Kite Runner Essay Essay Example for Free

Kite Runner Essay Essay Betrayal lingers like a curse, haunting its way into consciousness, injecting its poison of despair and loneliness. The action of Betraying is mostly associated with hate. However, there are some exceptions. Betrayal is not always done by evil people neither it is necessarily a closed end to a strong relationship between individuals. In khaled Hosseini’s novel The kite Runner, it is illustrated through character and setting the situations where betrayers were put under hard situations which causes them to commit actions that oppose their ethics. The goodness that exists in betrayers’ hearts in this novel indicates how everything can be betrayed, but hate could still be replaced by love. In the novel, the relationship status between individuals and the situations involved the betrayal were illustrated through character. Even though Baba betrayed his friend Ali when he slept with his wife, the relationship between Baba and Ali stayed the same due to Baba’s morality and love for his childhood friend. This is indicated when Baba said â€Å"He is staying here with us, where he belongs. This is his home and we are his family. †(Page 95). Throughout the novel, Baba is portrayed as generous, kind and loyal person. However, his betrayal to Ali created an oxymoron between his loyalty and betrayal. Despite his treachery to Ali, Baba’s morals continued to be alive and his love for Ali continued to be brotherly . In other words, the betrayal did not end the strong relation ship that was built between Ali and Baba throughout the years. This is because the actions committed by Baba don not reveal to his evilness or hate to Ali. It was the human desire that conquered his mind and led him to perform a disloyal action and a mistake that he paid the price for. Baba believed that there is always a chance for redemption and forgiveness as long is there is an existence of conscience. That is why he treated Ali as part of the family and insisted to have them living by him forever to prove that betrayal is not the death of loyalty. Also, Hassan’s reaction toward Amir’s betrayal shows that friendship and love beat betrayal and protects a strong relationship from collapse. Hassan demonstrates this when he confessed that he stole even though he did not as Baba asks â€Å"Did you steal that money and Amir’s watch† â€Å"Yes† Hassan replied. (page111). The heavy blow of betrayal was when Amir planted a watch and money in Hassans mattress to drive him away from his home. This was very harsh for Hassan but his innocence, devotion and sweet heart caused him to prevent the erasing of beautiful memories between two intimate friends. That is why he decided to admit something that he didn’t carry out. This proves the disloyalty is not the end of a strong relationship since Hassan kept respecting and loving Amir after he was betrayed by him. Furthermore, Amir’s betrayal to Hassan is not the result of Amir’s evilness or hate for Hassan, but it is the outcome of Amir’s felling of guiltiness. Therefore, the characters and in this novel changed the common idea that suggests how betrayal is done by sinful people which as result leaves the relationship in disappear. The novelist emphasizes the factors that cause people to betray each other despite their goodness though the setting. The story takes place in Afghanistan where Hazaras were persecuted which led Baba to betray both of Amir and Hassan by hiding the truth regarding their brotherhood. The suffering of Hazaras in Afghanistan is mentioned at the beginning in the book when the novelist said â€Å"Pashtuns had quelled Hazaras with unspeakable violence. †(page9). This quote indicates that anything associated with Hazaras was treated cruelly and forbidden in Afghanistan. That is why Baba could not admit that Hassan the Hazara is his son. If he told the truth, many conflicts could have developed and fanatical people in Afghanistan could have harmed Hassan. Baba’s conscience made him remember everyday that the biggest sin he has done is hiding the truth from people who have the right to know that truth. This indicates that Baba’s lie does not refer to his evilness, but it indicates his consciousness of the place he was surrounded in. In Afghanistan, blood at that time was everywhere and death of Hazaras was everyday’s scene. Amir became very upset after finding the truth. Nevertheless, the betrayal caused by Baba did not lead Amir to hate his father, but he tried to seek reasons for why his dad has done that. Moreover, the miserable and most exclusive betrayal of Hassan in the novel done by Amir signifies how even if the betrayal destroys the victim, the betrayer might not be evil and the victim could still have no hate for the betrayer. This is shown when Amir said â€Å"Everywhere I turned, I saw signs of his loyalty, his goddamn unwavering loyalty† (page 94). Amir watched Hassan becoming raped by Assef and does nothing to stop it. This is the biggest betrayal in the novel that left both Amir and Hassan in the dark side. However, the location of the raping scene greatly contributes to the betrayal’s status. The raping scene was set up in a place where only Asssef and his friends were standing in the alley at the time of sunset while they were abusing Hassan. The terrifying setting of the scene led Amir to be afraid that if he steps in, they would harm him. So, Amir decided to escape and betray Hassan by leaving him alone facing the disaster. Even thought it was a horrible betrayal, this does not point out to Amir’s evilness or hate . It is the setting that influenced Amir’s reaction. Besides, the betrayal was not the end of their friendship. Hassan kept being loyal until the last minute, and his loyalty was seen everywhere in Amir’s eyes even after the raping event. Redemption and fogginess were the keys of the continuous brotherly love between Amir and Hassan. In summary, it is evident that the places events occur in could be the reason for actions that oppose the individuals’ goodness. In conclusion, the novel The kite Runner incorporates Character and setting to prove that for every betrayal there is a cause, and every betrayer has reasons for their actions. The novelist conveys that betrayal must not be categorized under antipathy. The end of the novel indicates that redemption could solve the problem no matter how complicated it is. Anything may be betrayed, anyone may be forgiven, but not those who lack the courage of their own greatness. Strong relationship and love can solve any problem. There is no love without forgiveness, and there is no forgiveness without love. Therefore, disloyalty is not the path toward hate.

The Concept Of Pricing

The Concept Of Pricing This module introduces the concept of pricing and discusses its importance and significance to organisations. With a view to the relative significance of pricing on organisations profits and sales, appropriate pricing policies needs to be formulated strategically. The various pricing decisions that organisations need to make are price setting, adapting price and managing price change which is dealt in this module. Pricing Strategies Introduction This lesson discusses pricing and its importance to organisations and the various factors to be considered while formulating pricing policies: Define the concept of price Explain the factors influencing pricing decisions. Discuss the process of price setting. Explain how organisations adapt prices. Discuss the price change management policies adopted by organisations. Understanding pricing Price is the amount of money at which a product or service is offered in the market. It is the exchange rate of a product or service in terms of its monetary value. Pricing is an important decision area for an organisation. The pricing and sales volume of the product put together determines the profit for an organisation. The sales volume itself depends on the type of pricing policy adopted by the organisation. Profits too are dependent on the pricing policies. Hence organisations have to formulate pricing policies strategically. Pricing also determines the acceptance of the product in the market, one can say that it determines the products future success in the market. IKEA pricing strategy is to provide quality products at low prices to its customers. Internet advertising through Google ads, Pricing is an important aspect not only for the organization producing the product, but also for the consumers as well as the society. Price represents the value of the market offering to the consumers, it also indicates the quality of the product. Increase in price could be perceived favourably by the consumers by interpreting it as a consequence of improvement of quality. (for reference only) The factors affecting pricing policies of an organisation are: Internal Factors While making pricing policies, marketers need to take into account several factors which are the result of company decisions and actions. To a great extent these factors are controllable and alterable by the company. Internal factors are as follows: Objectives of the organisation Positioning sought by organisation through pricing Nature of product Price elasticity of the product The stage of Product life cycle of the product Usage and repurchase level of the product Cost of production Product distinctiveness and positioning Other ps of the marketing mix and their influence on the pricing Composition of product line of the firm External Factors There are a number of influencing factors which are external to the firm and cannot be controlled by the firm but will impact pricing decisions. External factors are as follows: Market structure Consumer behavior Bargaining power of consumer groups Bargaining power of major suppliers Competitors policies Government controls/regulations Other legal aspects Social considerations cartels Setting the Price The organisation has to think over several factors while setting its pricing policy. The process of setting the price is as follows: Deciding the pricing objectives: The organisation has to first of all analyse its position of offering in the market. If the organisational objectives are clearly set, setting price becomes easier. The major objectives that organisations look to pursue through pricing policy are sustenance, profit maximization, market share maximization, market skimming and quality leadership. Organisations would adopt sustenance policy, if there is too much competition and changing in trends due to changes in customer taste and preferences. Here the organisation would generally be looking to cover some variable and fixed cost of production and a marginal profit. This kind of policy is useful only in the short run, in the long run firms would have to add value to its offer or face extinction. Setting the pricing policy : (for reference only) In case the organisational objective of the firm is profit maximization, the firm will then choose that price which will give it maximum profits, cash flow or maximum rate of return on investments. For such a strategy the firm has also to take demand situation into consideration. In case where the main objective of the organisation is market share maximisation, they would generally set a low price so that market can be penetrated easily. Low pricing or penetration pricing policy is applicable in the following situations: Consumers are price sensitive There is possibility of market penetration with the help of low prices Production and distribution cost fall with higher production level and experience Competition is discouraged due to the low prices in the market Skimming price is adopted by firms to gain higher profits in the short run and is applicable in the following situations: High demand exists in the market due to product being a pioneer product Not much competition exists in the market Consumer perception is that, high price indicates quality (for reference only) Determining demand: The different prices set by organisations will lead to difference in demand for the product in the market. The demand curve shows the different quantities demanded by customers at varying prices. Universally, as demand and price of the products are inversely related, according to the law of demand at a higher price lesser the quantity demanded and at lower price higher the quantity demanded. Only in exceptional cases it can be seen that with increase in price of product, demand too increased, especially seen in cases of prestige goods such as perfumes, diamonds etc. (Fig 1.1 Demand Curve) (For reference) Figure 1.1, in the first case shows elastic demand and the second case it shows inelastic demand. Price Sensitivity: The demand curve shows the markets sensitivity to the changes in prices of the product. It shows the response of customers to changes in prices. Generally customers are more price sensitive to products that cost much such as speciality goods and those goods which are frequently such as staple goods. They are less price sensitive to goods which are brought infrequently or such products, the cost of which is insignificant to the customer. Products which would have less price sensitivity are: Distinctive products Where there very few substitutes to the products or customers are not aware of substitute products Quality comparison of substitute products are not easy The price of product is insignificant to the consumers income It is a complementary good to an earlier purchase The product is assumed to be of higher quality, prestige. It is not possible to store the product. The advent of internet has led to an increased price sensitivity in the society. Internet has made it possible for people to compare prices instantly and go for the lowest prices available. Firms have to understand the price sensitivity of their target market and accordingly formulate pricing policies. Demand estimation and forecasting is an important function to be carried out by organisations for determining the demand for their products. There are various methods that can be used to arrive at demand estimation and forecast. Where different variables of the price are identified statistical analysis can be undertaken, data for these variables collected and then analysis is done by using various statistical methods to arrive at the demand forecast. Experimentation method is another way in which demand can be estimated at various price levels. Here the prices of the products are charged differently in different markets or in the same market different prices are introduced at different times and then the result is analysed to arrive at the demand. Another method is doing customer surveys and interview to gauge the customers response to varying prices. Price elasticity of demand: Elasticity of demand is to extend the responsiveness of demand to the different prices charged. The marketer needs to have an idea of how responsive the market demands are, to various prices set by the firm. If with the change in price the demand for the product changes substantially then we can say that the demand is elastic to price. If with a change in price there in very less or no change in the demand for the product the demand would be said to be inelastic. Demand would usually be less or inelastic in the following situations: There is no competition or substitute products in the market Habits Necessity goods Where the price of product is small or insignificant to the consumer Price elasticity depends on the degree of change in prices. Elasticity would be less in case of low level price change and would be more if the price change is significant. For example consumer durables like television and washing machines, with a slight increase in their prices the demand for these product would not fall significantly but with a substantial increase in their prices the demand can come down considerably. If price elasticity differs according to the time period under consideration, in the short run the elasticity would be different than in the long run. This happens because in the short run certain determinants remain static which can be varied in the long run. For example Habits of people can be changed in the long run, competitive scenario can change in the long run. Cost estimation: Pricing policies of firms significantly depends on the cost of production and other related costs incurred by the organisation for offering the product in the market. Firms generally would charge a price which covers the production cost as well as a fair profit for the firms effort and risk. There are different types of cost related to production of a product : Fixed cost which are fixed in nature and do not vary with the level of production or sales. For example rent, interest on capital invested etc. Variable cost vary directly with the level of production of the firm. For example wages, power consumption etc. Total cost can be said as the sum total of the fixed and variable costs for the total production level. Average Cost: can be said as the total cost divided by the total number of units produced. The firm would want to charge at least a price which would cover the total production cost. To develop adequate pricing policies the management needs to know how cost varies with different levels of production. Cost of production would also change according to its production scale and experience. Over the period of time, the experience gained by organisation leads in making more effective and production scheduling policies leading to lower costs. As well as with the expansion of plant and machinery, i.e large scale production helps organisations to lessen the cost of production considerably. Organisations now a days try to adapt their offering as per the requirements of different buyers. A manufacturer may set different terms and prices for different retail chains according to their requirements. Certain retailer may not want to stock too much inventory of a particular product, in that case the delivery that has to be made to this retailer would be much frequent. On the other hand a retailer who has the stocking facility may want deliveries less frequently, accordingly the pricing and profit levels of the manufacturer would differ too. Some companies adopt target pricing, here first of all through market survey the firm arrives at the product features and design. The next step would be to determine at what price the product will be sold. On the basis of the price, a percentage is deducted as profits and the rest would be the cost of production. Hence the organisation has arrived at the cost at which production should happen and that is the target cost at which production should happen. Competitors pricing policies analysis : Competitors policies have significant effect on the firms own policies and strategies. The firm has to have a good knowledge of the competitors policies and their possible response to the firms pricing policies. In case the firm is offering product features which are exclusive and not provided by its competitors then their price should be set accordingly. If competitor provides additional features then their worth to the customers should be evaluated and subtracted from firms price. Selecting a pricing method : The various pricing methods that organisations can use as follows : Mark up Pricing : The most widely used pricing technique is to add a standard mark up to the products cost. Mark up is expressed in terms of percentage. Here, either the cost price or the sale price is taken as the base for determination of the mark up. Eg. Cost price of travel bag Rupees 2000 Mark up Rupees 400 Therefore selling price Rupees 2400 Mark up based on cost price = 500/2000 = 25% Mark up based on Selling price = 500/2400= 20.8% Mark up pricing: Example : Shopkeeper buys goods for Rupees 300/- at a wholesale rate. His cost based mark-up is 25%. Hence sale mark-up price = 100-30 = 75% or 0.75%. Therefore sales price = 300/ 0.75 = 400 While determining any pricing policy current demand, value of product perceived by customers, competition existing in the market has to be considered. Mark up price would only be useful if it brings in expected sales. Mark up price is quite is popular due to the following reasons : Determining cost is quite easy than estimating demand It is a much simpler way of pricing If all firms in industry use this pricing policy then price would be similar, leading to less intense price competition. It is believed that cost pricing is fair for both customers and producers, where customers are not exploited and producers get a fair enough return. Rate on return pricing The price is determined on the basis of a planned rate of return on investment made by the organisation. The total cost of one financial years standard production is estimated and taken as the standard cost. The mark up percentage of profit is obtained by multiplying capital turnover by estimated rate of return. Perceived value pricing : Here the valuation of the product is done on the basis of how much the customers are willing to pay, instead of considering the production and related costs. (for reference) Value pricing : Here the firm charges a fairly lower price for high quality products thereby winning loyal customer. Tesco, UK is one of the largest retailers in UK. Tescos key competence is its pricing policy. It keep its product prices low so that sales can be maximised. Lot many customers were attracted to its products due to its value added low priced products. Tesco launched the unbeatable value campaign in the 1996, it made massive reductions in its prices during this campaign. Tesco adopted a low daily low price strategy alongside its promotional programs. This stragegy stressed on regularising low prices for its customers on a regular and daily basis. Going rate Prices : Going rate pricing emphasises on market conditions. The firm adjusts its own pricing policy to the price structure existing at the industry level. This kind of pricing is usually seen in oligopolistic market structure, where the prices are mutually decided by the firms. Also in cases where costs are difficult to be determined, firms tend to follow the going rate price because it reflects the entire industries price rate. Examples would be petroleum and oil. Auction pricing or price bidding: This type of pricing methods has emerged in the recent years especially due to the growth of Internet. These kind of pricing strategy is mostly seen in electronic goods market, selling a diverse range of products and services by auctioning them through the bidding process. The important function of auction is to dispose of excess products existing with the firm. There are three major auction type pricing. These types are: Ascending bids, (English auctions) : One seller and many buyers. The seller puts up the product or auction and the buyers bid prices, the highest price is accepted. Descending bids (Dutch auctions) : One seller and many buyers or one buyer and many sellers. In this kind of auction the buyer quotes a higher price and then decreases it gradually till a bidder accepts the price. In the other case the buyers lets know his intention to buy a particular product and then the sellers bids the prices by offering lower prices. Sealed bid auctions: Here the suppliers can submit only one bid and do not know about other bids. From the submitted bids the most feasible bid is selected (for reference only) While selecting the final price, additional factors has to be considered by the firm such as : Psychological pricing : Psychological pricing a marketing practice which is based on the theory that certain kind of prices have psychological influence on customers minds. The prices are expressed as odd prices: e.g. Rs. 299.00 or Rs. 499.00. Gain and Risk sharing pricing : This type of pricing is used for pricing complex, high valued products or services. Many times buyers refrain from accepting sellers proposal due to the high risk if the promised value is not delivered. In order to provide some form of risk sharing or price protection as new drugs are adopted into formularies biopharma companies and payers are entering into agreements. Onyx/Bayers Nexavar (sorafenib) and Pfizers Sutent (sunitinib malate) both anti-cancer drugs; Novartis Aclasta (zoledronic acid), and Sanofi-Aventis/Procter Gambles Actonel (risedronate sodium), both osteoporosis drugs are some of the best known drugs. In Germany,Italy and the US, manufacturers have agreed to provide drugs free of charge if no progress is seen after the first treatment, or to recompense health plans, say for instance if bone fractures occur despite the osteoporosis therapy. While setting the final price, firm has also to consider the brand quality, advertising, company pricing policies. Firms also need to consider the distributors and agents, sales persons, competitors, suppliers response to the prices of the product. Finally, firms also need to consider the legal implications while setting their prices. Adapting the price : Organisations generally set different prices according to variations in geographical demand and costs, market segment requirements, purchase time period, order levels, frequency of delivery, guarantees and various other factors. Various price adaptation strategies are as follows: Geographical pricing: It involves the pricing of products to different customers in different locations and countries. Taking into consideration the transportation costs example shipping / cargo costs for distant customers. Also the firm needs to lower the prices of its product/s from sales promotion point of view to retain or expand its business. Considering the export of products to countries abroad where the payment from buyer becomes crucial, should he lack payment he may offer other items. This practice also recognised as countertrade. Countertrade accounts approximately up to 25 percent of current world trade. Usually this trading is done as Buyback agreements, Barter, offset and Compensation deals. Countertrade deals may become complex for example an A company in Europe sells 50 yachts to Turkey and accepts in exchange 150 Turkish made cars, which it sold to Pakistan for Rice, which in turn sold to America and achieved payment in dollars . Such deals are carried by a separate department within the organisation. Other companies may depend on barter houses or countertrade specialists. Most companies give discounts and allowances in order to receive early payments on volume purchases and off-season buying. This may lead to decreased profits, hence an assumptive price of the products needs to be worked out with planning. Marketing researchers have found that up to 35 percent of buyers in most categories are price sensitive. Higher income people are more interested in buying products with added features, customer service, quality and brand. Hence its essential for a strong brand not to get into price discounting in order to react to low price attacks. A company can gain some concessions, if a customer agrees to sign a contract for a bulk years example 3-5 years or if an order is placed in a larger quantity or if an order is placed online thus saving the company money. It is necessary to maintain and monitor all records regarding discounts such as the quantity of customers receiving discount and average discount, etc. It is essential for higher levels of management to conduct a net price analysis in order to get the real price offered. However the realised price is affected not only by discounts, also but by firms average promotional spendings, advertising spendings to retailers to back the product, thus the listed price of the product and so for the net price of the product are two ends of the same thread with couple of other expenses in between. However companies in an overcapacity tend to offer their branded products at a deep discounted rate. Firms should avoid offering discounts to retailers in the long term which in turn would decrease theirs profits in an effort to meet short term volume goals. In order to stimulate early purchase of a product firms can use several pricing techniques. Examples could be found where branded products are offered at a discounted price in order to stimulate extra purchases of other store products. This pays only if the revenue is generated by selling other products in proportion to the lower margins on the loss -leader product. In certain seasons and occasions of festive periods example every June there are back -to-back school sales and during Diwali, Christmas and New Year special prices will be established on products. In order to clear inventories without affecting the listed price, auto companies and other consumer goods companies offer cash rebates to help purchase of products during a certain period. Some auto companies offer the product with an attractive finance scheme such as zero interest rate or in case of consumer durable goods buy now and start paying after six or nine months instead of cutting its price. Equated monthly instalments may be stretched over a longer period in order to lower them, here the consumer focus is on affording to pay back in instalments rather the rate of interest. This can be in cases of auto companies and consumer durable goods etc. Often auto companies offer an attractive warranty and servicing contract in order to promote their sales. Many a times products price is listed at an artificially high price and then offered with a discount .This creates a psychological discounting in minds of consumers that they have purchased the product at a considerably lower price and have gained but in fact havent. Often in order to accommodate differences in customers, products, locations, etc firms adjust their basic price. Thus price differentiation arises where a product is sold at two or more prices without any proportional difference in costs. Customers are charged depending on their intensity of demand. Buyers would be charged at a lower rate depending on the volume of buying. In case of Museums or places of historic importance there is lower admission fee to children, foreigners, etc. A firm charges 30 Rs for adding 150 gms sugar in a Rasgulla tin pack sweet, however it charges 35 Rs for adding the same quantity of sugar for a Kala Jamun pack sweet. A firm can price the same product at two different levels based on image differences. A detergent manufacturer can put detergent in one packet, name it with an image, and price it at 50 Rs. It can put the same detergent in another packet with a different name and image and price it at 75 Rs. Soft drinks prices often differ in an A grade restaurant, vending machines or when sold in canteens or general stores. Same product is priced differently at different locations even though the cost of offering at each location is the same. A concert audience is charged variably for seating as per their preferences for different locations. Prices differ by season, day or hour etc. Electricity as an important public utility source is charged differently by time of day in United Kingdom. Restaurants and Clubs in United Kingdom charge less during happy hours. Airlines have different fares on same flight for same class for instance its economy class, which also is known as Yield Management / Revenue Management system. They have child fares, adult fares, seasonal fares etc. Extra luggage price by an airline for a single kilo differs from Dubai to London as opposed to travelling the other way back from London to Dubai. Websites have coupled up different sellers product together such as Car Insurance, Consumer durable goods, home insurance, medical insurance etc, which allows buyers to discriminate between sellers by comparing their prices. Responding to price changes : Many time organisations have to go for price cuts and increase as per the situation. Price Cuts : It is a possibility that organisation may go for price cuts due to existence of price cuts, also where even with added effort the sales have not increased or due to declining market share. Price cuts can lead to price wars in the market. Lower price can be used by firms so as to dominate market. Organisations may also have to cut down the prices in case of recession. Price Increase : Price increases are undertaken by organisations when there is cost inflation. With rise in cost of production the organisations profits lessens, hence they need to go for price increase to earn normal profits. Many times organisations increase their prices more than the increase in cost due to anticipation of further cost increase. Price increase can also happen when there is too much demand for the product and the supply is less. Price increase can be done in the following ways : Final price is not set, until the product is delivered to the customer. Generally seen in construction and heavy equipment industries. Here firm wants customers to pay current price and all or part of any cost inflation that can happen before the delivery of the product. Here the price is kept same but some elements are separated from the product and priced individually. Example in case of automobiles, accessories, other additional features come with extra cost. Discount if any, could be reduced to maintain profits. Organisation also can tackle high cost and over demand without raising prices as follows : Reducing the amount offered without increasing the prices By substituting raw materials with less expensive materials wherever possible Lessening the product features to lessen its cost Lessening product services Usage of less cost packaging Creating economy brands Reacting to changes in prices : Price changes can have a reaction from customers, competitors, distributors, suppliers and governments. Customers may perceive and respond to price cuts in different ways. Price cuts may be interpreted as lower quality product or faulty products. Price rise would generally carry some positive indications to customers. The product is considered to be of high quality and having added value when prices increased. Competitors may also respond in various ways to price changes. To contemplate competitors reaction organisations have to access their financial situation, sales scenario, market share and their objectives. In case the competitors objective is to increase market share then they will change their price in response of firms price changes. If its objective is profit motivation then it will increase its promotional activities to maintain its sales. Responding to competitors price changes : It is an important decision on how firm should react to price changes by competitors, the products could go for product augmentation having homogenous characteristics. If product augmentation is not possible then they would have to go for price cuts to counter the competitors price cuts. If price is increased by the competitor in the homogenous market, then other firms may not increase their prices until it is unavoidable. If price change happens in a heterogeneous market then the various aspects needs to be considered before responding to the price change : What is the reason for competitors price cuts is it due to over capacity of production, rise in costs of production or the intention is to increase market share. Is the price change temporary or permanent What will be the scenario if the firm does not respond to competitors price change Are other competitors going to respond to the price change and if yes how? Market leaders many a times have to face price changes from new entrants in the market or smaller competitors. There are many ways in which a market leader can respond to competitors price changes: Maintain price Market leader my decide to maintain its current price and profit due to the belief that : Too much profits will be lost if prices are decreased It would not lose too much market share It is possible to regain market share when required Maintain price and add value to its offering The product could be augmented, its services and communication improved. Reduce price : Leader may go for price cuts to match the competitors price cuts due to following reasons : As the market is price sensitive it would lose market share It would be difficult to build market share once lost Its costs reduces with higher volume in production Increase price and increase quality: The leader may decide to initiate price increase and also increase quality of product and also introduce new brands or innovative products. Introduce low priced product line : It could contemplate adding a low priced product line to

Photographers of the Old West :: Research History Photography Papers

Photographers of the Old West In a society that is focused on visual stimuli, it isn't uncommon to see a person taking a picture with a camera or making a "movie" with their camcorder. But, in the 1840s and 1850s, life just wasn't like that. If someone said they could make a picture of a mining town or of the route to the West without a pencil or paint people would have laughed at them. Laughing would have been appropriate because photography didn't come into being until 1839. James Horan reveals in his book, Mathew Brady: Historian with a Camera, that it wasn't even called photography then, it was called the "new art" (5). There were very few people who knew what it was to take a picture, or make a picture with light. The only pictures that were around at that time were those that were drawn, painted, or printed from lithographs or etchings. Newspapers didn't have real live pictures that showed the actual things that were written about. The population of America as it was in 1800 didn't know what the "West" look ed like. According to Eugene Ostroff, sketches and paintings were the only illustrations of the West before photography (9). Ostroff tells us that these weren't usually accepted if the painter had taken artistic license (9). All Americans knew were the stories of the people who returned because it was too difficult to live there or the letters from friends and family telling the horrors they saw. So, with the invention of photography, especially the ability to "fix" the image onto the paper or metal plate had a major effect on the expansion to the West because the pictures that were taken showed how the West really was beautiful. Unfortunately, it was a while before the public was able to see the pictures that were taken by the photographers of the West because 1839 was only the very beginning of photography as a profession and a hobby. The first type of using light to make a picture was the daguerreotype. Both Louis Jacques Mande Daguerre and Nicephore Niepce, who passed away before the public was introduced to the daguerreotype, founded this type of picture taking. However, before this Louis Daguerre made a "theater without actors." Beaumont Newhall explains that this was an illusion made by extraordinary lighting effects that made the 45 Â ½ foot by 71 Â ½ foot pictures appear to change as one looked at them (2).

Macbeth Blood Essays -- Essays Papers

Macbeth Blood Blood is essential to every human beings survival. It is a fluid circulating throughout the body that carries nutrients and oxygen to the tissues in exchange for life and if this was somehow lost then the life would also be lost. It represents life, death, and injury. It is an essential part of life. Without it, we would not live. As a symbol and major theme in Macbeth, Blood is used most often to represent injury and death, but also life. In Macbeth, he uses blood to represents impurity. Shakespeare often accompanies the image of water with the image of blood. The water represents cleansing and purity. Imagery is any piece of language that provokes the readers mind to form a mental picture or image. Shakespeare’s plays are well known for the richness of their imagery. Macbeth in particular has numerous vivid examples. Macbeth is also particularly rich in repeated images, such as the image of blood. In the beginning of the story, blood is symbolic of bravery, how he fought bravely, and how he won. Bloodshed for a noble cause is good blood. However, Macbeth's character changes throughout the play. The changes are characterized by the symbolism in the blood he sheds. As these images of blood occur frequently, they often portray the horror of the central action, Duncan’s murder. The brilliant images of blood and water also symbolize the unrelenting guilt of the two protagonists, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. The blood and water represents their inability to erase the memory of Duncan’s murder. The blood of King Duncan clings to their hands and makes them unable to fo rget the repulsive crimes they committed. In the beginning, blood is used to show bravery. â€Å"For brave Macbeth--well he deserves that name-- Disdaining fortune, with his brandish'd steel, Which smoked with bloody execution,† (I, ii, 18-20) This passage is revering to Macbeth's braveness in which his sword is covered in the blood of the enemy. After these few references to honor, the symbol of blood now changes to show a theme of treachery and treason. Before Duncan's murder, Macbeth imagines seeing a dagger floating in the air before him. He describes it, "And on thy blade and dudgeon gouts of blood, Which was not so before. There's no such thing: It is the bloody business which informs Thus to mine eyes." (II, i, 57-60) ... ...ain Than terms can give thee out!" (V, viii, 8-10) Macbeth and Macduff then engage in a fight to the death with Macduff eventually emerging victorious. After Macbeth is slain, the symbolic theme of blood swings back to what it was at the beginning of the play. Macduff presents Macbeth’s bloody head to the crowd and to the new King of Scotland, Malcolm, and the people rejoice. The death of Macbeth is honored and the symbolism of blood has returned to its original meaning; the bloodiest are the ones most honored. Macduff is congratulated as he proudly walks in covered with blood and with Macbeth’s head. Ironically, it was blood that brought Macbeth to power and blood that brought him to death. The play successfully illustrates the complete transformation of Macbeth. He begins as a noble, a just and brave person, to becoming evil, ambitious, and treacherous, to his final feelings of remorse for his crime. Throughout the play, Shakespeare effectively conveys theme of death, murder and treason through the symbol of blood. The reader understands the meaning Shakespeare is trying to convey. The symbol of blood in Macbeth is an effective symbol that is used well.

Free Essays - The Stranger (The Outsider) :: Camus Stranger Essays

The Stranger What is life for? Different religions have different takes on life. There are many ways to view life. The way life is viewed by an individual is the way his morals are set. Christianity, Islam, Judaism, and many other religions believe that a higher god sets morals and with the morals comes reward. Another camp, the existentialist, believes that life is absurd and meaningless. The existentialists believe humans live and humans die. They state that death is just a matter of time for everyone, a reality that is inescapable. In the novel The Stranger by Albert Camus, Meursault realizes that death is a subject that cannot be erased. Meursault comes to the conclusion that death is the end result for every human's life. The nurse tells Meursault how the weather affects the human body. "She says, `If you go to slowly, you risk getting sunstroke. But if you go to fast, you work up a sweat and then catch a chill inside the church'"(17). The heat's effect is inevitable. No matter the pace, the weather is still an influence in the human body. Meursault realizes this and responds with " She was right. There was no way out" (17). Most people have a problem with destiny. They have been raised to be in control of their circumstances or their decisions. Therefore, the average person has a hard time coming to the realization that the inevitable will happen. Meursault kills an Arab. He is convicted for the murder. While in the courtroom Meursault is asked why he killed the Arab. The only response Meursault could give them was the sun. Meursault said, "I never intended to kill the Arab" (102). The judge replies and Meursault "blurted out that it was because of the sun" (103). Meursault did tell the truth, the sun did affect his judgment. Camus writes, "The sun was starting to burn my cheeks...it was burning, which I couldn't stand anymore, that made me move forward" (58-59). The Arab gets up and shows his knife. Because of the sun he is blinded in two ways. The first reason was because of the sweat in his eye. The second reason was because the knife was reflecting the light into Meursault's eyes.

Nasality In Cleft Palate Individuals Health And Social Care Essay

Introduction:Nasality is a voice upset that is most normally met by the address linguistic communication diagnostician in topics with repaired cleft roof of the mouth, which affects the address intelligibility. The perceptual appraisal of nasality constitutes an of import facet of a comprehensive appraisal of the address of persons with repaired cleft roof of the mouth and/or velopharyngeal disfunction ( Kuehn & A ; Moller, 2000 ) . The perceptual appraisal in complex populations like cleft roof of the mouth is made more ambitious by the many-sided nature of voice ( Bzoch, 1979 ) . The comparative impact of changing constituents of the voice ( e.g. , pitch, volume, resonance ) can farther act upon the signal perceived by a hearer ( Zraich, 1999 ) . In add-on the diverse array of perceptual appraisal of nasality has some troubles including the definition of footings, dependability and the usage of different types of graduated tables ( Kreiman, Gerratt, Kempster, Erman, & A ; Berke, 19 93 ) . Several invasive techniques are used clinically to image velopharyngeal port. Inactive sidelong radiogram are used to see the velopharyngeal structures during sustained sounds ( Hirschberg, 1986 ) . Multiview videoflouroscopy allows observation of the constructions during connected address from several planes of infinite. Flexible fiberoptic nasoendoscopy allows direct observation of velopharyngeal motions during connected address. However, these techniques appear to hold more value as pre- or post-surgical appraisal, because the correlativity of the informations from these techniques with hypernasality is frequently hapless. The inclusion of quantitative measurings in a clinical appraisal battery would lend to the overall truth of an probe. Literature reveals several quantitative methods developed to mensurate facets of rhinal resonance, for illustration, the Nasometer ( KayPENTAX, Lincoln Park, NJ ) , the Oro-Nasal System ( Glottal Enterprises, Syracuse ) or the NasalView ( Tiger D RS, Inc. , Seattle, WA ; Bressmann, 2005 ) , Horii Oral-Nasal Coupling Index ( Horii,1980 ) , Sonography ( Dillenschneider, Zaleski & A ; Greiner,1973 ) , Palatal Efficiency Ratings Computed Instantaneously-Speech Aeromechanics Research System ( PERCI-SAR ; MicroTronics Corp. , Chapel Hill, NC ) . The application of these instruments is frequently limited by a combination of grounds, including a deficiency of comparative surveies straight contrasting each technique, clinical uncertainity associating to the sensitiveness and specificity of viing methodological analysiss, the popularity of imaging surveies ( typically, nasoendoscopy and videoflouroscopy ) that provide direct information on velopharyngeal inadequacy ( Bekir et al.,2008 ; Rowe & A ; D'antonio, 2005 ) and the demand of specific device and/or detector, such as the helmet required for nasalence, the accelerometers required for HONC, the aerophonoscope required for rhinal emanation sensing and frequent standardization of th e instruments. Nasality can besides be evaluated utilizing non-invasive and simple processs like, spectral analysis of speech signal. Acoustic techniques frequently entail arduous analysis governments that can necessitate extended user expertness ; the rightness of selected stimulation has non been strictly evaluated ( Watterson et al, 2007 ) . Acoustic techniques do offer some possible, as small expertness is required to enter address samples, and repeated samples can be easy obtained, doing acoustic techniques appropriate for curative pattern. Some of the spectral features associated with hypernasality are reduced strength of the first format ( F1 ) , the presence of excess resonance, displacements of the Centre of the low-frequency spectral prominence, increased amplitudes of the sets between first formant ( F1 ) and the 2nd formant ( F2 ) , and a lessening of the F2 amplitude ( Curtis, 1968 ; Hawkins & A ; Stevens, 1985 ; Kataoka et Al, 2001 ) , increased continuances of acoustic phonic sections in CVC vocalizations ( D'Antonia, 1982 ) ; prolonged VOT ( Gamiz, Fernandez-Valades, 2006 ) and decreased burst continuance ( Vasanthi, 2000 ) , decrease in volume ( Mc Williams & A ; Philip, 1979 ; Vasanthi, 2000 ; Peterson-Falzone et al. , 2001 ) . In recent old ages, nasality is evaluated utilizing spectral analysis of the address signal. The two common methods which are reported in the nasality measuring literature are one-third octave spectra analysis ( Yoshida et al, 2000 ; Kataoka et Al, 2001 ; Lee et Al, 2009 ; Vogel et A l, 2009 ) and the Voice Low Tone to HHhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhjjkiuigh Tone Ratio ( Lee, Wang, Yang & A ; Kuo, 2006 ) . Both methods focus on strength fluctuation around the first, 2nd and 3rd frequence formants, an acoustic form normally seen in hypernasal address ( Chen, 1996 ; Huffman, 1990 ; Kent, Weismer, Kent, Vorperian & A ; Duffy, 1999 ) . The Voice Low Tone to HHhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhjjkiuigh Tone Ratio ( VLHR ) was developed as a quantitative acoustic step based on the strength spectrum to measure rhinal resonance. Lee et Al ( 2009 ) defined the voice low tone to high tone ratio as the power ratio of the low frequence to high frequence energy obtained by spliting the voice spectrum with a specific cutoff frequence. Lee et Al, ( 2003 ) measured VLHR in topics with rhinal obstruction before and after intervention for rhinal congestion. Results revealed increased VLHR values significantly after decongested intervention. In the follow survey by same writers in 2006, obtained sustained vowels ( /a: / ) and a nasalized ( /a : / ) vowel from eight hypernasal grownups. The writers observed higher VLHR values in nasalized sounds than unwritten sounds, supplying farther grounds in support to the VLHR technique for measuring hypernasality. Lee et Al ( 2009 ) measured VLHR in topics with hypernasality caused by palatine fistulous withers and velopharyngeal inadequacy for sustained vowels. The consequences of their survey revealed important differences between VLHR values, hypernasality tonss and nasalence steps. In contrast to the old surveies, Vogel et Al ( 2009 ) compared VLHR and one 3rd octave analysis in cleft roof of the mouth kids to mensurate hypernasality. Consequences revealed that merely one 3rd octave spectra analysis differentiated hypernasal address between cleft roof of the mouth and normal kids. The difference obtained between these two surveies ( Lee et al, 2009 ; Vogel et al. , 2009 ) may be because of the methodological analysis employed to pull out VLHR and the pathological status and age of the topics participated in their survey. Sing all these factors the efficaciousness of non-invasive technique, like VLHR to measure hypernasality remains inconclusive in clinical population like Cleft lip/palate. Need FOR THE PRESENT STUDY:Very few surveies have been conducted to mensurate the nasality in cleft roof of the mouth topics utilizing VLHR. But, the consequences of these surveies are inconclusive and necessitate farther probe in other linguistic communications besides. Hence, the present survey was aimed to observe the differences in VLHR between cleft roof of the mouth and normal topics utilizing address samples collected in Malayalam linguistic communication.AIM OF THE PRESENT STUDY:The present survey was aimed to observe the differences in VLHR between cleft roof of the mouth and normal persons for voice undertaking, word list undertaking and transition reading undertaking.MethodologySubjects: A sum of 40 immature grownups within the age scope of 17 to 26 old ages participated in the survey. They were divided into two groups. Group I consisted of 20 cleft roof of the mouth persons ( 10 males and 10 females, average =19 old ages ) . They were included in the survey if they had a diagnosing of inborn cleft roof of the mouth, undergone primary surgery to mend the cleft roof of the mouth, and go toing or had been referred for address therapy. Group II consisted of 20 normal, age and gender matched control topics. The topics were screened for address, linguistic communication and hearing by speech linguistic communication diagnostician. All the topics were native talkers of Malayalam linguistic communication. Subjects with a upper respiratory piece of land infections, blocked nose or with rhinal congestion as assessed during the oro-motor scrutiny were excluded from the survey. Test Material: The stuffs involved three different assortments of address samples ( 1 ) sustained voice samples ( /a: / , /i: / and /u: / ) ; ( 2 ) six meaningful words selected from Malayalam Articulation Test ( Mayadevi, 1990 ) which consisted of force per unit area consonants and ; ( 3 ) a standard Malayalam Reading Passage ( Anita, 1999 ) were used. Instrumentality: The recordings were carried out at address scientific discipline research lab of the infirmary. The address samples for the survey were recorded utilizing Sony digital recording equipment ICD-U60 placed 10 centimeters off from the talker ‘s oral cavity. This recorded address samples were fed into the Praat package ( Version 5.1.43 ) digitally and sampled at 16K Hz, 12 spot quantisation and Praat book was used to pull out the VLHR parametric quantity. Procedure: All participants were instructed to bring forth three tests of sustained vowels ( /a: / , /i: / and /u: / ) for a minimal continuance of 5 sec ; six selected word list from Malayalam Articulation Test ( Mayadevi, 1990 ) and to read a standard Malayalam Reading Passage ( Anita, 1999 ) at their comfy pitch and loudness degree. A sum of 720 ( 3 vowels*6 words*1 sentence*40 topics ) items were acoustically analyzed to pull out VLHR parametric quantity. The voice spectra was derived utilizing fast fourier transform ( FFT ) with Praat package for all the address samples recorded and averaged for farther analysis. Acoustic information was analyzed in conformity with the prescribed protocols for VLHR ( Lee et al. , 2006 ; 2003 ) . VLHR was calculated by spliting the spectrum into a low frequence power subdivision ( LFP ) and a high frequence power subdivision ( HFP ) . The mean spectrum was divided into low frequence and high frequence parts utilizing a cutoff frequence of 600 Hz by utilizing Praat book ( Lee et al, 2009 ) . The equation for VLHR is as follows: VLHR= 10 A- log10 ( LFP/HFP ) . VLHR was used to cipher values on sustained vowel undertakings ( /a: / , /i: / , /u: / ) , six meaningful words and a sentence from standard transition were used and it was expressed in dubnium. Statistical analysis: The information was subjected to statistical analysis utilizing SPSS ( Version 17 ) . The mean and standard divergence values of VLHR for address samples were calculated and tabulated for each topic. Analysis of Variance was used on the information to find the important difference between the groups and address samples.Consequence:VLHR for voice undertaking: For voice undertaking, the average VLHR values for /a/ , /i/ & A ; /u/ was 12.79 dubnium, 16.79 dubnium and 16.81 dubnium for topics with cleft roof of the mouth and for normal topics it was 4.14 dubnium, 9.59 dubnium and 6.93 dubnium severally. Consequences showed that high forepart vowel /i/ had the highest VLHR value followed by high back vowel /u/ and low mid vowel /a/ for both the groups. Table 1 and Graph 1 depicts the mean and SD of VLHR. Results of ANOVA indicated important difference between group I and group II subjects for all the vowels ( F= 50.389 ; p=0.000 ) . Voice undertaking Group I Group II F value Mean South dakota Mean South dakota /a/ 12.79 2.15 4.14 2.86 F=50.389 P & lt ; 0.005 /i/ 16.7 3.61 9.59 2.51 /u/ 16.81 4.83 6.93 4.32 Table 1: Mean and SD VLHR values for group I and group II subjects for voice undertaking. Graph 1: Represents the average values of voice undertaking for /a/ , /i/ and /u/ for Group I and Group II subjects. VLHR for word list: Table 2 represents the mean and SD values of VLHR for words for cleft roof of the mouth and normal topics. In word list undertaking, the mean VLHR value for dissected roof of the mouth topics was 10.21 dubnium and for normal topics it was 3.53 dubnium. Consequences showed higher average VLHR values for cleft roof of the mouth topics than the normal capable values for all the words selected for the survey. On statistical analysis, consequences revealed a important difference between groups ( F=60.34 ; p=0.000 ) . Word List Group I Group II F value Mean South dakota Mean South dakota Word 1 11.70 4.20 5.47 3.5 F=60.34 P & lt ; 0.005 Word 2 9.422 4.56 3.55 1.84 Word 3 10.69 4.86 2.70 1.82 Word 4 11.26 5.01 2.94 1.30 Word 5 9.14 4.92 2.55 2.02 Word 6 8.88 3.29 3.96 2.38 Overall Mean 10.21 4.58 3.53 2.47 Table 2: Mean and SD VLHR values in dubnium for group I and group II persons for word list undertaking. Graph 2: Represents the average values of word list undertaking for group I and group II subjects. VLHR for transition reading: For transition reading undertaking, the mean VLHR value for dissected roof of the mouth topics was 9.68 dubnium and for normal topics it was 2.31 dubnium. Table 3 and Graph 3 shows the VLHR values for transition reading undertaking for group I and group II subjects. Consequences showed important differences for groups ( F=48.54 ; p= 0.000 ) for transition reading. Passage reading Group I Group II F value Mean South dakota Mean South dakota 9.68 2.31 F=48.54 ; P & lt ; 0.005 Table 3: Mean and SD VLHR values in dubnium for group I and group II persons for transition reading undertaking. Graph 3: Represents the average values of transition reading undertaking for group I and group II subjects.Discussion:Vowel /a/ had important lower VLHR values compared to vowel /i/ and /u/ . This consequence of the present survey supports the findings of Neumann & A ; Dalston, 2001 and Lewis et Al, 2000. The higher VLHR values obtained may be due to the articulatory positions assumed during the production of these vowels. The low mid vowel /a/ is a unfastened vowel which creates comparatively small opposition to airflow out of the oral cavity. Therefore the maximal energy is transmitted through the unwritten pit and therefore comparatively lower VLHR values compared to vowel /i/ and /u/ values ( Lee et al. , 2009 ) . Whereas in instance of cleft roof of the mouth persons because of velopharyngeal insufficiency there might be more of nasal energy flight which is indicated through the higher VLHR values than normal topics for voice undertaking. The consequences besides support the fin dings of Moore & A ; Sommers ( 1973 ) who reported the greater grade of nasality on high vowels as the high vowels make greater demand upon the valving map i.e. , higher points of posterior guttural wall/ velar contacts, tighter velopharyngeal seals and greater velar jaunt. Higher VLHR values obtained in dissected roof of the mouth topics were similar to other surveies. Similar consequences were obtained in topics with rhinal obstruction after intervention for rhinal congestion ( Lee et al, ( 2003 ) , in palatine fistulous withers and velopharyngeal inadequacy topics ( Lee et Al ( 2009 ) . The consequences of their survey revealed higher VLHR values and important differences between VLHR values, hypernasality tonss and nasalence steps. In contrast to the old surveies, Vogel et Al ( 2009 ) compared VLHR and one 3rd octave analysis in cleft roof of the mouth kids to mensurate hypernasality. Consequences concluded that merely one 3rd octave spectra analysis differentiated hypernasal address between cleft roof of the mouth and normal kids. The major difference obtained between these two surveies ( Lee et al, 2009 ; Vogel et al. , 2009 ) may be because of the methodological analysis employed to pull out VLHR and the pathological status and age of the topics participated in their survey. The ground attributed for higher VLHR values for word list and transition reading undertaking may be due to the acoustic characteristics of the pharyngeal topographic point of articulation, notably low frequence noise energy chiefly in the chief formant part ( i.e. , the part of F1 and F2 ) . The form of the vowels was non good defined, peculiarly because nasaliztion has greatly reduced the amplitude of F2 so that this formant is hardly apparent in the spectrograph. Another common site of articulative compensations, the voice box, besides tends to be associated with acoustic energy in the chief formant part. Thus both guttural and laryngeal compensation contribute to comparatively low-frequency acoustic construction for consonants. These speech compensations hence are characterized by diminished or absent cues in some spectral parts but by extra cues in other spectral parts. Overall survey consequences showed statistical important difference between the groups for all the address samples collected. The average VLHR values in dubnium were higher for cleft roof of the mouth topics compared to that of normal topics. The consequences are in consonant rhyme with the findings of Lee et al. , ( 2003 ; 2009 ) whereas in disagreement with Vogel et al. , ( 2009 ) . The higher VLHR values obtained in the present survey may be attributed to the belongingss of increased low frequence energy i.e. , rhinal formant and reduced high frequence energy i.e. , anti resonance of rhinal voices in cleft roof of the mouth topics because of velopharyngeal insufficiency which was absent in normal topics ( Chen, 1996 ; Kent, Weismer & A ; Duffy, 1999 ) . Thus addition in the amplitude of frequences between F1 and F2 every bit good as lessening in the amplitude above F2 have been linked to hypernasality and these alterations were thought to be captured via VLHR ( Lee et al, 2009 ) . Decision:The purpose of the present survey was to observe the differences in VLHR for address samples between cleft roof of the mouth and normal topics. Consequences revealed that the VLHR values were higher for cleft roof of the mouth topics for all the address samples analyzed. The important difference obtained may be because of the belongingss of increased low frequence energy and reduced high frequence energy of rhinal voices in cleft roof of the mouth topics. Hence, we conclude that VLHR parametric quantity is sensitive plenty to observe rhinal voices in cleft roof of the mouth topics and can be implemented as a everyday clinical tool for nasality measuring. And besides the sensed success of surgical or curative intercession in dissected palate topics can be measured quantitatively with the VLHR parametric quantity extraction. Further surveies can be carried out with more figure of participants and besides in other Indian linguistic communications to set up normative.

Rights of the Child

UN CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child was brought into effect to recognise that Children needed their own set of specific human rights that should be protected and that these were a universal right not a privilege. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child was drawn up and accepted by the UN in 1989. The UK government agreed to abide by the principles in 1991 and it was fully implemented in 1992.The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child is the most universally recognised set of standards for protecting the rights of children and numerous countries have agreed to abide by it. The Convention forms a set of articles that highlight the minimum entitlements of all children. These articles have been split into four main categories: the general requirements for all the rights; the basic rights to life, survival and development of one’s full potential; being kept safe from harm; and respecting the views of the child.The Convention also sets out minimum standards in areas such as health care, education and social services to protect those children’s rights. There are 54 articles in total that apply to all children with no exceptions, here are two examples; Article 19 states that all young people have the right to be kept safe from experiencing violence, mental abuse, physical abuse or neglect by any adult they come into regular contact with e. g. parents, carers etc and Article 34 gives the right for all young people to be kept safe from any form of sexual abuse or exploitation.When the UK government agreed to abide by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child it meant it had promised to not act in a way that would infringe any of the rights and it agreed to ensure they were fully implemented in a non discriminatory manner. Accordingly the government is responsible for ensuring people act in the best interests of the child and that children are treated as individuals within a family whose views shoul d be taken into account.The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child was implemented by the government but it requires all parts of society to respect them to ensure the rights of the child are being met. This therefore has a massive impact on my role and responsibilities within my job. This is due to the fact that I must ensure the rights outlined in the convention and the minimum standards set out are being met at all times as it is a legal obligation. It is also important for me to ensure the individuals views within the home are being actively sought on a regular basis, listened to and respected.This is done by seeking the individuals views during the care planning and development of placement plans so that their wishes can be recorded and implemented where appropriate. It is also important to encourage and support the individuals to attend review meetings to express their opinions on their care plan and future. There are also minimum standards that relate to this e. g. standard 1. 4 which states â€Å"the views of the child, the child’s family, social worker and IRO are sought regularly on the child’s care. †Under the UN Convention I also must ensure that I keep the individual safe from harm or abuse. This corresponds to various Educare policies and procedures under safeguarding which stipulate things such as all visitors to the home are asked for ID and appropriately supervised. It also requires me to have appropriate risk assessments and management in place specific to the individual so as to reduce any potential risks associated with a situation and to develop strategies to help encourage and support and individual to manage their own risks.This information is also put into the minimum care standards under standard 4 which outcome is to ensure â€Å"children feel safe and are safe. Children understand how to protect themselves, and feel protected and are protected from significant harm including neglect, abuse and accident. † The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child essentially underpins all aspects of the work we do and how we undertake it and the responsibilities we have to the individual.It is therefore a major and key piece of legislation that we must be familiar with to fulfill the job role and responsibilities as manager of a home. HUMAN RIGHTS ACT 1998 The Human Rights Act was drawn up by the UK government and implemented in 1998. It draws on the European Convention of Human Rights but allows for issues to be addressed within the UK courts of Law rather than needing a European Court. â€Å"The Act provides that it is unlawful for a public authority to act in such a way as to contravene Convention rights.For these purposes public authority includes any other person â€Å"whose functions are functions of a public nature. â€Å"† The Human Rights Act uses a set of articles to detail the rights of everyone within the UK. Examples of these articles include: the right to life; prohibition of torture; prohibition of slavery and forced labour; right to liberty and security; right to respect for family and private life; freedom of thought conscience and religion; freedom of expression; prohibition of discrimination; protection of property; and right to education.The Human Rights Act is another piece of legislation which underpins all aspects of the job role and responsibilities of being a manager of a children’s home. If parts of the Human Rights Act are ignored or not adhered to then it can become a criminal offence. As a result of the Human Rights Act equal opportunities policies and procedures were drawn up and implemented and form the basis of the way we work with the individuals to ensure we adhere to the Act and ensure the individual is not discriminated against under any basis.There are also several acts that were developed as a result of the Human Rights Act to stop discrimination within the work place and towards others. It is therefore important that v aluing diversity is promoted within the home and understanding of different cultures, religion etc. are developed. This also forms one of the key outcomes Ofsted assesses for to see how well it is achieved within the home. The Human Rights Act also ensures that the individuals have a right to privacy and security.This includes individuals having privacy in their bedroom environment unless there is a concern for their safety and that they have their own room key so they can keep their room locked and have their privacy respected by other individuals living in the home. It also means for example that people are asked for ID when visiting the home and are appropriately supervised so as to ensure security and safety within the home is maintain. Freedom of thought ensures that the individuals are allowed and encouraged to develop their own opinions on things and that these opinions are respected e. g. in relation to religion.