The Resource Based View Of Wal Mart Management Essay

The Resource Based View Of Wal Mart Management Essay The broad marketing environment of an organisation consists of the intra-organisational interactions amongst its internal factors, as also the external, diverse and inter-related environmental factors that are referred to as the external macro-environment (Lancaster Reynolds, 2001). Michael Porters diamond model states that whilst criteria like location, land, labour and magnitude of local population are conventionally considered to be influential in shaping competitive advantage, the real competitive national advantages are obtained by factors like strategy, organisational structure, business rivalries and competition, and related ancillary industries (Proctor, 2002). Hofstede, in his study of international cultures found that cultures comprise of rituals, values, symbols and heroes and that the bedrock of cultural differences between organisational culture flowed from five dimensions of national culture, (Hofstede, 2001), namely (a) power distance, (b) Uncertainty avoidance, (c) individualism, (d) long-term orientation and (e) masculinity (Vinken, Soeters, Ester, 2004). The larger macro environment, widely referred to as the PESTEL analytical framework, concerns political, economic, societal, technological, environmental and legal factors, whose analysis helps in scrutinising and pinpointing the influence of such environmental forces on organisations (Gray, 1999, P 12). Ritzer (1996) concludes that whilst remonstrating and opposing McDonaldisation is potentially worthwhile, the future of added McDonaldisation appears inevitable (Alfino, Caputo, Wynyard, 1998). The resource-based view (RBV) centres into intra-industry heterogenic organisations and contends that firms are distinctive packets of resources and capabilities providing the foundation for gaining competitive advantages; it conveys that organisations should leverage these self-owned resources even in unstructured international markets (Fahy, 1996). The RBV states that competitive advantage from resources can be achieved only if such resources are precious and enable the exploitation of an external opportunity or the counteracting of a threat (Fahy, 1996). Another critical characteristic of resource is rarity, which is inherently the key to heterogeneity, i.e. competitors should not have or be able to access similar resources rendering competitive advantages (Fahy, 1996). The critical condition of imperfect or limited mobility of resource must be further satisfied; imperfect resources that render competitive advantages must not be tradable amongst competitors (Fahy, 1996). Finally, the resource should be imperfectly imitable (Barney, 1991) or as per Peteraf (1993), render several ex-post restrictions to the opposition (Fahy, 1996). Stalk, Evans and Schulman (1992) aver that Wal-Marts growth, leading to its market supremacy, vests in its unique logistics competencies, which underline the magnitude of capabilities as latent causes of competitive advantage; their cross-docking coordination system makes certain that merchandise between two loading docks is transported in not more than forty eight hours (Fahy, 1996). This has benefited Wal-Mart not only in cutting cost of sales, and thereby improving margins, by 2 to 3 percent, but also in minimising the inventory levels (Fahy, 1996), working capital cycle and interest costs. The above system is therefore, seen to be immensely beneficial in value generation through cost reduction and thereby in being a source of competitive advantage; since it satisfies all requisite criteria (Fahy, 1996). The cross-docking system is rare. As it is resource based in terms of the joint utilisation of personnel, delivery vehicles and transportation and communication systems, it satisfies the condition of imperfect mobility (Fahy, 1996). It is also enormously complicated and thus difficult for competitors to reproduce, vis-a-vis the requisite coordination and communication between vendors, distribution centres, sales depots and outlets; it is this intrinsic ability to raise high barriers to imitation that bestows Wal-Mart with competitive advantage (Fahy, 1996). The advanced management methodologies underlined by the current advances in technology now permit the availability of customised merchandise on mass scales; such mass customisation arises from the juxtaposition of dual Japanese systems of flexible manufacturing, or lean production system, and adaptable marketing systems (Yasumuro, 1993),  (Alfino, Caputo, Wynyard, 1998). Wal-Mart is being able to successfully utilise its resources and competencies in establishing sustained competitive advantage, with appropriate and combined application of Porters Diamond model with PESTEL methodologies and RBV theory, in order to cater to variable, disparate and localised merchandise preferences, desires and needs of their customers. Question 2: In May, 2006, Wal-Mart announced the sale of all its 16 South Korean stores, and shortly thereafter, in July of the same year, the sale of its German operations to Metro A.G.; after eight years of effort to try to make the businesses profitable (Depamphilis, 2009). Unlike its remarkable success in getting it right on its home turf, Wal-Mart could not adapt to the regulatory and cultural differences, as well as the strong labour unions, in Germany (Depamphilis, 2009). The intensity of the German competitors in offering very low price points across product categories and the consumers thrift and prudence was also largely underestimated by the company (Depamphilis, 2009). Various factors like (a) the German shoppers adverse perceptions regarding clerks bagging groceries, (instead of themselves, as per their habitual practice), (b) legal tussles with employees over Wal-Marts policies against employee-supervisor liaisons, (c) the companys inability to proffer extended shopping hours or to sell below cost, (because of German regulations), and (d) its inability to implement cost reductions because of strong unionism, contributed in making the companys German venture a big mistake (Depamphilis, 2009). Wal-Mart forayed into Korea with the acquisition of 4 units, in 1999, from the Metro owned Dutch chain named Macro (Mahajan-Bansal, 2010). Korea is a comparatively established market with the local Emart being the leader in the retail marketplace (Mahajan-Bansal, 2010). Emart was made an acquisition offer by Wal-Mart, which it rejected (Mahajan-Bansal, 2010). The company was also cautioned by Emart that with Korea being a localised market with very specific customer needs and wants, Wal-Marts size and its status as the largest global retailer would not be very relevant in achieving competitive advantage in the Korean marketplace (Mahajan-Bansal, 2010). Wal-Mart entered the market with a bang but could never gain prominence; after seven years it sold its stores (ironically) to Emart and exited the market (Mahajan-Bansal, 2010). In China, on the other hand, the company progressed well. Avoiding major blunders, it has been able to achieve the right mix of localisation of store formats and merchandise mix (Mahajan-Bansal, 2010). Chinas high heterogeneity, with regard to its peoples habits and wants are similar to that of any other developing economy (Mahajan-Bansal, 2010). It has laboured hard to become an esteemed retailer in China, even as it is still too early in the country to realise its full potential (Mahajan-Bansal, 2010). This is important because China and India are at the centre of Wal-Marts global ambitions for Asia (Depamphilis, 2009). Wal-Mart reckons China as a solitary large market, whereas its more successful French competitor Carrefour considers China as a cluster of regional or local markets; Wal-Mart has a centralised sourcing and distribution centre unlike Carrefour (Mahajan-Bansal, 2010). The Chinese prefer to purchase fresh poultry and meat; hence the need for local sourcing to be faster and smarter rather than being centrally sourced (Mahajan-Bansal, 2010). Wal-Mart in China assists local retailer businesses to improve their functioning and service standards in order to integrate better with the local economies (Wal-Mart Group, 2010). Its perseverance in localisation of procurement creates more job opportunities, reposes trust in local producers, and helps in sustaining local economies (Wal-Mart Group, 2010). Wal-Mart treats its Chinese vendors as partners in development. Practically 95% of the goods sold by the company are locally produced by almost 20,000 suppliers (Wal-Mart Group, 2010). Wal-Marts journey in China has been fraught with many challenges, primarily due to the American retailing methodologies followed by the organisation (Gopalkrishnan, 2009). The singular differentiator between Wal-Marts strategies and Carrefours more entrenched adjustment to the Chinese environment lies in it appreciation of and response to local culture and consumer behaviour (Gopalkrishnan, 2009). In China the company possibly needs to understand that heterogeneous Chinese shoppers would possibly be better served by decentralised operations, combined with simultaneous leveraging of its competitive advantages of low prices, quality, and technologically superior logistics (Gopalkrishnan, 2009). Working together with local partners within the regulatory framework and cultural landscape is a critical lesson that appears to have been absorbed and espoused in advancing its Chinese retail footprint (Gopalkrishnan, 2009). Wal-Mart, by exiting the German market, (post the $ 1 billion pre-tax bottom-line hit), and retreating from the Korean marketplace, conveyed to its stakeholders the lessons it learnt on (a) the importance of appreciating cultural and environmental differences in new markets and (b) the need to focus sharply on profitability and returns in its global investment and growth strategy (Workman, D., 2006). Question 3: The widely used PESTEL framework represents an analytical methodology for evaluating the milieu in which individual organisations or industries operate, work and are managed; such an analysis aids in methodically focusing upon and assessing the impact of various environmental forces, namely those that are political, economic, socio-cultural, technological, environmental and legal in nature, upon business organisations or particular industrial segments (Gray, 1999, P 12). The Wal-Mart group scrupulously operates within the political and legal frameworks in all the countries in which it operates; such a strategy can often lead to the emergence of serious challenges, as in Germany where local regulations did not permit the company to extend the weekend hours or to sell below cost (Depamphilis, 2009). The companys expansion into different nations are also dependent on local political conditions and governmental and local regulations, as illustrated by Wal-Marts unsuccessful foray in Indonesia, where it needed the support of Suhartos network to ensure continuance of operations (Mahajan-Bansal, 2010). Apart from such factors organisations have to deal with copious local laws regarding labour and welfare; other trading regulations also affect business operations and need to be complied with, by organisations, their employees and their participating associates. Ecological challenges with regard to environmental protection and use of green production methodologies also need to be diligently targeted above minimum statutory requirements and achieved; Wal-Mart projects itself as a sustainability leader and incorporates participation of all internal and external associates and partners in setting targets for fulfilment of their energy needs (Wal-Mart Group, 2010). Its environmental and green objectives are targeted to be achieved through greater use of renewable sources, encouraging use of environmentally friendly products and working towards zero waste (Wal-Mart Group, 2010). Catastrophic events and fluctuating weather patterns can also challenge operational efficiencies (Wal-Mart Group, 2010). Most global retail players have at one time or another felt the need to factor in challenges relating to country specific general economic conditions, disposable incomes of shoppers, buying patterns and preferences, cost of goods and labour, interest and currency exchange rates, customer debt levels, credit availability and history, fuel and energy prices, insurance costs, et al. (Wal-Mart Group, 2010). Economic challenges, especially in forays into matured markets, include top-line protection, sustained profitability and cash flows; these challenges assume critical proportions, not only due to the intense rivalry and competition in the retail turf, but also due to wafer thin margins and the fairly long gestation period involved in setting up just-in-time inventory and logistics, and best in class infrastructure. The socio-cultural norms of no two nations are alike. This poses immense challenges in conforming to local practices and customs and therefore requires diligent and sustained efforts in satisfying cultural needs; inadequate attention to cultural needs has led to numerous retail failures across the globe; Germany and Korea represent two cases of different cultures that Wal-Mart failed to tackle appropriately (Depamphilis, 2009). Another case in point is the heterogeneous nature of the Chinese population, which mandates local rather than centralised sourcing (Mahajan-Bansal, 2010). Diverse cultural environments prevail even within small countries, on the lines of geographical or other divisions, demanding adherence by business to disparate social and cultural norms. Retail forays into new international marketplaces need implementation of contemporary technology for combating the inherently competitive nature of the industry. Wal-Mart and other major retail players are using RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology for product tagging and coding to combat the logistics challenges for procuring, moving, stacking and selling ever increasing volumes and varieties of merchandise across geographies and continents (Stoler, 2006). Additional risks that Wal-Mart could be exposed to in its global businesses could emerge from fiscal and monetary policies and inflation rates of its host countries, political, social and economic instability, adverse tax consequences, and, inter alia, difficulties in enforcing IPRs (Intellectual Property Rights) in non-US countries (Wal-Mart Group, 2010). The mitigation of these challenges and risks essentially lie in diligently adapting to local country-specific and region-specific norms and regulations and in synergising them with proprietary best-in-class expertise in technology and logistics. Such stratagems are required for the progression of glocalisation or transnational objectives and attainment of economic and sustainable growth. Question 4: The management of the Wal-Mart conglomerate employs numerous measures for evaluation of corporate performance, the chief among them being (a) total sales, (b) operating income, (c) comparable store sales, (d) diluted income per share from continuing operations, (e) return on investment and (f) free cash-flow (Wal-Mart Group, 2010). The total sales for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2010, clocked in at $ 401.2 million compared to $ 374.3 million for the previous year, registering a 7.2% growth, following a 8.6% growth in the previous 2008 fiscal (Wal-Mart Group, 2010). Such enhancement in net sales resulted from diverse acquisitions, store sales additions, and the worldwide expansion of business (Wal-Mart Group, 2010). The efficacious management and leveraging of expenses of the company can be measured by operating income, which rose by 3.95 % in fiscal 2009, against an increase of 7.1% in the previous year; this occurrence occurred primarily because of Internationals adverse impact from foreign currency conversion rates, (amounting to $ 2.3 billion) and the Sam Clubs marginal percent decrease, due to increases in operating and overhead expenses (Wal-Mart Group, 2010). Introducing new stores leads necessarily to reduction in sales of existing stores in the vicinity; as per revised capital efficiency computation methodology, the adverse approximate impact on current store sales was 1.1% and 1.5% in fiscals 2009 and 2008 respectively; this impact will abate in future due to intended reduction in opening of new stores (Wal-Mart Group, 2010). The diluted income from continuing businesses increased from $ 3.16 in fiscal 2008 to $ 3.35 per share in fiscal 2009, consequent to income enhancements, combined with repurchase of outstanding quantum of weighted average shares. The corresponding figure for fiscal 2007 was $ 2.92 diluted income per share (Wal-Mart Group, 2010). The Return on Investment (ROI), a critical measurement tool for assessment of efficiency of deployment of assets by the organisation, stood at 19.3% for fiscal 2009 and 19.6% for fiscal 2008. Some of this decrease occurred because of the investment in Chile and the settlement of workers class action lawsuits (Wal-Mart Group, 2010). Free cash flows are net cash flows made available by continuing operations for a period, less the outflows made for purchase of equipment and property during such period, and reflect the capability of organisations to engender additional cash flows from various business segments ; Wal-Marts free cash flows increased from $ 5.7 to 11.6 billion through fiscals 2008 and 2009 respectively (Wal-Mart Group, 2010). A scrutiny of the 5 year financial data reveals that organisational sales increased from $ 281.5 million in fiscal 2005 to $ 401.2 million in fiscal 2009, representing a 42.5% absolute increase (Wal-Mart Group, 2010). A further analysis of the financials reveals that overall net sales realisation per square footage increased by 1.7% from $ 428.2 to $ 435.7 between fiscals 2007 and 2009 respectively (Wal-Mart Group, 2010). It is also important to note that for the Wal-Mart US segment, (which contributed 63.7% of the overall net sales for fiscal 2009), the net sales realisation increased by 3.6% from $ 418.8 to $ 434.0 per square foot between fiscal 2007 and 2009. The average realisation per store in the US increased from $ 65.73 to $ 69.95 million, representing an increase of 6.4% over the same period (Wal-Mart Group, 2010). The above performance analysis of Wal-Marts business segments, vis-à  -vis its strategies, reveals that the group should be able to continue to successfully overcome or sidestep the challenges it must inevitably face in future, considering its worldwide span of operations in 15 diverse global territories. The companys financials reveal that the strength of its balance sheet will continue, barring major risks, to supplement its resources every year in achieving its strategic objectives for the benefit of its stakeholders. Question 5: Wal-Mart forayed into the global marketplace, with the opening of the Sams Club in Mexico, in the 1990s, to revitalise its constrained domestic sales growth; this diversification yielded immense results in terms of growth, in both revenues and earnings, especially after appropriate changes in the companys international strategy were effected in 1999 (Wal-Mart Group, 2007). The company thereafter entered, (in quick succession), Puerto Rico in 1991, Canada in 1994, Brazil and Argentina in 1995, and China in 1996 (Wal-Mart Group, 2007). The subsequent ingress into the UK through the purchase of ASDA, as well as into Japan through Seiyu, furthered its global operations (Wal-Mart Group, 2007). The first part of the companys three-pronged strategy, to unlock the value in their global business, addressed portfolio optimisation in making of correct investments, dissociating from unsuccessful investments, and growing both organically and inorganically (Wal-Mart Group, 2007). The second leg of this international strategy, according to Mitch Slape, Wal-Marts (International Business Development) Vice President, is to leverage global markets to add value through use of all of Wal-Marts resources, competencies, and associations, (Wal-Mart Group, 2007). The year 2007 saw the addition of the third dimension of their strategy, namely, to be triumphant in each of the geographical areas of operation and to have a unique position for eventual generation of value for shareholders. The company, to achieve this, continues to be fixated on the local consumer, relocate know-how, and grow the best international and local talent to enable leveraging the global scale (Wal-Mart Group, 2007). The competition amongst retail companies on the basis of local market power and local scale establishes the branding, cost composition and recall presence for the customer, in all countries; Wal-Mart hurt itself sorely whenever it did not adhere to this principle (Mahajan-Bansal, 2010). With most of the customers, to the first Mexican Wal-Mart store, commuting by buses instead of cars, the companys large Americanised parking-lot was piled up with shopping carts at the end that was closer to the bus stop (Mahajan-Bansal, 2010). The product categories and inventories stacked were attuned to American needs, e.g. golf balls for the lower income level customers (Mahajan-Bansal, 2010). Wal-Mart learnt quickly from these initial and relatively minor errors and bounced back to achieve remarkable success (Mahajan-Bansal, 2010). Bartlett and Ghoshal (1989) aver that the organisation must manage itself to realise the synergies of global assimilation and national receptiveness and learn to thrive in the global arena (Fahy, 1996). In terms of wherewithal, such a theory connotes that the organisation should depend not only on the parent organisations resources (global assimilation) or on the resources of the local company (national receptiveness) but must equally highlight both; it must also effectively ensure two-way transfer of learning between both the companies (Fahy, 1996). Although numerous authors assert the pursuit of a global strategy on the foundation of the industrys internationalisation prospects (Porter 1986; Yip, 1989), there is a divergent view that companies need to merge both the local and global dimensions; this combination is occasionally known as localisation (Main, 1989) (Fahy, 1996). Translated, the transnational solution advocates that global business players assimilate the organisational resources and competencies of both the host and the home country (Fahy, 1996). The primary and widely accepted reason for Wal-Marts success in China, as also in the other countries it has forayed into concerns its ability to, over time, acclimatise its operational, merchandising and marketing stratagems to enable their juxtaposition with the host countrys culture. The pursuit of such a transnational, or glocalisation strategy, has led to the company becoming an entrenched transnational retail player. Wal-Mart has successfully implemented its intended stratagems in growing from one international retail store in 1991 to over 3000 stores in 2007 in 13 non-US markets under 50 diverse banners; with almost 600,000 associates or employees offering goods and services to 49 million consumers every week, it has been growing at a compound rate of 24.7% per annum for the last seven years (Wal-Mart Group, 2007). Question 6: Globalisation has ensured enormous wealth creation worldwide over the last two decades. The unprotected and saturated domestic markets of business organisations have forced them to cross their national borders (Stoler, 2006); this global competition has wrought considerable internal and external benefits to businesses and societies across the world. The direct benefit of quantitative growth has profited Wal-Mart in two critical areas, the first being the considerable economies of scale that Wal-Mart has been able to garner from its worldwide buying clout and second, the benefits that have accrued to it from the exchange of ideas across its global operations (Wal-Mart Group, 2007). Wal-Marts volumes have helped it in extracting deeper discounts from all the local businesses of its multinational vendors, like Proctor Gamble, GE and Unilever; who have their own worldwide operations (Wal-Mart Group, 2007). The flow of ideas across geographies also help in the best practices of one country being imbibed in another; a case in point being the layouts of the wine departments in stores in Argentina being replicated into layouts globally (Wal-Mart Group, 2007). Technology has propelled the use of bleeding edge innovations in ensuring efficient inventory and logistics controls. Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) product coding and tagging , as an alternative to bar codes, for inventory and security purposes, is already in use by large manufacturers and retailers like Wal-Mart and their worldwide vendors (Stoler, 2006). This translates into immense benefits in terms of supremely efficient global tracking, securing and movement of large volumes of merchandise containers by road, sea and air (Stoler, 2006). Wal-Marts use of its competitively advantageous cross-docking logistics system, by ensuring the movement of these tracked goods between two docking stations within forty eight hours, results in nominal inventories and substantial saving of 2 to 3 percent (Fahy, 1996). In a business where low costs and stretched margins are crucial, this system has generated substantial business values and market dominance (Fahy, 1996). The inimitable local and global synergies of bringing together people, communication systems and modes of transportation give Wal-Mart exceptional competitive advantages (Fahy, 1996). The larger implication of the use of these technologies is in facilitating and promoting, rather than in retarding, international trade through addressing of crucial anti-terrorism and security apprehensions (Stoler, 2006). The extensive use of such technologies also implies that customers will soon be able to verify radio-tagged products, know where, when and by whom they were manufactured, the physical components and chemical procedures used in manufacture, the shipment logistics, the dietetic content and , inter alia, their adherence to sustainable development manufacturing methodologies (Stoler, 2006). Such well informed shoppers should further the cause of superior retail management by buying more merchandise than they are content with (Stoler, 2006). The global commodity chain (GCC) approach of Gereffi and Korzeniewicz (1994) looks at the worldwide unification, along value and / or commodity chains, concerning consumption, distribution and production of goods (Dolan, 2004). This diagnostic tool is especially valuable in identifying the vital role that conglomerates like Wal-Mart, GAP and Nike play in managing activities in value chains (Dolan, 2004). Gereffi (1994, 1999) underlined the criticality of the so-called buyer-driven commodity chains, and argued that, in certain business sectors, the large marketers, brand-name companies, and retailers, play a central role in instituting and prodding geographically disseminated manufacturing and supplying systems, without their ownership of such systems (Dolan, 2004). The horticultural value chain pertaining to UK-Africa demonstrates numerous properties of a buyer driven commodity chain (Dolan, 2004). The supermarkets oversee the supply arrangements that cover numerous African nations and not only identify the goods but also the manners of production of such merchandise (Dolan and Humphrey, 2004) (Dolan, 2004). Such supermarkets progressively establish the manufacturing imperatives of the upstream horticultural entities and obliquely impact their assumed employment stratagems (Dolan, 2004). This enables significant and direct benefits to Wal-Mart in terms of display of disparate and locally preferred merchandise on its shelves worldwide, thereby helping it to service its customers better. Assignment 2: Individual Reflective Statement Moon (2004) avers that the stages of the reflective cycle, in the widely used Kolb cycle, (Gibbs. 1988), have been variously described by theorists as (a) the experience, (b) identification of the necessity for a resolution of an issue, (c) explanation of the issue, (d) reassessing and remembering, (e) re-evaluating affections / expressive stage, (f) processing of information and thoughts, (g) the ultimate resolution, likely transformation and action and (h) probable action. The Business Synoptic attempts to analyse, with the global retailer Wal-Mart, as the case study, the main issues of the frameworks used to garner competitive advantage in the global marketplace. The exercise helps in comparing the successful, or otherwise, entries into different foreign markets and in assessing the learning thus achieved, understanding the challenges and risks associated with such ventures, identifying the appropriate performance indicators for enabling the analysis of performance of last five years, assessing the results of such analysis vis-à  -vis the adopted strategies, examining the strategies adopted by the company, and finally deciding whether and why such strategies were and are appropriate, and how globalisation has benefited Wal-Mart. This reflective statement study draws greatly on the available literatures that cover the disparate fields of marketing management, strategic management, retail management, international business, and industrial organisation economics, as also the information available on Wal-Mart in the public domain, both on and off line. The analysis involves the use of primary and secondary information available from sources like the Wal-Mart groups website and from books, magazines, journals, the media and newspapers. Whilst the period of reference for this reflective statement commences in the 1960s, when Wal-Mart was founded, the major part of the analytical period spans from the early 1990s when Wal-Mart established its first overseas venture to the five years from 2004 to 2009, for assessment of financial performance indicators. It is also pertinent to note that adequate care has been taken in making sure that the subject matter under examination is pertinent to the issues under this analysis. During the course of this study, I have found that my reflective skills have developed, though I have sometimes skipped certain stages of the reflective cycle and have revisited them later, whilst, in other cases, I have digressed tangentially and have veered away from the current topic of study. This has, over the course of the study, enabled me to delve into the multi-faceted aspects of the diverse factors, as well as the underlying processes and policies that are involved in the management of huge conglomerates. This has also enabled me to better appreciate the humungous logistics behind the everyday retail experiences of millions of shoppers, including the author, who throng the ubiquitous worldwide superstores. During the course of one such digression, I was disheartened to learn that a multinational can also be susceptible for liabilities that can arise out of the non- compliance of its contracted associates with corporate policies on contract labour. The case study revealed the complex relationships that exist between the business environment and the tactical and strategic policies implemented in business segments, as well as the impact and relevance of such policies in staying competitive in the international marketplace. The study also presented the author with the diverse economic, environmental and social criteria that mandated the present and prospective course of action of an organisation for maintenance of its global supremacy in the retail industry. The study of the literature further clarified the importance of social and cultural influences on inter related business decisions and the resultant prosperity, market penetration and growth. The use of both quantitative and qualitative infor

Comparison of Frankenstein Essay

We see that it is not their fault that they want to spread all over the world and get released out of the cage of an island they are in now, it is not their fault that they are being so cruelly treated, they want freedom and so they must escape for it, this leads to the destruction of the park and ironically with the park John Hammond himself, it is ironic how Hammond is destroyed by his own creatures, and not the big T-rex but the small velociraptors, that bring an end to his life. We see the velociraptors as birds, which are sublime, which makes it even more ironic. But its not the destruction of the park or the destruction of Hammond which we are upset about, but it is the dying of the creatures that we are upset about, because we build a feeling of them being just innocent subjects of a cruel experiment, and we want them to survive and Hammond to die. But in the end it is justified that everything is destroyed, creator, creations and habitat. It signals an end to a disaster, which was long predicted by Ian Malcolm who is the hero of the show at the end. In Frankenstein similar views are created in the readers mind about the creations of Victor, at first we see him as an outcast in community, and we see him as an inhumane figure just because he does not look like a human. In reality he is bigger than human, he is greater, he is actually very intelligent and physically very big, actually ironically, he is bigger and better than his miniscule creator and most around him. Victor’s creation receives a lot of sympathy from the readers, at first in the beginning he is seen as an ugly creature whom everyone abhors but as soon as he starts to talk we understand him inside and why he does what he does, after killing victors family he talk to us but we understand him and see what is going on. We feel very sympathetic towards him. It is in the end just a tragedy that the creature has to dies, but it is also justified that Victor must dies with him. As we can see that both stories end in the same way, with both creators, creation and habitat all being destroyed, this is what we learn from the playing of god and how wrong it is and why we shouldn’t do it. The incidents, which lead up to the climax in each story, are systematically and cleverly put there to build up the reader’s thoughts for the end of the book. The final scene in Jurassic Park is the destruction of the Park and in Frankenstein it is the Final Confrontation between Victor and his creation. Either way they lead up to dramatic scenes. In Jurassic Park, at the beginning there are scenes to inform us of the dinosaurs these include sightings of the dinosaurs and how they bite a young girl and how a mauled down by a Raptor. Reading these scenes makes you think that there will be dangerous animals I the book and that it will be full of violence. Afterwards when it is clear to the reader that a park has been built for the dinosaurs and the awareness of the dinosaurs becomes apparent, the death scenes get more violent and destructive and frequent. As the scenes get more brutal we seem to think that the dinosaurs are getting way to out of control but later we realise that this is the way that dinosaurs behave and it is inhumane and not possible to make them act another way, so then we feel sorry for them. In the end this stupid ness to think that the dinosaurs could be manipulated to act in a way that they will not cause destructiveness is foolishness and because nothing is done about it, it is inevitable that in the need the dinosaurs just over rule the park and destroy everything and everyone and ironically their own creator in the process. As the death scenes get more frequent, they just keep on growing in frequency and eventually the dinosaur’s crack and all the dinosaurs attack at once and the park is destroyed. Only a few people get away, one of these is Ian Malcolm the theorist who beloved none of this was possible and how right he was, everyone thinks he is genius for this. In Frankenstein there are many deaths too until the final confrontation, but these deaths are al the same, except one which is the death of Justine Moritz. This death is different because she gets hanged for a murder which she did not commit, and which Victor’s creation committed. This fires up a lot of tension, and show that the creation is a evil person and also creates a bigger gap between Victor and his creation. We now see the monster as an evil man, but later on when we hear from him, we see that he is not actually what we think of him, he is quite the opposite, we hear that he thinks he is a clever man and is not accepted in society which is an effective method of making us feel sorry for him. In the end we can see that the book is not climaxed like in Jurassic park with the build of scenes of violence and destruction but with the points of view of both men and finally a confrontation. Either way in both books the climax is not what is ideal. It is a lesson that both writers are trying to convey, it is a message that playing god will eventually lead to deaths, and overall destruction. I n the end both characters in each book are as we can see victims of their own ideas, creations. They both fail because they act selfishly and do not listen to the advice of others. Both men assume the place of god, not just in the act of â€Å"playing god† but in the way they view their control their creatures as if they possessed God’s powers. They lack God’s love; neither Frankenstein, nor Hammond proves capable of loving and respecting his â€Å"offspring. † English/Literature GCSE Course Wider Reading Unit Comparison of â€Å"Frankenstein† (Pre-1900) and â€Å"Jurassic Park† (Pro-1900) Page 2 By Sheryar Majid Show preview only The above preview is unformatted text This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our GCSE Mary Shelley section.

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Human trafficking in Haiti - 735 Words

Despite the fact that there is some governmental action towards human trafficking, it still exists in Haiti at a high rate. There are many factors contributing towards the continued existence of human trafficking in the country of Haiti; there are local, as well as outside factors that have helped to increase it in the region. Some of the local factors are; poverty, unemployment, illiteracy and poor education, a history of physical and sexual abuse, homelessness, drug abuse, gang membership, and the border with the Dominican Republic. The outside factors include high demand for modern slaves such as; domestic servants, sex workers, agricultural and factory workers around the world, governmental and economical crisis and disinterest ,natural disasters, machismo, corruption, and restrictive immigration policies in other countries (Seelke, 2013 p.4) Per the Haiti partners organization, the gross national income in Haiti is US $660, about half the total for Nicaragua which is the second poorest country in Latin America. At the same time, about 78% of Haitians are poor, they earn less than two US dollars a day, and about 54% live in extreme poverty with only one dollar per day. With that amount of money they barely have enough for clothing or food let alone education. Poverty has other consequences on the community such as, illiteracy and poor education. The estimated annual school cost is about $131 per children which is high enough for students not to attend school. About 50%Show MoreRelatedCauses and Consequences of Human Trafficking in Haiti Essay1495 Words   |  6 Pagescountries must face the issue of humanitarian crisis. These misfortunes can be triggered by human action or can occur involuntarily. Ranging from natural disasters, to diseases, to internal or external conflict, each has been proven to be detrimental to the stability of the society. Haiti has recently gotten attention for being simultaneously affected by multiple crises; each of which help s to place Haiti in a trap which they cannot lift themselves out of without foreign intervention and aid. OrganizationsRead MoreHuman Trafficking : A Huge Impact On Global Politics971 Words   |  4 Pageshe s referring to is the human trafficking issue that has boomed in this country. Human trafficking has existed in Haiti for years, destroying families and individuals. The issue hasn t been this big until recent years, which I plan to look into. Human trafficking has become such a huge industry not only in Haiti, but also through the whole world causing it to have such a huge impact on global politics. What I plan to investigate is how the issue of human trafficking affects global politics inRead MoreThe Poverty Of Haiti And The United States1484 Words   |  6 Pagespeople in Haiti need food and water and jobs that can give them the money they need to raise their families. They wish everyday they could have even half of what we have. Haiti is a neighbor to the Dominican Republ ic, the population is about 9.2 million and is widely considered the poorest country in the western hemisphere. 80% of the population live below the poverty line. 54% live on less than $1.25 per day. Life expectancy is only 30 years and that is the lowest in the world. In Haiti there isRead MoreHuman Trafficking Is The International African Slave Trade Essay1490 Words   |  6 PagesThe earliest form of human trafficking was the international African Slave Trade. This went on for years until it was banned. People began to start a White Slave Trade, whereas instead of Africans, they would trade caucasian women and girls against their will for prostitution (Oster, 2015). The criminalization of this did not happen until 1910 (Oster, 2015). In 1921, women and girls were the only ones being trafficked, and the reason was for prostitution and sexual abuse (Oster, 2015). Today, menRead MoreHaiti’s Hopeless Pandemic Essay1366 Words   |  6 Pagestheir basic human rights. Unfortuna tely, this failure to provide such basic rights is due to the corruptive state of the government itself, hindering any progress in the country. The country’s political system, which entered a state of crisis in the late 1980’s, led to unrest and instability throughout the country (http://countrystudies.us). The government’s authority and ability to provide a sense of equilibrium was lost, hence creating an era of chaos. The major issues of Haiti that are a resultRead MoreHuman Trafficking Is A Crime Under Federal And International Law Essay1287 Words   |  6 Pagesends. Our countries and their leaders are constantly increasing the awareness and the strength to fight our biggest human rights issues. Human trafficking is a crime under federal and international law and it is a crime in every single state in the United States. According to The White House, around the globe, an estimated 20 million men, women and children are victims of human trafficking- 1.5 million of these victims reside in North America, European Union, and other developed countries. The UnitedRead MoreLibrary Information / Literacy Project : Human Trafficking And Slavery1117 Words   |  5 PagesLibrary information/Literacy project: Human Trafficking and Slavery Introduction: Human trafficking is a global epidemic that affect millions of victims that has being trafficked for prostitution and some forms of child labor across international borders. This human illicit trade and inhuman crime produces around $32 billion in profits each year. A five-year-old chained to a rug loom in India, a domestic servant enslaved and beaten in the Middle East and sex slave trafficked within theRead MoreNegative Effects Of Slavery798 Words   |  4 Pagespatriarchy persisted as human interactions for thousands of years until they were challenged in recent centuries (Strayer 597) through this I gained context about how long slavery had been in existence. Strayer then asserts that today, slavery prevails in various forms (597) which conveyed to me that this is an ongoing global issue. In Slavery Today by Kevin Bales and Becky Cornell discuss the history of slavery across the globe. They state that â€Å"slavery has been around as long as human history† and thatRead MoreAbstract. This Memoir Employed A Mixed Methods Design To1562 Words   |  7 PagesThis memoir employed a mixed methods design to evaluate the current system of justice for minors in Haiti. The problem is several juvenile participants became involved in the formal justice system currently set up for adults, with no intervention effectiveness for juveniles. There are remedies that will prove effective. In the latter sections propose interventions in the Juvenile Justice system in Haiti that will reduce the rates of juvenile delinquency when implemented. Examination of juvenile reformRead MoreChallenges Of Transnational Organized Crime1260 Words   |  6 Pagesdiscussing the challenges human trafficking, drug trafficking, corruption and bribes, and illegal logging. At the end of each of the organised crime security challenges, this essay will discuss how these challenges differ from traditional security threats. The traditional security paradigm is focused on physical and external security threats to states. It promotes that security should be state centred and national security is primary over other securities, such as human security. States must defend

The Individual and the Community - 963 Words

The Individual and the Community This paper will give insight into the different views of three different philosophers with a never-ending struggle to keep a balance between the community and the Individual. By explaining their views he/she will find different definitions from the philosophers on how to live as an individual under a ruler and how a good citizen should be characterized. For example in Antigone a good citizen would not have gone against the law and buried their sibling in one of the philosopher eyes, but in another’s it made Antigone find happiness so the deed would be cleared and would make it ok. A philosopher of Athens named Socrates believed one could only judge him/herself, if he/she knows what is good or bad in†¦show more content†¦Plato Would be on Ismenes side also because justice and fairness is extremely important to him so by not defying the state she is doing the right thing. Aristotle might agree and also disagree because burying her brother would make her happy, but also not defying the State makes her happy because she doesn’t want to suffer the consequence thus being death. Socrates views on the individual and the community is extremely clear, he strongly disagrees with having an over powering government but rather likes when everyone gets a say in what they want. Plato views are different he believes in having a stronger government so that they can make the rules and everyone has to abide by them, the mindset of â€Å"law above all†. Yet the ruler must take advice at the same time and examine his decisions thoroughly before making them. 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In this paper I argue that Mary Shelleys Frankenstein criticizes the impacts of Industrial Revolution and Romantic era-inspired individualism on the community and individual, using Victor Frankensteins disruption of the reproductive process and subsequent relationship with his creation as examplesRead MoreCommunity, Individuals, And Religious Liberty1415 Words   |  6 Pages001059537 Community, Individuals, and Religious Liberty. The end of the 16th century and beginning of 17th century witnessed the departures of various European fleets setting out on their journeys westward to explore the New World. From the Pilgrims, who came to America aboard the Mayflower, to the Puritans, who later came across their sacred â€Å"city upon a hill,† hundreds of thousands of people eagerly set sail across the Atlantic Ocean on the premise of escaping the King’s tyranny and the uncheckedRead MoreCorruption Of The Nation, The Community, And The Individual1573 Words   |  7 PagesIzzy Rael November 16, 2015 English 10-X Corruption of the Nation, the Community, and the Individual â€Å"Corruption is the enemy of development, and of good governance. It must be got rid of,† says Pratibha Patil, India’s 12th president. Corruption within society hinders its ability to properly function and affects mankind. While it is in effect, corruption will continue to tarnish society’s mores. 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Its value lies in theRead MoreDescription And Definition Of An Individual, Group, Community2143 Words   |  9 Pagesresearch can either test or create theory; different types are better for producing rather than testing theories. Case studies aim to build theory rather than test it (Berg Lune, 2012). Case studies open the door to understanding how an individual, group, community etc. interacts with a certain event. Berg and Lune (2012) suggest that case studies allow researchers to observe shared and unique problem-solving techniques and how the case interacts, perceives and interprets the information when they

Night Creature Hunter’s Moon Chapter 29 Free Essays

string(22) " his gaze to my face\." Damien Fitzgerald straightened from quadrupedal to bipedal. Completely naked, he glistened in the early-morning sunshine. I was unimpressed. We will write a custom essay sample on Night Creature: Hunter’s Moon Chapter 29 or any similar topic only for you Order Now My hands shook. My heart raced. My eyes blurred. I’d done it again. Fucked a monster. What was the matter with me? â€Å"Leigh – † he began, and took a step in my direction. I fired, the bullet kicking up dirt at his feet. He hesitated but only for an instant. His long bare legs ate up the distance until he was standing far too close. Why didn’t I shoot him? He was the enemy. He could be anyone. He could be the one. My finger tightened on the trigger. Damien grabbed the barrel and put it against his chest, exactly where his heart would be, if he had one. â€Å"You think I care? Shoot me. You’d be doing me a favor.† I frowned, remembering the behavior of the brown werewolf the first night I’d seen him. I’d thought then that the wolf had wanted me to shoot him. Guess I’d been right. â€Å"If you hate me, then kill me, Leigh. The only thing I’ve ever found worth living for is you.† I stared into his eyes and saw the love again. It terrified me. Was it real or just another lie? All my silly dreams rose up and choked me. I’d envisioned a life with this man. Family. Children. I gagged. He hadn’t used a condom last time. What did that mean? Suddenly I was running – through the trees, back the way I’d come. Away from him and all the confusing, heartbreaking things he made me feel. I reached my car. The thing was trashed. I had nowhere to go, except to my room. So I did. No messages on my phone, no E-mail to answer. I drifted around the place trying to find something to occupy my mind. But I couldn’t. All I could think about was Damien. The werewolf. I waited for the hate and loathing that usually filled me whenever I thought of the beasts. They didn’t come. Instead, I remembered touching him, holding him, kissing him. I’d loved him. Why? Desperate, I pulled out the picture of Jimmy, then the ones of my parents, my brother, my sister. I touched then-faces with a fingertip. I said their names out loud. â€Å"Emily, Greg, Carol, and Dan Tyler. James Renquist.† Gone because of me. Because of the monsters. I’d sworn to kill them all. But I hadn’t. Not yet. I tugged a chair even with the door, took a seat, placed my rifle over my legs, and waited. I didn’t have to wait very long. The lock clicked; the door swung open. Damien’s silhouette filled the opening. At least he’d found his clothes. Would his body have distracted me even now? I didn’t want to know. â€Å"Damn you,† I said. He stepped inside and shut the door. â€Å"Too late.† His words reminded me of the nature of werewolves. They were damned, cursed, inhabited by a demon. So what was wrong with him? â€Å"Who are you?† I asked. † What are you?† â€Å"I’ve told you who I am. You saw what I can become.† â€Å"You lied to me.† â€Å"Not really. You knew I had secrets. Now I don’t.† I snorted. â€Å"Splitting hairs, Damien.† â€Å"Making jokes, Leigh?† â€Å"Are you Hector Menendez?† He raised his eyebrows. â€Å"Do I look like a Hector to you?† If he was lying, he did it very well. But then so had Hector. â€Å"You’re a shape-shifter,† I accused. â€Å"I never said I wasn’t. What’s your excuse?† â€Å"I don’t know what you mean.† â€Å"The DNR? Rabies? Please. You’re a Jager-Sucher† Well, so much for our secret society of monster hunters. Not that the werewolves didn’t know someone was after them; they just didn’t know who. By the time they saw a face, they were seconds away from being dead. Of course there were always a few that escaped – and after the debacle in Miniwa, who was to say how many of them knew more about us than we’d like? â€Å"Everyone here knows what I am?† I asked. â€Å"Of course not. They’d have killed you. I told them you were who you said you were. Besides, who’d believe a Jager-Sucher would sleep with the enemy?† â€Å"Not me,† I muttered. â€Å"How long have you known?† â€Å"The first day you showed up. Jessie’s one, too.† He tilted his head. â€Å"I’m not sure about Cadotte. He doesn’t smell like guns and death. But he’s up to something.† â€Å"Why haven’t you tried to kill me if you know I’m here to kill you?† He leaned against the wall, crossed his arms over his chest. His shirt was unbuttoned again. There was a cigarette sticking out of his pocket. I guess he didn’t have to worry about cancer. Lucky him. â€Å"I figured if you were nearby,† he continued, â€Å"I could keep an eye on you. Better the enemy you see than the one you don’t.† Enemy? For some reason that hurt, even though it was true. â€Å"Besides,† he continued, â€Å"why would I kill someone who’s doing the same thing I am?† â€Å"Which is?† â€Å"Killing them.† The words fell between us like a boulder through a sheet of glass. My hands tightened on the rifle in my lap. â€Å"You say that like you’re different from the others.† He shrugged. My gaze went to his ring finger. Maybe he was. â€Å"How many did you have to kill before you became powerful enough to wear silver?† Damien frowned. â€Å"Silver? Oh!† He lifted his hand. â€Å"This? Platinum. My mother’s.† Platinum? I’d heard of it, of course, just never considered one metal could so resemble another. I never thought being jewelry-challenged would be a problem in my line of work. Wrong again. â€Å"Give it to me,† I demanded. We’d just see what it was. At J-S headquarters. If the thing was made of silver†¦ I didn’t want to think about what that meant. He pulled off the ring and crossed the short distance to drop it into my palm. I kept the gun ready. I still didn’t trust him. He stared at the barrel, lifted his gaze to my face. You read "Night Creature: Hunter’s Moon Chapter 29" in category "Essay examples" â€Å"I meant it when I said that I loved you.† â€Å"Save it,† I snapped. I couldn’t think of that now. There were too many other problems to solve. â€Å"I don’t understand what you meant about becoming more powerful,† he began. â€Å"I’m asking the questions.† I motioned with the rifle for him to back up. He was too close. I could smell his skin, feel the heat from his body. It made me want to touch him, made me wonder, again, if he had bewitched me somehow. He retreated to the door, closed it, and sat on the floor with his back against the wood. â€Å"Why are you killing them?† I asked. â€Å"Why are you?† Hadn’t I just said I was asking the questions? He didn’t take orders very well. Big surprise. I decided to answer anyway. â€Å"I’m killing them because they’re evil. Possessed. Murdering, demonic, soulless entities.† â€Å"Ditto.† I blinked. â€Å"What the hell is that supposed to mean?† â€Å"I agree. That’s why I’m killing them.† â€Å"But†¦ so are you.† â€Å"I was. Now I’m different. You were right.† I kept the gun pointed at his chest. But he didn’t move from his position in front of the door. â€Å"Start talking,† I muttered. â€Å"I was in the war – â€Å" â€Å"What war?† † The war. World War Two. What other war is there?† Damien had been in World War Two? I looked him up and down. I’d been told that werewolves lived forever appearing exactly the same age they had been when they were bitten. Of course I never had much of a chance to chat with them and discover if what I’d heard was true. â€Å"There’ve been quite a few wars since then,† I pointed out. â€Å"None like that one.† He was right. Since the last war to end all wars, combat had changed. No more whole-scale invasions onto beaches. We had fighter jets, aircraft carriers, smart bombs. The face of modern warfare. Americans didn’t see their enemy up close and personal anymore. Except for me. I motioned with the gun. â€Å"Get on with it.† â€Å"I was a part of the D-day invasion. Seen any film of that?† â€Å"Saving Private Ryan.† He made a face. â€Å"From what I heard, the movie was close, but the reality was much, much worse.† â€Å"You didn’t see it?† â€Å"I couldn’t.† Damien was a werewolf, had done unimaginable things, but he couldn’t bear to see a movie reenacting a battle. I wondered if the sadness in his eyes reflected more than werewolf guilt. â€Å"I made it past Omaha Beach and started through the French countryside. We were in a race to Berlin. Americans on one side, Russians on the other.† â€Å"I know the drill.† â€Å"Right. Anyway, there were Germans all over the place. Snipers. Panzers. Damn circus. More so than I realized. We had just moved into Germany when they attacked.† He shifted, looping his arms around his knees and hunching his shoulders. Staring at his hands, he continued. â€Å"Hundreds of werewolves came out of the trees and swept over us like†¦ like – â€Å" â€Å"A werewolf army,† I whispered. I’d heard the story of Hitler’s monster legion, but I’d never met anyone who’d seen it. â€Å"We didn’t have silver bullets. No matter how many times we shot them, they kept coming. They killed everything in their path. It was a slaughter.† â€Å"And you? How did you manage to survive?† His light eyes flicked to mine, then away. â€Å"I was young. Foolish. I wanted to live. I didn’t realize what that meant.† Damien took a deep breath as if bracing himself. â€Å"When I saw what was happening, I ran and hid. The guns didn’t work. Our tanks were too far behind to help. I’m not sure if they could. No silver ammo in them, either.† He emitted a short bark of laughter. â€Å"One of the werewolves found me. I†¦ I†¦ begged for my life.† He refused to look at me. I waited for him to continue. What could I say? â€Å"I’d seen so many of my friends die. On the beach, the march, in that forest. I was twenty-three, and I didn’t want to die. So I begged. A mistake I’ve paid for over and over again.† â€Å"What happened?† â€Å"The wolf wasn’t hungry anymore. He granted my wish and made me like him.† Silence settled over the room as Damien remembered what that meant and I considered it, too. If he had been a werewolf since 1944, how many had he killed? The possibilities boggled the mind. â€Å"I became possessed. The bloodlust is like nothing you can imagine, especially when you first become. You’re out of control. Being in Germany, during that time, I had no problem feeding the hunger. With my entire company wiped out, and pretty much strewn in pieces all over the countryside, disappearing wasn’t a big deal. I was listed as killed in action. I never saw my family again.† He took a deep breath, let it out slowly. â€Å"How could I when I was like this?† Sympathy sparked in my chest and I squashed it ruthlessly. â€Å"I’m not hearing anything that makes you different from all the other murdering scum I’ve put a silver bullet into over the years.† â€Å"I’m not. I killed – first in Germany, then all over Europe and Russia. Back then it was easy. So many people, nobody noticed. It wasn’t that much different from when I’d been a soldier. Except now the enemy was any human. It didn’t matter what uniform they wore or which flag they waved.† â€Å"At first I liked being a werewolf. I’d been afraid for so long. I was a kid when I went into the army. I’d worked on the docks in New York.† He glanced down at his hands – calloused, scraped, rough. â€Å"It was hard work, but the war was worse. I was terrified of dying, but I had to go. Back then we had little choice. The world was being decimated. We had to save it or kiss everything and everyone we’d ever loved good-bye. I did anyway.† â€Å"Wah, wah, wan,† I sniped. His lips lifted into his usual ghost of a smile. â€Å"When you’re bitten, you change. And I don’t mean just the transformation. The virus – or whatever it is that does this – makes you selfish. All you care about is your next meal, how to survive, how to thrive. Me, me, me pounds in your head like an anthem. That’s the demon, Leigh. Complete and total self-absorption.† â€Å"Sociopath,† I muttered. â€Å"Exactly.† I made a note to mention this to Edward. Although I doubted very many werewolves went in for psychiatric advice on their psychosis, it couldn’t hurt to check out anyone with sociopathic tendencies. â€Å"I stayed in Europe until the last of my family was gone. I didn’t want to run into anyone who knew me. How would I explain being alive?† â€Å"Wouldn’t your mother have loved you no matter what?† â€Å"Of course. But I no longer cared about my mother, about love, family, or anything that’s truly important; I only cared about me.† I frowned. This didn’t sound like the Damien I’d come to know and lo – I mean hate. â€Å"When everyone who’d known me then was dead, I came back to America. I missed the place. As much as I could miss or care for anything. Besides, Europe was getting dangerous. All the monsters that had been released by the Nazis – â€Å" I jolted. â€Å"You know about that?† â€Å"Of course. We have our fairy tales, our legends, our history, too. The beings Mengele had fashioned in his lab were causing problems. You see, Europeans believe in things Americans don’t.† â€Å"Like what?† â€Å"People who’ve lived next to the Black Forest for centuries have watched some unbelievable creatures come out of those trees. They buy silver ammo as easily as we buy a cheeseburger. But in America, a country that’s only a few hundred years old, the citizens are modern. They only believe what they see, hear, and touch. Do they sell silver bullets at Wal-Mart yet?† I saw his point. â€Å"I came back in 1968 to a world gone crazy. People hitchhiking all over the place. Free love. Drugs everywhere. It was the perfect time for monsters. With all the drifting around the country, folks disappeared without a trace.† â€Å"And now?† I asked. â€Å"Now it’s tougher. But people still disappear. You know that as well as I do.† He was right. Despite the computers, the technology, the numbers and requirements necessary for daily living, people still disappeared. Both Damien and I knew why. â€Å"You haven’t told me one damn thing that makes me want to put a slug of silver between your eyes any less.† â€Å"I don’t kill people any more. I kill werewolves.† I wasn’t sure I believed him, but I’d give him the benefit of the doubt. â€Å"Why?† â€Å"Because something happened that made me understand what I was doing. Made me agonize over every life I’d taken. Made me remember all the pain I’d caused. The faces of the ones I’ve killed haunt me, and the only way to make them fade for even an instant is to end the existence of others like me.† â€Å"I’ve never heard of a werewolf with a conscience before.† â€Å"Never been one that I know of. I’m cursed – or blessed.† His lips twitched. â€Å"Depending on how you look at it.† I wasn’t sure how to look at it, because I found all of this pretty hard to believe. How to cite Night Creature: Hunter’s Moon Chapter 29, Essay examples

Ethical Issues of Health Care free essay sample

Out of the four models of physician/patient relationship, Dr. McKee exemplified the Paternalistic model, the least ideal model for physician/patient interactions. He makes decisions for the patient dismissing the importance of their values or desires. For example, on the way home from a festival with his wife, Mrs. Street calls because she is concerned that her husband wants to mow the lawn after having just received surgery on his lungs. Dr. McKee says† Well it is dangerous to mow the lawn in the dark†, laughs, and carelessly hangs up on her.He also uses the interpretive model where the patient is inchoate and is asking for elucidation of their values and acts as a counselor. For example, the suicidal patient, he tells the patient next time he wants to torture himself to go play golf. Doctors such as Dr. Murray, Dr. Abbott, and his radiology therapist were doctors in the film that acted in the same manner as Dr. McKee had in the beginning of the film. Dr. Murray asked him to lie under oath for him in a major malpractice case against Mr. Richards. This case involved medical infidelity and going against the ethical principle of justice when the benefit that Mr. Richard’s was entitled to was denied and the burden of his health was imposed unduly. He was denied informed consent of his medical conditions and went against the Kantian belief of truth-telling which states† to be truthful in all declarations is therefore a sacred and conditional command of reasons, and not to be limited by any other expediency. † Dr. Abbott also treats her patients like specimen and has an egoistic view in medical ethics. She’s rude, keeps her patients waiting, and speaks to them in a careless manner. At one point when Dr.McKee was concerned about being unable to see her until later in the day she says to him, â€Å"I am the doctor and you are my patient. I am telling you when I am available. † Dr. McKee’s radiology therapist left his cancer patients unattained for an entire week because he was backed up and also against informed- consent as well as truth-telling when he fails to inform Dr. McKee that his tumor has gotten larger since therapy. All he tells him is that â€Å"it didn’t shrink. † In the beginning of the film, Dr. McKee would have evaluated this type of behavior from doctors as acceptable and justifiable. A Medical Ethics committee is responsible for ethical issues, problems and dilemmas pertaining to health. Medical Ethics involves the moral relationship between people and health professionals and is based primarily on the idea of fidelity, respect, and trust. Although a medical ethics committee follows principles of autonomy, informed consent, confidentiality, beneficence, and distributive justice, If Dr. McKee were to be a member of medical ethics committee in the beginning of the movie, he would ultimately address a dilemma from a more paternalistic view.If he were to be placed in a position where he needed to evaluate a situation and come up with a decision regarding a patients health, he would believe in doing what appears to be in the best interest of the patient even if it against the expressed of implied wishes of the patient, but â€Å"for the patient’s own good. † He would act upon the principle of double effect which states that it is permissible to do what o rdinarily is harm if one does not intend the harm, the harm is an unintended effect of some good action, and the action is the only way to bring about a desired end.These principles are unsatisfactory and incompatible to other principles such as informed consent which states the importance of communicating, understanding, and agreeing upon a medical treatment and would work against the autonomy of the patient. It also goes against the requirement of a medical committee member to promote education regarding medical ethical matters and also to assess and provide patient care by demonstrating a respect for patient rights. However, despite Dr.McKeen’s callous attitude towards his patients, I believe he would follow the principle of beneficence, a supporting theory about the value of avoiding harm and helping others. Although he treated his patients in a lackadaisical manner, he demonstrated his gifted surgical abilities with the ultimate goal to heal them. Even when he is diagnosed with cancer and scheduled to receive radiation therapy, he’s concerned about missing his scheduled surgeries and continues to go to work despite his sickness. In the beginning of the movie, Dr McKee was an egoist.Even though he performed the kind actions of operating on people and saving their lives, he was only acting in his own interest. He didn’t actually care about the patients. On his way walking into a scheduled operation, he stated â€Å"A surgeon’s job is to cut. Caring is all about time. I’d rather cut straight, and care less. † He believed he had a right to his own interest, which was to do his job, and care only about his interests, which is exactly how egoists think. Towards the end of the film, he turns into more of a utilitarian in doing the greatest good for the greatest amount of people.After there is an ironic reversal of professional perspective, and he is forced into becoming the patient instead of the doctor, his philosophy on medicine changes. He learned the importance and healing powers of love and compassion and the meaning of ethics of care in that love and responsibility are emphasized over rights, duties, and rules. He defends a patient who was described as terminal by arguing with the doctor and saying, ‘Well is the patient alive or dead? Call a patient terminal again and that’s how you will describe your career. † He was kind and companionate to Mr.Merris, who was undergoing a heart transplant by talking to him throughout the operation and hugging him. Dr. McKee becomes a believer in Kantian theory of truth-telling when he refuses to lie under oath about the mal practice case against Mr. Richards. When all the doctors watched and ignored Mr. Richards who seemed to be having trouble with his car, Dr. McKee helped him receive the keys he’s locked in his car. Also, in the beginning of the film, Dr. McKee would ridicule Eli, an ear-nose-throat doctor, for his empathetic treatment of his patients.At the end he apologizes to him and says, â€Å"I’ve been very insulting with you in the past which I am ashamed of. † When Dr. Abbott says she knows how he feels he responds by saying, â€Å"You don’t have the first idea what I’m feeling. Today I’m sick, tomorrow or the next day you’ll be sick. Every doctor becomes a patient somewhere down the line and then it’ll hit you as hard as it hit me. † He makes the incoming doctors act as hospital patients for 72 hours to learn the importance of the patient’s autonomy, the justice of fairness, and the sanctity of life.He says to them,† You’ve spent so much time learning the Greek names for the patient’s deceases but patients have a name. They feel frightened, embarrassed, and vulnerable. They feel sick and want to get better so because of that they put their lives in our hands. † If Dr. McKee were to sit on an ethics committee discussing the actions of a physician who was treating patients in the way he himself used to, I imagine he would argue this: Dr. McKee: Doctors like that don’t know what it’s like to wait in the waiting room. They don’t understand the ignominy of filling out pointless forms.And they have no idea what it feels like to receive the unfeeling attitude from the professional medical community, when you’re concerned with your health. Patients every day are subject to negligence, indifference, and humiliations from physicians in hospitals. Let’s consider beneficence, the most basic ethical principle. The Oath of Hippocrates states â€Å"I will apply dietetic measures for the benefit of the sick and keep them from harm and injustice. I will comfort and benefit the sick, remaining free of all intentional justice. Physicians are treating their patients like specimens, laughing at their questions, ignoring their requests, and not taking into consideration that patients are more than just a Greek named disease, but people just like us. This is not what I call keeping patients from harm and injustice, nor does it comfort or benefit the sick in any way shape or form. Doctors should take the appropriate measures in doing-good because that is their job as physicians. They should practice distributive justice and perform an equal share of goods and services to all individuals, whether they are a physician or a patient.Physicians should protect the patient’s autonomy and provide them with adequate information. They should perform the informative model of the physician/patient relationship and provide the patient with all the information, giving the patient the freedom and correct tools to make a decision on their own. They must be performers of informed consent in that they must communicate with the physician as often as needed and provide adequate and appropriate truth telling. People go to hospitals and put their lives in the hands of doctors.It is a doctor’s duty to do everything they can to provide the most information, comfort, and help possible for their patients. Those who are trained in ethics are taught all of the basic principles and values including: autonomy, informed consent, confidentiality, beneficence, and distributive justice, standard beliefs but will never really fully recognize what they mean to patients, unless they are placed in the patient’s shoes and experience it in actuality. Most doctors I’ve ever seen treat their patients as numbers not peo ple.My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer and I remember her having to go see a number of different doctors because no one would give her the right information. They rushed her out of their office and didn’t help her to the best of her ability. I also remember when my aunt was dying of mouth cancer, all the bruises she had from doctors and nurses handling her in a careless matter and being too rough with her fragile deteriorating body. Another example was when my brother fell from a tree an cracked his head open, the hospital’s emergency was in no rush to get him in to see a doctor quick enough.We waited in the waiting room for over an hour. Although many doctors may begin distributing all principles into your work, the extremity of it might wear off through time. It is the actual experience of being placed in the patient’s feet that would result in a good doctor or good physician. If a doctor was the one diagnosed with breast cancer, they would expect to receive all the information, direction, and advice on possible actions to take. If a doctor were to be the one dying of mouth cancer, they would expect their weak and fragile body to be handled in a gentle manner and careful manner.And if a doctor were to be the one who cracked their head open, they would expect a physician to assist them immediately. However it isn’t until themselves or someone close to them in placed in the situation of a patient in need of a physician’s help, that a doctor doesn’t fully acknowledge the degree of negligence from the professional medical community to the patients, and when they do have the actual experience in medical ethics, this is what will make a physician a good doctor. References Levine, Carol. Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Bioethical Issues. 12th ed. Dubuque, Iowa: McGraw-Hill Companies, 2008. 2-32.