Hypertension (high blood pressure) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Hypertension (high blood pressure) - Essay Example Blood pressure below 120/80 mm Hg is considered as a normal blood pressure. But, some medical experts claim 115/75 mm Hg as a more stable blood pressure level (Luehr et al., 2012, p. 15). Prehypertension, stage 1 hypertension, and stage 2 hypertension are three major hypertension stages. Prehypertension consists of a systolic pressure in the range of 120 to 139 mm Hg or a diastolic pressure in the range of 80 to 89 mm Hg. Stage 1 hypertension and stage 2 hypertension have a systolic pressure in the range of 140 to 159 mm Hg and 160 mm Hg or greater respectively or a diastolic pressure in the range of 90 to 99 mm Hg and 100 mm Hg or greater respectively (Luehr et al., 2012, p. 15). It is not possible to diagnose hypertension on the basis of one blood pressure reading as blood pressure varies several times in a day depending on activities, surroundings, age, and gender. Hence, doctors keep the patient on an observation and check the blood pressure at intervals for several times to diagnose it. Patients are required to avoid smoking, physical exercise, or drinking energetic beverages (especially with caffeine) for at least 30-40 minutes before the blood pressure readings (Simon & Zieve, 2013). As often during the clinical testing, patients are in stress, doctors ask the patients to measure their blood pressure at home too. Usually, doctors recommend the use of specific ambulatory monitoring equipment that measures blood pressure about every 20-30 minutes during the 24-hours period and gives appropriate readings to help the doctors to diagnose the hypertension in patients (Simon & Zieve, 2013). Based on the clinical and home readings of blood pressure at several times a day for period of time and medical history of patient, doctors diagnose the hypertension condition in the patient (Simon & Zieve, 2013). In order to formally diagnose the hypertension, there are various tests which are required to perform.

Analyze of Two Kinds by Amy Tan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Analyze of Two Kinds by Amy Tan - Essay Example There are many characters throughout the story, but the main focus of the story is about the relationship between Jing-Mei and her mother. By presenting the story like this, Amy Tan is able to divulge in how each character reacts to the other one. This would simply not be possibly if the focus was on a wider range of characters. Some of the other support characters are Lindo Jong (Jing-Mei’s aunt), Waverly Jong (Jing-Mei’s cousin), and Mr. Chong (Jing-Mei’s piano teacher). All of these characters are crucial to the story because they provide background to the relationship that Jing-Mei and her mother go through. Waverly Jong is an important character because she is everything that Jing-Mei is not—bright, smart and talented. Waverly’s mother’s role is mainly to point this out to Jing-Mei’s mother so as to further push her towards controlling Jing-Mei. Mr. Chong is perhaps the one character who is light-hearted; he does not overly push J ing-Mei and tries to make playing the piano fun. The setting of this story is in California back in the 1960s. Not only is this an area that received a large amount of immigrants, but older people reading the story may be able to relate to it because it is similar to what they experienced back then. Another reason why the setting is so important is because of the way that immigrants were generally perceived back then. This helped to set up the basis of the story where Jing-Mei’s mother wanted to push her to become a child protege. This was perceived to be a way out of the typical stereotype of a Chinese immigrant and a way to assimilate into American society. The structure of Two Kinds is one than is simplistic and easy to read. After the narrator jots down an experience, she then gives her own opinions and reasons why she felt the way she did. This helps the reader to understand why she felt what she did. Also, there are plenty of quotes from the mother, giving the reader a chance to understand where she was coming from. It is not until the end of the story that the reader realizes that the main character in the story is retelling it from when she was a child. The author could have chosen to mention this point at the start, but I think that is makes the story seem more real by reading it as though it could happen today. Amy Tan uses more of a narrative style in this story to get her point across. This style allows the reader to become involved in the relationship between Jing-Mei and her mother. Because there are opinions of both the daughter and the mother that are offered, the reader is able to weigh up for themselves who is in the right and who is in the wrong. While Jing-Mei disagrees with the choices that her mother made for her, the tone displayed towards her is one of frustration yet respect at the same time. Jing-Mei’s attitudes toward her mother change in a positive way as the story progresses. The piano was the main symbol of this stor y. At the beginning, it was shown contempt by Jing-Mei because of the way her mother harassed her about playing it to perfection. By the end, however, Jing-Mei was able to fully respect the gift that it was and even took the time to sit down and play it. Also, the names of the two songs played at the end (â€Å"Pleading Child† and â€Å"Perfectly Contented†) are symbolic of the way that Jing-Mei’

Describe How Active Participation Benefits An Individual

Describe How Active Participation Benefits An Individual Introduction Recent decades have seen a greater emphasis on service user participation than had previously been the case (Beresford, 2001). In the past, decision making in social care and associated policy development had been led by practitioners, politicians and academics, with service users and citizens having minimal say in what services they received and how services were provided (Beresford, 2001). This study examines how active participation of service users has developed over the last 20-30 years and how the progress made in encouraging participation has benefited individuals and the overall quality of service provision. For the purposes of this study, there is primarily a focus on the service user as the individual who engages in active participation although it should be accepted that family members and carers have their own separate and sometimes conflicting needs for participation (Roulstone et al., 2006). Service users are described by Beresford (2001, p.9) as â€Å"people who receive or are eligible to receive social care services† and it is important to note that people can self-identify as a service user. However, active participation of people outside of the health and social care arena will also be discussed as there is evidence that participation in community activities can be beneficial to citizens who are not in receipt of social care services. Policy and Legislation A shift towards more active participation has a basis in the policies and legislation introduced under New Labour. Government took a view that greater participation would be a way of increasing the number of citizens who would be active citizens (Millward, 2005) and the Health and Social Care Act 2001 was at the forefront of extending service user choice and the enablement of people to decide on their own services through schemes such as Direct Payments. Other relevant legislation and guidance has included the White Paper Our Health, Our Care Our Say (Department of Health, 2006); Valuing People (Department of Health, 2001); the National Service Framework for Older People (Department of Health, 2001). With specific reference to social care, Putting People First (2007) set out a commitment to closer working between central and local government, and the health and social care sectors, alongside better partnership working with service users and carers. More recently, under the Coalition Government consultations such as A vision for social care: Capable communities and active citizens (DH, 2010) and Caring for our future: Shared ambitions for care and support (DH, 2011) have continued to encourage participation with an expectation that it can help people to live healthier and more independent lives. It is evident from cross-party support that active participation is something supported across the political spectrum. Participation is seen as something that encourages better citizenship and it can also be argued that it offers a form of low level democracy. Participation is also something that pulls back direct state intervention in people’s lives. What is Active Participation? Active participation can be defined in a number of ways and can be related to both individuals who are in receipt of health and social care services and those who live independently in the community without service provision. Definitions such as ‘consultation’, ‘partnership’ and ‘involvement’ are often used to explain participation (Roberts, 2002). In social care terms participation might be seen as allowing and individual to have control over day to day decisions such as what time meals would be taken or when personal care services would be delivered; at a more strategic level, participation might involve giving a say in how services are commissioned and delivered to a wider group of service users (Mordey and Crutchfield, 2004). Service user consultation groups or local forums for citizens to discuss how services are prioritised and delivered are examples of this broader level of active participation. The Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) has developed some useful definitions for participation. It uses the word participation as being â€Å"to talk about actively working together on a particular project or activity† (SCIE 2004, p.2). It also sets out a number of key values and principles which should inform participation work. These include a belief in citizenship; the promotion of empowerment; developing a human rights culture in social care; giving equal priority to all opinion; developing new approaches to participation; being inclusive; and making it clear what people can and cannot be involved in (SCIE 2004). The final point is important. Active participation is rightly seen as a positive development for service users but there still has to be a line where organisations can make decisions irrespective of service user participation. Adult safeguarding is an example of this, where sometimes decisions may have to be made without the participation of an individual in order to protect his or her welfare. Nonetheless, the link between participation and social work values is a positive one. It suggests that participation is grounded in a commitment to human rights and equality, something that should bring benefits to the individuals who take up the opportunity to participate. SCIE also draws a distinction between the different types of participation that can be found in social care, suggesting that participation can range from providing information and actively listening to service user views, to providing assistance or even financial support to allow people to research or provide services (SCIE, 2004). Participation can also be applied to a range of service user groups including older people, children and families, people with disabilities and people with drug and alcohol misuse problems (SCIE, 2004). The Personalisation Agenda The personalisation agenda in health and social care has been critical in promoting the idea of active participation. Personalisation is primarily a new way of providing social care support which puts the person requiring a service at the centre of the assessment process and allows individuals and their carers a real say in identifying their needs and making choices about how services will be provided (Carr, 2010). It recognises that people are individuals with diverse strengths and preferences, and aims to empower people through better provision of information and advocacy, early intervention to get the right support in place and also recognising the rights of carers (SCIE, 2012). Given these aims of personalisation, one of the key benefits for the individual would be having greater control over services provided and consequently there being a greater chance of the rights services being provided, with positive outcomes. Another key point about personalisation and participation is that it still has to be facilitated by agencies and policy makers. As much as people may want to participate in service delivery or more simply just in community work, they still require the tools to do so and also the autonomy to make their own decisions. Benefits of Participation Greater participation in how services are delivered can bring a number of benefits to service users. Active participation can help develop more customer/service user-friendly versions of existing services and give individuals more say in how their services are run and how they can access them. Participation gives service users – who are also tax-payers – a greater say on how money is spent on services in their area and also helps individuals become co-designers and co-producers of the services that they use (Leadbetter, 2004). At a wider level, it can be argued that active participation allows for self-organisation by communities, rather than service provision being dictated by external agencies or distant central government. Participation also supports the development of greater citizenship. Participation and influence over how public funds are spent can be seen as being an important part of the democratic process and the concept of citizenship lends itself to ideals of equity and collective provision which are embedded in public services. For the individual, participation in public service can increase a sense of civic attachment and impress on the individual what it means to be a member of a democratic society (Leadbetter, 2004). Participation and Young People Discussions around personalisation and participation generally have an emphasis on the participation of adult service users but active participation can also have a positive impact for young people who access social care support and services. Legislation and guidance including the Children Act 1989 and the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child have a focus on the child’s right to participate in decision making and there are a number of benefits for both young people and the organisations that provide services. For young people, active participation can help them gain new skills and experience, develop self-confidence and influence the decisions that affect their lives. They can develop social networks and begin to understand how organisations work. Participation can also quite simply be fun for young people, and it can help them feel valued and empowered (Wright et al., 2005). Active participation can be particularly beneficial for children and young people who might be consider as disadvantaged or vulnerable. Groups such as looked after children, young offenders, care leavers, young carers and gay and lesbian young people are easily marginalised and many agencies tend to direct them rather than engage with them. They face a number of barriers to participation such as a lack of motivation to engage; mistrust of adults and a feeling that their views will not be listened to because of their past experiences (McNeish, 1999). Research studies highlight a number of positives from individual participation projects which could be used as a benchmark for future initiatives. In Hampshire for example, a Care Action Team (CAT) was established bring together members and officer from the County Council to work with people who were in, or had been in care. Regular meetings to gather the views of young people led to a number of improvements in how services to young people were delivered. These included development of a new sleepover policy making it easier for looked after children to spend the night with friends; involvement of young people in the inspection of children’s homes, and a Children’s Homes Education Policy which improved the educational support for looked after children. A more general improvement from the establishment of the CAT was that young people developed a greater sense of worth and awareness that they were not alone in their experiences (Wright et al., 2005). For organisations, encouraging active participation by young people can also bring improvements to service delivery. It helps them become more responsive to the needs of children and young people; it increases the accessibility of organisation and makes them more efficient in providing effective services (Wright et al., 2005). Active Participation in the Community Active participation has benefits for society as well as the individuals involved. We live in a nation with an ageing population and many older people have greater expectation of both opportunity and support from public services in later life. An Audit Commission report (2004, p.2) stated that â€Å"the shift in proportion, composition and attitudes of the older age group has profound implications for public services. We need to start taking action now to shape things for the better†. Active participation does not only relate to people who are in need or receipt of social care services however. Participation in the community can also benefit individuals who do not require social care provision. Many older people for example, benefit from active participation in their local communities and government studies have suggested that active participation is linked to the overall well-being of individuals (Audit Commission, 2004). A number of strategies can be developed to encouraged independence and participation for older people. These can include work to support people ensuring that they have a safe comfortable home, and live in a neighbourhood close to friends and amenities. Good public transport networks allow people to get out and about whilst social and leisure activities promote social inclusion. Information for older people on how to access amenities encourages active participation as do healthy living initiatives which help people to stay active and healthy (Audit Commission, 2004). Active participation for older people is also a way of tackling the ageism that exists in society. Participation allows people to feel valued and able to challenge stereotypes that older people offer less to society that younger people. Participation allows them to have a say in decisions made about them both as individuals and as a wider group in society. A Department of Pensions report published in 2009 identified LinkAge Plus (LAP) pilots as initiatives which enable older people to become more active in their communities (Willis and Dalziel, 2009). Schemes to give opportunities to socialise through social, leisure and training activities help to address wider community and social wellbeing outcomes through the creation and development of social capital. Examples might include over 60s clubs providing activities ranging from Tai Chi to adult art classes. Network Centres establish social networks for older people which improve confidence and well-being and the DWP report concludes that people are â€Å"empowered when new or stronger bonds are created between themselves and the community in which they live† (Willis and Dalziel, p.45). Other examples of active participation demonstrate older people have an active role in local decision making and commissioning of services. The Gateshead Older People’s Assembly for example was funded to assess the appropriateness, accessibility and effectiveness of services for older people in the region. The benefits were twofold – the Assembly allowed a number of individuals the opportunity to become involved in stimulating research and study activities, whilst the conclusions were feedback into local service procurement, ensuring that the views of the wider population of older people were being heard (Willis and Dalziel, 2009). Criticisms and Obstacles Whilst most of the evidence points towards active participation being a positive opportunity for individuals there are some concerns about how it might delivered and that there will be obstacles to real and effective active participation. Some commentators suggest that the whole personalisation agenda will simply tie up social workers in drafting support plans and assisting with finances, rather than providing a more person-centred social work support, whilst there are also concerns that the introduction of personal budgets will be seized upon by individual who have motives other than the well-being of services users (Needham, 2010). There are also concerns that personalisation is simply a way of implementing public sector budget cuts and introducing a level of consumerism into social care for vulnerable people. The emphasis on individuals managing their own finances could possibly lead to financial abuse or simply people mismanaging their personal budgets (Needham, 2010). Even outside of social care, a cynical view of encouraging people to find their own ways of participating in the community could be that it is simply a way for the state to withdraw from provision of leisure services and have people fund and manage them themselves. A final concern around active participation is that it could lead to discrimination against vulnerable groups if they were to become more active and visible in the community. Services users with physical and learning disability who try to manage their own care in the community may be probe to physical, emotional or financial abuse by neighbours and Burton et al. (2012) also suggest that disabled people trying to live ordinary lives in the community, and participating in community activities, may cause some hostility. Conclusions The evidence available suggests that participation is a positive thing. The applies equally to participation in service delivery and review for those in need of social care, and to those in the community who simply wish to remain active members of the community. In social care, the personalisation agenda and the move towards self-directed support and personal budgets has promoted active participation. It puts individual service users in greater control of what services they receive and allows services user groups to have a greater say in how services are commissioned and delivered. This benefits individuals as it allows them to have a real say in how they receive support; it should also assist the organisations that provide services to develop and improve the services that they provide. Similar principles apply in social care provision for children and young people, as active participation allows their voices to be heard and should give decision makers a better understanding of what is needed to support vulnerable young people It is important to note that active participation in social care can be linked into some basic social care values. Good social work practice should involve putting the individual first (SCIE, 2012) and initiatives such as personalisation and can help demonstrate a commitment to respect for the individual and self-determination. Social workers that encourage active participation will generally be demonstrating a person-centred or child-centred approach that will enable an effective and non-discriminatory relationship with the individual that they are trying to help. Again, this is further evidence that active participation is largely beneficial to the individual. Active participation for people outside of the social care system also appears to have a positive effect on people’s lives. It promotes social inclusion and the evidence suggests that being active in the community promotes well-being and helps people to live more fulfilling lives. In a modern, democratic society, there is no reason why active participation should not be commonplace. It demonstrates that as a society we value the views and opinions of all citizens and that when people need support, they can have a say in how it is provided, rather than the state simply imposing a service that may not meet the individual’s need. By encouraging more general participation in society, active participation also demonstrates that we value the input of all members of society into the community, regardless of age or disability. Cynics might argue that active participation is a way for local and central government to save money and pass the onus for some tasks back to service users and the local community. Whilst their might be an element of truth in this, the reality is that active participation is largely a positive development. Many citizens want to participate in decision making both for themselves and their local communities and the evidence suggests that this participation produces good outcomes. Bibliography Audit Commission. (2004). Older People – Independence and Well-being – the challenge for public services. London: Audit Commission Publications Beresford, P. (2001). Service users, social policy and the future of welfare. Critical Social Policy, 21 (4): 494–512. Burton, J., Toscano, T. and Zonouzi, M. (2012) Personalisation for Social Workers. Maidenhead: Open University Press. Department of Health. (2001). National Service Framework for Older People. London: TSO Department of Health. (2006). Our Health, Our Care Our Say. London: TSO Department of Health. (2011). Caring for our future: Shared ambitions for care and support. London: TSO Leadbetter, M. (2004) Personalisation Through Participation. London: Demos Millward, L. (2005). Just because we are amateurs doesnt mean we arent professional: the importance of expert activists in tenant participation. Public Administration, 83 (3): 735–751. Needham, S. (2011). Personalising Public Services, Bristol: Policy Press McNeish, D. (1999). From rhetoric to reality: Participatory approaches to health promotion with young people. London: Health Education Authority. Mordey, M. Crutchfield, J. (2004). User involvement in supported housing. Housing, Care and Support, 7 (1): 7–10 Roberts, K. (2002). Exploring participation: older people on discharge from hospital. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 40 (4): 413–420. Roulstone, A., Hudson, V., Kearney, J., Martin, A., with Warren, J. (2006). Working Together: Carer Participation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. London: Care Institute for Excellence. SCIE (2004) SCIE Participation Strategy [online] Available: [http://www.scie.org.uk/publications/corporate/files/participationstrategy.pdf] accessed 10th October 2014 SCIE (2012). Personalisation: A Rough Guide. [online] Available: [http://www.scie.org.uk/publications/guides/guide47] accessed 10th October 2014 Willis M. and Dalziel, R. (2009) LinkAge Plus: Capacity building – enabling and empowering older people as independent and active citizens. DWP Research Report 571 [online] Available: [https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/186778/rrep571.pdf] accessed 9th October Wright, P., Tirner, C., Clay, D. and Mills H. (2005) The participation of children and young people in developing social care. SCIE Participation Practice Guide 06 [online] Available: [http://www.scie.org.uk/publications/guides/guide11/files/guide11.pdf] accessed 10th October 2014

Youth Sports - Little Girls Need Sports! Essay example -- Argumentativ

Little Girls Need Sports! You may have seen the ad on television. It is one of the few advertisements using the voices of little girls that isn't promoting unrealistically figured Barbie dolls or the likes. The ad starts with a 10-year-old girl in a swing set and presents a series of images of different young girls saying: If you let me play sports I will like myself more; I will have more self-confidence, If you let me play sports. If you let me play, I will be 60 percent less likely to get breast cancer; I will suffer less depression. If you let me play sports, I will be more likely to leave a man who beats me. If you let me play, I will be less likely to get pregnant before I want to. I will learn what it means to be strong. If you let me play sports. If you let me play sports. Although the product being sold is never mentioned, the ad, which was produced by Nike, in just 45 seconds delivers one of the most powerful and thought-provoking messages on T.V. about the benefits gained by girls who play sports. Women in sports is an issue that has dated back for many years. The breakthrough for women was in 1972 when Title IX, an amendment to the 1965 Civil Rights Act, was passed. It was designed to address sex discrimination in all areas of education, including athletics. Although Title IX was implemented many years ago, women and girls are still fighting for the right to play despite much evidence that sports make our girls stronger women and teach them to avoid a whole host of risk-taking and self-destructive behaviors. Research from the Women's Sports Foundation show female athletes have lower rates of teenage pregnancy, are more likely to delay their first sexual experience, and have, on ave... ...tiveness, and teamwork, skills that everyone will need in life. Girls learn that you're going to fail sometimes, but they also learn perseverance and that failure is not permanent. The Nike ad drew much attention to the female need. It helps to draw a picture in the minds of educators and parents that preventing girls from participating in sports hinders their emotional and physical growth. Sports can make girls strong and not afraid to be vocal; they can teach girls how to succeed and how to cope with failure. They can help girls to know their own physical and mental strength and build confidence and self esteem. So when a girl asks if she can play, instead of telling her no, let her play. Work Cited Goff, Karen Goldberg. "Playing For Keeps; Youth sports credited with imparting lifelong benefits." The Washington Times. 10 November 2002. 19 April 2003.

Divine Roles

University of Phoenix Material Divine Roles Across Cultures Matrix Select one common divine role that recurs in world mythology. Possible options of divine roles include the following: father or mother divinities, divinities of war, home or hearth divinities, divinities of love, divinities of wisdom, divinities of medicine or health, divinities of the wind, divinities of agriculture, divinities of the sky, ruler of all the gods, and so on. Identify the role in the title of your matrix. Select two myths, each from a different culture, in which the divine role appears.Identify the divinity names and cultures in columns A and B. Complete the matrix by answering each of the five questions for both selected divinities.Is the divinity male or female?How does this divinity |is the leader and they all rule their|as well as the father so they both | |interact with or compare to divinities |family and some even the world. Just |share of the same roles. The mother | |of the same gender and to d ivinities of|as the mother she also have a lot of |in every divinity mostly share the the opposite gender?say so in the leader ship role. same role some may act different but they have are mother. What are the divinity’s attributes, The powers that this divinity has is The powers that this divinity has is such as divine powers or to make better people by taking apart to make better people by taking apart characteristics?What objects does the in their children life because I in their children life because I divinity possess, such as a weapon or believe if people live by example believe if people live by example animal, that assist him or her? then there children are most likely then there children are most likely to follow. As a parent sometimes a to follow. As a parent sometimes a weapon can be talking to your weapon can be talking to your children or beating them with a belt. Ð ¡hildren or beating them with a belt. Identify one character from contemporary culture that share s characteristics of each divinity and explain why you chose each character. What real-life ideals does this divine role represent?How attainable are these ideals?Summary: Write a 150- to 350-word short essay addressing the following: Why do so many cultures have divinities in similar roles?

Bmw Marketing Mix

History: The origins of BMW trace back to 1913 when Karl Friedrich Rapp, who was a  Bavarian(well-known engineer in a German aircraft company in Munich. The company specialized in airplane engines. But it was a  problematic area. He had a  financial difficulties and decided to form new company owners Franz-Jozef Popp and financier Camillo Castiglioni and relaunched Motoren Werke and because Rapp was Bavarian there was a  new name Bayerische Flugzeug-Werke (BFW) was formed after a  short time the name was changed to BMW and from the beginnig they started to produce airplane engines.At the beginning of the 20? s BMW slapped their logo, which is unchanged until today. After the 2. world war the treaty of versailles prohibited BMW to switch to manufacturing air brakes for railway cars. After this treaty company started to focus on developing motorcycles engines. Ower a  2 years they built 2 motorcycle models(Victoria, Flink) and after this they built their first BMW factory. Two-wheeled vehicles quickly turned into four-wheeled ones in 1928. With their motorcycles they made world records, because they were the fast motorcycles.In 1932 they launch new car model 3/20 PS. As time passed by, BMW got bigger and bigger and, shortly before the Wold War II outbreak, took over some more factories in the vicinity of Berlin. Due to BMW's versatility and need for mechanized faming implements and spare parts, the first BMW bicycle was born. They started to export their motorcycles to new york in 2 decades. The last one at the beginning of the 40? s. The 1955 Isetta, powered by a 12/13 hp motorcycle engine, becomes a favorite among customers.Over 160,000 units are sold, transforming the Isetta into a symbol of the post-war decade. They had a  lot of technological improvements on their cars. With the help of Herbert Quandt, BMW, still a share-owned company, is brought one step closer to independence. The 60's brought a multitude of achievements with the 1500 and 160 0 series, as well as a range of new sedans, the 2500, 2800, American Bavaria and the 2. 5 CS and 2800 CS coupe models. Production lines that would become worldwide pieces of success soon came out, such as the 6 and 7 series and the recently reconstructed BMW M1 model.By the end of the 70's, BMW had dug deep into other car-improvement related fields as well, and electronics proved to be the perfect ground for growing BMW's next generation of computerized car devices. Economic fuel research then became top priority. Research started to be heavily reinforced and reached new uncharted areas through the employment of over 6,000 people. Once the Z1 one came along, the profits kept pile-up trend. Caring for the customer and staying ahead of competition was proof enough that BMW had turned into a true, mature brand. Business development:BMW has various sources for research and product development: A well known BMW location is the Engineering Center (FIZ) in Munich. This institution was laun ched in 1987, implementing the idea of co-location. Co-location stands for bringing together all people into one site, who are concerned with the product development process, incl. suppliers. Nowadays about 5,000 researchers, engineers and technicians are working at the FIZ. A design studio in California, which provides trendy designs from one of the most creative places of the world. A project team in Japan, which serves as an antenna into Japanese technical developments.BMW-Technik GmbH, which was launched in 1985 and is responsible for idea generation off-site, equipped with own design facilities, acoustic wind tunnel and various other facilities for noise reduction. This company employs about 100 people. Company mission and business focus: Reading the BMW Group mission statement, it's easy to understand why the BMW Group is clearly associated with premium products, premium prices, and premium experiences. The BMW mission statement is†¦ The BMW Group is the world's leading p rovider of premium products and premium services for individual mobility. Beyond that, each brand of vehicle under the BMW Group umbrella has its own distinct brand identy†¦ BMW Brand – â€Å"The BMW brand stands for one thing: sheer driving pleasure. Sporting and dynamic performance combined with superb design and exclusive quality. † MINI Brand – â€Å"The MINI brand wins hearts and turns heads. MINI is refreshingly different: extroverted, spontaneous and in every respect something out of the ordinary. † â€Å"For over 100 years, motor cars of the Rolls-Royce brand have stood for truly outstanding engineering, quality and reliability.The BMW Group is the world's leading provider of premium products and premium services for individual mobility. † Focus: he concept of premium will be increasingly defined through sustainability in the future. BMW, like no other brand, will still stand for vitality and driving pleasure in the future. But it will also represent efficiency and environmental friendliness. .. We have introduced our fuel-saving technology, Efficient Dynamics, as a standard feature in all series. It uses start-stop technology, brake-force energy recovery and other methods to drastically reduce fuel consumption, while at the same providing more power.We call this â€Å"Sheer Driving Pleasure 2. 0. MARKETS OF BMW The main markets for BMW automobiles have been in Europe, the USA, Japan and the Pacific region, with the markets of Germany and the US accounting for almost half the total car sales. Important markets have also been the fast-growing UK, and the Italian, French and Japanese markets. Sales in the USA market have been particularly successful, as they grew by over 8 per cent on the previous year to 277,000, becoming the biggest market for the group and overtaking the Lexus brand for the first time.At the end of 2003, the outlook for 2004 by group management and industry observers was upbeat. This view was s upported by the successful launch of the new 5-series, the consolidation in Europe and Asia of the BMW Z4, the introduction of the BMW X3. The new BMW 1 Series and the BMW 6 Series cabriolet were launched early in 2004. By far the most successful models were the MINI, the 3-series and the 5-series, but the other models were also in significant demand. In the Chinese markets there was growing demand for the higher end models of the range, specifically for 7-series and 5-seriesTarget customers: Upper middle class — professional employees at the upper part of corporate ladder such as financial analysts Product policy: Assortment: cars: BMW 1 series (3, 5 door, coupe, convertible), BMW 3 series (sedan, coupe, convertible, touring, compact) BMW 5 series (sedan, touring) BMW (coupe, grand coupe, convertible) BMW 7 series (sedan) BMW X1-X6, BMW Z4 roaster, BMW M series( 3,5,6) also MINI :MINI is one of the most entertaining cars on the road, with dynamic performance and handling and an unmistakable appearance that makes it instantly recognisable.It is currently available in a range of models including: MINI Hatch (MINI One, MINI Cooper, MINI Cooper D, MINI Cooper S), MINI John Cooper Works, MINI Convertible (MINI One Convertible, MINI Cooper Convertible, MINI Cooper S Convertible) and MINI Clubman (MINI Cooper D Clubman, MINI Cooper Clubman, MINI Cooper S Clubman). MINI is produced in England and is now sold in over 70 countries worldwide. The Rolls–Royce Motor Cars :Rolls-Royce launched the Drophead Coupe in 2007 which has a V / 12 / 48 engine, reaches a top speed of 149 mph and does 0-100km/h in 5. 9 seconds. The Rolls-Royce Phantom features a 6. 5 litre light alloy V12 engine that provides 460PS (453bhp) of power. Rolls–Royce also launched the Centenary Experimental 100 EX and the limited edition Centenary Phantom in 2004. Summer 2008 saw the production of the new Phantom Coupe, the most driver-orientated model in the Phantom line. Motorcycles : SPORT, TOUR, ROASTER,ENDURO,URBAN MOBILITY SPORT: S1000 RR, K  1300S TOUR: F800GT, R 1200RT, K  1600GT, K  1600GTL, ROASTER: F800R, R1200R ENDURO: G 650 GS, S  650 GS sertao, F 800 GS, R 1200 GS, R 1200GS adventure URBAN MOBILITY: C 600 sport, C 650 GT Scooters: BMW C 600 Sport BMW C 650 GTBMW C EVOLUTION e-Scooter Acessories: DVD systems, radios, car care, lights, navigations,air condition†¦ Clothes Quality: in 2008 BMW received a score of 3 out of a possible 5 points in the averaged category of Overall Quality( like ford, kia, nissan) Logo: The BMW logo consists of a thick black ring encircled by a silver lining. The letters ‘BMW’ are inscribed in a non-serif font in the top half of the black ring. The gap within the ring is divided into four equal alternative blue and white quarters. The BMW logo, commonly known as â€Å"roundel†, was created and registered in 1917.The created logo design is remarkably simple and projects an identity that is sma rt, clear, sporty and image-conscious. It is one of the most distinctive logo designs in the world, speaking highly of a brand-led company. The 1929 Dixi was the first vehicle to carry the famous BMW logo. The BMW logo has been altered very rarely and minutely and has maintained its original look throughout the company's history. Here are some of the logos that have been used since 1917. People think that the BMW logo is based on a rotating airscrew. The origin of this interpretation is the cover of a BMW aircraft magazine.This picture (shown below) was taken in 1929, years after the logo first came into existence. BMW chose the Bavarian national colours as a  symbol Innovations: BMW Innovations With a constantly updated menu of inspired new technologies and products, BMW is leading the charge in automotive evolution. We engineer our renowned vehicle lineup to be the most advanced in the world. And we continuously push the limits of efficiency and performance. We do this because o ur goal is not to be ahead of the curve; we are determined to be ahead of everything else on the road. Connected Drive:BMW is focused on connecting you, the driver, in meaningful ways to your vehicle, and to your world at large. Intelligent innovations provide you with unprecedented mobility, so you enjoy the best possible combination of safety, comfort, entertainment, and – above all – driving pleasure. Head-Up Display: BMW's full-colour Head-Up Display projects critical driving information, such as speed, directions, and alerts, directly in your field of vision, so distraction is minimized. This virtual image appears approximately two metres ahead of you, at the end of the hood, seamlessly integrating into whatever scenario your find yourself in.Your eyes and attention stay focused on the road, where they rightfully belong. BMW Apps: Introducing a new way to stay in touch. With the BMW Apps you can bring Facebook, Twitter, your calendar, or even your favourite web ra dio station into your car on the iDrive screen. Your Control Display can show the latest status updates from your Facebook or Twitter account, as well as upcoming events, while the car's audio system can read them out using the text-to-speech function. Get ready for the next generation of mobile communication and entertainment – with your iPhone and BMW ConnectedDriveBMW Concierge: There's much more than just a welcoming voice on the other end of BMW Concierge. Whether you're looking to book a flight or hotel, find the nearest ATM, or make a reservation at your favourite restaurant, our customer relations agents are always there for you. BMW Concierge is available 24/7 and transfers address data directly to the Navigation System of your BMW. And in case of emergency, BMW Assist is equipped with a host of helpful tools, including Emergency Request, Enhanced Roadside Assistance, Remote Door Unlock, Advanced Automatic Collision Notification, Stolen Vehicle Recovery, and more.Nig ht Vision: Your command of the road doesn't end when the sun sets. BMW Night Vision is our exclusive infrared technology that allows you to see through the dark, up to a class-leading 300 metres ahead. Objects, animals, and pedestrians are instantly distinguished, leading you to safer nighttime driving. Google MyInfo: Use Google Maps to send points-of-interest information directly to your BMW using your e-mail address and BMW Assist account.Find restaurants, friends' homes, or even the location of your next meeting. With Google Maps, you can send any destination to your vehicle from your computer, and then accept the information into the Navigation System once in your car. You can even call your destination using Bluetooth integration by selecting the displayed telephone number. http://www. bmwvictoria. ca/BMW/Innovations/tabid/206/Default. aspx tam videa Services: Financing, insurance,credit cards, leasings, Pricing policy: Price strategy-

The Provisions of Sarbanes-Oxley essays

The Provisions of Sarbanes-Oxley essays Richtermeyer, Greller, and Valentine (2006) believe that accounting and finance professionals, though knowledgeable regarding the measurement of corporate performance in many dimensions, may know less about the manner in which companies are evaluated from an ethical standpoint. In light of the provisions of the 2002 Sarbanes-Oxley Act (Public Law No. 107-204, 116 Stat. 745), accounting and finance professionals and the companies with which they work are now subject to more rigorous reporting, accountability, and regulatory oversight than ever before (Sarbanes-Oxley Act, 2006). The Sarbanes-Oxley Acts major provisions include the requirement that public companies evaluate and disclose the effectiveness of their internal controls as they relate to financial reporting and that independent auditors for such companies attest (agree or qualify) to such disclosure. Additionally, a major thrust of the Act is to institute enhanced criminal and civil penalties for violations of securities law and to create the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) (Sarbanes-Oxley Act, 2006). Certainly, the creators of this legislation were responding to devastating ethical failures that rocked corporate America in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Had the companies generating these scandals used an instrument such as the CEV and had they then chosen to act to eliminate unethical behaviors, it is quite possible that some of these scandals could have been avoided. It is an unfortunate commentary on the American corporation that the government needed once again to step in and create new regulatory systems and enhanced criminal penalties to punish the very individuals in corporate America and in the accounting and finance professions who ought to adhere to the highest standards of ethical conduct. ...