Marketing Principles of Virgin Atlantic Assignment

Marketing Principles of Virgin Atlantic - Assignment Example And this overrides the definition of marketing, which as mentioned earlier is delivering what the customer needs. . Various ELEMENTS of Virgin’s marketing planning process: The Company’s marketing process can be investigated using the SOSTAC model: Situation Analysis: Virgin Atlantic is currently one of the most popular airlines in the UK, with a fleet of 42 aircrafts, and 34 registered destinations. It made a reported loss of 80.2 Million pounds, and has stopped flying to a number of destinations since the last two years. Objectives: The objective of the Company is to increase the passenger number, fly to profitable destinations and be the number one choice for passengers. Strategy: The Company plans on achieving it’s objectives by engaging in more effective marketing, cutting unnecessary costs and providing better and more unique services. It is important to conduct a market research in order to identify what passengers of today expect in an airline, whether they are concerned with service or price. The requirements of passengers has changed from the last couple of years, where the main concern for individual and business travellers was price alone. Things have changed since then and it is important to realign the company’s strategy according to customer’s needs. Tactics: The Company will seek to sponsor more international events and support more causes so as to spread the brand name and make it more attractive to prospective passengers. Virgin Atlantic will also focus more on business travellers and provide differentiated services for them through enhancing their departure lounges, providing internet access during the flight, offer round the clock service in long flights and making their seats more comfortable. Another market... Center of discussion in this paper is Virgin Atlantic, one of UK’s most popular airlines, partially owned by Richard Branson (51%) and Singapore Airlines (49%) as a classic example of exemplary marketing strategies. The primary goal of the airline was to provide travelers with low cost travel opportunities with the highest quality. Subsequently their operations expanded to Miami, Boston, Orlando, Tokyo and Los Angeles. The Company’s uses all sorts of marketing techniques to promote its products which are mainly airline tickets and holiday packages. It uses print media, TV advertisements, posters and taxi sides to promote its logo and offers. The Company also offers a frequent flyer program that encourages loyalty in its existing customers, where customers are rewarded with free miles and â€Å"special services† such as access to lounges, dedicated phone and the like. The paper investigates the Company’s marketing process using the SOSTAC model. On an inter national level, Virgin Atlantic primarily focuses on building its brand and exemplifying its status as a â€Å"luxurious† and â€Å"trendy† company. It is impossible to cater a marketing strategy to the whole world, hence a tactful strategy would be to portray a general picture that has no cultural significance, and one that is based on a universal belief or feeling. International marketing requires a large amount of financial resources, before entering into a country’s market, companies have to know the laws and regulations of that country

Discussing Total Quality Management standards

Discussing Total Quality Management standards Many authors have discussed TQM Standards. Samuel K. M. Ho in the article Is the ISO 9000 Series for Total Quality Management? wrote that the philosophy of Total Quality Management is that of promoting continuous improvement in an organization and focuses primarily on total satisfaction for both the internal and external customers, within a management environment that seeks continuous improvement of all systems and processes. He added that the philosophy is based on an intense desire to achieve victory. Achieving victory is a challenge for todays companies. Competition is intense and senior managers and CEOs thrive to achieve a sustainable competitive advantage over their competitors. Though some people see TQM as something necessary to reach competitiveness and emphasize the relation between TQM and success (eg U/s GAO, 1991; Becker, 1993; Ghobadian and Gallear, 1996), others claim TQM to be merely a management fad and point out that many companies have failed to implement TQM (eg B inney, 1992; Harari, 1993; Hachman and Wageman, 1995) (Ulrika Hellsten and Bengt Klefsjo) As Hellsten and Klefsjo mentioned in their article there are different opinions of TQM. The goal of this assignment is to analyze the different views of TQM and identify whether TQM standards do help companies promote quality. It also analyzes whether TQM standards vote for the satisfaction for both the internal and external customers as said by Samuel K. M. Ho, or else they are diminishing the real scope of quality by constraining innovation and creativity in todays businesses. Studies by different authors both for and against TQM will be analyzed to understand whether TQM standards improve or lessen quality of products and services. It is important to add that various authors discussing TQM mentioned that there exists different descriptions of TQM and also (Boon O K, Atumugam V, Hwa T S (2005) said that surprisingly, a limited amount of rigorous research has been done towards identifying the effects of soft TQM practices on employees work-related attitudes. To start with it is vital to understand what is meant by TQM and its purpose. Definition of Total Quality Management In order to define quality one has to first consider who the customer is, and subsequently consider what the requirements of each different customer group are at any one time. (Leicester 2007:1.3) The Total Quality Management book of Leicester says that it is important to remember that when the level of quality the customer expects is perceived by him as being exceeded by the level of quality he has received, then an opinion of good quality is formed. Vice versa the level of quality is said to be poor when the customers expectations of the level of quality he should receive exceed the level of quality the customer perceives he has actually received. Therefore for companies to succeed it is important to understand the level of quality that the customer is expecting. There are various definitions which have been identified by different authors such as; Fitness for purpose Conformance to requirements Zero Defects Though the above phrases of quality all have different meanings in general they all have common characteristics such as; aim of satisfying the customer, provide best quality at the lowest possible price and should be companywide strategy. A definition which gathers the meaning of TQM has been defined in a website of Lean Manufacturing Concepts. TQM is a process and philosophy of achieving best possible outcomes from the inputs, by using them effectively and efficiently in order to deliver best value for the customer, while achieving long term objectives of the organization Anon (2009). This sounds an appropriate definition of TQM since it emphasizes on the value received by the customer and in return the organization attains its objectives. TQM Standards and BS EN ISO 9000 TQM started in 1927 with Elton Mayos Hawthorne experiments through 1932. Later in the 1950s Edward Deming taught statistical methods and Dr Juran taught quality management techniques to the Japanese. Many of the Total Quality Management theories were originated by Armand Feigenbaun. TQM continued evolving. New methods were introduced to support TQM such as Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma. Broughton (2009) Also organizations can become certified to ISO 9000. Various ISOs have been developed for different sectors such as ISO ISO9001, ISO9002 and ISO9003. ISO standards have been set up to focus on business planning, quality management and continuous improvement. Broughton (2009) Broughton said that the key concepts of TQM are; Structured system for exceeding customer expectations System that empowers employees Drives higher profits Drives lower costs Continuous improvement Management centered approach on improving quality As mentioned above the concepts of TQM are all centered for the benefit of the company and to satisfy the needs of the customer and ensure customer satisfaction. However, what are the impacts of TQM standards on creativity and innovation? Do TQM standards really focus on processes rather than employees thus affecting business innovation? In the next section some arguments for and against TQM standards will be discussed. Literature Review Arguments For and Against TQM standards As Wood and Peccei (1995) stated, TQM is widely agreed as a way of managing organizations with the notion to enhance employees attitudes. Quality practitioners such as Deming (1986), Crosby (1979), Juran (1991) and Feigenbaum (1983) have written much on the idea of TQM philosophies and methods. Surprisingly, a limited amount of rigorous research has been done towards identifying the effects of soft TQM practices on employees work-related attitudes. (Boon O K, Atumugam V, Hwa T S (2005) In an article namely Does soft TQM predicts employees attitudes? it is mentioned that a survey of the literature reveals that several TQM proponents believe that the soft aspects of TQM are essential to the success of TQM (Juran, 1964; Ishikawa, 1985; Deming, 1986; Aubrey and Felkins, 1998; Dale et al., 1992; Cruickshank, 2000). Powell (1995, p. 15) concluded that organizations that acquire the soft elements of TQM can outperform competitors without the accompanying TQM ideology. Evidence from the grow ing literature on TQM failure emphasizes the neglect of the soft side of quality management wherein the HR and organizational behaviour aspects of quality management are not given their deserved emphasis (Lowery et al., 2000;Wilkinson et al., 1998; Cruickshank, 2000). TQM, which has been adopted by leading industrial companies, is a participative system empowering all employees to take responsibility for improving quality within the organization. Instead of using traditional bureaucratic rule enforcement, TQM calls for a change in the corporate culture, where the new work climate has the following characteristics: An open, problem-solving atmosphere; Participatory design making. Trust among all employees (staff, line, workers, managers). A sense of ownership and responsibility for goal achievement and problems solving. Self-motivation and self-control by all employees. TQM requires that management, and eventually every member of the organization, commit to the need for continual improvement in the way work is accomplished. Business plans, strategies, and management actions require continual rethinking in order to develop a culture that reinforces the TQM perspective. The challenge is to develop a robust culture where the idea of quality improvement is not only widely understood across departments, but becomes a fundamental, deep-seated value within each function area as well. Anon (2009) On the other hand Crawford (1998) argues that one of the main reasons for the present economic stalemate being experienced in Japan is the obstacle to innovation which is presented by the mindset of continuous improvement. He considers that this mentality reflects, in the main, a wish to avoid the embarrassment resulting from potential failures associated with radical change. The point is also made that a strategy of continuous improvement does not necessarily work in markets which constitute high risk investment, such as pharmaceuticals and microprocessors. These types of arguments tend to imply that TQM is not a valid paradigm in a world where changes are becoming increasingly frequent and need to be made at a faster pace. Martinez Lorent A.R, Dewhurst F, Dale B G (1999) It continues that though TQM is seen as business innovation it does not necessarily mean that it promotes business innovation. Martinez Laurent, Dewhurst and Dale said that TQM tends to lessen business innovation such as improving processes and improving the way in which people are managed with the aim of adapting to the changing environment. On the other hand Curry and Clayton (1992), Imai (1986) and Miller (1995) said that progressive business innovation can be achieved by TQM through continuous improvement. In the article TQM and business innovation it is also mentioned that Companies following TQM approach can more easily assimilate innovations imported from other situations due to the willingness of its employees to accept new ideas as a result of the continuous improvement ethos promoted by TQM Martinez Lorent A.R, Dewhurst F, Dale B G (1999) It is evident from the literature reviewed that TQM is becoming a major requirement for organisations to be successful and gain a competitive advantage. As time goes by customers are becoming more demanding and companies have to focus on identifying customer needs to achieve customer satisfaction. In an article of TQM on the web it says that the views of todays companies of TQM include characteristics such as an open problem solving atmosphere and participatory decision making. Anon (2009) This is an evidence that it is not true that TQM focuses on processes and neglects the people aspect. To adapt to the changing of customers needs and this changing environment TQM promotes employee involvement and as mentioned above participatory decision making. This would also lead to employee satisfaction and motivation. Though it is claimed that TQM has various benefits various companies have claimed that TQM implementation resulted in a failure. Thus it is necessary that companies manage TQM efficiently and effectively. The next chapter of this assignment will outline some of the aspects which need to be considered for the successful implementation of TQM. Successful implementation of TQM Before applying any TQM standards a company should have a well defined strategy and mission in place. Having a strategy in place means that the company has pre defined set of objectives to achieve. The operational and management structure should be adopted to achieve the set strategy. The mission statement should reflect the values and beliefs which underpin all corporate activities. (Leciester 2007:4.5) A mission statement has to be well communicated to the employees and has to inspire people with the aim of achieving the goals set by the company. Last but not least a company should set value statements. Value statements should guide the way people within the organization function and as such should be a substantial influence on the development of a total quality culture. (Leicester 2007:4.8) Helsten and Klefsjo believe that before applying any TQM standards a company has to start with core values and only then the techniques and tools are selected as shown in the diagram below. Increase external and internal customer satisfaction with a reduced amount of resources. Techniques Core Values Tools The techniques and tools selected will then have to be adopted. For instance an example mentioned by Hellsten and Klefsjo, the core value Let everybody be committed can be implemented by techniques such as improvement groups and quality circles. The tools might be Ishikawa diagram, Pareto diagram and histograms. Core values characterize the organization and as these change overtime the techniques and tools will have to fit these values. Robert Dunn says that most importantly before implementing BS EN 9000 one has to be thinking about quality in the company and in all its activities. It is useless implementing the standard just for the sake because purchasers want the certification. (Dunn R 1995:11) Today, developing quality across the entire firm can be an important function of the human resource management (HRM) department. A failure on HRMs part to recognize this opportunity and act on it may result in the loss of TQM implementation responsibilities to other departments with less expertise in training and development. The ultimate consequence of this loss is an ineffective implementation of the TQM strategy. Thus, HRM should act as the pivotal change agent necessary for the successful implementation of TQM. Based on this customer first orientation, organizational members are constantly seeking to improve products or services. Employees are encouraged to work together across organizational boundaries. Underlying these cooperative efforts are two crucial ideas. One is that the initial contact with the customer is critical and influences all future association with that customer. The other idea is that it is more costly to acquire new customers than to keep the customers you already have. Exemplifying TQM here would mean that the HR department would need to train itself, focusing on being customer-driven toward other departments.   Anon (2009) The effective use of quality improvement teams, and the TQM system as a whole, can be reinforced by applying basic principles of motivation. In particular, the recognition of team accomplishments as opposed to those of individuals, and the effective use of goal setting for group efforts, are important in driving the TQM system. The HR department is in a position to help institutionalize team approaches to TQM by designing appraisal and reward systems that focus on team performance.    For many companies, the philosophy of TQM represents a major culture shift away from a traditional production-driven atmosphere. In the face of such radical operational makeovers, a determined implementation effort is vital to prevent TQM from becoming simply just another management fad. Senior management must take the lead in overt support of TQM.  Anon (2009) Part of HRMs functional expertise is its ability to monitor and survey employee attitudes. This expertise can be particularly important for a TQM program, since getting off to a good start means having information about current performance. Thus, a preparatory step is to administer an employee survey targeting two primary concerns. One involves identifying troublesome areas in current operations, where improvements in quality can have the most impact on company performance. The other focuses on determining existing employee perceptions and attitudes toward quality as a necessary goal, so that the implementation program itself can be fine-tuned for effectiveness. Beyond communicating the TQM philosophy, the specific training and development needs for making TQM a practical reality must be assessed. Basically HR professionals must decide the following: What knowledge and skills must be taught? How? What performance (behaviours) will be recognized, and how will we reward them? HRM has faced these questions before and can best confront them in the TQM process. Training and development that does not fit within the realm of these questions will more than likely encounter heavy resistance. However, training and development does fall within the realm of these questions probably will be accepted more readily. Testimonies from Various Companies TQM standards help you clarify and identify customers requirements. Furthermore TQM help a company deliver what the customers order and on time, spot product deficiencies and improve processes and also improve competitiveness. Alan Davis from Ind Coope Burton Brewery highly believes that the company is committed to a total quality culture. He adds that with this approach all parts of the company are involved in continuous improvement in return this gives the assurance of quality to the customer. He also added that the company will soon be ready to seek registration of its quality system to BS 5750. (Moritiboys Oakland J 1994:35). Acorns Nurseries of Cardiff which is a child care centre claimed that by seeking registration under BS EN ISO 9002 they would be able to demonstrate the quality of their service thus would inspire confidence in their customers. Acorns said that the advantages of having a documented system are; Ensure standards are throughout amongst all their sites. Well kept records, stock control ensures consumables are available and parents concerns are replied quickly. Most importantly the efficient management system allows the nursery nurses to get on with what they are best at looking after children. (Dunn R 1995:7) Below are some of the benefits of TQM standards by Robert Dunn; Motivate staff to improve performance Define key roles in the company Consistent in orders and delivery Good management of customer complaints Continuous improvement Glossop Carton a company which achieved certification in 1992 says that since the certification gross profit has risen and when things go wrong, they can now pin point where they have gone wrong. Therefore then they can adjust accordingly and learn from mistakes thus promoting a better quality product for the customer. Conclusion In the book of Leicester in an article by Moritiboys Oakland it is mentioned that The International Standards Organisation (ISO) Standard 9000 Series sets out the methods by which management system, incorporating all the activities associated with quality, can be implemented in an organization to ensure that all the specified performance requirements and needs of the customer are fully met. In the article Implementing BS EN ISO 9000 it is said that the standard is flexible and companies big or small can adapt it to their needs and be compliant. A proof of this is the write up by Pat Martin founder of Stelmax a business employing 12 people. I used to think BS EN ISO 9000 was just for the big fish in the sea. She emphasizes that quality is important to all firms no matter the size. She says that the quality of the products improved which is highly required factor in this increasingly competitive market. (Dunn R 1995:6) It is evident from the literature reviewed that TQM standards are important for organizations and as time passes its popularity is increasing considerably. TQM standards are also required to outcompete competitors in this increasing market. However for a successful implementation and to promote innovation and creativity it is necessary that organizations primarily identify the core values and also do not neglect the human resources aspect. Training and development, setting up TQM focus teams, support from senior managers, involvement in decision making, communication and rewards are the essence of successful TQM implementation. These all lead to employee satisfaction and in return will ensure customer satisfaction which is the fad of TQM. Last, TQM is necessary because it works. The pioneering firms in TQM include American Express, IBM, Xerox, 3M, Toyota, Ricoh, Canon, Hewlett-Packard, Nissan and many others. Samuel K.M (1993)

Essay --

In the case against the topic statement, the first area we are going to be looking at is regards to the â€Å"White Hats†. White Hat is a term that was originally used to describe some on sound moral character. Today it used to describe a special kind of hacker, that uses their skill set in order to expose weakness in a system with intent of having them fixed. ggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg gggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg...

Major Challenges Before Indian Economy Essay

This report  has been an honest and dedicated attempt to make the analysis on marketing material as authentic as it could. And I earnestly hope that it provides useful and workable information and knowledge to any person reading it. During this period, I had the pleasure of working closely with accomplished organization people who shared with me their experience and helped me in completion of my research. I express my sincere thanks to my project guide Mr. Pranav Nagpurkar Lastly I am grateful to my parents who been my mentors and motivators. I am also thankful to all my batch mates who have been directly or indirectly involved in successful completion of this project. Indian economy is the tenth largest economy in the world by nominal GDP and third largest by purchasing power. India is one of the G-20 major economies and member of BRICS. According to IMF India ranked 134th by nominal GDP on the basis of per capita income in 2012. Its GDP is about $1. 824 trillion and per capita income is about $1491. Its GDP contribution by sector wise is agriculture 17. %, industry 26. 4% and services 56. 4% in 2011. Its population is about 1. 2 billion and labour force is 498. 4 million in 2012. Labour force by occupation: agriculture 52%, industry 14% and services 34%. Unemployement rate in India is 9. 9%. Its investment is about 30% of GDP. Revenue of India is $171. 5 billion and expenditure over $281 billion. It has deficit budget of 5. 6% of the GDP. Main industries are textiles, chemicals, food processing, steel, transportation eq uipment, cement, mining, petroleum, machinery, software, and pharmaceuticals. Its export is about 309. 1 billion and import is about 500. 3 billion. The independence-era Indian economy (from 1947 to 1991) was based on a mixed economy combining features of capitalism and socialism, resulting in an inward-looking, interventionist policies and import-substituting economy that failed to take advantage of the post-war expansion of trade. This model contributed to widespread inefficiencies and corruption, and the failings of this system were due largely to its poor implementation. In 1991, India adopted liberal and free-market oriented principles and liberalized its economy to international trade under the guidance of Manmohan Singh, who then was the Finance Minister of India under the leadership of P. V. Narasimha Rao the then Prime Minister who eliminated License Raj a pre- and post-British Era mechanism of strict government control on setting up new industry. By 2008, India had established itself as one of the world’s fastest growing economies. Growth significantly slowed to 6. % in 2008–09, but subsequently recovered to 7. 4% in 2009–10, while the fiscal deficit rose from 5. 9% to a high 6. 5% during the same period. India’s current account deficit urged to 4. 1% of GDP during Q2 FY11 against 3. 2% the previous quarter. India’s public debt stood at 68. 05% of GDP which is highest among the emerging economies. However, inflation remains stubbornly high with 7. 55% in August 2012, the highest amotrade (counting exports and imports) stands at $ 606. 7 billion and is currently the 9th largest in the world. During 2011–12, India’s foreign trade grew by an impressive 30. 6% to reach $ 792. 3 billion (Exports-38. 33% & Imports-61. 67%). India has the world’s third largest road network, covering more than 4. 3 million kilometers and carrying 60% of freight and 87% of passenger traffic. Indian Railways is the fourth largest rail network in the world, with a track length of 114,500 kilometers. India has 13 major ports, handling a cargo volume of 850 million tonnes in 2010. India has a national teledensity rate of 74. 15% with 926. 3 million telephone subscribers, two-thirds of them in urban areas. But Internet use is rare, with around 13. 3 million broadband lines in India in December 2011. However, this is growing and is expected to boom following the expansion of 3G. * India’s current account deficit- The deficit has increased to a record 5. 6 percent of GDP in 2011-12, far above what the Reserve Bank of India considers to be a sustainable level, namely 2. 5 per cent of GDP. The key reason for the large current account deficit is the trade deficit increasing due to India’s relatively poor competitiveness and high dependence on oil and gold imports, which alone account for virtually half of total imports. Boosting merchandise exports through greater diversification across destinations and products are essential to bridge the trade deficit but this cannot be achieved without boosting labour productivity and enhancing transportation infrastructure, especially ports. With regards to gold, dematerialization, and introduction of inflation linked bonds would help reduce its physical imports of gold. Meanwhile, for oil, achieving greater energy efficiency, aligning domestic oil prices to international ones are a key or to find out different alternative/ substitute for it. * Qualitative and quantitative fiscal consolidation: Together with the current account deficit, the stubbornly high fiscal deficit (5. 8 percent of GDP in 2011-12) makes the Indian economy more vulnerable to shocks than most emerging markets. India’s twin deficits have adversely affected macro stability by pushing up inflation, undermining growth and leaving limited room for monetary accommodation. India’s fiscal policy has been too loose for too long. The government must focus on quality spending by channeling resources towards infrastructure and human capital investments while reducing unproductive spending, particularly on food, fertilizer and fuel subsidies. Furthermore, the government must implement revenue enhancing reforms by making the tax system more efficient and improving compliance. * Lowering high and sticky inflation- India’s persistently high inflation is fallout of myriad factors that are both cyclical and structural in nature. These include supply side bottlenecks, very high reliance on imported energy and lax fiscal policy. While a loose fiscal policy has boosted aggregate demand, particularly across rural areas, an enabling environment to enhance supply response is missing, thus aggravating inflation pressures. Containing inflation near the RBI’s comfort zone of 4 to 5 percent is crucial to facilitate sustainable growth. * Rebalancing the growth mix in favor of investment: India’s GDP growth is mainly consumption driven in good part due to consumption subsidies. Eliminating such subsidies will, thus, actually have three positive outcomes: reducing the fiscal deficit as well as excessive consumption which should also help reignite a virtuous savings investment cycle. In fact, since the global financial crisis of 2008-09, India’s savings rate has declined (to near 29 percent from a peak of 37 percent in 2009) amid high inflation and fiscal slippages. Given that India’s investment upturn during the golden years between 2004-2008 was largely financed by domestic savings, a revival in India’s domestic savings is critical for aiding a sustainable upturn in investment. In this regard, the Indian government needs to improve further on reforms execution and policy clarity so as to underpin foreign investor confidence. * Manufacturing sector- Being a primarily services driven economy, the share of manufacturing has been stagnant at a mere 16 percent of total GDP. India’s Asian peers, such as China, South Korea and Taiwan, have immensely benefited from a strong manufacturing sector, which enables greater employment creation, attracts higher and stable foreign direct investment and bolsters infrastructure development. However, bottlenecks in land acquisition, archaic labor laws, poor physical infrastructure, less favorable tax rules and tight regulations deter manufacturing sector growth in India. Reassuringly, the Indian government has approved a national manufacturing policy aimed to increase the manufacturing’s share in GDP from the current 16 to 22 percent in a decade and in turn create millions of jobs and add capacity to sustain the pace of economic growth. That said, effective implementation of such policy drive will clearly prove difficult given past records. Population- India’s population is about 1. 2 billion in 2012 which is a major challenge for the economy of India. For the developing countries like India, population explosion is a curse and is damaging to the development of the country and it’s society. The developing countries already facing a lack in their resources, and with the rapidly increasing population, the resources available per person are reduced further, leading to increased poverty, lack of food, malnutrition, and other large population-related problems. The literal meaning of population is â€Å"the whole number of people or inhabitants in a country or region† , and the literal meaning of population explosion is â€Å"a pyramiding of numbers of a biological population†. As the number of people in a pyramid increases, so do the problems related to the increased population. The main factors affecting the population change are the birth rate, death rate and migration. The birth rate is the ratio between births and individuals in a specified population and time. The death rate is the ratio between the number of deaths and individuals in a specified population and time. Migration is the number of people moving in (immigration) or out (emigration) of a country, place or locality. Immigration from the neighboring countries of Bangladesh and Nepal is also one of the causes of increasing population in India. The Population density (people per sq. km) in India was last reported at 411. 89 in 2010, according to a World Bank report published in 2012 which is very high. Measures to overcome from it. For limiting the population increase and we have to spend money on controlling the birth rate. Some of the programs have been successful, and the rate of increase has also reduced, but has still to reach the sustainable rate. The major factors affecting the population increase of India are the rapidly increasing birth rate and decreasing death rates. We can follow strict birth control measures like China to decrease the birth rate, but we cannot go and decrease our technological advancements to decrease the death rate. Thus, our main emphasis falls on decreasing the birth rate. Several government-funded agencies like the Family Planning Association of India spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on promoting family planning. These organizations aim to promote family planning as a basic human right and the norm of a two-child family on a voluntary basis, to achieve a balance between the population size and resources, to prepare young people for responsible attitudes in human sexuality, and to provide education and services to all. The family planning methods provided by the family planning program are vasectomy, tubectomy, IUD, conventional contraceptives(that is condoms, diaphragms, jelly/cream tubes, foam tables) and oral pills. In addition, induced abortion is available, free of charge, in institutions recognized by the government for this purpose. However, the success of the family planning program in India depends on several factors like literacy, religion and the region where the couple live. * Poverty- It is a situation in which a person is unable to get minimum basic necessities of life, i. e.. food, clothing and shelter for his or her living. In economic terms they are called poverty ridden and are people living below poverty line (BPL). MASS POVERTY: When a large section of the people in an economy is deprived of the basic necessities, that economy is said to be in mass poverty. Since it is the responsibility of the state to remove poverty, it has to take certain steps. -Developing an appropriate mechanism to identify the poverty – ridden people. -Estimate the total number of poverty-ridden persons with the help of that mechanism. In the first approach, expenditure incurred by a family on various items is used. In the second, the income earned by a family is used.

Empowerment Paper Essay

In the wake of many recent tragedies including both those created by nature as well as those caused by man, we have seen the number the human service organizations grow beyond leaps and bounds. However how these agencies interact with their clients can play a valuable role when these clients come in to receive services. In trying to meet the needs of all those in the wake of such tragedies, it is often hard to understand how someone can also empower others within the agency that is offering services. In the light of helping everyone, many agencies are now implementing services now geared or centered on or around the needs of their client. However, this is one thing that leaves many human service managers faced with a pressing question: How can a human service program or agency come together and in doing so in a manner that can provide an adequate means for this kind of work? It is often because in today’s standards we see so many agencies working with â€Å"multimillion-dolla r budgets, professional staffs, and expensive facilities that one may find it hard to believe that the underlying philosophy is one that any agency can live on.† However, it is the agency that utilizes an empowerment-focused attitude and the theories that support them that has been an area of centralized research for many organizations for several years. It is the utilization of an empowerment approach within the agency that ensures that if the client can receive services or aid, it will given or done so in a manner that is both respectful as well without bias. At any agency, it should be understood that no matter what we want empowerment to be used not only to lift up the client but also to help to encourage the clients to do better each and every day. It is by using approaches aimed to promote positive energy and strength-based approaches along with client’s strengths can be the basis to build on, as this can help strengthen his or her weaknesses. According to Hardina et al. (2007), social service  management is characterized by 12 fundamental principles in relation to the empowering approach. For the population or consumers addres sed in our dream agency, it is these principles that are of the most importance for them to have a feeling that they belong and that their needs are just as important. For these individuals have already in most cases given up as their cycle of poverty have been occurring generation after generation. For many years many organizations were often quick to use a problem-based approach to helping their clients, and for a long time this was accepted and part of the norm. However, in the past few decades the focus now revolves around that of strength and empowerment (Cowger, 1994). From a social service management point of view, it is this focus that has been to strong an issue to ignore. It is the client, who even with being overwhelmed with other life challenges, when given the opportunity, can play a major role in the organizational decision making process. For they can bring a different view point to the forefront, as most are situations many deal with on a daily basis. It is a known fact that in the social work or the social services arena, decision making is an important task on every level. Understanding that critically, decision regarding the goals of the agency and its interaction within the community as well as how the agency is maintained can and usually made on an administrative level. However, when it relates to the overall continued existence as well as the agency’s effectiveness in addressing the needs and wellness of the client, these are just as important but may be made by other staff within the organization. Providing an answer to or even better finding a means to help in solving their client’s problem is the sole responsibility of service workers and administration alike, but making sure those servicing the client know and understand this as well. It is known that because each client is different so will the challenges one will face in offering them services, so making sure that the staff is properly trained in the area of whatever expertise needed. Having the knowledge as well as the skills is a vision that I can see for the agency that I have in mind. Having an agency in which everyone is treated as an equal and work together in providing encouragement not on to the client but for each fellow co-worker within the agency. Understanding that in the midst of a tragic storm no one situation is more important than  any one else’s, as everyone may have lost some near and dear to them. It is in offering support for those individuals whose situations may have occurred or was c reated by themselves or those in which they may have been a victim. Everyone would like nothing better than to stop the cycle of emotions that often result after a tragedy. Giving clients access to learning about or locating needed resources to find and obtain the services they are in need of can help them begin to heal one principle stated the â€Å"empowerment-oriented organizations acknowledge the limitations of participatory management approaches and take proactive measures to balance inclusion.† For agencies whose consumers are drawn from populations that are marginalized and disempowered these principles are very important. It is also very imperative that to note that in order to meet the urgent needs of people who face multiple sources of oppression and multiple traumas, and again stress that in offering help it is done so in a manner that is in line with respect and dignity. It is my dream agency whose overall commitment is quality service aimed at meeting the needs of the client as well as one in which the staff is well trained in diversity as it relates to the different cultures served. No one will be discriminated against and based on the age, race, national origin, sexual orientation, mental status, or political beliefs. In addressing client diversity, having staff and information available in other languages would be a plus. Also, having a manager that believes whole heartedly the mission statement of the organization. They display even in times of adversity a leadership quality that is in line with what the dream agency is promoting. It is the ability to influence others to follow in approaching the problem head on and in doing so the group can work together to share the knowledge needed to address the problems at hand. Even with one looked upon as a leader any decision made is only one that is looked at as one that they as leader has suggested. Clarifying the role that each will play in helping the client and having a common goal in putting team decisions in priority. It is also in trusting each other that each respects the other as diversity happens not only with the clients served but the tam we may work with, as it is diversity that helps the agency focus and understand the differences of those clients. Find a balance in the team, we emphasize the use of regular in-service meetings as a means to evaluate the effectiveness of open communication. Understanding that together as a team  and with a group effort, the decisions made can be one that when observed together, everyone can gain some satisfaction in knowing that they worked together to get the job done†¦helping the client! In offering the best client care we would need to find and utilize different strategies and implement these strategies inn getting positive feedback from all those involved in the care of the client. These strategies include but are not limited to the following: Adhere to the mission statement and the vision that the agency was created upon. Understand that leadership is agency wide, everyone should be committed to the organizational mission statement. Include everyone that is going to be effected by the decisions made between the agency and the client from the beginning process until they client gain b ack their independence. Respect is agency wide, a supportive network can encourage overall job satisfaction with a better quality output from the employees to pass on to the client. Offer a systematic approach of giving and receiving feedback to monitor if there may be a need for intervention or strategy changes. Technology that offers both the patient and their family a means of gaining much needed information as well as the option to communicate with those involved in their case. It is stated in the text that â€Å"organizational theory is used to explain, and sometimes guide, the way organization work† and whether consciously or not but only when they apply them consciously and based on their own theoretical beliefs will they be more effective. In seeking to put some organization to their program it is understood they still do have other choices. It is this knowledge that the purpose of any agency would be empowerment, but in order for the agency to reach their goal in helping others, the manager must realize their own empowerment. Then and only then can we empower the client to realize their potential so they can return and again become productive in their communities. References Cowger, C. D. (1994). Assessing client strengths: clinical assessment for client empowerment. Social Work. 39(3): 262- 268. Lewis, J. A., Lewis, M. D., & Packard, T. R. (2012). Management of human service programs (5th ed.). Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole.

To live or to die essays

To live or to die essays Everyday hundreds of Americans die in either accidents, shooting, from sickness, and evening the death penalty. Capital punishment is a very difficult issue and there are as many different opinions for or against it as there are people. Each yeah over two hundred people are placed on death row. Some of those people deserve to be on death row and a few dont but there is no way to separate the wrongly accused from those who belong. To live or to die is the question that crosses every judges mind when the time comes to prosecute a criminal. It is not an easy decision but it has to be made. Once the decision is made to place someone on death row, there is no turning back, only the anticipation of that day when a life is brought to an end slowly but surely. Those opposing capital punishment think of losing a loved one to someone who has no meaning for taking a life. those who are defending capital punishment, think about a loved one that maybe wrongly accused and sentenced to death. There are two sides to capital punishment either to live or There was a period were capital punishment was ruled unconstitutional by the supreme court. Their reason for this was that the death penalty was cruel and unusual punishment under the eighth amendment which states, that excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, no cruel or unusual punishment inflicted. When the constitution was drafted, indeed capital punishment was practiced widely in this country but it was not specified as cruel and unusual. Those who are for capital punishment argue that penal laws are demonstrating to everyone that it is not in the best interest to murder. Capital punishment is something that is deserved when someone takes the life of another individual for no reason. The fear of death deters people from committing crimes, says Leslie Cantu (Interne ...

The Goddess theory essays

The Goddess theory essays One of the most hotly debated topics in archeology today is that of the role of a Goddess figure in early religions and its impact on ancient civilizations. Some critics on this topic tend to believe that defiantly there was a Great Goddess figure in every ancient religion which was the primary deity. While other scholars take a more moderate approach on the matter. The topic of whether or not ancient civilizations were total centered upon a female goddess form is still being closely debated, and is up for close examination. A renewed interest in goddesses comes from the feminist interpretation of established religions. The goddess theory is in part an attempt to find alternatives to a male god. There are many different paths in which one could take in order to fully understand the goddess theory. One such path is to seek goddesses in prehistoric times and in ancient societies, particularly in the Near East and to look for evidence of goddess worship in archaeological remains. This is the "Great Goddess" school of thought followers of this belief think that in prehistoric and ancient times, human beings worshipped a "Great Goddess" of fertility and reproduction. They use as their initial evidence the big-bellied, big-breasted figurines found at a number of prehistoric sites. Another direction is to examine goddess figures in existing religions, and to do a reinterpretation of sacred texts and traditions that gives greater strength to them. Finally the last direction that can be taken in the goddes s theory is that of the "goddess revival." The Goddess Revival states that established religions are to patriarchal and women must turn away from them to active goddess worship. Believers in the goddess revival also declare that only by devotion to a female deity that women can be full and equal participants in religion and thus an equal member of society. There is a problem with all of the goddess arguments. If a society or ...

The Inventors Behind the Creation of Television

The Inventors Behind the Creation of Television Television wasnt invented by a single person. The efforts of many people working over the years, together and separately, contributed to the evolution of the technology. At the dawn of television history, two competing experimental approaches  led to the breakthroughs that eventually made the technology possible.  Early inventors attempted to build either a mechanical television based on Paul Nipkows rotating disks or an electronic television using a  cathode ray tube  developed independently in 1907 by English inventor A.A. Campbell-Swinton and Russian scientist Boris Rosing. Because electronic television systems worked better, they eventually replaced mechanical systems. Here is an overview of the major names and milestones behind one of the most important inventions of the 20th century. Mechanical Television Pioneers German inventor  Paul Gottlieb Nipkow developed a rotating disc technology in 1884 called the Nipkow disk to transmit pictures over wires. Nipkow is credited with  discovering televisions scanning principle, in which the light intensities of small portions of an image are successively analyzed and transmitted. In the 1920s, John Logie Baird patented the idea of using arrays of transparent rods to transmit images for television. Bairds 30-line images were the first demonstrations of television by reflected light rather than back-lit silhouettes.  Baird based his technology on Nipkows scanning disc idea and other developments in electronics. Charles Francis Jenkins invented a mechanical television system called Radiovision and claimed to have transmitted the earliest moving silhouette images on June 14, 1923. His company also  opened the first television broadcasting station in the U.S., named W3XK. Electronic Television Pioneers German scientist  Karl Ferdinand Braun entered history books by inventing the cathode ray tube (CRT) in 1897. This picture tube, which for years was the only device that could create the images viewers saw, was the basis for the advent of electronic television. In 1927, American Philo Taylor Farnsworth  became  the first inventor to transmit a television image- a dollar sign- comprising 60 horizontal lines. Farnsworth also developed the dissector tube, the basis of all current electronic televisions. Russian inventor  Vladimir Kosma Zworykin invented an improved cathode ray tube called the kinescope in 1929. Zworykin was one of the first to demonstrate a system with all the features that would come to make up televisions. Additional Television Components In 1947 Louis W. Parker invented the Intercarrier Sound System to synchronize television sound. His invention is used in all television receivers in the world. In June 1956  the TV remote controller first entered the American home. The first TV remote control, called Lazy Bones, was developed in 1950 by Zenith Electronics Corp., then known as Zenith Radio Corp. Marvin Middlemark invented rabbit ears, the once-ubiquitous V-shaped TV antennae, in 1953. His other inventions included a water-powered potato peeler and a rejuvenating tennis ball machine. Plasma TV display panels use small cells containing electrically charged ionized gases to generate high-quality imagery. The first prototype for a plasma display monitor was invented in 1964 by Donald Bitzer, Gene Slottow, and Robert Willson. Other Television Advances In 1925, Russian TV pioneer Zworykin filed a patent disclosure for an all-electronic color television system. Following authorization by the FCC, a color television system began commercial broadcasting on Dec. 17, 1953, based on a system invented by RCA. TV closed captions are hidden in the television video signal, invisible without a decoder. They were first demonstrated in 1972 and debuted the following year on the Public Broadcasting Service. Television content for the World Wide Web was rolled out in 1995. Historys first TV series made available on the Internet was  the public access program Rox.

Technology and organisations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Technology and organisations - Essay Example Apart from making work easy for the company, computers assist them in strict record keeping and quick and reliable filling for future reference. However, not all good related to computer or technology are always recommended, technology also has a set of drawbacks that when not properly use, might lead to disadvantages instead of the predicted advantages in any organization or workplace (JONES & SAAD, 2003). This paper examines technology and organization by looking at the case study of the computer industry. An examination of the case study of IBM reveals that the company dominated the computer industry by creating and producing products and services throughout the value chain. Their operations ranged from the production of microprocessor to the provision of solutions to computer problems experienced by customers. However, the advent over reliance on technology has led to an anti-social change in the vertical structure of IBM. The vertical structure of the company is experiencing change because the latest technology allows for members of coalitions to specialize in the area of expertise apart from their main field. In addition, the team structure use by IBM has also faced changes due to technological advancements therefore replacing the traditional hierarchical forms that were very critical in an organization. Technology has pushed the information era age of IBM to a new era because industries which did not incorporate technology into their operation failed in the process of operation d ue to the stiff competition posed by those companies applying technology in their own operations. This saw a sudden shift of organization in the wide use of technology to cut or have an edge on the competition with rival companies. The functional structure of IBM was rigid in the beginning, hence could not allow for the process

Why are solar cells not used today Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Why are solar cells not used today - Essay Example There are many options available to people and the time has truly changed, if a product is expensive and if people have better alternatives, why would people buy that expensive product especially when there are other good alternatives available. The case of solar cells is no different, the initial investment that goes into buying these solar cells is enormous and this is arguably the biggest reason that hampers the sale of solar cells across the globe. More and more people would buy it should the price be reduced a little; the price is one of the biggest factors, which has seen the demand of these cells drop sown to unprecedented levels. After throwing light upon the price of these solar cells, another important aspect is the aspect of recharging these cells. This task is very difficult and it becomes all the more difficult when it is a cloudy day or when a storm is just round the corner. It becomes impossible to charge these cells when the sun is not shinning, these cells can only be charged in the afternoon when the sun is brightly shinning. These cells can never be charged at night or at any time when the sun isn’t shining brightly. This is another major factor that stops the people from buying these cells. More and more people have started relying on oil these days and oil has successfully replaced these cells, one can sit back and rely upon oil to solar cells because solar cells require a lot of conditions and on the on the contrary, one can easily use oil when there is no electricity or when any other work needs to be done. â€Å"Yet, the most important disadvantage of residential solar power solutions for most people is that solar power equipments such as cells/panels, and their installation can be very expensive. Even though, the real cost of solar panels is anticipated to show a tendency towards decline in the future, the new technologies scientists currently work on (from chemical approach to biotechnology) are not going to be

Employee Portfolio Motivational Plan Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Employee Portfolio Motivational Plan - Assignment Example As a matter of fact, he is on the brink of being the ideal employee; he just needs that aspect of motivation. Since Timothy has different needs that are independent of each other but all need to be satisfied, the motivation theory that best explains his situation is Alderfer’s ERG theory. For example, although he prefers to work alone, he aspires to be in a leadership position. At the same time, although he is socially inclined, he is not empathetic. Elza needs attention, emotional support, and better working conditions. She is a very emotional person who tends to get frustrated quickly. This could explain why she has problems with her boss and her juniors. Elza needs to feel valued, understood, and trusted. Her superiors should seriously consider her emotional needs and work conditions in order to bring the best out of her because these appear to be her main areas of concern. The theory that best explains Elza’s situation is Herzberg’s two-factor theory, which identifies motivators and hygiene as the two aspects that cause workplace satisfaction or dissatisfaction. While Elza is committed to her work and exhibits professionalism, her working conditions (hygiene factors) are suppressing her enthusiasm for work. Based on Herzberg’s theory, Elza’s situation embodies low hygiene and high motivation combination (Pinder, 2014). She can perform much better if she is provided with ideal working conditions an d more emotional support. Elza also exhibits certain aspects of McClelland’s motivation theory, specifically the achievement dimension. She wants to excel, prefers to work alone, and is extremely driven to accomplish tasks. Emerick has all the qualities of any organization’s ideal employee. However, he also has some weaknesses that need to be eliminated, although they are not so worrying as to affect his overall performance. This employee needs to be given more indoctrination in the

Response Connections to Current Events Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Response Connections to Current Events - Essay Example Zakaria goes on to say that, "The Bill of Rights, after all, is a list of things that the government may not do, regardless of the wishes of the majority. Of America's three branches of government, The Supreme Court is headed by nine unelected men and women with life tenure." Zakaria has a point that the men and women in charge of one of America's highest offices must be elected. It is too much to expect the elected representatives to handle offices of the land that count among the best not only in the United States but among the best in the world. At least the election process of these gentlemen and ladies in the United States' Supreme Court must be more broad based that what it is today. Fareed Zakaria quotes specific instances and relates them to the illiberal way they are handled in democratic setup. His favorite democratic setups are the United States and Western Europe. His arguments have their due weight. Too much democracy becomes a punishment rather than a remedy. If democracy has to operate in a liberal environment, then it must per se allow its populace the maximum liberty which also provides security and choice. But Zakaria has said that "the tension between constitutional liberalism and democracy centers on the scope of governmental authority. Constitutional liberalism is about the limitation of power, democracy is about its accumulation and use." The contradiction is clear. Just like there is no such thing like a free lunch, there is such an issue begging notice that democracy is not the glittering gold that it is being offered as. Even in times of election the party offering maximum benefits quite often wins the show. The process of democracy is a tragedy being played out day in and out, and nobody is there to attempt to correct, modify or stop the show. If the process of democracy cannot work in places like Pakistan and Afghanistan, it is a telling commentary about the frailty of democracy as a system (US, UK express concern over terror safe haven in Pak, Afghanistan). Zakaria may not have offered feasible remedies to the malaise. However, he has pointed out anomalies that exist in the most democratic societies in the world. What's more He has pointed out that ironically democracy exists because of these anomalies. Evidence to support my argument First of all, let me make it clear I am not making common cause with Fareed Zakaria. I wish democracy all the best and hope it prospers wherever it exists. But just take a look at what is happening in some of the best democratic countries in the world. Let us take a look at the United States. President Obama and Vice President Biden have the issues of combating employment discrimination, expand hate crimes statutes, end deceptive voting practices, end racial profiling, reduce crime recidivism by providing ex-offender support, eliminate sentencing disparities, and expand use of drug courts (Civil Rights). I do not wish to denigrate the United States.

Lamesa, Texas (Home Town) Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Lamesa, Texas (Home Town) - Research Paper Example Finally, the latter one was deemed suitable for the town and thus was accepted by the town committee (â€Å"History of Lamesa†) Thesis Statement The paper intends to provide a brief history of Lamesa, which is situated in Texas. Description of landscapes and contribution to the Ozarks and Missouri by the inhabitants of Lamesa will also be discussed. Furthermore, the agricultural industry developments after the settlement and its special available food crops will be analyzed. Historical Backgrounds The first inhabitants of the town were Paleo-Indians, who hunted and camped along Sulfer Springs Draw around 17000 years ago. Later, around the year 2000, the population amounted to approximately above 9,500; the settlers offered the best small-town living to the new visitors or inhabitants. Furthermore, the people are very much hospitable and friendly and provide a sense of warmth and belongingness to their guests (â€Å"About Lamesa†). In order to establish a new county seat for Dawson County, an election was held, the candidates being Lamesa and Chicago. Lamesa won the elections by a very small fraction of 5 votes. Following the election, a post office earlier based in Chicago was moved to Lamesa as people residing at Chicago started moving their township to Lamesa. Furthermore, Lamesa’s first school was opened in 1902, following which a daily mail service commenced from the year 1906. Moreover, the town got its first rail service on October 1, 1910; it was operated by Panhandle and Santa Fe Railway Company. Telephone and electric services commenced in the year 1905 and 1916 respectively (â€Å"History of Lamesa†). Lamesa had become integrated in the year 1917, soon after which large projects started to take place in the town. A new city hall, water and sewerage system, and streets made up of bricks were built in the year 1925. In 1945, a council-manager, a type of government, was established followinga decision of adopting a home-rule a greement. Initially, Lamesa flourished through farming, and at the later stages oil production became the major source of business for the residents. In the mid 1980s, when the town’s population stabilized around 11,500, the marketing and banking center dealt with various businesses, such as farming equipment, agricultural products, clothing and textiles, oil services, food processing, and cultivation of cotton. Gradually, the town began to develop with establishments of Dawson County Museum, Howard County Junior College, hospitals, libraries and several nursing homes (â€Å"Lamesa, Tx, (Dawson County)†). Traditionally, the people of Lamesa society and Dawson County were renowned in helping and providing support to each other. Dawson County was one of the five counties to receive the popular Army Navy â€Å"E†award for providing the highest men per capita during the Second World War. Furthermore, William Rafus Shafter is one of the renowned persons who visited t he county for preparing a report on the local Indians. He and his company were the first persons to discover an Indian encampment at Laguna Sabinas or Cedar Lake which was the birth place of renowned Quanah Parker. Moreover, he along with his company constructed the initial wagon roads upon the plains and reported the county favorable on grazing conditions. Majority of the people residing in Lamesa are from the Christian religion (â€Å"

New concept of Marriage Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

New concept of Marriage - Essay Example Marriages are different depending on the tradition and culture of the spouses and they are carried out differently. In most African and even Asian culture for example, the beginning of a marriage is the paying of the dowry to the bride’s parents as a token of appreciation essentially which is soon followed by a traditional wedding ceremony which can be solemnized later in church or not. The whites do not care so much about the issue of bride price or paying dowry and most do not even officially seek a formal hand in marriage from the bride’s side of the family. They simply move to the wedding part and the marriage soon begins. Research has verified this by indicating that in Africa, over 60% of marriages have dowry payment paid while in Europe and America, the figure is less than that and the majority are the African-Americans (Peterson and Bush 685). It is an open secret that the rate of divorce among the whites is way higher than it is among the Africans and Asians as indicated in the article in The Economist by its editor, (2011) which explains that divorce rate in Asia is only about 2per every 1000 while in America in 3.7 and in Britain 3.4 for every 1000. Others argue that this is because of the lack of a staunch tradition on the part of the spouses and especially in engaging the parents of the spouses in the affair. For the Africans for example, during the traditional marriage ceremony and preparations and before the bride or groom is handed over to their significant other, the family and especially the same sex parent has serious discussion with the bride or groom about what marriage entails and what will be expected of them in terms of fulfillment of roles and duties and how to engage in all these. These are called trading secrets of the ups and downs to expect and how to handle each and every one of them. By the time they are officially starting the marriage, each party is aware of the reality

Lamesa, Texas (Home Town) Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Lamesa, Texas (Home Town) - Research Paper Example Finally, the latter one was deemed suitable for the town and thus was accepted by the town committee (â€Å"History of Lamesa†) Thesis Statement The paper intends to provide a brief history of Lamesa, which is situated in Texas. Description of landscapes and contribution to the Ozarks and Missouri by the inhabitants of Lamesa will also be discussed. Furthermore, the agricultural industry developments after the settlement and its special available food crops will be analyzed. Historical Backgrounds The first inhabitants of the town were Paleo-Indians, who hunted and camped along Sulfer Springs Draw around 17000 years ago. Later, around the year 2000, the population amounted to approximately above 9,500; the settlers offered the best small-town living to the new visitors or inhabitants. Furthermore, the people are very much hospitable and friendly and provide a sense of warmth and belongingness to their guests (â€Å"About Lamesa†). In order to establish a new county seat for Dawson County, an election was held, the candidates being Lamesa and Chicago. Lamesa won the elections by a very small fraction of 5 votes. Following the election, a post office earlier based in Chicago was moved to Lamesa as people residing at Chicago started moving their township to Lamesa. Furthermore, Lamesa’s first school was opened in 1902, following which a daily mail service commenced from the year 1906. Moreover, the town got its first rail service on October 1, 1910; it was operated by Panhandle and Santa Fe Railway Company. Telephone and electric services commenced in the year 1905 and 1916 respectively (â€Å"History of Lamesa†). Lamesa had become integrated in the year 1917, soon after which large projects started to take place in the town. A new city hall, water and sewerage system, and streets made up of bricks were built in the year 1925. In 1945, a council-manager, a type of government, was established followinga decision of adopting a home-rule a greement. Initially, Lamesa flourished through farming, and at the later stages oil production became the major source of business for the residents. In the mid 1980s, when the town’s population stabilized around 11,500, the marketing and banking center dealt with various businesses, such as farming equipment, agricultural products, clothing and textiles, oil services, food processing, and cultivation of cotton. Gradually, the town began to develop with establishments of Dawson County Museum, Howard County Junior College, hospitals, libraries and several nursing homes (â€Å"Lamesa, Tx, (Dawson County)†). Traditionally, the people of Lamesa society and Dawson County were renowned in helping and providing support to each other. Dawson County was one of the five counties to receive the popular Army Navy â€Å"E†award for providing the highest men per capita during the Second World War. Furthermore, William Rafus Shafter is one of the renowned persons who visited t he county for preparing a report on the local Indians. He and his company were the first persons to discover an Indian encampment at Laguna Sabinas or Cedar Lake which was the birth place of renowned Quanah Parker. Moreover, he along with his company constructed the initial wagon roads upon the plains and reported the county favorable on grazing conditions. Majority of the people residing in Lamesa are from the Christian religion (â€Å"

Business Context and Operations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Business Context and Operations - Essay Example Convenience food business is increasingly growing as this helps the nutrition needs of busy career bodies. HCF’s supply chain has to meet the growing demands of the consuming public. Some suppliers did not meet schedules, so HCF has to apply innovations in supply chain by introducing in-house manufacturing of a special kind of sauce. This paper will talk about operations management and supply chain relations. Introduction Consumption of chilled food is increasing in many parts of the world. One of the main reasons for this is convenience; chilled foods are convenient to prepare. Hadrian’s Country Foods (HCF) started by supplying chilled foods to family and friends. HCF’s founder, Dr. Andrew Smith, saw the need for chilled foods with nutritious ingredients. As the company grew, it started to meet numerous problems and challenges in management and supply chain. HCF must introduce an effective supply chain and operational management. Products have to be consistent w ith new lifestyles and new product innovation (NPD) must meet consumer demands. HCF has to improve its operations in delivery of products and services to improve supply chain relationships. Task 1 HCF’s Operations Management Operations management is transforming inputs into outputs, or the production capability of the firm. In terms of quality, operations management focuses on internal activities of the firm, such as ‘process control, process improvement, product design improvement, and design of experiments’ (Foster et al. 2011, p. 2286). HCF receives ingredients from its suppliers, transforms the inputs into products, and makes the supply chain moving until the product reaches the retailers (the supermarkets) and end users. The company has to introduce innovations and create new menus with ingredients that boast the health of consumers and meet the delicate taste of consumers. Improvement of processing operations must consider how it can enhance operational per formance to satisfy customers. HCF has two kinds of market: B2B and B2C markets. Challenges and Opportunities Product innovation must be continuously introduced because of competition. The company has to stimulate the market with its diverse chilled foods and introduce new delicious menus to meet consumers’ demands and taste. Products have to be consistent with new lifestyles and new product development must provide customer satisfaction. HCF has to conduct regular research and development as a regular activity and a focus for R&D should be how to reduce operational costs. R&D can experiment on new health foods as competition is growing in the food industry. Innovative ways of reducing costs can be discovered. For example, packaging is significant in reducing operating costs. An example of effective packaging for food items is ‘combined transit and point-of-sale packaging’ which saves labour time through faster shelf loading and easy access to product and uses le sser resources. The total distribution cost influences the demand side as this affects price. For some fast-moving commodity like chilled foods, the cost of distribution and retail selling affect the total product cost which represents about 50 percent of the product price (Coles 2003). Reducing costs, especially in distribution, attracts retailers like supermarkets. Information technology (IT) application to shorten workload is another opportunity to improve production and distribution. IT can enhance the â€Å"

Canada Supreme Court Judge Selection

Canada Supreme Court Judge Selection Essay The issue of judges’ appointments to the Supreme Court of Canada has come to the foreground of Canadian politics in recent years. The Supreme Court is afforded great power within Canada, including the ability to strike down law produced by democratically elected legislatures. Therefore, the method of selection for the Supreme Court is absolutely critical to Canadian democracy. Scholars have suggested reforming Canadian Supreme Court appointments. This paper will analyse alternative ways of selecting Canada’s Supreme Court judges and make an argument in favour of retaining current practice with a few modifications. Key Principle In order to establish the best method, one must have a way of identifying it. There are few greater principles in Canadian politics than judicial independence. The Constitutionally guaranteed principle â€Å"ensures that the courts guard our Constitution, the Rule of Law, equality and the democratic process† (Johnson, Remarks to the Committee). Judicial independence is divided into two categories: institutional independence and decisional independence. In order to have an effective top level court, judicial independence in both its forms must be enforced. Alternative appointment processes have been heavily scrutinised for their potential to politicise the selection process, thereby dissolving judicial independence. Scholars argue that US-style confirmation hearings will lead to qualified candidates excluding themselves from consideration (Peach, 2005). Canada at Present Judges of the Supreme Court of Canada are appointed by the Governor General upon recommendation by the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister, in turn, consults with her Cabinet. The Prime Minister’s selection is made based upon a shortlist provided to her by the Minister of Justice with input from the relevant law society. By the Supreme Court Act, candidates must have been a member of a provincial or territorial law society for at least ten years, or have served as a judge in a superior court. Additionally, at least three of the nine Supreme Court judges must come from Quebec. This is often justified due to Quebec’s unique utilisation of civil law, unlike the other provinces, which utilise common law instead. Interestingly, though representing one-third of the Supreme Court, Quebec represents only 23% of the Canadian population (Statistics Canada, 2013). By convention, the remaining six appointments are split between Ontario (three), Western Canada (two) and Atlantic Canada (one). In Canada the judicial branch is independent of the executive and legislative branch – that is, it has institutional independence. The justice system also enjoys decisional independence, most notably in the Supreme Court. Judges are appointed until the mandatory appointment age of 75, and their remuneration is controlled by the Judicial Compensation and Benefits Commission. Through this process the legislative and executive branches cannot influence judges’ decision making through threats of reduced salary or termination. Canada’s system has been criticised for essentially three reasons. First, there is much confusion in the Canadian public as to how the appointment process works, with even a fair number suspecting that there is political interference. Secondly, due to the geographic considerations in the process, many worry about the effect of Provincial politics on the shortlisting of candidates. Thirdly, there has been a history of inconsistent consultation of Prime Minister (Johnson, Remarks to the Committee). Other countries Amongst developed countries, there is great variation on the selection of judges for the highest court. In the US, their Senate holds the final decision making power in confirming or denying the President’s candidate. While legislative approval is generally a formality, there have been recent notable cases of Senate confirmations going awry in the cases of Robert Bork and Clarence Thomas. In the age of mass media, candidates may be subject to an avalanche of questions concerning their personal life. The US-style senate confirmation mechanism is criticised for giving qualified candidates a reason to withdraw their candidacy. However, even if all the best candidates made themselves available, the President does not select the best candidate. They select the best Senate-confirmable candidate. If the Senate and candidate have strongly opposing political views, then the confirmation can degenerate into a virtual inquisition, and quite literally means that the judiciary answers to the legislature. This severely undermines the judicial independence in the selection process as the President must make a political calculation of who the best candidate is that will also pass Senate confirmation, and also reduces independence from the legislature. In Switzerland, Austria, and Germany the national assemblies vote to nominate members of their constitutional courts. For Germany, this practice means that the states are involved in the appointment process because the members of Germany’s upper house the state governments. While there have been calls for greater Provincial involvement in Canadian Supreme Court appointments, Carl Baar warns, Experiences in other federal systems thus do not impel Canada to the kind of provincial role in selection of Supreme Court justices that was embodied in draft provisions of the Meech Lake Accord. While the Accord provisions did not provide as widespread and continuing participation for the provinces as the provisions in West Germany’s Basic Law provide for its state governments, they did authorize a much more substantial provincial roles (both in its constitutional status and in the range of activities it involved) than is characteristic of any of the world’s other federal systems. And unlike the West German provisions, the Meech Lake Accord kept judicial selection completely outside parliament (1991). In 2009, the United Kingdom implemented their Supreme Court that had been established by the Constitutional Reform Act 2005. Here, judge candidates are selected by an independent selection commission of several judicial committees. Once the selection commission has arrived at a consensus for one candidate, it then provides the name to the Lord Chancellor. The Lord Chancellor is then required to consult with all the politicians and judges that the commission consulted in their selection of the candidate. The Lord Chancellor is given three rounds in which to accept a candidate. If the Lord Chancellor rejects a candidate, then the selection commission will bring a new name forward in the next round. If the Lord Chancellor asks the commission to reconsider, then the commission may present the same person again, or provide a new name. The Lord Chancellor must accept the name put forth in the third round, if they have not already accepted a candidate in a previous round. The Lord Chancello r then forwards this recommendation to the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister is then required by law to recommend this name to the Queen for appointment, and may not nominate anyone else. The plethora of international selection processes in use appears to provide Canada with ample reform options. One must be cognisant, however, of countries’ political cultures and their effect on shaping the process. In order to maximise the quality of the ultimate appointee, and legitimise the process in the eyes of the public, one must be careful to fine tune the process based upon the particular country’s political climate. Canada is a parliamentary democracy There is a great consensus amongst scholars that judicial independence is superior in an appointments process than an election process (Geyh 2003; Tarr 2003). Bibliography Baar, C. (1991). Comparitive Perspectives on Judicial Selection Process. Toronto: The Ontario Law Reform Commission. Canadian Bar Association. (2004). Supreme Court of Canada Appointment Process. Canadian Bar Association. Freund, P. (1988). Appointment of Justices: Some Historical Perspectives. Harvard Law Review, 1146-1163. Geyh, C. (2003). Why Judicial Elections Stink. Ohio State Law Journal, 43-80. Johnson, W. (2004). Ensuring Supreme Confidence in Judicial Appointments. Policy Options, 41-45. Johnson, W. (n.d.). Remarks to the Committee. Retrieved from The Canadian Bar Association: http://www.cba.org/cba/news/pdf/scc_johnsonremarks.pdf Peach. (2005). Legitimacy on Trial: A Process for Appointing Justices to the Supreme Court of Canada. Regina: University of Regina. Ref re Independence and Impartiality of Judges of the Prov. Court of P.E.I., 24778 (The Supreme Court of Canada September 18, 1997). Ref re Remuneration of Judges of the Prov. Court of P.E.I., 24508 (The Supreme Court of Canada September 18, 1997). Statistics Canada. (2013, November 25). Population by year, by province and territory. Retrieved from Government of Canada: http://www.statcan.gc.ca/tables-tableaux/sum-som/l01/cst01/demo02a-eng.htm Supreme Court Act, Revised Statutes of Canada (1985, c. S-26). Retrieved from Department of Justice Canada: http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/s-26/ Tarr, A. (2003). Rethinking the Selection of State Supreme Court Justices. Williamette Law Review, 1445-1470. Yahya, M., Stribopoulos, J. (2007). Does a Judges Party of Appointment or Gender Matter to Case Outcomes?: An Empirical Study of the Court of Appeal for Ontario. Osgoode Hall Law Journal, 315-363. Ziegel, J. (2006). A New Era in the Selection of Supreme Court Judges? Osgoode Hall Law Journal, 547-555.

Pizza Hut Case :: essays research papers

Pizza Hut Case Question 6: Pizza Hut case: Is either franchisor or franchisee liable for sexual harassment? If so, what type of sexual harassment occurred? Please fully explain your answer. In this case, the franchisee is liable for the hostile work environment sexual harassment type. However, the franchisor should not be held liable unless it can be proven that it has central control over the day-to-day employment decisions of the subsidiary. I will assume that the franchisee is independently owned and the franchisor has no control over its labor relations and no control over it financial. In cases such as this, a critical component in determining liability is which entity made the employment decision of the person making the claim. Factors that are considered in determining the existence of an illegal hostile work environment include: the conduct’s frequency, the conduct’s severity, any physical threat or humiliation (as opposed to merely offensive remarks), and the conduct’s unreasonable interference with the employee’s work performance. Situations that can be considered as hostile work environment sexual harassment is where the employee’s work environment is made intimidating, hostile, or offensive due to unwelcome sexual conduct and that conduct unreasonably interferes with the employee’s work performance. This case states that the waitress was harassed by the two male customers prior to the November 6th event and informed her manager that she did not like waiting on them, but did not explain why. Although she did not volunteer her reason why she did not want to wait on the customers, a responsible manager would have questioned the waitress to find out her reason. A responsible manager would also have assigned someone else to wait on the customers and/or request that the customers leave the premises. The physical nature of the conduct in this case, although limited to one incident, was severe enough to create an illegal hostile work environment. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued regulations that state employers are responsible for the harassing conduct of non-employees and have a responsibility to prevent and take action when they know or should have known about the harassment. In this case, the waitress informed her manager that one of the customers had pulled her hair and requested that the manager find someone else to serve them. The manager denied her request and instructed her wait on them and stated â€Å"You were hired to be a waitress†.

free america :: essays research papers

free americaa  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Is freedom really free? We all say we live in a free society, but if you walk across the street with out a cross walk you could be arrested! How can that be freedom, when you look at it that way It dosent really seem free. There has been major achievements in history to make our world free with out question. We the American people have strived for centuries to keep America free we fought the British to be free and create a beautiful country , we fought for the freeing of the slaves in the Civil War, also the nazi’s in World War Two who where trying to put a fascist government rule on Germany and the world. (The exact opsite of freedom).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  They say that Freedom comes at a price ; why a price on freedom dosent that defeat the purpose? Wont that negate freedom if you have to give something up for it? Freedom seems to me to be something that is with out price, unexchangeable for anything ,any reason, any objective. Its irreplaceable in all expressive senses it possesses and represents. It retains and upholds liberty, independence, privilege, and license to be and to live your life as you see suitable. Freedom is open to anyone who will fight for its existence if that fight is only to say that they yearn for it.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  On the most part we see freedom as free, if we want to go out at 3:00 a.m. in the early morning for ice-cream and shotgun shells we are â€Å"Free† to do just that.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   We as American citizens are accustom to many freedoms that we sometimes take for granted such as the freedom to speak out against anyone who is trying to infarct upon our civil liberties, the right to choose who will represent us to the rest of the world, and the freedom to make and change any rule set forth if it does not apply.

Working with Medicaid

Working with Medicaid The Medicaid program is for low-income people. The Medicaid program is financed by the federal government and the states. The Medicaid program is the nation’s largest non-employer-sponsored health insurance program. In order for a person so be eligible for Medicaid benefits, the must meet the minimum federal requirements and any additional requirements of the state in which they live. Medicaid rules vary from state to state and are frequently changing. Due to the variations in Medicaid rules from state to state, a person would need to contact their local social services department to find out what procedures and services are covered and not covered. Depending on what state a person lives in, those enrolled in the Medicaid program may be treated by a provider of their choice or it may restrict patients to a network physicians. Enrollees may have to receive all services through their primary care provider that is responsible for coordinating and monitoring their care. Those that need to see a specialist may need to obtain a referral from their PCP or Medicaid will not pay for the services. If a Medicaid enrollee wants to receive a service that is non-covered, the enrollee must pay for the non-covered services prior to the services being rendered. Medicaid recipients can also be billed if the physician informed the patient before the service was performed that the procedure/service would not be covered by Medicaid, the physician has an established written policy for billing non-covered services that applies to all patients, the patient is informed in advance of the estimated charge for the procedure and agrees in writing to pay the charge. If the physician has reason to believe that a service will not be covered, the patient must be informed in advance and given a form to sign acknowledging this. However, some states may require the enrollee to pay a small co-pay for covered services. Implications of simultaneous federal and state involvement in the insurance process could cause conflict between state regulations with federal regulations. The cost of compliance is more likely to be greater because there are two regulating bodies. Complexity is increased due to satisfying the requirements of two regulatory bodies. Regulatory goals of the states may be different than the federal goals which in turn lead to a duplication of effort.

What is the Calm Waters Metaphor? Essay

Until recently the calm waters metaphor dominated the thinking of practicing managers and academics. The prevailing model for handling change in calm waters is best illustrated in Kurt Lewin’s three step description of the change process. According to Lewin, successful change requires unfreezing the status quo, changing to a new sate, and freezing the new change to make it permanent. The status quo can be considered an equilibrium state. Unfreezing is necessary to move from this equilibrium. It can be achieved in one of three ways: 1) The driving forces, which direct behavior away from the status quo, can be increased.†¨2) The restraining forces, which hinder movement from the existing equilibrium, can be decreased.†¨3) The two approaches can be combined. Exhibit The change Process Unfreezing Changing Refreezing Once unfreezing has been accomplished the change itself can be implemented . However, the mere introduction of change does not ensure that it take hold. The new situation, therefore, needs to be refrozen so that it can be sustained over time. Unless this last step is attended to, it is likely that the change will be short lived and employees will revert to the previous equilibrium state. The objective of refreezing the entire equilibrium state, then, is to stabilize the new situation by balancing the driving and restraining forces. Note how Lewin’s three step process treats change as a break in the organization’s equilibrium state. The status quo has been distributed, and change is necessary to establish a new equilibrium state. This view might have been appropriate to the relatively calm waters metaphor is increasingly obsolete as a description of the kinds of seas that current managers have to navigate. How does the White Water rapids Metaphor of change functions?†¨This metaphor takes into consideration the fact environments are both uncertain and dynamic. To get a feeling for what managing change might be like when you have to continually maneuver in uninterrupted rapids, imagine attending a college in which courses vary in length so when you sign up, you don’t know whether a course will last for 2 weeks or 30 weeks. Furthermore, the instructor can end a course any time he  or she wants, with no prior warning. If that isn’t bad enough the length of the class session changes each time – sometimes it lasts 20 minutes, other times it runs for 3 hours and the time of the next class meeting is set by the instructor during the previous class. Oh yes, there is one more thing. The exams are all unannounced, so you have to be ready for a test at any time. To succeed in this college, you would have to be incredibly flexible and be able to respond quickly to every changing condition. Students who are too structured or slow on their feet would not survive. A growing number of managers are coming to accept that their job is much like what a student would face in such a college. The stability and predictability of the claim waters do not exist. Disruptions in the status quo are not occasional and temporary, to be followed by a return to calm waters. Many of today’s managers never get out of the rapids. They face constant change, bordering on chaos. These managers are being forced to play a game they have never played before, which is governed by rules created as the game progresses. Is the white water rapids metaphor merely an overstatement? No, take the case of General Motors. In the intensely competitive automotive manufacturing business, a company has to be prepared for any possibility. Cars are being surpassed by sport utility vehicles. Gasoline engines still cause fury among environmentalists who desire a more environment friendly source of power for vehicles. Government regulators demand ever increasing gasoline mileage. Customers want new and unique styles more frequently and competition in the industry is fierce. Although General Motors has typically on big competitors new entrants into the marketplace – Kia and Scion pick away at market share. For General Motors to succeed, it must change and continuously improve and revamp everything that it does. Answer: The calm waters view of organizational change envisions the organization as a large ship crossing a calm sea. The ship’s captain and crew know exactly where they are going because they have made the trip many times before. Change comes in the form of an occasional storm, a brief distraction in an otherwise calm and predictable trip. In the calm waters metaphor, change is seen as an occasional disruption in the normal flow of events. It is best illustrated by Kurt Lewin’s 3-step description of the change process. According to Lewin, successful change can be planned and requires unfreezing the status quo, changing to a new state, and refreezing to make the change permanent. The status quo can be considered an equilibrium state. To move from this equilibrium, unfreezing is necessary. Unfreezing can be thought of as preparing for the needed change. It can be achieved by increasing the driving forces, which are forces pushing for change; by decreasing the restraining forces, which are forces that resist change and push behavior toward the status quo; or by combining the two approaches. Once unfreezing is done, the change itself can be implemented. However, merely introducing change does not ensure that it will take hold. The new situation needs to be refrozen so that it can be sustained over time. Unless this last step is done, there is a strong chance that employees will revert back to the old ways of doing things. The objective of refreezing, then, is to stabilize the new situation by reinforcing the new behaviors. Lewin’s 3-step process treats change as a move away from the organization’s current equilibrium state. It is a calm waters scenario where an occasional disruption means changing to deal with the disruption. Once the disruption has been dealt with, however, things can continue on under the new changed situation.

Image of death Essay

As she attempted suicide, â€Å"I am not his yet.† She is possibly tempting death as the quote â€Å"†¦..how badly I photograph†, suggests death may have been stalking her and Plath is possibly taunting him back as he insults her, or it may also be that Plat is not ready for her death photograph yet. Plath shocks the reader by talking about children in coffins in such a matter of fact manner, â€Å"He tells me how sweet the babies look in their hospital icebox†, paradox, as the beautiful and ‘sweet’ children are linked to death, â€Å"†¦Ionian death gowns†, again Plath contradicts the beauty of the gowns with the horrifying image of death. Plath uses simple but very harsh descriptions to portray death amongst children, â€Å"†¦two little feet† very graphic in a simplistic way. Plath explains death is in two forms, a traditional view of death and the other one a more modern view of death. She portrays the death as very laid back, â€Å"He does not smile or smoke† as before cool people, celebrities and models smoked, so people followed them but death does not as he’s not trying to be popular. The â€Å"other† death Plath describes with â€Å"†¦hair long and plausive† and also suggest that this death does smoke â€Å"†¦the other does that† giving this death a more positive feel, making him more modern and more appealing. An act of masturbation, seen as a powerful act as it’s done alone â€Å"Masturbating a glitter†¦Ã¢â‚¬  almost as if Plath is saying that death thinks he’s special as he’s masturbating a glitter, â€Å"†¦he wants to be loved† paradox, as you can’t love death. Plath suggests the idea of rigourmortus although it’s ironic as she’s still alive â€Å"I do not stir†, or it may be Plath suggesting that she’s dead on the inside, and that her emotions may have gone stiff. In contrast to Plath’s poem â€Å"Death and Co.†, Hughes poem â€Å"Examination at the Womb-Door† emphasises on death owning existence as even as soon as you are born you face death but death still being inferior to God, as the examiner being God the questions throughout the poem are very authoritive, suggesting that Hughes may think that God has authority over death. The title could possibly be Hughes signifying the point of crossing into the physical world. It seems as if sees death as the starting point: Man has been living, just to get experience to pass an exam before God, also giving a very ominous feel to death, the ultimate fear of all mankind and a sacrilegious tone to the poem. It maybe that Hughes sees the soul as immortal as when the crow is asked â€Å"But who is stronger than death?† the crow replies â€Å" Me, evidently† as the crow is immortal due to the rebirth cycle, so despite the body’s death, the soul remains, therefore the crow is in fact stronger than death. Hughes uses negative adjectives and pronouns throughout the poem possibly to remark the deficiency of the human body against death.