Children Believe they are Indestructible - 992 Words

There are people out there who believe they’re indestructible. Children are the ones most convinced of this. Cartoons show characters that come back to life and parents seem like angelic beings that can do no wrong. Being a child is an ignorant bliss. Even though skin is easily scraped, bruised, and tarnished during their early years, they continue on. It isn’t difficult at the time. Some people continue to have this attitude in life. They grow up to become resilient and forceful. They’re the ones with the job opportunities and the recipients of promotions. They’re the ones that matter. They’re what I should have been. After all every parent dreams of raising an Ivy League graduate, and every student aspires to make their family proud. This sense of strength is a false security that can only occur when you’re younger. When you’re a kid nothing can go wrong. But years go by and family troubles arise, your best friend moves away, and countless other events that make you feel like you have no say in what happens around you. That’s growing up. Children break all the time. Despite their resilience, they’re fragile when pushed the wrong way. Children fall like buildings. Little by little and then all at once. I was never one of the strong kids. There was no defining moment in my childhood that made me shy and reserved, I just was. I kept my nose in books and stayed out of time out. Ironic considering I spend most of my time in a corner these days. I lost my voice for years. IShow MoreRelatedGender Roles in A New Leaf1292 Words   |  6 Pagesfor men and women alike. How are male and female characters portrayed? A. Women – Caretakers, nurturing, invested into beauty B. Men-Providers, indestructible, intelligent How does the work portray their roles in society? A. Women – Caretakers,invested into beauty, nurturers B. Men-Providers, indestructible, intelligent How does gender influence the decisions characters make? A. Only options are those deemed appropriate by society B.Women- ForcedRead MoreWhy Is Graham Hess Is The End Of The World Essay1507 Words   |  7 PagesPennsylvania. Graham has been left with the duties of taking care of his children after the death of his wife in an automobile accident. In the movie, Graham and the rest of his family are hiding and protecting themselves from the suspicious nearby lights from the invading aliens. In this scene, Graham and Merrill converse until a very important but seemingly unanswerable question arises. The question being if Graham believes this, the alien attack, is the end of the world. This followed by GrahamRead MoreThe Influence of the Family Members on the Life of Francie Nolan by Betty Smith782 Words   |  4 Pagesdespite her promiscuous reputation. Francie believes that Sissy is loose with men because of her determination to give as much as she can to anyone. Francie adores Sissy, and Sissy’s maternal actions are the inspiration to Francie’s fantasies about starting a family of her own. Sissy makes frequent visits to the Nolan house and constantly checks on the children’s well-being, just as a mother would watch over her own children. If someone mistreats one of the children, such as Francie’s elementary schoolRead MoreEssay on The Media Should NOT Define our Self-Image694 Words   |  3 Pagesadvertisements. Most women are working mothers today. It is a frequent occurrence for a man to help out with daily chores; cooking dinner, cleaning, and watching the children after school. Yet, many advertisements still depict women taking care of the children, cleaning house and cooking dinner for the family. Many dads are picking their children from school, taking them to sports practice, and picking them up afterwards. The van commercial shows a working mom, but she is still in charge of being theRead MoreThe Value Of Honour And The Moral Economy981 Words   |  4 Pagesthe moral economy, the different politics, and mass society. Traditional and Modern society have many different ways of defining honour. In the view of the Sarakatsani in a traditional society, honour is related by the blood of the family. They believe that honour is in the blood and if a man is cut, it drains him of his strength. Joseph Keim Campbell states; Since courage and strength are particularly the qualities that men require in order to defend the reputation of their families, it becomesRead MoreEssay On Russia776 Words   |  4 Pagesquickly forming ice!†. The scientists are alive only by the backup generators that keep the power going and keep their plants from dying in the harsh winters of Russia. â€Å"This is terrible,† Magnolia utters under her breath. â€Å"Russia always seemed indestructible,† Gaidar says sadly, â€Å"I guess in reality it wasn’t.† Abha looks down at the ground. â€Å"Do you - do you think that anyone else survived?† Quincy puts his hand on her shoulder in an attempt to comfort her. â€Å"There’s no way to know for sure. RussiaRead MoreEssay about Media Violence - Television Perpetuates Violence903 Words   |  4 PagesFrom cartoons to sitcoms, television shows depict violent acts that go unpunished and contain no painful consequences. This view of the world does not reflect reality nor does it teach our children the values, morals or behaviors we constantly tell them to practice. Many parents dont realize that their children view the most violence watching the most innocent of shows. For example, Nickelodeons Loony Tunes, actually contains 80 acts of violence per hour and prime-time shows register at 60 actsRead MoreThe Vampire Chronicles Vs. Twilight Saga869 Words   |  4 Pagesstarting with The Vampire Chronicles. The Vampire Chronicles begins in the seventeenth hundredths with the Interview with the Vampire then moves forward into modern times in between novels. Anne Rice had made her vampires almost similar to Dracula. They believe that humans are beneath them. They sleep during the day to avoid being killed by the sun and they don’t have a reflection. Rice also put her little spin on how her vampires should be, such as the transformation of the vampires. Her vampires areRead MoreEssay On Russia909 Words   |  4 Pagesquickly forming ice!†. The scientists are alive only by the backup generators that keep the power going and keep their plants from dying in the harsh winters of Russia. â€Å"This is terrible,† Magnolia utters under her breath. â€Å"Russia always seemed indestructible,† Gaidar says sadly, â€Å"I guess in reality it wasn’t.† Abha looks down at the ground. â€Å"Do you - do you think that anyone else survived?† Quincy puts his hand on her shoulder in an attempt to comfort her. â€Å"There’s no way to know for sure. RussiaRead MoreLove Has Many Definitions Essay791 Words   |  4 Pagescommonly between a parent and their love for their child. Children misbehave; receive punishment, but still the love between the parent and child remains. A parent wants nothing more, then to provide for the child, to give that child more than physically possible. Although this quote â€Å"True, I talk of dreams, which are the children of an idle brain, Begot of nothing but vain fantasy.† Shakespeare Romeo Juliet (1.4 97-99) speaks not of love, I believe taking these words as written speaks of pure love.

Conforming to Society in Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

Conforming to Society Often individuals choose to conform to society, rather than pursue personal desires because it is often easier to follow the path others have made already, rather than create a new one. In the novel Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, this conflict is explored. Huxley starts the story by introducing Bernard Marx, the protagonist of the story, who is unhappy with himself, because of the way he interacts with other members of society. As the story progresses, the author suggests that, like soma, individuals can be kept content with giving them small pleasure over short periods of time. Thus, it is suggested in the book that if individuals would conform to their society’s norms, their lives would become much†¦show more content†¦In conclusion, Bernard is interested in pursuing his personal desires, instead of conforming to society because he doesn’t like the way society is and what it is restricting people from. Although Huxley starts the story by introducing Bernar d and his disapproval with the way society works, he suggests that individuals can be prevented from pursuing personal desires, if they are kept content with giving them small pleasures over short periods of time. The way which Bernard’s society keeps its people happy is by encouraging them to take soma regularly and to have sexual relationships with multiple partners. Drugs and sex, only keeps people happy for a short period of time and that is while it is happening. As soon as it is over they return to the misery they were in before, but the society encourages more, thus individuals who comply with the society are always kept content. Bernard is similarly kept satisfied by soma, even though he doesn’t take it too often; it’s his way of escaping reality when he is deeply unhappy with how his life is going. Intimacy with the other sex doesn’t keep him content because he questions this belief, but instead going on a date with Lenina or visiting the reserva tion does. The protagonist appreciates spending quality time, for instance when he suggest that for his date with Lenina, they â€Å"land on top of the Skiddaw and walk for a couple of hours in the heather†(77) or when he wishes to â€Å"look at the sea in peace†(78). InShow MoreRelatedBrave New World Discussion Questions1321 Words   |  6 PagesBrave New World Discussion Questions Question 1: Each novel immerses us, instantly, into a world that simultaneously is foreign and familiar. Establish the characteristics of the society that the author creates and analyze the intricacies (complexities) of the society being presented. In what ways is it like and unlike our own society? In Aldous Huxley’s science fiction novel Brave New World, a distinct society is illustrated. The author depicts a civilization that is specifically based on severalRead MoreDystopian Society1142 Words   |  5 PagesDystopian Society is a civilization that dehumanizes individuals and strips them of their individuality. Within this society, the government monitors and controls the citizen’s every move and beliefs. This type of society can be seen in Brave New World, written by Aldous Huxley, where Huxley describes a perfect vision of a â€Å"Utopian† future. Most of the citizens that live in this imbruted â€Å"World State† are genetically mutated and pharmaceutically narcotized to live an everlasting life. Huxley explainsRead MoreOutsiders in Brave New World Essay886 Words   |  4 Pagesare a very common theme in the novel Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. Many characters show traits of an outsider. John is one character who fits the bill. He is the ult imate outsider. Other outsiders in the book are Bernard and Linda. All of these characters have traits that make it difficult for them to â€Å"fit in† to the society of the New World. They don’t fit in a conforming society. These three characters are perfect examples of outsiders in Brave New World. Bernard is an outsider who doesn’tRead MoreComparing The Film Gattaca And The Novel Brave New World Essay1391 Words   |  6 Pagesthe novel Brave New World (written by Aldous Huxley) are of the dystopian genre and explore the notions of mass control and freedom; or lack of freedom. Both societies are controlled by a totalitarian dictatorship that push their suppressive ideologies- genoism in Gattaca, and the complete eradication of viviparous births and the implementation of a caste system in Brave New World. Characters in both dystopian worlds challenge the rules and expectations of their societies. In Brave New World, BernardRead MoreIndividualism And Individuality In Aldous Huxleys Brave New World1546 Words   |  7 PagesWaldo Emerson once said, â€Å"To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment†. And how true that is. We learn from a young age that it is better to fit in than stand out and that if one does stand out they will be ridiculed and teased into conforming. Our society stifles individuality and hides how they truly feel in order to fit in. Not only that, but we tend to stifle emotions in our society just as much as individualism. We refuse to createRead MoreA Summary of Aldous Huxleys Brave New World Essays2373 Words   |  10 PagesAshlyn AP Language Mrs. Evans May 7, 2012 Brave New World: A Shortened Long Form Title: Brave New World Author: Aldous Huxley Date of Publication: 1932 The Author and His Times Aldous Huxley was born to an elite and intellectual family on July 26, 1894. His family consisted of writers and scientists, and he felt obliged to have the same success. When he was younger, he showed more intelligence and insight than the rest of the children. He also, however, had a ratherRead MoreTheme Of Indoctrination In Brave New World1029 Words   |  5 PagesIndoctrination to Mould Brave New World’s Society â€Å"Government is not the solution to our problem. Government is the problem.† (Reagan) Many factors can construct a conditioned society, by applying social norms and ideologies. These factors influence the use of indoctrination and dehumanization in society, which is an important theme throughout the novel. Aldous Huxley’s novel, Brave New World, is a great example of indoctrination; it demonstrates the effects of conditioning in the process of dehumanizationRead MoreCharacter Development in Brave New World1086 Words   |  5 Pages In the novel, Brave New World, written by Aldous Huxley, the author uses character development to contrast the two different societies present in the novel.He shows the importance of morality, or an increase in wisdom in the character of humankind. The author contrasts a society full of static and flat characters and another society full of round characters. In order to show the importance of life experiences in changing the character of individuals in the society. Bernard Marx an AlphaRead MoreThe Chocolate War, By Robert Cormier And Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban1838 Words   |  8 Pagesof the world. Three novels show how easily individual choices made out of fear can lead to a repressive government like that of Nazi Germany. The first two novels The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling, act as a warning, to show the dangers of a repressive social system and how individuals are conforming out of fear in exchange for stability. The end result is a world with no individuality and free will, represented in Brave New World, by AldousRead MoreAnalysis Of The Book Brave New World By Aldous Huxley Essay1362 Words   |  6 PagesTitle: Brave New World Author: Aldous Huxley Main Characters: Bernard, John, Lenina, Linda Synopsis: The book begins in a human reproduction facility where they are basically engineering and developing human beings. It explains that once a child is born they are trained to conform to society. For example, babies were placed on an electric floor in front of books and flowers, and to train them they were electrocuted until they learned to dislike books and nature. This was done to ensure that the engineered

Modern Organizational Theory vs Improvisation Essay Example For Students

Modern Organizational Theory vs Improvisation Essay Modern Organizational Theory vs. Improvisationâ€Å"Organization theory deals with the formal structure, internal working, and external environment of complex human behavior within organizations. As a field spanning several disciplines, it prescribes how work and workers out to be organized and attempts to explain the actual consequences of organizational behavior (including individual behavior) on work done and on the organization itself.†(Gordon and Milkavoich, 147) It has been evolving for centuries on how should work be done in the public administration and how the organization should be. â€Å"Research findings have emerged about what motivates workers and how different incentives affect various tasks, employees, and situations; and the environments in which they operate.† (Gordon and Milakovich, 147) Even with all those research statistics and different modes of thought toward organization there are still situations in which the rational approach to public decisio ns does not help. For instance, what if the environment is instable and has no guidelines or precedents to follow? In the case of Israel, improvisation has changed the organization of public administrations, uprooted the conventional models for policymaking, and strayed off from the Weberian model of administration. This kind of improvisation is the product of â€Å"cultural and personal predilections and environmental circumstances,†(Sharkansky and Zalmanovitch, 1) The use of improvisation is dependent on the culture and the environment in which policy decisions are made. For example, the use of improvisation is found more so in Spanish managers. Why? â€Å"Spanish mangers express an explicit preference for spontaneous, improvised managerial style over the methodical and formal planning favored by their American, English, and Dutch counterparts.† (Sharkansky and Zalmanovitch, 2) Another proponent of improvisational technique is the Israelis. Improvisation is made inev itable in a situation where problems must be dealt with expediently and on the spur of the moment. Taking into consideration the conflict between the Arabs and the Israelis, improvisation is essential to running administrations. The formal theory such of Max Weber cannot apply since its framework of rules and procedures are to ensure stability, predictability, and reliability of performance; yet, with no stability or predictability in the environment these theories only fall short of their expectations. Rational panning has already been pointed out a century ago by Herbert Simon (1976) to be â€Å"bounded† by many factors such as: â€Å"skills, habits, and reflexes, values, etc, which makes it impossible to achieve rational planning that is suited for the situation†¦Moreover, rational planning does not have primary value in Israel’s cultural heritage. Survival in the Diaspora often depended on an ability to act quickly, with limited resources, under harsh, changi ng, and uncertain conditions.†(Sharkansky and Zalmanovitch, 2) With endless terrorism, continuous war, and a population growth that shifts from month to month there is the perpetual challenge to respond to each situation expediently and ingeniously. Even with the scientific management organizational theory, the formal structure and rules, the highly centralized top management levels, and especially the standardizing procedures would make policy-making decisions disastrous for Israel. This mode of organization is to increase productivity, thus profits. Yet, Israel’s leadership has to consistently â€Å"accomplish a wide variety of expensive goals with limited means. These goals included creating the infrastructure of a modem, industrial society in an undeveloped setting; creating a welfare state which could house, educate, and provide employment and healthcare for successive waves of immigrants and their children; and provide its citizens with a decent standard of livin g.† (Sharkansky and Zalmanovitch, 3) With all of these pressures to be done on an economy of scarcity, the profit idea fits nowhere. Improvisation began in Israel since 1967, the day the city was united under total Israeli control. It involved deviating Israel’s formal policy to keep the peace. With the Arabs fighting for their land back and Israel’s strong willed notion to maintain all of the land under Israeli rule, it proved to be quite a task. Not only did the government had to improvise to ease the tension between the Arabs and the Israelis, they also had to settle the demands of the Religious and the Secular people. To maintain a harmonious environment the public decision makers had to improvise a way to keep the religious and secular Jews on the same level, whereby initiating one approach to appease on group and lowering the standard to appease the other. This could only be done with an open system in which the organization constantly interacts with their environment to give grounds to their decisions. This systems theory- â€Å"which holds that organizations are like biological organisms in which they behave according to the inputs from their environment is the modern organization theory.The modern organization theory imbibes the notion of improvisation since it is open to feedback and is not closed to the public and is vulnerable to the forces in the external environment.† (Class notes) Improvisation is integral to Israel’s public administration.As stated before, with all the pressures to fulfill expectations of its people and the lack of funding it has provided the administrators creative ways of handling the situation. Instead of following protocols and strict chains of command, leaders are encouraged to fend for themselves in the creative war to obtain funds. â€Å"Some have persuaded commercial banks to lend money to their municipalities against the formal regulations on the argument that the national government would step in to pay up if the locality seemed on the verge of bankruptcy. Local leaders have also used crises, like terrorists attacks or a spurt in unemployment, to demand special grants.†(Sharkansky and Zalmanovitch, 5) Another public administrative job in which improvisation proved more effective is that of sudden immigration of Russian Jews after the collapse of the Soviet Union. If Israel had used the older version of public administrative organization it would take months to set up budgeting, land grants, building contractors, and begin construction to integrate the Russian Jews. By following the chain of command and following the protocols there would not have been any housing for any of the tens of thousands immigrants pouring in monthly. Quick action and thinking was needed with strong leadership and control. â€Å"According to one scholar, the Russian immigration constituted a â€Å"crisis,† defined as a major, unanticipated change which urgently requires so lutions â€Å"with high risks,† and for which the existing resources, laws, and procedures are inadequate. The improvisations adopted to deal with the crisis cut constructing time in half, increased by a magnitude of four the rate of housing construction, and produced an adequate supply of housing for immigrants.† This is yet another success story by using improvisation as the method of organization and decision-making process. .u32c02cecab6ea5d30cca67e6fe3b7e15 , .u32c02cecab6ea5d30cca67e6fe3b7e15 .postImageUrl , .u32c02cecab6ea5d30cca67e6fe3b7e15 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u32c02cecab6ea5d30cca67e6fe3b7e15 , .u32c02cecab6ea5d30cca67e6fe3b7e15:hover , .u32c02cecab6ea5d30cca67e6fe3b7e15:visited , .u32c02cecab6ea5d30cca67e6fe3b7e15:active { border:0!important; } .u32c02cecab6ea5d30cca67e6fe3b7e15 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u32c02cecab6ea5d30cca67e6fe3b7e15 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u32c02cecab6ea5d30cca67e6fe3b7e15:active , .u32c02cecab6ea5d30cca67e6fe3b7e15:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u32c02cecab6ea5d30cca67e6fe3b7e15 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u32c02cecab6ea5d30cca67e6fe3b7e15 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u32c02cecab6ea5d30cca67e6fe3b7e15 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u32c02cecab6ea5d30cca67e6fe3b7e15 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u32c02cecab6ea5d30cca67e6fe3b7e15:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u32c02cecab6ea5d30cca67e6fe3b7e15 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u32c02cecab6ea5d30cca67e6fe3b7e15 .u32c02cecab6ea5d30cca67e6fe3b7e15-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u32c02cecab6ea5d30cca67e6fe3b7e15:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Personal Statement : Nonverbal Communication Essay Improvisation maximizes the discretion of decision makers, it enables them to respond directly to problems or situations at hand, and it â€Å"provides the opportunity for inspired evasions of the limits imposed by formal organization and the rigors of rational policy making.†(Sharkansky and Zalmanovitch, 7) It can be used in vastly different ways and to different ends-to blur and delay insoluble conflicts, or with force and determination when quick action seems appropriate. It can merge pro force from the inability to implement policy, or itself be the policy, as in the case of building housing quickly for immigrants. It can be guided by an overriding vision.† (Sharkansky and Zalmanovitch, 7) Improvisation has the ability to arrive to conclusions or actions in an expedient and ingenious way when there are no other alternatives available.It is a means of avoiding stagnation. It is useful when there is uncertainty, few precedents, reliable resources or protocols, few fact s and suitable routines; â€Å"when there is little way of evaluating the relative efficacy of the various alternatives; and when there is pressure to act in a short time or with resources that appear to be sufficient. Modern organizational theory can only go so far to solve public administrative problems, but with creative thinking such as improvising more can be done for the community. Bibliography:

Walmart Case Study Essay Example

Walmart Case Study Essay Why do customers patronize Wal-Mart China stores? A. Wal-Mart realized through third party studies and internal research that the Chinese customer were significantly more cost-sensitive than those in other countries and that there existed a strong, established culture of frequently shopping around to find the absolute lowest prices. Through these studies, Wal-Mart also realized that customer satisfaction level greatly influenced customer loyalty in China. The greatest determinant of this satisfaction was made up of perceived value. The perceived value is composed of three sub factors: (1) Product price, (2) Relative price and (3) Promotion. The other factors for customer satisfaction in descending order of its importance are Image, Merchandize, Shopping environment, Service, Check-out process and Store policy. Wal-Mart thrived for offering quality merchandise at the lowest price and with best customer service possible. Wal-Mart also had a reputed image as a foreign supermarket chain in China. Due to all these favorable factors customers patronized Wal-Mart China stores. 2. What are the distinguishing features of Wal-Mart China’s distribution system? How does it achieve relatively high availability with similar levels of stock (week’s cover) to other companies? A. The Wal-Mart distribution system in China was quite different from distribution system in United States. In United States 90% of the total store sales passed through Distribution Centers (DC) while only 40% of Wal-Mart China’s sales were supplied via its DCs. We will write a custom essay sample on Walmart Case Study specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Walmart Case Study specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Walmart Case Study specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Fresh products such as bread, fish, vegetables and fruits, some electronic goods and high value items were supplied directly to Supercenters (SC) by suppliers. Another feature of Wal-Mart China’s distribution system was that the incoming shipments from suppliers arrived in diverse range of trucking and loading configuration while Wal-Mart outsourced standardized trucking fleet for all of its DC-DC and DC-SC shipments. The shipments from suppliers sometimes had no use or very little use of pallets and so all loading and unloading was accomplished by hand using a 3PL provider. The Wal-Mart achieved relatively high availability with similar levels of stock as most of the shipments to stores were through Direct Store Delivery (DSD) and the lead time for DSD were generally only a few days while shipments supplied via DCs required several weeks from the time the order was placed on the supplier due to poorer transportation infrastructure. 3. How should sustainability be incorporated in vendor selection and evaluation? How could vendors be encouraged to participate in Wal-Mart China’s sustainability initiatives? A. In order to ensure sustainability, the vendor selection and evaluation has to be thoroughly changed from the old way of thinking. In the old supply chain the vendor selection was based on lowest labor rate but in new supply chain the vendor should be located in close proximity to the user in order to reduce the number of miles traveled, cost and carbon footprints of parts and products. Also vendor must be selected based on worker and environmental responsibility to reduce risk of brand erosion and interruption of supply. The vendor evaluation should be based on how much is the energy efficiency of vendor’s product and processes and does vendor makes efforts for reducing carbon footprints from its product and processes. The vendors can be encouraged to participate in Wal-Mart China’s sustainability initiatives by making long contracts for purchase of their products if they align to sustainability issue. Also the vendors can be given technology know-how and education for reducing carbon footprints from its products and processes and supporting them to install such systems into their environment. 4. How can Wal-Mart improve sustainability in its distribution and retail operations? A. Wal-Mart can improve sustainability in its distribution and retail operations in many ways which are as follows (1) Minimizing the transportation, (2) Using energy efficient products in distribution and retail operations like using hybrid diesel-electric trucks and refrigerated trucks to cut carbon footprints, (3) Using biodegradable products in packaging, (4) Avoid using hazardous substances in the product and processes, (5) Educating everyone in the organization about how can one reduce his carbon footprints and also publishing the innovative ways in which someone has managed to reduce carbon footprints, (6) Making sustainability an important objective of the company, (7) Using renewable energy as much as possible, etc. 5. How should Wal-Mart China relate to the government and employees in advancing sustainability? A. The Wal-Mart China work in co-operation with the government and employees in advancing sustainability. The best practices known by Wal-Mart should be shared with government and employees to reduce carbon footprints. Also Wal-Mart should abide by the regulations of the government pertaining to sustainability and also Wal-Mart should voluntarily adopt best practices which lead to greater sustainability. The employees should be trained for reducing carbon footprints resulting from their actions and should be rewarded to encourage them to continue addressing sustainability issues. 6. In your opinion, what are the key lessons from this case study for supply chain managers? A. In my opinion, the key lessons from this case study for supply chain managers are: (1) The supply chain managers should address the sustainability issues and should look at the entire supply chain to make the supply chain more energy efficient and sustainable. (2) The supply chain managers should know that profits and margins are important but should not be obtained at the price of environmental degradation. The preservation of our environment is first and foremost thing. (3) Also there are tangible and intangible benefits to the organization for addressing sustainability issues. Addressing sustainability issues and increasing supply chain efficiency are both one and the same i. e. you increase efficiency of supply chain in addressing sustainability. Case Study by Ritesh Limbasiya.