Achebe’s Inability to Understand Conrad’s Heart of...

Achebe’s Inability to Understand Conrad’s Heart of Darkness A fierce Achebe radically condemns Conrad as a thoroughgoing racist in his article, arguing that Heart of Darkness is not a piece of great literature, but an offensive and deplorable book (Achebe 1791). He structures his argument around a few central ideas, such as the grotesque perception of the Africans by the protagonist, the antinomy between the Thames and Congo River, the lack of historical fact, and the parallel between the African and the European women, among others. Achebe misinterprets Conrads work, and exhibits opacity to the narratives message. He seems to purport, as any reader, a subjective interpretative reading of Conrads book, with the peculiarity†¦show more content†¦The reader has another type of anxiety than the one mentioned by Achebe: s/he anxiously waits to see if any truly significant contact with Africa, its people, or its culture occurs throughout the book. Instead, the phrase Nowhere did we stop long enough to get a particularized impression, is emblematic, and indicative that this contact does not, and probably will not happen (Conrad 19). Conrad assumes no task of presenting a good, objective or factual image of Africa, as Achebe would prefer; instead he critically exposes a refraction of this image in the European white middle class tainted perception. Indeed, many normal readers, whom Achebe credits to be well armed to detect and resist underhand activity from the part of a writer, read into the novel its universal psychological implications that override Africanness or Europeanness. Marlow remains insulated from any real contact with the local culture; his stuck-to-the-river journey serves to preserve a confused and contemplative attitude in him, rather than an involved state of mind. His African experience comprises very little fact, proves mostly sensorial, observant and rather interested in itself as an object of study than in the surroundings. Describing the Others eyes or looking into them serves just as a mirror. Legend has it that Narcissus contemplated his beauty in the lake daily, and ended up drowning in it. After his death, jealous nymphs came and whined to the lake, his closestShow MoreRelatedChinua Achebe s Things Fall Apart Essay1347 Words   |  6 PagesFall Apart while Joseph Conrad authored Heart of Darkness. Conrad and Achebe set their individual titles in Africa; Achebe is an African writer whereas Conrad is Polish-British. The authors draw strength from their backgrounds to validity the authenticity of their fictional novels. Conrad writes from his experiences in the British and French navies while Achebe uses his African heritage. The theme of culture is prevalent in both Conrad’s Heart of Darkness and Achebe s Things Fall Apart both writersRead MoreHeart Of Darkness By Joseph Conrad And Things Fall Apart By Chinua Achebe890 Words   |  4 PagesHeart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad and Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe both focus on the subject of colonialism and imperialism during the Scramble for Africa, however, Achebe’s novel is a direct response to the racism and the incomplete picture of Africa that Conrad creates. Heart of darkness is a story of Marlow, a steamboat captain, who witnesses the harsh treatment of the natives by the Belgian as he travels down the Congo River. Things Fall Apart tells of Okonkwo and his life in Nigeria andRead More The Lie of Imperialism Exposed in Literature Essay3048 Words   |  13 Pagescolonial period had far-reaching and detrimental affects on the language and identity of traditional societies. 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Heart of Darkness tells the story from a European Colonist perspective while Things Fall Apart illustrates the outlook of the African tribe member being colonizedRead MoreEssay on Images of Africa in Heart of Darkness and Things Fall Apart2228 Words   |  9 PagesImages of Africa in Heart of Darkness and Things Fall Apart  Ã‚        Ã‚  Ã‚   Joseph Conrads novel Heart of Darkness portrays an image of Africa that is dark and inhuman.   Not only does he describe the actual, physical continent of Africa as so hopeless and so dark, so impenetrable to human thought, so pitiless to human weakness (Conrad 94), as though the continent could neither breed nor support any true human life, but he also manages to depict Africans as though they are not worthy of the respectRead More Essay Contrasting Images in Things Fall Apart and Heart of Darkness2233 Words   |  9 PagesContrasting Images in Things Fall Apart and Heart of Darkness  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚   Joseph Conrad’s novel Heart of Darkness portrays an image of Africa that is dark and inhuman.   Not only does he describe the actual, physical continent of Africa as â€Å"so hopeless and so dark, so impenetrable to human thought, so pitiless to human weakness† (Conrad 94), as though the continent could neither breed nor support any true human life, but he also manages to depict Africans as though they are not worthy of the respectRead MoreAnalysis Of Conrad s The Heart Of Darkness 1612 Words   |  7 PagesThe 9th plague was Darkness. A darkness so thick, people could not see for three days. Darkness restricts vision and thus the way man understands the world. Conrad explores a similar darkness throughout The Heart of Darkness. He writes about how this darkness, a blindness towards others, can lead to the moral degradation of mankind in his novel. Throughout the novel, the reader is able to see Conrad’s perspective of humanity by discussing two integral issues of the time, Racism and Colonialism. MoreRead MoreThe Nature Of The African Landscape10552 Words   |  43 PagesThe Landscape: In this section, I seek to investigate how the nature of the African landscape has been depicted in Heart of Darkness. Questions such as 1.) How the Orientalist others the foreign landscape 2.) What is the psychological influence of the African landscape on the European colonisers? 3.) Does the psychological influenceon the Whites similar to that of the Blacks? 4.) 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The Role Of Patient Care At Madigan Army Medical Center Essay

Interview Paper On October 22, 2016 I interviewed Major Alicia Robinson, nursing informaticist at Madigan Army Medical Center (MAMC), a 220 bed military hospital located on Joint Base Lewis McChord, WA, approximately 45 minutes south of Seattle. Madigan Army Medical Center is considered the second largest military treatment facility. It is also one of the two designated level trauma II medical centers in the Army, as well as, only one of the four in the state of Washington (Major Robinson, personal communication, October 22, 2016). Major Robinson stated that she has been in this position for two years and has previously worked as a staff nurse on the Medical Surgical Floor. She is an active duty officer who has a BSN in nursing and is certified in informatics. Ultimately, after working bedside nursing she decided to focus on informatics because of an interest in advancing military medical systems (personal communication, October 22, 2016). The following questions were asked during the interview and her responses are immediately following. Describe the Use of Patient Care Technologies to Deliver and Enhance Care Major Robinson stated that the military systems are behind in terms of technologies compared to civilian counterparts. For example, big changes are expected because scanning will become a standard of care on the inpatient and outpatient areas of the hospital with implementation of a new computer system summer 2017; this has been a standard of careShow MoreRelatedLeadership Analysis : Leadership Gap775 Words   |  4 PagesNext, the topic of leadership gap is addressed by one of the Center for Creative Leadership (CCL)’s articles. The contents of this article by Patterson, Champion, Browning, Torain, Harrison, Gurvis, Fleenor Campbell (2015) are prioritizing competencies, understanding effectiveness, identifying the issue and closing the gap. In this study, CCL conducted a survey to identify the leadership priority and current skills, then introduce the effectiveness of CCL’s framework to cultivate the knowledgeableRead MoreAssignment On Breastfeeding Working Mothers1 243 Words   |  5 Pagesportion of America’s work force and is an important contributor to a successful business and the economy. The CDC reports that working mothers make up 70% of the workforce but only 10% of mothers nationally successfully breastfeed to 6 months of age (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], n.d). Due to the increasing demands of the economy and a push for women to stay in the workforce, many more mothers are now faced with the unique challenges to maintain the ability to breastfeed as longRead MoreExploring Corporate Strategy - Case164366 Words   |  658 Pagesstrategic choices and strategy in action covered later in the book, it will normally be a prerequisite that some type of analysis of the strategic position is undertaken, using the case material. When planning the use of these cases within programmes, care needs to be taken to balance the time taken on such strategic analysis so as to allow the time required to analyse the main iss ues for which the case has been chosen. Where the text and cases are being used as the framework for a strategy programmeRead More_x000C_Introduction to Statistics and Data Analysis355457 Words   |  1422 Pagesretrieval systems, or in any other manner—without the written permission of the publisher. Thomson Higher Education 10 Davis Drive Belmont, CA 94002-3098 USA For more information about our products, contact us at: Thomson Learning Academic Resource Center 1-800-423-0563 For permission to use material from this text or product, submit a request online at http://www.thomsonrights.com. Any additional questions about permissions can be submitted by e-mail to thomsonrights@thomson.com. Printed in theRead MoreQuality Improvement328284 Words   |  1314 Pagesotherwise, except as permitted under Sections 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without either the prior written permission of the Publisher or authorization through payment of the appropriate per-copy fee to the Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, (978) 750-8400, fax (978) 750-4470. Requests to the Publisher for permission should be addressed to the Permissions Department, John Wiley Sons, Inc., 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030, (201)748-6011, fax

Journal of Healthcare Risk Management

Question: Describe about the Journal of Healthcare Risk Management? Answer: The Ramsay Health Care of Australia is effectively in involved in managing risk. The organisational process of the health care organisation includes health care risk managers to track any risk that can prevail in the health system. On the other hand, the procedures that are followed is firstly related to establishing context, identifying the major risks, then analysing the risks, further evaluating the risk that can have serious impact on the health care system and lastly treatment or measure is proposed to control the risks (Franks, 2013). Moreover, in order to meet such criteria, the organisations requires efficient panel of health care experts and employees that can help in tracking and monitoring the potential risks. The organisational process is involved in detecting health issues, diagnosing and treating diseases. Therefore, it helps in improving health of people and improving health economic condition. Moreover, due to high charge on the medicine and equipments company is not able to purchase advanced equipment to measure risks. On the other hand, the social area is highly benefited as it helps in controlling the disease and providing healthy life and making people motivate to have timely checkups (Leal Filho, 2013). The company highly follows the rules relating to prescribing medicine or any treatment. The company uses e-channel to communicate with risk management team so that quick action can be taken. Moreover, company has set firm policy to provide large benefit to patients such as low charge for poor. In case of procedures, the political norms are followed and employees are well paid that are involved in risk management process. The company incurs high capital cost for monitoring risk and improves the knowledge of the people by targeting risk and managing it. On the other hand, advanced technology is used for managing risk so that risk can be controlled. Apart from that, in case of requirements, the equipments and employees are effectively hired that helps in improving economic condition of health and providing large health service to society (Marquardt and Dunlap, 2012). 2: The risks of physical injury due to employ of machine while working, is a centre of the designing a scope that affects the health of the people. Critical Factors: Understanding the level of injury caused to the people and what are the major reason behind such cause. Goals: To provide right treatment and suggestion to the people that has suffered physical injury due to machine use in their work. Strengths: The major strengths of existing technique in avoiding physical injury risk is to work under experts and place all the dangerous machine away from the working place. Moreover, the existing arrangement that is consulting health care experts for treating injury. Consulting with the qualified people helps the injured person to recover in quick time and carry the activities. Weakness: The major weakness is that below income group people are not able to make arrangement for meeting the charge of highly healthcare experts and due to that they are not able to have best advice and get right treatment. Therefore, it makes their case worse. 3: Internal Stakeholder Issues/Concerns Identified 1. Research Scientist Their issue that is related with the research scientists is to conduct and devise experiments so that scientific knowledge body can be increased. Moreover, their major concern is to develop improved drugs or other medical products so that health of people can be enhanced (Hartmann and Driessen, 2013). 2. Director of Public Health They are concerned with improving the health care operation and promoting health wellbeing and sees that the health care workers follow the rules set. 3. Director of Nursing A major concern of the director of nursing is to take care of the patients and provide better health care facility. Further, there major risk is to see whether the health care employees are taking up their job with high responsibility or not. External Stakeholders 1. Patients The major risk that is associated with the patients is that whether the health care organisations will provide expected treatment and care to them or not. Moreover, they concern about the charge for seeking from the health care professionals. 2. Funders The risk of the funders is that whether their funded amounts are invested in the right direction as per the agreement or not. Moreover, they are concerned about the return they expect to receive from the invested amount. 3. Suppliers The suppliers major risk is to seek right payment for providing medical equipment and medicine. Therefore, their concern is about to get respect and right commission for their valuable duty (Card, Harrison, Ward, and Clarkson, 2012). 4: Stakeholders in an organization are the shareholders, employees, creditors, customers, suppliers, owners etc. If there is a risk in a health care organization then to communicate with the public by informing them about the health risks that can happen if any people suffering from diseases like AIDS. The employees are informed how to take measures in their work place so that they do not get affected from these diseases. The stakeholders should focus on their health and safety risks so that they can save themselves from this danger and what measures they should obtain if they are already determined from this danger (Chassin and Loeb, 2013). B. To obtain the support from the stakeholders during the time of risks the organization should take certain steps like asking the senior officials and the stakeholders to show their participation and commitment towards the organization during risks. To access the risks the technical and the discipline team need to do research so that the risks can be avoided and if the risks are not at all avoided then at least the risks can be reduced and protect the organization from big destruction. Risk management is already included into the business plan when it was made and to overcome those risks meetings are done with the higher officials and then reviews are done on those meetings so that the risk can be reduced (Hundt, Adams, Schmid, Musser, Walker, Wetterneck, and Carayon, 2013).. 5: When the risks are identified in the organization then the stakeholders are called up and also mails are sent by stating them about the risks and ask them what steps need to be done to protect the organization from huge destruction. If the organization is expecting any risks then the stalk holders are told about the type of risks and what impact the risk can make on the organization if those risks take place (Earle, 2012). For identifying the risks the few methods can be used by the organization are- Organization record- The organization documents are reviewed and information are taken about the risks exposures. For this risk auditing can be done like by doing committee meetings, documenting the policies, contracting for the facilities, proposals for sponsorships and asking for resources from the government fund providers. The organizational records helps in dealing the risks if any such type of risks has already occurred and how the organization had dealt with such type of risks (Leufstadius and Eklund, 2014).. Professional Expertise- For professional expertise the organization can ask to any external source for their important views which will help them in identifying the risks. The organization can also ask the internal risk management team for their expert views so they can easily identify the risks and avoid them. (Hubal, de Wet, Du Toit, Firestone, Ruchirawat, van Engelen, and Vickers,2014). Tools and techniques used for listing risk in health care department. Different tools and techniques are used for listing the risk in healthcare department the three main tools and techniques are Patient Monitoring, selection of proper physiologic monitors and clinical competency in all the departments should be done properly. Clinical competency in departments like gastroenterology, colonoscopy, adult echocardiography and other departments present in health care department. The monitoring process of patient can be used to identify and list the different risk which may occur during operation, anesthesia process or any other process which patient has to undergo. Suppose the patient is suffering from heart problem and has been operated few days, the health care department has to monitor patient daily so that they can analyze if any risk occurs (Lorenzi, 2005). By monitoring or examining patient properly health care department can easily list the risk which can occur while operation or after operation. The patient monitoring has to be done by department f rom initial step to last step i.e. after giving anesthesia to patient to after the operation is done. Monitoring is to be done of both patient as well as the medicines or medical device support patient is getting. Clinical competency helps health care department to know about the medical activities involved in patient care process. Every patient has to undergo different care and medical support, so clinical competency helps medical professional to analyze the complete activity which are involved in patient care (Wannisky, 2001). Without clinical competency medical professional cannot analyze the risk which may occur while patient care and operation. Monitoring of medical device or support can help department to know about their risk. 7: Risk matrix used for determining potential impact frequency and likelihood of any above mentioned risk is as The risk matrix is used to analyze the risk likelihood to severity of the risk which may occur in health care department. Risk is measured in low level, medium level and high level (Stahl, 2004). Risk can be in relation to patient, technological support used by healthcare department, medical devices used or pother. If patient is suffering from severe heart problem and for getting their treatment started, they have to wait long this can affect the patient condition as well as the department relation with patients (Malone, n.d.). The medical devices used for treatment in health care department have to be updated and available as per the requirement of patients. If health care department is using obsolescent technology or medical device for treatment of their patients it can increase the chance of risk occurrence while operation or in after care process (Meucci, 2005). Health care department should be available with all the primary and secondary medical facilities. The above shown risk matrix is used to show the risk level which occurs at various levels. Health care department is based on patients; medical service provided by them, risk may occur in any field. Risk matrix shows the level of risk assessment occurred in health care department. 8: Risks Options Most Appropriate Risk 1: Strategic Risk Monitoring, controlling, measurement, taking feedback, etc Constantly solicit the feedback: Solicit feedback of the stakeholders or relevant parties allow the management in understanding the actual risk of the business. Measuring the risk they are able to implement appropriate strategy that will be very much helpful for the business (Card et al., 2012). Risk 2: Financial Risk Familiarization the different types of risk with the business, insure against the specific risk, determination the risk level that associated with the varied investment, allocating asset widely reduce the portfolio of risks Determination the level of risk with the varied of investment: For the business, this option will be the best technique of reducing financial risk because it allow the organization taking the stocks information and provides high rate of return to the business. Apart from that, the develop bond in this option are less risky rather than the stocks of investment into business (Chen et al., 2012). Risk 3: Operational Risk Virtualized the targets risk, Identification of tighten security of management, implement the video device interface, Service oriented architecture In order to manage the operational risk, management of the organization in business sector has to implement the service oriented architecture within their business because it enables the marketers in flexible integration of IT system that increase the agility and visibility of business process as well as provide support (Chol et al., 2012). Risk 4: Compliance Risk Health quality standard, Changes to OHS, environmental protection agency Health quality standard will be the most appropriate option for compliance risk. Increase of health quality standard in business organization can motivate their staffs in better way and mitigate the risk of compliance (Franks, 2013). 9: Action plan for strategic risk management Figure : Action Plan for risk management process (Source: Loeppke et al. 2010, pp-281) Hartmann and Driessen (2013) cited that strategic risk associated directly with the operational process of the organization in business sector. Therefore, organization has to implement the tools and technique of monitoring the stakeholders such SAP ERP that allows them in identifying the preference of stakeholders along with changes. This technology helps in understanding the current requirement of stakeholders including customers (Tworek, 2012). Thus, organization in business sector is able to mitigate the problems of stakeholders and changes their strategy early. Explanation for communicating the risk management process to stakeholders for strategic risk In order to communicate the risk management process to the stakeholders of the company for strategic risk, management staffs of the organization have to involve several process such as formal meeting in each week, brainstorming session, bulletins, newsletter, survey etc. This process will allows the business manager of an particular firm in providing the information via asking the question about the current strategic risk (Irving, Prager and Standley, 2010). Apart from that, Irving, Prager and Standley (2010) argued brainstorming session helps in drawing the shape of risk management process and share the idea of managing strategic risks to the stakeholders. Bulletins allow the company in business organization to provide up to date news to the stakeholders and through the newsletter written the risk management strategy through emails or sending online copy to the stakeholders (Shi, Jaeger and Ye, 2013). 10 Implementation and monitor of action/treatment plan In order to implement and monitor the action plan, as business manager of an organization in business sector need to consider several steps such as rising of awareness, training, monitoring, reporting, etc. Raising awareness: Distributing the information materials with the relevant parties provide basic information of risk management plan. Organizing the events, conferences, etc disseminate the action plan (Leal Filho, 2013). Training: Through training manager can increase the energy of production of the taken action plan. Apart from that, manager of the firm can make consistent the staffs in collecting information via training (Loeppke, Edington and Bg, 2010). Training also allows the relevant parties in recording, monitoring and evaluating action plan the risk management process. Monitoring reporting: This will be the effective method of implementing and monitoring action plan of risk management process (Marquardt and Dunlap, 2012). Performing regular update, conducting periodic review and identifying the necessary of corrective actions, manager can implement successfully the taken action plan of risk management process (MECHCATIE, 2010). Identified process of monitoring or evaluating Tracking system will be the best method of monitoring the risk management plan. There steps has to consider in terms of monitoring or evaluating the risk management action plan. These are Conduct periodic review: It helps in progressing the meeting goals and interims. Identify necessary action: Monitor the performance of the working staffs, conducting formal meeting regularly with the relevant parties, understanding the activities of the stakeholders (Rai et al., 2013). Perform regular updates: In order to monitor the risk management process action plan, manager has to provide regular updates of the stakeholders of current working process (Rohde and Dengse, 2010). References: Card, A., Harrison, H., Ward, J. and Clarkson, P. (2012). Using prospective hazard analysis to assess an active shooter emergency operations plan.Journal of Healthcare Risk Management, 31(3), pp.34-40. Chassin, M. R., and Loeb, J. M. (2013). High Reliability Health Care: Getting There from Here.Milbank Quarterly,91(3), 459-490. Chen, C., Tseng, C., Hsu, W. and Chiang, W. (2012). A novel strategy to determine the insurance and risk control plan for natural disaster risk management.Nat Hazards, 64(2), pp.1391-1403. Chol, C., Guy, C., Jacquet, A., Castot-Villepelet, A., Kreft-Jais, C., Cambazard, F., Beyens, M., Mounier, G., Marsille, F. and Mismetti, P. (2012). Complications of BCG vaccine SSI recent story and risk management plan: the French experience.Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf, 22(4), pp.359-364. Earle, T. C. (2012).Trust in Cooperative Risk Management: Uncertainty and Scepticism in the Public Mind. Routledge. Franks, P. (2013).Records and Information Management. Chicago: American Library Association. Hartmann, T. and Driessen, P. (2013). The flood risk management plan: towards spatial water governance.Journal of Flood Risk Management, p.n/a-n/a. Hubal, E. A. C., de Wet, T., Du Toit, L., Firestone, M. P., Ruchirawat, M., van Engelen, J., and Vickers, C. (2014). Identifying important life stages for monitoring and assessing risks from exposures to environmental contaminants: results of a World Health Organization review.Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology,69(1), 113-124. Hundt, A. S., Adams, J. A., Schmid, J. A., Musser, L. M., Walker, J. M., Wetterneck, T. B., ... and Carayon, P. (2013). Conducting an efficient proactive risk assessment prior to CPOE implementation in an intensive care unit.International journal of medical informatics,82(1), 25-38. Irving, A., Prager, A. and Standley, C. (2010). A customizable plan for effective claims management.Journal of Healthcare Risk Management, 30(2), pp.11-19. Irving, A., Prager, A. and Standley, C. (2010). A customizable plan for effective claims management.Journal of Healthcare Risk Management, 30(2), pp.11-19. Leal Filho, W. (2013).Climate change and disaster risk management. Heidelberg: Springer. Leufstadius, C., and Eklund, M. (2014). Time use among individuals with persistent mental illness: Identifying risk factors for imbalance in daily activities: Previously published in Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy 2008; 15: 23-33.Scandinavian journal of occupational therapy,21(S1), 53-63. Loeppke, R., Edington, D. and Bg, S. (2010). Impact of the Prevention Plan on Employee Health Risk Reduction.Population Health Management, 13(5), pp.275-284. Lorenzi, N. (2005).Transforming health care through information. New York: Springer. Malone, C. (n.d.).Medical office management. Marquardt, E. and Dunlap, N. (2012). Compensation Risk Assessments: A Process for Active Plan Management and Continuous Improvement.Compensation Benefits Review, 44(1), pp.6-11. MECHCATIE, E. (2010). Risk Management Plan for ESAs Begins This Month.Hospitalist News, 3(3), pp.1-2. Meucci, A. (2005).Risk and asset allocation. Berlin: Springer. Rai, B., Nepal, B., Gunasekaran, A. and Li, Y. (2013). Optimisation of process audit plan for minimising vehicle launch risk using MILP.International Journal of Procurement Management, 6(4), p.379. Rohde, L. and Dengse, C. (2010). Higher Pensions and Less Risk: Innovation at Denmark's ATP Pension Plan.Rotman International Journal of Pension Management, 3(2), pp.22-29. Shi, P., Jaeger, C. and Ye, Q. (2013).Integrated risk governance. Berlin: Springer. Stahl, M. (2004).Encyclopedia of health care management. Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Sage Publications. Tworek, P. (2012). Plan Risk Response as a Stage of Risk Management in Investment Projects in Polish and U.S. Construction - Methods, Research.Annals of the Alexandru Ioan Cuza University - Economics, 59(1). Wannisky, K. (2001).Department of Health and Human Services, Health Care Financing Administration. Washington, DC: U.S. General Accounting Office.

George Ritzer McDonaldization and its Principles Essay Example

George Ritzer: McDonaldization and its Principles Paper The McDonaldization of Society is based on his theory and social criticism on rationalization of society as a whole through the growth and principles of McDonald’s fast-food model of business. The book begins with an introduction chapter that describes the background of McDonalds and outlines the different chapters of the book. Chapter Two gives a history of socioeconomic developments that lead up to the creation of McDonalds including theories of F. W. Taylor, Henry Ford and Max Weber, McDonalds in the present day, and what is predicted for the future of the McDonald system. The next four chapters break up the McDonaldization principles and how each one can be applied to society outside of McDonalds – big business, education and health care as a few examples. Efficiency is the first principle introduced. The chapter talks about how McDonald’s fast-food model encourages efficiency, similar to that of the assembly line developed by Henry Ford, in creating a fast-paced environment. The next chapter discusses calculability and how McDonalds emphasizes quantitative processes over qualitative products; everything must be measurable. Predictability is covered in the fifth chapter, which refers to the idea of gaining customer comfort in the stability of product offerings. The final principle chapter deals with control; particularly those of customer habits and employee work styles. The seventh chapter addresses the drawbacks and problems associated with having a McDonaldized society. Globalization is covered in Chapter 8 with a solid definition of globalization; the something/nothing principles and how the fast-food model has affected foreign societies. We will write a custom essay sample on George Ritzer: McDonaldization and its Principles specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on George Ritzer: McDonaldization and its Principles specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on George Ritzer: McDonaldization and its Principles specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The last two chapters in the book discuss options and alternatives for dealing with living in a McDonaldized society and how Starbucks is now taking over the role as an international mega-chain influencer on society in comparison to McDonalds. My life has been McDonaldized in a few different ways. First off, I feel constantly trapped in a McDonaldized system. Being forced to accept and deal with companies that strive for high efficiency and less human interaction, as well as the â€Å"go go go† rushed lifestyle it all creates is something that does not bode well with me personally. Unfortunately, while pursuing my education, I have to deal with this all the time working as a waitress and see that demand from customers for high efficiency, predictable menu options and how the restaurant environment is set to control customer habits and flow of traffic to ensure high revenues through large customer volumes. I can also see the McDonaldization principles in my school life as well. I expect the calculability principle when it comes to getting high quantifiable grades, yet still expecting high quality education; which sometimes does not happen. Externally, efficiency is expected of me as I go through the system – expected during class times, maintenance of time management skills for homework, essays and testing – all while still trying to keep up a home life and job. As far as the control aspect of McDonaldization, it is not something I necessarily feel beyond any interactions like going to a fast-food restaurant to eat. I feel that individuals always have a choice once they reach adulthood (and perhaps sometimes before or less after depending on how much parental control is exuded in someone’s life) and can control their own actions and decisions. However, I also feel that one of the more major drawbacks of McDonaldization has affected my life in regards to the dehumanization of the system. Plenty of times I feel the lack of the human element; so much now days is automated or so short interactions with people in constrained ways that often it feels like I am being run through the system like cattle being herded to the slaughterhouse getting ready to be made into the burgers society so readily gobbles down. One of the major consequences of the McDonaldization system is how people in today’s society have conformed to convenience so much. People expect everything to be fast now. Many would rather pay more money and spend time in long lines to get fast-food over taking the time to grocery shop, cook a nutritious meal and enjoy time with the family over a sit-down dinner. The McDonaldization process has completely removed the social aspect of food and replaced it with over efficient, controlled and autonomous processes that reverts food just to sustenance rather than an enjoyable experience. Along with this, the fast-food industry has changed what we eat as well. The fast-food model encourages â€Å"cutting corners† by using inexpensive and easy to use products like trans fat oils and other high caloric foods (not to even mention the whole super sizing issue) which overall are bad for the health of society. I can say that I am a victim to these trains of thought as a matter of convenience. With such a hectic schedule, the idea of just going through a drive thru on my way between places usually trumps the idea of having to wait until getting home, waiting for something to cook then ending up with spoiled leftovers a few days later. As well, after so much time already eating those styles of food, it becomes something I am use to taste wise – trying to make burgers at home never seem to taste as good as a classic quarter pounder or even attempting a milkshake seems near impossible at home. In regards to education systems, it seems like they are just simply trying to push students through with minimum, low quality standards in hopes to get the most quantity of students in the school for funding purposes. This can be seen all the way from elementary school through to university and college levels – administrators aim for efficient, calculable and predictable classes and curriculums on the lowest dollar possible to get students through the system and out into the workforce. Another consequence that the book tends to stress is based on the employee sector of McDonalds. Most large corporations now days strive to create worker satisfaction and foster creativity within the workplace in efforts to retain workers. However, in the fast-food industry and many others that has been McDonaldized struggle the most with high turnover of employees, plenty of dissatisfaction, absenteeism, resentment, and alienation and other negative aspects felt among the working ranks. This idea seems to be inherent into the system though; very few restaurant environments contain workers that stick around and enjoy their positions because of the control and quick pace the industry places on them. Even though I do not work in fast-food, I see and feel this as a waitress in a restaurant – our customers expect us to act like a fast-food environment and it creates animosity amongst the cooks, waitresses and management to keep the customers satisfied. The best way a person can respond to the effects of McDonaldization is to consciously avoid the major proponents of the system. Choosing alternatives like â€Å"mom and pop† non-chain restaurants, cooking at home which not only saves money but allows for much healthier food options, and encouraging others to do the same are all positive ways to avoid the pull of the fast-food system. In regards to education, it is something everyone obviously needs to be successful in the world, but the book recommends picking smaller schools where individualism and non-conformity are stressed. I think even Southeastern is similar in this way; not necessarily in the way the book mentions of attending a school with no majors, but the small class sizes within a degree program allows for much more creativity and exchange among students and instructors to avoid the â€Å"cattle lead to slaughter† herd mentality found at a major, high population school. Other options include joining groups that tend to go against what McDonalds stands for. I could not see myself doing anything too radical, but taking the advice of the American Heart Association and making a concentrated effort to chose more heart healthy options when I do end up eating out would be a great way to help support their cause without sacrificing the convenience I am so accustomed to. The tongue-and-cheek list found in Chapter 9 of ways to respond has a few points that certainly caught my interest. These include: the next time you need a pair of glasses, use a local storefront optometrist rather than a Lenscrafters; avoid haircutting chains and instead go to a local barber or stylist; seek out small classes and get to know your professors; to really shake up the clerk at the department store, use cash rather than credit cards; and avoid most finger-foods, if you must eat them, make them homemade sandwiches, fresh fruits and vegetables. There are obviously pros and cons to living in a McDonaldized world, especially how it as affected society since its inception in 1937 to being a globally dominating force today. Personally, I don’t think society would change away from this way of thought any time soon, but realizing now how much it has affected my life, I feel the need to change myself to be less McDonaldized.