Supply Chain Management - 2838 Words

Introduction Supply chain management is an integral component of operation management and has a direct effect on how successfully organizations function. The purpose of supply chain management is to remove communication barriers and eliminate redundancies by coordinating, monitoring, and controlling processes within an organization. Identifying the components of the supply chain, facilitating better decision-making, creating improved communication, and identifying weak links in the chain causing bottlenecks in an organization are crucial to supply chain integration. There are three principle elements of supply chain integration: management of information and financial flows, inventory management, and management of relationships of†¦show more content†¦A par level is a target quantity of a supply, based on historical use over a certain time period, established to maintain sufficient levels of inventory. Inventory levels should always be replenished to established par levels to ensure sufficient available supplies without overstocking. The receiving policy must be documented and actively managed to ensure receiving is timely and discrepancies (short shipments, over shipments, rejects, etc.) are consistently processed. Dialysis clinics historically use par levels for re-order and have limited storage areas. With storage a concern par levels are usually set lower than sometimes needed and clinics find themselves running out of needed supplies. Because of the financial constraints the industry faces with minimal payment for treatment received and sometimes gratis care, inventory expenses are closely controlled and the staff members needed to manage the process are usually cross-trained within the clinic. Inventory technicians are usually technicians crossed trained from the patient care staff. If staffing is limited and the inventory technician is needed for patient care a domino effect is created by this decision as follows: • inventory is low or items have run out; • deliveries arrive at the clinic and are placed in bundles in the stockroom; • clinic staff needs items delivered for adequate patient care; • staff removes some inventory from stock before technician can intake andShow MoreRelatedThe Supply Chain Management Of Supply Chains1372 Words   |  6 Pagesthe world. Supply chains are now very complex and flourishing in the global marketplace, but only constructed and managed correctly. My discipline is supply chain management. There are many different functions of the supply chain that make it what it is. Breaking this discipline down to specific job task is difficult because each process in a supply chain, no matter how complex is connected with at least one other process in the supply chain. There is no clear definition of a supply chain. A supplyRead MoreSupply Chain Management : Supply Chains1476 Words   |  6 Pages1.3 Supply Chain Supply chains encompass the companies and the business activities needed to design, make, deliver, and use a product or service. Businesses depend on their supply chains to provide them with what they need to survive and thrive. Every business fits into one or more supply chains and has a role to play in each of them. The pace of change and the uncertainty about how markets will evolve has made it increasingly important for companies to be aware of the supply chains they participateRead MoreSupply Chain Management Of Supply Chains1188 Words   |  5 Pagesthe supply chain, not just a simple competition between enterprises. In order to win the competition in the supply chain, which means it must be through the management of the supply chain. Currently supply chains become more integrated, more global, the high-speed development of information technology has become an important driving force. In this report will explore the development of supply chain management technologies and impor tant role. Supply chain and technologies role Supply chain is theRead MoreSupply Chain Management : Supply Chains Essay831 Words   |  4 Pagesto answer the question of what is supply chain management we must know what a supply chain is. According to (Mentzer et al., 2001, p. 1) â€Å"Supply chain is defined as the network of organisations which are involved in different processes that produce value either in the form of products or services delivered to consumers†. A supply chain is made up of suppliers, manufactures and distributors, a good way of looking at this is the supply chain pipeline. A supply chain is seen as an enabler, this is whyRead MoreSupply Of Supply Chain Management830 Words   |  4 PagesSupply Chain Management Goal of a supply chain. According to Defining the Supply Chain, there are 5 specific goals of supply chain management. They are as follows: 1. Achieve Efficient Fulfillment – â€Å"the purpose of supply chain management is to make inventory readily available in customer facing positions to fulfill demand. The fresh produce business adage â€Å"you can’t sell from an empty wagon† highlights this fundamental purpose of supply chain management†. (Defining the Supply Chain) OrganizationsRead MoreSupply Chain Management986 Words   |  4 Pagesthat are not faced by Dell? How should Ford deal with these challenges? 3. If you are Teri Takai, what would you recommend to senior executives? Tow what degree should Ford emulate Dell’s business model? Herman Miller: Innovation by Design? (Supply Chain Strategy) 1. What are the main elements of Herman Miller’s history, design philospophy, and corporate values? How have they influenced the company’s success? 2. What led Miller SQA to develop a new business model to serve its market? What isRead MoreSupply Chain Management12177 Words   |  49 PagesSUPPLY CHAIN UPPLY HAIN MANAGEMENT ANAGEMENT Report produced for the EC funded project INNOREGIO: dissemination of innovation and knowledge management techniques Sotiris Zigiaris, MSc, BPR engineer by BPR HELLAS SA J A N U A R Y 2 0 0 0 SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT 1 Contents 1 1.1 1.1.1 1.1.2 1.1.3 1.1.4 1.2 Description What is the Supply Chain Management (SCM) What is the importance of Supply Chain Management Supply Chain Management Today Supply Chain Management TomorrowRead MoreSupply Chain Management1730 Words   |  7 PagesSTARBUCKS IT SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT This is a case that illustrates several facets at once: Globalization Rapid Expansion, Supply Chain Management, ERP Implementation, and IT Infrastructure. This case takes place in 1997. Introduction You have to admire the enthusiasm of Starbucks employees. Store managers have been known to stuff sacks of coffee beans into their cars and race over to help out other stores running low. Exceptional customer service, but certainly no way to run a businessRead MoreSupply Chain Management Value Of Supply Chains1122 Words   |  5 PagesHeading: Supply Chain Management-Value of Supply Chain Introduction: Supply chain management is a complex undertaking that must involve more than one organization’s efforts to succeed. A tremendous amount of skill, time, and money must be present to build and develop relationships, discover and implement a strategy, and use the capabilities of the chain to build quality at an efficient financial rate. Allowing for these requirements, it leaves one to wonder whether supply chain management is a viableRead MoreSupply Of Supply Chain Management Essay2046 Words   |  9 PagesSupply Chain Management involves the process of managing, monitoring, controlling and constantly coordinating supply related activities among manufacturers, suppliers, wholesalers, retailer and the consumers. All this is done while integrating supply management with demand management, not only within but also across companies. Since all the processes involved in managing supply chain activities require a robust system in place, every company turns to technology for efficient and effective synchronization

Advertising and Sex free essay sample

Sex and indecency are very mature areas and should not be used loosely. In todays society almost anything goes. This should not hold true for certain areas; like sex. I intend to use many examples of sex in advertising and various studies to show how this strategy is not only over used, but is improperly used and viewable to all consumers, including young children. The advertising industry has taken a low blow at society and needs to focus their attentions on preserving human decency and uphold a higher standard of moral concern. What are we really dealing with here?As time grows older, the acceptance of more and more ideals is growing by the second. Not only ten years ago were standards different. I remember when girls couldnt wear shorts that came higher than four finger widths above their knees to school. Today this standard is not only unheard of, but laughed at. Foul language on television is more accepted. Video games are more graphic than ever before and advertisements are using the idea of sex or sexuality to sell products to all ages (including video games: they now have nudity in video games). Do we really want our children growing and learning room these explicit images?How can companies sleep at night knowing they are using corrupt techniques to sell products to our children? We are talking about corporate social responsibility (CARS). CARS is defied that a corporation should be held accountable for any of its actions that affect people, their communities, and their environment (McGraw-Hill, 1999, peg. 3). Companies have two choices in this world today. They can either be for CARS or against it. This paper will use both sides of the coin to view the argument about sexuality in advertising. Is the burger really that good?The advertisement industry is a no-holds-barred industry where just about anything goes. Companies need to focus their attention on their CARS more than getting the edge in ads. We might ask ourselves, who exactly is watching these ads? Who are they intended for? What are they selling? Sometimes an advertisement can actually be confusing as to what is being sold. I do not agree with a sexual display for irrelevant products. The reason I take an anti- sexuality view on the subject started from a Carols Jar. Commercial. In this particular commercial, Paris Hilton was displayed eating a Caracals. Ambusher. While eating she was dressed in black bathing suit crawling over a Bentley. Some might find it attractive and enticing while others find this a little explicit for them. This commercial is basically soft-core porn. The way she moves, the way she puts her finger in her mouthits very suggestive and very titillating (http://money. CNN. Com/2005). Said Melissa Caldwell, research director for the Parents Television Council (APT). Carols Jar. Responded by saying that the group needs to get a life. This isnt Janet Concessionaires no nipple in this.Its a beautiful model in a swimsuit washing a car (http:// none. CNN. Com/2005). The APT is very concerned about this matter considering this commercial airs in the hours of popular television shows such as The O. C. And sporting programs. Milton Friedman (1970) would agree with Carols Jar. Friedman believes in the interest of the business and the business only. In his article with the title that speaks his opinion, The Social Responsibility of Business is to Increase Profits, Friedman states that only people have responsibilities business as a whole cannot be said to have responsibilities (Freidman, 1970, Peg. ). From Friedmans point of view if this immemorial, which more than likely improved profits, did not air because of some social value or norm then the company lost money. More specifically they would be spending someone elses money; the stockholders. The corporate executive made a decision to improve revenue for the company, which in turn makes more money for stockholders. He is not about to hold back from higher profits because of some social backlash. In the world of advertising sometimes bad press is good press. !Hold! A Mexican restaurant showed a lascar-clad woman posed with her hands on her hips over the headline 0 Tickle my Taco (Rotifer, 2003). In this case the owner probably thought this would be a good slogan to have. What he doesnt realize that the use of irrelevant sexual innuendos is actually more distracting attracting. He actually thought this was the best campaign he had ever had because of the numerous complaints he got. Another backfire experience involves a trucker business that had passed out calendars for his business with half naked women on each month.This was thought to be a perfect ad scheme until most of the people with the calendars actually forgot the name of his company. Advertising creators are so myopic as to believe hat publicity from offending people is always beneficial. They do not see it as being a distraction from saying positive things about the restaurant or store (Rotifer). Joe cool? Advertising is not created and used just to provide a smug example of public morality; advertising is honest because it has to be. What I mean by honesty is the product information is not all ways how it is displayed.Lets address the issues of what we care about, the way we raise our children, our ideas of right and wrong conduct, these in my view are all together. Lets take a look at liquor and tobacco advertising. The image of the Marlboro Man is one example. This type of advertisement depicts a buff, handsome, cool man smoking a cigarette. What message is this conveying to our young people? That it is cool to smoke. We all know it has been proven that smoking cigarettes can cause cancer. This type of advertisement causes the consumer to subliminally change their opinion of various items.This is why most advertising is geared towards the younger more susceptible crowd. Firebombed and who? The Caracals. Case is not alone in sexual content. Sex is everywhere we look in todays society. In The Prevalence of Sexual Imagery in Ads Targeted to Young Adults, Firebombed Fitch made an advertising attempt at combining a magazine with a catalog. They call it the analog. In this analog they TA regret young adults by using sexual imagery throughout their products. They increased their revenues from $50 million to over SSL . 5 billion in 2001.From these numbers one could say that sex does sell. In a survey taken in 2001 results found that 44% of young adults (age-24) said they are more likely to buy the clothes if the ad contains sexual imagery (Richter, 2003). Others may not agree that sex sells. Most people (61 %) report that sexual imagery in ads makes them less likely to buy the products (Richter). This quote was taken from the same article, but was used as a generalization about all people young and old. Other than being aimed at a much too young audience, there are more issues that are raised with sexuality in ads.Who wants to look like a celebrity? Lets talk about images. For example, most advertisements for clothing (I. E. Bathing suits etc), show shapely thin women and men. This has led our country to think that fat is demeaning and not socially accepted. This type of advertising has caused everyone to want to look like the people in the ads. Diets of all sorts have been developed to try to meet these expectations. But when their goals are not reached it causes depression, low self-esteem that in turn causes a poor image is developed.In my opinion these advertisements have a negative outreach. Who is to say only thin people look great? Advertisements do. These ads also have created anorexic teenagers, which has lead to serious health problems and even death. Advertisements often do not explicitly urge the consumer to buy a given product; rather they promise hat the products will enhance a persons life. If a stunningly attractive person claims to use a beauty product, that product may be assumed to be an element of the beauty formula.Ads arguing that consumers will be more attractive, accepted or appealing to other offer relevant to teens and young adults, for whom dating and group memberships are important (Richter). I Whats it goanna be? From one of my readings I have gathered two hypotheses about advertising that find relevant to our study. Hypothesis 1: A higher proportion of ads with sexual imagery appear in ads targeted to young adults compared to those targeted to mature adults. Hypothesis 2: Overall, ads contain a higher proportion of sexually dressed women than men (Richter).These two combined show that most advertising is targeted towards young males and that females are the primary source of sexual content in media and advertising. This could possibly lead to a bad outcome. Studies have shown that males viewing these sexual ads of women are far more accepting of sexual aggression towards females, including rape. These studies agree with the theories of Moses Papa (1997). Papa believes hat there are four criteria to our thought of social responsibility and that there is a trade-off between three of these four.These areas are; local knowledge, level of responsibility, shared consensus and relationship to financial performance. We find that most of the time local knowledge and relationship to financial performance are the one being traded off. Local knowledge would mean that the company designing the ad would know the background of the product being displayed and the target audience. Most of the time they do not take the product and audience into consideration, as we have seen. These companies are more focused on the relationship to financial performance: making a profit.Reaching perfect social responsibility seems very unattainable. These four criterion were setup as a guideline to reach such a goal. No program will meet all of these standards. They are purposely couched as ideals to be pursued, rather than as minimalist goals to be obtained easily (Papa). Whos doing it right? The idea of Corporate Social Responsibility is an optimistic outlook for todays society. A perfect example would be the Cummins Engine Company. Year after year this company insisted on donating to charitable foundations. And year after year they were threatened by bankruptcy.Any business or economics professor will tell you that their choices were not the smartest in the world. Their short term benefits suffered greatly because of these choices. Their long term, however have not suffered. They now produce over $5 billion in revenues each year. The iron law of responsibility states that in the long run, those who do not use power in ways that society considers responsible will tend to lose it (McGraw-Hill, peg. 4). Cummins Engines saw their long run capabilities and stuck with them. They prove the stewardship Renville that profits and social responsibility can coexist.

The War Against Drug Free Essay Topics

The War Against Drug Free Essay Topics There are many steps that you should take to be able to compose an exemplary essay. Because each family differs, it's really hard to generalize in these kinds of essays. Our service also provides free essays which is an element of what makes us unmatched. Today there are lots of subjects offered for those seeking to compose good, argumentative essays. The Fight Against Drug Free Essay Topics In case the world was supposed to crack back on drugs there would be a whole lot less crime and murders. Another illustration is that you're a danger to if you're accountable for a minor. When it has to do with drugs, individuals perceive them as the absolute most negative contemporary trend. Distinct folks become hooked on drugs because of various reasons. Lots of people turn to drugs so as to take care of this pressure. There's direct and indirect pressure that may influence someone's decision in using drugs. Many laws are passed prohibiting the usage of unhealthy drugs. Another component which has been raised as a result of the use of DTC has become the growth in the costs of the DTC advertised products that are more expensive than the generic drugs offered in the marketplace. The cost of an essay rides on the quantity of effort the writer has to exert. In addition, a customer may ask the writer to submit part of the job for review and, if needed, ask her or him to make corrections. If you're the type of a writer who would like to satisfy a contemporary reader, resort to the next five useful suggestions on writing about drugs. Our writers are specially vetted and trained to make sure they work diligently to fulfill all your requirements. Take your time to thoroughly examine our cause and effect topics list till you locate a prompt that you're excited to write about. If you get to select your own topic, that's terrific. This topic has at all times been an issue of debate all over the world. Think about the s ubject above. The Little-Known Secrets to Drug Free Essay Topics There are several different kinds of drugs. Concisely, the damaging effects of drug abuse out do the harmless outcomes. Your mental and physical health deteriorates due to heavy consumption of drugs. It's a program speaking about drug abuse resistance. Standard consumption of drugs can damage the brain adversely and can also cause various other health issues. There are lots of factors that could trigger a relapse. Inspiration to make your own advertising or media argumentative essay topics isn't really hard to discover. It's important to select debatable argumentative essay topics as you need opposing points which you can counter to your own points. So far as the students are involved, writing a research paper is among the toughest and frustrating job in their opinion. Most students think that it is the lack of desire to complete assignments that results in the using of writing services. Drug addiction is an issue which has been increasing immensely among our society today. Conclusion Drug courts are unique in comparison to the other traditional courts due to their specialization on the individuals connected with substance abuse. Drug abuse hampers somebody's power to practice self-control and interferes with their capaci ty to resist the temptation to take drugs. Substance abuse is increasing, with children and teens all over the nation usually able to acquire easy accessibility to drugs and other illicit substances from their pals. Drug Free Essay Topics - the Conspiracy Our professionals are among the finest in the industry, and they can help you compose the perfect essay that exceeds all of your academic expectations. Lots of people also tend to start taking drugs to overcome stress caused due to family problems or relationship difficulties and eventually become addicted to the exact same. Such resources could be channeled into the organization of career opportunities and companies that could absorb unemployed folks hence solving the problem of unemployment. Because of the time zone difference, our crew of professionals is at your disposal at any moment. Facts, in the long run, will always win out against how folks are feeling at a specific moment. Some people today live their lives dep ending on their religion even though others don't think you should factor that into decision making in regards to determining rules for everybody. When you're picking your topic, remember that it's much simpler to write about something which you presently have interest ineven in case you don't know a good deal about it. Drugging people intentionally as the way to stop them defending themselves. Drug Free Essay Topics - the Story Instead of just immediately writing about your argumentative essay topic, you should first think about what it is you are likely to put back on your paper through a procedure of brainstorming and pre-writing. On our website, you are going to come across competent essay writers who will aid you with your assignments whatever they may be. This informative article won't only show you just how to choose argumentative essay topics, but it is going to also teach you just how to compose the undertaking, too! Researching the topic will permit you to find out more about what fascinates you, and should you pick something you truly like, writing the essay will be more enjoyable.

Top 5 Topics For Argumentative Essay About Marihuana Legalization

'Top 5' Topics For Argumentative Essay About Marihuana LegalizationWhen I started writing my Argumentative Essay about legalizing weed I had a lot of conflicting thoughts. Some things I felt strongly about and some thoughts that made me uncomfortable.In a perfect world people could have the strongest arguments on each side. But in our imperfect world we don't always get the best arguments. So, my 'top 5' topics for argumentative essay about legalizing weed listed below are just starting points to look at. They are not the final word, or even any real ideas about legalization.First, I'm thinking about the biggest argument of the debate about marijuana legalization. That is about how much will not hurt our kids? Some argue it's too little, and others argue it's too much. The strongest argument I've heard is that if marijuana was legalized, it would make the war on drugs much more difficult.Second, we're now debating legalization of pot in Colorado. So, I'd like to look at a few topics about which we have very little data. This is one of the topics that I feel the most strongly about, but am not sure if we really know enough to say anything on it.Third, with all this debate, it's becoming increasingly important to hear some solid facts. So, here's a few topics that should be discussed, but which really aren't yet settled.Fourth, when I wrote my article I was hoping for one main theme. But as I continued to read other articles and hear opinions on each topic I found that this article really doesn't apply to everyone. So, let's take a look at some of the topics that have already been discussed by readers. These are topics I feel strongly about and that are very interesting to think about.The idea is to use these topics to examine the different views in a 'top down' fashion. For example, if you agree that legalizing marijuana can increase safety, you can then move on to another topic. It's like choosing your subjects based on what you feel strongly about and not nece ssarily on what everyone else agrees.

Discover the Southern Boundary College Papers Requirements

Discover the Southern Boundary College Papers RequirementsIf you're looking for a Georgia perimeter college papers requirement that's truly unique, look no further than the Northern State University. The region, just like the rest of the state, is home to a range of colleges and universities, all with unique geographical needs. While this list represents just a handful of the colleges and universities that are on the northern part of the state, it's likely that you'll find at least one or two others in your area. This means that Northern State can offer you the one great degree program in the north that's truly unique.First, they have one of the most notable early voting states in the country, which means they're home to many potential candidates. Though they're not quite the front runners in the primary, they're certainly not the ones who aren't competing, so the opportunity for voters is always present. For this reason, they're often a great choice for students who need to get thei r foot in the door before they run for office. Although in recent years the primary dates were moved back slightly, you'll still be able to get an early vote if you're a Northern State perimeter college papers requirement student.In addition to being right on the border with Georgia, the university is also located in the west coast of Florida. This means that students who are able to secure an early vote in these areas will receive an advantage at their school. Their proximity to the state will also give them the opportunity to start their education in a way that suits their needs best. Students that are near the coast often find that being on a peninsula gives them the ability to benefit from convenient bus routes and travel time savings that other states do not have.The NSU also offers one of the oldest degrees in the nation. Because of this, students who plan to attend the university have to do a lot of research. Because of this, they might need to consider paying attention to th e requirements that are listed on the college's website. Most of these requirements can be found in the Undergraduate Division or the Graduate Division.One of the things that many students will notice when they're researching for a Georgia perimeter college paper's requirements is that these requirements do not always correlate with any of the geographic areas listed on the college's website. For example, the Georgia board requirements include a graduation requirement, but the state's requirements don't list any requirement for graduating from the college. If you do happen to be planning to attend a northern state, you'll want to make sure that the degree programs you're interested in having any requirements from the state that you're planning to attend. When you do find a college in the state that does have specific requirements for graduates, you should double check to make sure that you meet them. This can help you to get in a better standing when it comes to obtaining admissions .Other than the geographic requirements for the college, you'll also want to see if there are any other colleges or universities that are included in the perimeter college papers requirements. Since the school is so geographically close to the state, you'll want to find out what other colleges or universities are included in the perimeter coverage. Though this might be easier said than done, you should still want to keep the schools you're interested in in mind. You'll want to make sure that they have a good reputation and that they're available to accept students from the northern part of the state.Just because a school's geographic requirements are different from the Georgia perimeter college papers requirements doesn't mean that they're less important. You'll still need to fulfill other qualifications if you want to get into this school. Just make sure that you pay close attention to the geography and geographic requirements and you won't be disappointed with your college. Also, keep in mind that some requirements might not apply if you're planning to attend another university, so make sure you're comparing the school with your peers before you commit to attending the college.

Sample Essay of Critical Reflection

Sample Essay of Critical ReflectionThere are many benefits that the work of a sample essay of critical reflection can bring to students. You can be sure that the essays you produce will be flexible, fully articulated and also be relevant to the course they're related to.Students should realize that these are very important essays that not only reveal their thoughts, but also demonstrate a strong learning style. As a student, you should strive to be very articulate with your essays and what you have to say. At the same time, you should make sure you state your strengths and weaknesses and demonstrate your knowledge through your essays.Reflective essays can help your grade tremendously as you are providing an essay that will meet the expectations of the class. As students of all types strive to be helpful to their teachers, a high grade is just what is needed. A teacher who sees that a student has written a sample essay of critical reflection will be more than pleased to see this compo nent of a student's work.The first benefit of a sample essay of critical reflection is that it provides students with plenty of opportunities to express themselves. After all, most of us do not have the opportunity to take a few hours and write a one hundred page essay in our spare time. Many students find themselves writing essays of this type while they are attempting to juggle a lot of schoolwork or college work. The benefit is that students can work with that type of writing style when their number is called upon.In addition, students can easily come up with topics and key ideas with these essays. Additionally, you can see how well the material you're using for the essay is aligned with the subject matter of the course. Of course, there are many things to consider when you're creating essays, such as theme, tone, content, and even the topic of the essay itself. With a sample essay of critical reflection, you'll learn what is important and what needs to be improved, as well as ho w the content of the essay can be strengthened and improved.A sample essay of critical reflection can give you some ideas about topics to include in your essay. That way, you can write your essay from a place of having created a topic that meets the needs of the course. If you do that, you'll then be able to explain the content of the topic, and how that relates to the lessons or the requirements of the course. As a student, you can show that you are paying attention to the information you're given, as well as providing a good example for other students. There are many benefits to creating your own essay of critical reflection.You need to remember that whatever you choose to use for this type of project, it should have a full disclosure of the concept, the topic, and the learning style. This is something that every student needs to consider.

The Handmaids Tale Essays (927 words) - The Handmaids Tale

The Handmaid's Tale Ruth McDermott November 30, 1998 The creation of Offred, the passive narrator of Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale, was intentional. The personality of the narrator in this novel is almost as important as the task bestowed upon her. Atwood chooses an average women, appreciative of past times, who lacks imagination and fervor, to contrast the typical feminist, represented in this novel by her mother and her best friend, Moira. Atwood is writing for a specific audience, though through careful examination, it can be determined that the intended audience is actually the mass population. Although particular groups may find The Handmaid's Tale more enjoyable than others, the purpose of the novel is to enlighten the general population, as opposed to being a source of entertainment. A specific group that may favor this novel is the women activists of the 1960's and 1970's. This group, in which Offred's mother would be a member, is sensitive to the censorship that women once faced and would show interest to the ?possible future? that could result. Offred is symbolic of ?every woman?. She was conventional in prior times, married with one daughter, a husband and a career. She is ambivalent to many things that may seem horrific to the reader. On page 93, Offred is witness to Janine's confession of being raped. She doesn't comment on how the blame is placed on Janine. Is this because Offred has begun to accept the words of Aunt Lydia, or more likely, is she silent to create emphasis on the horrific deed? The answer is easily satisfied when the reader finishes the novel. Offred must realize the injustices if she feels compelled to reveal her story on the tapes. She must grasp the importance of conveying the atrocities that were executed during the Gileadian area. Offred is representative of an average women also because she has experienced no great traumas. She isn't just ambivalent because of her tendencies but because she has been abruptly interjected into a new society. She is stunned and almost numb. She barely shows signs of life. She doesn't think there is any use to have a sense of hope. She thinks of the woman in ?her? room before her. Her strong sense of life did nothing to help her earn her freedom. She received nothing from her quiet rebellions. Offred is also obviously the perfect narrator because she is a handmaiden. In this new system, almost a caste system, the role of being a handmaiden is not only of great importance, but is also considerably better than other positions, such as an ?unwoman?, who cleans toxic waste in the Colonies. Because Offred is characterized as passive, and mostly compliant, she is not as much in danger as other characters. Moira, her friend from college and the previous life, is dynamic and full of life. She doesn't want to be held back, and her resistence causes her both trouble and distress. Janine, another character, is a ?brown-noser? who uses flattery and praise to achieve a virtually impossible level of hierarchy with the Aunts among her peers. She has to sacrifice self-worth, though, and her admittance of fault in being raped is disgusting. The tense that Atwood uses is relative to the narrator also. The shifts from present to past are frequent. When an author causes the narrator to use past tense, the reader can generally conclude that the narrator knows the end of the story. This builds a sense of suspense. Using present tense allows images in the story to be more solid and realistic, compared to past life. Not all shifts in tense are used for the same reason. When Offred is ?speaking? of Luke, she can't decide if she is in love with him, or if she was in love with him. Offred gradually reveals the story, which we are to eventually discover is on tape. Atwood elects to use leisurely disclosure in order to make the conclusion of the story more believable. The ?Historical Notes? chapter causes the reader to re-examine the book, both mentally and manually. As the reader recalls the jumble of thoughts, the bouncing back and forth between the present and the past, and the narrator's decisions to withhold certain details, they understand the possibility, though unlikeliness, that this could actually happen. Contrasts are important aspects in the narration of this novel. The obvious contrasts are between other characters, such as between Offred and Moira. There also are the images of past life that Offred