Predatory pricing of petrol Essay Example for Free

Predatory pricing of petrol Essay Supermarket price wars are putting Britain’s small petrol stations out of business at the rate of one a day. Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Asda and Morrisons have this year embarked on a war to attract hard-hit consumers and the price of fuel has been central to their campaign. Morrisons is offering loyalty points on its new fuel card while Asda has launched a price comparison app for mobile phones to convince shoppers it has the cheapest fuel. Both Sainsbury’s and Tesco have offered money-off vouchers for petrol customers. The Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMI), a trade association representing the interests of 6 000 small petrol stations, is hoping the OFT inquiry will support its members, who believe that unfair and predatory pricing by the supermarkets and some major oil companies is making it impossible for them to compete. There are now about 8 000 small petrol retailers compared with 21 000 two decades ago and 40 000 in 1966. It predicts that in five years there will be very few independent petrol retailers left. The OFT inquiry comes at a time when the supermarkets have proved particularly effective at building up a huge stake in the petrol market. With the recession dragging on, households are keen to save even one or two pence a litre, particularly those families whose livelihoods depend on the use of a car. Between June 2007 and June 2012 – a period that saw  considerable crude oil price volatility – the price of petrol rose by 38% while diesel rose by 45%. In 2011, supermarkets accounted for 45% of total fuel sales from just 1 316 sites compared with 37.4 % in 2010. The OFT said the fuel market for Britain’s 33 million motorists is worth around  £32 billion a year, and accounts for 5p in every  £1 of household expenditure. But many have also blamed the Government and increases in fuel tax for soaring petrol prices. It takes 60% of the price of every litre of petrol in tax – the highest rate in Europe.

Review of the Market Entry Modes

Review of the Market Entry Modes INTRODUCTION When we look at the development of world business, it can be easily noticed that recent years have witnessed a growing intensity of competition in virtually all areas of business, whether in domestic or international areas. In today`s changing and developing world, it has been getting more and more important and at the same time becoming difficult day by day to expand your business` borders. For this reason, it has also been getting more and more important to make the decision of going internationally and choosing an appropriate entry mode. The perception of this importance can be related to the answer of this question; â€Å"how come international business is important especially for domestic companies?† International business is that kind of trade that gives increase to the economy of the world. In this the demand and supply and the prices are influenced by the global issues. For instance, the change in political conditions in Asia can raise manufacturing cost and cost of labour of an American company which is in a country in Asia. This would then result in rise in the price of the product that you need to purchase from a local mall. If there is a decrease in cost of labour, on the other hand then you can have to pay relatively less price on the product. (Hussey, 2008) It is also another advantage of going internationally that it gives an opportunity to developed countries to use their resources effectively like technology, capital and labour. Since a large number of the countries already have natural resources and different inputs such as labor, technology, land and capital, they are likely to produce many products more efficiently and sell them for cheaper prices than other countries. A country can obtain an item from another country if it cannot effectively produce it within the national boundaries. This is the specialty of international trade. In same way a country can obtain an item from another country, for the reason of that product can be produced in its own country but with worse conditions such as lower quality or higher cost. Global trading also allows the different countries to participate in global economy encouraging the foreign direct investors. These individuals invest their money in the foreign companies and other assets. Hence the countries can become competitive global participants. Entering a Foreign Market Before entering international marketing, if we reflect on our perception what marketing means itself, we will face a few important definitions. According to Chartered Institute of Marketing, marketing is a â€Å"Management process which is responsible for identifying, predicting and providing customer requirements profitably†. (Lowe and Doole, 2001) Marketing involves; providing customer needs and wants, finding out best ways and methods to provide these needs and wants, orienting the firm towards the process of focusing on that satisfaction, meeting organizational objectives. In this way, it becomes important for the company or organization to prepare itself to achieve competitive advantage in the market. The company then needs to work on taking this advantage in the market. The company then needs to work on taking advantage by manipulating controllable functions of marketing, within the uncontrollable marketing environment which is directly affected by SLEPT factors, i.e. Political, Economic, Socio-Cultural, Technological and Legal. (Lowe and Doole, 2001) When domestic and international marketing are compared, it is argued that†what differences there are between these two markets â€Å". Actually, the key elements are still same. The concept is not likely to change to any market degree when a company moves from a domestic market to an international market. However, two main differences can be defined. First, of them, there are different approaching levels depending on international scope, and second, the company will be likely to face complexities and difficulties as the result of international marketing environment factors as it mentioned above. (Lowe and Doole, 2001) General Review of the Market Entry Modes For the majority of companies, the most important international marketing decision that they are most likely to take is how they should enter new markets, as these decisions which they make will directly affect every part of their business for many years in the future. There are advantages and disadvantages with each market entry method and critical in the decision-making process are the firms assessment of the cost and risk associated with each method and the level of involvement the company is allowed by the government, or want to have in the market. These factors determine the degree of control it can exert over the total product and service offer and method of distribution. (Chee and Harris, 1993) There is, however, no ideal market entry strategy and different market entry methods might be adopted by different companies entering the same market and/or by the same company in different markets. The Alternative Market Entry Modes The variety of alternative market entry methods are shown in figure below, depending on international involvement from virtually zero, when the company only makes its products for others to export but effectively does nothing itself to market its products internationally, to total involvement, where the firm might operate wholly-owned subsidiaries in all its key markets. (Chee and Harris, 1993) The market entry decision is taken within the company and it is determined related to the companys objectives and attitudes to international marketing and the confidence of its management teams to operate in foreign markets. In order to select most appropriate and effective market entry strategy, it is essential to take into account some point including; the company objectives and expectations relating to the size and value of predicted business, the size and financial resources of the company its existing foreign market involvement the skill, abilities and attitudes of the firms management for international business the intensity of the competition in target market, the affect of existing and expecting tariff and non-tariff barriers the nature of product considered for international entering the areas of competitive advantage, such as trademark or patent protection the timing of entry in relation to the market and intensity of competitive situation However, this list of entry modes is likely to be meaningful when the other factors which affect the entry mode and are very specific to the companys particular situation. For instance, the regulations of laws of the host country might be a barrier for a company to own 100 percent of an operation in that country. All companies should identify, analyse and monitor these external factors and consider their potential affect on their products/services. Although these external factors take place outside of the firms management teams control, they all must be taken into account as much as internal factors. (Chee and Harris, 1993) According to Terpstra and Sarathy (1994), alternative methods of foreign market entry can be summarized basically as shown below; Production in HomeMarket Foreign Production Sources -Contract Manifacture -Licencing -Assembly -Joint Venture -100 Percent Ownership and / or Indirect Exporting -Trading Company -Export Management Company -Piggyback, etc. Direct Exporting -Foreign Distributor -Agent -Overseas Marketing Subsidiary STARBUCKS IN CHINA In 1999, when Starbucks invested into China, the company entered the joint-venture agreement with three big local partners: Beijing Meida Coffee, Shanghai Uni-President Starbucks Coffee Ltd and Maxims Caterer (Asia Pulse, 2006). On the one hand, the company was able to meet requirements from the Chinese governments regulations and lower the risk and level of investment when entering a new market. In return, Starbucks sacrificed its control over development of those individual companies while only earning loyalty fees (ibid). As a result of joining the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2001, Chinese government has loosened regulations on foreign investment, especially the removal of restrictions on foreign investment. Since then, share of local partners is no longer required for foreign companies (ibid). Consequently, Starbucks has paid out more than USD 21, 3 million to gain its share to 50 percent in Shanghai Uni-President Starbucks Coffee. Similarly, the company increased its stake s in Maxims Caterer to 51 percent and control over 50 percent of stock in Beijing Meida Coffee (Harris, 2007). Such forward integration gives Starbucks more control over its expansion which will be more aggressive in the near future (ibid). Besides, Starbucks is also concerned with coffee sources and prices. Currently, for the Chinese market, Starbucks imports coffee beans from its suppliers all around the world (Reuters, 2007a). Since these suppliers have been controlled tightly by the companys specialists, Starbucks can assure the quality of its products in China. However, Starbucks needs to pay import duty. Depending on the type of coffee, this duty may vary from 10 to 30 percent (Friedlnet, 2003). To make the problem worse, coffee prices have jumped from 89.36 US cents per pound in 2005 to 113.20 US cents per pound in 2007 and is expected to grow higher in 2008 (Reuters, 2007a). This may consequently influence the price of Starbucks product and influence Starbucks performance. I n America, as a result of the increase in price of dairy product, Starbucks raised the price of its coffee drinks by 9 cents and 50 cents for its whole bean coffee in 2007 (Reuters, 2007b). This is the second time Starbucks raises its prices. The first time this happened was in 2006 when Starbucks raised 5 cents for all of its drinks (USA Today, 2006). To prevent such potential price change in the future, Starbucks has been working with coffee farmers in many parts of China and trying to help them meet the company standards. Jinlong Wang, president of Starbucks greater China, expressed that â€Å"China does produce some quality coffee and sourcing from China would start very soon, maybe in a couple of year† (Reuters, 2007a). Starbucks also plan to build a roasting plant in China. This backward integration when applied successfully in the future, will give Starbucks a huge competitive advantage. After initial success with more than 540 stores across China, Starbucks is striving hard to expand its operation and turn China into the biggest overseas market in near future. However, the Chinese market has many differences to other market that Starbucks has entered. Average coffee consumption in China is projected to increase by 20 to 25 percent each year. Therefore, much more opportunity is waiting for Starbucks in the near future. Despite its success, Starbucks should continuously monitor changes from the external environment and prevent unfortunate incidents such as in 2000 when Starbucks was kicked out of the Forbidden City, a symbol of Chinese Culture (CNN, 2000). Failing to monitor and respond properly, China can be a graveyard for Starbucks ambitions. IMPORTANCE OF CHOOSING AN EFFECTIVE INTERNATIONAL MARKETING STRATEGY In today`s competitive international world, one of the most significant tasks for many companies which are preparing itself to enter a foreign market is to make the right decision about how the company should enter a foreign market. One reason for this is that this decision is likely to influence every part of its business for a long perid of time in the future. However, there are advantages and disadvantages of every single foreign market entry modes. For the aim of selecting the most appropriate and effective foreign market entry strategy, it is essential to take into account some point including; (Chee and Harris, 1993); the company objectives and expectations relating to the size and value of predicted business, the size and financial resources of the company its existing foreign market involvement the skill, abilities and attitudes of the firms management for international business the intensity of the competition in target market, the affect of existing and expecting tariff and non-tariff barriers the nature of product considered for international entering the areas of competitive advantage, such as trademark or patent protection the timing of entry in relation to t he market and intensity of competitive situation Recommended Strategies In fast-changing Chinese cities, finding locations that will embody the right lifestyle is more like gambling than science. Real-estate know-how is a hallmark of Starbucks worldwide, but the computerized mapping databases that are used to test a potential street corner in the United States would be little help in Chinese cities. Starbucks must continue to use joint ventures or license other companies to own and operate Starbucks stores as this philosophy differs from its domestic approach, where the stores are largely company-owned. The idea is that an experienced local partner can help identify locations, sift through tax issues and give Starbucks stores a more local community appeal. Once the market is established Starbucks will be given an opportunity to purchase a controlling interest in the partnership, which will then allow them more control and management of the overall operation and direction of the business. As Starbucks adds a whopping six stores a day on average, the company must continue to carefully consider everything from the direction of commuter traffic zipping by a potential drive-thru site to how many people are pounding the pavement on a busy urban block. As of Oct. 3, Starbucks had 12,440 stores worldwide, including 7,102 company-operated stores and 5,338 licensed locations. Starbucks must continue to open new locations as their market continues to grow. At some stage there are limits to their expansion, but to date the company has not seen any signs that they are near that optimal point or number. A major concern would include anything from a drop in quality to the brand losing its luster. Despite potential saturation and plans to add many more stores in China. Starbucks insists that it sees very little cannibalization of its existing business when a new store opens. In fact, the company says, one reason would-be customers dont end up buying a Starbucks drink is because the line or wait is too long. One solution is to open up another store nearby. Besides adding stores, drive-thru and kiosks throughout the world, Starbucks also has plans to make itself ubiquitous even in places where it cant squeeze in a store. It is getting ready to launch Starbucks-branded vending machines, which will let people buy warm lattes and other drinks in a nine-ounce can for $2.50. And thats in addition to the business it already does selling bottled cold Starbucks drinks and coffee beans in more traditional food stores. In closing if you see a mall in the United States today itll probably be there two years form now but, a year passes by in a Chinese location, and you almost wont know your way around there any more. Ive witnessed this first hand when I travel to China on business. This is just how fast the Chinese economy and market is growing and Starbucks is looking to convert 1.3 billion tea drinkers to coffee lovers. The key attribute to attain this surmountable goal is to continue the expansion plan in China and other countries in Asia. References Pulse A., (2006), â€Å"Starbucks Soars in China†, accessed on 15th February 2010, available from: www.atimes.com/atimes/China_Business/HF15Cb06.html Harris C., (2007), â€Å"Starbucks Exec Talks of High Hopes for Growth in Asia†, accessed on 18th February 2010, available from: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/330121_starbuckschina04.html Reuters, (2007a), â€Å"Reuters Summit Starbucks to source coffee from China†, accessed on 21st February 2010, available from: www.today.reuters.com/news/articlehybrid.aspx?type=comktNewsrpc=33storyid=2007-09-04T075310Z_01_PEK299845_RTRIDST_0_CHINA-SUMMIT-STARBUCKS-URGENT.XML Reuters, (2007b), â€Å"Starbucks raising U.S. Drinks Price Next Week†, accessed on 22nd February 2010, available from: http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSN2337368320070723?feedType=RSSrpc=22sp=true Friedlnet, (2003), â€Å"Analysis: The Chinese Coffee Market†, accessed on 21st February 2010, available from: http://www.friedlnet.com/news/03031606.html USA Today, (2006), â€Å"Starbucks Raises Prices of Most Coffee Drinks by Five Cents†, accessed on 19th February 2010, available from: http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2006-09-22-starbucks-prices_x.htm CNN, (2000), â€Å"Starbucks Brew Storm in Chinas Forbidden City†, accessed on 16th February 2010, available from: http://edition.cnn.com/2000/FOOD/news/12/11/china.starbucks.reuter Terpstra V. and Sarathy R., (1994), â€Å"International Marketing†, 6th Edition, Orlando: The Dryden Press. Chee H. and Harris R., (1993), â€Å"Marketing a Global Perspective†, Fitman Publishing, London, and p: 21 Lowe R. And Doole I., (2001), â€Å"International Marketing Strategy: Analysis, Development and Implementation, 3rd edition, Thomson learning. Hussey R., (2008), â€Å"Importance of International Trade†, accessed on 15th February 2010, available from: www.thefreelibrary.com/Importance+of+International+Trade-a01073876158

Four Critics’ Perspective of Theodore Roethkes Elegy for Jane Essay

Four Critics’ Perspective of Theodore Roethke's Elegy for Jane More than forty years after her untimely death, Jane Bannick breathes again--or so it seems while reading about her. Jane's unfortunate death in an equestrian accident prompted one of her professors, the poet Theodore Roethke, to write a moving poem, "Elegy for Jane," recalling his young student and his feelings of grief at her loss. Opinions appeared almost as soon as Roethke's tribute to Jane, and passages about the poem continue to appear in articles and books. Recent writings by Parini, Ross-Bryant, Kalaidjian, and Stiffler disclose current assessments. According to Parini, Jane's death is not the subject of the poem; rather, her death presents an occasion for calling up a certain emotional state in which Roethke's feelings of grief and pity transcend the occasion. Following the standard of elegiac celebration of the vegetation god Adonis reaching back to Bion's Lament for Adonis and Moschus's Lament for Bion, Roethke associates the deceased with elemental aspects of nature--the plant tendrils, the pickerel, the wren--to defuse the pathos of her death. A Romantic poet, Roethke views death as a stage; the plants point to rebirth (138-39). The subject of Roethke's most famous poem (45) becomes the response to Jane's death and his ambivalent emotions at her graveside. Without the associations of earlier elegies, the emotion would surpass the occasion. Roethke mourns not only Jane, whom he knew only slightly, but also the deaths of us all (138-39). Jane presents one aspect of woman in The Waking collection (1953): Ross-Bryant views Jane as a young girl who is dead. The poem expresses concern with the coming of death. This poignant elegy is presen... ...ini and Ross-Bryant appear almost polarized in their opinion of the nature of Roethke's feelings for Jane: Parini contends that Roethke mourns for us all; Ross-Bryant feels that Roethke's grief is intensely personal. Other than the nature of than Roethke's feelings for Jane, these four critics find little to disagree about in "Elegy for Jane." Works Cited Kalaidjian, Walter B. Understanding Theodore Roethke. Columbia: U of South Carolina P, 1987. Parini, Jay. Theodore Roethke: An American Romantic. Amherst: U of Massachusetts P, 1979. Roethke, Theodore. The Collected Poems of Theodore Roethke. New York: Anchor-Doubleday, 1975. Ross-Bryant, Lynn. Theodore Roethke: Poetry of the Earth . . . Poet of the Spirit. Port Washington, N.Y.: Kennikat, 1981. Stiffler, Randall. Theodore Roethke: The Poet and His Critics. Chicago: ALA, 1986.

The Eclectic Model Essay -- Education

For my presentation I chose the Eclectic teaching method used in Physical Education. Going into the project I had no idea what the model was or what it involved. I quickly learned the importance of the Eclectic model and how it is the most vital and widely used teaching method out. The reason for this is because it is the combination of all the teaching models and grouping them to the different age levels of the students. Obviously, there are certain games or activities that you would not do with 3rd graders because they are not developed enough to handle them. On the other hand you may not do an activity with high schoolers because they are over developed for it and they will not gain any benefits from it. To better explain how the eclectic model would be used I researched other teaching models and broke them down into 3 categories where they fit best: Elementary, Middle School, and High School. Elementary Physical Education is usually the first time when young children are being professionally taught how to control their bodies and perform basic skills that they will need to succeed in physical activity throughout their lifetime. This is the most important part of a child’s Physical Education because without these skills and abilities they will not be able to exercise properly through life and it could also discourage them from trying different activities. If this happens our country will become even more obese and out of shape. The models we decided fit best in this age group of students were Developmental Education, Tactical Games Model, Movement Model, Interdisciplinary Elementary Education, and Inquiry Model. We discovered that these in particular taught objectives that younger children need before they could move onto m... ...entary school ages as well. When a school district decides to use the eclectic model in their PE program they do it in hopes that the students will apply what they have learned grades K-12 to the rest of their life. As PE teachers it is our job to give students the information needed to live a long, healthy life. When taught correctly, the eclectic model does just that. Works Cited 1. Siedentop, Daryl, Jacqueline Herkowitz, and Judith Rink. Elementary Physical Education Methods. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1984. Print. 2. Physical Education for Lifelong Fitness: The Physical Best Teacher's Guide. Leeds: Human Kinetics Europe, 2005. Print. 3. Manimtim-Florescar, Ruth. "Teaching Method: Eclectic | The Manila Bulletin Newspaper Online." The Manila Bulletin Newspaper Online. 27 May 2008. Web. .

Ineffective N.A.A.C.P. in James Baldwins Down at the Cross Essay

The Effect of the N.A.A.C.P. There are many different opinions of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (N.A.A.C.P.), the premier organization for African-American rights around the world. Some believe that the organization has made great strides towards equality and fairness across the country, and that segregation could still be a prominent fixture today if not for the N.A.A.C.P. Others scrutinize the efforts of the N.A.A.C.P., and claim that it is nothing more than a figurehead organization that doesn’t actually advance the African-American people. This seems to be the sentiment shared in the essay, â€Å"Down at the Cross,† by James Baldwin. Although mentioned only briefly in the essay, Baldwin conveys a sense of discouragement towards the N.A.A.C.P., and that there work doesn’t do much good because of their lethargy in the courtroom. (Baldwin, 320) Baldwin asserts that by the time the court decision has been made, the impact of the decision is a lmost nonexistent, and fails to carry a collective punch. For these reasons, Baldwin believes that the N.A.A.C.P. will never accomplish meaningful, and that they will continue to simply go through the motions, in an almost lifeless manner. The history of the N.A.A.C.P. dates back to the early 20th century. The organization was founded in 1909 by Mary White Ovington. Ovington had read an article from the New York Post entitled â€Å"Race War in the North,† written by William English Walling. Ovington became inspired to learn more about the African-American situation, and set up a meeting with Walling in New York. On February 12th, 1909, approximately 20 or so members met and formed the National Association for the Advancement of Co... ...essay, Baldwin may have proven to have predicted the fate of the N.A.A.C.P., even if its accomplishments did surpass his own expectations. Works Cited Baldwin, James. â€Å"Down at the Cross.† 1962. James Baldwin: Collected Essays. Ed. Toni Morrison. New York: Library of America, 1998. 296-347. Kellogg, Charles Flint. NAACP: A History of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins Press, 1967. Connerly, Ward. â€Å"The NAACP’s Decline and Fall.† The Wall Street Journal 16 July 2002: A16. â€Å"National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.† Spartacus Educational. â€Å"NAACP Timeline.† National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

GCSE Geographical Investigation

Managing Resources There is a need to manage, preserve and enhance the environment (built and natural) to maintain the tourist trade. This can be achieved in a variety of ways. The Growth in tourism There has been a steady but dramatic increase in tourism since the 1920/1930's. This was due to the increase and availability of cars for the average family. As families began to develop more and more disposable income in which they could use to buy cars etc. With this came family individuality, this meant that family's who wanted to go out into the countryside didn't have to wait for a long and uncomfortable bus journey to get into places of natural beauty. The questions that I will be answering in my essay are as follows: 1) Is there a need for conservation and stewardship in the Upper Derwent Valley? 2) Is the area managed in order to conserve the environment in the Upper Derwent Valley? 3) Does the Upper Derwnet Valley have some or all the features of a honeypot location? How will answering these questions help me to investigate my title? By answering these questions I will gather evidence and information about the Upper Derwent Valley, I will then be able to decide whether there is a need for management or stewardship in certain areas of the Upper Derwent Valley. Background Information Over 100 years ago the Derwent Valley in North Derbyshire was identified as having all the necessary attributes for water storage to satisfy the growing needs of the local population and industry in North Derbyshire, Sheffield, Nottingham, Derby and Leicester, the valley being deep and long, surrounded by grit stone edges with narrow points for dam building, and having a high rainfall. This valley close to Sheffield is now extremely popular with visitors who come to enjoy the attractive mix of water and woodland within the surrounding moorland. The road winds up the left flank of Lady bower, Derwent and Howden Reservoirs for nearly 8 miles to a turnaround at King's Tree. Here are some interesting facts about the famous reservoirs in the Upper Derwent valley: Catchment area 19,850 hectares Reservoir capacity 463692 million litres (3 reservoirs) Treatment works Yorkshire Bridge, opened 1929 Water filtered, chlorine added and pH corrected Bamford Stage I opened 1948 Bamford Stage II opened 1967 Where the water goes: (millions of liters) 450 (untreated) Sheffield 172 (treated) 77 Derbyshire 68 Leicester 27 Nottingham The Dambusters Derwent reservoir was used by the RAF's Dambusters to practise their low level flying techniques during 1943, in preparation for delivering Barnes Wallis' famous ‘bouncing bombs' to German dams. Located in the West Tower of the Derwent Valley Dam is the Derwent Dam (617 Squadron) Museum which houses a collection of memorabilia dedicated to the famous Dams Raid carried out by 617 Dambusters Squadron. It includes photographs and other material covering all aspects of the Dams Raid

Nursing mania patients

The article â€Å"Nursing interventions for the management of patients with mania† by McColm et al. (2005) gives details concerning the definition, diagnosis, and treatment of patients who suffer with the psychological disorder of mania. The problem is one concerning the mood of the patient, which is often much more elevated than is safe and wholesome for the healthy individual. Because the disorder has to do with a person’s perception of reality and the behaviors exhibited as a result of this, the article relates well to the issues examined within the Psychiatric Nursing arena. The ideas of reason and madness are closely tied to the manic disorder, and the article gives a distinctly nursing perspective on the treatment, as it outlines precise ways in which the nursing professional should deal with such a patient. These methods include efforts at maintaining and preserving the patient’s physical health by minimizing the adverse effects of the mental disorder on his/her actions. The nursing methods presented in this article also indicate the importance of providing psychological and emotional support to the patient. Overall, the fact that psychological reasons behind the disorder are highlighted and treatments given from that perspective indicate the relevance of this article to the Psychiatric Nursing class. Despite the fact that diagnosis is not the predominant role of the nurse, information given within the article concerning the signs, symptoms and prognosis of manic disorder provides information that allow the nurse to recognize and understand such a disorder. The nursing interventions indicated for patients suffering from mania range from mild to acute measures—from counseling and support to â€Å"rapid tranquillisation† (McColm et al., 2005). The psychological support to be give by the nurse includes the development of a relationship of trust between the patient and nursing professional. The nurse is urged to show consideration for the emotional and psychological needs of the patient, while also taking care to monitor the impact of the patient on others within the environment. The nurse is also encouraged to seek an understanding of the physical risk the patient poses to himself and others. This highlights the need for research into the behavioral history of the patient through developing relationships with family and friends. Once the nurse has gained such information, continued monitoring and observation should provide knowledge of behavioral changes that might prove harmful to the patient. Such information includes the patient’s attitude toward nourishment, aggression, harmful or addictive substances, and even sexual activity. In treating these, nurses are encouraged to offer food and drink in manageable form and on a regular basis if the patient is observed to neglect such care of him-/herself. For example, drinks low in caffeine and food low in sugar would help control the patient’s hyperactivity. The nurse should also make sure that the atmosphere in which the patient is housed is one that promotes tranquility and discourages aggression. Yet this should be balanced with the patient’s need for intellectual, emotional and physical stimulation, which should be regulated by the nurse to help him/her get rid of extra energy or stress. The empathic nature of nursing is also stressed by this article, as nurses are often in the position of becoming confidant to the psychologically ailing patient. This addresses the relationship of trust and respect that nurses are challenged to build between themselves and their patients. The nature of the manic disorder dictates that patients might sometimes become embarrassed about their behavior. Nurses should provide patients with the appropriate level of confidentiality, encouragement and support that derives from their understanding of the patient’s situation. Furthermore, nurses should be so aware of the patient’s current and previous emotional states so that the descent from mania beyond optimal recovery and into depression will be quickly identified and prevented. Finally, nurses should be concerned with preventing the patient’s relapse, and this involves the education of the patient and his/her family regarding the causes and dangers of mania. Reference McColm, R. et al., (2006). â€Å"Nursing interventions for the management of patients with mania.†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Nursing Standard. 20(17), 46-49.