Kate Chopin’s “Desiree’s Baby” Essay

Kate Chopin’s â€Å"Desiree’s Baby† is a short story set in Louisiana in the late 1800’s. Slavery was still prominent in society, and the color of a person’s skin chose what caste he or she would occupy. Desiree has married Armand Aubigny, a wealthy bachelor. The origin of Desiree’s family is shrouded in mystery; she was found by her adoptive parents, the Valmonde’s, when she was young. Years later, Armand and Desiree have a son, whom they both adore. But after three months, their son has gotten darker in skin tone. Armand instantly recoils from both him and Desiree. His coldness towards them eventually leads Desiree to the bayou, their son in hand. After weeks of no contact from his wife, Armand burns all of her things, where he stumbles upon a letter from his mother. It reveals that he is the son of a slave woman. The major theme Chopin was using throughout â€Å"Desiree’s Baby† is the impact society has on race. If a person was white, he or she was considered superior to other races. A white man could vote, own property, and run for council; though a white woman wouldn’t receive these rights until the 1960’s, she was still held in a higher position than a black woman or man. Blacks had little rights given to them, and it still took a hundred years before they were viewed as equals. Mixed children weren’t exactly rare; some white slave owners thought little of taking advantage of one of their black house-keepers or slaves. If the child had lighter skin, sometimes they were treated better. Such is the case with Armando. By the end of the story, Chopin drops a bomb that leaves her audience with a chill: Armand’s mother was African-American, meaning Armand was a slave’s son. It wasn’t Desiree who gave their son his dark skin, it was Armand. Armand was incredibly narrow-minded, as he no longer cares for either his wife or his child because he thought Desiree’s genes gave their son dark skin. Although intolerance towards blacks wasn’t exactly unpopular back in the 19th century, Armand takes it to a new level when he doesn’t attempt to stop Desiree from leaving. He was smitten with her from the moment he laid eyes on her, and yet at the thought of having a diluted bloodline, his adoration transformed into hatred. Chopin was making a point when she allowed the story to end the way it did. She is noted for writing about taboo topics that women normally didn’t breach, such as women’s role as subservient characters to the male-dominated society. Although she was just writing a short story, she also wanted to leave the reader with lasting emotions once the story ended. Desiree killed herself, as well as her son, because she couldn’t stand the repulsion Armand felt towards her. With ethnicity being the major theme of this short story, I have chosen that topic as my critical approach. It’s clear that Chopin was focusing more on the injustice served to blacks then any sort of injustice women were handed in 1800’s society.

Questions: Mobile Phone and Personal Navigation Devices Essay

Overview As TomTom, one of the largest producers of satellite navigation devices in the world, entered 2010 it faced stiff competition from its traditional rivals such as Garmin and from new competition from cell phones. Although its sales reached an all time high of â‚ ¬1.74 billion in 2007 by 2008 sales had slipped to â‚ ¬1.67 billion. That year the company posted a loss of â‚ ¬872 million. The decline in sales continued with 2009 sales slipping to â‚ ¬1.48 billion, although the company managed to post net income of â‚ ¬86 million that year. TomTom employed over 3,000 employees in 40 countries. Since its founding in 1991, the Netherlands-based company experienced steady growth. It offered an array of information services and devices aimed at the consumer and business markets. It led the navigation market in Europe, and was second to Garmin in the United States. In 2007, it outbid Garmin to acquire Tele Atlas in a vertical integration strategy to control the map creation process. TomTom paid â‚ ¬2.9 billion for Tele Atlas. As 2009 came to a close, Google announced it would offer turn-by-turn navigation within cell phones. Google said the product, initially limited to driving directions in the U.S. would be free to consumers. As the U.S. and European markets for navigation devices matured, TomTom was faced with decisions related to the relative emphasis it should place on its stand-alone navigation devices, built-in navigational units for automobiles and aviation, and business devices and services aimed at companies with large mobile workforces. Suggestions for Using the Case Students should find the TomTom case interesting since many of them probably own a GPS unit or use a smartphone- based GPS application. The Nintendo case is excellent for drilling students in applying the concepts and analytical tools covered in Chapters 4 and 5. The case provides sufficient information to allow students to fully examine the competitive forces at play in the personal navigation industry, consider the industry’s driving forces and key success factors, and examine TomTom’s internal situation. In addition, the case’s decision focus allows students to consider what TomTom must do to survive in an increasingly competitive environment. To give students  guidance in what to do and think about in preparing the TomTom case for class discussion, we strongly recommend providing class members with a set of study questions and insisting that they prepare good notes/answers to these questions in preparing for class discussion of the case. You may also find it beneficial to have your class read the Guide to Case Analysis that is posted in the student section of the Online Learning Center for the 18th edition at www.mhhe.com/thompson. Students will find the content of this Guide particularly helpful if this is their first experience with cases and they are unsure about the mechanics of how to prepare a case for class discussion, oral presentation, or written analysis. TomTom: New Competition Everywhere! *This teaching note was prepared by Professor Woody Richardson, Mississippi State University. We are most grateful for his insight, analysis and contributions to how the case can be taught successfully. * In our experience, it is quite difficult to have an insightful and constructive class discussion of an assigned case unless students have conscientiously have made use of pertinent core concepts and analytical tools in preparing substantive answers to a set of well-conceived study questions before they come to class. In our classes, we expect students to bring their notes to the study questions to use/refer to in responding to the questions that we pose. Moreover, students often find having a set of study questions is useful in helping them prepare oral team presentations and written case assignments—in addition to whatever directive questions you supply for these assignments. Hence, we urge that you insist students spend quality time preparing answers to study questions— either those we have provided or a set of your own questions. The case can be used effectively for a written assignment or oral presentation. Our recommended questions for written assignments are as follows: You have recently been hired by TomTom as a new market analyst and have been asked to assess the attractiveness of the personal navigation industry and determine TomTom’s competitive strength. Please prepare a 5-6 page report that evaluates competition in the industry, assesses industry driving forces, and lists industry key success factors. Your report should also include an assessment of TomTom’s internal  situation and makes specific strategy recommendations that will allow TomTom to improve its market and financial performance. Assignment Questions 1. What strategy is TomTom pursuing?  2. How well is the strategy working?  3. Does the satellite navigation industry offer attractive opportunities for growth? What kind of competitive forces are industry members facing and how do the forces influence the outlook for industry profitability? 4. What are the strengths and weaknesses of TomTom? What are the threats and opportunities facing the company? 5. Do you think TomTom’s shift to value-added services and making Personal Navigation Devices a smaller portion of total revenue will be enough to sustain it in the near future? Is this strategy consistent with the needs of markets outside North America and Europe? 6. What recommendations would you make to TomTom management to improve its competitive position in the satellite navigation industry, take advantage of market opportunities, and defend against external threats? Teaching Outline and Analysis 1. What strategy is TomTom pursuing? For the most part, TomTom has followed product development and market development strategies with clear emphasis on differentiating its product. Its 2007 acquisition of Tele Atlas was clearly illustrative of vertical integration. Through the years its acquisitions and patent development display elements of an offensive basis of competitive attack based on pursuing continuous product innovation to draw sales and market share away from less innovative rivals. A good use of the history section of the case is to have students classify or label TomTom’s historical actions related to products and markets into product development or market development. The results might look like the following table. Time Action Described in Case Strategy Early 1990s Software development for handheld computers to commercial applications. Product Development & Market Development 1996 Announced first navigation software Market Development 2001 Entered Mobile car satellite navigation market Market Development 2006-2008 Acquired Datafactory AG to power TomTom Work Acquired Applied Generics for Mobility Solutions. Acquired Tele Atlas for map creation Product Development Product Development Vertical Integration 2009 TomTom for the iPhone released Market Development The TomTom Group consisted of TomTom (Business to Consumer), Tele Atlas (Business to Business), WORK (Commercial Fleets), and Automotive (Auto Manufacturers & Suppliers). In response to the economic downturn that began in 2007, increased competitive threats, and growth declines in the U.S. and Europe, the company shifted its business mix toward value-added services. The potential results of this attempt to make personal navigation devices (PNDs) a smaller proportion of total revenue were at best uncertain. 2. How well is the strategy working? The short answer is that up until the global economic downturn beginning in 2007 and continuing in 2008, TomTom’s strategy had produced outstanding results. However, as the losses in 2008 indicate, the strategy bears scrutiny. The downward pressure on prices due to competition and the slowing of discretionary expenditures due to the global recession produced a financial strain on TomTom. An examination of Case Exhibits 3 and 4 reveals the following trends from the first Quarter of 2008 to the first quarter of 2009: ÃŽ ½ European Revenue Down 22% ÃŽ ½ North America Revenue Down 52% ÃŽ ½ Global PNDs sold Down 29%. At the same time, the selling price and overall operating margins had been decreasing since 2007. The gross profit margins from 2006-2009 were as  follows: 2009 2008 2007 2006 50.6% 53.3% 56.0% 57.6% This caused net income to drop much more precipitously than the decline in sales. Couple this information with a debt load over â‚ ¬1 billion due to the acquisition of Tele Atlas and the company appeared to be in a financial bind. For all of 2008, the company posted a loss of â‚ ¬872 million. 3. Does the satellite navigation industry offer attractive opportunities for growth? What kind of competitive forces are industry members facing and how do the forces influence the outlook for industry profitability? The outlook for industry profitability is not what it was 5 years ago. Students should be able to develop an outlook by using Porter’s Model of Industry Attractiveness as discussed in Chapter 3 of the text. Rivalry among Competing Sellers Rivalry will intensify as industry growth in US & Europe slows. Margins will continue to decline. Firms will fight to utilize capacity through further price cuts. Growth in China & India would mitigate the rivalry intensity. Buyers Big Box stores exert strong pressure on price, terms & delivery. Car makers also exert strong influence owing to their purchasing power. Suppliers Very limited influence as all key components are controlled through vertical integration. Threat from Substitute Products Major Threat – Cell phones for PNDs predicted to dominate by 2013. Less Threat – Fleet management & Automotive markets. Potential New Entrants Nokia’s acquisition of Navteq signals their intent to integrate phone and navigation services. Google’s announcement also signals its entry into the market. Up until recently the industry was much more attractive. Physical maps were not much of a threat as a substitute, but by 2009 the industry was undergoing a sea change regarding cell phones as substitutes. For the younger consumers who have never not known cell phones, the expectation that navigation be a common feature will be a strong force in the market just as many in this generation only wear watches as fashion ornaments because they are never without their cell phone. These tech-saavy consumers may eschew separate devices for navigation. 4. What are the strengths and weaknesses of TomTom? What are the threats and opportunities facing the company? Strengths Weaknesses †¢ Brand Name Recognition †¢ Map creation capabilities †¢ Innovative features — Mapshare — Points of Interest — Traffic updates †¢ Automotive partnerships †¢ European market share †¢ Sales declines †¢ Shrinking margins †¢ Debt load since Tele Atlas acquisition †¢ Relative weak sales outside Europe & the United States †¢ Stand alone (separate) products Threats Opportunities †¢ PND unit sales decline †¢ Multifunctional devices (cell phones/smart phones) popularity is growing †¢ Strong Competition from Traditional competitors – Garmin & Magellan †¢ Strong Competition from new competitors – Nokia & Google †¢ Potential legislation to restrict/ban navigational devices from autos †¢ Aging satellites that support GPS †¢ Growth of India & China †¢ 65% of U.S. adults don’t own any kind of navigation device of any kind †¢ High fuel prices encourage better fleet management & fuel efficiency for consumers †¢ Environmental concerns encourage better fleet management & consumer behavior to be â€Å"green† 5. Do you think TomTom’s shift to value-added services and making Personal Navigation Devices a smaller portion of total revenue will be enough to sustain it in the near future? Is this strategy consistent with the needs of markets outside North America and Europe? This is a difficult question. Certainly the move to reduce the company’s reliance on PNDs, a product category with declining sales, prices, and margins seemed a prudent measure. The efficacy of this strategy will depend on at least two key questions. ÃŽ ½ How fast will the PND market continue to shift to cell phones? If the analysts are correct and the cell phones will dominate the delivery for personal navigation devices then TomTom may need to accelerate its plans to reduce its dependency on this category. Students should recognize that as the demand for stand-alone PNDs declines the price will drop even more precipitously. ÃŽ ½ How fast can TomTom grow its non-PND business lines? One bright potential bright spot for TomTom could be the demand for more partnerships with car makers. Car makers will likely offer navigational devices as standard features rather than luxury options. TomTom could be well positioned (if it chooses to do so) to garner a share of this market similar to its deal announced at the end of 2008 with Renault. Of course, the car makers would continue the downward price pressure, but would represent a sizable market opportunity. Of course, should legislation be introduced to ban navigational devices in automobiles this would have a profound effect on TomTom and its competitors. Some students will be quick to point out that the markets in China and India would be lagging the U.S.  and Europe and would therefore be ripe for market penetration without any significant outlay for new product development. However, better students will point out that China and India both have significant cell phone penetration and they may actually be more desirous of product integration and multi-bfunctionality. 6. What recommendations would you make to TomTom management to improve its competitive position in the satellite navigation industry, take advantage of market opportunities, and defend against external threats? First, there appears to be no â€Å"magic bullet† capable of taking a strong #2 player such as TomTom to number one in the industry unless Garmin were to make a major misstep. The diffi culty of making a recommendation is further exacerbated by the move to cell phones for PNDs. However, TomTom might consider some of the following actions. ÃŽ ½ Focus on information solutions, specifically the â€Å"Better Routing† & â€Å"Better Traffic† information goals mentioned in the case. Provide these solutions regardless of type of device. ÃŽ ½ Defend and Develop markets not dependent on cell phone devices (e.g. coast guard, maritime, aviation, and fleet management markets.) ÃŽ ½ Seek more automotive partnerships – use the Renault and Avis experiences to ramp up sales in this area. ÃŽ ½ Extend product life – attempt to recoup R&D efforts by seeking markets in developing countries where the disposable income may be reaching the threshold to adopt PNDs. ÃŽ ½ Aggressively market fleet management solutions. ÃŽ ½ Develop more applications/partnerships similar to the iPhone experience. Find a way to â€Å"ride the dragon.† Find a way to participate in the growth in multifunctional cell phones. Even a small portion of this huge market would be extremely lucrative. Epilogue Immediately following Google’s October 28, 2009 announcement mentioned at the end of the case, TomTom and Garmin offered Black Friday discounts of 25% up  to 40% on some units. In 2010, the company generated sales of â‚ ¬1.521 billion with a net income of â‚ ¬108 million. TomTom announced in a February 25, 2011 Reuters report by Roberta B. Cowan that it faces â€Å"such a rapid decline in its key market for personal navigation devices (PNDs) that its shift into new businesses may not be fast enough to compensate.† The company forecasted that the overall PND market would decline by 10 to 15 percent in 2011 and that its earnings would not grow.

Nike s Code Of Conduct - 959 Words

Supply Chain Management Every year, about 900 million pieces of Nike footwear, apparel and equipment arrive at the right destination on time. The complex process involves more than 50 distribution centers, a network of thousands of accounts, and more than 100,000 retail stores around the world. As a leading company in footwear industry, Nike believes they have the responsibility to conduct their business in an ethical way and also expects the same of its business partners. Moreover, Nike focuses on working with long-term, strategic suppliers that demonstrate a commitment a safe working conditions to their employees (Nike, Inc., 2014). Nike has high expectations to their factory partners through evolving standards of their Code of Conduct that is a straightforward statement of values, intentions and expectations meant to guide decisions in factories. Nike’s Code of Conduct includes strict guidance about child labor, excessive overtime, compensation, forced labor, and freedom of association Nike (n.d). For years, Nike has been sourcing from factories that seek to meet the company s minimum standards for good labor performance. The policy of Nike is to evaluate potential contracted factories before they enter the supply chain. Throughout their business relationship with Nike to assess compliance with high standards of social and environmental performance, including country-related risk for issues including forced labor, human trafficking and slavery Nike (n.d). NikeShow MoreRelatedNike s Code Of Conduct934 Words   |  4 PagesIn addition, Nike, Inc.’s Code of Conduct also states that its subcontractors must provide â€Å"a safe, hygienic and healthy workplace setting and [take the] necessary steps to prevent accidents and [injuries] [†¦]† (Nike, Inc.,†Code of Conduct†). In 2013, following another company’s factory catching fire in Bangladesh, killing 112 people in the process, two of Nike’s vice-presidents flew to Bangladesh to assess the situation in their own factories (Banjo). Seeing as their buildings were not safe, theRead More Nike Sweat Shops Essay707 Words   |  3 PagesNike Sweat Shops I am writing this letter to express my concerns over Nikes labor practices in Asia. There has been much debate and controversy recently concerning Nikes Asian labor practices. It is very difficult to determine which side of the argument to defend, as both acknowledge the problems yet put a completely different spin on the facts. I will try to show that Nike has created a cloud of smoke in Asia that the public cannot see through. Nike does not own any of the factories thatRead MoreNike CSR Analysis1581 Words   |  7 Pagesï » ¿ CSR Analysis and Impact on Operations Nike has a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that includes its commitment to the environment and is a signatory of the UN Global Compact. Nike has created a team of sustainability managers led by an independent director. Its environmental goals include producing eco-friendly products and minimizing its environmental impact through the reduction of greenhouse gases, organic solvents and PVCs. Nike acknowledges the difficulty of tracking environmentalRead MoreThe Sweatshop Industry and Child Labour in NICs Essay1426 Words   |  6 PagesThe Sweatshop Industry and Child Labour in NICs This report is aimed at investigating if the two major TNCs Nike and Gap manufacture their products according to their code of vendor conduct. Both companies code of vendor conduct clearly states that no workers are employed under the legal minimum age and sweatshops dont exist in their factories. A sweatshop is a factory where employees are subject to extreme exploitation; they work in dreadful conditions with healthRead MoreEthical Implications of Expanding Business Abroad: Nike Case Study1241 Words   |  5 Pages1. The leadership at Nike initially failed to consider the ethical implication of extending their business abroad and primarily focused on the profits generated by the enterprise. If the company were to concentrate of the idea of integrity when deciding to build factories abroad it would have certainly experienced better results when considering its general image. Such an act would have most certainly prevented complication from arising and would have emphasized that Nike is generally concerned withRead MoreNike and Social Corporate Responsibility1059 Words   |  5 PagesBowerman founded Blue Ribbon Sports in 1964. The company started as being a distributor of Onituska Tiger athletic shoes which were imported from Japan. In 1971 they broke away from Onituska and created their own of shoes. The company was renamed, Nike . It became the largest worldwide seller of athletic shoes. They branched out and created various products lines; shoes, clothing, sporting goods and digital devices. They used celebrities to promote their products. The first athlete to wear andRead MoreUnethical Business Practice: Nike1499 Words   |  6 Pages The role of the government also plays a major role in these challenges that are faced by Nike. As we know that government laws and regulations differ from country to country and this makes manufacturing of products very difficult challenge for the international companies like Nike. The host governments have laws concerns against consumer protection, information and labeling, employment, wages and salaries and safety of the workers who work in those firms. The international organizations must keepRead MoreNike: the Sweatshop Debate Essay1494 Words   |  6 PagesNike: The Sweatshop Debate MGT/448 May 31, 2010 Instructor: Adrianne Ford Nike: The Sweatshop Debate The purpose and intent of this paper is to describe the legal, cultural, and ethical challenges that face the Nike Corporation in their global business ventures. This paper will also touch on the roles of the host government and countries where Nike manufactures their products and the author will summarize the strategic and operational challenges that Nike managers face in globalization ofRead MoreSocial Audit Responsibility977 Words   |  4 PagesCorporations while they need to conduct a strategy to become socially responsible, they usually passes through a process that leads it at the end to achieve what is called by â€Å"Civil learning†. In order to achieve this level –which is the highest level of a corporate social responsibility- , they are two dimensions: †¢ The organizational level †¢ The societal level The case of Nike as famous corporate that faced the risk of losing its reputation in the early 1990’s will witness and serve hereRead MoreCorporate Governance of Nike1748 Words   |  7 Pagesincrease its capital is a corporation. There are also non-profit corporations organized for religious, educational, charitable or public service purposes. One of the corporations are the â€Å"Nike, Inc† which in other words can be said a company. And what here will be discussed the process how a corporate body that is Nike governs, ethic of it and the corporate responsibility of it upon the business world and balance of interest of the stakeholders such as Government, Employees, Customers, Suppliers, Creditors

Characters in Great Expectations, by Charles Dickens Essay

Characters in Great Expectations by Charles Dickens Dickens has many ways of making his characters both striking and memorable, he uses the dialogue and blends it with the setting and social background as illustrated by ‘torn by briars; who limped’. Dickens is very descriptive; this also helps making the character real. Dickens creates a creepy mood when we are told about the graveyard in which we meet Magwitch as shown by ‘as if he were eluding the hands of dead people’. He uses the graveyard and the gibbet in the distance to help create this mood which adds to the edgy atmosphere. The tone of this extract is dramatic and intimidating; Dickens achieves this by using short, but descriptive sentences. Dickens makes us feel†¦show more content†¦Wemmick likes to be secure; a lot of his possessions and his house, or ‘castle’ show this. When Dickens describes Magwitch, he describes him to look mean and scary; this is because it is Pip telling us from when he was a boy. Dickens tries to make the reader feel a bit sorry for Magwitch because he is soaked, has torn clothes and is limping. Miss Havisham is misunderstood when we first see her, as, under first impressions, Pip thinks it is a nice, clean place. Dickens slowly reveals that all is not as it seems and that actually the place is dust filled and hasn’t seen sunlight in a long time, ‘faded and yellow’. Dickens shows us Mrs Havisham as a beautiful woman in a brides dress at first, and then, slowly, we realise that in fact Miss Havisham is aged and worn: ‘had been white long ago’. Wemmick is a very memorable because we can imagine him as a real person. Dickens makes it so the reader likes Wemmick, because he is a jolly and different type of person. Wemmick is very proud of his work and inventions as he says: ‘and my own jack of all trades’. Magwitch creates a tone with the way he speaks when he is talking to Pip, he is trying to sound very scary to Pip, so Pip will get him some food. There are some words that Magwitch pronounces incorrectly: ‘wittles’ and ‘pecoolier’, this adds to the sympathy we gradually build up for him. He uses over-exaggerated threatsShow MoreRelatedCharacter Analysis in Pip in Charles Dickens ´ Great Expectations1542 Words   |  7 Pagesnext Harvard Graduate, or the next new celebrity. But, these expectations can begin to define a person if he believes he has to conform to societys expectations. In Charles Dickens novel Great Expectations, young Pip feels the pressure from society and his love, Estella, to become a gentleman. By attempting to rise in his social class Pip then abandons his previous good morals and his family members when he moves to London. Each character has aspirations for Pip which he believes he must fulfillRead MorePip’s Character Change in Charles Dickens Great Expectations1173 Words   |  5 PagesPip’s Character Change in Charles Dickens Great Expectations Great Expectations, by Charles Dickens is a compelling story rich in friendship, love and fortune. The main character, Pip, is a dynamic character that undergoes many changes through the course of the book and throughout this analysis, the character Pip, will be identified and his gradual change through the story will be quoted and explained. The main character, Pip, is a gentle character. His traits include Read MoreCharacter Study of Miss Havishman in Charles Dickens Great Expectations1107 Words   |  5 PagesCharacter Study of Miss Havishman in Charles Dickens Great Expectations Miss Havisham is the representation of a faded spectre. The failed effects of nineteenth centaury chauvinism amalgamating with the product of a rigid society with definite and pre-destined roles for women, in which Miss Havisham fits none. The figure confined to a dark chair is in fact a personification of the themes, which are Read More The Childhood of Charles Dickens Essay1498 Words   |  6 PagesChildhood of Charles Dickens      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   I do not write resentfully or angrily: for I know all these things have worked together to make me what I am - Charles Dickens    Charles Dickenss tumultuous childhood did indeed shape the person he became, as well as have a definite impact on his literary career.   There are shades of young Dickens in many of his most beloved characters, including David Copperfield, Oliver Twist, and of course, Great Expectations Pip.   LikeRead MoreSocial Class Of The Victorian Era1282 Words   |  6 Pagesof the most important social reformers during the Victorian Era was Charles Dickens. Growing up in a poor, working class family, Dickens knew about the harsh realities that spawned from the social class system present. His writing reflects these experiences and attempts to expose this harsh system and other big problems prominent in Victorian society. Pip is a character that experiences some of these realities in Great Expectations. Pip initially lets his social status define him and must then go throughRead MoreGreat Expectations by Charles Dickens984 Words   |  4 PagesCharles Dickens utilizes his life for inspiration for the protagonist Pip in his novel Great Expectations. They both struggle with their social standing. Dickens loved plays and theatre and therefore incorporated them into Pip’s life. Dickens died happy in the middle class and Pip died happy in the middle class. The connection Dickens makes with his life to Pip’s life is undeniable. If readers understand Dickens and his upbringing then readers can understand how and why he created Pip’s upbringingRead MoreGreat Expectations By Charles Dickens1113 Words   |  5 Pagesdifferent characters. Some of the characters have weird names, and can fight with a light saber. Others can fight with a blaster, and can speak in strange languages. One thing about the characters is that they are mostly male with a few exceptions. Some female characters like Leia and Padme tend to play a big role in the adventures that the male characters go on. This seems to be relevant in a lot of movies and books like the story Great Expectations by Charles Dickens. In Great Expectations there areRead More Attitudes toward Victorian Society in Great Expectations by Charles Dickens1156 Words   |  5 PagesGreat Expectations Explore some of the ways in which Dickens’ attitudes to Victorian society are presented in the opening chapter of Great Expectations. For this essay I will be focusing on the opening chapters of Great Expectations, a novel written by Charles Dickens. I am going to consider the Victorian society at the time and dickens’ use of language to express themes, settings and characters. Charles Dickens wrote this story in the Victorian times. Hence we seem to think what ‘does heRead MoreEssay on Charles Dickens Great Expectations1135 Words   |  5 Pages Great Expectations’ main character, Phillip Pirrip- generally known as Pip- had a rough upbringing as a child. His sister, Mrs. Joe had â€Å"brought him up by hand†, after their parents and five brothers had all been laid to rest many years ago. Another character, Herbert Pocket experienced a bizarre childhood, though in a different manner. Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations develops through the novel following Pip, a young â€Å"common boy† who grew up in the countryside. As he matured so did his loveRead MoreGreat Expectations and a Christmas Carol: a True Gentleman Essay1430 Words   |  6 PagesGreat Expectations and A Christmas Carol: A True Gentleman According to Dictionary.com, a gentleman is a civilized, educated, sensitive, or well-mannered man. However, by Victorian definition, a gentleman was, perhaps most importantly, a rich man. â€Å"Charles Dickens†¦was an author of relatively humble origins who desired passionately to be recognized as a gentleman, and insisted, in consequence, upon the essential dignity of his occupation† (Victorian Web). In Great Expectations he portrays Pip, a

Tobacco s Burden Of Disease Essay - 979 Words

1. Tobacco’s â€Å"burden of disease† Tobacco use is widespread and has a heavy â€Å"burden of disease†. According to the U.S. department of Health and Human Services [HHS], tobacco use is related to over 443,000 Americans death each year and has caused approximately 8,860,000 related illnesses (2016). Thus causing it to have a higher mortality rate than â€Å"HIV, illegal drug use, motor vehicle injuries, suicides, and murders combined. Tobacco use is thus one of the Nation’s deadliest and most costly public health challenges† (HHS, 2016). Tobacco can cause the onset of multiple diseases, for example, cancer, cardiovascular disease, asthma, COPD, pregnancy complications, SIDS, and oral diseases (HHS, 2016). The prevalence of tobacco use has been gradually decreasing since the nineteen sixty’s, but even today tobacco use is quite common. 2. The course of the disease: the concepts of incidence, prevalence, and case-fatality. The concepts of the course of disease are not fully relevant to the subject of tobacco, but can be examined and applied in part. The concept of incidence is the rate of chance that a disease occurs over a period time (Riegelman Kirkwood, 2015, p. 298). In other words, it is the rate of new cases of a disease. For tobacco use, over two thousand teens and young adults become daily smokers each day in the United States (CDC, 2015). The concept of prevalence in public health is the proportion of those within a population at a set period of time that are afflictedShow MoreRelatedIncrease Taxation Of Tobacco Products On South Korea And Reduce The Levels Of Noncommunicable Diseases1733 Words   |  7 PagesIncrease taxation of tobacco products in South Korea to reduce the levels of noncommunicable diseases Introduction and Background One of the major global public health challenges of the 21st century is noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). Current global mortality from NCDs remains exceedingly high and continues to increase. According to World Health Organization (WHO) 2014 estimates, 38 million people die around the world each year from NCDs, mainly from cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratoryRead MoreNegative Effects of Smoking on Human Health and the Economy1475 Words   |  6 Pagesexamined and outlined the adverse effects of maternal smoking on both the mother as well as on the baby and/or infant ( Hofhuis, de Jongste, Merkus, 2003 Woolbright 1994). Many states such as Alabama required documentation on birth certificates of tobacco use of mothers (Woolbright, 1994). Despite the Surgeon generals warning that maternal smoking may result in premature birth, fetal injury, or dangerously low birth rate, fifteen to thirty-seven percent of pregnant women still smoke (Hofhuis, de JongsteRead MoreOral Health Promotion For Health1508 Words   |  7 Pagesfocusing on reducing tobacco use or on smoking cessation in the past year (Beall, 2011, p.15). The baseline is 10.5 percent of adults have received information from the dentist or dental hygienist focusing on reducing tobacco use or on smoking cessation in the past year, 2011–12 (age adjusted to the year 2000 standard population) with a target of 13.2 percent (Beall, 2011, p.15) Tobacco use can lead to a wide array of diseases that are not isolated to only the lungs. Tobacco use can lead to cancersRead MoreGlobal Current Event That Can Improve The Mortality And Rates Of Cardiovascular Disease Essay911 Words   |  4 Pagescurrent event, within the last six months, that relate to an innovation that can improve the mortality amd morbidity rates of cardiovascular disease in developing countries. After years of what sometimes seemed painstaking slow efforts to bring a less invasive approach to managing mitral valve (MV) disease, things are finally moving forward on several fronts. It s likely a response to the eye-opening clinical success and rapid adoption of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). The successRead MoreThe United States : Social Class, Race, Ethnicity, And Health1416 Words   |  6 PagesI. Introduction The American Medical Association (AMA) approximates that at least 25 cents of every dollar spent on health care in the U.S. is allocated to the management of diseases or debilities that stem from personal behaviors that can be changed by the individual (Andre et al)1. To what extent are people responsible for their own personal conduct and poor health decisions that result in serious yet avoidable illnesses and disabilities? Will charging people higher health insurance premiumsRead MoreTobacco s Effects On Our Population828 Words   |  4 Pages Introduction Many individuals struggle with the effects of tobacco and the ramifications that comes with being a smoker. For decades, tobacco has caused various forms of cancer and health related issues. Since this has become an issue, coalitions and organizations are banding together to control this situation. The Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act of 2009, The Federal Cigarette Labeling and Advertising Act, Public Health Service Act ofRead MoreThe United States : Social Class, Race, Ethnicity, And Health1447 Words   |  6 PagesI. Introduction The American Medical Association (AMA) approximates that at least 25 cents of every dollar spent on health care in the U.S. is allocated to the management of diseases or debilities that stem from personal behaviors that can be changed by the individual (Andre et al)1. To what extent are people responsible for their own personal conduct and poor health decisions that result in serious, yet avoidable illnesses and disabilities? Will charging people higher health insurance premiumsRead MoreBan Smoking The Clean Indoor Air Act940 Words   |  4 PagesIntroduction People are educated that smoking is not harming smoker’s health only, but also people who are around smokers. The Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has a research stating that 18 of every hundred adults in the U.S. currently smoke cigarettes, causing more than 480,000 deaths every year (â€Å"Current Cigarette Smoking†). There are health issues that occur with smokers and passive smokers. The Clean Indoor Air Act was amended in Washington State on November 8, 2005 in order toRead MoreEffects Of Smoking On The Mind And Body1578 Words   |  7 Pagesindulging into the harmful habit with no penalties. In today’s time, there is a significant amount of awareness to the destructive nature of smoking, and any other tobacco product. Science has reached many heights, and each year we learn more about tobacco and its harms.This paper is designed to highlight significant harms of tobacco smoke, to walk through the withdrawal process, and present the reader the steps the body goes through to detox itself and repair any damage caused by the smokeRead MoreThe Effects of Tobacco Essay example911 Words   |  4 PagesAccording to Surgeon General Smoking represents the most extensibly documented cause of disease, ever investigated in the history of biomedical research. The relation between smoking and human disease cannot be directly tested. It is morally and ethically incorrect. Therefore, other research has been developed to establish a very high degree of scientific probability. The criteria used to research the health diseases of smoking are as follows: consistency of association, the information found is replicated

The Current State of Ethics in Big Business free essay sample

The paper discusses in detail the current problems of ethics in big business and the dilemma ethical behavior can create for the company. This paper discusses the current problems of business ethics in the framework that corporations have long struggled with corporate social responsibility and the overriding corporation goal to make a profit. The paper concludes that, despite the damage done to the reputation of big business ethics by companies like Enron and WorldCom, the outlook for the continued encouragement and development of ethically conscious companies is good. The author states that business and government leaders are developing a business environment that is more accepting and encouraging of ethically conscious businesses. Table of Contents Introduction Corporate Social Responsibility and Individual Rights Business Ethics and Enron Business Ethics at WorldCom Inc. Preventing Future Enron and WorldCom?s Lessons from Enron and WorldCom Ethical Corporations and Profit Conclusion The concept of corporate social responsibility has been debated for as long as the capitalist system has existed, and is one of the most important cornerstones of business ethics. We will write a custom essay sample on The Current State of Ethics in Big Business or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Corporate social responsibility includes all decisions that are made within an organization that are linked to ethical values, and compliance with existing laws. Corporate social responsibility is closely tied to the respect for individuals and communities, animals and plants, and the environment as a whole.

Salesforce.com The Emerging Social Enterprise free essay sample

Comcast Corporation is the largest mass media and communications company in the world by revenue. It is the largest cable company and home Internet service provider in the United States, and the nations third largest home telephone service provider. Comcast provides cable television, broadband Internet, telephone service and in some areas home security (including burglar alarms, surveillance cameras, fire alarm systems and home automation) to both residential and commercial customers in 40 states and the District of Columbia. Comcast joined public social networks because social media offers a two way interactive experience. Consumers of social media, unlike consumers of traditional media, can interact instantly and directly with either the originators or the authors of the proffered information. They can interact each other too. This interaction and cross communication that social media makes possible is precisely what makes social media so world changing. What difference did it make for Comcast’s business? Joining social media did have huge impact for Comcast‘s business Comcast and service are two words that have been closely aligned and analyzed. We will write a custom essay sample on Salesforce.com: The Emerging Social Enterprise or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page It has become a successful social enterprise by integrating social media and social computing tools into their enterprise. This system integrated the firm with its customers, suppliers and employees, resulting in a greater productivity, stronger brands, more innovation and faster time to market. What might be the benefits for consumer? The benefits for consumers could be the following- It provides a comprehensive customer and collaboration relationship management. improved customer services under its Internet Essentials program Comcast offers low-cost internet service to families with children who qualify for free or reduced price school lunches More interactions with company and integrated system which facilitates better consumer experience. 2 What issues and challenges is the use of social networking monitoring supposed to solve or address at Salesforce. com? Salesforce: Salesforce. com Inc. is a global cloud computing company headquartered in San Francisco, California. Though best known for its customer relationship management (CRM) product, Salesforce has also expanded into the social enterprise arena through acquisitions. It is currently ranked the most innovative company in America by Forbes magazine, as well as number 7 in Fortune magazines 100 Best Companies to Work For in 2014. Issues and challenges of social networking monitoring that supposed to be addressed at Salesforce. com – More integrated customer based social networking system. Valuation of customer feedback on particular matter. Providing a cohesive customer related system which delights customers. Building a social platform for large corporations and their customers. Overall a holistic approach to meet the growing need of using social technologies like Facebook, twitter and google+ to engage their suppliers, employees and customers. Because customers and employees are sometimes spending a majority of their time at social sites. 3 Radian 6(now owned by Salesforce) is described as a â€Å"listening and engagement platforms†. What does this mean and how does it differ from traditional marketing techniques for communication with the customer? Radian6: Radian 6 is described as a â€Å"listening and engagement platforms† because it helps the company to easily listen and engage with fans on social channels. Salesforce Marketing Cloud’s social media monitoring solution boasts the industry’s most comprehensive social listening coverage, allowing you to listen to over 650M social sources to identify customer service, PR, sales and marketing opportunities in real-time. Gain valuable insight into conversations happening online about company’s brand, products, competitors, and industry– and respond in real time. How does it differ from traditional marketing techniques? For many years, basic advertising vehicles included newspapers, magazines, TV, radio and direct mail. These communications channels allowed businesses to choose advertising methods based on their budget and need to target specific market segments. The more costly of these choices were often out of the price range of small businesses. With the advent of the Internet, smartphones, iPods and social networking, small businesses are able to advertise using website banners, Facebook-like buttons, Twitter tweets, podcasts and other low-cost, real-time methods. Traditional advertising does not allow you to respond to changes in the marketplace as quickly as newer forms of communication. Radiant6 gives a real time valuable insight into conversations happening online about company’s brand, products, competitors, and industry– and respond in real time. Traditional media buys are usually more expensive than newer forms of advertising like radiant 6 which let you communicate with your customers using your in-house staff. The message you can deliver with traditional advertising is much more limited compared to newer forms of communications Hard to target consumers whereas this modern technology allows marketers to more precisely target potential customers based on the amount of personal information websites collect about visitors 4 What are some of the measures you can use to measure the success of a social business approach? Name at least four measures of social business impact. What does it mean to measure the success of a company in terms of its â€Å"share conversation†? Social communication has become pervasive and is rapidly becoming the preferred interaction channel for consumers as well as companies. As the objectives for Enterprise Social Networks within organizations become ever wider, links back to business strategy and real measures become more important. There are some measures to measure the success of a social business approach- Social networking and the enterprise: Social networking has altered the way enterprises engage with their customers, changing their approach to areas such as customer service and brand management. Leading organizations have been taking the concepts of social networking and using them to transform the way they engage with their employees and partners, in areas as diverse as Sales, RD, Communications and Marketing. Making the business relevance clear: Developing a benefits case for Enterprise Social Networks involves getting a good understanding of how their capability can be applied to a business; your organization’s strategy, objectives and challenges; and any findings from existing networks in place within your organization engagement of the people within your organization All of the above benefits depend on engagement of the people within your organization. Much as Amazon can’t generate revenue if people cannot work out how to buy a book on their website, if the experience of an Enterprise Social Network is not both relevant and engaging it will be impossible to create business value, as nobody will be there to do it. Raise Awareness of Your Brand: It’s important to stay relevant. If customers aren’t aware of your brand and what it stands for, your business may be spinning its wheels. When customers are aware of your brand and interact with it on different social media sites, they are more likely to recommend it to their friends by liking posts on Facebook and retweeting you on Twitter. Measure the success of a company in terms of its Share of Conversations: The exceptional growth of social media, from blogs, Facebook and twitter to LinkedIn and YouTube, offers organizations the chance to join a conversation with millions of customers around the globe every day. It is attracting customers by creating social network. Measure the success of a company in terms of its Share of Conversations is about opening your field of listening to focus on a broader conversation that is very important to your brand. Most companies appreciate the value and importance of monitoring direct mentions of their brand and perhaps their competitors as well. It is the degree to which a brand is associated with the problem or need that it is setting out to help with. Measuring share of conversation is simple. The easiest way to calculate this is to use a professional social media analysis tool (i. e.  Radian6), which will quickly let you visualize the results and also enable you to automatically track it over time to measure your progress. The success of company in terms of its share of conversations- Success of a company depends how the company values the share of conversations and takes necessary steps for solutions. By being more two way based so that your brand associated with the conversations. It is well established that consumers feel more connected with a company when they have direct communication on an ongoing basis and opportunities to express their opinions.