Integrating Sustainability into Business Strategy where Interests Intersect The WritePass Journal

Integrating Sustainability into Business Strategy where Interests Intersect Introduction Integrating Sustainability into Business Strategy where Interests Intersect IntroductionBusiness Benefitâ€Å"Protect it†26 – Regulations and Reputationâ€Å"Run it†33 Operationsâ€Å"Grow it†43 Innovation and MarketingRole of StrategyStrategic Approach to Sustainability  Ã¢â‚¬ËœIntegration’ and ‘Fit’  Does The ‘Sweet-Spot’ Approach Lead to Sustainability?Expectation of no Trade-offsBusiness Model as a WholeCreating a Sustainable Business ModelConclusion  Related Introduction Literature agrees that for sustainability to achieve benefit to business, society and the environment, it must not be an add-on but be integrated into the business.13 In order to integrate sustainability into business strategy Savitz and Weber suggest establishing where areas of â€Å"mutual interest†14 lie, between business strategy and stakeholder interest. They term this the â€Å"sustainability sweet spot: the place where the pursuit of profit blends seamlessly with the pursuit of the common good†15 Businesses operate in an â€Å"interdependent world†16 therefore there is much scope for overlap between stakeholder and business interests agree, recommending companies focus on â€Å"the points of intersection†18 rather than the tension and frictions between business and society. Points of intersection arise, in product offering, along the value chain and in the competitive context, that provide opportunity for â€Å"creating shared value†19 Drucker has encouraged companies, since 1955, to â€Å"make the public good become the private good of the enterprise†20 More recently, The Forum for the Future argues that â€Å"smart businesses†21 will profit from sustainability issues by â€Å"finding ways to give us what we need and want whilst maintaining the eco-system services on which we rely.†22 Business Benefit Points of intersection occur in product offering, throughout the value chain, and in the competitive context, providing much scope for sustainability activities. According to Savitz and Weber, sustainability activities have the potential to enhance your business in three ways. They can help to â€Å"protect it, run it, and grow it†24 Although using different terminology, this concept is â€Å"Protect it†26 – Regulations and Reputation Integrating sustainability into the business strategy reduces risk by ensuring compliance with existing regulations but also preparing for, influencing27 and reducing the risk of impending regulatory interventions.28 WWF and Smith add that engaging with stakeholders including Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) can reduce the risk of reputational damage,29 negative campaigns and consumer boycott. De Man and Burns suggest supply-chain partnerships and codes-of-conduct manage risk by recouping control lost through globalization and outsourcing.31 The second two stages suggested by Savitz and Weber move from risk management to include opportunity maximization, reflecting the shift observed by Forum for the Future over the past decade. â€Å"Run it†33 Operations As expressed by Forum for the Future, â€Å"Pollution is waste,†¦ it means that your company is paying for something it didn’t use†34 Reducing costs, waste and inefficiencies in operations can increase profitability while keeping the company ahead of regulators. The improved environmental and social impacts can be beneficial for brand enhancement. Porter agrees that â€Å"operational efficiency†35 is important but argues that it is not sufficient to secure a viable business into the long-term. It can be quickly imitated,36 shifting the â€Å"productivity frontier outward†37 and raising efficiencies of the industry as a whole but providing â€Å"relative improvements for no one†38 Without additional strategy this creates â€Å"pressures on costs†39 and â€Å"mutually destructive competition†40 Environment Management Systems can assist reduction of resources used in production. But, as populations and therefore production expands, this reduction becomes ‘relative’ rather than ‘absolute’41. Environmental degradation continues to increase although businesses appear to be addressing the issue. Jackson terms this the â€Å"myth of decoupling†42 Improvements required for absolute decoupling of growth and material usage would require substantial economic investment, with a return-oninvestment timeframe that would not pass traditional calculations. â€Å"Grow it†43 Innovation and Marketing Sustainability provides scope for growth activities including opening access to new markets, increasing share in existing markets, developing innovative new products and processes, increased consumer loyalty and satisfaction, increased scope for alliances and partnerships, and improvement to reputation and brand.44 This area shall be considered in detail in Part 2. In summary, sustainability can be integrated into business where there are areas of mutual interest between the business, environment and society. Areas of intersection occur throughout the value chain. Sustainability activities can provide business benefits such as: managing risk of regulation; managing risk of reputational damage in consumer, investor and employment markets; re-couping control lost through globalization and outsourcing; reduced operating costs; reputation and brand enhancement; product differentiation; access to new markets and increased share in existing markets; and providing a driver for innovation of product, process and business model. Role of Strategy Strategic Approach to Sustainability Focusing on points of intersection has the potential to benefit the business alongside society and the environment. The danger is that sustainability activities become â€Å"fragmented†45, â€Å"disconnected from the company’s strategy†46, reducing the potential benefit to society, the environment and to the business and opening the company up to risks such as accusations of ‘green-wash’ (see 2.2.1). A fragmented approach leads to â€Å"contradictory practices†47 that reduce the overall benefits produced. Instead sustainability issues should be analysed â€Å"using the same frameworks that guide their core business choices†48 Approached strategically, sustainability becomes a source of progress for both society and the firm, being â€Å"a source of opportunity, innovation, and competitive advantage†49 â€Å"as the business applies its considerable resources, expertise, and insights to activities that benefit society.†50 Considered strategically sustainability activities can compliment and re-enforce each other, working together as a coherent whole.   Ã¢â‚¬ËœIntegration’ and ‘Fit’ Sustainability activities can be realised throughout the business model,51 summarised According to Drucker â€Å"The entire business can be seen, understood and managed as an integrated process†53 â€Å"from raw material procurement†¦to customer service†54 According to Porter, the role of strategy is to â€Å"tighten fit†55 between activities and changes taking place. Strategy considers the company as a whole â€Å"activity system†56, rather than individual activities, combining and configuring activities. â€Å"The success of a strategy depends on doing many things well-not just a few- and integrating among them†57 ensuring that activities are complimentary, having â€Å"consistency†58, are â€Å"reinforcing†59 and provide â€Å"optimization of effort†60 Integrating individual sustainability activities into business units is an improvement from mere philanthropy, but real benefit is achieved when there is integration among activities so that they work together as a coherent whole, re-enforcing and supporting each other. Balancing Stakeholder Interests and Competing Business Objectives The business context contains a range of stakeholders61. FMCG’s are publicly traded companies62, therefore shareholders are among their key stakeholders, along with consumers, governments, employees, communities in which they operate, NGOs and the media. Inevitably conflict arises between stakeholder interests63 especially when consideration is extended to future stakeholder interests, as required by the sustainability agenda64 Porter and Kramer recognize that, like all business activities, sustainability activities require a degree of â€Å"balancing competing values, interests, and costs†65 In some cases the â€Å"conflict of interest between shareholders and other stakeholders†66 can be resolved by considering the long-term interests of shareholders67 In some instances it is possible to create an overlap of interests through innovation68, by â€Å"working to alter consumer preference†69 or by lobbying for regulation that converges these interests. In some instances the activity should simply be halted. Smith argues that â€Å"stakeholder engagement must be at the core†70 of sustainability strategy in order to ensure informed decision-making. Competing business objectives can conflict. Without clear strategy it is likely that sustainability â€Å"trade-offs†71 such as costs will be postponed72 â€Å"which can lead to far greater costs when the company is later judged to have violated its social obligation.†73 Although they do not explicate it, we can add that this postponement can also lead to severe costs to society and the environment. Porter identifies â€Å"the growth trap†74 as a pressure that detracts from strategy, encouraging activities that are not coherent with the system as a whole.75 A strategic framework allows decisions to be made, regarding competing interests and objectives, consistently across the business, maintaining the company’s â€Å"unique and valuable position†76 In order to ensure that sustainability activities fulfill their potential, it is necessary to have them sit within a core strategic framework. In summary, sustainability can be integrated into all aspects of the business. A fragmented approach is inefficient at producing benefit and avoiding risk. But, when considered strategically, sustainability activities can compliment each other, working together as a coherent whole to benefit the business, society and the environment simultaneously. This is when maximum benefit is achieved. Strategy provides the framework for managing competing stakeholder interests and business objectives in a manner consistent with the business as a whole, strengthening the company’s unique position.   Does The ‘Sweet-Spot’ Approach Lead to Sustainability? Expectation of no Trade-offs Walley and Whitehead express caution in allowing ‘sweet-spots’ to dictate sustainability strategy. They accept that ‘win-win’ scenarios exist but argue they are extremely rare and should not form the basis of a company’s sustainability strategy.77 Previous easy wins were achieved without making â€Å"truly fundamental changes in production processes or product design†78 Once ‘low hanging fruit’ has been reaped, addressing sustainability issues becomes an increasingly â€Å"costly and complicated proposition†79 that requires â€Å"long-term commitment and cooperation†80 The occasional ‘win-win’ becomes insignificant when considered alongside the full costs of addressing sustainability issues. The expectation that no trade-offs are required leads to reduced commitment and cooperation when expected win-win’s do not materialise and true costs are realised. Walley Whitehead advocate â€Å"a more integrated way of thinking†81, focusing on the core strategy of the business in order to make â€Å"informed trade-offs between costs and benefits†82 Business Model as a Whole Focusing on ‘sweet-spots’ does not address the impact of the business model as a whole but makes modifications within. Utting argues that corporations have â€Å"skillfully placated the opposition†83 using dialogue, engagement and sustainability activities, without effecting real change to business practices. Focusing on gradual mitigation of negative environmental and social impacts, or increasing positive impacts only to the extent that delivers medium term business benefit, may well provide the desired business benefits, and indeed provide some benefit to society, but results in the continuation of â€Å"current unsustainable trends†84 Looking long term this is detrimental to shareholder value as well as to future stakeholder interests. Jackson argues85 that the constant pursuit of growth, through marketing and innovation86, has led to unsustainable levels of consumption.87 Companies are responsible for encouraging materialistic desires as well as for fulfilling them.88 87 Five planets would be required if current consumption levels of richer nations were achieved globally. (Leonard, A. 2002) Add to this an increased population size and it becomes clear that incremental improvements will not be enough to achieve sustainability (WWF-UK (2001), p12.) 88 Sustainable Development Commission (2009) and Leonard, A. 2010. 19 Leonard argues that making the products a little less damaging will not achieve sustainability.89 More sustainable patterns of consumption must be achieved90 where prosperity is not reliant upon continued â€Å"consumption growth†91 Savitz does not deny that current efforts will not achieve sustainability, but he argues that we cannot make â€Å"extreme shifts†92 without â€Å"modest initiatives first†93 to achieve buy-in from stakeholders essential to the viability of the business. Creating a Sustainable Business Model Drucker advocates asking â€Å"What is our business, what will it be, what should it be?†94 The organisational structure and objectives should be designed to achieve this vision of the company, ensuring integration and consistency throughout, in order to achieve the goals of the business as a whole.95 According to MacDonald, to achieve sustainability one must first have a vision of what sustainability would look like, which can then be planned towards. This â€Å"planning from principles of success†96 or â€Å"back casting from principles†97 matches Drucker’s view of strategy outlined above. Envisioning a sustainable company provides the goal towards which the business structure and objectives can be designed.98 This view is supported by Forum For the Future99, who work with companies â€Å"with positive visions of a sustainable future; finding innovative, practical ways to help realise those visions;†100 MacDonald recognises that interim targets towards achieving the goal of sustainability are useful but these should be planned within an â€Å"overarching strategy†101 and recommends a â€Å"10 30 year horizon†102    Conclusion   Much of the literature on sustainability recommends that companies look for areas of mutual interest between its various stakeholders and focus on integrating sustainability activities. ‘Sweet-spots’ are a vital tool in transitioning a company and its stakeholders towards a sustainable future, but this does not constitute a complete sustainability strategy. Sustainability activities and incremental targets must be set within an ‘over-arching strategy’ designed to achieve the vision of a sustainable company.

The Relationship between Entrepreneuship, Innocation and Economic Essay

The Relationship between Entrepreneuship, Innocation and Economic Development - Essay Example A variety of theories and policy approaches have been advanced with Keynesian influenced stimulus packages being infused into Western economies with varying degrees of success. Still, a growing body of support has turned to the potentials of economic development occurring through entrepreneurship and innovation. Theorists such as Joseph Schumpeter argue that entrepreneurship and innovation are core elements for economic development, and subsequent city and state governments have oftentimes-established incubators and given increased funding to ensure that innovation is supported. This essay examines the relationship between entrepreneurship, innovation and economic development. The essay also considers the role creativity and problem solving play in this relationship, with reference to both theory and examples from the business world. Analysis When examining the relationship between entrepreneurship, innovation, and economic development perhaps the most groundbreaking theorist has bee n Joseph Schumpeter. While Schumpeter’s insights into economic development span a wide array of understandings, there are a number of specific considerations that are relevant for this specific mode of investigation. One of Schumpeter’s most important notions is that of ‘creative destruction’. ... Individuals such as Alan Greenspan have noted that this process underlines economic development. He notes, â€Å""Capitalism expands wealth primarily through creative destruction—the process by which the cash flow from obsolescent, low-return capital is invested in high-return, cutting-edge technologies" (Greenspan 2002). There are a number of specific means by which entrepreneurship and innovation carries out such creative destruction. In his text ‘Theory of Economic Development’ Schumpeter argued that entrepreneurship didn’t simply create new industries, but also resulted in the combination of past industries (Schumpeter 1982). One example of this is that the development of the steam engine combined with carriage development techniques to form the automobile. The development of the automobile then drastically shifts previously held economic and social structural elements, reenergizing the economy and contributing to economic development. While Schumpeter ’s theories have received a degree of criticism that remain prominent and highly relevant in the contemporary world environment. In large part, Schumpeter’s understanding of entrepreneurship and innovation as contributing to economic development has been echoed through endogenous growth theory. This perspective contends that a nation’s economic growth occurs through internal rather than external factors. In this context of understanding it’s clear how Schumpeter’s theory on entrepreneurship is squarely rooted within the endogenous means of growth. While entrepreneurship is popularly viewed in terms of inventions and small business owners, in further examining its impact on economic development one must consider the more abstract notion of innovation

Marketing - Santa Fe Grill analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Marketing - Santa Fe Grill analysis - Essay Example tors that influence the clients decision to dine either at Santa Fe Grill or Joses Southwestern Cafà ©, (2) the features that customers associate each of the restaurants with, (3) the geographic and demographic description of the clients, the impact of advertising, willingness to refer their friends to the restaurant or even return to their restaurant of choice as well as their degree of satisfaction. Summary statistics, univariate and other statistical tests were conducted and results presented in the following sections. Table 1 shows the summary statistics for the responses obtained for this question. Majority of the respondents interviewed with regard to Joses Southwestern Cafà © occasionally ate there (38.2%) while for Santa Fe Grill majority of the respondents ate there somewhat frequently. Tabulation of the frequency at which respondents ate at each of the two restaurants is provided in table 1 below. Regarding whether the respondents perceived the prices at either Santa Fe Grill or Jose’s Southwestern Cafà © to be reasonable, a seven point likert scale response was used from which the results indicated that on average, the respondents in both restaurants were indifferent about the pricing (Average for this response was 4). Further tests were conducted on how much they agreed with the pricing (6 on the likert scale). Results from an independent sample t-test (table2) indicated that for both restaurant, the customers agreed with the pricing. Table 3 shows results of a cross tabulation of the respondents’ gender versus whether they recall seeing an advertisement in the past 60 days. Majority of those who could not recall seeing an advertisement in the past 60 days were males (68.80%). However, for the respondents who could recall seeing an advertisement in the past 60 days, 73.3% were males. We therefore conclude that more males recalled seeing an advertisement as compared to those that did not see it, while for females a higher number of female could not

Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factorys sweet success Essay Example for Free

Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factorys sweet success Essay The major competing sweet producers Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory and Hershey’s company have different business strategies, which give them distinct status in the market of the USA. RMCF is concerned in its perspectives and long-term goals to make the company more profitable and successful in the sphere of chocolate business. Hershey’s company deals with the short-term objectives and tries to obtain profit in an abridged period of time. The business strategy of profit-making Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory has the competitive advantage over prosperous Hershey’s company in corporate governance, organizational structure and confection distribution in the USA. The first difference between the companies is that the corporate governance of RMCF is structured more efficiently than Hershey’s. Corporate governance of RMCF consists of directors who have equal rights. RMCF administers its main rules with three to nine directors (Wheelen and Hunger, 2012, p263). Despite the main principals, the specific board of directors operates as a head of the whole organization and it is able to elect directors itself. This condition is likely to motivate the directors, so they try to accomplish their part of business as accurate as possible. Shareholders have a right to vote in yearly meetings and they can have an influence on the election of the potential directors by giving the additional number of votes (Wheelen and Hunger, 2012, p264). In consequence, the shareholders who have invested money into the company can be confident in the liability of the people to whom they give the opportunity to control the business. Unlike RMCF the Hershey’s c ompany has different types of directors who have their special responsibilities in conducting the business. The governance of the company consists of three types of directors, namely independent, informed and engaged, also a board of directors, which perform various functions in management. Such a bureaucratic structure makes the decision-making process more complicated and creates difficulties with the overall performance of the company. Board members of the company can easily intervene into the tasks of the workers and they can hire new employees without any restrictions (The Hershey Company, 2013). This action may disrupt employees from work and directors can have another option that will not be considered due to their limited liability. Corporate governance of Hershey’s company does not include the participation of shareholders in arranging managers for the firm, so the shareholders are not aware of the financial environment of the company. Thus, the exact number of directors and the role of the Board of directors make the RMCF’s governance organized in a beneficial form, whereas Hershey’s faces several difficulties with it. The second privilege of RMCF is an adept and profit-seeking organizational structure. RMCF has its own shops and franchises which are situated in the regional malls, tourist-oriented retail areas, ski resort, specialty retail centers, airports, neighborhood centers, and factory outlet malls (Harrison, 2003, p240). This location of the chocolate shops creates positive selling opportunities by attracting customers and promoting the product as well. According to the Success Magazine, in 1995-96 the Rocky Mountain was in the seventh position of the 100 top franchisers (cited in Harrison, 2013, p420). Spreading its name recognition through company-owned stores and franchisers, RMCF had gained such a high result in determining its market force and competitive advantage over a majority of companies working in the same field. Crail (1996) states ‘We find the location, negotiate the lease, design the store, coordinate the build-out, bring the franchise here for training, send a distinct manager to the store opening, and have ongoing field support and regional and national convention’ (cited in Harrison, 2003, p420). Taking into consideration all the aspects of organizing the structure of the whole business helps RMCF achieve success without any inadvertences. For example, the total revenue of the company in 1995 was 13,616, 134 USD and up to 1998, it had a tremendous increase showing 23,763,82 USD (Harrison, 2003, pp.423-424). In contrast to RMCF’s organizational structure, Hershey’s company decided to form special commercial groups in order to obtain the significant part of the market share (New Organizational Structure to Leverage U.S. Scale and Accelerate Global Growth, 2005). They were aimed to spread the producing companies all around the world. Hershey’s has its selling premises in 50 countries of the world (Keidel et al., 2010). The company was not concerned in the thorough organization of its structure; that is why it had to fund its company in other countries too. To summarize, RMCF establishes its franchises around the USA and increases the sales by allocating stores in the places with target audience while Hershey’s fail in organizing the right structure, consequently the company has to move into the market of foreign countries. The third quality that makes the business strategy of RMCF more valuable rather than Hershey’s is product distribution. RMCF delivers its products through shipments to distribution outlets from the premise of manufacturing Durango, Colorado. Franchisees are not provided with the immense space to hold the goods, so they ask the company to give them the quantities that they are able to sell during 14 to 28 days (Wheelen and Hunger, 2012, p.26-10). By following this strategy, RMCF chocolate can be a reliable product in terms of freshness. ‘RMCF believed that it should control the manufacturing of its own products in order to better maintain its high product quality standards, offer unique proprietary products, manage costs, control production and shipment schedules, and pursue new or underutilized distribution channels’ (Wheelen and Hunger, 2012, p.26-10). At the same time, the Hershey’s company distributes its products through â€Å"grocery stores, mass merchandisers and drug stores and functions as a single entity†. More than the half of total sales is received from â€Å"merchandisers† and â€Å"supermarkets† (Keidel, et al., 2010). In case the Hershey’s has a delayed delivery; it needs to pay fine for the customers who will not promote Hershey’s products, so losses in sales and credibility will probably occur (Zsidisin, 2006). Hershey’s company faces losses of capital in the period of distribution process; the borders of the time that the delivery of the products should last are not clearly stated. That can be harmful for the customers as the chocolate products are likely to spoil through time. Taking all the aspects into consideration, RMCF is dominating in distribution by saving the quality of chocolates, whereas Hershey’s company is not able to protect freshness without dec reasing the budget of the Company in its business strategy. To conclude, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory has more productive venture planning than Hershey’s company in controlling authority, confirmation scheme and product distribution. Controlling authorities in the RMCF have equal opportunities and reliabilities in business, while Hershey’s company is regulated mostly by a board of directors who can set the rules and hire the new employees without discussing with other directors. Conformation scheme of the companies differs from each other by allocating the stores and establishing the outlets. RMCF spreads its products to the places where many people can purchase them; in contrast, Hershey’s company delivers its products to particular stores. As RMCF is worried about its future goals, it achieves lucrative results, so Hershey’s company should also concentrate on its remote future aims.

Misery Essay examples -- Essays Papers

Misery STORYMAP 1. Sidewinder Colorado- Paul Sheldon, a novelist that has been writing a series about a character named Misery Chastain. Got in a car wreck on the icy streets in sidewinder. He got in the accident from being drunk because of the celebration he had after completing the series. Paul shatters both of his legs, dislocates his pelvis and crushes one of his knees. There he rolls off the side of the road and is knocked un-conscious. This is very important to the character because this makes him very vulnerable to his â€Å"number one fan† Anne Wilkes who holds him in her house and won’t let him go. The event starts the conflict of the story. 2. Farmhouse- In the secluded, snowy forest Paul Sheldon wakes up in a house after receiving CPR. Anne Wilkes is an ex-nurse with all kinds of medicines and painkillers that she gives to Paul for his legs. She is crazy and gives him pills with soapy water out of a wash bucket. Anne is helping Paul so he can write her novels about the ended series of misery. She obviously didn’t want it to end. This is important because Anne Wilkes is saving Paul’s life but won’t let him go. So this is a major problem he has to face in the story. He needs to escape and get to a real hospital or anywhere else but there. 3. Outside- This is outside the house where Anne goes everyday to do her daily chores which are to feed the animals and do lawn work. This is important for Paul because when she is gone he can think about how t...

Charles Dickens: A Biography

Charles Dickens one of the greatest authors of all time. Dickens wrote on the people of the Industrial Revolution and on truth and realism. Dickens wrote about every aspect of life and included all classes of society. Dickens used experiences from his own life and turned them into creativity for his novels and other writings. Charles Dickens was one of the greatest authors of English Literature because he wrote on the issues and problems that concerned the lives of the people around him. Charles Dickens was born in February 1812 in Portsmouth, England to a middle social class that influenced much of his work later in life (Smiley1). Charles Dickens used his imagination and his creations to make up things and put them in stories. Dickens envisioned people and the world in the city as a physical place. He saw human activity as a focus of interest and setting for a story (Nelson 28-29). Dickens literary career began by writing for Monthly Magazine and London Evening Chronicles when he wrote the Sketches of Boz (Gissing 7). Dickens also wrote Parliamentary debates and feature articles based on his experience and observations in the Parliament (Smiley 1). In his work Dickens largely reflected the political economic and social aspects of the society comprising of the poor, peasants, workers, landlords, the rich, and the state. Dickens wrote in the 19th century England that was characterized by oppressed poor masses with few rights. The society at this time had an oppressive bureaucracy whose machinations made the life for the poor almost unbearably, and Dickens provided information reflecting injustices of the system and the resulting exploitation of the poor. Through Dickens’ series of stories like Sketches of Boz and Pickwick Papers published on the Morning of Chronicles he made known the suffering of the poor using a quick wit and significant intuitiveness about their lives (Smiley 4). Dickens wrote fourteen novels in three years with eight of them having 875 pages (Nelson 25-29). Dickens concentrated on performing one of the most profound 19th century social commentaries denouncing poverty and social stratification using works such as Oliver Twist and Hard Times. Through his social commentaries Dickens brought up strong cases of poverty, crime, misfortunes of being poor, class stratifications, bleak economic systems, treatments of the poor, and condemnation of inconsiderable public institutions. In bringing out the snobbery of the aristocracy and the oppressive of the poor, Dickens used satire that served well to bring out indignities. Dickens used fancy and realism with a satirical overriding style that formed his style. Dickens used irony, which formed a significant part of bringing to light his arguments and showing his anger at oppression (Smiley 8). Dickens’ works were presented in weekly and monthly installments. They were affordable, accessible, and regular for all making his commentary more profound. Dickens in the 19th century was a writer who used novels, essays, and short stories to bring to light social injustices against the poor. Through his writings, he also reflected on the extent and impact of poverty on the society in the time period. Through his reflections Dickens presented powerful social and political views criticizing the rich and the state and arguing out the cause of the poor. Dickens political message was on the pressure, liberty, improvement and equality expressed as part of social reform and criticism. Dickens pointed out the flaws of greed for money and criticized the neglect of the poor such as through the book Oliver Twist that show the life of a poor boy, who from his birth suffers misfortunes and misery at the hands of the people only willing to use the poor as an means to end riches. In his political expression, Dickens shows his outrage at the leadership for allowing degradation and criticizes the Poor Laws that dedicated public charity (Smiley 14). In Oliver Twist, Dickens offers a biting social commentary focusing on victimization and abandonment (Smiley 14). In his illustrations he uses the concept of the workhouses found in all cities, where the poor are left to half starve (Dickens 6a). The focuses of the book Oliver Twist were showing the oppression of the poor and abuse of the poor children as perpetrated by the state. Dickens highly disapproved of how the state treats the poor and orphaned children, which he brings to light through institutional abuse. In Oliver Twist Dickens shows institutional failure and abuse by referring to the Parish running the warehouse in which Oliver was born and that approves he will be taken to an orphanage with very poor conditions with little food or hygiene and where children were taken for offending against the poor laws (Dickens 7a). Dickens disapproved of the work house policy such as Oliver was taken to when he turned 12, where the poor underwent emotional and physical abuse, and where children were liable to punishment even with out enough reason (Brennan and Norton pg. 504). Nevertheless, Dickens’ most profound political commentary was his disapproval of the new Poor Law of 1834 that came into effect to relieve the society of the burden of taking care of the poor and made poverty almost a crime (Fletcher 1). The law established the workhouse to house the poor seeking public assistance, although in there people suffered humiliation, stigma, emotional branding, and deprivation of both psychological and physical needs (Brennan and Norton pg. 504). The state imposed a deliberate inadequacy in the workhouses that made many option out to suffer on the streets to face public aid (Fletcher 3). In additional to institutional criticism, Dickens denounces that the goodness of the workhouses in instilling the value of working and denounces the Christian virtue of he middle class bureaucrats that subjected the poor to cruelty in the name of charity (Dickens 18 a). Dickens shows that the system has made the poor commodities for proving labor for the rich, the powerful and the state, and shows how the system has led to crime and prostitution as the poor try to escape the oppression (Fletcher 1). Unfortunately, the class of people that suffered most from the enactment of the Poor Laws and Workhouses were the children, the old, and the sick that were unable to fend for themselves on the streets (Fletcher 4). In addition to political sentiments, Dickens offers socialist ideologies by providing insight into social reforms, such as in the story â€Å"A Christmas Carol† that tells the story of Ebenezer Scrooge a misery old man who sees Christmas as an excuse for the poor to expect handouts and for the people to miss work. Through the character Scrooge, Dickens brings home the opinion that the rich in the Victorian 19th century society concentrated more on attaining and retaining wealth, characteristics of capitalism instead of helping the poor (Pike). In qualifying this opinion, Scrooge considers it sufficient to pay taxes and considered the poor as idle and lazy therefore should not be given charity. Dickens shows that society should recognize the plight of the poor and contribute towards treating them more humanely. Scrooge embodies the prosperous English classes that see the poor as nothing and who think their responsibility towards helping others end with paying taxes (Book Rag Book Notes). Using the story of Scrooge, Dickens calls welfare from the poor showing that being unchairitable may lead to misfortune such as befell Marley a dead partner of Scrooge and as will happen to Scrooge if he does not change. Dickens’ socialist view such as in the book are however not through collectivism of resources, but through the rich coming in to help the poor, thus his ocialist ideals are that of charity and social responsibility of the rich towards the poor. Charles Dickens was one of the greatest authors of English Literature because he wrote on the issues and problems that concerned the lives of the people around him. Dickens achieved worldwide popularity for his novels, rich storytelling and memorable characters. He created scenes and descriptions of places that have longed delighted readers. Dickens was a keen observer of life and had a great understanding of humanity, especially of young people.Works Cited http://www.bookrags.com/notes/xmas/TOP1

The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald - 2296 Words

Lost and forgotten. These are the two qualities that F. Scott Fitzgerald and his novel The Great Gatsby had in common. That is, until college students resurrected the story in the 1940s after Fitzgerald’s death. Born in St. Paul, Minnesota and eased into a life of mixed wealth and modest means, Fitzgerald developed a fascination with money and wealthy people. After his father lost his job, Fitzgerald vowed to never become a failure like his father. So, he wrote. He ended up going to Princeton University, where he partied excessively. He ended up meeting a love interest in Ginevra King, a girl who would alter the path of his life forever. Coming from a wealthy background, Ginevra was a tier above Fitzgerald. Her father eventually told Fitzgerald that, â€Å"Poor boys don’t marry rich girls.† The heartbroken Fitzgerald spiraled into a state of depression and flunked out of Princeton. After that, he had an obsessive desire to relive the past up until his early death at the age of 44. As with many highly acclaimed literary work, various film producers have tried to capture the spirit of the novel in a 90-minute or less motion picture. A daunting task, filmmakers struggle deciding which components of the novel are essential to the film, may it be scenarios, characters, or conversations. In 1974, movie director Jack Clayton produced his own adaptation of the novel. Then in 2013, Baz Luhrmann did the same. Many people debate which film is better, in respects to accuracy, appeal, andShow MoreRelatedThe Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald1393 Words   |  6 PagesF. Scott Fitzgerald was the model of the American image in the nineteen twenties. He had wealth, fame, a beautiful wife, and an adorable daughter; all seemed perfect. Beneath the gilded faà §ade, however, was an author who struggled with domestic and physical difficulties that plagued his personal life and career throughout its short span. This author helped to launch the theme that is s o prevalent in his work; the human instinct to yearn for more, into the forefront of American literature, where itRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1343 Words   |  6 PagesHonors English 10 Shugart 18 Decemeber 2014 The Great Gatsby F. Scott Fitzgerald s 1925 novel The Great Gatsby is a tragic love story, a mystery, and a social commentary on American life. The Great Gatsby is about the lives of four wealthy characters observed by the narrator, Nick Carroway. Throughout the novel a mysterious man named Jay Gatsby throws immaculate parties every Saturday night in hope to impress his lost lover, Daisy Buchanan. Gatsby lives in a mansion on West Egg across from DaisyRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1155 Words   |  5 PagesThe Great Gatsby The Jazz Age was an era where everything and anything seemed possible. It started with the beginning of a new age with America coming out of World War I as the most powerful nation in the world (Novel reflections on, 2007). As a result, the nation soon faced a culture-shock of material prosperity during the 1920’s. Also known as the â€Å"roaring twenties†, it was a time where life consisted of prodigality and extravagant parties. Writing based on his personal experiences, author F. ScottRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1166 Words   |  5 Pagesin the Haze F. Scott Fitzgerald lived in a time that was characterized by an unbelievable lack of substance. After the tragedy and horrors of WWI, people were focused on anything that they could that would distract from the emptiness that had swallowed them. Tangible greed tied with extreme materialism left many, by the end of this time period, disenchanted. The usage of the literary theories of both Biographical and Historical lenses provide a unique interpretation of the Great Gatsby centered aroundRead MoreThe Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald845 Words   |  3 PagesIn F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, colors represent a variety of symbols that relate back to the American Dream. The dream of being pure, innocent and perfect is frequently associated with the reality of corruption, violence, and affairs. Gatsby’s desire for achieving the American Dream is sought for through corruption (Schneider). The American Dream in the 1920s was perceived as a desire of w ealth and social standings. Social class is represented through the East Egg, the WestRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald Essay970 Words   |  4 Pagesrespecting and valuing Fitzgerald work in the twenty-first century? Fitzgerald had a hard time to profiting from his writing, but he was not successful after his first novel. There are three major point of this essay are: the background history of Fitzgerald life, the comparisons between Fitzgerald and the Gatsby from his number one book in America The Great Gatsby, and the Fitzgerald got influences of behind the writing and being a writer. From childhood to adulthood, Fitzgerald faced many good andRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald2099 Words   |  9 Pagesauthor to mirror his life in his book. In his previous novels F. Scott Fitzgerald drew from his life experiences. He said that his next novel, The Great Gatsby, would be different. He said, â€Å"In my new novel I’m thrown directly on purely creative work† (F. Scott Fitzgerald). He did not realize or did not want it to appear that he was taking his own story and intertwining it within his new novel. In The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, he imitates his lifestyle through the Buchanan family to demonstrateRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1607 Words   |  7 Pages The Great Gatsby is an American novel written in 1925 by F. Scott Fitzgerald. One of the themes of the book is the American Dream. The American Dream is an idea in which Americans believe through hard work they can achieve success and prosperity in the free world. In F. Scott Fitzgerald s novel, The Great Gatsby, the American Dream leads to popularity, extreme jealousy and false happiness. Jay Gatsby’s recent fortune and wealthiness helped him earn a high social position and become one of the mostRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1592 Words   |  7 PagesMcGowan English 11A, Period 4 9 January 2014 The Great Gatsby Individuals who approach life with an optimistic mindset generally have their goals established as their main priority. Driven by ambition, they are determined to fulfill their desires; without reluctance. These strong-minded individuals refuse to be influenced by negative reinforcements, and rely on hope in order to achieve their dreams. As a man of persistence, the wealthy Jay Gatsby continuously strives to reclaim the love of hisRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1646 Words   |  7 PagesThe 1920s witnessed the death of the American Dream, a message immortalized in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. Initially, the American Dream represented the outcome of American ideals, that everyone has the freedom and opportunity to achieve their dreams provided they perform honest hard work. During the 1920s, the United States experienced massive economic prosperity making the American Dream seem alive and strong. However, in Fitzgerald’s eyes, the new Am erican culture build around that