Importance of Monitoring Blood Pressure

Importance of Monitoring Blood Pressure Why should we monitor high blood pressure? In this essay the reasons why we monitor high blood pressure will be discussed. In order to do this it will first be necessary to explain what blood pressure is and what we mean by high blood pressure. The implications of having high blood pressure will be considered followed by how and why it should be monitored. Both the social and economic implications of high blood pressure and it’s monitoring will be assessed. Blood pressure is the measure of the force the heart uses to pump blood through the arteries. NHS Choices. (21/07/2014). These arteries manage the flow of the blood by controlling its speed and direction. Blood pressure depends two things; how forcefully the heart pumps the blood and how narrow or relaxed the arteries are. Gill. S, Kristensen. SD. (08/02/2011). High blood pressure is caused when blood is forced through the arteries at an increased pressure. Artery walls have tiny muscles which allow them to become narrower or wider. The narrower the arteries the less space there is for the blood to flow and the harder the heart will have to work. The muscles in the artery wall react to the flow of blood by working harder, which makes them grow bigger. The wall then becomes thicker reducing the space for the blood to flow through. When the heart has to pump harder to push the blood through narrowed arteries the blood pressure rises. If an artery becomes blocked or bursts, the part of the body that the blood was going to will be deprived of energy and oxygen and will be damaged or die. In this instance the pressure of the blood causes the damage. Fullick. A (2008). Arteries can become damaged in other ways. They can become hardened (atherosclerosis) as a result of fat, cholesterol and other substances building up in the walls of the arteries. Hence life style can be a major contributor in high blood pressure. If an individual is overweight, smokes, eats too much salt, doesn’t exercise enough and, or consumes too much alcohol they will be susceptible to high blood pressure. In addition, if a person has relatives with high blood pressure, has a history of cardiovascular disease, or is of African or Caribbean descent they are more prone to it. Finally, as a person gets older so does their chance of getting high blood pressure, as the blood vessels become stiffer and less flexible. NHS Choices. (04/07/2014). Having continued high blood pressure (also known as hypertension) increases a persons risk of many serious illnesses, for example; cardiovascular disease, stroke, embolism, aneurysm and kidney disease, to name a few. Approximately one in five people in the UK suffer from hypertension. Gill. S, Kristensen. SD. (08/02/2011). However many of these aren’t aware, as there are not always obvious symptoms. For this reason it is sometimes known as the silent killer. NHS Choices. (04/07/2014). In some instances, with continued levels of very high blood pressure, individuals may display persistent headaches, blurred or double vision, nosebleeds and shortness of breath. The only way to know if a person has a problem with their blood pressure is to get it measured. The NHS recommend that every adult should have their blood pressure checked every 5 years. NHS Choices. (04/07/2014). The chart opposite shows the different levels of blood pressure and at what point they are considered low, normal and high. This chart is suitable for adults of any age as, although a persons blood pressure might change with age, the levels at which the pressure is considered high, normal or low do not. Blood Pressure Association . (2008). When taking a person’s blood pressure there are two readings. The top number is the systolic blood pressure. This is the highest pressure when the heart beats and pushes blood around the body. The bottom number is the diastolic blood pressure. This is the lowest pressure when the heart is relaxed between beats. Low blood pressure is anything less than 90/60. Ideal blood pressure is between 90/60 and 120/80. Readings up to 140/90 mean that the blood pressure is a little high and should be reduced slightly but anything over 140/90 is an indication of high blood pressure. Only one of either the systolic or diastolic numbers has to be higher than it should be to indicate that a person has high blood pressure . Blood Pressure Association . (2008). If blood pressure is 120 diastolic or below the risk of cardiovascular disease as a result of blood pressure is minimal but as it rises up to 140 diastolic the risk doubles and then by 160 over it doubles again. For every 20mm diastolic i ncrease the risk of death from cardiovascular disease doubles. Blood Pressure Association. (2008). Figures published by Public Health England in November 2014 showed that diseases caused by continued high blood pressure cost the NHS over  £2bn every year and monitoring accounts for 12% of all GP visits.  £850 million could be saved over a period of 10 years if overall blood pressure was reduced. In addition, over the same period of time, if 15% more people were diagnosed, a further  £120 million could be saved. Finally, if another 15% currently being treated controlled their blood pressure more effectively, another  £120 million could be saved. Public Health England. (2014). However, the act of measuring blood pressure is problematic. The whole process of going to visit a G.P to have your blood pressure monitored can in itself increase blood pressure. This is commonly known as the white coat effect; where a blood pressure reading is higher when taken in a medical setting than when it’s taken at home. This may be because patients are more nervous in such settings. It is reported that such an increase may occur in as many as 25% of those diagnosed with high blood pressure. This can lead to improper diagnosis of high blood pressure. NHS Choices. (24/08/2011). NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) reports that this effect is more common in pregnancy and with increasing age. McManus. R et al (2011). Thus other methods of monitoring are being considered more widely. One of these methods is ambulatory blood pressure monitor (ABPM). This is where blood pressure is measured for up to 24 hours. A small digital blood pressure monitor is se cured around a patients waist and connected to a cuff at the top of their arm. It is small enough not to affect daily life and can even be used when asleep. It measures the blood pressure at regular intervals over 24 hours, so a doctor is able to get a clear idea of how a patient’s blood pressure changes throughout the day. It avoids the problem of misleading spikes in blood pressure because a patient is feeling anxious about being tested. Pickering found that 21% of 292 patients with borderline high blood pressure actually had normal daytime readings. These patients were defined as having white coat hypertension, and they were more likely to be female, younger and to weigh less. Pickering. TG et al (1988). Staessen undertook a similar study and found that more patients measured by ABPM stopped treatment than those measured in a medical setting. Staessen. JA et al (1997). Therefore the benefits to large portions of society who might be able to stop taking drugs as a result of mis-diagnosis could be quite substantial. ABPM is, however, expensive. In 2011 NICE released the findings of a study that found that although it was the most accurate method of diagnosing hypertension, it was also the most expensive. However, the savings made as a result of reduced cost of drugs and GP visits meant that it was still the most cost effective means of measuring and confirming diagnosis. McManus. R et al (2011). Staessen also found that drug intervention could be reduced and that blood pressure and overall general health was improved as a result of treatment based on ABPM reading. Staessen. JA et al (1997). Therefore the social and economic benefits of ABPM would appear to be wholly worth the cost. However, Law, Wald and Morris Law. M, Wald. N, Morris. J. (2003). suggest there are problems with restricting the measurement of blood pressure purely to those with high blood pressure. They argue that although blood pressure is an important cause of stroke and heart disease it is not a good screening test to distinguish who will or will not develop them. They claim that most strokes and coronary heart disease occurs in people who do not have high blood pressure (only 10% of people with the highest blood pressure experience less than one third of all strokes and one fifth of all coronary heart disease events) and that older people with average blood pressure have a substantially greater risk than younger people with high blood pressure.They suggest that the term hypertension intimates that blood pressure is a disease in itself, rather than an indication of more serious problems and that monitoring with a view to reducing high blood pressure ignores those whose blood pressure might be relatively normal or borderline but whom for other reasons may develop stroke or heart disease. They found that lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of heart disease and stroke whatever the starting blood pressure. They suggest that the main method of screening should be to identify all those with a history of stroke or heart attack. They further suggest that there is little point in measuring blood pressure after a first event as subsequent deaths account for about half of all deaths from stroke and heart disease. Surprisingly, Law, Wald and Morris suggest that changes in diet and lifestyle have only a limited effect in reducing average blood pressure, although they do acknowledge that a major reduction in the salt content of manufactured foods by the food industry would have an impact. They argue that blood pressure lowering drugs are the only way to ensure substantial reductions in blood pressure. As such they suggest that blood pressure reducing drugs should be given to all those identified as susceptible to heart disease or stroke, including those over a certain age, regardless of the level of their blood pressure. The impartiality of Law, Wald and Morris findings are questionable as they see medication as the only way forward. It is not clear if their research is funded by a pharmaceutical company and care would need to be taken when relying upon their findings. They give no credence to the social benefits of life style changes, for example general well being from a reduced diet or alcohol intake, as well as the benefits brought about from the socialising aspect of exercise. Their recommendations also take no account of the reluctance of otherwise healthy individuals to a lifetime of drug taking. As highlighted by Honigsbaum, Honigsbaum. M.. (2012). who, at the age of 47, living a healthy life style, rejected the notion of having to take pills for the rest of his life. Honigsbaum is an example of those in Law’s study, whose life style did not suggest a problem with high blood pressure but whom had a genetic pre disposition to the condition. In conclusion, it would appear that there is consensus of agreement that high blood pressure is a major world health problem and that monitoring is essential. However, there is still a lot to be done in terms of education about lifestyle and adoption of values that underpin this, for example encouragement of healthier lifestyles and for the food industry to take take responsibility for a reduction in salt in manufactured foods. There is further a growing body of agreement that ambulatory blood pressure monitoring is the most effective in terms of diagnosis and as such the higher costs are justified. In addition, questions remain regarding how to identify those with pre existing or inherent predisposition to cardiovascular disease who may not have high blood pressure. References Gill. S, Kristensen. SD. (08/02/2011). High blood pressure (hypertension). Available: http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/diseases/facts/hypertension.htm#ixzz3QISs6hUI. Last accessed 30/01/15. Blood pressure association . (2008). What high blood pressure (hypertension) can do. Available: http://www.bloodpressureuk.org/BloodPressureandyou/Yourbody. Last accessed 30/01/15. Blood pressure association . (2008). Blood pressure chart. Available: http://www.bloodpressureuk.org/BloodPressureandyou/Thebasics/Bloodpressurechart. Last accessed 30/01/15. NHS Choices. (21/07/2014). What is blood pressure?. Available: http://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/what-is-blood-pressure.aspx. Last accessed 30/01/15. NHS Choices. (04/07/2014). High blood pressure (hypertension). Available: http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Blood-pressure-(high)/Pages/Introduction.aspx. Last accessed 30/01/15. NHS Choices. (04/07/2014). High blood pressure (hypertension) Symptoms. Available: http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Blood-pressure-(high)/Pages/Symptoms.aspx. Last accessed 30/01/15. NHS Choices. (24/08/2011). High blood pressure to be tested at home. Available: http://www.nhs.uk/news/2011/08august/pages/high-blood-pressure-test-home.aspx. Last accessed 30/01/15. Pickering. TG, James. GD, Boddies. C, Harshfield. GA, Blank. S, Laragh. JH.. (1988). How common is white coat hypertension?. National Institute of Health. 259 (2), 225-8. McManus. R, Jowett. S, Barton. P, Hodgkinson. J, Mant. J, Martin. U, Heneghan. C, Hobbs. R.. (2011). Cost-effectiveness analysis – blood pressure monitoring for confirming a diagnosis of hypertension. Hypertension. 1 (1), 446. Staessen. JA, Byttebier. G, Buntinx. F, Celis. H, OBrien. ET, Fagard. R.. (1997). Antihypertensive treatment based on conventional or ambulatory blood pressure measurement. A randomized controlled trial. Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring and Treatment of Hypertension Investigato. National Institute of Health. 278 (13), 1065-72. Law. M, Wald. N, Morris. J.. (2003). Lowering blood pressure to prevent myocardial infarction and stroke: a new preventive strategy. Health Technology Assessment NHS RD HTA Programme. 7 (31), 3. Honigsbaum. M.. (2012). Home truths about high blood pressure. Available: http://www.theguardian.com/society/2012/jan/08/high-blood-pressure-mark-honigsbaum. Last accessed 30/01/15. Fullick. A (2008). Edexcel AS Biology. Essex: Pearson Eduction limited. 18-33. Public Health England. (2014). Tackling high blood pressure from evidence into action. Available: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/375985/20141018_Tackling_high_blood_pressure_-_FINAL_INCL_LINK_CHANGES.pdf. Last accessed 30/01/15. 1

Personality Theory of Sigmund Freud Essay

According to Freud, mankind has only two drives that determine all thoughts, emotions, and desires- the need for sex and aggression. Sex is the equivalent of life- after all it is how we procreate the species and continue our lineage. Aggression often leads to its equivalent – death- which is also a control measure for procreating the species as it allows us to remove an adversary that may prevent procreation. Freud proposed that there are three levels to our personalities- the Id , the Ego, and the Superego. At birth, we are born with the Id, which he described as being the part of the personality that demands our basic needs. It is important because it drives our instinct to obtain our basic needs and keep ourselves alive. It looks only for satisfaction of a hunger, whether it is for food, comfort or any other pleasurable sensation. As a child interacts in his first three years of life, the Ego begins to form. The Ego begins to realize there are others that have needs and that interaction in the world means thinking of this and responding accordingly. Around five, the formation of the Superego starts as the child becomes trained in the moral and ethical ideas of his caregivers- it is often compared to the conscience. Throughout the rest of our life the Ego serves as the mediator between the Superego and the Id, keeping us from becoming either totally self-centered and demanding or rigid and unbending in our interactions with others. In the fights with the Id and Superego, the Ego develops various defense mechanisms to help keep the balance. These defense mechanisms help the ego sate the id’s impulsiveness without offending the Superego’s moral position- all the while keeping reality in check. Some of these defenses include denial, intellectualization, regression and sublimation. Perhaps the most debated of Freud’s writings is his theory of psychosexual development and it’s five stages. The first stage, which stretches from birth to 18 months, is the oral stage where the baby is focused on the pleasures associated with sucking. From 18 months to age three, the child is in the anal stage, where pleasure is derived from retaining and releasing. The phallic stage covers age’s three to six, in which the pleasure zone switches to the genitals. This is the stage in which the Oedipal complex comes into play. The latency stage stretches from age six to puberty during which pleasures are repressed in order for learning to take place. From puberty to death, we are in the genital stage in which our pleasure derives from the genitals. While many of his theories are not as popular today, Freud laid the groundwork for understanding the human mind. References Heffner, Christopher L, â€Å"Personality Theory† retrieved on May 29, 2009 from http://allpsych. com/personalitysynopsis/freud. html Stevenson, David B. â€Å"Psychosexual Stages of Development† retrieved on May 29, 2009 from http://www. victorianweb. org/science/freud/develop. html Felluga, Dino. â€Å"Modules on Freud: On Psychosexual Development. † Introductory Guide to Critical Theory. Purdue U. retrieved on May 29, 2009 from .

The Steam Engine - 839 Words

As of the present, technology advances exponentially as compared to three hundred years ago. Consequently, the question asked is how this rapid method of advancement in technology and science came about. It definitely did commence slowly. Most of the protracted infringement to scientific and technological progress was due to theological beliefs and political incompetents. It was only after the Protestant Reformation that significant progress was finally attained; it still progressed slowly. Many individuals would conclude that the defining moments were when Isaac Newton and Gottfried Leibniz made important contributions to the field of mathematics through discoveries in Calculus. Although this played significant roles in the scientific†¦show more content†¦This new ability drastically changed everything. Classical economical ideals came to the fore when the prices of raw materials such as cotton went down and productivity went up. According to Spielvogel, the amount of cotto n imported into Britain in 1760 was two and a half million pounds but by 1787, the rate had increased approximately nine fold, and by 1840, one hundred and fifty fold. This machine enhanced the free trade ideals of laissez-faire economics, made the factory as an institution, created the idea of worker unions, led child labor laws, and the ideology of Marxism. The creation of a better means of transportation other than the horse was now available. In 1804, a British mining engineer, Richard Trevithick (1771-1833), built the first steam-powered locomotive that hauled seventy individuals and ten tons of ore at five miles per hour. Improving on Trevithicks machine, George Stevenson built a better locomotive, known as the rocket, that could move six cars of coal and twenty-one passenger coaches at faster speed in 1830. In addition, steam-powered ships would gradually replace sail ships. To elaborate further on the steam engine effects, the epitome of its social impact can be seen duri ng the Industrial Revolution. People of this generation preceding the steam engine wereShow MoreRelatedSteam Engines : The Steam Engine1854 Words   |  8 PagesHenderson said, â€Å"Science owes more to the steam engine than the steam engine owes to Science.† (Physicalworld) This statement made by a well-educated scientist shows how vital steam engines were to the people of the United States during the 18th, 19th, and even 20th century. Not only did these machines allow scientific breakthrough they also helped settle a nation that would soon be born into an industrial revolution fueled by the steam engine. Without these steam engines exploration of the American frontierRead MoreThe Steam Engine ( Steam Power )943 Words   |  4 PagesThe Steam Engine The industrial revolution was a period in history that brought about numerous mechanical advances that allowed the use of much less manual labor. One of those mechanical advances was steam power. Steam power was not a new concept to the people of the world; in fact, steam power dates all the way back to Alexander the Great in the first century, where he designed a steam powered spinning sphere called an Aeolipile. (5 par 25) However, in the late 18th and early 19th centuries theyRead MoreThe Steam Engine Of The First Steam Powered Engine1470 Words   |  6 PagesA man by the name of James Watts introduced the first steam powered engine that would soon be used to power several forms of transportation. The steam engine had been around for a while, but wasn’t as advanced and wasn’t used on such a large scale such as powering transportation. Boats had been used for centuries for the main forms of transport, however, when Robert Fulton put the new steam engine to work to po wer a steamboat, it meant even more capital for businessmen. More jobs were created asRead MoreSteam Engine1055 Words   |  5 PagesThe Steam Engine and the Civil War Question: How did the Steam Engine influence the Civil War and America in itself? Throughout the Civil War, there were many people and inventions that positively influenced The Civil War, but none other than the steam engine. The steam engine was one of the most influential inventions of the Civil War and America in itself. Before the Steam Engine trade was limited and the American economy was doing very poorly. The causes of this were the rules of trade andRead MoreSteam Engine4823 Words   |  20 PagesThe Steam Engine The wonderful progress of the present century is, in a very great degree, due to the invention and improvement of the steam engine, and to the ingenious application of its power to kinds of work that formerly taxed the physical energies of the human race.~Robert H. Thurston   Ã‚  Ã‚  The steam engine can easily be considered the single most important invention of the entire industrial revolution.   There is not one part of industry present in todays society that can be examinedRead MoreInvention of the Steam Engine1634 Words   |  7 PagesINVENTION OF THE STEAM ENGINE Mankind’s interrelation with manufacturing systems has a long history. Nowadays we see manufacturing systems and their applications as systems in which goods are produced and delivered to the suitable places where we can obtain them. 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Who invented this revolutionary invention? How does the steam engine chug-chug at 50+ miles per hour by merely using hot air, emitted by boiling water. The answer to these questions: the steam engine was not invented nor developed solely by one person, but by contributions of a multitude of people throughout this time in history. A modern, simple steam engine, gets its energy from water boiled by ablazingRead MoreSteam Engines in the Industrial Revolution1571 Words   |  7 Pagesbetterment of the lives of people in this time. The invention of the steam engine made the connection of areas easier, leading to a transportation revolution, increased accessibility, cultural blending, and the spread of disease. began to use the steam engine for power. Although no official accounts of the harnessing the power of steam existed until the 1600s, a man named Hero living in Alexandria, Egypt attempted to create a steam-powered engine in 60 A.D (Hartman). 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Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research - 1313 Words

Jessica Rogers Kendra Gallos English III Honors 18 April 2016 Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research, or HES cell research, is a very controversial ethical debate. This issues is a dilemma for scientist, religious activist, and many more. HES cell research is being disputed because the practice is morally wrong. The other side of the issue stands with many scientist, being that they see the potential lives it could save in the long run. Religious activist, and many other pro-life leaders stand by the fact of how the scientist obtain the embryonic stem cells is wrong and unethical. To understand this issue we first need to understand what stem cells are. â€Å"Stem cells are unspecialized cells that have not yet decided what type of adult cell they are going to be†(What Are). There are different types of cells, including, Adult Stem Cells (ASC), Embryonic Stem Cells (ESC) and Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (IPSC). The first and most evident issue relating to HES cell research is that by obtaining the embryon ic stem cells it destroys potential human life. â€Å"Scientist discovered how to derive embryonic stem cells in 1981† (What Are). â€Å"Researchers derive the human embryonic stem cells from the â€Å"inner cell mass† of blastocyst stage embryos that develop in culture within five days of fertilization of the oocyte. To obtain the embryonic stem cells, the early embryo has to be destroyed.† (Human embryonic). 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Bush s executive order 13435 which put heavy limitations on federal funding for stem cell research. Although this policy has already taken effect, there are still bans and immense regulation on particular methods of human embryonic stem cell extraction that involve theRead MoreHuman Embryonic Stem Cell Research1901 Words   |  8 Pages Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research Stem cells are cells that have not yet differentiated, or will divide into other cells that will then differentiate. These cells have the ability to develop into any type of cell that the body requires during development and growth. The value of stem cells for research comes from the ability to develop into specialized cells, a process known as differentiation, under experimental conditions. Naturally, stem cells regularly repair or replace damaged tissues. 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Bush announced he would permit federally funded research on existing stem cells lines derived from human embryos. He prohibited the federal funding of researchRead MoreHuman Embryonic Stem Cell Research Essay1276 Words   |  6 PagesStem Cells are the centre point for all growth and development. The centre point of life. Without them, there would not be humans, animals or even germs. Thanks to them, we can modify and enhance the human body when in its foetal form. The fear that a child will be born with hereditary disease, mutations and disabilities haunts the dreams of people today more than ever. But what if we could guarantee our children could be born disease free an d disability free? What if we could remove the gene thatRead MoreHuman Stem Cell Research : Ethical Dilemmas With The Utility Of Embryonic Stem Cells1879 Words   |  8 PagesTrevor McCarthy Human Embryonic Stem Cell (hESC) research possesses ethical dilemmas with the utility of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) derived from human blastocyst, one of the earliest stages of embryonic development. Embryonic stem cell derivation is controversial because there are different opinions and beliefs on when an embryo is deserving of full moral status, equal to the moral respect, rights and treatment to that of a human being. ESCs extracted from a blastocyst will undergo experimentationRead MoreBiomedical Engineering: Stem Cells Essay1584 Words   |  7 Pagesadvances and research that stem from biomedical engineers can solve problems that would have never have been able to be solved before. Engineers have been working on new technology that will utilize stem cells in order to save lives and treat diseases. The stem cells that are used for treatment are called embryonic stem cells. Embryonic stem cells are formed from five-day old human embryos that the embryos are essentially human b eings (In Stem-cell Research† Para. 3). The usage of such stem cells has causedRead MoreThe Use Of Embryonic Stem Cells In Medicine1472 Words   |  6 Pagescure a disease? Embryonic Stem Cells can be used to treat many different diseases, but some people have their opinion that using these stem cells in medicine is unethical because they are coming from a human embryo. There are countries that have banned the use of embryonic stem cells in medicine, and in America there are people arguing that it should be banned here. But what about all of the lives that these stem cells are saving, what if research continues and these embryonic stem cells end up beingRead MoreEssay on Stem Cells: The Cure for Uncontrollable Diseases of the Past1246 Words   |  5 PagesGehrig’s disease, Sickle Cell Anemia, Alzheimer’s. This world is plague by countless diseases and there existed a time where, after many failed research attempts, scientists began to believe that people would always suffer from these diseases. However, with the introduction of stem cell research those past notions were dismissed. Upon their introduction, stem cell’s provided a new hope to the world and it proved itself to be an invaluable asset. Through stem cell research, a multitude of cures have

Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet Comparison - 2564 Words

How do any TWO OR MORE plays written between 1580 and 1642 represent the relationships between sexuality, gender and power? (Using Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet) ’The course of true love never did run smooth’ - This is the answer indeed. As well as this we come to understand that with the roughness of love comes indifferent sexualities, gender conflicts and powered bravados that entwine themselves into one big mess to indeed create the established plays we read today. Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet very much represent the themes of sexuality, gender and power through the relationships of their family, lovers and acquaintances during each of these Shakespeare plays. This will be further analysed throughout the essay with evidentiary support†¦show more content†¦It can be easily said that Ophelia does indeed go mad, resulting in her death. Her relationship with all men drive her to this fatality and presenting women’s sexuality, gender and power are miniscule to men’s. Moreover, female sovereignty was uncommon during the Renaissance period. The social structure or hierarchy of the family assured the subjugation of woman under man. This notably witnessed through Hamlet but now we see this same subject area through Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, as well as other underlying themes which will be further discussed. Firstly, male domination is shown in the play through Lord Capulets relationships between his daughter, wife etc. This patriarchal hierarchy formulates a highly powerful male and makes other characters in the play weaker by comparison. Their seems to be an obvious depiction of Lord Capulet; a man who wishes to obtain all familial power and for no woman to defy his final judgments. He is expectant of his wife (Lady Capulet), daughter (Juliet) and his servants to do exactly as he tells them, when he tells them. Remind us of anyone? I think so, this governing fatherly role was before considered throughout Shakespeare’s Hamlet. (Polonius to Ophelia) signifying obvious comparable depictions throughout both of these plays. With historical context/background weShow MoreRelatedWilliam Shakespeare s Hometown Of The English Language And The World s Best Dramatist1266 Words   |  6 Pagesin his plays. Suicide was a violent act committed 13 times out of his 37 plays. In Romeo and Pearson3 Juliet , one of Shakespeare’s most popular romantic tragedies, a couple of young star-crossedRead MoreRomeo Juliet: A Dramedy to Remember1358 Words   |  6 Pagesplays occasionally borrow dramatic elements from his tragedies, Shakespeare set a clear division between the lighthearted ambiance found in A Midsummer Nights Dream and the heart wrenching despair that pervades Hamlet. However, Folger Theatre has cleared this divide with fervor. Romeo Juliet, a play that was once the epitome of tragic theatre, is no longer pigeonholed to the tight confines of tragedy in regards to mood and tone. While the original dialogue and themes are unchanged, and the show isRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Most Famous Writers Of All Time1859 Words   |  8 PagesIV and Henry V, where both men disappointed the other, Hamlet recounts the Prince o f Denmark and his quest to live up to the greatness of his deceased father. Hamlet, one of Shakespeare’s most well-known tragic hero, encounters tension in three familial relationships: with his mother, his father, and his step-father. Beginning with Gertrude, the Prince has begun to despise his mother due to her actions following her first husband’s death. 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BMW’s Competitive Edge †A Case Study Free Essays

Premium car makers operate in a highly dynamic and competitive marketplace. BMW is among the companies that have shown a stronghold on global markets that include Europe, US, Asia, and emerging markets in the Middle East. Its history shows instances when it has come under pressure from market forces, but the European carmaker has proven, time and again, that it can spring back and rejoin the race of top industry players. We will write a custom essay sample on BMW’s Competitive Edge – A Case Study or any similar topic only for you Order Now Recent years have even seen BMW appealing to new-generations users opting for winning design standards and quality. Indeed, BMW’s latest car models boast of enhanced performance and dynamics, making the carmaker one of the strongest luxury car contenders that continues to aggressively battle for consumer attention in the contemporary age. BMW’s Competitive Edge – A Case Study Cutting-edge technology, driving pleasure, comfort and luxury are closely associated with luxury cars like BMW, Lexus, Mercedes Benz, and Audi. For the average car buyer, each of these marques commands a strong presence. On the other end of the spectrum are the discerning clientele, whose fierce loyalty to a car brand or high regard for automaking heritage may account for sales volume uptrends. Indeed, premium carmakers, among them German automaker BMW, continually vie for consumer attention and nurture high hopes of hitting record sales despite rising costs related to materials and new model launches. What BMW has in great measure, though, is a sound business strategy that banks not so much on decades of experience and foresight but more on using a coherent theme or image as â€Å"the ultimate driving machine† to utmost advantage. After many false starts in the twenty years after the war,† (Kay, 1999, para. 8) BMW has clearly made â€Å"the match between the distinctive capabilities of the organization and the market opportunities it faces† (Kay, 1999, para. 8). In recent years, the pressure on BMW has been emanating mainly from the persistent threat of substitute products. Notwithstanding its vast experience and â€Å"ability to develop and use sophisticated technical skills†¦ the source of competitive advantage for so many German companies,† (Kay, 1999, para. ) BMW faces the tough possibility that luxury car buyers may opt for alternative brands in the market vis-a-vis the latter’s price offerings. The perceived level of product differentiation is another thing to contend with in the highly competitive luxury automobile industry. What may strike some customers as a refreshing innovation may be totally revolting for others. In most cases, it all boils down to a brand war. A satisfied BWM owner, as personified by the high-level executive of a fast-expanding conglomerate in Asia, cited brand as the most compelling reason to purchase a BMW. â€Å"It’s a good, reliable car† (J. Lucas, personal communication, July 31, 2008). Yet, as another ranking business executive asserted, â€Å"Mercedes Benz is still the best, while Audi is the rising star† (A. Lagmay, personal communication, July 31, 2008). Indeed, consumer tastes and requirements are evolving, and premium car producers who have made sizable investments in automobile design, quality and performance stand to reap some profit. In BMW’s case, solid growth was realized during the first half of 2008, despite testing economic conditions in certain automobile markets across the world (â€Å"BMW Group increases sales,† 2008, para. ). Today, pressure is mounting with the threat posed by the entry of new competitors. Automobile industry players stepping up price competition had been evident in the first few years of the 21st century, with â€Å"low price or incentives† serving as the â€Å"prevalent means to displace market share from competitors† (Lencioni, 2004, p. 735). To contain the costs, companies like BMW set up production plants in global growth markets. Business cycles fluctuate, though. While the European prestige car maker posted increased sales of its BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce brands by 4. percent from January to June 2008 (â€Å"BMW Group increases sales,† 2008, para. 1), it was â€Å"not entirely able to avoid the difficult economic trends in important individual markets such as the USA and Japan†¦ global sales slipped 2. 8 per cent in the month of June to 146,138 units† (â€Å"BMW Group increases sales,† 2008, para. 2). Under its Chief Executive Helmut Panke, BMW has dramatically expanded its product offerings, setting its sights on market segments of the future. However, â€Å"moving into smaller cars meant earning the lower margins that were typical of those market segments† (Lencioni, 2004, p. 41) as compared to mid-size sedans and luxury limousines. As an analyst pointed out, â€Å"Compared with volume producers, BMW’s manufacturing costs are much higher, its product development cost more costly, and its purchasing costs higher† (Edmondson, Palmeri, Grow, Tierney, 2003, para. 13). In essence, BMW has had to contend not just with the bargaining power of customers, but also with the bargaining power of suppliers which provide the unique resources to sustain its main sources of competitive advantage: brand quality and reputation of reliability. Nowadays, as the intensity of competitive rivalry heats up, BMW’s burning obsession with performance and brand identity or image has aided the firm in closing the widening gap with other luxury cars. BMW’s research and development teams have been caught in a frenzy to maintain competitive edge. â€Å"Development teams that pore over everything from (such) market feedback to innovations are encouraged to engage in `friendly fighting’ to decide the vital characteristics of a new BMW† (Edmondson, et. al, 2003, para. 24). As it faces countless threats and risks, BMW remains poised to prevail and deliver. Among the critical success factors in the high-end market where BMW competes is its design and brand appeal, which had become the customers’ overriding choice features (Lencioni, 2004, p. 741). Effective branding, likewise, created â€Å"emotional connections between customers on one side and products, salesmen, other users on the other† (Lencioni, 2004, p. 736) although this was true not just for BMW but for other luxury marques as well. One thing that worked to BMW’s advantage had been its â€Å"firm control on the supply chain† (Lencioni, 2004, p. 737). BMW nurtured long-running and dependable supplier relationships. Coupled with a highly talented workforce that operated at â€Å"the most flexible and most productive† factories in Germany (Edmondson, et. al, 2003, para. 20) to churn out vehicles with styling variations, unprecedented performance and safety features and individuality, the German carmaker remains a potent force to reckon with in the international automobile industry. How to cite BMW’s Competitive Edge – A Case Study, Free Case study samples

Analysis of Ethical Leadership and Responsibility †Free Samples

Question: Discuss about the Ethical Leadership and Social Responsibility. Answer: Introduction The following paper focuses on developing a learning journal for the self analysis. It is indeed very useful for the future managers and the leaders to develop certain leadership skills out of their self assessment. This is because the leaders are the faces of an organization and they have to represent themselves on behalf of the company. The leaders in the organizations of the present era needs to develop many skills because they belong to a certain group of persons who have the decision making powers and the leadership skills they choose to run the organization (Northouse, 2015). Their own motives and point of views have a lot of significance in the path the organization will thrive to move. The leadership skills are different for the different leaders and the managers. However, the common motive or purpose behind all of them is to build up a good reputation for the organizations. In order to do this, the leaders have to assess themselves and identify what kinds of skills they are lacking at that moment. Then they have to improve on that and thus develop for themselves a better skilled person to guide the organizations for its success. The benefits of self-awareness There are many critical leadership skills in the present era fitting to different types of leaders (Duval, Silvia Lalwani, 2012). This enhances the fact that the leaders need to upgrade themselves as per the requirements of the organizations. As the business environment in the present time is much volatile in context, the leaders may have to face difficult situations at many times. This will lead to the betterment of their skill improvements. The self-awareness is one of the most important but least focused competencies for leadership (Thorn, 2012). Self-awareness is the process by which the leaders learn in what conditions they are good at managing and which things they have to still learn. It is always better for the future leaders and managers to go through certain self-assessment programs because if they dont, the other people in the workplace will surely be able to see those weaknesses. There are some interpersonal activities that the future leaders must undertake to improve th eir activities. If the leaders do not indulge in such matters, their leadership skills may degrade and it might lead the organization to an utter failure (Mendenhall, 2012).On the contrary, if the organizational leaders undertake the responsibilities to identify their faults and strengthen them, the result will automatically be on the positive side. The organization will get many added benefits for this. The most important and common trait for all the organizations is to learn through the process. This organizational learning is a very useful process for maintaining the core competencies for the organization (Argote, 2012). The organizations have to be pass through constant changing periods that influence them to change and improve incessantly. This also works in case for the leaders as well as they are the drivers for success of the organization. The innovation process in the organizations is one of learning and changing. The hallmark of the high performing organizations is to continuously learn and make amends after they commit some mistakes. There are many leadership traits that can be followed by them in order to be a successful organizational leader (Nahavandi, 2016). The leadership skills for the future managers Some of the important traits or the features that must be present in the future leaders have to be discussed in this segment. These features or the traits are empathy, poise, his outgoing nature, attention to details of any case, ambition and most importantly to be optimistic about the success. Empathy The first feature that is required to be the top leaders in the organizations is the ability to apply the emotional intelligence in the workplace (Goleman, Boyatzis McKee, 2013). This is led by the empathy that the concerned candidate has for the situation. Leadership is considered mostly to be a situational issue so the decisions have to be taken according to the decisions. The future leaders must be able to perceive, understand and manage all the emotional feelings so that they can handle any situation in the workplace. The leaders or the future managers must be able to relate all the circumstances they face in the real time. They should be able to link them for gaining the organizational success. The leaders must develop the emotional intelligence so that they can relate the situation. (Goleman, Boyatzis McKee, 2013). The earlier form of empathy relies on empathy. It is of utmost importance for the managers to care for the employees who are working in their organization. They must develop some emotional bonding with them and relate themselves to their lives. The manager or the future leader must be able to adjust with other co-workers in different difficult situations. If they cannot relate themselves to the workers, the workers will not feel any reason to be on the same page. The approach of the managers has to be seen when difficult situations arise in the personal or familial lives for the employees (De Waal, 2013). They should act to be friendly and caring and motivate them to overcome or sort out those problems. Poise It is very significant that the leaders must have sheer confidence in themselves. This is because confidence is one thing that helps the individuals to stay in the race for supremacy. When the leaders decides to undertake some new things and apply them in their organizations, at the very first point, they should try to convince the employees. It is because the employees will perform the tasks. If the employees do not have the confidence on the leaders or the managers, it means that the managers themselves do not have that much of confidence in the works that they are looking to undertake. This situation may cause some confusion among the employees. This may result in complete ruining of the work (Lorentz Hilmola, 2012). The need for confidence in the future leaders or managers is very important form another aspect. Very often it has been noticed that the employees get indulged in conflicts between themselves. It may be because of some unwanted reasons that have arisen in the workplaces. The leaders or the managers need to consider the different facts and they have to take the employees under their confidence. The leaders must be able to motivate the employees to go in line with the organizational adjectives and command them with full confidence (Lorentz Hilmola, 2012). Ambition Ambition is one very important trait among the leaders because it helps them to move forward with the organization by applying certain development strategies (Block, 2016). The leaders who thrive for development of the organization must be very ambitious. The future leaders must have a great deal of ambition in themselves that will drive them to innovate. The employees should be completely dedicated to the leaders as the leaders will motivate them to chase the organizational success (Kaufman Guerra-Lopez, 2013). The ambition of the leaders will make them try new things in the organizations. These innovation techniques will be applied by the employees. The leaders must be ambitious enough to dream about a sustainable future about his organization (Thomas, Lamm, 2012). Optimism Optimism is another thing that has to be one of the most important factors in determining the success of the organizations in the future (Carver Scheier, 2014). The organizational leaders should be full of optimism because their optimism and confidence in achieving the desired success will lead the organizations towards a grand success. It is the duty of the leaders to generate the optimism skills within their nature and characteristics. If the leaders are not optimist about the operations they indulge in, automatically their leadership will be affected and the employees will feel the impact (Carver Scheier, 2014). A feeling of negativity will be spread in them as well. This will be very problematic for the growth of the organization. Professionally humble and 360-degree thinking power Some of the other traits that the future leaders or managers in an organization must develop are to be professionally humble and helpful and to have possessed a 360-degree thinking capacity (Rue, Byars Ibrahim, 2012). This is to say that the organizational leaders must be soft spoken and humble to his subordinates. However, this does not mean that they will not be strict. They must present themselves in such a manner that the employees and the customers will feel safe and reliable to make business with. This has to be integrated within the nature of the leaders because very often they have to deal with the customers verbally (Arnstrong et al., 2015). If they are rude in their behavior and they always seem to be very annoyed with everything going around them, the customers may not like them at all (Best, 2012). The leaders must be a 360-degree thinker because they have to think about the overall success of the organization from all the angles (Rue, Byars Ibrahim, 2012). The leaders have to understand the purpose and motives of the organization, be versatile and deal with every difficult situation in a calm head and he has to understand and compare his organization with other organizations as well. Self-assessment I have chosen these four criterions for the self-analysis of the leadership skills for the leaders to develop. I think I have to build these traits within myself so as to drive my company towards growth and success. I think I have to be versatile, critically aware of the things that are happening around me, I have to be humble when I meet with my companys customers and other big names in the industry. Besides that, I have to be very much optimistic about everything that are around me and I must face all the challenges bravely and bring out positive things. I should have the confidence so that I can deal with almost any matter presented before me. Learning journal In this part of the paper, I will have to summarize the results that I have assessed about myself in the quest to be a successful organizational leader. I had the good fortune of sharing thoughts with my friend Mr. Wilson about these things I have come through while assessing my own nature and what things I have to develop to become a proper leader. I have found that I lack the feature of motivating my employees as I myself am very introvert. I am prone to be rude sometimes when I am under pressure. I do not like to make mistakes and I get very angry when I see someone making in mistake in their works. I like to face new challenges and solve those challenges. I am always optimistic about any given situation. I only consider the fact that these situations have to be tackled by me in good ways. I like to be 360-degree thinker because I want to utilize every opportunity that is in front of me. My friend Mr. Wilson has been an ardent listener when I consulted and shared these things with him. He listened to what I had assessed about myself and opined his valuable remarks to me. He said that I would have to be extrovert and aggressive if I want to be a successful leader of an organization. He also said that it was quite difficult for me to control the workforce if I was not able to motivate them. My tendency of getting rude sometimes could destroy the purpose of the work as well. These negative points I have to get rid of very soon. He also opined that my liking of facing new challenges is very good because it would help me to grow in confidence and my optimism would drive me to attain success for the organization. The fact that I like to utilize every available opportunity would surely drive me to personal success. Conclusion This paper can be concluded by saying that I have discussed the various factors behind a proper leadership of an organization and the things that drives to a successful leadership. I have assessed my nature in this paper in regards to the fact if I want to be the leader of an organization. I have discussed about some of the traits to be a critically successful leader in the real time organizations. I have assessed myself critically looking at both my pros and cons so that the person I have consulted with can provide and guide me with the best advices. This will help me to prosper in life by growing the best opportunities to utilize my strengths and put more focus on my weaknesses. References Argote, L. (2012).Organizational learning: Creating, retaining and transferring knowledge. Springer Science Business Media. Armstrong, G., Kotler, P., Harker, M., Brennan, R. (2015).Marketing: an introduction. Pearson Education. Best, R. (2012).Market-based management. Pearson Higher Ed. Block, P. (2016).The empowered manager: Positive political skills at work. John Wiley Sons. Carver, C. S., Scheier, M. F. (2014). Dispositional optimism.Trends in cognitive sciences,18(6), 293-299. De Waal, A. (2013).Strategic Performance Management: A managerial and behavioral approach. Palgrave Macmillan. Duval, T. S., Silvia, P. J., Lalwani, N. (2012).Self-awareness causal attribution: A dual systems theory. Springer Science Business Media. Goleman, D., Boyatzis, R. E., McKee, A. (2013).Primal leadership: Unleashing the power of emotional intelligence. Harvard Business Press. Kaufman, R., Guerra-Lopez, I. (2013).Needs assessment for organizational success. American Society for Training and Development. Lorentz, H., Hilmola, O. P. (2012). Confidence and supply chain disruptions: Insights into managerial decision-making from the perspective of policy.Journal of modelling in management,7(3), 328-356. Mendenhall, M. E. (Ed.). (2012).Global leadership: Research, practice, and development. Routledge. Nahavandi, A. (2016).The Art and Science of Leadership -Global Edition. Pearson. Northouse, P. G. (2015).Leadership: Theory and practice. Sage publications. Rue, L., Byars, L., Ibrahim, N. (2012).Management: Skills Application. McGraw-Hill Higher Education. Thomas, T. E., Lamm, E. (2012). Legitimacy and organizational sustainability.Journal of business ethics,110(2), 191-203. Thorn, I. M. (2012). Leadership in international organizations: Global leadership competencies.The Psychologist-Manager Journal,15(3), 158.