widely used around the world. For all knowledge, there are significant differences between an automatic transmission and a manual transmission. For example, clutch pedal and gear shift were not found in an automatic transmission car. Everything was automatic once we put the transmission of car into drive mode. However, automatic transmission only provide a narrow speed range while manual transmission can operate in a wide range of output speeds. With the automatic transmission, users can drive a car easily and no need to control the clutch pedal and also gear shift during driving journey. Therefore, the driving ability has become an important part in normal life. Disability Disability is generally defined as a physical or a mental impairment which can make our routine tasks more difficult or impossible. According to the World Health Organization, there was a distinction between disability, impairment and handicap. A disability is any restriction or lack of ability that caused by impairment to perform an activity in the manner or within the range considered normal for a human being. Meanwhile, impairment is any loss or abnormality of psychological, physiological or anatomical structure or function. Handicap is a disadvantage for a given individual, resulting from impairment or a disability that prevents the fulfillment of a role that is considered normal for that individual. In other words, this disability term is commonly used for individual functioning which includes physical impairment, sensory impairment, cognitive impairment, intellectual impairment mental illness, and various types of chronic disease. Disability not only effects on human organs or body parts, it may be effects on an individuals participation in life. Type of Disability Mobility and Physical Impairments Spinal Cord Disability Head injuries or Brain Disability Vision Disability Hearing Disability Cognitive or Learning Disability Psychological Disorders Hand Controlled Car A hand controlled car was a vehicle that uses both hands to operate the brake, accelerator and clutch. Hand controlled car was designed for the physically challenged people who cannot use both legs to operate the accelerator and brake pedals. Thus, with the assist of hand-controlled car, disabled individuals can acquire a driving license and drive safely on the road. Nowadays, there are several of hand controlled car in the market. For example, the invention of digital accelerator ring and the main hand brake in car for the driving without the use of both legs. This cars users just need to push the digital accelerator ring towards the steering wheel to accelerate and move the main hand brake downward to brake (Figure 1.1). Figure 1.1 The Digital Accelerator Ring and Main Hand Brake In addition, automatic transmissions car are strongly recommended for those disabled drivers so that they do not need to operate the clutch controller. Another example of hand controlled car was used a portable hand controls. For example, the product of TNT portable hand controls (Figure 1.2). Figure 1.2 Demonstration of using TNT portable hand controls Figure 1.3 Attachment of TNT portable hand controls in a car This portable device was designed for those disabled people such as amputees, paraplegics, and quadriplegics who cannot apply and maintain the pressure that needed to operate the accelerator and the brake pedal. With the invention of TNT portable hand controls, the user can use the left hand to operate the both accelerator and brake pedals; the palm is used to apply the brake pedal and the thumb is used to apply the accelerator pedal while the right hand is free to control the steering wheel (Figure 1.3). Aims and Objectives The main objective of this research study is to modify a car in order to enable disabled individuals drive safely on the road. In addition, the cost of hand-controlled car should low so that disabled individuals afford to owe a car. For the convenience of disabled individuals, the hand-controlled car must easy in maintenance as well. Literature Review A standard car was designed to be control by a normal person who is able to use their arms and legs for controlling accelerate and brake pedals, a steering wheel and also a shift lever. However operations using left and right arms and at least one leg are still needed for a car drive (Kameda 2009). This paper presented a joystick car drive system for a handicapped person using a wheelchair. With the help of this joystick drive system, a handicapped person can drive a car with his/her single hand. In this joystick drive system, there was a mechanical linkage connected to accelerate and brake pedals which is controlled by an operation lever. This lever only can be shifted in back and forward direction. Pulling the lever in the backward direction will accelerate a car whereas pushing the lever to the forward direction to brake a car. The demographics of the disabled and aging populations who are demanding to maintain their independence and mobility tested the driver licensing authorities to ensure that physical and cognitive difficulties are measured to an acceptable standard (Roake 2008). In order to compensate for reduced ability, servo system has been developed to enable severely disabled people to drive safely and pass the standard driving test. This development engineering interfaced with the vehicles primary and secondary controls which include electronic joystick devices to operate steering, braking and accelerator along with infra red or wireless systems to interface with vehicle electronic systems such as Multiplex and Can Bus electronic systems (Roake 2008). Shaheen (2001) described the recent findings on the driving-related physical and cognitive impairments faced by the elderly. Two major types of vehicle design and infrastructure adaptations were proposed: (1) modifications for private vehicle and (2) intelligent technology and support services for private vehicles (Susan A. Shaheen 2001). Adaptive driving controls, such as mechanical hand controls or electromechanical contact switches, now allowed even the most severely impaired to operate a vehicle. However, these mechanical functions are usually directed toward primary controls only, such as steering, braking, and accelerating, which limits the ability of drivers to operate secondary controls such as the horn, turn signals, ignition, and headlights (Quintin 1991). Vehicle control adaptations can be effective, simple, and inexpensive. For example, the use of simple extension bars to gear levers and lever release mechanisms for hand braking. Nowadays, there are several joystick systems available in commercial which were specifically designed for those drivers with limited strength in their arms and hands. However, (Ostlund 1999) concluded that the tested joystick system had several functional limitation which includes time lags, lack of feedback and risk of interference between steering and speed control. In this journal paper, a design called uncoupled control was compared with the conventional joystick design which called as coupled control. In coupled control joystick, the original lever was replaced with a forklike grip which developed for driver with tetraplegia. In other one hands, the joystick with uncoupled control was developed by modifying the joystick in order to transform the radial speed controlling motion into a linear longitudinal motion. Nevertheless, there were sensors and actuators equipped in this joystick system to monitor the drivers control commands and provide a force feedback to the driver. Theref ore, the joystick will back to neutral position if the driver released it. All tetraplegics and most paraplegics depend on mobility aids such as wheelchairs for short-range transportation (Bjorn Peters 2001). Therefore, in order to become a licensed driver, the right adaptation is needed. The purpose of this journal paper was examined the driver performance and limitations of drivers with tetraplegia and investigate the influences adaptation designs in drivers performance and imposed workload. There are two types of hand controls installed in a car simulator, one had two separate levers and the other had one combined lever for braking and accelerating. For the system with separate levers, the braking lever was controlled by pushing it forward, while the accelerator lever was moved radially downward. The combined lever system was operated by pushing the lever to brake and pulling to accelerate. However, both systems had their pros and cons. For example, in the single lever system, the driver was impossible to use both hands on the steering wheel, while the d ual lever system will prolonged the reaction time of transfer accelerator lever to brake lever especially in critical situation. Methodology Before I make further research about my thesis which entitled Hand Controlled Car for Disabled Individuals, I had search and read through some numbers of journal articles from database such as IEEE, Science Direct, and SpringerLink. For example the keywords that I used to search related journal articles were Disabled Vehicle, Hand Controlled Car, Handicapped Car and so on. Next, I decided to choose car Myvi as my car model to do the car modification for the need of disabled people in Malaysia. In my research study, I will create my own design in draft with the suitable dimension as well. In addition, I also need to find out the most suitable materials that can be used for the car modification. In the future, I will conduct some experiment tests, such as tensile test and stress test for the materials that was chosen to examine the characteristic of relevant material whether the material suitable to use for car modification or not. Besides that, I will also use Solidwork software to pr esent my own design unit in 3D. Materials Following are the criteria material of my design unit: Medium to high strength Good toughness Good surface finish Excellent corrosion resistance to atmospheric conditions Excellent joining characteristics Good workability Widely available Based on the criteria material that mention above, I suggest aluminium alloy 6061 as the main material of my design unit. Aluminium alloy 6061 is a versatile heat treatable aluminium alloy. Aluminium alloy 6061 consists various of components in its chemical composition (Table 1). Besides that, it has wide range of mechanical and corrosion resistance properties (Table 2). Generally, aluminium alloy 6061 is used in many applications such as aircraft structures, truck bodies, yacht construction and so on. Table 1 Typical Chemical Composition of Aluminium alloy 6061 Component Amount (wt.%) Aluminium Balance Magnesium 0.8-1.2 Silicon 0.4 0.8 Iron Max. 0.7 Copper 0.15-0.40 Zinc Max. 0.25 Titanium Max. 0.15 Manganese Max. 0.15 Chromium 0.04-0.35 Others 0.05 Table 2 Mechanical Properties of Aluminium Alloy 6061 Temper Ultimate Tensile Strength (MPa) 0.2% Proof Stress (MPa) Brinell Hardness (500kg load, 10mm ball) Elongation 50mm dia (%) 0 110-152 65-110 30-33 14-16 T1 180 95-96 16 T4 179 min 110 min T6 260-310 240-276 95-97 9-13 Results Figure 4.4 First Draft Design of Hand Controlled Car Unit Discussion According to the result above, I just did the sketching of my design unit. This design is easy to control, push forward to accelerate and pull backward to brake a car. However, this design occupies a lot of spaces in driver seat, thus the users will face some difficulty to enter and leave the car. For my future work, I will modify my design in order to increase the spaces for the movement of disabled people. Besides that, I will include the placement of wheelchair in consideration of my design.

Free Essays: Frankenstein and the Enlightenment :: Frankenstein essays

Many people say that Mary Shelley's Frankenstein postdates the Enlightenment; that it is a looking-back on the cultural phenomenon after its completion, and a first uncertain reaction to the movement. I must disagree. There is no "after the Enlightenment." A civilization does not simply stop learning. Where is the point at which someone stands up and says, "Okay, that's enough Enlightening for now, I think we're good for another few centuries"? For better or for worse, the Enlightenment is still going on today. As the Information Age advances, we continue to invent and build. Exploration now reaches to the depths of the oceans and the nearer regions of space. We peer beyond the atom, beyond the sub-atomic particle, delving ever deeper into the secrets of science to find that ultimate point at which it converges with philosophy. The question is: do we want to? The picture on the cover of our edition of Frankenstein is Joseph Wright of Derby's An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump -- an appropriate scene, not only for how it recalls Shelley's mental state, but also for how well it illustrates precisely that doubt about the Enlightenment the novel was written to express. All around a table, at which a scientific experiment that harms a living creature is being conducted, are seated various people of differing social positions, and similarly differing reactions to the event at hand. A pair of inquisitive young men look on eagerly, a frightened woman turns her head away in abject horror, a young girl stares apprehensively, unsure of what to think. That young girl is us. And based on what we see in the air pump, we must decide whether we will become the frightened woman or the interested men. I find little room to doubt that Shelley is trying to instill some sense of fear in her reader. For not only does Victor Frankenstein loathe his own creation -- and let us not be mistaken, the work of the doctor is without question a symbol for the larger body of work of all Enlightenment scientists, seeking knowledge they do not understand in order to perform tasks previously thought impossible -- but the creation curses himself as well, speaking of the grotesqueness of his appearance and admitting freely to having willfully done evil. Perhaps in Shelley's mind this is indeed unspeakable. For my part, rather than view Frankenstein's monster as a symptom of the potential terror resulting from the advances of Enlightenment science, I look on it as a symptom as one of the advances made by Enlightenment philosophy.

Harriet Jacobs Incidents In The Life Of A Slave Girl Essay -- Feminis

Harriet Jacobs' Incidents In The Life Of A Slave Girl The feminist movement sought to gain rights for women. Many feminist during the early nineteenth century fought for the abolition of slavery around the world. The slave narrative became a powerful feminist tool in the nineteenth century. Black and white women are fictionalized and objectified in the slave narrative. White women are idealized as pure, angelic, and chaste while black woman are idealized as exotic and contained an uncontrollable, savage sexuality. Harriet Jacobs’ Incidents in the Life of A Slave Girl, brought the sexual oppression of captive black women into the public and political arena. Harriet Jacobs takes a great risk writing her trials as a house servant in the south and a fugitive in the north. Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl gives a true account of the brutality slavery held for women. A perspective that was relatively secretive during Jacobs’ time. Jacobs’ narrative focuses on subjugation due to race but it also portrays many women an strong and often open roles. Women in these roles were minimal and often suffered for their outspoken roles. Harriet Jacobs’ narrative is a powerful statement unveiling the impossibility and undesirability of achieving the ideal put forth by men and maintained by women. Jacobs directs her account of the afflictions a woman is subjected to in the chain of slavery to women of the north to gain sympathy for their sisters that were enslaved in the south. In showing this, Jacobs reveals the danger of such self disapprobation women maintained by accepting the idealized role that men have set a goal for which to strive. She suggests that slave women be judged by different standards than those applied to other women. Jacobs develops a moral code that apprises the specific social and historical position of captive black women. Jacobs’ will power and strength shown in her narrative are characteristics of womanly behavior being developed by the emerging feminist movement. In struggling against the brutal dynamics of a system that simultaneously set before her ideals of a true woman, but refused to acknowledge her as a human being, Jacobs emerges scarred but victorious. Her rational powers and will to action facilitate her efforts to find strategies for dealing with sexual harassment from her master, for maintaining family unity, and in estab... ...denying society’s firm position for women by refusing to be owned, refusing to submit , and refusing to be bought out of her captivity. Linda rejects the notion of true womanhood that has been passes on for centuries and takes control of her future and her children’s future. Linda gains her peace by escaping to the north. Harriet Jacobs’ Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl is one of the few narratives depicting the degradation’s endured by female slaves at the hand of brutal masters. Jacobs’ narrative is sending a message to women to come together and end the unfair treatment all women are subjected to. By bringing images of slavery and the message of unity of women to the forefront, Jacobs is attempting to end the tyranny over women perpetrated by men and the tyranny over blacks perpetrated by whites. Integrity and agency are ideals that Americans have fought for over the years. Jacobs reshapes these ideas and makes decisions and takes full reposibilities for her actions to become the ideal and representative image of womanhood. Work Cited: Gates, Henry Louis Jr. and Nellie Y. McKay. The Norton Anthology of African American Literature. New York: W.W. Norton & Company

The Internet Increases Social Isolation Essay -- Internet Technology a

Inside the majority of American households rest the unlimited territory of the internet. The unlimited and always advancing possibilities have unlocked powerful new tools in communication and socialization. Tools such as: long distance visual communication, international circulation of personal thoughts, and massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPG) have all led to a closer but more distant community of people. The positive side can attribute to the fact that the younger generation seems more in tune with their international counterparts. Youth have the ability to anonymously communicate with others through various message boards, mostly governed by one policy, freedom of speech. The anonymity of the internet has created a community where social outcasts mingle freely with others; a society where jocks can converse with geeks without fear of reprisal. This community releases people from the bounds of their own flesh. Yet, technological advances have pus hed society into the next dimension of communication and socialization that seemingly override traditional and more personal vessels of communication. The internet, initially developed by researchers at MIT and UCLA, had first purposes as a communications system between participating Universities. Walt Howe, Director of Libraries at Babson College, explains that the use of the system was limited to engineers, scientists, and those with the complex knowledge of computer operating systems. Because of the complexity involved many attempted to create a more user efficient system, one that home users could adopt. The most modern and user friendly system was pioneered around 1991 at University of Minnesota as a tool to access files and information local... ...ally socializing face-to-face. The technological shield inhibits proxemics and makes it impossible for those communicating to see the involuntary body movements of their counterpart, leaving a dislocated and artificial feeling. But, increases in online networking will lead to social skill atrophy. By increasing online networking, people will become left experiencing life vicariously. Works Cited Hall, Edward T. "A System for the Notion of Proxemic Behavior." American Anthropologist: 65. Web. 28 Oct. 2014. Howe, Walt. "A Brief History of the Internet." Walt Howe's Home Page. Web. 24 Mar. 2015. . Massik, Sonia and Solomon, Jack. â€Å"You-Topian Dreams: Myspace, Yourspace, and the Semiotics of Web 2.0.† 2014. 426-7. Simpson, Joanne Cavanaugh. â€Å"Multitasking State of Mind.† 2006. Massik and Solomon. 469-71. The Internet Increases Social Isolation Essay -- Internet Technology a Inside the majority of American households rest the unlimited territory of the internet. The unlimited and always advancing possibilities have unlocked powerful new tools in communication and socialization. Tools such as: long distance visual communication, international circulation of personal thoughts, and massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPG) have all led to a closer but more distant community of people. The positive side can attribute to the fact that the younger generation seems more in tune with their international counterparts. Youth have the ability to anonymously communicate with others through various message boards, mostly governed by one policy, freedom of speech. The anonymity of the internet has created a community where social outcasts mingle freely with others; a society where jocks can converse with geeks without fear of reprisal. This community releases people from the bounds of their own flesh. Yet, technological advances have pus hed society into the next dimension of communication and socialization that seemingly override traditional and more personal vessels of communication. The internet, initially developed by researchers at MIT and UCLA, had first purposes as a communications system between participating Universities. Walt Howe, Director of Libraries at Babson College, explains that the use of the system was limited to engineers, scientists, and those with the complex knowledge of computer operating systems. Because of the complexity involved many attempted to create a more user efficient system, one that home users could adopt. The most modern and user friendly system was pioneered around 1991 at University of Minnesota as a tool to access files and information local... ...ally socializing face-to-face. The technological shield inhibits proxemics and makes it impossible for those communicating to see the involuntary body movements of their counterpart, leaving a dislocated and artificial feeling. But, increases in online networking will lead to social skill atrophy. By increasing online networking, people will become left experiencing life vicariously. Works Cited Hall, Edward T. "A System for the Notion of Proxemic Behavior." American Anthropologist: 65. Web. 28 Oct. 2014. Howe, Walt. "A Brief History of the Internet." Walt Howe's Home Page. Web. 24 Mar. 2015. . Massik, Sonia and Solomon, Jack. â€Å"You-Topian Dreams: Myspace, Yourspace, and the Semiotics of Web 2.0.† 2014. 426-7. Simpson, Joanne Cavanaugh. â€Å"Multitasking State of Mind.† 2006. Massik and Solomon. 469-71.

Insulin and American Diabetes Association

Diabetes is an endocrine disease that affects the blood sugars of individuals throughout the United States. It is one of the leading causes of death. There are three different types of diabetes: type 1 diabetes, gestational diabetes, and type 2 diabetes. Hispanics are the second highest minority diagnosed with diabetes. Hispanics are less likely to seek medical care because of cultural beliefs and lack of insurance. There is also a genetic link to Hispanics and diabetes.â€Å"Type 1 diabetes, once known as juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes, is a chronic condition in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin, a hormone needed to allow sugar (glucose) to enter cells to produce energy† (Mayo Clinic, 2013). This diabetes is common during adolescence but is possible during adulthood. There is no cure for type 1 diabetes but there are medicines that can help an individual that is dealing with this disease. Signs and symptoms for type 1 diabetes is increased thir st, frequent urination, hunger, weight loss, fatigue, and blurred vision.  (Mayo Clinic, 2013)Risk factors for type 1 diabetes are famlial history, location, genetics, and viral exposure. â€Å"Exposure to Epstein-Barr virus, coxsackievirus, mumps virus or cytomegalovirus may trigger the autoimmune destruction of the islet cells, or the virus may directly infect the islet cells† (Mayo Clinic, 2013). Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy. It is when sugar levels are high because the â€Å"body is not able to produce and use all the insulin it needs during pregnancy† . The cause of gestational diabetes is still unknown.Pregnant women are usually tested for gestational diabetes between 24 to 28 weeks but doctors could recommend early testing if the pregnant woman shows signs of diabetes. If it is not controlled, the unborn child could be affected by the high sugar levels. The glucose passes through the placenta and causes the baby’s pancreas to produce mor e insulin to help control the sugar levels. The increase of energy that the glucose gives the unborn child is too much so instead of the baby using it up, it is stored as fat. This increase of fat may cause macrosomia.Macrosomia may cause problems during delivery because it increases the baby’s weight and size. Also, â€Å"the extra insulin that the baby’s pancreas makes may cause newborns to have very low blood glucose levels at birth and are also at higher risk for breathing problems† . According to American Diabetes Association (2013), babies that are born with low levels of sugar are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes later in life. â€Å"Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition that affects the way your body metabolize sugar (glucose)†.When an individual has type 2 diabetes their body does not produce enough insulin or their body ignores the insulin it has produced. This is commonly in adulthood but there is an increased of cases in adolescent beca use of the obesity is increasing. If type 2 diabetes is untreated, it can be life threatening or cause other health complications. Some complications that may occur are heart disease, neuropathy, nephropathy, eye damage, foot damage, osteoporosis, and Alzheimer’s disease. â€Å"An individual can manage the condition by eating well, exercising and maintaining a healthy weight† .Risk factors that will contribute to a individual getting type 2 diabetes are their weight, fat distribution, inactivity, familial history, race, age, and if they had gestational diabetes or prediabetes. â€Å"Prediabetes is a condition in which your blood glucose levels is higher than normal, but not too high to be classified as diabetes† . Race plays a factor in type 2 diabetes. African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, and Asian American (Pacific Islanders) are more susceptible to it. According to the American Diabetes Association (2013), there are 25.8 million children and adults in the United States living with diabetes.Of those 25. 8 million people 11. 8% of them are Hispanics. Hispanics have a higher rate because of their lack of access to quality health care, social and cultural factors, or genetics. â€Å"The United States Department of Health and Human Services estimates 1 out of every 3 Hispanics do not have health insurance† . Without health insurance Hispanics are least likely to visit doctors for preventive care. This increases their chances to developing a disease that could have been prevented with correct treatment or changes in life style.â€Å"Hispanics are raised to be self-reliant, which may be the reason 42% of them say they have had zero visit to a medical provider† . â€Å"Many Hispanic parents feel guilty about putting their own health needs above those of their families and they feel their time and money could be better spent than using it for preventive care† . They did not go to see the doctor until they are very ill or they use house remedies to help with their illnesses. Sometimes, house remedies worked temporary and then the illnesses comes back stronger than before.At this time, Hispanics might seek professional help. If they do seek medical attention, the doctors find array of illnesses. The doctors attention to the more severe ones and ask them to go back. Since, Hispanics are less likely to see the doctors when they believe they are healthy, they will not go back for a follow-up. Then the cycle may start all over again. A culture factor is Hispanics perceive their weight different than other cultures. â€Å"The researchers found about 25% of the overweight Hispanic women perceive their weight as â€Å"normal† when in fact they are overweight† .The Hispanic culture perceives curves as an attractive feature in women. They are blind to the fact that the curves may be a sign of illnesses such as diabetes. Since Hispanics have a high rate of individuals with diabetes, the pr edisposition of their family members of being diagnose with diabetes is much higher. Studies have shown that when a youth is diagnosed with diabetes there is a 45%-80% chance that one of their parents has diabetes and 74-100% has a first or second degree relative with type 2 diabetes .Diabetes is an illness that greatly affects the Hispanic culture. There are organizations that are trying to create programs to help families and individuals deal with it. The â€Å"National Council for La Raza are focusing their efforts on implementing more healthy shopping programs like the â€Å"Comprando Rico y Sano† (Buying Delicious and Healthy) to help Hispanics make healthier and more economical choices when grocery shopping†. The National Diabetes Prevention Programs is focusing more on finding ways for the prevention of diabetes by getting agencies to help with the cause.They â€Å"encourage collaboration among federal agencies, community-based organizations, employers, insurer s, health care professionals, academia, and other stakeholders to prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes among people with prediabetes in the United States†. Diabetes is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. It could easily be prevented by making healthy life changes such as losing weight and eating healthy. If a person is diagnosed with diabetes, they needed to take measures to help control their condition and make a better choice when it comes to their health. Insulin and American Diabetes Association Diabetes Diabetes is an endocrine disease that affects the blood sugars of individuals throughout the United States. It is one of the leading causes of death. There are three different types of diabetes: type 1 diabetes, gestational diabetes, and type 2 diabetes. Hispanics are the second highest minority diagnosed with diabetes. Hispanics are less likely to seek medical care because of cultural beliefs and lack of insurance. There is also a genetic link to Hispanics and diabetes.â€Å"Type 1 diabetes, once known as juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes, is a chronic condition in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin, a hormone needed to allow sugar (glucose) to enter cells to produce energy† (Mayo Clinic, 2013). This diabetes is common during adolescence but is possible during adulthood. There is no cure for type 1 diabetes but there are medicines that can help an individual that is dealing with this disease. Signs and symptoms for type 1 diabetes is incre ased thirst, frequent urination, hunger, weight loss, fatigue, and blurred vision.  (Mayo Clinic, 2013)Risk factors for type 1 diabetes are famlial history, location, genetics, and viral exposure. â€Å"Exposure to Epstein-Barr virus, coxsackievirus, mumps virus or cytomegalovirus may trigger the autoimmune destruction of the islet cells, or the virus may directly infect the islet cells† (Mayo Clinic, 2013). Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy. It is when sugar levels are high because the â€Å"body is not able to produce and use all the insulin it needs during pregnancy† . The cause of gestational diabetes is still unknown.Pregnant women are usually tested for gestational diabetes between 24 to 28 weeks but doctors could recommend early testing if the pregnant woman shows signs of diabetes. If it is not controlled, the unborn child could be affected by the high sugar levels. The glucose passes through the placenta and causes the baby’s pancreas to pr oduce more insulin to help control the sugar levels. The increase of energy that the glucose gives the unborn child is too much so instead of the baby using it up, it is stored as fat. This increase of fat may cause macrosomia.Macrosomia may cause problems during delivery because it increases the baby’s weight and size. Also, â€Å"the extra insulin that the baby’s pancreas makes may cause newborns to have very low blood glucose levels at birth and are also at higher risk for breathing problems† . According to American Diabetes Association (2013), babies that are born with low levels of sugar are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes later in life. â€Å"Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition that affects the way your body metabolize sugar (glucose)†.When an individual has type 2 diabetes their body does not produce enough insulin or their body ignores the insulin it has produced. This is commonly in adulthood but there is an increased of cases in adoles cent because of the obesity is increasing. If type 2 diabetes is untreated, it can be life threatening or cause other health complications. Some complications that may occur are heart disease, neuropathy, nephropathy, eye damage, foot damage, osteoporosis, and Alzheimer’s disease. â€Å"An individual can manage the condition by eating well, exercising and maintaining a healthy weight† .Risk factors that will contribute to a individual getting type 2 diabetes are their weight, fat distribution, inactivity, familial history, race, age, and if they had gestational diabetes or prediabetes. â€Å"Prediabetes is a condition in which your blood glucose levels is higher than normal, but not too high to be classified as diabetes† . Race plays a factor in type 2 diabetes. African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, and Asian American (Pacific Islanders) are more susceptible to it.According to the American Diabetes Association (2013), there are 25.8 million children an d adults in the United States living with diabetes. Of those 25. 8 million people 11. 8% of them are Hispanics. Hispanics have a higher rate because of their lack of access to quality health care, social and cultural factors, or genetics. â€Å"The United States Department of Health and Human Services estimates 1 out of every 3 Hispanics do not have health insurance† . Without health insurance Hispanics are least likely to visit doctors for preventive care. This increases their chances to developing a disease that could have been prevented with correct treatment or changes in life style.â€Å"Hispanics are raised to be self-reliant, which may be the reason 42% of them say they have had zero visit to a medical provider† . â€Å"Many Hispanic parents feel guilty about putting their own health needs above those of their families and they feel their time and money could be better spent than using it for preventive care† . They did not go to see the doctor until they are very ill or they use house remedies to help with their illnesses. Sometimes, house remedies worked temporary and then the illnesses comes back stronger than before.At this time, Hispanics might seek professional help. If they do seek medical attention, the doctors find array of illnesses. The doctors attention to the more severe ones and ask them to go back. Since, Hispanics are less likely to see the doctors when they believe they are healthy, they will not go back for a follow-up. Then the cycle may start all over again. A culture factor is Hispanics perceive their weight different than other cultures. â€Å"The researchers found about 25% of the overweight Hispanic women perceive their weight as â€Å"normal† when in fact they are overweight† .The Hispanic culture perceives curves as an attractive feature in women. They are blind to the fact that the curves may be a sign of illnesses such as diabetes. Since Hispanics have a high rate of individuals with diabete s, the predisposition of their family members of being diagnose with diabetes is much higher. Studies have shown that when a youth is diagnosed with diabetes there is a 45%-80% chance that one of their parents has diabetes and 74-100% has a first or second degree relative with type 2 diabetes .Diabetes is an illness that greatly affects the Hispanic culture. There are organizations that are trying to create programs to help families and individuals deal with it. The â€Å"National Council for La Raza are focusing their efforts on implementing more healthy shopping programs like the â€Å"Comprando Rico y Sano† (Buying Delicious and Healthy) to help Hispanics make healthier and more economical choices when grocery shopping†. The National Diabetes Prevention Programs is focusing more on finding ways for the prevention of diabetes by getting agencies to help with the cause.They â€Å"encourage collaboration among federal agencies, community-based organizations, employers , insurers, health care professionals, academia, and other stakeholders to prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes among people with prediabetes in the United States†. Diabetes is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. It could easily be prevented by making healthy life changes such as losing weight and eating healthy. If a person is diagnosed with diabetes, they needed to take measures to help control their condition and make a better choice when it comes to their health.