Monday, January 27, 2020

Strategic Management; shaping the long-run performance of the business

Strategic Management; shaping the long-run performance of the business Introduction Strategic management Strategic management can be described as set of executive action and conclusions that helps in shaping the long-run performance of the business. It is inclusive of environmental scanning, both internal and external environment, and strategy formulation, implementation of strategies, assessment and control processes. Henceforth, strategic management highlights on the evaluation and monitoring of the external threats and prospects in the background of organizations inner potencies and weaknesses (Karami, 2007). 1. Strategic Corporate Development History Honda Company Honda, being the largest producer in automobile industry, was founded in the year 1948 by Soicharo Honda as a motorbike company but it remained self-determining since then. The company identifies that engines are their core competency and built their organization around its core competency (Frank, 2003). Now, Honda is involved in the production of light trucks, motorcycle, automobiles, lawn movers, generators and personal watercraft; these all are built keeping in mind the core competency to produce the high quality goods and services. In contrast to other companies like Toyota or General Motors, Honda has not adopted any strategic alliances and is not involved in any merger process, it is moving ahead independently. It also provides customer-in- house financing schemes (Nelson, 1998). Their present field informs that Honda covers more than 400 associates and auxiliaries that generate their universal network leaded by Takeo Fukui as chief executive and noticeably traced a total of US$94.24 billion proceeds in 2007 whilst making use of 16000 populous and even more. With apparitions of worth formation, globalization, and pledge for the outlook, they put forward an extensive diverse range of products arraying from minute general-purpose engines and scooters to forte sports automobiles. Today, their dependability in providing goods of uppermost superiority that engenders new standards and sane price constructs them dazzling in terms of universal customer contentment. Even the reasonable price and high quality seems to be the two characteristics that also hand round as their gung ho periphery. Honda has taken the steps towards the long term strategic approaches, producing the very first hybrid electric cars and is ready to continue with the leading of automobile industry. The company is also set to research for the hydrogen powered cars. Traditionally, Honda aims to expand the facilities devoid of building of any excess capacity. Any requirement for the additional capacity in Honda, calls for the building of a new plant. Nonetheless, company is ahead for bringing innovative products then its competitors and aligns new factories ahead of the schedule time. Evolution of Strategic Management in Honda Initially it was believed that strategies in organization cannot be implemented successfully if the company expands itself, environment modifies considerably and if there is any increase in the layers of managers. Four phases were formed: Phase 1 it consists of the planning on basic financial matter and is aimed to meet better control on the operation process by meeting the requirement of the budget. Phase 2 in this planning is based on the forecasting and seeks to meet effective growth by predicting the future circumstances. Phase 3 it focuses on the strategic planning or the planning based on the external operations. It aims to meet more responsiveness in the market and entails all the competitive advantage by thinking strategically. Phase 4 this phase deals with the strategic management and aims to build core competencies in the organization and planning for the successful future by managing the resources. Phase 4 is suggested to bring the evolution of strategic management in the Honda including the implementation of the strategies, evaluation and control whilst focusing on the principles of Phase 3. Concepts of strategic management The concepts of strategic management are in relation to the corporate sector and its each part is concerned with the goals and objectives of the business (Hitt, 2009). The concepts of strategic management are even distinguished into various segments: Objectives of a Business Plan of Attaining Business Goals Evaluating the entire Process Objectives of a Business It is indispensable for each manager to be acquainted with in advance the situation which it wants to lead in the future within a given time period. Devising specific goals or objectives is central for the progress of every organization. Several factors are to be considered before devising the goals, these includes client base of the company, supervision of the available resources, creation of the company and so on. Business Plans After the formulation of goals, the management or the administrator is prepared to make a plan to accomplish the goals which are being formulated. This plan of action is known to be as business strategy (Aaeker, 2001). The main objective of this plan is to utilize the resources judiciously to offer maximum advantage for the functioning of the business. Evaluating the business Process After the framing of the definite business strategy or plans and its application in the association, the evaluation and assessment of the process is required. This is necessary so to know the specific changes that are needed to alter in the procedures or operations that are being applied by the business plans (Combs, 2000). If the changes are not taking place appropriately or are not satisfactory, then the modifications can be done in accordance with the present situation. Imperative Aspects Related to Strategic Management Concepts Many of the attributes are there that have given importance as they are central to the concepts of strategic management. In actual, no businesses procedures cannot be similar and minute differences are there that distinguishes the business processes. Thus, objectives and goals are different for every organization. Although, the strategies or plans formulated for the long-term and short term purpose is different and have to be put into practice individually. This is the reason why every goal and objective of the business is different. Identification of the opportunities and risks is another important element that is needed to be considered for the study of strategic management concepts. If every business identifies the external opportunities correctly, then they have great chances to go ahead in the market. The owner or the entrepreneur of the organization should be responsive to the potencies and flaws of the association and of the personal skills of employees that are working in the ir organization. The better use of the external opportunities or sudden changes in the industry or market proves to be the major source for the identification of strategic management concepts. Strategies adopted by Honda Deliberate strategies It involves the corporative decision making process and only few people have clear cut individual responsibilities. Emergent strategies This entails the development of innovative technologies for the efficient utilization of the fuel and available resources. Also, Honda has developed new models so as to meet the demands of customers which keep on changing basically in design, environmental responsibility and fuel efficiency. Formulation of better strategies for the operation process like Kaizen, JIT etc. and creation of new and innovative markets assumes greater possibilities of higher risk. HONDA: Reconciling Dichotomies Right-first-time Principle Operation management is purposely a change procedure. It includes a sequence of alteration activities and tasks for changing inputs into outputs that are ready to be sold in the market. The right-the-first principle suggests that any result of the process should be error free so as the further processes which are based on the predecessor tasks are not burdened with errors and there need not to be made any corrections to it or waiting for the reworks that can cause the delay of production works as well as increase the operational costs and the opportunity costs of sales that are earned from the customers which are not willing to wait an switch to other brands. Thus the aim centers on the operational efficiency which can be entailed by not wasting time and the resources, thereby increasing productivity. It also permit the organization to control the inventory accurately thus saving on costs and money. If this principle is performed at repetitive speed in all the tasks, then the final outcome so achieved will be error free. According to this strategy, focus is on the process related capabilities. Build-in quality The strategy of build in quality focuses on the effectiveness and efficiency of the recital result of associate alteration actions and tasks. The actions of efficiency are customer-defined standard of performance. This can be achieved by the break down of the total standards of performance This is achieved by breaking down the aggregate standards of performance measures as expected (if not demanded) by customers to more granular metrics in each sub activity/task so that value-adding can be realized at every step of the way to give a bigger accrued value by the time the operations process reaches its end. This not only saves costs, but may exceed (not merely meet) the customers expectations. In this sense, build-in quality emphasizes more on product-related capabilities that are ultimately measured by the customers. 2. Current Strategic Situation Strategic management has now developed as a primary value that assists Honda in operating successfully in such a dynamic and complex environment. It is required that the organization be less beaurocrative and have to be flexible so as to stand in the complex environment. Honda is required to develop strategic flexibility which means the capability to shift from one strategy to another. Strategic flexibility stresses on a long term commitment for developing and nurturing of the available resources. It even demands that the organization has to become a culture organization which is skilled at engendering, taking and transferring of acquaintance as well as it needs to demand the alterations of the actions to outline new technology and knowledge. Employees of the organization are required to take part in the process of strategic management, assists the managers in scanning of the environment or they can even suggest the ideas for changing or altering the strategies so that organization should be able to take advantage of the external potencies. Strategic management in actual deals with the future aspects of the organization and is inclusive of three main factors: : Unusual strategic decisions these do not any models to follow. Consequential strategic decisions these have committed themselves to sizeable resources and stipulate a great amount of assurance. Directive strategic decisions- these set standards for dwindling the verdicts and future proceedings in the intact strategic process. The more typical approaches for the decision making process are planning, adaptive and entrepreneurial. However, planning mode is said to be the more rational approach and thus helps in better decision making process. Eight steps are proposed by Honda to be followed in the decision making process while keeping in mind the environment: 1. Evaluation of present performance outcomes 2. Estimation of the Corporate Governance 3. Inspection of the peripheral environment 4. Examination of strategic factors 5. Generating, examining and choosing the best substitute strategy 6. Execution of the selected strategies 7. Finally, the assessment of the applicated strategies Environmental scanning and analysis of Honda Company Environmental scanning demands the observing, evaluating, and broadcasting of the information that is being collated by the external and internal environment of Honda so as to keep customers within the organization. It can be termed as a tool that corporation utilizes for ensuring long-term health (Ahmed, 2008). Environmental scanning by Honda requires the identification of environmental variables that can manipulate the future decisions of the organization. These forces are inclusive of political, economic, social and technological factors. Scanning of social environment requires evaluation various possible strategic factors. The social factors are numerous when Honda came to realize that every country has its own set of unique societal features which seems to be different from the respective country. Honda categorized the overall social environment into four different sectors and focuses on the scanning of each sector in significance to corporate sector. Scanning of the task environment Hondas scanning of the task environment involves all the relevant factors. This kind of analysis is presented in the form of individual repots that are being written by various people of the organization. All the reports are then summarized and is submitted to the upper level of hierarchy i.e., top managers for the effective decision making process. If there is any report regarding the development of a new product, then the top management will send memos to all the people of the organization so that they can look for and can report to the management in respective product areas. Porters 5 Forces analysis of Honda Threats of New Entrants In the 1970s and the 1980s the threats of new entrants in major western economies was fairly low, with established automotive industries. The Big Three namely: Ford, GM and Chrysler, in the economy of North America were thought to be safe. But this contemplation was proved wrong with the establishment of the first ever plant of the Honda Motor Co. in Ohio. The market share of the North American companies began to undermine with the emergence of those foreign competitors possessing better operational management skills, capital and the required technologies (Porter, 1980). This was proved true to the rest of the world with the risky stepping of Honda in the European and British markets. Power of Suppliers The supply business of the automobile industry holds many firms and is quite fragmented all-throughout numerous regions of whole of the world. In order to purchase a majority of their products, ample of the suppliers rely solely on a single or two automobile manufacturers. Just in the off chance if the automobile companies came up to a decision of switching the supplier, it could prove to be extremely devastating to the business of the previous supplier (Porter, 1987). As a result of which, no wonders, that the suppliers cleave to very petite supremacy because the manufactures tend to order in volume and hence are enormously inclined to the requirements and the demands of the automakers Power of Buyers Went unchallenged, historically, the bargaining powers of the automobile manufacturers. Ample of the customers initiated looking forth to other alternatives with that of better and stylish designs, better fuel efficiency and better of technology because the national automobile manufacturers could no longer woo them and hence they became disenchanted. The foreign competitors endowed the displeased customers with the above mentioned attributes (Porter, 1985). On the very other hand, although being very sensitive towards price, the customers, individually, do not possess much of the supremacy of buying, the sole reason being that they never buy cars in big bulky volumes. Availability of Substitutes Other means of transportation need to be considered as substitutes or alternatives, besides the posing threat of someone purchasing a different automobile. The likelihood of the masses choosing the bus, airplane or the train as the mode of reaching to their destinations also needs to be looked at. People are more prone to looking forward to alternative modes of transportation if in case the cost of operating a vehicle is at a gigantic hike. The decision of buying a vehicle of the consumer is highly affected by the prices of the fuels. Though trucks and sport utility vehicle have a tendency of guzzling more gas as and when compared to those light-weight trucks and sedans, they are the ones that provide with a privileged profitable margin. Money, time, personal convenience and preference as well in the industry of auto travel are the things that should be considered when it comes to determining the availability of alternative automobiles or substitutes. The trend that penetrates in the present era is towards more environmentally friendly, fuel efficient and safe cars. The cars with these attributes should be feasible to the pockets of the globally increasing middle-classes. Competitive Rivalry Because of the high cost of competition prevailing in the automobile industry, the industries which are highly competitive generally gross petite returns. Auto industry is regarded as an oligopoly an industry which assists in nullifying the effects of the competition based on price. The automakers comprehend that competition based on price does not necessarily lead to an increase in the marketplaces size. Historically, though the automakers have tried hard to avert such competition but recently the competition has rather been more intensified. In order to fend off their foreign competitors, the automakers established more traditionally like the American, British and the European are progressively acquiring or merging more with their foreign counterparts from Korea (Daewoo and GM) and Japan (Renault and Nissan). Nevertheless, the automakers that are still emerging are also undertaking the opposite tasks such as India (Jaguar and Land Rover from Ford acquired by the Tata Enterprises) and China (Volvo from Ford and Geely). When there is a constant change in market, the strategies to be formed should be flexible enough to meet the changes effectively. With the use of IT, the key element is the planning process. 3. Strategic Direction For The Future In accordance of Japanese culture, the leadership style used by the Honda Company is effectual particularly for the achievement of the greater levels of employees satisfaction and his commitment, delegation and motivation so as they can contribute to the process of decision making and bring in new ideas. Chief recommendation to Honda is that they can apply American style of leadership process so that they can enhance the encouragement of collative decision making process. The leaders of Honda are required to be effectual in their respective fields. The harmony among the groups is being identified as one of the main requirement of the organization. All the employees of Honda are bonded with human relations so that they can be familiar with the lifestyles of their subordinates and have proper understanding of their acts, thereby giving lead to the formation of leadership techniques. Honda has all the important or vital tools for recognizing the situation or problem areas in the workpla ce. Being the largest producer or manufacturer of motorbikes and cars, Honda has maintained their high quality products in context to the beliefs set by Soichiro Honda. The beliefs of Honda revolve around four basic provisions which are: (1) Great amount of potential for the organization and for its suppliers, (2) The transmitting of resources that is required for the completion of the processes. (3) Commitment for the support of group effort and teamwork, (4) Unstoppable attention is being featured in Honda. All the processes and strategies of Honda show the performances of the employees and business in relation to the strategies for advertising and marketing. Honda, is different from all the other automobile companies as it has set its own beliefs and values which directs the organization to act at all levels in the company. With this, the accomplishment of objectives is achievable and thus creating brand name. Recommendations The better way to provide cost effectiveness is to put the available resources in such a manner that they are judiciously used while fulfilling the requirements of the job at the same time. Event he rising amounts of capital adds to the problems of the company. With the increase in prices, the company is required to go with the gush. Therefore, the chain of demand and supply is affecting to the intact organization. As long as Honda sticks on the accessible resources, the chances of steadiness of finance are sure. In relation to the human personnel needs, Honda is required to work with multi-talented personnel who are capable of performing tasks of all the types in different situations and have abilities to grab the external opportunities. The potencies of growth and development are affluent. Besides, the cost of unlock communication, collaboration and optimistic attitude is replicated. Thus, Honda should encourage the cost management or its administration in the organization. Also, t he sharing of resources including raw materials and semi finished goods can cause the reduction in cost which is no less than to the merged cost. Even the commitment of Honda to the teamwork and cooperation has enabled the company to find wider prospects that can lead the company to prolific economics undertaking and attainment of human ideas. Even the strong communication and networking with the suppliers can lead to the continual growth of the branches and dealers. The plans for expansion by Honda tend to be engulfed with risks and uncertainties but are one of the prominent strategies (Cokins, 2009). All these are considered most favorable because of the economies of scale, scope and cost efficiencies but the greater threat is posed by the investment part. With the development of subsidiaries, joint plants and regional offices, the paths for grants for exports and licensing have opened up. The unchangeable consideration to the plans of the company is still effective in many ways. If we look at the environmental friendliness aspect of Honda, then the company has worked hard for enhancing the environment and contributes a lot to the safety purpose of its products. This opens up the paths for the brand recognition and loyalty. Even, Honda is constantly keep on doing the research and development work and checks out the emerging trends that can bring in the innovation in the company. Also, the future planning is done in advance for setting up of the plants and regarding products. Besides this the company is able to address the problems regarding the satisfaction of the customers and environment. The advantages for preserving the international viewpoint generate wider scope for the activities like sales and operational, it even provides brand name, awareness and ability to complete globally. But the main problems that can be affective are the stiff competition, unstable economy, diverse locations and functions. But if the company focuses on the appropriate functioning of the functions of administrators, on the strategies and dedication of the company for supplying products of high quality that too on the reasonable price with 100 percent guarantee of customer satisfaction, then it is likely to be successful in the future. Focusing on the reduction in cost, it need not seems to be the problem for the Honda. As it is analytical in their vital viewpoint, Honda has all the compulsory resources or means to produce high quality products yet cost proficient and effectual. Even in some of the cases cost diminution is severely put into practice when there are financial and economic difficulties, changing trends and production behavior. In building and maintaining the relationship with suppliers, Honda and its organization without difficulty can pass on to the existing culture of supply chain management that is being utilized by their Company all the way through the long years of procedures. To retain good relationship with the suppliers, acquisition and integration are tends to be the most potential methods. With the increase in knowledge of the conditions of subordinates and peers can bring into the potency for the Honda. Training and maintenance is termed to be the main elements for the organization. Quality improvement is the basic element for Honda (Bauer, 2006). In totality, Honda not only produces quality products but also renders the safe, affordable and environment sensitive products. Improvement can be seen as the research based activities of Honda. The research and innovation tasks are needed not to be carried in all the subsidiary offices. Hondas strategy for intensifying the RD efforts does not indicates that it will going to personalize the models in every country but it can be viewed as a strategy that centers on the maximization of the resources. The improvement in technology is however linked to the environment friendly aspect of the brand (Miller, 2001). Innovations are also implemented in the research, distribution and manufacturing mobile. The enhanced integration of local associates into international spectrum will hasten up the improvement of technology. A global strategy to be implemented so as to create the value added parts and components as well as create brand loyalty to the consumers. Besides, safety is termed to be the essential ingredient in Safety for Everyone scheme. Conclusion: Thus, strategic management is the demeanor of summarizing, implementing and assessing decision making process that enables Honda to accomplish its long term goals and objectives (Saloner, 2001). It is a procedure that specifies the vision, mission, objectives or goals, development of plans and policies in relevance to projects and programs, which are specifically designed to accomplish these objectives and then apportioning the resources to put into practice the policies and programs. To evaluate the overall performance of the Honda Company, a balanced scorecard can be used. Strategic management in Honda is set at the managerial level which is under the setting of goals and over the tactics. It generally provides direction to the Honda and suggests it the ways that it should lead for the growth purpose. It even assists the Honda in examining and evaluating the opportunities and threats posed by the external environment in context with the internal strengths and weakness of the organization. In the end, recommendations are given so that Honda can lead to a better outlook in terms of efficiency, resources, planning, operations etc.

Saturday, January 18, 2020

Psychological factors that affect performance in sports Essay

Competition in sports and the general performance of athletes in various competitive activities results in increased stress among the athletes. This increased stress makes the athlete to react mentally and physically in a way that negatively affects the performance capabilities of the athletes. The athletes may tense, increase their heart beats, sweat allover as they agonize about the possible results of their performance. Such athletes find it difficulty to focus on the mission ahead. This aspect has resulted in many coaches and trainers to take more interest in the subject of sports psychology, specifically in the aspect of competitive anxiety. The attention has centered on factors that affect performance in sports, physical activity and exercise and on skills athletes apply in competitive environment. Ones the factors effecting performance are established, the skills required for succeeded in competitive environment are also taught to the athletes. This paper seeks to research on Psychological/mental factors that affect performance in sports, physical activity and exercise. To carry out this objective, the paper will proceed by highlight the issue under discussion, reviewing previous literature on the subject in details, and discussing the finding, the lastly make the concluding remakes based on finding of the researcher paper. The issue Sports participation by athletes places a lot of physical as well psychological stress on these athletes. Rushall and Potgieter (1987) explain that a serious competitive situation is whereby the outcomes of performance of the athletes are most crucial and strongest. Factors which affect the athlete’s view of this situation have been explained by Rushall and Potgieter (1987) as ‘sports stress checklist’. According to Teed, (1987) differences in these factors results in performance inconsistencies, while at the same time they also imply patterns which influence exceptional performance. In tough and serious performance circumstances, it has been established that performance based strategies of specific elements have significant impact on performance reliability and consistency (Syer, and Connolly, 1984). There is always need for particular preparations to be done in various fields such as performing arts, and business, (Goetz). Though, previous studies have established that there is always need for such psychological preparations to be undertaken in the field of sports, it is still being overlooked in many sporting setting by trainers as well as sports psychologists. In addition, when plans or strategies are drawn mainly by the athletes themselves, Syer and Connolly (1984) notes that they result in the following advantages, reduced uncertainty and interpretive disruption as well as stress brought by negative circumstances, improved performance consistency of athletes, better coping ability for difficulties, and lastly reduced performance declines. The following section takes a detailed look on psychological factors that effect performance. Literature review: Factors affecting performance  Segmenting sports activity and other physical activities In case the event or activity to be performed is long, it is required that it should be broken down into shorter segments. The segments ought to be short enough so that the athlete is able to concentrate fully on what is required to be done and thought during that period. This helps the athlete to focus on achieving of successful competition aspects. Arranging competition is this way is termed as segmenting. Segmenting has originated from two main sources. One, the goal-setting past literature has indicated that far-off goals have got less effect on athlete performance compared to proximal goals (Syer and Connolly, 1984). A performance goal which are short-term and which, center on processes required for successful conduct improves performance. Two, people facing extensive assignments normally break the down to better manageable parts Stress Stress is major factor which affects athletes’ performance. Numerous studies have indicated that stress has directly effect athletes, though the extent of the effect is not various and it is hard to measure correctly. In a study to measure stress carried out by Jones and Hardy (1989), electronic gadgets were attached on athletes so as to directly measure the physiological arousal of the athlete using a process termed as telemetry. The gadget transmitted a radio signal into a receiver whereby physiological responses like the heartbeat can be assessed while the athlete is carrying out his/her normal activities and when he/she is involved in sporting action. The study revealed that athletes experience high degree of arousal when in sporting activities. However, the shortcoming with this method of measurement is that the results can not ascertain for sure which kind emotion is being felt by the athlete, it came be anxiety caused by stress, or it could be excitement caused by joy of participation in the sporting event. However, in another study by Jones and Hardy (1989) it revealed that sporting activities are not very much stressful for athletes particularly when compared to other physical activities in which the athletes are evaluated according to their performance. Nonetheless, it remains apparent that sporting situations are able to result in increased degree of stress for many athletes. Instead of the athletes finding competitive sporting activities challenging and enjoyable to take part in, a number of athletes certainly experience anxiety and threats in such a sporting situation. Jones and Hardy (1989) adds that anxiety together with fear resulting from stress are what many individuals would like to avoid, but this is exactly what effects a lot of athletes. Many athletes drop out off sporting activities because of these two aspects, as they find sporting activities to be threatening instead of being pleasant experience. A high number of individual also revealed that they would prefer to take part in sports and other physical activities by they fear that they will perform badly and if there is selection going on, they would even be selected to join the team. Thus, stress is a major factor which affects sports and can reduce the enjoyment of taking part in sporting activities Thought contents of athletes  Performance efficiency of an athlete is usually reduced due to distraction but it is improved by having relevant concentration. However, there are Holingen and Vikander, 1987) asserts that there are a number of exception to this opinion, for instance cognitive interference. But, Jones and Hardy (1989) say that, to perform well in tasks under stressful situation, the athlete has to focus his/her attention on the processes of completing the task successful in the best position. This specifically is true when it comes to sports. Cognitive concepts like attention focus and flow have a characteristic of a particular task orientation. However, this orientation differs in relation to the stage as well as the kind of activity being performed. Cappaert and Rushall (1994) explain that the objective of focusing on task-relevant information is to make sure that every resource is made available to the athlete in sporting activities. Athletes should be being able get focused and concentrate on the cues in a sporting activity so that they can effectively deal with the present task. These skills of focusing assist the athletes to maintain their individual mental intensity within a sporting activity. General techniques of concentrating comprises of avoiding distractions, skills to develop awareness (Syer and Connolly, 1984). Self statement This is your inner voice, what you an athlete says to him/herself. This aspect of self-talk relates to the manner athletes feel and also act. However, Jones and Hardy (1989) explains that changing ones self-statement and making it positive creates a positive mental position, which in term gives the body a positive approach to an a physically activities and makes the athlete to perform better in that activity. This observation is supported by Syer and Connolly(1984) who asserts that self-statement is as well associated with factors which are related to improved performance, for instance coping (Gibson and Heads, 1989), self-efficacy (Jones and Hardy (1989) and self-concept (Selkirk, 1980) In a study carried out by Cappaert and Rushall (1994) they established a direct impact of negative self-talk on swimmers performance. In another observation of 20 tennis players participating in a tournament, it was established that negative self-statement was linked to losing, those players who used positive self-statements and believed in its utility worn much more points as oppose to those with a negative self-talk (Holingen and Vikander, 1987). Positive self-statement was a crucial aspect of a game plan for improving results of basketball (Teed, 1987) and as Holingen, and Vikander (1987) explains for learning essential forms in ice-skating. And also for increasing the total number of wins by tennis players

Friday, January 10, 2020

Excretory System

Excretory system Excretion is the removal of waste products of metabolism from our body system. Contents †¢1 Excretory functions †¢2 Component organs o2. 1 Lungs o2. 2 Kidneys o2. 3 Ureter o2. 4 Urinary bladder o2. 5 Urethra o3 Urine formation4 Reasons For Excretion The excretory system removes metabolic and liquid toxic wastes as well as excess water from the organism, in the form of urine,sweat,urea or bile. This is important so as to help maintain balance within the organism and prevent damage to m the body.As your body performs the many functions that it needs in order to keep itself alive, it produces wastes. These wastes are chemicals that are toxic and that if left alone would seriously hurt or even kill you. For example, as your cells break down amino acids, they produce a dangerous toxin known as urea. The cells of your body excrete this urea into your blood Excretory organs Skin Skin is an excretory organ. The regulation of body temperature causes it to produce sw eat which contain urea surplus water, salts and other waste .Lungs One of the main functions of the lungs is to diffuse gaseous wastes, such as carbon dioxide, from the bloodstream as a normal part of respiration Kidneys The kidney's primary function is the elimination of waste from the bloodstream by production of urine. They perform several homeostatic (metabolic balance) functions such as:- 1. Maintain volume of extracellular fluid 2. Maintain ionic balance in the blood 3. Maintain pH concentration of the blood. 4. Excrete toxic metabolic by-products such as urea, ammonia, and uric acid.The way the kidneys do this is with nephrons inside the glomeruli. There are over 1 million nephrons in each kidney, these nephrons act as filters inside the kidneys. The kidneys filter needed materials and waste, the needed materials go back into the bloodstream, and unneeded materials becomes urine and is gotten rid of. In some cases, excess wastes crystallize as kidney stones. They grow and can become a painful irritant that may require surgery or ultrasound treatments. Some stones are small enough to be forced into the urethra Urine formationWithin the kidney, blood first passes through the renal artery to the capillary formations called a glomerulus and is collected in the Bowman's capsule which filters the blood from its contents—primarily food and wastes. After the filtration process, the blood then returns to collect the food nutrients it needs, while the wastes pass into the collecting duct, to the renal pelvis, and to the ureter, and are then secreted out of the body via the urinary bladder. What is a kidney stone? A kidney stone is a hard, crystalline mineral material formed within the kidney or urinary tract.Kidney stones are a common cause of blood in the urine (hematuria) and often severe pain in the abdomen, flank, or groin. Kidney stones are sometimes called renal calculi. The condition of having kidney stones is termed nephrolithiasis. Having stones a t any location in the urinary tract is referred to as urolithiasis, and the term ureterolithiasis is used to refer to stones located in the ureters. The Human Skin 19. 3 Skin and Lungs as Accessory Excretory Organs In addition to the urinary system, the skin, lungs and liver of vertebrates are accessory excretory organs. 1) Skin: Human skin possesses glands for secreting two fluids on its surface, namely sweat from the sweat glands and sebum from sebaceous glands. (Fig. 19. 7). Sweat is a watery fluid containing in solution primarily contains sodium-chloride, urea,and excess water . Figure 19. 7 Vertical Section of the Skin Sebum is a wax-like secretion which helps to excrete some lipids such as waxes, sterols, other hydrocarbons and fatty acids on the skin. (B) Lungs: Lungs which are the main respiratory organs of vertebrates, help to eliminate the entire volume of carbon dioxide produced in the body, as well as some moisture, during expiration.The lungs maintain the blood-gas home ostasis through elimination of carbon dioxide. When lungs fail to eliminate enough carbon dioxide, the kidneys attempt to compensate. They change some of the carbon dioxide into sodium bicarbonate, which becomes part of the blood buffer system. SUMMARY (1) Excretion is the removal of nitrogenous waste products from the body. (2) Kidneys are the most important excretory organs of mammals. Through filtration, reabsorption and active transport, waste is remove, but kidneys conserve substances useful to the organisms. 4) In general, kidneys regulate the intake and the outflow of water and salts in the blood and help to maintain homeostasis. (5) Regulation of kidney function is achieved by certain hormones such as antidiuretic hormone, aldosterone and angiotensin. (6) Skin and lungs also act as accessory excretory organs. Nitrogenous Waste †¢The liver also works by breaking down nitrogenous waste. Your different metabolic processes in your body are important to keep you alive, but t hey also create waste in the form of nitrogen.The body must then transport the nitrogen waste out of your body. Your liver converts the nitrogenous waste into urea, which is then transported out of the body when you urinate. Bile †¢Once toxins have been converted, the liver deposits the deactivated toxins into the bile. The liver excretes bile as a digestive aid for harder to digest fats, as well as a way to transport toxins out of the body. The bile is then stored in the gallbladder till needed. Once it is needed, it moves the duodenum and helps with the digestion and excretory process.

Thursday, January 2, 2020

Paris - 1378 Words

Happiness By Huang Lu Xin Happiness is a mental or emotional state of well-being characterized by positive or pleasant emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy. A variety of biological, psychological and religious and philosophical approaches have striven to define happiness and identify its sources. Various research groups, including positive psychology, endeavor to apply the scientific method to answer questions about what happiness is, and how it might be attained. Its of such fundamental importance to the human condition that Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness were deemed unalienable rights on the United States Declaration of Independence. Philosophers and religious thinkers often define happiness in†¦show more content†¦A visual aid he created to explain his theory, which he called the hierarchy of needs, is a pyramid depicting the levels of human needs, psychological, and physical. When a human being ascends the steps of the pyramid, he reaches self-actualization. Beyond the routine of needs fulfillment, Maslow envisioned moments of extraordinary experience, known as peak experiences, profound moments of love, understanding, happiness or rapture, during which a person feels more whole, alive, self-sufficient, and yet a part of the world. The Chinese Confucian thinker Mencius, who 2300 years ago sought to give advice to the ruthless political leaders of the warring states period, was convinced that the mind played a mediating role between the lesser self and the greater self and that getting the priorities right between these two would lead to sage-hood. He argued that if we did not feel satisfaction or pleasure in nourishing ones vital force with righteous deeds. More specifically, he mentions the experience of intoxicating joy if one celebrates the practice of the great virtues, especially through music. In the Nicomachean Ethics, written in 350 before christ existed, Aristotle stated that happiness is the only thing that humans desire for its own sake, unlike riches, honor, health or friendship. He observed that men sought riches, honor or health not only for their own sake but alsoShow MoreRelatedThe Attraction to Paris835 Words   |  3 Pagespopular city to visit in France is Paris. So many people visit Paris, but each of them have different reasons for visiting. Some people come to see the major landmarks and attractions. Others come to see the numerous art galleries. The food in Paris draws in tourists all by itself. There are many reasons to visit Paris. Probably the most popular reason to visit Paris is to see all of the most famed monuments. The Eiffel Tower is the unmistakable icon of Paris. Gustave Eiffel designed the towerRead MoreThe Paris Eiffel Tower977 Words   |  4 Pagescould think of in the world nowadays. 1.1 History and background of The Eiffel Tower. 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