“Sickness As A Resource”, PP. 60-62 Essay

In the article Douglas asserts that the attitude towards sickness and choices associated with treatment largely depend on the society and the community within which a sick person lives. Treatment that a Londoner will consider exotic is traditional for an African villager, and vice-versa (Douglas 60). While minor ailments the choice of treatment are not as affected by the community, serious life-threatening diseases will most likely attract more attention, and friends of the sick person will start insisting on selecting a certain therapy. John Janzen calls such relationships “therapeutic community”. Additionally, within such communities, depending on the amount of control they exert, attitudes towards sick people vary. Being sick a condition that implies certain consequences, so a person must consider a number of factors before choosing whether to admit their sickness to the community or not.

“Travelling Cultures”, pp. 63-64

“New Broom Sweeps Clean,” pp. 95-99
The article by Donald Sull describes a period in the story of the renowned tire manufacturer Firestone when a new CEO John Nevin came to power around 1980. Nevin undertook incredibly harsh and sometimes unethical actions which he thought would help Firestone get out of the near-bankrupt state. He closed plants, laid off employees, restructured the company, and the majority of these actions bypassed the Executive Committee and were discussed straight with the board. Nevin believed that Firestone had relied on traditions and old ways too much, so he also proceeded with dissolving historical relationships with employees and customers. However, Nevin also implemented a number of positive changes like the performance-based payment system and employee stock ownership plans, which may have been the key changes that saved the company. He also combated the old ways by living outside Akron where the majority of top executives resided. According to the article, Nevin was a controversial figure that made radical decisions and brought changes, which were met by employees, customers, and the Akron community with significant hostility.

Works Cited

Douglas, Mary. 1996. “Sickness as a Resource.” Academic Writing: An Introduction. Ed. Janet Giltrow. 3rd ed. Peterborough, Ont.: Broadview, 2005. 60-62. Print.
Bloom, Lisa. 1993. “Traveling Cultures.” Academic Writing: An Introduction. Ed. Janet Giltrow. 3rd ed. Peterborough, Ont.: Broadvies, 2005. 63-64. Print.
Sull, Donald N. “New Broom Sweeps Clean.” Academic Writing: An Introduction. Ed. Janet Giltrow, 3rd ed. Peterborough, Ont,: Broadview, 2005. 95-99. Print.