Capital Punishment Essay

The world is full of mysterious answers to questions: Why does the sun rise? Is there a higher power somewhere? These questions can be answered one of two ways; either through knowledge or belief. The accuracy of these answers, however, can vary greatly depending on which method of knowing is used. Belief, for example, is the least accurate option of the two. Belief is personal. Different individuals may have different beliefs on the same matter. People tend to have different beliefs depending on their way of thinking, which in turn depends on the person’s upbringing, education, knowledge, etc. Knowledge however is something universal; there are no different views factored into knowledge. It is something that is void of any emotions or personal beliefs. When it comes to capital punishment, the answer for whether or not governments should be allowed to execute criminals is an answer based on belief. Some people may believe that capital punishment is wrong while some may believe that it is just. No one knows for sure whether or not it’s right or wrong to execute criminals. Some faith groups, such as the Roman Catholic Church, oppose the death penalty as not being â€Å"pro-life. Catholic Cardinal McCarrick, Archbishop of Washington, writes â€Å"†¦ the death penalty diminishes all of us, increases disrespect for human life, and offers the tragic illusion that we can teach that killing is wrong by killing. † This quotation is based off of reason. It shows the side of the debate that views executing criminals as wrong. After all, if we kill someone to teach that killing is wrong, doesn’t that make us just as bad? â€Å"If a civilized society cannot say why one man should be executed and another not,† stated Justice Matthew Tobriner, â€Å"it does not rationally, logically take life. Instead, it grossly denies due process of law, inflicting death on the basis of a trial that is capricious, discriminatory and guess-infected. † For example, wrongly convicted, innocent people have received death penalty sentences and were killed by the state. People are accused of crimes they didn’t commit frequently. How can the state be sure of whether or not the person whose life they’re taking is actually doing justice, or just murdering an innocent person? This is based on reason. Arguing for capital punishment, the Clark County, Indiana Prosecuting Attorney writes that â€Å"†¦ there are some defendants who have earned the ultimate punishment our society has to offer by committing murder with aggravating circumstances present. I believe life is sacred. It cheapens the life of an innocent murder victim to say that society has no right to keep the murderer from ever killing again. In my view, society has not only the right, but the duty to act in self defense to protect the innocent. † Some crimes are so horrific that some people think that revenge or retribution is the only option. This reasoning is not based on logic; but rather, it is based on emotions. Therefore, this reason should not be deemed a valid justification. It is commonly believed that the punishment of a crime should equal the crime. This is also known as â€Å"an eye for eye† justice. Therefore using this reason, the appropriate punishment for murder is death. Frank Carrington states, â€Å"is there any way one can tell whether the death penalty deters murders from killing? There is no way one can tell whether the death  penalty deters murderers from killing. The argument goes on that proponents of capital punishments should not have to bear the burden of proving deterrence by a  reasonable doubt. Nor should the abolitionist have to prove deterrence by a reasonable doubt -neither side would be able to anyway. † He also claims common sense supports the inference that if, the threat of the death penalty decreases, the rate of murders increases than it may be true. But  if the threat had increased, the homicide rate may decrease. This statement means that capital punishment may serve as an example to would-be criminals, to deter them from committing murder or terrorist acts. In conclusion, I find the arguments against capital punishment the most convincing. All of the inferences made in the argument against the death penalty have been based on reason or perception. An argument pro death penalty was based on emotion and has convinced me that the death penalty is in large part, a way of getting even. The â€Å"eye for an eye† analogy supports this. Previously, I was for capital punishment, but due to the evidence and the knowledge and not belief, that support the claims, I am against capital punishment. Word Count = 765

Patterns of Urban Growth and Development Essay

The growth and development of urban has consistently grown globally. This is as a result of human factor and environmental influence. Growth and development is the change to a better state compared to former state. Urbanization has increased mostly in poor countries compared to developed countries. In both poor and rich countries, there are different factors that contribute to either to growth or dominate the growth of the urban areas. Urbanization is there fore, the spreading of a city and its suburbs over the rural areas at the fringe of an urban area. Patterns of urban growth and development Industrialization is one of the factors that have contributed to urbanization. This changes the nature of economic production of any country. In both rich and poor countries, each potion of land id devoted to a certain use i. e. commercial, industrial and residential areas are separated. The sensing of growth is by allocating land to different uses. In other words large tracts of land are devoted a single use and are separated from one another by none used fields, roads or rail lines, or other barriers. This results to separation from where people go to work and where they do their shopping. Urbanization in rich countries consumes much more land compared to poor countries, on the other hand urbanization in poor countries seem to consume more land due to construction of single family homes compared to apartments build in developed countries. In rich countries more land is required to build parking because of the increasing number of automobiles compared to poor countries. The impact of low density development in poor countries where many communities are less developed or urbanized land is increasing at a faster rate than the population. The critics that arise in urban development in rich countries are health and environmental issues. Urban growth has been associated with some negative environmental and public health matters. The primary cause of these negative outcomes is that urbanization leads to people having to depend on the automobile because it will be a greater distance to travel and people will not be able to walk or ride their bicycles to their destinations. Vehicle ownership has become widespread in the rich countries, health officers recommend health benefits of suburbs due to soot and industrial fumes in the city center. However, air in modern suburbs is not necessarily cleaner than air in urban neighborhoods. In fact, the most polluted air is on crowded highways, where people in suburbs tend to spend more time. On average, suburban residents generate pollution and carbon emissions than the urban counterparts because of the higher number of driving. Urbanization in rich countries is partly responsible for the decline in socialization. Close neighborhoods can contribute to casual social interactions among neighbors, while low-density urbanization creates barriers to interaction. Urbanization tends to replace public spaces such as parks with private spaces such as fenced-in backyards. Residents of urbanized neighborhoods rarely walk for transportation, which reduces opportunities for face-to-face contact with neighbors. There is also a much concern over the housing in growth pattern in both rich and poor countries. In rich countries housing are quite expensive due to demand compared to poor countries, the housing has become a scarce commodity in most developed countries, the housing affordability compared to earning is much high. In poor countries cheaper housing is available due to reduced number of urbanization and demand Suburbs are blamed in rich countries for what they see as homogeneity of society and culture, leading to urbanization of suburb developments of people with similar race and background. (Stein, 1993). Conclusion Growth pattern in both the poor and the rich countries face similar challenges in most cases. Environmental hazards are more prone to developed countries compared to poor countries due to industrialization. Housing is come scarce in rich countries than in poor countries for more people work in urban areas where industrialization is more prone than in poor countries where most people lives in rural areas. References Stein, J. (1993). Growth Management: The planning challenge of the 1990’s. Sage Publications.

Field Project Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Field Project Assignment - Essay Example This is done using various tools available to top management and one of the most useful and also dreaded is the performance evaluation when employees are compared and if they measure up. Performance evaluations are usually done annually, or could be done per semester or by quarter. These evaluations can be highly effective tools depending on how these are administered. I had chosen to attend training at the Center for Urban Community Services Institute for this purpose last March 20, 2014 focused on the topic of â€Å"Creating Effective Performance Evaluations.† The Center for Urban Community Services (CUCS) Institute is located at 198 E. 121st St. in New York City and this particular non-profit non-government organization (NGO) was once a community project of Columbia University back in 1979 but has since expanded its community outreach programs beyond its immediate environs after it was officially incorporated in 1993. I choose CUCS Institute because of its vast experience in providing training and research to other non-profits and government agencies engaged in social services using evidence-based practices; it had been honored by the New York Times for its effective impact (CUCS, 2013, para. 2). The training session was a whole day event and I consider the time well spent since I had learned a lot during that time. Some of the lessons learned about performance evaluations are the following: a performance evaluation (also known as performance appraisal) is for improvement, whether at the personal (employee) level or at the organizational level, it is used for making the important decisions such as promotion, compensation, transfer, or termination, giving feedback, counseling, and imposing disciplinary sanctions. There are a number of benefits to be derived in conducting performance evaluations but only if these are done right; these include promotion of

Mattel Toy Company Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Mattel Toy Company - Essay Example In August 2007, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission asked the consumers to stop buying 967,000 pieces of a certain toy manufactured by Fisher Price which is a subsidiary of Mattel Company (U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, 2008). These toys were recalled because the lead in paints used in toys was180 times more than the quantity allowed by law (ODonnell, 2007). This quantity of this toxic was clearly excessive and could cause a great deal of harm to the children who used it (U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, 2008). Besides this, a few of Products produced by Mattel Company were also said to contain small magnets which were very dangerous for the young children who played with those toys because of the harm to swallowing them. How did Mattel Toy Company respond to this situation? Any company that wants to stay in the market, be it a giant and a leading company like Mattel Toy Company would assure the society that the company is concerned about them. The first step that it took was to check their products immediately and consider itself accountable. It acknowledged that the lead in their paints was 0.11 percent while only 0.06 percent was allowed (ODonnell, 2007). Mattel Toy Company also recognized its responsibility and immediately identified and recalled about 1.5 Million products that were dangerous. According to one source, the company gave the consumers the benefit to return the products that were announced to contain excessive amount of lead in the paint (U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, 2008). Besides this, it also recalled all its toys that were said to contain small magnets. This was the result of deaths and surgeries of young children because of ingesting these small parts. The toys that were recalled because of magnets amounted to 18 Million (Mattel, 2007). All the recall information was posted on the internet and all the consumers were made aware

The Impact of Human Resource Development Programs on Employee Essay

The Impact of Human Resource Development Programs on Employee Performance - Essay Example In this research, primary data was gathered through the use of a survey questionnaire and interviews administered to two sample groups, namely managers and rank-and-file employees of ARAMCO. The 100 respondents were selected through stratified random sampling, comprising 80 rank-and-file employees and 20 managerial employees. Secondary data were gathered from existing literature on ARAMCO, particularly its annual report and documents existing in the public domain. The study determined that Saudi ARAMCO employs a best-fit approach to its human resources management, allowing for the gradual and continuous development of HRD policies and practices in the areas of motivation, rewards management, and performance management and appraisal. There are a number of gaps that exist between management and employee perceptions on these sensitive aspects of HRM; however, there are also a number of areas where the two parties commonly agree. The study concludes that a more effective HRM strategy may be arrived at by a refinement of the policies and practices currently evolving in the different internal environments of ARAMCO’s vast structure.SAUDI ARAMCO officially titled the ‘Saudi Arabian Oil Company’, is a unique organization on the global business landscape. It is the world’s singularly most valuable company, with assets currently valued (in 2010) at between $2.2 - $7 trillion. This value is likely to increase, however, as the company also presides over the world’s largest known oil reserves, an increasingly important commodity and the single most important driving factor for global business.

Why is hunting Dove so special Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Why is hunting Dove so special - Research Paper Example Rather, dove hunting is a harmless and unique sporting activity which if supported, would eventually culminate into infinite advantages, to the participants, the public, the government and even to the birds that are being hunted. Dove hunting has been associated with a number of issues and myths. Of late is sharply on the decrease (Decker, Enck, & Brown, 22). A number of states are against dove hunting and other states which have allowed it has got lots of restrictions on it. Dove hunting has got lots of problems in various states like Iowa and others which practice it. Firstly, dove hunting has been made to be very expensive in terms of money which is used for buying hunting license. It has also been pointed that dove hunting has little economic value which may not support the entire estate when relied on fully. Dove hunting has also been alleged that the dove species when they are decreasing in number, dove population relies on some factors which include natural conditions like extreme weather conditions, predators and predators. All these factors causes decrease in population which may affects dove species. Hunting may also affects the behavior of doves generally. When hunting becomes too much, doves may tend to migrate to places with extreme weather conditions which may expose them to diseases. There are some home steeds where the doves always migrate to when hunting and some natural conditions are severe, these places provides shelters to the doves during rainy seasons but are also very dangerous places for the doves. There are also some predators which are also in those home steeds like dogs which may in turn feed on the doves decreasing their number which also affects the species of the doves Severe restrictions on dove hunting or complete prohibition of the activity have often been justified on the grounds that dove hunting is a threat to the birds , in the sense that it would reduce the number of doves. However, it should be

A history of Greece Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

A history of Greece - Essay Example A history of Greece War between Athens and Sparta in his book, â€Å"History of the Peloponnesian War†. It was said after his death that the history was recollected through his accounts where he discusses the 27 year war between the two neighbors with strict reliance on evidence and on the philosophy of cause and effect. He is known to be the pioneer of the international relations school of thought â€Å"political realism†. Pericles funeral oration was given by the Athenian General Pericles after the end of the first year of war with Sparta, and it was done to honor and bury the war dead. It was recorded by Thucydides that the war dead would be left in a tent for three days after which they would be buried in Kerameikos, and then someone would sing their praises and tell stories of their braveries. During 431 BC Athens was going through a war with Sparta as already mentioned before, and there were no signs of victory or defeat in sight while the casualties were mounting to unexpected numbe rs.; That was when Pericles delivered this speech to praise the war dead and to sing the praises of the motherland (Athens), and in the end he delivered an epilogue to remind the audience to not speak over the dead. Pericles praises the main qualities of Athenians as the people of a country where they are free. They are all equal and no one is above the law; they live a free life and can sustain any life they want. He says that the people of Athens welcome immigrants from neighboring regions with open arms to come and see the prosperity of the Athenian people. According to him, the equality and openness raised the rank of Athens and established it as a great city of Greece. Pericles praises the people of Athens by proclaiming that the principle of the Athenian men is to die with honor and not to submit to the Spartans because, according to him, Athenian men consider it honorable to die rather than live while in submission to the oppressors and their enemies. Pericles considers Athen ian men to be free, and for them freedom means happiness and to be able to sustain happiness. They are brave and this is the reason why they are not afraid to go to war with any nation including Sparta. According to Pericles Athens was a nation by far better than Sparta. Sparta were blood thirsty warmongers whose life began and ended with wars, while Athens was a country that loved art and literature. Pericles contrasted that Athens welcomed foreigners to its country while Spartans were much jealous of the achievements of the Athenian people and envied their freedom and prosperity. He says that Athens is a democracy where decisions are not to be made by one individual but through unanimous agreement, thus implying that such is not the case in Sparta. He further exemplifies Athens by stating that in Athens, unlike in Sparta, equal justice is available to all people and this is one of the elements that differentiates Sparta from Athens where a person is identified by his deeds and not by wealth and neither does the government interfere in the life of any individual as long as he serves the state. The Athenian society was near perfect according to the speech done by Pericles. Although this might have been done so as to raise the courage of the fellow Athenians, his accounts have been considered correct by many historians who. Athens’s plusses were its art and literature, the freedom that

Problems of adolescents Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Problems of adolescents - Research Paper Example Adolescent age usually begins from the age of thirteen and wind up at nineteen. This age bracket is usually referred to as the teenage period. Although this stage is short lived, it sis a period characterized by vigorous maximum physical growth, mental development and emotional maturity. Both the internal and external aspects of development are visible. In fact, nearly all the physiological changes of human growth are completed at this bracket. In common scenario, this group is known for emotional imbalance, naivety and an overwhelming quest for adventure. As their emotions starts to balance, it is impossible not to notice appreciable level of intelligence, reasoning, thinking and appreciating of the environment surrounding them. Their memory seems to be so fresh and intact always perceiving things out of the ordinary, strong concept of creativity, well acquaintance with group associations and generalization. An adolescent is always challenging and questioning every thing a bout exis tence but feels a great sense of pride of achievement and satisfaction should their views be recognized on a discussion forum or any topic. This period is also characterized by so much joy and happiness alongside aspirations and adventures they would never want to miss. One moment this lad is in such lovely mood and the next instance he/she bursts in tears .As their emotions experience development, it is believed this is the reason why most seem to have such imbalances (Clemente, 2009). At any level of social interaction, this group would do anything to outshine her/his peers as their feelings are at maximum. Fro then, there exists a universal internalized way of understanding feelings o others who also belong to the adolescence bracket. This understanding is readily exercise on the opposite sex who they feel so eager to interact with .Consequently, in their endeavor to win the admiration of the opposite sex, they display ego centered interactions however with some checked adjustmen ts in character to cover up their big ego. For an average adolescence, there exists a natural recognition of norms and values determined by the society and knowledge of moral respect of God and belief inexistence of heaven for good people (Adams, 2005). For any household with an adolescence amidst them understands that to this person, there is defined new era in interaction occasionally accompanied by rebellion, mood swings and switched attention from the family members to wards his/her peers. Parents only become very concerned when the new era practices becomes a negative aspect of growth i.e., occurring too frequently than those they observe from children of family friends. Parents constantly feel challenge by such an unbecoming behavior and some even become emotionally affected .It is thus important to establish the general causes of such behaviors by discussing the main problems associated with an adolescence age (Clemente, 2009). To understand these underlying problems then we must dwell on normalcy ands deviation from normalcy. To understand an onset of truancy, you will notice a continuous boredom. To cover up for such boredom, the adolescent may be tempted to engage in risky activities like stealing, driving without license, being involved in drug abuse, indiscriminant sexual exploitation and at the extreme engage in physical fights. However, the above are just symptoms of degeneration thus the paper attempts to dig deep into the root causes of these symptoms

Retirement Issues Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Retirement Issues - Essay Example The essay "Retirement Issues" intends to overview the causes behind retirement plan and offer the suggestions to the younger generation on the successful accomplishment of a resilient retirement plan that is expected to get rid of the lacunas of the earlier generations in framing the same. , the term unforeseen itself is stochastic or probabilistic in nature. There is no definite way to measure all unanticipated events that might require added financial assistance and thereby extra precautionary savings. Hence, at the end of the day, it is all about series of assumptions and to some extent careful gambling with a hope that the dice would fall in the expected number. If the dice falls otherwise; then all the associated dreams with the retirement life fall into pieces like a glass house stuck with a stone. Hope does not die though, people keep on thinking that their planning considering the retirement life is on the right track and then out of the blue an emergency pops up forcing the individual and his family into the ocean of despair. By the time the individual realizes something is not right in his planning, it is too late. The most ironic thing is that this can happen owing to human error or purely out of the accident. This point to the fact that even if one is perfect regarding his retirement planning; he might face the brunt of the unforeseen events similar to anyone else. It is easily understandable now that why retirement plan is important and difficult to optimize.

Advertising and Segmentation Brief Analysis Essay

Advertising and Segmentation Brief Analysis - Essay Example It has become a household brand and a generic name that always signifies the product as a window or glass cleaner. Recently it has also widened its range by even being used for other surface cleaners like the counter tops. 2) Create a detailed profile of the consumers that would likely purchase this item Windex range offers four products, a powdered or crystal form of Windex that can be used to clean bathtubs, wash basins, and kitchen sinks, a multi surface cleaner in the spray bottle that can be used to clean any smooth surface specially kitchen counters, marble tops, patios, stoves, Windex original is used to clean glass surfaces of windows and other glass tops as well in fact Windex is used as glass cleaner in general. The most innovative and the market leading product is the Windex outdoor, it has mop like cloth piece that can be attached to a rod that can be used to clean lawn’s glass doors. The product is like a gift from heaven for everyone. The most targeted customers are the housewives; they are the ones who are the main customers when households are concerned. They are usually responsible for the purchasing of grocery and other such house maintenance goods. The other users for Windex are bar owner and hoteliers; they purchase Windex in larger quantities for the mirrors in the lobbies, washrooms and bedrooms. Every person who is willing to have their glass surfaces cleaned is the target market for Windex. It’s a medium priced product and therefore, there are no affordability issues. It is a generic brand but not a premium brand and therefore, an affordable one(Muniz &O’Guinn, 2001). 3) Clearly identify which segment the attached advertisements are targeting and the bases for the segmentation. The segment that Windex targets are household and it also targets the whole of the window cleaning industry. But majorly they are targeting only glass users. They have been around in the industry for so long that despite people trying to make their own place in the industry they have practically failed to get hold of the market share of Windex. Windex came forward and introduced the all surface cleaner, this helped people again go for the Windex brand as it had already an established and trusted image in the cleaning sector. People went for the one brand that is already trusted. Their basic target markets are families and the offices at a lower level, at a major level their major target market is the window cleaning businesses. They had recently launched a pouch refill as well. This helped them make their own product more economical, this was specifically done to target the households. Mothers/wives found it better to purchase the bottled Windex once only then later use pouches to refill them. This way they also project a more environmental friendly image as they reduced the usage of bottles. 4) Identify the details in the advertisements that suggest the common needs of the consumers. The most conveyed message through th e ads of Windex is the importance of clear glass. They have conveyed this ad through a few demonstrations that they did in the middle of the city and which surprised the citizens. The technique that they have used here is a very unique one, it is guerilla marketing that is being used to target the customers. Similarly the recent ad about the cleaning of the window which uses two birds who decide to annoy the person at home spending his time leisurely, so that he spends rest of his time cleaning the glass, the person has Windex he sprays it on the glass and the spot disappears in seconds and the birds are disappointed. This type of portrayal of the product emphasizes the fact that the product cleans the spots or smudges very swiftly and without much effort. 5) Identify any cues and why they may used. In

Marketing strategies Essay Example for Free

Marketing strategies Essay The word â€Å"strategy† is derived from the Greek word â€Å"stratà §gos†; stratus (meaning army) and â€Å"ago† (meaning leading/moving). Strategy is an action that managers take to attain one or more of the organization’s goals. Strategy can also be defined as â€Å"A general direction set for the company and its various components to achieve a desired state in the future. Strategy results from the detailed strategic planning process†. A strategy is all about integrating organizational activities and utilizing and allocating the scarce resources within the organizational environment so as to meet the present objectives. While planning a strategy it is essential to consider that decisions are not taken in a vaccum and that any act taken by a firm is likely to be met by a reaction from those affected, competitors, customers, employees or suppliers. Strategy can also be defined as knowledge of the goals, the uncertainty of events and the need to take into consideration the likely or actual behavior of others. Strategy is the blueprint of decisions in an organization that shows its objectives and goals, reduces the key policies, and plans for achieving these goals, and defines the business the company is to carry on, the type of economic and human organization it wants to be, and the contribution it plans to make to its shareholders, customers and society at large. Features of strategic management Strategy relates the firm to its environment, particularly the external environ-ment in all actions whether objective setting, or actions and resources required for its achievement. This definition emphasizes on the systems approach of management and treats an organization as part of the society consequently affected by it. Strategy is the right combination of factors both external and internal. In relating an organization to its environment, the management must also consider the internal factors too, particularly its strengths and weaknesses, to take various courses of action. Strategy is relative combination of actions. The combination is to meet a particu-lar condition, to solve certain problems, or to attain a desirable objective. It may take any form; for every situation varies and, therefore, requires a somewhat different approach. Strategy may even involve contradictory action. Since strategic action depends on environmental variables, a manager may take an action today and revise or reverse his steps tomorrow depending on the situations. Strategy is forward looking. It has orientation towards the future. Strategic ac-tion is required in a new situation. Nothing-new requiring solutions can exist in the past, and so strategy is relevant only to the future. Process The strategic management process is more than just a set of rules to follow. It is a philosophical approach to business. Upper management must think strategically first, then apply that thought to a process. The strategic management process is best implemented when everyone within the business understands the strategy. The five stages of the process are goal-setting, analysis, strategy formation, strategy implementation and strategy monitoring. 1. Goal-Setting The purpose of goal-setting is to clarify the vision for your business. This stage consists of identifying three key facets: First, define both short- and long-term objectives. Second, identify the process of how to accomplish your objective. Finally, customize the process for your staff, give each person a task with which he can succeed. Keep in mind during this process your goals to be detailed, realistic and match the values of your vision. Typically, the final step in this stage is to write a mission statement that succinctly communicates your goals to both your shareholders and your staff. 2. Analysis Analysis is a key stage because the information gained in this stage will shape the next two stages. In this stage, gather as much information and data relevant to accomplishing your vision. The focus of the analysis should be on understanding the needs of the business as a sustainable entity, its strategic direction and identifying initiatives that will help your business grow. Examine any external or internal issues that can affect your goals and objectives. Make sure to identify both the strengths and weaknesses of your organization as well as any threats and opportunities that may arise along the path. 3. Strategy Formulation The first step in forming a strategy is to review the information gleaned from completing the analysis. Determine what resources the business currently has that can help reach the defined goals and objectives. Identify any areas of which the business must seek external resources. The issues facing the company should be prioritized by their importance to your success. Once prioritized, begin formulating the strategy. Because business and economic situations are fluid, it is critical in this stage to develop alternative approaches that target each step of the plan. 4. Strategy Implementation Successful strategy implementation is critical to the success of the business venture. This is the action stage of the strategic management process. If the overall strategy does not work with the business current structure, a new structure should be installed at the beginning of this stage. Everyone within the organization must be made clear of their responsibilities and duties, and how that fits in with the overall goal. Additionally, any resources or funding for the venture must be secured at this point. Once the funding is in place and the employees are ready, execute the plan. 5. Evaluation and Control Strategy evaluation and control actions include performance measurements, consistent review of internal and external issues and making corrective actions when necessary. Any successful evaluation of the strategy begins with defining the parameters to be measured. These parameters should mirror the goals set in Stage Types of strategic management 1. Functional strategies Functional strategy- selection of decision rules in each functional area. Thus, functional strategies in any organization, some (e.g., marketing strategy, financial strategy, etc.). It is desirable that they have been fixed in writing. In particular, functional strategies are as follows: Production strategy( make or buy) defines what the company produces itself, and that purchases from suppliers or partners, that is, how far worked out the production chain. Financial Strategy- to select the main source of funding: the development of their own funds (depreciation, profit, the issue of shares, etc.) or through debt financing (bank loans, bonds, commodity suppliers credits, etc.). Organizational strategy- decision on the organization of the staff (choose the type of organizational structure, compensation system, etc.). May be allocated and other functional strategies, for example, the strategy for research and experimental development (R D), investment strategy, etc. In addition, each of the functional strategies can be divided into components. For example, organizational strategy can be divided into three components: strategy of building organizations to select the type of structure (divisional, functional, project, etc.); strategy to work with the staff a way of training (mainly administrative staff), training of staff (in a business or educational institutions), career planning, etc.; Strategy wages (in the broader sense rewards and penalties) in particular, the approach to the compensation of senior managers (salary, bonuses, profit sharing, etc.). Organization for the implementation of the strategy at the functional area responsible senior specialist (Ch. Engineer, Director of Finance), at the enterprise level the general director or director of the department, at the level of groups of companies a collegiate body (management, board of directors). 2. Human resources Role in Strategy Formulation: HRM is in a unique position to supply competitive intelligence that may be useful in strategy formulation. Details regarding advanced incentive plans used by competitors, opinion survey data from employees, elicit information about customer complaints, information about pending legislation etc. can be provided by HRM. Unique HR capabilities serve as a driving force in strategy formulation. 3. Marketing strategies Marketing management is a business discipline which is focused on the practical application of marketing techniques and the management of a firms marketing resources and activities. Globalization has led firms to market beyond the borders of their home countries, making international marketinghighly significant and an integral part of a firms marketing strategy. Marketing managers are often responsible for influencing the level, timing, and composition of customer demand accepted definition of the term. In part, this is because the role of a marketing manager can vary significantly based on a businesss size, corporate culture, and industry context. For example, in a large consumer products company, the marketing manager may act as the overall general manager of his or her assigned product. To create an effective, cost-efficient marketing management strategy, firms must possess a detailed, objective understanding of their own business and the market in which they operate. In analyzing these issues, the discipline of marketing management often overlaps with the related discipline of strategic planning. To achieve the desired objectives, marketers typically identify one or more target customer segments which they intend to pursue. Customer segments are often selected as targets because they score highly on two dimensions: 1) The segment is attractive to serve because it is large, growing, makes frequent purchases, is not price sensitive (i.e. is willing to pay high prices), or other factors; and 2) The company has the resources and capabilities to compete for the segments business, can meet their needs better than the competition, and can do so profitably. [3] In fact, a commonly cited definition of marketing is simply meeting needs profitably. 4. Financial strategy To get the most out of your financial resources and achieve sustainability youll need to successfully manage all your funding and financing sources in an overarching strategy for your organisation. Many organisations manage income from a number of different funding and finance sources from donations, grants, contracts and income generated from trading. A financial strategy enables your organisation to assess your financial needs and the sources of support required to meet your objectives and fulfil the organisational mission, whilst also planning for continued growth to enable stability. Youre financial strategy will derive from your mission. So the first step is to clearly define why you exist and you plan to achieve your mission before preparing any budgets. Cadbury History Birmingham 1824 John Cadbury was one of ten children of Richard Tapper Cadbury, a prominent Quaker who had moved to Birmingham, England from the West Country in 1794. In 1824, 22-year-old John Cadbury opened his first shop at 93 Bull Street, next to his fathers drapery and silk business in the then fashionable part of Birmingham. Apart from selling tea and coffee, John Cadbury sold hops, mustard and a new sideline cocoa and drinking chocolate, which he prepared using a mortar and pestle. Cocoa and drinking chocolate had been introduced into England in the 1650s but remained a luxury enjoyed by the elite of English society. Customers at John Cadburys shop were amongst the most prosperous Birmingham families, the only ones who could afford the delicacy. Cocoa beans were imported from South and Central America and the West Indies. Experimenting with his mortar and pestle, John Cadbury produced a range of cocoa and chocolate drinks, the latter with added sugar. The products were sold in blocks: customers scraped a little off into a cup or saucepan and added hot milk or water. John Cadbury had a considerable flair for advertising and promotion. John Cadbury is desirous of introducing to particular notice Cocoa Nibs, prepared by himself, an article affording a most nutritious beverage for breakfast, announced his first advertisement in the Birmingham Gazette in March 1824. He soon established himself as one of the leading cocoa and drinking chocolate traders in Birmingham. The popularity and growing sales of John Cadburys cocoa and drinking chocolate of superior quality determined the future direction of the business. In 1831, John Cadbury rented a small factory in Crooked Lane not far from his shop. He became a manufacturer of drinking chocolate and cocoa, laying the foundation for the Cadbury chocolate business. These early cocoa and drinking chocolates were balanced with potato starch and sago flour to counter the high cocoa butter content, while other ingredients were added to give healthy properties. By 1842, John Cadbury was selling sixteen lines of drinking chocolate and cocoa in cake and powder forms. The Quaker Influence The Cadbury family were prominent members of the Society of Friends or Quakers, one of the many nonconformist religious groups formed in the 17th century. Their strong beliefs carried into campaigns aimed at ending poverty and deprivation and many prominent Quaker-run businesses were part of reforms of social and industrial society in Victorian Britain. John Cadburys lifelong involvement with the Temperance Society influenced the direction of his business enterprise. By providing tea, coffee, cocoa and chocolate as an alternative to alcohol he felt he was helping to alleviate some of the alcolohol-related causes of poverty and deprivation amongst working people. He also incorporated some of these principles in his industrial relations philosophy. (See A Progressive Workplace) Cadbury Brothers of Birmingham John Cadbury As the enterprise prospered, in 1847 John Cadbury rented a larger factory in Bridge Street, off Broad Street, in the centre of Birmingham and went into partnership with his brother Benjamin trading as Cadbury Brothers of Birmingham. The retail side of the business in Bull Street was passed to a nephew, Richard Cadbury Barrow in 1849. Barrow Stores, as it became, traded in Central Birmingham until the 1960s. A major turning point for the cocoa and chocolate industry came in the mid-1850s, when taxes on imported cocoa beans were reduced by Prime Minister William Gladstone. The previously prohibitive chocolate products were now within the reach of the wider population. Cadbury Brothers received their first Royal Warrant on February 4, 1854 as manufacturers of cocoa and chocolate to Queen Victoria. The company continues to hold royal warrants of appointment. During the 1850s business began to decline. The partnership between the first Cadbury brothers was dissolved in 1860, a difficult time in the companys history. John Cadburys sons Richard and George, who had joined the company in the 1850s, became the second Cadbury brothers to run the business when their father retired due to failing health in 1861. John Cadbury devoted the rest of his life to civic and social work in Birmingham until his death in 1889. Although they had worked in their fathers business for some years, the prospects for Richard. 25, and George, 21, were daunting. Their first five years were a period of unremitting toil with few customers, long hours and very frugal living. Both seriously considered taking up other vocations Richard as a surveyor in England and George as a tea planter in India. George was focused on manufacturing, and Richard with sales, but in the early days both brothers went out and promoted their goods. Due to their dedication, sheer hard work and improvements in the quality of Cadbury cocoa products, the business survived and prospered. Technological Advancements Historic packaging Dissatisfied with the quality of cocoa products, including their own, the Cadbury brothers took a momentous step in 1866 that not only had a bearing on their business but revolutionised the whole of the British cocoa business. Until that time English cocoa had been heavily adulterated with starch substances like potato flour or sago to mask the excess cocoa butter. The cocoa drink, as described by George Cadbury himself, was a comforting gruel. Following a visit to the Van Houten factory in Holland to see their new cocoa press, the brothers introduced this new process to their Bridge Street factory. The press removed some of the cocoa butter from the beans, producing a less rich and more palatable cocoa essence the forerunner of the cocoa we know today. There was no need to add flour and Cadburys new cocoa essence was advertised as Absolutely puretherefore Best At that time there was much concern in Parliament about the adulteration of food, including cocoa. The new unadulterated Cadburys cocoa essence was heralded as a major breakthrough and resulted in the passing of the Adulteration of Food Acts in 1872 and 1875. Cadbury received a remarkable amount of free publicity during this period and sales increased dramatically. The marketing of this cocoa essence helped turn a small business into a vast worldwide company. The introduction of cocoa essence was not the only innovation that improved the Cadbury Brothers trade. The plentiful supply of cocoa butter remaining after the cocoa was pressed made it possible to produce a wide variety of new kinds of eating chocolate, leading to the development of the smooth creamy chocolate produced today. The quality of the chocolates made by the company following the introduction of the cocoa press was such that in the 1870s, Cadbury broke the monopoly which French producers had previously enjoyed in the British Market. Cadburys Chocolate Box A chocolate for eating had been produced at the Cadbury factory since 1849 but it was not, by todays standards, a very palatable product. With the availability of cocoa butter a new chocolate recipe produced chocolate similar to that which we enjoy today. Refined plain chocolate was made for moulding into blocks or making bars and chocolate creams that with chocolate-covered fruit-flavoured centres. Cadburys fancy chocolates- or assortments as they are now called were sold in decorated boxes, with small pictures that children could cut out to stick into scrapbooks. Richard Cadbury applied his considerable artistic talents to introduce more ambitious and attractive box designs from his own paintings, using his own children as models or depicting flowers and scenes from his travels. They were the first British-made fancy chocolate boxes and were very popular. Some of his original boxes still exist. Elaborate chocolate boxes were much prized as special gifts by the late Victorians as they could later be used as trinket or button boxes. Chocolate box designs ranged from superb velvet covered caskets with bevelled mirrors and silk lined jewel boxes to pretty boxes with pictures on the lid. The popularity of these splendid Cadbury boxes continued until their disappearance during the Second World War. Victorian and Edwardian chocolate boxes are now collectors items. Cadbury Brothers Ltd The business became a private limited company Cadbury Brothers Limited in 1899 following Richard Cadburys sudden death at the age of 63. George Cadbury became chairman of the new board and his fellow directors were Barrow and William A. Cadbury, sons of Richard and two of his own sons, Edward and George Cadbury Junior. By 1899, the Bournville factory had trebled in size with more than 2,600 employees. With the formation of the limited company, Bournville entered a new era as the younger members of the Board introduced new ideas analytical laboratories, advertising and cost offices, a sales department, works committee, medical department, pension funds, education and training for employees. The Bournville factory site became a series of factories within a factory, as everything needed for the business was produced on site, including tin box pressing plants, carton making units, a design studio and printing plant. This policy continued until well after the Second World War when the rationalisation of the business to mainstream activity production and marketing of chocolate confectionery- led to the use of outside specialised suppliers for ancillary items. . Cadbury India began its operations in India in 1948 by importing chocolates. It now has manufacturing facilities in Thane, Induri (Pune) and Malanpur (Gwalior), Bangalore and Baddi (Himachal Pradesh) and sales offices in New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai. The corporate head office is inMumbai. Since 1965 Cadbury has also pioneered the development of cocoa cultivation in India. For over two decades, Cadbury has worked with theKerala Agricultural University to undertake cocoa research. Cadbury was incorporated in India on 19 July 1948. Currently, Cadbury India operates in five categories – Chocolate confectionery, Beverages, Biscuits, Gum and Candy. Some of the key brands are Cadbury Dairy Milk, Bournvita, 5 Star, Perk, Bournville, Celebrations, Gems, Halls, Éclairs, Bubbaloo, Tang and Oreo. Its products include Cadbury Dairy Milk, Dairy Milk Silk, Bournville, 5-Star, Perk, Gems (a version of MMs), Eclairs,Bournvita, Celebrations, Bilkul Cadbury Dairy Milk Shots, Toblerone, Halls, Tang and Oreo. It is the market leader in the chocolate confectionery business with a market share of over 70%. Products Major chocolate brands produced by Cadbury include the bars Dairy Milk, Crunchie, Caramel, Wispa, Boost, Picnic, Flake, Curly Wurly, Chomp, and Fudge; chocolate Buttons; the boxed chocolate brand Milk Tray; and the twist-wrapped chocolates Heroes. As well as Cadburys chocolate, the company also owns Maynards and Halls, and is associated with several types of confectionery including former Trebor and Bassetts brands or products such as Liquorice Allsorts, Jelly Babies, Flumps, Mints, Black Jack chews, Trident gum, and Softmints. Notable product introductions include: 1866: Cocoa Essence 1875: Easter Eggs 1897: Milk Chocolate and Fingers 1905: Dairy Milk 1908: Bournville 1914: Frys Turkish Delight 1915: Milk Tray 1920: Flake 1923: Creme Egg (launched as Frys) 1926: Cadbury Dairy Milk Fruit Nut 1929: Crunchie (launched as Frys) 1938: Roses 1948: Fudge 1958: Picnic 1960: Dairy Milk Buttons 1968: Aztec 1970: Curly Wurly 1974: Snack 1976: Double Decker 1981: Wispa (relaunched 2007) 1985: Boost 1987: Twirl 1992: Time Out 1995: Wispa Gold (relaunched 2009 and 2011) 1996: Fuse 2001: Brunch Bar, Dream and Flake Snow 2009: Dairy Milk Silk 2010: Dairy Milk Bliss 2011: Big Race oreo 2012: Marvellous Creations and Crispello. Advertising controversy In May 2011 the model Naomi Campbell described the new advertisement for the Bliss bar as insulting and hurtful. Reacting to the advertisement, which had the tag line Move over Naomi – there is a new diva in town, Campbell said, I am shocked. Its upsetting to be described as chocolate, not just for me, but for all black women and black people. I do not find any humour in this. A spokesperson for the company insisted that the campaign was a light-hearted take on the social pretensions of Cadbury Dairy Milk Bliss. The campaign was, he later added, no longer in circulation we have no plans to repeat the campaign. Reacting to Campbells outburst, comedian Reginald D. Hunter, on the BBC television comedy quiz Have I Got News For You, suggested that it was complimentary for black people to be compared to chocolate, and that enjoyment of the Bliss bar might even be enhanced by a love of black people. Health and safety 2006 Salmonella scare On 19 January 2006, Cadbury Schweppes detected a rare strain of the Salmonella bacteria, affecting seven of its products, said to have been caused by a leaking pipe. The leak occurred at itsMarlbrook plant, in Herefordshire, which produces chocolate crumb mixture; the mixture is then transported to factories at Bournville and formerly Somerdale to be turned into milk chocolate. It was not until around six months after the leak was detected that Cadbury Schweppes officially notified the Food Standards Agency, shortly after which it recalled more than a million chocolate bars. In December 2006, the company announced that the cost of dealing with the contamination would reach  £30 million. In April 2007, Birmingham City Council announced that it would be prosecuting Cadbury Schweppes in relation to three alleged offences of breaching food safety legislation. At that time, theHealth Protection Agency identified 31 people who had been infected with Salmonella Montevideo. One of the alleged victims had to be kept on a hospital isolation ward for five days after eating a Cadburys caramel bar. An investigation being carried out at that time by Herefordshire Council led to a further six charges being brought. The company pleaded guilty to all nine charges, and was fined one million pounds at Birmingham Crown Court—the sentencing of both cases was brought together.[70] Analysts have said the fine is not material to the group, with mitigating factors limiting the fine being that the company quickly admitted its guilt and said it had been mistaken that the infection did not pose a threat to health. Head office Cadburys head office is the Cadbury House in the Uxbridge Business Park in Uxbridge, London Borough of Hillingdon, England. The building occupies 84,000 square feet (7,800 m2) of space inside Building 3 of the business park. Cadbury, which leases space in the building it occupies, had relocated from central London to its current head office. Cadburys previous head office was in 25 Berkeley Square in Mayfair, City of Westminster. In 1992 the company leased the space for  £55 per 1 square foot (0.093 m2). In 2002 the company agreed to pay  £68.75 per square foot. The Daily Telegraph reported in 2007 that the rent was expected to increase to a three-figure sum. In 2007 Cadbury Schweppes had announced that it was moving to Uxbridge to cut costs. As of that year the head office had 200 employees. After the Kraft Foods acquisition of Cadbury, Kraft announced that the Cadbury head office would remain the Cadbury House. Mission statement of cadbury. Cadbury’s mission statement says simply: ‘Cadbury means quality’; this is our promise. Our reputation is built upon quality; our commitment to continuous improvement will ensure that our promise is delivered’ . Vision The Vision into action (VIA) plan embodies all aspects of our strategy. Our governing objective is to deliver superior shareowner returns by realizing our vision to be the world’s biggest and best confectionery company. At the heart of our plan is our financial scorecard, judiciously reinforced by our priorities, commitments and culture . Management information strategy. A management information system (MIS) provides information that organizations require to manage themselves efficiently and effectively.[1] Management information systems are typically computer systems used for managing five primary components: 1.) Hardware, 2.) Software, 3.) Data (information for decision making), 4.) Procedures (design,development and documentation), and 5.) People (individuals, groups, or organizations). Management information systems are distinct from other information systems, in that they are used to analyze and facilitate strategic and operational activities.[2] Academically, the term is commonly used to refer to the study of how individuals, groups, and organizations evaluate, design, implement, manage, and utilize systems to generate information to improve efficiency and effectiveness of decision making, including systems termed decision support systems, expert systems, and executive information systems.[2] Most business schools (or colleges of business administration within universities) have an MIS department, alongside departments of accounting, finance, management, marketing, and sometimes others, and grant degrees (at undergrad, masters, and PhD levels) in MIS. Characteristics of management information strategies Strategic information management is a salient feature in the world of information technology (IT). In a nutshell, strategic information management helps businesses and organizations categorize, store, process and transfer the information they create and receive. It also offers tools for helping companies apply metrics and analytical tools to their information repositories, allowing them to recognize opportunities for growth and pinpoint ways to improve operational efficiency. Automation IT professionals design strategic information management systems to automate the management of incoming and outgoing information to the greatest possible degree. While each company has its own unique IT needs, strategic information management systems typically include built-in controls that filter, sort, categorize and store information in easy-to-manage categories. Customization Strategic information management systems are typically customized to meet the unique needs of each individual company. Incoming and outgoing data can be sorted and cross-referenced according to a wide range of individually specified controls and parameters, which include the companys business verticals and horizontals, individual clients, demographics, geographic location and business function. Strategic information management systems are extensively categorized, allowing for an optimal level of organization. Access controls can be as strict or as lax as the client wants, allowing for company-wide access to information databases or limiting information accessibility to key personnel. User-specific controls can also be set, in case employees need access to certain information but management wants to limit their access to sensitive data. Benefits The benefits of strategic information management can be felt from the executive level right down to the functional staff level. It can help businesses expand their operations into new areas, set goals, measure performance and improve overall productivity. Risks Some of the risks involved with strategic information management systems include implementation challenges, incompatibility with client databases and human error. As with other IT management techniques, data protection and information security is also an ongoing concern. Conclusion Cadbury is one of the best known brands in the world today. It is a brand which is associated with high levels of quality and customer satisfaction. The ongoing growth of Cafà © Cadbury provides a flagship that further helps to enhance the reputation of the Cadbury Masterbrand. At the same time, it provides customers with the opportunity to indulge themselves in the enjoyment of high quality products in a welcoming environment.

A history of social policy changes

A history of social policy changes With reference to changes in government policy and ideologies of welfare, debate the significance of the shift from Victorian Pauper to 21st century service user and its impact on social work practice and values. This assignment has used a timeline of government changes and policies as a background to debate the shift from Victorian pauper to the 21st century service user. The divide between poor and rich has always been an issue that all governments have tried to diminish using different policies and laws. However there is still that divide that seems to be increasing. Has much changed since the Poor Law was implemented? Are individuals given more choice and rights now? Will there always be stigma attached and social exclusion that comes from using these words, do they still have the same meaning? This assignment will attempt to answer these questions using references to policy and ideologies of welfare. The definition of a Pauper according to the Collins dictionary is someone who is extremely poor or historically eligible for public charity. The definition of a service user is someone who uses or receives health or social care services. (General social care council) According to Sen, 1999 the term service user was introduced because of gained strength of powerless people during the 1980s. This term indicates an acknowledgement of the government and public, understanding that service users have a positive role. They still have capabilities and can realise their potential, they are not just individuals who are entitled to help via the services we offer. Although this term was produced by the individuals who use the services it still highlights that they work with professionals and that the power still resides with them. (Adams, Dominelli and Payne, 2009) The National network of service users: Shaping our lives believe that the term service user is positive, its an individual who uses the services, they confer power creating a stronger voice and having a greater ability to shape services. (Levin 2004) The changes in policy from Pauper to service user have been vast. British social policys foundation is from the Poor Laws, the first one passed in 1598 the last 1948. The Elizabethan Poor Law of 1601 provided a compulsory poor rate and helped set the poor onto work. However as the Parish was the basic area of administration laws were enforced differently in that area, meaning the operation of the Poor Law was inconsistent between areas, the beginning of the postcode lottery. The Poor Law amendment act of 1834 modified the existing system that was in place, it was implemented at a higher stage not just at Parish level ,Poor Law unions were introduced the development of the workhouses was encouraged, one workhouse in each union to give poor relief. This act stated that no able bodied person was to receive any other help other than in the workhouse. This laws primary problem was to make life inside as bad as outside of the workhouse, this was difficult as some would have had to be starved to meet what they met outside. There was a stigma attached though and it was that reputation that stopped everyone from using a workhouse, they produced jail style segregation men and women and even families had to be separated. As the government thought this was the best way to help the neediest families they saw no problems with this Act. In fact the neediest families still werent using the help and going into a workhouse because they didnt want to be separated. Not unlike families today that still dont ask for help because of the stigma or because they dont know or understand the system implemented to help them as much as possible. It was in 1869 that The Charitable Organisation Society was formed to make charities more effective, they understood that charitable assistance was needed but believed that their aim was to reach all families, they were also unsure of how the money from charities had previously been spent. They set out financial help introducing local committees, these then raised funds and distributed to families in need. Also very similar to many charities today, there are still many families who dont ask for help because of religion, language, pride or just werent told. (Family action) COS found that it wasnt just financial help that people needed, so they started to offer emotional and practical help too. When they had many families needing help they knew there volunteers would need training, this became the pioneer in the profession of social work, something that our foundations are based on today. The main foundation of COS was to change policy to help the people suffering the effects of poverty, something that social workers do now, the general council of social workers are still working to help those suffering the most and work towards giving help to those who have unable to find help elsewhere and give social work support as well as signpost to other services that may help them further. From this time more acts were introduced including the Public health act of 1872. During this time poverty was never really defined they understood what brought it about like unemployment or illness, if they had defined poverty it may have helped introduced different acts to prevent it. In the 1900s poverty was ever increasing, the settlement movement started its idea was to establish settlement houses in poor areas with the idea that the middle class would volunteer to live with them, sharing their knowledge and help alleviate the poverty of their poor neighbours. From this movement many initiatives emerged and helped to improve conditions of all poor areas of society and help all individuals. This movement focused on the causes of poverty providing a number of services including education and health services. This settlement movement is another foundation of social work practice today, no we dont live with the individuals in need, but the whole reason of social work is to use our education and knowledge to alleviate the problems they have and help them emotionally, practically and financially, which is just what these volunteers did. Although some argued that this was normative because some wanted the divide between the poor and higher classes. (Laybourn, 1995) Al though this movement was important the more powerful COS submerged as the controversial nature of social work, there was individuals that were not eligible for help these were still at the workhouse, and most of these individuals were women who bore children out of wedlock. Although the settlement movement was also necessary in society in focusing on poverty, it focused on a more structured analyses of poverty and its impact on human behaviour by practising interventions at a community level, which is needed now to help small communities help each other as well as individually. The nature of social work practice then focused on individuals and a significant element of this time is the elimination of hearing clients voices and the incomparable knowledge of the professionals working with them. Only now is the service users voice being recognised again. (Adams et al, 2009) The Poor Law was the basis of the development of services for the 20th century, including the national insurance act, these new services were introduced to avoid having to rely on the Poor Laws. (Alcock, 2003) The government laid the basis of the future social services, the major concern was that all areas should be given the same services, these new services were provided away from The Poor Law to evade the association. Even though these new ideologies were introduced to provide services to all individuals there was still a stigma attached, even now there is still a stigma attached to the term service user, although governments have changed their policies to use different terms some still have the same meaning. A major report produced regarding the welfare of individuals was the Beveridge report. This report focused on how Britain could be rebuilt after the war. In 1945 labour was elected and promised to introduce a welfare state. The welfare state involved introducing new services these included family allowances, the national health services and housing acts to name a few. The welfare state was produced to encourage the provision of services for the public not as a response to poverty. (Laybourn, 1995) this is where a major criticism lies within debates regarding the welfare state within current governments. In the 1950s the provision of welfare state services became problematic, government interventions at the time didnt help and caused further problems so the Conservative government took over and cut the help given to the poor and sick. This then made the distribution of income more imbalanced and although attempted to make the poor more hardworking and self sufficient it didnt work. One report that impacted policy and practice during the 1960s was the Seabohm report 1968, this report re-introduced poverty. This paper was tasked to review the organisation and responsibilities of the local authority personal social services in England and to consider what changes are desirable to secure an effective family service. (Seebohm, 1968, pg11.) Prior to this report social work was spread across various local authorities and different government sections, because of this the report found that there was inadequacies in the quality of provision and access was very difficult. The report recommended a new local authority department providing a community based and family orientated service, which will be available for all When this recommendation was brought into action new social services department were formed. Seebohm did foresee problems which were highlighted in the report, it stated that having separate departments for children and adults would make it difficult to treat the familys needs as a whole. Another important Report was the Barclay Report, 1982 that looked into the role of a social worker, in its opening line it states that too much is expected of social workers. It found that it was a profession that was confused about its role and because of intense media scrutiny was struggling with its work load. It found that there was an ongoing need for social workers to fulfil many functions including promoting community networks, working with other services and acting on clients behalf and to act as resources for all individual who need help. The report did criticise social work departments for taking a reactive stance towards social problems, dealing with those needs which are forced upon their attention but failing to develop overall plans which link the voluntary, volunteer, statutory and private services in an area into a coherent plan (p.38) which is still a problem today. Although these reports have all highlighted how good social work is and how much its needed there are so many problems involved in the profession. Firstly because every government have changed the way the work as soon as they get used to it, it changes again, yes the changes could be for the better but are these just changes for changes sake? The labour government have imposed new policies and directives for social work but after 8 years there are still problems within social work some which could be easily acted upon. We will only know if these new policies and new social work task force works over time. As its been highlighted earlier in this assignment there is still an implication involved in being a service user just as there was being a pauper. Whilst researching the different acts and welfare ideologies that have been introduced throughout the timeline Ive used Ive realised that there are more similarities than comparisons between a services user and pauper. They still have problems accessing help and there are many families who still dont ask for help because of the stigma. However new approaches have introduced service user involvement by defining what help they want and defining the quality of help they receive. A recent report by Beresford, Shamash, Forrest and Turner, 2007 research service users vision for adult service they found that the process of accessing social care was frequently negative for service users, the assessments were very dependent on the quality of the staff carrying it out, which shouldnt be happening all social workers should work to one high standard it shouldnt be a lottery of if you get a good one or not. Access to communicating with the social worker was low and that many of the service users questioned had gaps in their services making them feel insecure. A major problem through history has been a struggle to get good support for these individuals. Whilst researching this topic I realised that service users know what they want and can easily highlight the problems at the minute one report found while welfare bureaucracy has been condemned by governments for a long while service users still identify problems. One individual said that we shouldnt have to fill out forms to be made to feel like beggars, not unlike The Poor Law and paupers opinions. There is still social exclusion, the poor will stay poor because they have just enough to get by so they wont stop, think and revolt. But do social workers maintain this, because they help them just enough, finding the quickest thing they can do to help them not necessarily the best way in the long run. New Labour has had so much time to make improvements and rectify social exclusion but child poverty is getting worst. How much have rights helped service users, many reports have found that they feel more responsible and confident about the help they are receiving when they have been more involved in the decision processes. Although some still feel like they are hidden away from society and when they have more experience of their disability they need to be acknowledged. The report by Beresford et al, 2007 also found that service users would like a watchdog with service users and professionals and they should be the judges of quality. One dilemma that social workers face is working towards anti discriminatory practice, equality should be the core of provisions of service, and it needs to take into account religion and backgrounds. Yes some progress has been made involving diversity for example the race equality act, still lots of progress needs to be made. There are many barriers when considering the major historical events that brought about social work and the values it has now. We see that welfare state is a necessary condition of social work flourishing and to defend it or is it temporary in which internationally social work will then erupt from something else. One barrier when understanding which major events affected what social work is today is our understanding of the history of social work, the history isnt concrete it changes daily. Most of the history of social work comes from COS as its origin and its methods are still used today. However Laybourn, 1997 has found other methods that were used that have yet to be examined this may have been because COS was used in London and this would have an effect on the history, power will always influence history. To conclude social work has changed significantly and is still very important and we will progress to help all individuals, we need a larger voice though to talk about the problems we face as a profession to ensure that service users and pauper have fewer similarities. I believe that service users have shifted from paupers as they have much more freedom and rights now, yes there are still similarities which need to be focused on to improve our system and we could probably be a better service if problems hadnt occurred along the way to affect how we work, we also need to refuse to let policies be imposed on us when they dont improve on what were already doing. Rights are now benefiting service users but we need to ensure it stays like this. Whilst working towards anti discriminatory practice and equality for all we need to ensure our values are the same that we contribute to a fairer society by reducing disadvantage and exclusion and promoting fair access to resources. Many policies a nd acts have been the bedrock of what social work is today and without them social work would be very different.

Gene Therapy for Alzheimers Disease

Gene Therapy for Alzheimers Disease Imagine that in fifty years, people no longer fear forgetting how to make a sandwich, driving to the store without getting lost, or no longer recognizing loved ones; thats a future people can look forward to when Alzheimers disease has been eradicated by gene therapy. Alzheimers is a type of dementia that affects people worldwide as well as those who love them. Gene therapy, the transplantation of normal genes into cells to replace defective ones, is a promising treatment for correcting the underlying causes of the disease instead of just controlling its horrendous symptoms. Alzheimers is a disease for which there is currently no cure. Symptoms of the disease include problems remembering newly learned information, confusion, memory loss, behavioral changes and much more (Alzheimers). Currently available treatments only help to delay the progression of symptoms and improve the quality of life for those it affects. It is imperative that progress be made in treating the disease considering that Alzheimers is the most common form of dementia, accounting for between sixty to eighty percent of dementia cases, affecting over forty million people worldwide, and being the sixth main cause of death in the United States (Brazier, 2016). However, in order to be effective in combating this degenerative brain disease, researchers must first understand the underlying causes. Researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine as well as in the United Kingdom have found a protein fragment that they believe is a factor in causing Alzheimers: the beta-amyloid protein, AB. AB by itself is not detrimental to the health of the human brain; however, when the concentration of AB in the brain increases, the protein begins destroying synapses before clumping into plaques that ultimately lead to nerve cell death (Goldman, 2013). Scientists at Stanford found that as long as AP is in its soluble form it can travel freely in the brain without negative consequences. However, in its insoluble, clustered form, called plaques, AB can bind to receptors on nerve cells, starting a process that erodes the synaptic connections between cells (Goldman, 2013). AB is generated by the cleavage of the amyloid precursor protein, APP, by the enzyme B-secretase. It was found, in research conducted by S. Herbert, et. al., that the expression of the enzyme B-secretase is Alzheimers patients than in people without Alzheimers. B-secretase is the rate determining step in the production of AB, therefore a reduction in the expression of B-secretase is expected to reduce AB concentration in the brain and maintain a harmless, soluble level, and thus destructive plaques will not be created. Researchers began to develop a new gene therapy that could prevent the accumulation of AB in the brain. The discovery that the PPARy-coactivator-1a, PGC-1a, gene, whose expression is reduced in Alzheimers patients, regulates the transcription of B-secretase (Katsouri, 2016), allowed researchers to start working on a gene therapy to increase PGC-1a expression, thereby reducing B-secretase in the brain. Using mice as models of Alzheimers, researchers experimented with creating a lentiviral vector to express PGC-1a and replace damaged genes with healthy ones in patients brain cells. The mice, called APP23 mice, were bred to develop AB plaques in their brains that increase in size as they age, similar to the way AB plaques in Alzheimers patients behave (Katsouri, 2016). The similarities between the brains of these mice and those of Alzheimers patients allowed the researchers to experiment with the lentiviral vector they developed and observed the effect the ehalthy gene had on the brains of the mice. It was found that, four months after the injection of the PGC-1a carrying lentiviral vector, the mice showed remarkable improvement in spatial and recognition memory as well as significant reduction in AB deposition and B-secretase expression (Katsouri, 2016). The researchers also found that the treatment had neuroprotective effects and helped to preserve neurons and synapses that, without treatment, were being destroyed. Based on the results they observed, L. Katsouri, et. al., were able to conclude that selective induction of PGC-1a in specific areas of the brain is effective in targeting Alzheimers-related neurodegeneration and holds great potential as a therapeutic threatment for this disease. Unlocking the genetic code has been one of the greatest scientific advancements of this age. Treatments such as gene therapy can be used to treat many of the maladies we face and the importance of research in this field cannot be overstated. Utilizing gene therapy, Alzheimers may no longer cause trepidation as we age. Citations/References: Alzheimers Association. (n.d.). Alzheimers Disease Dementia. Retrieved March 01, 2017, from http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_what_is_alzheimers.as Brazier, Y. (2016, October 11). Gene therapy could prevent Alzheimers, study suggests. Retrieved March 1, 2017, from http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/313412.php Herbert, S. S., Horre, K., Nicolai, L., Papadopoulou, A. S., Mandemakers, W., Silahtaroglu, A. N., . . . Strooper, B. D. (2008). Loss of microRNA cluster miR-29a/b-1 in sporadic Alzheimers disease correlates with increased BACE1/ -secretase expression. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 105(17), 6415-6420. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0710263105 Goldman, B. (2013, September 19). Scientists reveal how beta-amyloid may cause Alzheimers. Retrieved March 01, 2017, from http://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2013/09/scientists-reveal-how-beta-amyloid-may-cause-alzheimers.html Katsouri, L., Lim, Y. M., Blondrath, K., Eleftheriadou, I., Lombardero, L., Birch, A.M., . . . Sastre, M. (2016). PPARy-coactivator-1a gene transfer reduces neuronal loss and amyloid-B generation by reducing B-secretase in an Alzheimers disease model. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 113(43), 12292-12297. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1606171113

Government And The Long Island Sound Essay -- essays research papers

The Long Island Sound   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Long Island Sound is a vital resource used by both humans and wildlife. The quality of its water is an issue that affects everyone and everything. Scientific studies and continuous monitoring provide evidence as to what actions need to be taken to improve and restore the water quality. In more ways than one, the United States government has devoted much of its time to ensure the revival and protection of the Long Island Sound.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There are many ways to help in the protection of the Long Island Sound. Various government agencies and organizations initiate projects beneficial to the Sound. The government donates grants and monies for funding for the Long Island Sound. There are also bills and legislation passed by the government, which provides laws protecting the sound.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Long Island Sound Study (LISS) is a partnership devoted in the restoration and protection of the Sound. This partnership involves federal, state, interstate, and local agencies, universities, environmental groups, industry, and the public in a program to protect and restore the health of Long Island Sound. The Long Island Sound Study has seven issues deserving special attention. These issues are low oxygen conditions, otherwise called hypoxia, toxic contamination, pathogen contamination, floatable debris, the impact of these water quality problems and habitat degradation and loss on the health of living resources, public involvement and education, and land use.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The LISS is undergoing studies that in hopes will reduce the extent of hypoxia. In order to restore the health of Long Island Sound additional nitrogen reduction is needed. Two major research efforts have provided much of the information on how low oxygen conditions affect living resources in the Sound. The EPA’s (Environmental Protections Agencies) Office of Research and Development conducted a study which was the first major research effort.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The study used a variety of species of fish, crab, shrimp, lobster, and other crustaceans known to live on the bottom waters of the Long Island Sound were exposed to low levels of oxygen in the laboratory. The effect of different concentration of oxygen on growth and survival was measured. The second study w... ...responsible for billions of dollars of the regions economy. The government is right in its decision to do anything within reason to help the revival and preservation of the Sound. I am an environmentalist and am very pro- nature and wildlife. I feel that if we as humans are destroying and polluting the Sound, it is our responsibility to join in the effort to restore it for generations of people and wildlife to come. Works Cited DeVilleneuve, Robert, and Frank Herec. Long Island Sound Study: Summary of the Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan. New York: The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Bureau of Publications, 1994. Long Island Sound Study Partnership. Long Island Sound Study: Phase III Actions for Hypoxia Management. New York: The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Bureau of Publications, 1998. United States. Congress. House. Long Island Sound Preservation and Protection Act. Washington: May 2, 2000. United States. Congress. House. Long Island Sound Protection Act. Washington: July 13, 1999. United States. Congress. House. Long Island Sound Restoration Act. Washington: May 8, 2000.

Was there really a revolution in Germany in 1918? Discuss :: essays research papers fc

A revolution is a complete overthrow of an established government or political system, which means that the events occurring in Germany in 1918 didn’t constitute a revolution. Groups changed in and out of power, but in the end it was always one group ruling over the people, just as the Kaiser had. The Social Democrats, a right-wing political group, eventually took his place, using the Freikorps to control people. The Spartacists wanted a revolution exactly like that in Russia in the previous year, but they were never allowed the chance to come into great power. And so the governmental and social system remained fairly similar to that of the Kaiser’s rule. The general public of Germany had never had any say in political matters; they allowed the Kaiser to make all the decisions regarding themselves and their once-prosperous country. The groups controlling Germany began to change during October and November 1918. More power began to fall into the hands of the people as they realised the blame for their involvement in the war was the Kaiser’s. People such as the armed soldiers, sailors and workers started protesting and going on strike. This was a far cry from before the war, when Germany was wealthy, proud and ambitious. So for a brief period, it seemed that a revolution would take place, with the people of Germany wanting a social and political revolution. The Social Democrats were the leading party during and after the fight to remove the Kaiser from his powerful position. They were greatly influenced by the Elite, the rich Germans they thought essential to the prosperity of Germany. They recruited armed forces, the Freikorps, to aid them in controlling those opposing their ideas and policies. The Social Democrats often associated themselves with the Bolsheviks, one half of the Social Democrats that leaded the Russian Revolution the year before. But when it came down to it, the Social Democrats weren’t in favour of a change in government, and they believed â€Å"getting rid of the Kaiser was the end of the revolution† (Lacey and Shephard, 2002, p.13). The fact that there was a revolution wasn’t true, because no groups had actually wielded great power over the rest of Germany, and they hadn’t established any kind of government system. The Kaiser’s abdication, initiated by the Social Democrats, should have started a change, but instead it just made way for their party to gain control.

Macbeth :: essays research papers

Macbeth is a popular play written by William Shakespeare, which is a tragedy. In order for Macbeth to be crowned king, King Duncan would have to die. There are two main characters in the play that want the power from Duncan and are too anxious to wait. Those two characters are Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, Lady Macbeth was the one who came up with the ideas and schemes to kill King Duncan. Whenever Macbeth would be unsuccessful through the process of killing Duncan, she would back him up. Although Macbeth wanted to get out of murdering Duncan he couldn’t. To make Macbeth kill Duncan Lady Macbeth had to constantly manipulated Macbeth. Duncan is Macbeth’s cousin so it would be harder for Macbeth to stab him to death while he’s sleeping.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When Macbeth sent Lady Macbeth a letter saying that Duncan was going to stay with them for the night and then leave the next morning, she was already starting to plan out his murder. Through the process of killing Duncan, there would always be something that Macbeth would not do right, and so Lady Macbeth would have to do it over. In (2.2 62-64) Lady Macbeth says, â€Å"why did you bring these daggers from this place? They must lie there, go carry then and smear the sleepy grooms with blood.† Then again in (2.2 65- 67) Macbeth reacted â€Å"I’ll go no more, I am afraid to think what I have done look on’t again I dare not.† When Macbeth killed Duncan, he forgot to leave the daggers by the drunken chamberlains, he was already regretting killing Duncan. When he returned to the castle, Lady Macbeth was surprised to see him holding the bloody daggers. Afterward when Macbeth refused to bring the two bloody daggers back; Lady Macbeth took them out of his hands and went to the chamber where Duncan laid dead. When Lady Macbeth came back into the castle she says, (2.2 80-86) â€Å"My hands are of your color, but I shame to wear a heart so white. I hear a knocking at the south entry retire we to our chambers. A little water clears us of this deed: how simple is it then.† When she returned from the chamber saying that her hands or the same color as. I’m covered in the same blood as yours are. Someone is coming let us get to our chamber and pretend like we were

Differences in memory management between Windows and Linux Essay

Differences in memory management between Windows ® and Linux ® Windows and Linux are two of the most commonly used operating systems to date. Windows is used more by beginners and everyday computer users, while Linux is used more by advanced users and is dubbed the hackers operating system. Both the operating systems have their advantages and their disadvantages. This paper will be differentiate the two in the operating systems memory management aspect. Windows manages their virtual memory in a tree data structure. Each node in the tree is called a virtual address descriptors (VAD). Virtual memory descriptors mark each node on the tree as free, reserved, or committed virtual memory. A process beings with all addresses free which means they can be committed to memory or be reserved for future use. Before any free address can be used it has to first be allocated as reserved or committed. Linux uses a linked list data structure which is stored in the vm_area_struct structure and def ined in . The link list data begins search whenever a page is found and records the range of address, protection mode, and the direction in which it grows. If the number of entries becomes greater than 32, Linux will convert the linked list into a tree data structure depending on the current situation. Both Windows and Linux’s memory management systems distribute the process virtual address space in a similar manner. By using paging, Windows on 32bit systems will have access up to a 4GB of standalone logical address space and physical memory. The upper part of the address space is allocated with 2GB of memory for windows kernel-mode, while the lower part is also allocated with 2GB of memory for user-mode. While Linux can also access 4GB of physical memory the difference is the upper part is allocated with 1GB of memory for kernel-mode, while the lower part is allocated with 1GB for user-mode. An important part in any memory management system is the page replacement system. Page replacement decides which memory pages to page out when a page of memory needs to be allocated. Windows uses cluster demand paging, which pages are brought in the memory when they are needed. It will also bring one through eight pages in memory simultaneously instead of bringing them one by one. Windows  paging system uses a working set concept, which is determined by amount of memory assigned in the current process. It contains pages that are in the main memory which the size of the working set will be altered accordingly. The page replacement algorithm used for Windows is, â€Å"First in, First Out algorithm (F.I.F.O)†. Linux on the other hand uses demand paging so any pages no needed will not be swapped into the memory. Therefore, pages not being used will be avoided and not be read. It will also lessen the amount of physical memory and the time used to swap the pages. Linux also uses valid and non-valid bits to identify between pages that are in memory and disk. The page replacement algorithm used for Linux is, â€Å"Least Recently Used algorithm (L.R.U)†. While both Windows and Linux have their advantages and disadvantages in the operating system. They both have complex memory management systems which fulfills the users need when choosing an OS. With time we can only imagine the complexity of the future memory management systems in both Windows and Linux. References Felixbytow. (2012, July 08). FAQ/LinkedLists. Retrieved from KernelNewbies: http://kernelnewbies.org/FAQ/LinkedLists Kath, R. (1993, January 20). Managing Virtual Memory. Retrieved from Microsoft: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms810627.aspx Rparrett. (2012, 08 22). About Memory Management. Retrieved from Windows: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en- us/library/windows/desktop/aa366525%28v=vs.85%29.aspx Rusling, D. A. (1996-1999). Memory Management. Retrieved from TLDP: http://www.tldp.org/LDP/tlk/mm/memory.html

Harshad Mehta Scam

Harshad Mehta scam: Harshad Mehta  was an Indian stockbroker and is alleged to have engineered the rise in the BSE stock exchange in the year 1992. Exploiting several loopholes in the banking system, Harshad and his associates siphoned off funds from inter-bank transactions and bought shares heavily at a premium across many segments, triggering a rise in the Sensex. When the scheme was exposed, the banks started demanding the money back, causing the collapse. He was later charged with 72 criminal offenses and more than 600 civil action suits were filed against him.He died in 2002 with many litigations still pending against him. 3. 1 Ready Forward Deal (RF): †¢ The crucial mechanism through which the scam was effected was the Ready Forward deal. †¢ The Ready Forward Deal (RF) is in essence a secured short term (typically 15 day) loan from one bank to another bank. The lending is done against Government Securities exactly the way a pawnbroker lends against jewelry. †¢ In fact one can say that the borrowing bank actually sells the securities to the lending bank and buys them back at the end of the period of the loan at (typically) a slightly higher price. It was this RF deal that Harshad Mehta and his associates used with great success to channel money from banking system. 3. 2 The Mechanics of the Scam: As explained above, a ready forward deal is, in substance, a secured loan from one bank to another.To make the scam possible , the RF had to undergo a complete change. In other words it practically had to become an unsecured loan to broker. This was wonderfully engineered by the brokers. To give a better understanding of the mechanism, the whole process has been segregated into 3 different parts. . The settlement process 2. Payment cheques 3. Dispensing the security 1. The settlement Process: ? The normal settlement process in government securities is that the transacting banks make payments and deliver the securities directly to each other. ? Dur ing the scam, however, the banks or at least some banks adopted an alternative settlement process which was similar to the process used for settling transactions in the stock market. ? In this settlement process, deliveries of securities and payments are made through the broker.That is, the seller hands over the securities to the broker who passes them on to the buyer, while the buyer gives the cheque to the broker who then makes the payment to the seller. ? In this settlement process, the buyer and the seller may not even know whom they have traded with, both being known only to the broker. ? There were two important reasons why the broker intermediated settlement began to be used in the government securities markets. ? The brokers instead of merely bringing buyers and sellers together started taking positions in the market.In other words, they started trading on their own account, and in a sense became market makers in some securities thereby imparting greater liquidity to the mar kets. ? When a bank wanted to conceal the fact that it was doing an RF deal, the broker came in handy. The broker provided contract notes for this purpose with fictitious counter parties, but arranged for the actual settlement to take place with the correct counter party. 2. Payment Cheques: ? A broker intermediated settlement allowed the broker to lay his hands on the cheque as it went from one bank to another through him.The hurdle now was to find a way of crediting the cheque to his account though it was drawn in favor of a bank and was crossed account payee. ? As it happens, it is purely a matter of banking custom that an account payee cheque is paid only to the payee mentioned on the cheque. In fact, exceptions were being made to this norm, well before the scam came to light. ? Privileged (corporate) customers were routinely allowed to credit account payee cheques in favour of a bank into their own accounts to avoid clearing delays, thereby reducing the interest lost on the amo unt. Normally, if a customer obtains a cheque in his own favour and deposits it into his own account, it may take a day or two for the cheque to be cleared and for the funds to become available to the customer. At 15% interest, the interest loss on a clearing delay of two days for a Rs. 100 crores cheque is about Rs. 8 lakhs. ? On the other hand, when banks make payments to each other by writing cheques on their account with the RBI, these cheques are cleared on the same day. ? The practice which thus emerged was that a customer would obtain a cheque drawn on the RBI favoring not himself but his bank.The bank would get the money and credit his account the same day. ? This was the practice which the brokers in the money market exploited to their benefit. 3. Dispensing the security: ? The brokers thus found a way of getting hold of the cheques as they went from one bank to another and crediting the amounts to their accounts. This effectively transformed an RF into a loan to a broker r ather than to a bank. ? But this, by itself, would not have led to the scam because the RF after all is a secured loan, and a secured loan to a broker is still secured. What was necessary now was to find a way of eliminating the security itself! There are three routes adopted for this purpose: 1. Some banks (or rather their officials) were persuaded to part with cheques without actually receiving securities in return. A simple explanation of this is that the officials concerned were bribed and/or negligent. A more intriguing possibility is that the banks' senior/top management were aware of this and turned a Nelson's eye to it to benefit from higher returns the brokers could offer by diverting the funds to the stock market. One must recognize that as long as the scam lasted, the banks benefited from such an arrangement.The management of banks might have been sorely tempted to adopt this route to higher profitability. 2. The second route was to replace the actual securities by a wort hless piece of paper – a fake Bank Receipt (BR). This is discussed in greater detail in the next section. 3. The third method was simply to forge the securities themselves. In many cases, PSU bonds were represented only by allotment letters rather than certificates on security paper. And it is easier to forge an allotment letter for Rs. 100 crores worth of securities than it is to forge a 100 rupee note!Outright forgery of this kind however accounted for only a very small part of the total funds misappropriated 3. Bank Receipt: ? In an RF deal, as we have discussed it so far, the borrowing bank delivers the actual securities to the lender and takes them back on repayment of the loan. In practice, however, this is not usually done. Instead, the borrower gives a Bank Receipt (BR) which serves three functions: ? The BR confirms the sale of securities. ? It acts as a receipt for the money received by the selling bank. Hence the name – bank receipt. ? It promises to deliver the securities to the buyer.It also states that in the meantime the seller holds the securities in trust for the buyer. ? In short, a BR is something like an IOU (I owe you securities! ), and the use of the BR de facto converts an RF deal into an unsecured loan. The lending bank no longer has the securities; it has only the borrower's assurance that the borrower has the securities which can/will be delivered if/when the need arises. BRs issued without Backing of Securities: ? As stated earlier, a BR is supposed to imply that the issuer actually has the securities and holds them in trust for the buyer.But in reality the issuer may not have the securities at all. ? There are two reasons why a bank may issue a BR, which is not backed by actual securities: 1. A bank may short sell securities, that is, it sells securities it does not have. This would be done if the bank thinks that the prices of these securities would decrease. Since this would be an outright sale (not an RF! ), the ban k issues a BR. When the securities do fall in value, the bank buys them at lower prices and discharges the BR by delivering the securities sold. Short selling in some form is an integral part of most bond markets in the world.It can be argued that some amount of shortselling subject to some degree of regulation is a desirable feature of a bond market. In our opinion, an outright sale using a BR, which is not backed by securities, is not harmful per se though it violates the RBI guidelines. 2. The second reason is that the bank may simply want an unsecured loan. It may then do an RF deal issuing a â€Å"fake† BR which is a BR without any securities to back them. The lending bank would be under a mistaken impression that it is making a secured loan when it is actually advancing an unsecured loan.Obviously, lenders should have taken measures to protect themselves from such a possibility During the scam, the brokers perfected the art of using fake BRs to obtain unsecured loans fr om the banking system. They persuaded some small and little known banks – the Bank of Karad (BOK) and the Metropolitan Cooperative Bank (MCB) – to issue BRs as and when required. These BRs could then be used to do RF deals with other banks. The cheques in favour of BOK were, of course, credited into the brokers' accounts. In effect, several arge banks made huge unsecured loans to the BOK/MCB which in turn made the money available to the brokers. 4. Breakdown of the Control system in scam: ? The scam was made possible by a complete breakdown of the control system both within the commercial banks as well as the control system of the RBI itself. ? We shall examine these control systems to understand how these failed to function effectively and what lessons can be learnt to prevent failure of control systems in the future. ? The internal control system of the commercial banks involves the following features: 1. Separation of Functions:The different aspects of securities tr ansactions of a bank, namely dealing, custody and accounting are carried out by different persons. 2. Counterparty Limits: The moment an RF deal is done on the basis of a BR rather than actual securities, the lending bank has to contend with the possibility that the BR received may not be backed by any/adequate securities. In effect, therefore, it may be making an unsecured loan, and it must do the RF only if it is prepared to make an unsecured loan. This requires assessing the creditworthiness of the borrower and assigning him a â€Å"credit limit† up to which the bank is prepared to lend.Technically, this is known as a counterparty limit. 5. Other Aspects of the scam: ? There are several aspects of the scam which are closely related to the securities markets, but which are different from the operational aspect of the markets. ? These pertain to information that can cause significant changes in the prices of securities as well as the information supplied by the commercial ba nks on their financial performance. ? On each occasion the coupon rate was increased by 1/2%, thereby raising the coupon rate from 11. 5% to 13% during this ten month period.The major implication of raising interest rate on new borrowings is that it would trigger a fall in the market prices of the old loans which are pegged at the old (lower) interest rates. The price of the 11. 5% Government Loan 2010 dropped by 3% to 5% with each coupon rate hike. If anyone has advance information about these changes in the coupon rates, he could make enormous amounts of riskless profit by short selling the old securities just before the announcement of rate hike and buying back (covering his position) after the prices have fallen. ? Somebody who took a short position of Rs. 00 crores before the coupon hike of September 1991 could have made a profit of Rs. 15 crores, practically overnight! Since several persons in the Finance Ministry and the RBI are likely to be aware of the impending hike in the coupon rate, the chance of leakage of this all important information is always there. ? There have been several allegations in this regard. However, it will probably be very difficult to prove with any degree of certainty that there was insider trading based on information about coupon rate changes, because of the size of the market. With a daily trading volume of Rs. 3000 – 4000 crores, it would have been very easy for anyone to take a position (based on inside information) of Rs. 500 or even Rs. 1000 crores without anyone suspecting anything untoward. 6. Impact of the scam: ? The immediate impact of the scam was a sharp fall in the share prices. The index fell from 4500 to 2500 representing a loss of Rs. 100,000 crores in market capitalization. [pic] ? Since the accused were active brokers in the stock markets, the number of shares which had passed through their hands in the last one year was colossal.All these shares became â€Å"tainted† shares, and overnight they became worthless pieces of paper as they could not be delivered in the market. Genuine investors who had bought these shares well before the scam came to light and even got them registered in their names found themselves being robbed by the government. This resulted in a chaotic situation in the market since no one was certain as to which shares were tainted and which were not. ? The government's liberalization policies came under severe criticism after the scam, with Harshad Mehta and others being described as the products of these policies. Bowing to the political pressures and the bad press it received during the scam, the liberalization policies were put on hold for a while by the government. The Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI) postponed sanctioning of private sector mutual funds. ? The much talked about entry of foreign pension funds and mutual funds became more remote than ever. The Euro-issues planned by several Indian companies were delayed since the ability of In dian companies to raise equity capital in world markets was severely compromised. Harshad Mehta Scam Harshad Mehta scam: Harshad Mehta  was an Indian stockbroker and is alleged to have engineered the rise in the BSE stock exchange in the year 1992. Exploiting several loopholes in the banking system, Harshad and his associates siphoned off funds from inter-bank transactions and bought shares heavily at a premium across many segments, triggering a rise in the Sensex. When the scheme was exposed, the banks started demanding the money back, causing the collapse. He was later charged with 72 criminal offenses and more than 600 civil action suits were filed against him.He died in 2002 with many litigations still pending against him. 3. 1 Ready Forward Deal (RF): †¢ The crucial mechanism through which the scam was effected was the Ready Forward deal. †¢ The Ready Forward Deal (RF) is in essence a secured short term (typically 15 day) loan from one bank to another bank. The lending is done against Government Securities exactly the way a pawnbroker lends against jewelry. †¢ In fact one can say that the borrowing bank actually sells the securities to the lending bank and buys them back at the end of the period of the loan at (typically) a slightly higher price. It was this RF deal that Harshad Mehta and his associates used with great success to channel money from banking system. 3. 2 The Mechanics of the Scam: As explained above, a ready forward deal is, in substance, a secured loan from one bank to another.To make the scam possible , the RF had to undergo a complete change. In other words it practically had to become an unsecured loan to broker. This was wonderfully engineered by the brokers. To give a better understanding of the mechanism, the whole process has been segregated into 3 different parts. . The settlement process 2. Payment cheques 3. Dispensing the security 1. The settlement Process: ? The normal settlement process in government securities is that the transacting banks make payments and deliver the securities directly to each other. ? Dur ing the scam, however, the banks or at least some banks adopted an alternative settlement process which was similar to the process used for settling transactions in the stock market. ? In this settlement process, deliveries of securities and payments are made through the broker.That is, the seller hands over the securities to the broker who passes them on to the buyer, while the buyer gives the cheque to the broker who then makes the payment to the seller. ? In this settlement process, the buyer and the seller may not even know whom they have traded with, both being known only to the broker. ? There were two important reasons why the broker intermediated settlement began to be used in the government securities markets. ? The brokers instead of merely bringing buyers and sellers together started taking positions in the market.In other words, they started trading on their own account, and in a sense became market makers in some securities thereby imparting greater liquidity to the mar kets. ? When a bank wanted to conceal the fact that it was doing an RF deal, the broker came in handy. The broker provided contract notes for this purpose with fictitious counter parties, but arranged for the actual settlement to take place with the correct counter party. 2. Payment Cheques: ? A broker intermediated settlement allowed the broker to lay his hands on the cheque as it went from one bank to another through him.The hurdle now was to find a way of crediting the cheque to his account though it was drawn in favor of a bank and was crossed account payee. ? As it happens, it is purely a matter of banking custom that an account payee cheque is paid only to the payee mentioned on the cheque. In fact, exceptions were being made to this norm, well before the scam came to light. ? Privileged (corporate) customers were routinely allowed to credit account payee cheques in favour of a bank into their own accounts to avoid clearing delays, thereby reducing the interest lost on the amo unt. Normally, if a customer obtains a cheque in his own favour and deposits it into his own account, it may take a day or two for the cheque to be cleared and for the funds to become available to the customer. At 15% interest, the interest loss on a clearing delay of two days for a Rs. 100 crores cheque is about Rs. 8 lakhs. ? On the other hand, when banks make payments to each other by writing cheques on their account with the RBI, these cheques are cleared on the same day. ? The practice which thus emerged was that a customer would obtain a cheque drawn on the RBI favoring not himself but his bank.The bank would get the money and credit his account the same day. ? This was the practice which the brokers in the money market exploited to their benefit. 3. Dispensing the security: ? The brokers thus found a way of getting hold of the cheques as they went from one bank to another and crediting the amounts to their accounts. This effectively transformed an RF into a loan to a broker r ather than to a bank. ? But this, by itself, would not have led to the scam because the RF after all is a secured loan, and a secured loan to a broker is still secured. What was necessary now was to find a way of eliminating the security itself! There are three routes adopted for this purpose: 1. Some banks (or rather their officials) were persuaded to part with cheques without actually receiving securities in return. A simple explanation of this is that the officials concerned were bribed and/or negligent. A more intriguing possibility is that the banks' senior/top management were aware of this and turned a Nelson's eye to it to benefit from higher returns the brokers could offer by diverting the funds to the stock market. One must recognize that as long as the scam lasted, the banks benefited from such an arrangement.The management of banks might have been sorely tempted to adopt this route to higher profitability. 2. The second route was to replace the actual securities by a wort hless piece of paper – a fake Bank Receipt (BR). This is discussed in greater detail in the next section. 3. The third method was simply to forge the securities themselves. In many cases, PSU bonds were represented only by allotment letters rather than certificates on security paper. And it is easier to forge an allotment letter for Rs. 100 crores worth of securities than it is to forge a 100 rupee note!Outright forgery of this kind however accounted for only a very small part of the total funds misappropriated 3. Bank Receipt: ? In an RF deal, as we have discussed it so far, the borrowing bank delivers the actual securities to the lender and takes them back on repayment of the loan. In practice, however, this is not usually done. Instead, the borrower gives a Bank Receipt (BR) which serves three functions: ? The BR confirms the sale of securities. ? It acts as a receipt for the money received by the selling bank. Hence the name – bank receipt. ? It promises to deliver the securities to the buyer.It also states that in the meantime the seller holds the securities in trust for the buyer. ? In short, a BR is something like an IOU (I owe you securities! ), and the use of the BR de facto converts an RF deal into an unsecured loan. The lending bank no longer has the securities; it has only the borrower's assurance that the borrower has the securities which can/will be delivered if/when the need arises. BRs issued without Backing of Securities: ? As stated earlier, a BR is supposed to imply that the issuer actually has the securities and holds them in trust for the buyer.But in reality the issuer may not have the securities at all. ? There are two reasons why a bank may issue a BR, which is not backed by actual securities: 1. A bank may short sell securities, that is, it sells securities it does not have. This would be done if the bank thinks that the prices of these securities would decrease. Since this would be an outright sale (not an RF! ), the ban k issues a BR. When the securities do fall in value, the bank buys them at lower prices and discharges the BR by delivering the securities sold. Short selling in some form is an integral part of most bond markets in the world.It can be argued that some amount of shortselling subject to some degree of regulation is a desirable feature of a bond market. In our opinion, an outright sale using a BR, which is not backed by securities, is not harmful per se though it violates the RBI guidelines. 2. The second reason is that the bank may simply want an unsecured loan. It may then do an RF deal issuing a â€Å"fake† BR which is a BR without any securities to back them. The lending bank would be under a mistaken impression that it is making a secured loan when it is actually advancing an unsecured loan.Obviously, lenders should have taken measures to protect themselves from such a possibility During the scam, the brokers perfected the art of using fake BRs to obtain unsecured loans fr om the banking system. They persuaded some small and little known banks – the Bank of Karad (BOK) and the Metropolitan Cooperative Bank (MCB) – to issue BRs as and when required. These BRs could then be used to do RF deals with other banks. The cheques in favour of BOK were, of course, credited into the brokers' accounts. In effect, several arge banks made huge unsecured loans to the BOK/MCB which in turn made the money available to the brokers. 4. Breakdown of the Control system in scam: ? The scam was made possible by a complete breakdown of the control system both within the commercial banks as well as the control system of the RBI itself. ? We shall examine these control systems to understand how these failed to function effectively and what lessons can be learnt to prevent failure of control systems in the future. ? The internal control system of the commercial banks involves the following features: 1. Separation of Functions:The different aspects of securities tr ansactions of a bank, namely dealing, custody and accounting are carried out by different persons. 2. Counterparty Limits: The moment an RF deal is done on the basis of a BR rather than actual securities, the lending bank has to contend with the possibility that the BR received may not be backed by any/adequate securities. In effect, therefore, it may be making an unsecured loan, and it must do the RF only if it is prepared to make an unsecured loan. This requires assessing the creditworthiness of the borrower and assigning him a â€Å"credit limit† up to which the bank is prepared to lend.Technically, this is known as a counterparty limit. 5. Other Aspects of the scam: ? There are several aspects of the scam which are closely related to the securities markets, but which are different from the operational aspect of the markets. ? These pertain to information that can cause significant changes in the prices of securities as well as the information supplied by the commercial ba nks on their financial performance. ? On each occasion the coupon rate was increased by 1/2%, thereby raising the coupon rate from 11. 5% to 13% during this ten month period.The major implication of raising interest rate on new borrowings is that it would trigger a fall in the market prices of the old loans which are pegged at the old (lower) interest rates. The price of the 11. 5% Government Loan 2010 dropped by 3% to 5% with each coupon rate hike. If anyone has advance information about these changes in the coupon rates, he could make enormous amounts of riskless profit by short selling the old securities just before the announcement of rate hike and buying back (covering his position) after the prices have fallen. ? Somebody who took a short position of Rs. 00 crores before the coupon hike of September 1991 could have made a profit of Rs. 15 crores, practically overnight! Since several persons in the Finance Ministry and the RBI are likely to be aware of the impending hike in the coupon rate, the chance of leakage of this all important information is always there. ? There have been several allegations in this regard. However, it will probably be very difficult to prove with any degree of certainty that there was insider trading based on information about coupon rate changes, because of the size of the market. With a daily trading volume of Rs. 3000 – 4000 crores, it would have been very easy for anyone to take a position (based on inside information) of Rs. 500 or even Rs. 1000 crores without anyone suspecting anything untoward. 6. Impact of the scam: ? The immediate impact of the scam was a sharp fall in the share prices. The index fell from 4500 to 2500 representing a loss of Rs. 100,000 crores in market capitalization. [pic] ? Since the accused were active brokers in the stock markets, the number of shares which had passed through their hands in the last one year was colossal.All these shares became â€Å"tainted† shares, and overnight they became worthless pieces of paper as they could not be delivered in the market. Genuine investors who had bought these shares well before the scam came to light and even got them registered in their names found themselves being robbed by the government. This resulted in a chaotic situation in the market since no one was certain as to which shares were tainted and which were not. ? The government's liberalization policies came under severe criticism after the scam, with Harshad Mehta and others being described as the products of these policies. Bowing to the political pressures and the bad press it received during the scam, the liberalization policies were put on hold for a while by the government. The Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI) postponed sanctioning of private sector mutual funds. ? The much talked about entry of foreign pension funds and mutual funds became more remote than ever. The Euro-issues planned by several Indian companies were delayed since the ability of In dian companies to raise equity capital in world markets was severely compromised.