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Major Depressive Disorder (2)
Major Depressive Disorder
Kendall Vreeland
Rasmussen College
COURSE#: PRN1555 Psychosocial Nursing Section 02
Kendall Vreeland
May 17th, 2020
Introduction
Major depressive disorder (MDD), also referred to as clinical depression, is a mental disorder that is characterized by at least two weeks of low mood that is manifested across most of the situations. Depression is often characterized by low energy, loss of interest in things and activities that were previously enjoyed, pain without a clear cause as well as low self-esteem (Ready et al., 2016). Besides, individuals who might have been affected by depression may occasionally experience false beliefs, or they may hear or see things that others cannot see or hear. Depression varies depending on the individual affected, as there are individuals who may have periods of depression, which are separated by years in which they are normal, while in others, they always experience the symptoms at all times. Major depressive disorder can adversely affect an individual’s personal life, education, work, and even normal daily activities such as eating, sleeping, and general health. According to statistics, about 2 to 8 percent of adults with major depressive disorder succumb by suicide. About 50 percent of the individuals who die by suicide had depression or any other mood disorder. The depressive syndrome can be caused by a variety of current factors that include a combination of genetic, environmental, and psychological factors.
Types of Depression
There are various types of depression that include major, persistent, manic, or bipolar and postpartum depression.
Major Depression
Major depression is also known as major depressive disorder, unipolar or classic depression (Herane-Vives et al., 2020). In the United States, this kind of depression is relatively common, with about 16.2 million adults having experienced at least one major depressive episode. Individuals with the major depressive disorder do experience the symptoms most of the day, daily. Major depression, just like many of the mental health conditions, has very little to do with what is happening around an individual as a person can have tons of friends, a loving family, as well as the dream job and still be diagnosed with major depressive disorder. However, even if there is no obvious reason to point out the reason for this type of depression, it doesn’t mean that depression isn’t real.
Major depression in its severe form manifests with such symptoms as despondency, difficulty sleeping, loss of appetite, unexplained pains and aches, and loss of interest in formerly pleasurable activities. Besides, the major depressive disorder can manifest with a lack of concentration, feelings of worthlessness, constant worry and anxiety and thoughts of death, self-harm, or suicide. The symptoms of major depression can last for weeks and even months, with some of the individuals having a single episode of major depression. In contrast, others experience it throughout their life. Regardless of how long the symptoms last, major depression can result in problems in a person’s activities and even in their daily activities.
Persistent Depression
A persistent depressive disorder is a type of depression that lasts for more than two years. The persistent disorder is also referred to as chronic depression or dysthymia and is not as intense as a major depressive disorder (Liebherz et al., 2017). However, it can still negatively impact relationships and also make it difficult to perform daily tasks. Persistent depression is manifested by symptoms such as deep sadness or hopelessness, low self-esteem, appetite changes, and the lack of interest in things that were previously enjoyed. Besides, persistent depression may present with changes in sleep patterns, concentration and memory problems, social withdrawal, difficulty in functioning at school, and the inability to feel joy even at happy occasions. Persistent depression is a long-term type of depression, but despite this, the condition manifests its severity after several months after onset. Some individuals have an onset of major depression before experiencing persistent depression, a situation often referred to as a double depression. However, persistent depression may last for years after onset. Therefore, individuals with this kind of depression may begin to feel like their symptoms are part of their normal outlook on life.
Manic Depression or Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition that consists of periods of hypomania or mania, such feelings of extreme happiness on some occasions and episodes of depression at other times. Manic depression is characterized by episodes of mania that lasts for more than seven days or less if the individual requires hospitalization (Carmassi et a., 2020). A depressive episode may occur before or after the manic episodes. Symptoms of depressive episodes manifest in the form of feelings of sadness or emptiness, lack of energy, trouble in concentration, sleep problems, and fatigue. Other symptoms include decreased activity, suicidal thoughts, as well as a loss of interest in previously enjoyable activities. Manic episodes manifest with such symptoms as irritability, high energy, racing thoughts and speech, reduced sleep, feeling elated, increased self-esteem, grandiose thinking, and unusual, risky and self-destructive behavior. In the severe cases of manic depression, an individual can experience episodes of hallucinations and delusions.
Postpartum Depression
Postpartum depression is a mental condition that occurs after pregnancy, and this is attributed to the shifts in hormonal balance, thus affecting the woman’s mood (Okun, 2016). Depression might onset during pregnancy or after the birth of the child. After giving birth, mood changes, irritability, and anxiety are common symptoms associated with giving birth and often last up to two weeks. However, postpartum depression symptoms tend to be more severe and long-lasting. Postpartum depression manifests with such symptoms as low moods and feelings of sadness, severe mood swings, social withdrawal appetite changes, and trouble bonding with the newborn. Other symptoms of postpartum depression include feeling helpless and hopeless, anxiety and panic attacks, and thoughts of suicide and self-hurting, as well as the loss of interest in things the individual previously used to enjoy. Postpartum depression can range from persistent lethargy and sadness that require medical treatment to postpartum psychosis, which are mood episodes accompanied by hallucinations, confusion, and delusions. If postpartum depression is left untreated, it can last up to a year, affecting individual relationships as well as the ability to carry on with their daily life activities.
Causes of Depression
There are three major causes of depression and which include biochemistry, genetics, and environmental factors.
Biochemistry
Depression is a medical condition that is involved with mood, thoughts, and body. As a result, it tends to affect how an individual eats, sleeps as well as how they feel about themselves. One of the major causes of depression is the biochemical causes (de Castro Chaves et al., 2019). Depression can be triggered by traumatic events, blood sugar imbalances, genetic conditions, poor diet, hormonal imbalances, medical illnesses, digestive problems as well as drug and substance abuse. However, a combination of all these results to neurotransmitter imbalances in the body of an individual. According to evidence, brain chemistry plays a significant role in depressive disorders. Neurotransmitters are the chemicals in the brain that are responsible for the carrying signals to the brain and nerves. If the message is not relayed correctly, depression, along with other mental and physical problems do occur. A single neurotransmitter imbalance can result in multiple symptoms of depression. Therefore, it is significant to run neurotransmitter tests to check whether the brain’s biochemistry is functioning to the optimum.
Genetics
Mental conditions are more common among individuals whose blood relatives also depict issues of mental illness. Clinical depression is one of the most common forms of depression, as according to research by the Stanford School of Medicine, about 10% of the Americans experience clinical depression at some points in their lives. Clinical depression is also more likely to be transferred to siblings and children, and this means that a person whose relative suffers from depression is more likely, almost five times to get depression as well. The reason behind this is that there is a gene behind family susceptibility to depression. According to research, a gene postulated to be prevalent in multiple family members with depression have been isolated. The chromosome 3p25-26 was found in more than 800 families with recurrent episodes of depression. According to scientists, more than 40% of depressed individuals can trace their cause back to genetic links (Van Hecke et al., 2017). However, only 60% of the depression cases result from environmental and other factors.
Environmental Factors
Depression is not only triggered by genetic and biochemistry factors, but it can also result from environmental predisposition. Depression, therefore, can be triggered by stressful life events (Kendler & Gardner, 2016). The death of a loved one is the common environmental causation of depression as it leads to trauma. Other factors such as divorce, job loss, or financial difficulties can be considered as stressful life events that may increase an individual’s susceptibility to depression. Another environmental factor that can lead to depression is social isolation. Most of the individuals who tend to isolate themselves from the general population have poor coping mechanisms as they have no one to share their problems with, and this increases the chances of depression becoming severe. Demanding work or a stressful workplace can, on the other hand, be attributed to trigger the onset of depression as an individual may get frustrated as they try to fulfill the demands of the job. The inability to satisfy the job requirements may be stressful as it puts the employee at risk of being fired. Finally, health issues, especially when an individual is suffering from chronic health problems, can be stressful may impact on the family as well as the patient increasing their chances of getting depression.
Diagnosis of Depression
Every condition requires to be diagnosed so that the right treatment can be administered. Depression can be diagnosed in for main ways. One way to diagnose depression is through physical exams. The doctor conducts a physical exam and asks questions regarding the individual’s health. In some cases, depression may be linked to an underlying physical health problem, and this provides a basis for physical diagnosis. Another way to diagnose depression is through lab tests. A doctor or health professional may conduct a blood test referred to as a complete blood count. Besides, the health professional may perform thyroid tests to make sure that it is functioning properly. Psychiatric evaluation is another way to diagnose depression. A mental health professional may ask questions regarding the symptoms, feelings, thoughts, and behavioral patterns, and this may either be done through an oral interview or through answering a questionnaire. Assessing behavioral patterns helps in identifying whether an individual is suffering from depression.
Demographics of Depression
The onset of depression can occur at any age and can affect people of all races. Besides, individuals from all socioeconomic statuses as well are susceptible to depression. According to statistics, the median age of the onset of depression is 32.5 years old. However, the prevalence of adults with a major depressive episode tends to be high among individuals aged between 18 years and 25 years. About 11.3% of the adults of mixed races report having experienced a major depressive episode in the past year. Besides, 8.7% of women in the United States suffer from depression, while about 5.3% of men are diagnosed with depression. A survey conducted by the CDC found that the prevalence of depression decreases with an increase in family income levels. The reason behind it is that it can be inferred that high-income results in less money-related stress as well as improved access to mental health services. Statistics also have it that the prevalence rates among men and women have been fairly consistent over the past decades. Demographic data depicts that women experience depression at a higher rate, roughly twice the rate as men.
Effects of Depression on the Brain
Three parts of the brain play a vital role in the development of major depressive disorder, and that is the amygdala, hippocampus, and the prefrontal context. During the incidence of mental and physical stress, such as depression, the body releases cortisol to try and contain the situation. However, excessive production of cortisol results in a chemical imbalance in the brain. Long term exposure to high levels of cortisol slows down the production of new neurons and, as a result, causes the neurons in the hippocampus to shrink, leading to memory problems (Olson, 2018). The prefrontal context is involved with the regulation of emotions, forming memories as well as making decisions. High amounts of cortisol in the brain results in shrinking of the prefrontal context. The amygdala facilitates emotional responses such as fear and pleasure. Exposure to a more elevated amount of cortisol makes it enlarged, leading to disturbances in sleep and activity patterns.
Treatment of Depression
Depression, if left untreated, can be fatal, and therefore, there is a need for diagnosis and treatment. There are various treatment options for depression. Psychotherapy is one of the treatment methods and involves talk therapy. Three main types of therapies can be used in the treatment of depression, and they include cognitive behavioral therapy, psychodynamic therapy, and interpersonal therapy (Lorenzo-Luaces et al., 2017). All three are combined in a blended approach to ensure an effective treatment of depression. Another treatment option for depression includes medication. Depression medication helps in restoring the chemical balance in the brain and also helps in relieving some of the symptoms of moderate and severe depression. Most commonly administered medications include antidepressants to reduce depression. Finally, brain stimulation therapies, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), is also an effective depression treatment method. TMS involves directing recurring magnetic energy pulses to the regions of the brain that are involved in mood regulation.
Conclusion
Depression is one of the common issues that have been prevalent not only in the United States but also to the rest of the world. There are various types of depression, with the major depressive disorder being the most prevalent. A large number of people, especially adults, have at one time in their lives suffered from depression, which has affected their relationships and daily activities. Depression can be triggered by various factors such as environmental factors, genetic as well as the biochemistry of a person. If left untreated, depression can be fatal, and therefore, diagnosis and treatment through therapy and medication are necessary.
References
Carmassi, C., Shear, K. M., Corsi, M., Bertelloni, C. A., Dell’Oste, V., & Dell’Osso, L. (2020). Mania Following Bereavement: State of the Art and Clinical Evidence. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 11.
de Castro Chaves, R., Mallmann, A. S. V., Oliveira, N. F., Oliveira, I. C. M., Capibaribe, V. C. C., da Silva, D. M. A., … & Vasconcelos, S. M. M. (2019). Reversal effect of Riparin IV in depression and anxiety caused by corticosterone chronic administration in mice. Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior, 180, 44-51.
Herane-Vives, A., Arnone, D., de Angel, V., Papadopoulos, A., Wise, T., Alameda, L., … & Cleare, A. J. (2020). Cortisol levels in unmedicated patients with unipolar and bipolar major depression using hair and saliva specimens. International Journal of Bipolar Disorders, 8(1), 1-9.
Kendler, K. S., & Gardner, C. O. (2016). Depressive vulnerability, stressful life events and episode onset of major depression: a longitudinal model. Psychological medicine, 46(9), 1865-1874.
Liebherz, S., Machmutow, K., Jansen, A., Meister, R., Watzke, B., Härter, M. C., & Kriston, L. (2017). Continuation and maintenance treatments for persistent depressive disorder. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (11).
Lorenzo-Luaces, L., Driessen, E., DeRubeis, R. J., Van, H. L., Keefe, J. R., Hendriksen, M., & Dekker, J. (2017). Moderation of the alliance-outcome association by prior depressive episodes: Differential effects in cognitive-behavioral therapy and short-term psychodynamic supportive psychotherapy. Behavior Therapy, 48(5), 581-595.
Okun, M. L. (2016). Disturbed sleep and postpartum depression. Current psychiatry reports, 18(7), 66.
Olson, E. (2018). Effects on the Hippocampal Volume and Function: Stress and Depression Versus Physical Exercise.
Ready, R. E., Mather, M. A., Santorelli, G. D., & Santospago, B. P. (2016). Apathy, alexithymia, and depressive symptoms: Points of convergence and divergence. Psychiatry research, 244, 306-311.
Van Hecke, O., Hocking, L. J., Torrance, N., Campbell, A., Padmanabhan, S., Porteous, D. J., … & Smith, B. H. (2017). Chronic pain, depression and cardiovascular disease linked through a shared genetic predisposition: Analysis of a family-based cohort and twin study. PloS one, 12(2).
Major Depressive Disorder
Major Depressive Disorder
Kendall Vreeland
Rasmussen College
COURSE#: PRN1555 Psychosocial Nursing Section 02
Kendall Vreeland
May 17th, 2020
Title: Major Depressive Disorder
Thesis: Depressive syndrome can be caused by many current factors.
I. What exactly is Depression?
A. Depression, or (major depressive disorder), is quite common and is a very serious medical illness that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think and how you behave.
B. History of depression
II. Depression has many faces
A. Types of depression
1) Major Depression
2) Persistent Depression
3) Manic depression, or bipolar disorder
4) Postpartum Depression
B. Factors that cause depression
1) Biochemistry
2) Genetics
3) Environmental factors
III. Effects of depression on the brain
A. The hippocampus
B. Amygdala
C. The prefrontal cortex
IV. How is depression diagnosed?
Physical exam
Lab tests
Psychiatric evaluation
V. Treating depression
A. Psychotherapy
B. Medications
C. Brain stimulation therapies
D.Untreated depression
VI. Demographics of depression
A. Men
B. Woman
C. Teens
D. Older adults
VI. Conclusion
A. Summarize.
References:
American Psychological Association. (2010). Publication manual of the American Psychological
American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), Fifth edition. 2013.
Goldman, L. (2019). Depression: What it is, symptoms, causes, treatment, types, and more. Retrieved from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/8933
The National Institute of Mental Health. (2018). Depression. Retrieved from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depression/index.shtml
Morrison-Valfre, M. (2017) Foundations of Mental Health Care. [Bookshelf Ambassadored]. Retrieved from https://ambassadored.vitalsource.com/#/books/9780323354929/
Major Changes at Netflix A Success Story of Transformation on an International Level
Major Changes at Netflix: A Success Story of Transformation on an International Level
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Major Changes at Netflix: A Success Story of Transformation on an International Level
Introduction
Change in an organization refers to business transformation in which a corporation modifies its business tools, including its business policies and strategies as well as its processes, structure, architecture, and culture (Sartori et al., 2018). The most common causes for change management are technological advancements, globalization, changes in market conditions, bad performance, and the demands of customers. The institutional adjustments make it possible for the corporation to adapt to the digital economy. As a result, several firms have implemented technology advancements in order to keep pace with the digital age. Organizational transformation supports a corporation in substituting outdated processes with more effective techniques in order to get a competitive advantage in a given market. Netflix is one of the most successful examples of corporate transformation as it embraces the modifications that are necessary to adapt to the new environment.
Organizational Change at Netflix: Major Changes that Redefined the Movie Industry
Technology has altered numerous aspects of the universe, encompassing schooling, commerce, sports, and entertainment, among others. As a result of modern technology like computers the internet, smartphones, and social media, several well-known enterprises have gone out of business (McCord, 2014). Some people have been able to adapt with the pressure of transition by using complex techniques and embracing organizational change, while others have struggled. Netflix is among the best illustration of an organization that has had to adapt its business model and strategic planning so as to stay in business. It has successfully dealt with the impacts of institutional change in to gain a competitive advantage.
Netflix was established in 1997 in the state of California, United States. Nevertheless, the organization began operations in 1998, when it began selling DVDs and renting out DVDs over the mail. The commodity was a DVD which was basically rented out through the mail, while the payment scheme was a pay-per-rental strategy (Hughes, 2015). Netflix debuted its new subscription service the next year, in 1999, allowing consumers to rent DVDs on a monthly basis. Subscribers were able to take advantage of unlimited DVD renting with monthly payments through this service. As a result, the pay-per-use approach has been replaced with a monthly subscription model. Netflix users select the movies and videos they want to watch from the company’s official website. Following that, the programmes are distributed to subscribers in the format of DVDs by the distributors (Bariso, 2015). Netflix launched a new video streaming service for movies and television programs in 2007, which has since become widely popular. The effective utilization of the change force has contributed significantly to the success of the movie streaming giant. Netflix, on the flip side, is widely considered to be among the major platforms for streaming latest movies, series, television shows, and other entertainment content.
Since its founding in 1997 as a DVD rental service, Netflix has grown into an international streaming organization with more than 75 million consumers in more than 190 nations (Netflix Inc, 2016). The firm’s award-winning original programming is available to clients now, and they may watch television shows, documentaries, and feature films, among other things. In accordance with the organizational profile of Netflix, one of the advantages of watching films in this format contrary to conventional, linear television programming is that consumers get the opportunity of playing, pausing, and resuming their favourite shows (Company Profile, n.d.). Netflix is committed to ensuring that its content can be accessed on as many Internet-connected displays as possible in order to maintain its position as a leader in the streaming programming market, according to the company.
As per the corporation’s 2018 Annual Report, Netflix has adopted a fundamental strategic plan that to grow the streaming membership business internationally, and they are persisting to enhance the services offered to their members by expanding the streaming content focusing on a variety of genres and meeting the needs of consumers. Netflix is also constantly improving its user interface and expanding the reach of its streaming services to include additional screens for increased viewership (Netflix Inc, 2016). Figure 1 below shows the average weekly consumption of Netflix per major regions in hours. It shows that with immediate satisfaction and hectic schedules as the norm in today’s society, Netflix adds value to its consumers’ lives by making content available at any given moment on various devices, and by allowing each consumer convenience to choose what to watch and for infinite number of times depending on choice.
Figure 1: Weekly Netflix video consumption in major regions in hours (source: businessmodelanalyst.com, 2018)
With relation to comprehensive e-engineering, quality management, innovation, and restructuring, Netflix has been the most actively involved in the transition process. The firm’s domination of the market necessitated the implementation of these reforms (Fairchild, 2016). The organization has had to change on a continuous basis as a result of the use of TQM to assess consumer trends. Licensing is expensive, and the company needs to keep corporate costs under control while making continuous attempts to enhance the variety of movies, television shows, and series offered. E-engineering has served a role in making sure that Netflix’s infrastructure has been enhanced in order to handle the large number of requests from members. Restructuring has proven to be critical in maintaining the talent required for e-engineering projects.
Innovation, Intrapreneurship, and Creativity
Innovation, intrapreneurship, and creativity has been the main competencies that keep Netflix afloat in the ever-changing business environment. Intrapreneurship has a vital role to play in the attainment of innovation and creativity. These elements are mentioned by Blanka (2019) to be key ingredients in enabling sustainable competitive advantage. Individuals with entrepreneurial skills create an innovative environment in existing business activities and attempt to achieve sustainable growth.
Netflix started out as a DVD rental service, and it was in this part of the entertainment business that the corporation first began to cause havoc with the status quo (Dawson, 2016). Netflix, which entered the market by offering DVD rentals through the mail, has since surpassed the dominance of video retail establishments such as Blockbuster. Consumers were able to rent films from the comfort of their own homes, thanks to this one-of-a-kind service (The Economist, 2016). The institutional shift at Netflix provides a real-life illustration of Lewin’s change management approach. Every organizational change has a number of steps that must be completed in order for the change to be successful. The most important variables that influence an organization’s willingness to accept change are technology, culture, and the environment in which it operates, which Netflix leverages through innovation, creativity, and intrapreneurship.
Nature of Changes at Netflix and its Success
Netflix managed to provide a new, differentiated service that consumers valued, forcing existing competitors to either evolve or go out of business as a result. Blockbuster, for instance, failed to respond to the changing business and went bankrupt as a result of their failure. Technological advancements, shifting consumer preferences, severe rivalry, and the emergence of a worldwide marketplace, as demonstrated by Netflix’s disruption of the DVD rental industry, are driving transformation in the entertaining video industry today. Figure 2 below shows its success following this strategy by 2018. Market players must be creative and responsive in order to remain relevant; otherwise, they risk becoming obsolete. “The entertainment video industry is fiercely competitive and vulnerable to quick change,” says the author (Netflix, Inc. 10-K, 2015). Netflix used the term quantum technological transition (Jones, 2013, p. 367) for the first time when they debuted their mail order DVD business. With the help of modern internet technologies, this service was able to develop a whole new service offering that people rapidly discovered they enjoyed. As a result of this significant innovation, there is more unpredictability in the marketplace, and the competitive environment has shifted. Netflix caused competitors to alter their business models as a result of the company’s success.
Figure 2: Netflix as the video consumption platform of choice in America (Source: Statista.com, 2018)
Reasons for Organizational Change at Netflix
With regards to Corfield (2017), the organization is growing more and more well-known with each passing day for its ease of use, high-quality content, and improved functionalities. After all, the incorporation and adaptation of technological advancements is an unavoidable part of meeting and exceeding client expectations. Consumers in the 21st century would never want to spend additional time traveling to and from the cinema. Consumers would go to the theatre to watch new releases before watching films at home on Netflix. This is no longer the case. People can easily be entertained by technological advances, such as a desktop, a laptop, and a smartphone, thanks to the availability of internet access.
Lessons Learnt from Netflix’s Successful Transformation
A major lesson is that one must continuously keep changing and evolving with regard to the global changes. Another observation is that one must tailor their organizational changes with the objectives and goals of the shareholders. The decision to change its business model made Netflix one of the most successful organizations of the 21st century. The company basically has a huge market share of the film industry. The majority of people throughout the world utilize social media in a variety of contexts, including education, entertainment, and marketing. Netflix’s decision-makers had anticipated an increase in market demand. Consequently, the firm has shifted its business strategy to enable individuals to view films as well as television shows on computers and handheld devices. Netflix’s executives discovered that customers did not want to store video, so they adjusted the company’s business model. Furthermore, Netflix is continuously on the lookout for new strategies from competitors, making it stand out in the US and globally as shown in figure 3 below.
Figure 3: Dominance of Netflix in the US compared to other subscription service providers (Statista.com, 2019)
Apart from the above, another major lesson gained from Netflix’s successful transformation is a critical response to the external environment that is always changing. From the external influencers that have shaped Netflix’s path, it is increasingly clear that political, economic, social, cultural, technological, and legal issues will always be changing (Tallman, Luo, & Buckley, 2018). These agents of the external environment are important for growth because they push an organization to remain adaptable and flexible to changes. According to Vladoc and Chatzinikolaou (2019), being aware of the external environment and making the required changes and transformations is a revelation of growth. Netflix’s transformation helps to create an understanding of what is expected of a successful firm in relation to the future.
Netflix has shown great innovation and creativity when it comes to strategy formulation. This is one of the greatest lessons that can be derived from the organization’s success in its environment and industry. Sartori et al. (2018) identify an innovation strategy to be a key way for an organization to clarify its objectives and priorities. Innovation and related strategies are an important element of the success of an organization, particularly in the current overly competitive business environment. Innovation allows an organization to outline its goals including all of the activities that will aid in focusing efforts on the attainment of said goals. For example, Netflix’s innovative strategy was pegged on improvements to the DVD rental service, attempting to give customers a more flawless experience. With this innovative strategy, the company was able to align its goals and priorities in a way that enables success in the long term.
How Netflix Deals with the Forces that come with Organizational Change
As stated earlier, organizational change relates to the procedure of adjusting and transforming the way a corporation conducts its business. The organization implements a little or large adjustment in order to increase productivity and adapt to the new circumstances. When it comes to change in a firm, there are two primary components to consider: external factors and internal factors. Technological advances, globalization, political and social transition, and the management of ethical behaviours are examples of external factors. Changing technology conditions and globalization, for instance, are the key external pressures that prompted Netflix to modify one of its features.
Similarly, internal changes within an organization are meant to expose the organization to the inner strengths and weaknesses, thus propelling an organization to progress. Combined, internal and external changes, from the case of Netflix, will provide the drive and experience to push beyond the constraints of an industry. Internal factors such as human resources, current technology, and financial power are all important for Netflix in its quest to succeed in its industry. Additionally, Netflix has to deal with a corporate culture of success, one that sets the bar on performance and expectations from all stakeholders.
Further Developments and Change at Netflix
Expectations and behaviours are altered as a result of new technology, which alters the characteristics, tools, and patterns of an organization’s product or service offered. Netflix was able to successfully navigate the forces of change in order to achieve success and wealth for the corporation, giving it an edge in the international market as shown in figure 4 below. Internal forces, such as changes in managerial people, work climate, efficiency, employee expectations, and crises, can also affect an organization’s decision to modify management practices. Netflix, for instance, recognized that viewing a movie at home would cut the entertainment expense and alleviate the transport problems in the area. As a result, Netflix agreed to the organizational restructuring.
Figure 4: Netflix United States versus international audience 2007-2016 (Source: statista.com, 2017)
Conclusion
Netflix took its first steps as a typical corporation; however, it has gained a competitive edge by adapting its business model to meet the needs of its customers. The firm’s top management modified its structure in order to keep up with emerging technology. It has had two revisions, in 1999 and 2007. Nevertheless, since its introduction in 2007, the video streaming service has gained enormous popularity and generated significant revenue for the corporation. The discussion identifies some essential insights that can be applied to every business. One major observation is that it is always necessary to alter the characteristics of an organization in order to meet client expectations. Furthermore, digital adaptation and acceptance must be welcomed in order to provide satisfaction to both employees and customers. For the organization to work optimally, advanced features as well as tools must be introduced. For example, Netflix began its online video streaming feature in 2007 and has since expanded its capabilities.
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