Nordstrom Human Resource Paper

Nordstrom’s employees and management are the company’s most valuable resource. An article written in the Seattle PI describes exactly why this is true. It states that, â€Å"Nordstrom salespeople make decisions as if managing their own business; they are trusted to do what is right. Everyone else in the company is there to help the sales staff make the sale and please the customer† (Mulady, 2009). The way the employees are treated and valued is a perfect portrayal of the company’s mission of providing the best possible customer service and value to the customer.Even though the salesperson is the front man for the company, the human resource and management team act as the glue that holds the company together. The president of the company, Blake W. Nordstrom, says that people in support positions â€Å"like myself or someone in human resources that isn’t on the floor manning a register,† needs to understand that their job is to use the â€Å"e nergy and the activities they’re doing contribute to a better customer and employee experience† (HR Magazine, 2006).It is, therefore, extremely important that the workers in the human resource department stay connected to the selling process in order to stay connected with the employees, as it is this connection that helps the employees provide the best service to their customers. Company History and Background In 1887, 16-year-old boy named John W. Nordstrom left his home country, Sweden, for the city of New York City. He arrived with only five dollars in his pocket, unable to speak a word of English and started working in gold mines.One morning in 1897, he picked up a newspaper and read the front-page headline â€Å"Gold Found in the Klondike in Alaska. † Although the labor was hard he managed, in two years, to earn $13,000 in a gold mine stake and returned to Seattle. Back in the Northwest, John was eager to invest his money. In Alaska John became best friends with Carl Wallin, who owned a shoe repair shop in downtown Seattle and it was not long before the two decided to go into partnership and open a shoe store together. In 1901, the two opened their first shoe store, Wallin & Nordstrom, in downtown Seattle.This was the start of what would become the retail legend of Nordstrom, Inc. From the beginning, John's business philosophy was based on exceptional service, selection, quality and value. The company built a devoted customer base; and in 1923, the partners added their second store. In 1928, John Nordstrom retired and sold his share of the company to his sons, Everett and Elmer. Carl Wallin retired a year later and also sold his share of the company to the Nordstrom sons. The third son, Lloyd, joined the team in 1933.The company soon grew to become the largest independent shoe chain in the United States. By 1960, Nordstrom had eight stores in Washington and Oregon, and the downtown Seattle store became the largest shoe store in the co untry. By the early 1960s, the company was looking for new ways to spread its wings. Venturing into the clothing market, Nordstrom purchased Best Apparel, a Seattle-based clothing store, in 1963. Three years later, Nordstrom purchased a Portland, Oregon fashion retail store and merged it with their existing Portland shoe store.For the first time, customers were greeted with a selection of both shoes and fine apparel under a new store name: Nordstrom Best. Men's clothing and children's wear were added in 1966, expanding the store to meet the wardrobe needs of the entire family. Business prospered and within two years, two new stores opened in Washington. In 1968, the three brothers decided to retire and hand the company over to the third Nordstrom generation. The company was now led by Bruce, James and John Nordstrom along with Jack McMillan and family friend Bob Bender. The company went public in 1971.Just two years later, Nordstrom sales passed the $100 million mark and the company was recognized as the largest-volume West Coast fashion specialty store. This same year, the name was formally changed to Nordstrom, Inc. By 1975, the company had expanded into Alaska, and the first Nordstrom Rack was opened in Seattle as a clearance center for full-line store merchandise. Three years later, the company moved into the competitive California market; and by 1988, Nordstrom had made the big move to the East Coast with the opening of a stunning new store in Virginia.Organizational and Individual Relations and Retentions Nordstrom is a dynamic place to have a career because of the multitude of characteristics and backgrounds. Of the Company's total employment, 42. 2 percent are people of color and 72. 1 percent are women. On top of that, 31. 9 percent of the management population is comprised of people of color and 73 percent are women. Nordstrom empowers its employees to set their sights high and blaze their own trails. This is a place where the employees’ futur e success and growth are truly a result of their own efforts and achievements.They strongly believe in promoting from within, because this offers employees a unique opportunity to learn the company’s business from the ground up. Hard work, loyalty, competitive spirit and commitment to the customer are important factors employees need in order to grow within the company. Nordstrom Strategies Recognizing any success Nordstrom enjoys basic quality of their relationships with customers, employees, vendors and communities. Striving to be a socially responsible company and know that the trust of the customers is to have is not to be taken lightly.Making responsible business decisions is something Nordstrom has done for a long time. Nordstrom was one of the first retail companies to offer profit sharing to its employees in 1952, and each year donated millions of dollars to nonprofit partners across the country. Nordstrom was also the first among their direct peers in fashion-special ty retail to print on Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified paper with 30 percent recycled content. Recruitment, Selection and Training The company’s goal is to attract the best talent, so it makes good business sense to recruit from a diverse population.They achieve this by utilizing targeted media, job fairs, community organizations and college placement centers. Each of these methods helps the company find the individuals who support Nordstrom’s goals and values. The recruiting process is typically done online, where candidates can apply for job opportunities. Depending on the position, one will either start the online application process or be asked to submit a resume. Than the individual, whom skills and abilities match an open position, will be contacted by a recruiter, department manager or human resources assistant.After an initial conversation, a decision will be made. If there is a potential fit the person will set up an additional interview time where t hey will meet physically. Diversity Training forms an important part of Nordstrom's diversity efforts. The company had an Executive Vice President who looked after Human Resources and Diversity Affairs. In addition, Nordstrom had another Vice President who addressed issues regarding Corporate Diversity Affairs at the company. Equal Employment and Diversity The business of fashion is international, multi-cultural and diverse by nature.At Nordstrom, this makes for an exciting retail environment and value the richness it brings to our Company. One of the best ways Nordstrom has found to provide excellent customer service is by ensuring what reflects the communities it serve: â€Å"having a workplace that attracts and supports diversity, benefits both customers and employees. †(Nordstrom, 2009) Nordstrom believes each of their employees has the opportunity to realize their potential and contribute to the success of their Company. This philosophy is reflected in the company unders tanding that success comes from people.The broad range of experiences, backgrounds and cultures the employees bring to the company creates a unique atmosphere. At Nordstrom, ongoing efforts to encourage a diverse environment are found throughout the Company, from hiring and promotion to their Supplier Diversity Program. Nordstrom believes that one of the best ways to be a socially responsible business is to create a workplace where people can be financially successful and grow a rewarding career. Throughout their history, Nordstrom has created a workplace where people feel valued, outstanding performance is rewarded, and entrepreneurial spirit is encouraged.In the spirit of entrepreneurship, Nordstrom authorize its employees to run their own business within the company’s four walls. Although Nordstrom has been fortunate to have been recognized by Fortune magazine as one of the best places to work, there is always room for improvement. Employees at Nordstrom are most valuable resources and as a company Nordstrom is committed to support them through upholding diversity, offering workers with benefits and opportunities for career growth.Supplier diversity seeks out and develops relationships with qualified women-and minority-owned businesses are the keys to the Nordstrom Supplier Diversity Program. In 1989, Nordstrom launched the Supplier Diversity Program to help attract qualified vendors that might not otherwise consider Nordstrom as a potential client. Nordstrom recruits a wide range of women and minority owned vendors in three categories: merchandise, supplies and services, and construction. Since the program began, Nordstrom has spent more than $8 billion with minority and women-owned businesses. Legal Framework of Equal EmploymentAs Nordstrom contracts to manufacture products in various countries, it has an opportunity to address a wide range of factory issues throughout the world, especially workers rights. To address these concerns, Nordstrom creat ed a Social Responsibility team in 1994. This team works closely with company’s product group vendors to see that Nordstrom label products are made in accordance with applicable laws and ethical labor practices. Additionally, as a buyer of merchandise from around the world, Nordstrom expects the companies that they work with to do business by acting responsibly.Through the Partnership Guidelines, focusing on social responsibility in manufacturing, and by forming strong alliances with non-profit organizations the company can better protect the human rights of those in the companies supply chain. Nordstrom’s partnership guidelines cover topics such as forced labor, child labor, health and safety, harassment and abuse. The company social responsibility in manufacturing gives an overview of how the business upholds responsible relationships with vendors.Over the years, Nordstrom has formed strong alliances with third party organizations including Business for Social Respon sibility, the Fair Labor Association and Fair Factories Clearinghouse. These partners, among others, act as checks and balances for Nordstrom in its efforts to protect human rights. Forced Labor: Nordstrom will not conduct business with any Partner that uses involuntary labor of any kind; including prison labor, indentured labor, or forced labor. Overtime must be voluntary. Employees shall not be required to lodge ‘deposits' or identity papers upon commencing employment with the company or as a condition of employment.Child Labor Partners will not employ anyone under the age of 15, and or younger than the age for completing compulsory education, or under the minimum ages established by applicable law in the country of manufacturer, if higher than the age of 15. Furthermore, Partners of any kind must comply with all local laws pertaining to the restrictions on â€Å"young workers† under the age of 18, including restrictions on their exposure to situations in or outside o f the workplace that are hazardous, unsafe, or unhealthy, and Partners will provide adequate protection from such exposure. Nondiscrimination:Nordstrom firmly believes people are entitled to equal opportunity in employment. Although the company recognizes cultural differences exist, Nordstrom will not pursue business relationships with Partners who discriminate in employment practices (including hiring, wages, benefits, assigned duties, advancement opportunities, discipline; termination or retirement on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, gender identity, age, sexual orientation, national origin, marital or maternity status, work or personal affiliations, political opinion or social or ethnic origin, or physical, mental or sensory disability).Harassment and Abuse: Nordstrom expects its Partners to treat every employee with respect and dignity. No employee will be subject to any harassment, which includes any physical, verbal, sexual or psychological harassment or abuse. Partner s will not use monetary fines as a disciplinary practice. Furthermore, workers must be free to voice their concerns to Nordstrom or Nordstrom appointed staff, and must be allowed to participate in the Nordstrom audit process, without fear of retaliation by factory management. Health and Safety:Nordstrom seeks Partners who provide written standards for safe and healthy work environments and the prevention of accident and injury to the health of their workers, including adequate facilities and protections from exposure to hazardous conditions or materials. These provisions must include safe and healthy conditions for dormitories and residential facilities, and they must comply with local health and safety laws and standards. Wages and Benefits Partners shall set wages, overtime pay and legally mandated benefits and allowances in compliance with all applicable laws.Workers shall be paid at least the minimum legal wage, or a wage that meets applicable local industry standards, whichever is greater. Documentation and Inspection: Nordstrom intends to monitor compliance with our Partnership Guidelines and to undertake on-site inspections of Partners' facilities. Partners will maintain, on file, all documentation necessary to demonstrate compliance with these Partnership Guidelines, and will authorize Nordstrom and its designated agents (including third parties) to engage in announced and unannounced monitoring activities to ensure compliance, including confidential employee interviews.Nordstrom will review and may terminate its relationships with any Partner found to be in violation of the Partnership Guidelines, including denying access to approved monitors. Freedom of Association: Partners will respect workers rights to freedom of association and collective bargaining. Lawsuits: Nordstrom to Pay $292,500 to Settle EEOC Harassment Lawsuit On April 17, 2009 the U. S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission announced that Nordstrom will have to pay $292,500 to 10 form er employees and furnish other remedial measures to settle a harassment lawsuit.EEOC had charged that the department store manager harassed Hispanic and African-American employees based on their national origin, race, and color, and retaliated against those who complained about the harassment. According to the EEOC's lawsuit, a manager harassed the Hispanic and African-American staff at the Palm Beach Gardens and Wellington Florida’s stores. Even though the employees complained about the harassment, the company only did the minimum to help them. The alteration's manager retaliated against those who complained by continuing the racially offensive comments, unfairly berating mployees and citing them for alleged performance problems. Under the terms of a consent decree Nordstrom will have to pay for the damage and distribute its policy addressing unlawful harassment to all employees in the Wellington and Palm Beach stores; provide harassment training, post a notice on the resolu tion of the lawsuit, and submit a semi-annual report to EEOC on all harassment complaints received during the next two years. Working at Nordstrom Nordstrom has believed in promoting from within.The promote-from-within policy offers employees a unique opportunity to learn the business from the ground up and grow a rewarding career with Nordstrom. It's not uncommon for people who started on the sales floor or in the stockrooms to stay with the company for 20 years or more, taking on new assignments as they grow. The majority of executives began their careers with Nordstrom as salespeople or in the stockroom. Generally, Nordstrom looks for great sellers who love fashion and are passionate about helping customers.The idea of corporate social responsibility is not new to the company. Since the beginning Nordstrom has made every effort to run an ethical business where people want to work and shop. The social responsibility efforts help the company connect with customers and employees and help drive results. Striving to offer its customers the best possible customer service, social responsibility is a subject that requires continuous improvement, and is something that Nordstrom can always get better at. Jobs and Job AnalysisWhen one works at Nordstrom, each day is full of new challenges, friends and goals. At Nordstrom employees are encouraged to try new things and share their passion. This is a place to build a rewarding, lifelong career. Nordstrom Retail Internship Opportunities: Nordstrom is looking for individuals with a passion for retail who is motivated achievers and hardworking team players. As a Nordstrom Retail intern, the intern will receive mentoring and training in the exciting world of fashion through experiences that a person will not find in the classroom.During the internship the intern will have the opportunity to learn from the experienced people who bring the Nordstrom experience to life, gain hands-on experience by serving Nordstrom’s cus tomers, participate in sales and customer service events, gain exposure to a variety of management responsibilities, earn a competitive wage and receive an employee merchandise discount. Upon completion the intern will be offered an Assistant Manager or salesperson position, depending on availability and intern preferences. Nordstrom is proud to be named to Fortune magazine’s list of â€Å"100 Best Companies to Work For. Nordstrom’s believes this recognition comes from their desire to empower their employees to set their sights high and blaze their own trails. Nordstrom is a place where its employees’ future success and growth are truly a result of their own efforts and achievements. Nordstrom Stores and Merchandising: Nordstrom wants to be the ultimate fashion destination for its customers and provide a superior experience. From meticulous tailors to knowledgeable salespeople to innovative merchants who bring the latest trends and fashion to Nordstrom stores, their teams are comprised of talented people who work hard to delight the customer.The rewards for working at Nordstrom are many, employees find recognition for their unique talents and energies, they also work in an environment that gives individual freedom to excel and create their own career path, employees develop gratifying one-on-one relationships with customers and are able to choose from satisfying positions in commissioned sales, merchandising, Nordstrom restaurants, operations, support and Nordstrom Spa. Restaurants and Specialty Coffee:When employees work in one of Nordstrom’s restaurants or specialty coffee bars, they become an important part of a team that delivers professional and enjoyable dining and coffee experiences for Nordstrom customers. The employees will enjoy working with stylish, comfortable setting with outgoing co-workers who share the same passion for great food, coffee and service, also employees are able to bring their own personal passion for fo od and service to Nordstrom concepts featuring casual and classic dining alternatives and regional menus designed to suit Nordstrom customers.By working at the restaurant or coffee bars employees choose from an assortment of career possibilities, including line and prep cooks, cashiers, servers, hosts, bussers, dishwashers, chefs and management. Nordstrom Rack: Nordstrom Rack is where customers go for top-of-the-line fashion and accessories. An employee working on the Rack team has the opportunity to enjoy flexible hours, a friendly atmosphere and competitive pay along with benefits. Nordstrom’s created a fun, fast-paced, self-service environment that gives its employees the opportunity to grow.The employees learn the ins and outs of fashion retailing and customer service. They can choose their title from a range of positions in non-commission sales, customer service and stock. In addition, employees are encourage to choose the best position fit, full time or part time, in or der to find their inspiration. Compensation, Variable Rewards, and Executive Pay It is very important for a company to control what the executives collect in comparison to what a normal employee does. This has been an issue in business and politics because higher management have more rewards and more income than others such as; sales associates.For this matter Nordstrom has a compensation committee. The Committee â€Å"is responsible, subject to approval of the board, for establishing and maintaining a broad compensation program for the president and executives of Nordstrom in order to attract, retain and motivate key contributors to the success of Nordstrom and its affiliated companies, for reviewing and discussing with management Nordstrom’s compensation discussion and analysis, and for preparing an annual report on executive compensation to be included in the Nordstrom proxy statement†.Below are the list of duties and responsibility of the committee: †¢Ã¢â‚¬Å"A nnually review and approve the corporate goals and objectives relevant to the president and executive’s compensation, and evaluate their performance †¢Salary paid to the President and Executives The grant of any cash-based bonuses and equity compensation to the president and Executives †¢The award of any benefits or perquisites to the President and the Executives †¢To review management's annual performance evaluation of the Executives and to monitor the annual performance process for executives not evaluated by the Committee †¢To prepare an annual report on executive compensation to Nordstrom shareholders for inclusion in its proxy statement or annual report on Form 10K in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission †¢To recommend to the Board where it deems appropriate that an employment separation, or change in control agreement be established with any Executive and the terms of such agreement †¢To review , approve, administer, amend, and/or make recommendations to the Board relating to all Nordstrom cash-based and equity-based incentive compensation plans †¢To review management's recommendations for, and approve as it deems appropriate, long-term incentive award levels or other incentives to non-Executive key contributors to the success of Nordstrom and its affiliates †¢To review and approve any benefit plans, retirement and deferred compensation or other perquisites offered to Executives, including eligibility and the level and types of benefits or perquisites provided †¢To consult with the President regarding significant organizational structure changes and to advise the Board regarding the implications on any Executive compensation or benefit programs concerning such changes †¢To undertake such other responsibilities, tasks or projects as the Board of Directors may delegate or assign to the Committee from time to time †¢To conduct an annual self-evaluatio n of the Committee's performance to determine whether the Committee and its members are functioning effectively in adherence to this Charter †¢To review and approve management's recommendation for contributions attributable to the profit sharing portion of Nordstrom's 401(k) Plan and Profit Sharing, and additional profit sharing payouts, if any †¢To review and discuss with management Nordstrom's CD;A and based on that review and discussion, recommend to the Board that the CD;A be included in Nordstrom's annual proxy statement †¢To receive periodic reports upon request by the Committee on Nordstrom's compensation programs as they affect all employees †¢To periodically review and make recommendations to the Board with respect toNordstrom's stock ownership guidelines applicable to Nordstrom employees and directors and to monitor compliance with the stock ownership guidelines by those individuals †¢The Committee shall establish such rules, regulations and proced ures as it determines appropriate and reasonably necessary for it to undertake its duties and responsibilities as set forth in this Charter †¢The Committee shall maintain appropriate procedures to ensure accurate meeting agendas and minutes are prepared and filed in draft form as soon as practicable, with such Meeting Minutes presented to the Committee for approval at the next regularly scheduled Committee Meeting.Such meeting agendas and minutes shall be filed in the Committee Minute Book upon approval †¢The Committee shall have the sole authority to engage any consultants, legal counsel or advisors to provide services the Committee deems necessary and advisable to carry out the foregoing responsibilities, to approve all of the terms of such engagement including compensation, and to terminate any such engagement† (Nordstrom, 2008) While talking about compensation, here is an example of how much Blake W. Nordstrom makes out of Nordstrom’s sales. Blake W. Nords trom has been CEO of Nordstrom for eight years and has been with the company for 34 years. He is 47 years old and ranks 11 within retailing. Blake W. Nordstrom’s total Compensation is 8. 15 million dollars; thus his five-year compensation 21. 21 million dollars. 6-Year Annual Total Return20% 6-Year Return Relative to Industry112 6-Year Return Relative to Market118Blake W Nordstrom's Compensation Vs. Retailing Medians Salary $0. 70 mil $1. 01 mil Bonus NA $0. 84 mil Other $0. 07 mil $1. 06 mil Stock Gains $0. 71 mil $0. 00 mil Total Compensation$1. 47 mil $4. 39 mil Nordstrom has different types of compensation for its employees. For example, when someone works at Nordstrom they get 40 percent off on all store merchandise. They also do recognitions such as; employee of the month. Since Nordstrom is a retail store, employees get special incentive programs and they also work for commission which gives employees an â€Å"incentive† to work harder and sell more; resulting i n them earning more money.Employees also get recognition awards that recognize individual employees for their performance or service. Benefits Nordstrom is a respectable company to work for because an employee receives a strong benefits package. In addition, they ranked 72nd in the list of the top companies to work for, and use to be at the 36th place. Even with the bad economy, no cuts were made in pay or benefits for their employees. Nordstrom state, â€Å"as a Nordstrom employee, you should feel confident that your health and well-being are among our highest priorities. To that end, Nordstrom offers comprehensive, flexible benefits to our employees and their families. † Below is a list of the different benefits offered at the company: Health Benefits:Medical/Vision – medical, vision and prescription drug coverage Dental – basic preventive dental services and orthodontia Employee Assistance Program – confidential consultations, information and referrals , 24 hours a day Income Protection: Life Insurance – financial protection in the event of a covered family member’s death Disability Program – income replacement to assist you if you are unable to work due to disability Long-Term Care – financial protection for you or an enrolled family member who can no longer perform covered everyday activities Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance – financial protection for you and your eligible family members in the event of accidental death or dismemberment Retirement Benefits: 01(k) Plan – defer a percentage of your pay as pretax deferrals, post-tax Roth deferrals or a combination of both. Nordstrom matches your deferral, dollar for dollar, up to 4% Profit Sharing – share in the Company’s success through Company contributions to your retirement account Flexible Spending Accounts: Set aside pretax dollars to pay for eligible health care, dependent care and commuter expenses Time off : Leave or Absence Program – time away to recover from an illness, care for a family member or serve in the military Paid time off – time off with pay for your personal and family needs Sabbatical program – six week of unpaid time off to use any way you like Life/Work Benefits:Merchant Discount – a 20% or 33% discount of regular employees and eligible dependents Group Legal Services – access to local legal assistance for a wide range of services Group Home/Auto Insurance – group, discounted insurance rates for auto, home, renters, and other personal property Discount and services/Work Stream Rewards – discount on high-quality goods and services Resources and Referrals/Life Care – counseling, education and referral services to help you make life decisions on everything from childcare and academics to financial services and retirement Employee Stock Purchase Plan: Purchase Nordstrom stock at a discount Additional Benefits and Ser vices: Direct Deposit Jury Duty Pay Nordstrom Bank Nordstrom Federal Credit Union U. S. Savings Bonds Supporting the Environment In 2007, Nordstrom recognized the need to centralize existing efforts and created a multi-divisional group of leaders to come up with a comprehensive social responsibility strategy.In order to do so, they talked to the employees and some of the best customers to learn more about what's most important to them when it comes to social responsibility. They focus on the following areas: Supporting Communities, Sustaining the Environment, Protecting Human Rights, and Caring for their people. Nordstrom hopes to develop stronger relationships with their customers and be a better global steward with this strategy. Nordstrom recognizes that the stores facilities make an environmental impact and for many years it has been involved in recycling, energy and water conservation and overall waste reduction. In 2008, Nordstrom formalized a commitment to the environment wit h the creation of social responsibility strategy.It’s the company goal to reduce the impact on the environment by focusing on resource conservation, waste management, packaging and product innovations and organic cotton development, as well as incorporating sustainable options throughout their restaurants. The company is trying to increase recycling and decrease use of harmful chemicals and toxins. Across the stores and operations, Nordstrom is taking a closer look at how to reduce impact on the environment through innovations in sustainable merchandise, eco-friendly bags and boxes, and organic cotton development. As a fashion specialty retailer, Nordstrom sells branded merchandise from vendor partners and contract to manufacture private label products. The company has decided to focus on one issue directly related to what it does, and it now funds an organization that increasing the world’s supply of organic cotton.In addition, Nordstrom restaurants and coffee bars ar e finding ways to have a healthy impact on their customers, employees and the planet. From organic teas and Fair Trade coffee to nutritional labeling. Supporting Communities Although the environment is an important component of social responsibility, Nordstrom recognizes that social responsibility goes beyond just being â€Å"green. † The company’s financial support and involvement is important to the diverse communities it does business with. Therefore, its social responsibility strategy encompasses some of its existing practices in community giving, the United Way and international development.Overall, the company wants to give back to the communities that believed in them. As outlined in its Contributions Guidelines, its community giving takes the form of cash contributions, community partnerships and volunteerism. The selected areas of focus are the arts and culture, education, health, community development and the environment. Each year, Nordstrom donates millions of dollars to non-profits organization across the country. They also implemented the â€Å"Nordstrom Scholarship Program,† which supports education in most of the communities where it does business. In addition, Nordstrom has been a strong supporter of the United Way for almost six decades.It also supports several global organizations and projects including the HER Project, Organic Exchange, and vendor education programs. Current Financial Summary Nordstrom operates outlet stores in addition to department stores. Nordstrom Rack outlets appeal to customers who like the department store and the labels it carries but not necessarily the prices. Outlet shoppers visit to take advantage of bargains on items that did not sell at the department store or did not make it as far as the sales floor when a product line was discontinued. Recent financial results suggest that, in the recession, outlets may be giving shoppers who are not inclined to indulge at their favorite luxury departme nt stores an alternative where they can shop and still feel financially responsible.In March, Nordstrom’s beat analyst comparable store sales predictions, a relatively positive development despite the fact that those sales, generated in stores open for a year, were off by 13. 5 percent. Outlets helped mitigate greater softness elsewhere with comps at Nordstrom rack up 0. 1 percent versus down 16. 9 percent at department stores. In the recession, Nordstrom has been adding rack locations not just to satisfy bargain hunters but also to take advantage of good real estate deals that have been emerging. The rack has been a great vehicle to offer Nordstrom products at an off price as well as other products that consumers buy. Nordstrom, Inc. (NYSE:JWN) reported net earnings of $81 million, or $0. 7 per diluted share, for the first quarter ended May 2, 2009. For the same quarter last year, Nordstrom reported net earnings of $119 million, or $0. 54 per diluted share. Included in the 2 009 first quarter results was a benefit of approximately $12 million, or $0. 06 per diluted share, related to the closure of the company’s 2007 federal tax return audit. Excluding this benefit, 2009 first quarter net earnings were $69 million, or $0. 31 per share. Net sales in the first quarter were $1. 71 billion, a decrease of 9. 2 percent compared with sales of $1. 88 billion during the same period in fiscal 2008. First quarter same-store sales decreased 13. 2 percent compared with the same period in fiscal 2008.

Cleanliness and Sense of Beauty Essay

Introduction: Human being is the best amongst all the living being in this world. They live in a society, where they don’t only just live for food and shelter. They have to survive sustaining with various conditions, environments, people, customs, cultures etc. So in this society of mankind, human has a lot of responsibility as well as maintenance duty. Discipline makes a human being to do all such activities mentioned above and to lead a life with dignity in the society. And cleanliness is a part of discipline of human life. Sense of beauty is the thing that helps us to justify good and bad aspects of life. Cleanliness: Cleanliness means the sense of remaining clean, neat and tidy. This particular sense is very significant in a man’s life. Because by cleanliness, the nature and type of a person is judged in our society. For an individual, to take proper bath, to wash his/her teeth, to wash his/her clothes regularly and to keep them neat and clean etc are the basic measures of cleanliness. For a family, the duties are like to keep the house clean, to keep everything in a well decorated manner, not to litter anything on the floor, keeping the walls clean, not making the bathroom wet and dirty etc. And the people of a particular area or society, to keep the roads clean, not to throw garbage here and there, not to litter anything on the roads, to use dustbin to throw wastages etc are the sole duties of cleanliness. Sense of Beauty: Sense of beauty is a term that means having a very good taste about everything. This indicates how he/she looks at different things of art, and various things. This sense of beauty is very important too, as this sense justifies between various things and helps us to indicate the quality and beauty amongst things. Sense of beauty also enables us to learn the good and bad, pretty and ugly. From the very childhood parents try to teach this particular criterion of human mind. Importance of cleanliness and sense of beauty in our life: Cleanliness is a great virtue. It is said that without a clean body one cannot have a clean mind. Cleanliness is a religious duty too. In Islam, it is said â€Å"Cleanliness is a part of Iman (faith)†.

Low cost airline Dissertation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 12000 words

Low cost airline - Dissertation Example udice of people who probably who do not fly a great deal on business themselves and may regard those who do as pampered and privileged minority'' (pp14). According to Knowledgerush website ''A low-cost carrier (also known as a no-frills or discount carrier) is an airline that offers low fares but eliminates all unnecessary services. The typical low-cost'' According to the Statistics and Forecast (STATFOR) Service of Euro control there is no single best definition of a low-cost carrier. It is generally accepted that a low-cost airline, also known as no-frills or discount airline, is such carrier, which offers low fares but eliminates most traditional passenger services. The 'low-cost carrier' business design is defined by three key elements: - Simple product: catering on demand for extra payment; planes with narrow seating ( but bigger capacity) and only a single class; there is no seat assignment; they don't offer frequent-flyer programs; ticket less travel - positioning : non-business passengers, esp. leisure traffic, and budget priced; they have short-haul point-to-point traffic with high frequencies; they are making an aggressive marketing; they are using secondary airports (e.g. regional airports); they have a strong competition with all transport carriers - low operating costs: low wages, low air fees; low costs for maintenance; reduced employment (with much lower rates of number of passengers per employer); cockpit training and standby crews due to homogeneous fleet; high resource productivity: short ground waits due to simple boarding processes, no air freight, no hub services, short cleaning times (Internet). There are also other characteristics, which are typical for low-cost airlines. They all have in their fleet a single type of airplane, chosen to reduce... According to the Statistics and Forecast (STRATFOR) Service of Euro control, there is no single best definition of a low-cost carrier. It is generally accepted that a low-cost airline, also known as no-frills or discount airline, is such carrier, which offers low fares but eliminates most traditional passenger services. The ‘low-cost carrier’ business design is defined by three key elements: - Simple product: catering on demand for extra payment; planes with narrow seating and only a single class; there is no seat assignment; they don’t offer frequent-flyer programs; ticketless travel - Positioning: non-business passengers, esp. leisure traffic, and budget priced; they have short-haul point-to-point traffic with high frequencies; they are making an aggressive marketing; they are using secondary airports (e.g. regional airports); they have a strong competition with all transport carriers - low operating costs: low wages, low air fees; low costs for maintenance; reduced employment (with much lower rates of number of passengers per employee); cockpit training and standby crews due to homogeneous fleet; high resource productivity: short ground waits due to simple boarding processes, no air freight, no hub services, short cleaning times. There are also other characteristics, which are typical for low-cost airlines. They all have in their fleet a single type of airplane, chosen to reduce training and service costs. Commonly it is the Boeing 737, but it is not always like that, e.g. the Wizzair fleet has only Airbus A320.

Current and Future Economic Issues Impacting Healthcare Sector Coursework

Current and Future Economic Issues Impacting Healthcare Sector - Coursework Example This paper thoroughly analyzes these five factors that are affecting the demand and supply, as well as the costs, of health care services in the United States. It also suggests specific strategies that relevant entities may use to address these issues from an economic perspective. Physician sovereignty implies that health care professionals, such as doctors, largely influence or regulate the demand for health care. People believe that they require the checkups, medicines, and therapies that the physician advises. Health care demands professional knowledge or expertise. People depend on the doctor. The physician could consider cost, but they are obviously minor (Culyer et al., 2011). Decisions are made based on established clinical knowledge and practice and the guarantee of appropriate, correct health care. The usual thriftiness of a consumer who weighs prices against one another thoroughly and makes budgets is nonexistent in health care. Although this is not essentially negative, it does further result in a greater demand for, and thus increasing costs of, medical care. Moreover, within conventional ‘fee-for-service insurance’, the higher the number of services that are suggested the greater the income the physician or hospital gets (Aizer, 2007 , 405). This situation could result in unnecessary services with gains that are not equal or more than their costs. In fact, physicians may be inclined to over-service, over-test, and overprescribe, particularly if this excessive medical care lessens the possibility of an expensive medical malpractice case (Hicks, 2014). The over-demand produced by third-party payments is a perfect illustration of how consumer decision-making and behavior can be influenced by financial incentives. Consumers are simply acting in response reasonably to the incentive of a lowered price, and the unused or misused medical care is an indication of consumer preference. The result may not be socially desired, yet the consumer remains

Family Health Assessment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Family Health Assessment - Essay Example â€Å"Partnership, participation and equality† of the nurse health visitor and the family could be promoted (WHO, 2001). Even if there were no health needs at the first visit, the health visitor would be notified when there were any. Planning and delivery of the services comprising of the most effective care was possible. The nurse health visitor could practice the ethics of equity in her approach to care. Social justice could be meted out. Through collaborative association with the community, other agencies and professionals, she would deal with the issues at hand. I have selected Mr. Edwin’s family for assessment. Mr. and Mrs. Edwin had two children and the grandmother staying with them. a).Values and Health perception To my questions about illnesses, the obvious answer was that there was nobody ill in that house. My perceptions were against this notion. Mr. Edwin and Mrs. Edwin and Mr. Edwin’s mother Clara, looked undernourished. The elder boy of five, John, l ooked normal and appeared naughty. The baby of eight months seemed okay but she did not have dentition yet. Their health needs had not yet been recognized by them. Seventy-eight old Mrs. Clara was definitely unable to look after herself due to her confusion, memory loss, incontinence for stools and urine. This family had health-seeking behaviors with incomplete health maintenance. Each had to have a health regime management to support them (Weber, 2005). b). Nutrition At eight months, the baby had only milk (both breast and otherwise) and she had not been weaned yet. This could answer for her lack of dentition. John had been introduced to the food of the house which included fruits, vegetables and cereals but his preferences of chocolate and ice-cream were given value and it made things easier for the mother, what with the baby to look after. Mr. Edwin had alcoholism which caused his malnourishment. Mrs. Edwin who was breastfeeding did not bother to have sufficient milk or extra veg etables or fruits to support her health. Mrs. Clara had to take her own food as the others were too busy. Due to her memory loss and poor executive functions, she was irregular in food intake, hardly bathed and was generally looking fatigued and dirty. Her skin was terribly wrinkled due to dehydration and inadequate nutrition. They could all be described as ready for enhanced nutritional metabolic pattern (Weber, 2005). Mrs. Clara had a risk for impaired skin integrity due to her age and her dehydrated state (Weber, 2005). Her skin was turning red at pressure points even though she was still ambulant. Impaired nutrition, delayed weaning and impaired skin integrity were the diagnoses for this family where nutrition was concerned (Weber, 2005). c) Sleep/Rest Mrs. Clara indicated a readiness for enhanced sleep pattern (Weber, 2005). She had a disturbed sleep pattern probably due to her changed neurological functions. Mrs. Edwin had sleep deprivation because she was the only one looking after the baby and her mother-in-law kept calling her for some reason or the other as her sleep was disturbed (Weber, 2005). Her husband did not participate in any of these duties. Mrs. Edwin at times used to give her mother-in-law sleeping pills to enable her to sleep so that Mrs. Edwin herself could get some sleep. Mr. Edwin’

The Environment and Human Health Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

The Environment and Human Health - Coursework Example The deaths due to lung cancer in China have increased by 82 percent during the last 5 years and the high increase in emissions from the vehicles is accounted for this increase in deaths due to cancer. Child births with mental and physical disorders have increased by 12.6 percent during the last 5 years and this is due to the increase in the lead content in air which is inhaled by pregnant women and affects the growth of the children. Other indirect effects of pollution due to vehicle emissions on Chinese population include chronic depression which has caused more than a million deaths during the last year (National Research Council & Chinese Academy of Science, 2010). Environmental Impact of Tire Discard The environmental impacts of tires are very wide ranged, from the unaesthetic view of large piles of tires to the hazardous gases and chemicals which issue out into the environment due to the burning of tires, moreover tires dumped without proper arrangements and without following en vironmental safety practices can serve as excellent place for mosquitoes to form there colonies. In addition to the natural and synthetic rubber, tires contain a wide variety of chemicals which are toxic in nature which include sulfurs, paraffins, carbon black, oil, polymers, pigments and bead or belt materials. These chemicals when reach ground water contaminate it resulting in disastrous impacts on human health. Tires contain a large quantity of heavy metals which are potential pollutants and can be responsible for leaching of toxins into the groundwater when they are buried in earth during recycling and disposal. The use of such water for drinking purposes causes various health disorders including eye, lungs and liver diseases. Moreover when tires are disposed off in landfills, the toxic gases and fumes coming out of the tires tend to rise up which destroys the landfill covers. The air and heat retaining ability of tires makes them highly inflammable material when stacked in open because they easily catch fire and the result is toxic smoke and runoff of toxic oil along with heavy metals and soot in the residue (Eyrer, 2010) Air Pollution Control in Beijing for Olympics Air pollution control in Beijing is a very complex subject area because it involves a number of different parameters which include reduction of air pollution in urban area, citywide and regional ecological improvement and agricultural and industrial structure adjustment. In order to minimize air pollution in Beijing prior to the start of the Olympics games Beijing started shifting towards the use of cleaner energy instead of using coal as a source for electricity generation which include solar, geothermal and wind energy. The coal burner in the Gaojing Power Plant was closed and natural gas replaced coal as fuel for the power plant for which additional transmission line for natural gas was built. Moreover the coal which was allowed to be used in the urban areas was very high quality coal with very low sulfur content. In addition to the emission control from coal, steps were also taken to minimize the pollution due to vehicles. These steps included the development of public transport system, banning of all the vehicles which do not comply with 2nd stage emission control (equivalent to Euro II) by 2003, and enforcement of 3rd stage

Current issues in advertising Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Current issues in advertising - Essay Example Duke grew to become the leading cigarette brand by 1890 . WoodburyÃ'• Facial Ð…oap, a womanÃ'• beauty bar, waÃ'• almoÃ'•t diÃ'•continued in 1910. The Ã'•oapÃ'• Ã'•aleÃ'• decline waÃ'• reverÃ'•ed, however, with adÃ'• containing imageÃ'• of romantic coupleÃ'• and promiÃ'•eÃ'• of love and intimacy for thoÃ'•e uÃ'•ing the brand. Jovan MuÃ'•k Oil, introduced in 1971, waÃ'• promoted with Ã'•exual entendre and deÃ'•criptionÃ'• of the fragranceÃ'• Ã'•exual attraction propertieÃ'•. AÃ'• a reÃ'•ult, Jovan, Inc.Ã'• revenue grew from $1.5 million in 1971 to $77 million by 1978 (Del, 66-111) In contemporary mainÃ'•tream conÃ'•umer advertiÃ'•ing (e.g., magazineÃ'•, network and cable televiÃ'•ion), Ã'•ex iÃ'• preÃ'•ent in promotional meÃ'•Ã'•ageÃ'• for a wide range of branded goodÃ'•. AdÃ'• feature provocative imageÃ'• of well-defined women (and men) in revealing outfitÃ'• and poÃ'•tureÃ'• Ã'•elling clothing, alcohol, beauty productÃ'•, and fragranceÃ'•. AdvertiÃ'•erÃ'• Ã'•uch aÃ'• Calvin Klein, VictoriaÃ'• Ð…ecret, and PepÃ'•i uÃ'•e theÃ'•e imageÃ'• to cultivate a ubiquitouÃ'• Ã'•ex-tinged media preÃ'•ence. AlÃ'•o, Ã'•exual information iÃ'• uÃ'•ed to promote mainÃ'•tream productÃ'• not traditionally aÃ'•Ã'•ociated with Ã'•ex. For example, the DallaÃ'• Opera recently reverÃ'•ed declining Ã'•eaÃ'•on ticket Ã'•aleÃ'• by marketing the more laÃ'•civiouÃ'• partÃ'• of itÃ'• performanceÃ'•. AÃ'• a reÃ'•ult of itÃ'• Ã'•exual promotion Ã'•trategy, Ã'•eaÃ'•on tic ket packageÃ'• Ã'•old out faÃ'•ter than ever before . (Del, 66-111) Ð…ince the 1960Ã'•, reÃ'•earcherÃ'• uÃ'•ing Ã'•ocial Ã'•cience methodÃ'• have attempted to underÃ'•tand the role of Ã'•ex in advertiÃ'•ing for Ã'•elling brandÃ'•. Ð…pecifically, they have attempted to underÃ'•tand exactly how Ã'•exual content influenceÃ'• the advertiÃ'•ing communication proceÃ'•Ã'•. In thiÃ'• article, I organize thiÃ'• body of reÃ'•earch by firÃ'•t defining and deÃ'•cribing common typeÃ'• of Ã'•exual content examined by inveÃ'•tigatorÃ'•, and then by reviewing major approacheÃ'• in pertinent effectÃ'• reÃ'•earch. Finally, I Ã'•et

International finance strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

International finance strategy - Essay Example Dividend policy pertains to the practice of company’s management in providing dividend payments or taking decisions related to the pattern and size of dividend cash distributions, which are to be made by the company to its shareholders (Nissam and Ziv, 2001). This decision to distribute company profits is critical for the company as it influences the capital structure as well as the stock prices. There are three basic contradictory theories in relation to dividend policies of firms. The first view in this regard claims that increase in dividend payments help to improve firm value. This is the bird in hand argument. The second view postulates that high payouts in the form of dividends have a conflicting effect on value of firm and is known as the tax preference argument. The third view is the dividend irrelevance hypothesis, which asserts that dividend decisions are irrelevant and dividend policy decision has no significant effect on the firm. Corporate managers have been able to realize that dividend payments are necessary to satisfy expectations of the company shareholders. They have tried to smooth out dividends over a long period of time because it is believed that reducing dividends might uphold an unfavourable image of the company to its shareholders. Hence, dividends are also used to give signals to the market about company performance and stability. Dividend policies have a huge impact on a company’s stock prices. There has been an ongoing debate regarding the impact of a firm’s dividend policy over its value and capital structure decisions since 1950s. The following sections shall discuss the issue in detail. In financial terms, the capital structure is a framework based on which a company finances the assets in combination of equity, debt and hybrid form of securities. The capital structure of a company is simply the formation of a company’s liabilities. According to

Comment Paper on Death of a Salesman Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Comment Paper on Death of a Salesman - Essay Example Miller’s own early life was eerily similar to that of what the reader is made aware of Willy Loman’s life. For instance, Miller grew up in an upper-middle class neighborhood in New York City; the son of Polish Jewish immigrants. Miller’s own father was a successful businessman in a textile mill; which eventually employed 400 individuals. This successful lifestyle enabled the family to enjoy the luxuries of having a new car at a time when cars were still a novelty, attending private schools, and enjoying the occasional vacation. However, the good times would not last as the crash of 1929 and the onset of the Great Depression shattered the family’s bliss. Miller’s father, out of work and out of options sold their home and moved to Gravesend, New York. It was during this time that young Arthur Miller was forced to take a bread route ever morning before school; delivering bread via his bicycle as a means to keep the family afloat. Although it is easy to say that such an experience doubtless had an effect on how Arthur Miller viewed the plight of the average man, this author would go a step further and claim that the hard times and difficult experiences that young Arthur Miller endured during the great depression and his family’s subsequent fall from wealth are autobiographically sketched in his play â€Å"Death of a Salesman†. If one adopts this autobiographical approach to â€Å"Death of a Salesman†, many of the intrinsic lessons and interplay that exists between the family members and Willy Loman help to show the fleeting nature of success and the cold, cruel reality of pervasive failure that crushes the spirit of the entire family. As a means of showing this dichotomy, Willy Loman states, â€Å"Work a lifetime to pay off a house. You finally own it, and there’s nobody to live in it† (Miller 15). Rather than simply relating to the reader how difficult success is to achieve, Miller works to add a nuanced level of understanding which shows that even if success is achieved – what merit does it have in and of itself? The fleeting nature of success as defined by Loman in the above passage profoundly reflects the eventualities that effected Arthur Miller’s own young life with respect to the brief success enjoyed and then snatched away by the Great Depression. Further, strong elements of the Depression Era mentality peak through at various points of Arthur Miller’s play. When speaking with his wife Linda, Willy blurts out, â€Å"Once in my life I’d like to own something that isn’t broken already† (Miller 73). The rage and frustration at being perennially stuck with second best, having to live on the fringes of society, living with inferior products as a result of being poor is seen as a central theme throughout the play. More than merely representing poverty and hardship as the life of a salesman, this form of life alteration to deal wit h the gnawing pangs of poverty shows an author who is all too familiar with such an eventuality. Further, due to the aforementioned fact that Miller himself had to take a bread right prior to school every morning shows the extent to which the author had to sacrifice of himself as a means of helping to keep his own family sheltered, clothed, fed, and warm during a similarly trying time. However, more than being allegorical of the plight of the poor, the author

How Effective Is Homeschooling Essay Example for Free

How Effective Is Homeschooling Essay Education is a basic requirement for inculcating civic, moral and intellectual faculties of a human being. While imparting education in a public setup is the commonest of all methodologies adopted worldwide, learning at home under the guidance of parents and/or professional teachers is also a widespread practice. Popularly referred to as homeschooling, this system of learning has come to the fore replacing formal educational methodologies. The history of homeschooling dates back to the 1920s, but the real revolution occurred in the 1960s and the 1970s when the liberal alternative school movement was set rolling. Researching into the topic, it is evident that most parents opting for homeschooling fall under radical socialists and naturalists who do not have faith in the bureaucratic setup of the American society. Moreover, the gasping nature of fierce competition has also contributed to the withdrawal from traditional educational means. There are legal liabilities and the issue of compulsory schooling attendance as far as public schooling is concerned. Albeit the environmental aspects and the mold of teaching are arguably in proximity with what can be termed as ideal in a public education system, many parents in the United States of America deem it an added advantage for their kids that they should gain access to a comprehensive educational repertoire at home. In matters of homeschooling, the legal issues involved with affiliation and certification are taken care of correspondence schools or umbrella schools. What set homeschooling distinctly apart from the conventional modes of education are facilities of unit studies, child-oriented educational materials and above all, constant parental supervision. This essay is going to discuss elaborately on the efficacy of homeschooling and its relevance in the hustling ways of modern world. All the major school of thoughts propagated by scholars and researchers will be thoroughly reviewed, thus allowing for the development of a set of viewpoints on homeschooling. The prevalence of homeschooling in the United States of America has been such in the past decade or so that it has been made legal in many states. In fact today it is widely regarded to be a perfect alternative mode of teaching at the K-12 level (Cooper 109). The media too has focused on the issue rigorously and has brought about a remarkable change in the mindset of even the most orthodox of parents and educators. Going by sheer statistics, 300, 000 children were taught at home in 1990. This number increased almost with a vertical leap by the end of 1998 when there were more than 1. 5 millions of homeschooled children across the country (Saba Gattis 1). Since the US government’s educational policy allows for autonomy of sorts for each state, the process of imbibing any new measure is relatively easier. The designated council or board of a particular state can decide for themselves which method suits young learners the most. Accordingly, each state is designated with certain number of grants or permissions by virtue of which they can permit homeschooling. The results just speak for themselves as a vast majority of homeschooled children excel remarkably well in a broad spectrum of academic disciplines, ranging from winning the national spelling bees to earning themselves coveted degrees at the leading universities in the country. Now before delving deep into various argumentative doctrines on homeschooling, let’s just look into the basics of this rapidly evolving trend. The first question we are going to deal with involves the reason behind homeschooling. What are the unique aspects of homeschooling? Why do people tend to prefer this mode of education over public schooling? Due to the independent, state-specific educational system in America, public schools are accessible to all free of charge. For working parents not belonging to the elite segments of the society, the rationale behind choosing public schools is quite self-explanatory. But the growing trend of homeschooling calls for our attention and makes us inquisitive to investigate into the root of educational philosophies. First and foremost, fostering a child at home demands a persistent level of commitment for both parents. It not only helps the child learn in a known environment, but also strengthens the family togetherness. Since a child spends most of its time at home, the well cultivated families do not wish to assign the task of imparting education to external teachers (Stevens 30). It is purely a question of family values that a child should learn from its parents and not from those who do not share their personal spaces. Besides, many parents are guided by stern religious beliefs and want their children to follow the same paths. In public schools, children may confront teachers, instructors or fellow students with different religious faiths. So the parents feel safer with homeschooling. Another extremely valid reason behind homeschooling involves the learning environment of public schools. The quality of education in a public institution is bound to suffer due to large number of students and inadequacy of teaching tools. Albeit the student-teacher ratio is quite healthy in American public schools especially at the primary level, it still is not enough for every child to get the required attention. Moreover, children studying at public schools are taught a similar curriculum. If a particular child has different fields of interest, it is not encouraged to develop skills and knowledge on those lines. The imaginative faculties of mind slowly become blunt and ineffectual due to the institutionalized methods of teaching. Homeschooling, on the other hand, is helpful for identifying a child’s interests and unique areas of talent. Hence, education does not become a loathsome burden for the children. By relating to what they are taught, they can enjoy while they learn (Rockett 138). Most families belonging to minority groups regard homeschooling to be the best available option for their kids. This is because those children are hardly paid attention to by their local teachers at public schools (Saba Gattis 3). It is never wise to send children with physical or mental deformities to public schools. The span and extent of attention they need can never be expected from teachers who have to look after a class of pupils. It is far better to keep those children at home and build up the required infrastructure with teaching aids. Hiring a teacher at home is a plausible solution in such cases. By resolving to one-on-one teaching modes, a challenged kid’s potential can be maximized. News of massacres, illegal drug trafficking and teen sexuality hit the headlines frequently in the US. Researches show that parents who are aware of these events choose homeschooling to ensure safety of their kids. These parents feel they can control the company of their children if they learn from home. Moreover, in the US public schools, many children hail from troubled families and tend to act violently and in a bullying manner towards other students. Contours of homeschooling decidedly relieve of such headaches. The legal aspects of homeschooling are still subject to a lot of debate and controversy. Given the parochial setup of homeschools, it is elementary to infer that they must be stripped off many benefits available at public schools, including the system of tests. The existing rights in favor of homeschooling in the United States of America were hard earned. It was by the Supreme Court’s verdict in the 1920s that enabled the states to intervene into educational affairs. Homeschooling, a fringe and distant possibility during those days, has undoubtedly come a long way. Keeping in mind the thesis question of this paper, it is now time to ponder over certain theoretical conjectures on learning in general. The schools of thought on learning and education are, however, subject to a varied degree of hypothesis. Scholars are yet to arrive at a stable perception as to which methodology of teaching augurs well for most young students. Piaget’s cognitive developmental theory is one of the seminal works of literature throwing a searching light into the complex processes of assimilation and deliverance for young, pliant minds. But since this theory was formed primarily from heuristic studies, its accuracy is questionable. Nevertheless, many later theories on education and learning are grounded on the assumptions made by this theory. According to Jean Piaget, the three main pillars of learning are organization, equilibrium and progression. The basis of his argument concentrated on the predictability of children’s cognitive formation. To put it differently, he pointed out that a child develops newer thought patterns with age and maturity. It is inherent in a child that it should search for newer elements in everything it sees. Known as organization, this process is responsible for accumulation of knowledge. What directly relates to this process is a cognitive phenomenon called schemes. This phenomenon is involved with preparing a mental picture of things to do. In other words, when a kid is asked to perform a lengthy multiplication, he/she prepares a mental framework as to how to go about the task in an organized manner. The next phenomenon comes when the child explores a better way to carry out a task. It is called adaptation. When new information is passed on, the child has to first of all ‘take’ it in before it can be processed and assimilated (Clements 2). Piaget’s cognitive developmental theory has crucial implementations in the context of choosing the best curriculum for homeschooling. His insightful analysis of the role of parents in children’s education helps in decision making as to how children learn. Do they imitate what they see, or do parents need to play a more guiding part in showing their children what and where to look for? Since this system of education does not involve social interaction which is so typical of classroom teaching, extra care has to be taken in devising learning plans. Diagnosing the intelligence quotient of a child is just as important as judging the level of prior education, should the student be an advanced learner. The final module for course works and other study materials should be prepared after careful scrutiny of the learner’s temperament. As a novel research effort in the field of educational psychology and motivation theory, Piaget’s findings indeed simplified the understanding of children’s cognitive bloc. The second argument that can be propelled concerns the role of academic materials or learning resources in the curricula of pupils. What is often seen in public schooling environments is that a vast array of course materials covering every subject are available. This is particularly favorable as far as step-by-step learning is concerned. The student can make the required shift from one level to another without having to skip any of the important learning modules. But espousing homeschooling methodologies often throw up a quandary for parents as to the suitability of the course materials at hand (Perry 54). This occurs mainly because of the lack of awareness about academic resources for a given standard. This usually happens for the first child in a household with more than one child. Due to lack of knowledge and experience, parents feel uncertain about the proper educational grooming techniques. Hence for the beginners, it generally takes a couple of years to gain command over the objectives and modes of teaching, including ‘unschooling’ and ‘phonics’ (Suarez 1). It is followed the most important part of the system, e. . , selecting the right tools and integrating them to create a congenial environment for learning at home. Unit study, for example, is a widely trusted educational methodology for homeschooling. The depth of this methodology and the fun of learning associated with it make for an ideal module for the beginners. Several subjects such as Mathematics, Social Sciences, History, Geography and Theology are combined together under a common natural or to pic-specific theme like water, animals, or ancient Egypt. For instance, if the academic discipline to be discussed in a particular sitting is Mathematics, the child would be introduced to the story of ancient Egypt and how Mathematics flourished over there. No doubt, the commonality of the central topic generates the fun of unit study methods. The young learner can relate just one topic to a variety of academic disciplines. However, it is to be made sure that the thematic topic should have connections with all the subjects. Study of languages occupies an important place in unit study. Not only does it help in communicating, it also gives the children a broad view of the world and people around them (Field 85). Far from just as an educational ploy to bring out the untapped resources of a child, the societal significance of homeschooling can never be underrated. It is imperative that we understand the significance of homeschooling from a twofold perspective. Firstly, the coziness of the family bondage gets stronger and closer with all the members of it spending time together. This is precisely the reason why many mainstream parents are falling back on homeschooling as the prospective mode of education for their kids. However, some shortcomings of this educational model are also there, especially the accusation that little kids do not get the chance to interact socially with others. This lack of socializing sometimes tells upon the mental health of even the most meritorious boy in a pool of ordinary geeks who, after all, know how to enjoy the little things life has to offer. But it is a minor glitch in a far greater canvas of a revolutionary and highly individualistic learning framework.

AirAsia Planning and Decision Making

AirAsia Planning and Decision Making This is the logo and the organization which I interested and I want to intro the planning process and Decision Making in this company. It is one of the famous company in Malaysia. Asias leading airline was established with the dream of making flying possible for everyone. Since 2001, AirAsia has swiftly broken travel norms around the globe and has risen to become the worlds best. With a route network that spans through more than 20 countries, AirAsia continues to pave the way for low-cost aviation through our innovative solutions, efficient processes and a passionate approach to business. Together with our associate companies, AirAsia X, Thai AirAsia and Indonesia AirAsia, They are set to take low-cost flying to an all new high with our believe, Now Everyone Can Fly. Planning is one of the most important project management and management techniques. Planning is preparing a sequence of action steps to achieve some specific goal. If you do it effectively, you can reduce much the necessary time and effort of achieving the goal. The important of planning involves like defining organization goals, establish strategies to achieve goals,and develop plans to integrate coordinate work activities. A plan is like a map. When following a plan, you can always see how much you have progressed towards your project goal and how far you are from your destination. Knowing where you are is essential for making good decisions on where to go or what to do next. The most important to ensure that everyone is clear of what to accomplish. Planning is also crucial for meeting your needs during each action step with your time, money, or other resources. With careful planning you often can see if at some point you are likely to face a problem. It is much easier to adjust your plan to avoid or smoothen a coming crisis, rather than to deal with the crisis when it comes unexpected time. Example Air Asia plans to expand their operations in Europe, so they consultation to the Government of French . They has been granted landing rights in Paris and is awaiting further details from authorities. The mission in Air Asia got four major point. The first point is to be the best company to work for whereby employees are treated as part of a big family. Then the second point is create a globally recognized ASEAN brand. The third point is to attain the lowest cost so that everyone can fly with AirAsia and the last point is Maintain the highest quality product, embracing technology to reduce cost and enhance service levels. They had achieved the goals but the second point they havent achieved it because in this strong competitive era , too many company like Malaysia Airlines and Tiger Airways also want to be the globally recognized ASEAN brand, but they will work hard to achieve their goals. Type of plan The first type of plan is strategic plans. It is long term and apply to entire organization. It also a broad plans. This type of plan is made by the top management for the whole organization such as CEO, COO, and other. This plan is usually done for 5 years and above Example, Air Asia CEO planning want to take more route in 5 years. The second type of plan is tactical plans. It is a short term goal and basically focus on the problems of resource allocation. This plan is made by middle level management such as manager. It done for a period of 1-5 years. Example, they want to buy more bigger airplane in 4 years. The third type of plan is operational plan. It is encompass particular operational area of the organization. It cover short time period. This plan developed by first line manager such as supervisor. Example, their goal is a daily capacity of 3 million. The fourth type of plan is long term plan. It is plan with time frames extending beyond 3 years. This plan usually use to making research or market research. The fifth type of plan is short term plan. It is plans that are clearly defined and no room for interpretation. Example, they promotion and discount the ticket to let more people can fly. Planning process The step one of planning process is set objectives which means establish objective and targets while taking into consideration such as mission, strategic plans/goals, environment, and availability of resources. In Air Asia have set their objective like made their ticket price more cheaper and provide better service. They step two of planning process is analyze and evaluate the environment. Once objectives are established, manager must analyze their current situation and environment (internal external)to determine what resources are available. Internal environment included such as raw material, machine/ equipments , finance ,money ,and other. External environment included PEST which is policies, economic, social, technology and competitor. Air Asia analyze and evaluate the environment after set their objectives like do survey. The step three of planning process is identify alternatives which means list down as many alternatives as possible to reach the goals. Air Asia list many alternatives like connect to other company, let their worker learn more language and upgrade their facility. The step four of planning process is evaluate the alternatives which means evaluate all alternatives to determine which combination of alternatives is the most effective and efficient to achieve the goals. For each alternatives, manager will look at the advantages or disadvantages. Air Asia will try all alternatives and identify before see which is the best. The step five of planning process is select the best solution which is select the best alternatives that gives most advantages and fewest disadvantages.Air Asia choose the best solution is upgrade their facility so that can let their customer more comfortable. The step six of planning process is implementing the plan which means decide who will be involved determine, what resources need, how the plan be evaluated and how reporting will be handled. If Air Asia want make their customer more comfortable, then the best away is buy the new and bigger airplane. The last step is controlling and evaluating the result which means monitor to ensure plan is going according to expectations and make necessary adjustment, if needed.Chart.png Factors of effective planning There are some factors of Air Asia to make an effective planning to let them success. The first is fatten the organizational hierarchy to foster development of planning skills at all level of organization. It can made the company more systematization. The other is practice MBO(management by objective) -technique that emphasize collaboration objective setting by managers and subordinates which means if CEO and other department can effective work together and strengthen their worker then the company sure will be a best company in the world. The third is encourage employees at all levels to provide feedback and suggestions for planning that means the company see their employees are treated equally. The four is develop plan that are specific but flexible which means although the company made the plan to achieve goal ,if got some problem must change and discuss, dont rigid to follow the original plan. The five is must acquire facts and information that are current and reliable to be accurate in planning that will be made the CEO accurate to made a good plan to their compan y. The last is develop contingency plans and strategies. It is the very important effective away that can be immediately correspondence when the company got some emergency. The problem of Air Asia In 2008-2009, Air Asia got many problem that made their company loss. There some issue that are involved for that company whereby they are unable to achieve their goal. The first one is mission statement objectives of organization are not clear and precise enough for planning which means the company not follow their step to achieve the goals , it will affect all organization progress, example Air Asia want charge the several fees if customer booking already the ticket but suddenly want change. Although it is rational but some time some customer change their ticket but no need charge the fees, so they not accurate and not follow the mission. The other is some managers are not experiences in planning. It is because the plans always decide by the to management , not by middle management, so if suddenly want manager to decide plan will made some mistake . Some managers have negatives thinking of planning as they think planning is costly, time consuming waste of time. Air Asia sometime will think that plans will use many costly and if the plan no success will wasting time , so in 2008 their company did not get mush profit. After the end of 2009, Air Asia made a different decision that is change a manager and CEO . The other away is set a new objective and effective to follow the goal that is the first important thing. Example they want reception customer about 100million a day. Decision Making Decision making can be regarded as the mental processes resulting in the selection of a course of action among several alternatives. Every decision making process produces a final choice. The output can be an action or an opinion of choice. It can making a choice from two or more alternatives. Identify problems or opportunities, developing alternatives , choosing an alternative and implementing it. Decision making also is performed by all level of management in an organization. Type of Decision The first type of decision is organizational decision which means made by managers within their authority in accordance with organizational such as goals, policies, procedures, and strategies. Example ,Air Asia wan to be a globally recognized ASEAN brand. The second type of decision is personal decision which means made based on managers personal choice and preference. Example ,the Air Asia s manager made two plan like upgrade the facility first or training the worker first, then CEO choose the one he like. The third type of decision is strategies decision which means deals with long term plans which is important for growth and survival of organization. Example , Air Asia need to plan a long term plan to achieve goals in this period of economic instability. The four type of decision is tactical decision which means deals with routine and operational activities. Example manger need to deals the operational activities such as system failure, the environment, and other . The five type of decision is programmed decision which means repetitive decision that can be handled by routine approach. It using when the problem being resolved straightforward, involve goals that are clear, and information about problem is available and complete. Example Air Asia use in policy, procedure, and rule. The last type of decision is un-programmed decision which means unique and non-recurring or generate unique responses. It use when the problem are new and unusual and when the information is incomplete. Decision Making Process Decision making process is very important to any company The step one of decision making process is identifying the problem . It is obstacle that males achieving a desired goal or purpose difficult. It also must be know that problem the organization facing and characteristics of the problem. Example Air Asia want lower fares or not . The step two of decision making process is identifying decision criteria which means factors that are important to resolving the problem. Example price, distance, customer, location ,and time. The step three of decision making process is allocating weights to the criteria. Assigning a weight to each item places the items in the correct priority order of their importance in the decision making process. Example customer is the first, then is distance , price, time, and the last is location. The step four of decision making process is developing alternatives. Alternatives are listed without evaluation that can resolve the problem. Manager look for as many alternatives to solve the problem. Example list down their competitor such as Malaysia Airlines , Tiger Airway and other. The step five of decision making process is analyzing alternatives. Analyze and evaluate each alternatives and find out their advantages or disadvantages. Example identify advantages or disadvantages of lower fares. The step six of decision making process is selecting an alternatives. Choose the best alternatives and with the highest total weight and with the most advantages fewest disadvantages. Example lower fares can make more customer come to buy , location no far than 700km, time about 2-3 hours. The step seven of decision making process is implementing the decision. Putting the chosen alternatives into action. Example Air Asia choose is lower the fares. The step eight of decision making process is evaluating decision effectiveness which means monitor or provide feedback on how well the decision has been implemented or is there any adjustment and corrective action need. Example Air Asia lower fares because can made more customer buy and increase profit. Creating Environment for Effective Decision Making The first of effective decision making is provide time for decision to be made which means manager should not rush and be pushed to make a decision, especially crucial. Negotiate more time and make good quality decision. Example when Air Asia airplane got some emergency problem , then manger should made a clear decision to solve the problem. The second of effective decision making is have self confidence which means managers must have self confidence and courage especially when making risky. Example manager must have self confidence when decide a high risk plan . The third of effective decision making is encourage others to make decision which means managers should trust subordinates and allow them to make decision. This will get their commitment when they are involved. Example manager must trust their worker or employee when they made some decision. The fourth of effective decision making is learn from past decisions which means managers should look at decision that worked and decision that did not use them as a guide. Example Air Asia need to see the decision first then decide want training their worker or not. Making Decision to be Ineffective decision The first point of making decision to be ineffective decision is time pressure which means not enough time to decision then will made mistake . The second point of making decision to be ineffective decision is limited amount of available information or incomplete information. Sometime some manager cant not get incomplete information so he will made wrong decision. The third point of making decision to be ineffective decision is higher levels of uncertainty in todays business environment. Conclusion After I research this company ,I learn more about planning and making decision. In my opinion, any company must be planning and decision making because if any company loss any one , will made the company not direction, no achieve goals, and other. And the last is must made customer happy because customer is always right. C:UsersMichaelDesktopnewINTIuc logo.jpg Name Lim Kok Hui Student ID I10005487 Program DBAD Course Code MGT1101 Section 5SS1 Lecturers Name Hardjinder Kaur A/P Balbir Singh Submission Date 14/6/2010 Aims: To help course participants consider the fundamental areas within management. Select an organization with which you are either interested or familiar with and write a 2,000 word essay on any 2 areas of the organization within the following areas: Planning and Decision Making Process

Agent Orange :: essays research papers

Agent Orange Link Diabetes Strongly Associated With Vietnam Exposure to Pesticide U.S. Air Force planes spray the defoliant chemical Agent Orange over dense vegetation in South Vietnam in this 1966 photo. Dioxin is the component of Agent Orange linked to many health effects in laboratory animals. (AP Photo) By Robert Burns The Associated Press W A S H I N G T O N, March 29 — An Air Force study released today confirmed a connection, long suspected by Vietnam veterans, between wartime exposure to the herbicide Agent Orange and diabetes. The Air Force said the link so far is only statistical and is yet to be proven conclusively by biological study. The National Academy of Sciences, a research arm of the government, is reviewing the results and is to report to the Department of Veterans Affairs, which will decide possible compensation to veterans. The study found a 47 percent increase in diabetes among veterans with the highest levels of dioxin in their bloodstream. Dioxin is the compound in Agent Orange linked to health effects in laboratory animals. The result is based on 1997 physical examinations of 1,000 Air Force veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange during the nine years that it was used as a defoliant and crop killer in Vietnam. Joel Michalek, the lead investigator in the study, told a Pentagon news conference that because studies have not yet explained a biological relation between dioxin and diabetes, the Air Force cannot say conclusively that wartime exposure to Agent Orange is a cause of diabetes. Still, he said, the latest results provide â€Å"the strongest evidence to date† that herbicide exposure is associated with diabetes. He said the Air Force knew as far back as 1991 of a statistical link between dioxin and diabetes and has since hardened its data based on additional physical exams of veterans. The Air Force is financing research at two academic institutions on a biological link between dioxin and diabetes. Also Linked to Heart Disease In its report on the health effects on veterans involved in the aerial spraying of Agent Orange in Vietnam, the Air Force said it also found a 26 percent increase in heart disease. The increase was 50 percent among enlisted airmen who served as ground crew for Operation Ranch Hand, the military code name for the spraying campaign. The ground crew are presumed to have had the greatest exposure to Agent Orange among 1,200 Air Force veterans who were involved in the spraying from 1962 to 1971.

Sonnet 69 :: essays research papers fc

Sonnet 65 (Shakespeare) 1 Since brass, nor stone, nor boundless sea, 2 But sad mortality o’er-sways their power, 3 How with this rage shall beauty hold a plea, 4 Whose action is no stronger than a flower? 5 O how shall summer’s honey breath hold out, 6 Against the wreckful siege of batt’ring days 7 When rocks impregnable are not so stout, 8 Nor gates of steel so strong, but time decays? 9 O fearful meditation! Where, alack, 10 Shall time’s best jewel from time’s chest lie hid? 11 Or what strong hand can hold his swift foot back, 12 Or who his spoil o’er beauty can forbid? 13 O none, unless this miracle have might: 14  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  That in black ink my love may still shine bright. Withstanding Mortality through Verse Melissa Zyduck Explication #1 Sonnet 65 Carducci Feb. 21st, 2001 Sonnets are rhymed poems consisting of fourteen lines, the first eight making up the octet and the last six lines being the sestet. The basic structure of the sonnet arose in medieval Italy, its most prominent exponent being the Early Renaissance poet, Petrarch. The appearance of the English Sonnet, however, occurred when Shakespeare was an adolescent, around 1580 (Moore and Charmaine 1). Although it is named after him, Shakespeare did not originate the English sonnet form. The English sonnet differs slightly from the Italian, or Petrarchian, Sonnet and the Spenserian Sonnet in that it ends with a rhymed couplet and follows the rhyme scheme (abab cdcd efef gg). Thus, the octet/sestet structure can be alternatively divided into three quatrains with alternating rhymes and ending in a rhymed couplet. William Shakespeare’s Sonnet 65 is part of a sequence of one hundred and fifty-four sonnets allegedly written sometime between 1592 and May of 1609 (Duncan 13; Moore and Charmine 1). In sonnets 1 through 126, the speaker addresses a young man often referred to as the Youth, and in sonnets 127 through 154, a woman, or Dark Lady, is addressed Sonnet 65 is also part of a unit with Sonnet 64 (Best 1), the two coming together to form their own â€Å"fearful meditation† (9) on time and ruin reaping youth and beauty from the world and leaving only cold death (Cooney 3). Shakespeare opens the poem with the speaker listing paradigms of the long-lasting substances â€Å"brass† and â€Å"stone† (1). â€Å"Earth† and â€Å"boundless sea† (1) are also long lasting, but are superior in that they are nearly limitless in extent. All of these elements, by their nature, should be capable of holding out against â€Å"sad mortality† (2), but none of them are free of its operations (Duncan, 240) as it â€Å"o’er-sways their power† (2).

History Exam Questions Essay

1. Where and why did Spain establish colonies in North America, and how did native peoples resist colonization? Spain established colonies in Central America, the Caribbean islands, and Mexico to increase their wealth and power. The native people resisted colonization by trying to fight back. 2. How did the Chesapeake colonies support the aims of British mercantilism? The Chesapeake colonies supported British mercantilism with their tobacco crops and the Bay’s rich fisheries. These served as highly valuable to Britain. 3. Why did slavery replace servitude as the dominant labor system in Virginia and Maryland? Through most of the 17th century, the Black population was small. Sometime after 1680, buying a slave for their lifetime was a greater investment than paying for an indentured servant. Lastly, the number of Africans bought by British dealers was up to 20,000 per year. Thus, this transition led slavery to replace servitude. 4. What caused the Beaver Wars and how did the French respond? The Beaver Wars was caused by a series of conflicts fought in 17th century in eastern North America. The French responded by participating in a war with them. 5. Who settled the earliest New England colonies, and why? The Puritans settled the earliest in New England colonies for religious freedom. 6. In what ways were the Mid-Atlantic colonies more diverse than the other colonies of the period? Mid-Atlantic colonies are more diverse because they have many different cultures living in that area. Moreover, diverse groups settled leaving a variety of religions or national origin. 7. Why did Spain establish colonies in Texas and California, and what role did missions play in anchoring the Spanish presence? The Spanish established colonies in Texas because they used it as a prevention of the French. The role it played was as a buffer. Spain settled in California as a last project in North America. 8. How did Louisiana differ from French Canada? 9. What kinds of divisions led to social tensions and conflicts in British North America? Divisions between different countries led to the social tensions. Many of their territories with divided. This later became known as the British North American Act. 10. How did African American culture evolve in the slave community, and what forms did resistance to captivity take? African American culture began to evolve when slaves with actually able to communicate with each other and when the female population went up and it made it possible for them to start families. Then, the combination of their elements of speech, religion and folk ways were developed. Resistance to captivity occurred in songs, key words, and many other creative ways. Identifications – All answers are worth 5 points. 11. With regards to agriculture, what does the term â€Å"monoculture† mean? Monoculture id the cultivation of a single crop (on a farm or area or country). 12. Define the term â€Å"celibate†. â€Å"Celibate† is a person who abstains from sexual relations. 13. Who was Pope’? John Pope was pope. 14. Give a good working definition of the practice of â€Å"mercantilism†. Mercantilism is economic theory that trade generates wealth and is stimulated by the accumulation of profitable balances, which a government should encourage by means of protectionism 15. What does the term â€Å"indentured servant† mean? An indentured servant is a person who bounds himself or herself to serve someone for a certain period of time in exchange for something else. 16. What does the term â€Å"racism† mean? Racism is hatred or intolerance of another race or other races and cultures 17. What did the term â€Å"Counter-Reformation† mean to the Roman Catholic Church? The Counter Reformation is a reformation counteracting a previous reformation. 18. What were the six tribes of the Iroquois League? The six tribes of the Iroquois were The Onondaga Nation, Oneida Nation, Seneca Nation, Tuscarora Nation, Mohawk Nation, and the Cayuga Nation. 19. As part of Calvinist theology, what does the term â€Å"predestination† mean? The term predestination was the question of the control God exercises over the world. 20. What is the principle of the â€Å"separation of Church and State†? The principle is to maintain a distance in relationship between organized religion and the Nation state. Who were the Quakers? They were a large group of immigrants that left England for freedom. 21. 22. Who was Metacom? Metacom was a Wampanoag chief who brought different American Indian groups together to fight against the English 23. What is an artisan? A artisan is a skilled trade worker, especially making things by hand. 24. Under slavery, what was the â€Å"task system†? A system used during slavery that allowed some slaves to work unsupervised as long as they complete the task within time. 25. What were â€Å"Maroon communities†? The Maroon communities were places a runaway slave could escape to. 26. What was the Enlightenment? A period during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries when European philosophers pondered aspects of education, law, social theory, superstition, and ignorance. What was the Great Awakening? A American religious movement that began in New England near the mid 1730’s. 27. 28. What did the English consider to be a â€Å"balanced constitution†? A balance of power would be considered a balanced constitution. 29. What was â€Å"benign or salutary neglect†? â€Å"Benign or salutary neglect is when the Americans realized that they did not have to follow English law. 30. What is â€Å"The Fandango†? The â€Å"Fandango† is a Spanish dance.

Scarlet Letter Notes Ch. 8-10

Scarlet Letter Notes American Lit. ACC Per. 1 9/17/11 Chapters 8-10 Plot- (Chapter 8) Hester and Pearl meet Governor and guests. Governor and Wilson call Pearl a child of Satan or sin? Governor wants to remove Pearl from Hester’s care Hester says she can teach Pearl from her mistakes. Wilson questions Pearl regarding Christian faith. Pearl tries to escape through the window and refuses to answer his questions even though she probably would of gotten them right. Pearl announces she was not made but plucked from the rose bush. Wilson states Pearl should not be with HesterHester argues her case but the governor and Wilson don’t listen to her so she goes to Dimmesdale for help. Dimmesdale comes to her aid and argues her case. Succeeds and Minister and Governor rests the case. Pearl shows a sign of love towards Dimmesdale and he kisses her on her brow in return. Chillingworth tries to get the men to look for the father. Men refuse his plan. Governor’s sister invites H ester to witch’s ceremony. Hester refuses (CHAPTER9) Describes Chillingworth. He left behind his entire identity after he found out that his wife committed adultery.He severed all ties with his past life and created a new identity as the town physician. The people like him because of his vast knowledge of herbs and medicine that he learned from being with native Americans for a long time. Treats Reverend Dimmesdale. People start to wonder if Dimmesdale wants to die or something else after he refuses treatment but later on accepts. Chillingworth scrutinizes Dimmesdale’s actions and finds something suspicious in them. The two men reside in the same house so that Chillingworth can take care of him. Dimmesdale has no interest in marrying any of the townswomen.They have live in two completely different kinds of rooms (holy vs. scientific) People start to wonder about the physician and the more they look at him his face becomes more evil and sooty. They began the theory that the physician was sent by the devil and is fighting a war with Dimmesdale making him sick. (CHAPTER10) CHillingworth wants to find out more about Dimmesdale’s background and his story. The men are talking about burying sin and a heart of sin They hear pearl and Hester outside in the graveyard. Pearl runs away telling her mom that the devil has gotten the minister and she dosent want him to get them too.The two men talk and when the minister falls asleep, Chillingworth opens his shirt and finds something on him and rejoices. Setting- Governor Billingham’s Estate- grand estate filled with pictures of the Governor’s ancestors and decorated with medieval things (ex. The armor) Old English castle like. Chillingworth and Dimmesdale’s house- in between the church and the graveyard. Characters- Governor Billingham- old, elderly man who governs the town. Likes Old English things ( his house) John Wilson- strict pastor Hester Prynne- committed adultery and had a b aby, Pearl.Pearl- child of Hester and is accused of being a witch or child of Satan Dimmesdale- town’s reverend, health declining due to pastoral duties Chillingworth- friends with Dimmesdale, been in town for two to three years, physician Conflict- Hester Prynne v. Society- the people want to take away Pearl to educate her in a Christian manner but Hester states that Pearl is better of with her because she can learn from Hester’s mistake. Dimmesdale saves her by arguing her cause. Dimmesdale v Himself: He is described as more ill than before. He keeps his hand to his heart and â€Å"his large dark eyes had a world of pain in heir troubled and melancholy depth† (101). Religion v. Science- There had been many arguments between science and the divine nature. Chillingworth is science driven while Dimmesdale is devoted to God and his religion. This can become a greater conflict later on in the book. Chillingworth v. Dimmesdale- chillingworth is trying to find out th e mystery behind the reverend. Townspeople v. Chillingworth- at first welcome him but then grow weary when his facial features turn evil and deceiving. Symbolism- Pearl- she is a physical representation of the scarlet letter, a constant reminder of Hester’s sin.Saved Hester from becoming a witch after she was granted guardianship of Pearl forever. â€Å"Heavenly Father†- represents the God as the father of everyone and also my theory about Dimmesdale being the father since he is holy and a reverend. The House- it is pretty but it resides on and in between the graveyard and the church kind of like Dimmesdale himself. He is a reverend yet he looks physically dead because of his illness and heartache. Chillingworth- the Devil, from what Hester called him when they talked and what the people and the narrator describe as his changing features (demon-like)