In American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang, the main theme would have to be identity. Despite the graphic novel consisting of three separate storylines, the main characters in the book all share the same issue – being uncomfortable with whom they are and connected to. If one were to simplify and boil the message of the book down to one word, it would be self-acceptance. The morals of identity and self- acceptance are what American Born Chinese is about. Yangs novel serves as a reminder that we must accept ourselves how we are – not trying to be something or someone we are not.
In the first storyline of the novel, the readers are introduced to the legendary Monkey King – the first of three characters who struggle with self-acceptance. Even though he reigns over Flower Mountain, Monkey is not content by being Just a king – he desires to be recognized as a deity. Nevertheless, because other deities see him nothing other than a monkey, he learns as many disciplines as possible to exceed the life of his kind. However, in the end, attempting to be something he is not, he loses control. The second storyline brings in Jin Wang, a young kid who is enrolled in an
American school after coming from China. Not long after his first day of school, Jin finds out Just how difficult it is to be one of the few Asians among the many American faces. Afterwards, when another young boy from Taiwan is enrolled as an exchange student named Wei-Chen, Jin at first takes no interest. He doesn’t want to be out in public with other Asian people, but he later realizes the things they have in common and later become the best of friends. In spite of that though, Jin Wang is internally ashamed of his friends’ Asian heritage.
The last storyline presents Danny, an American high school basketball player who has the perfect student life every year until his cousin from China, Chin-Kee, comes for a visit. Just when Danny is about to get a girlfriend, make a sports team, or become popular around school, a visit from his “F. O. B. ” cousin changes his whole life, forcing Danny to transfer schools in order to escape the embarrassment and shame. Because Chin-Kee has slanted eyes, buck teeth, knows Kung-Fu, and has an accent, Danny loses his way and goes all out on his cousin – only resulting in one very bad
In the end, all three storylines merge together, revealing the moral of the novel – accepting yourself Just the way you are. Each character was ashamed of something they were “unfortunately’ connected to – the Monkey Kings species, Jin’s Asian culture, and Danny’s cousin. They were so obsessed with how others saw them that they lost control, bringing harm only to themselves. The Monkey King, Jin, and Danny all at first failed to realize that there is nothing wrong with being an outsider. This novel, all in all, stresses the importance of self-acceptance.
Marketing Question
Assignment Workload:
This Assignment comprise of a short Case.
Assignment is to be submitted by each student individually.
Assignment Purposes/Learning Outcomes:
After completion of Assignment two students will able to understand the following LOs:
LO3: To demonstrate a thorough understanding of an HR Strategic planning which includes effective job analysis, recruitment and selection strategies.
LO4: To have the ability to deliver and communicate HR policies messages in coherent and professional manner.
Read the case given and answer the questions:
Back Space (BS) was well-regarded as an employer of choice for many years before missing out on a Best Employers list they were used to appearing on. The experience prompted them to return to their core values and regularly measure their performance to ensure their actions were delivering results. People who work at BS are called partners. They believe that great guest experiences begin with great partner experiences. The partner experience is one of the key success indicators for the company. Employee engagement, leadership, enablement, alignment, and development are measured. They seek feedback frequently because the feedback helps drive their business strategies. Past survey feedback has contributed to company initiatives and programs like Vision Goals (a goal setting and personal development program), guest experience training delivered via eLearning, and changes to their compensation and benefits program. “The BS Experience is about leadership, it’s about people, it’s about development and growth, and we have fun,” says Kareem, Senior Manager of Strategy at Back Space. “Our company’s soul is to live a large, purposeful life filled with fun, and so we try to inject that through all our communications, training programs, and make sure it’s integrated into everything we do at BS.” BS conducted a pulse survey specifically for their kitchen partners. They had been getting some feedback that front-of-house employees were getting a lot of training and back of-house partners wanted that as well. With the survey, BS was able to ascertain those employees needed to feel more connected to their culture, as well as what was needed in terms of training and development. This feedback would help mold future programs and initiatives that have a direct impact on kitchen partners. The surveys would also help garner feedback regarding new programs. Back Space launched a new guest experience training program that was provided to all their front-of-house partners. In the past, it was face-to-face training that took place in the store when a partner was first hired. Later, the course was shifted to a combination of face-to-face training and eLearning. Having not done a lot of eLearning, BS designed a survey to see how effective the new training was and how they could improve it.
Assignment Questions: M.M.10
1. What is the role of training for employees in the above case?
2. How did the feedback system in the above situation generate benefits for Back Space?
3. “Do training impacts employee development” Comment
4. According to your views do you find Kareem committed to Employee Development? (1.5Marks)
5. Point out any two major differences between training and development