Managing A Business Event Essay

Managing a business event can be one of the most exciting and challenging tasks that you will get the chance to participate in. It requires you to bring together many different skills and roles, and will give you the opportunity to multi-task, which is a challenge for even the most experienced business event organiser. Organising The first part of organising an event is finding the venue where the event is going to take place. The venue will set the scene for the type of event that is going to happen and will influence whether or not people want attend the event. It will also help to identify the costs that will be involved. Catering may also be an important aspect of organising an event. The type of catering may influence where you decide to hold an event. A three-course lunch is most likely to need a hotel with facilities whilst sandwich delivery may have less strict event location requirements. Planning the different elements of an event will require you to think about the timings of the event, what you need to order and when. It is important that facilities, such as a sound system or projector, be reserved or hired as soon as it is known they will be needed. You will learn in more detail about these aspects of the role in the section on planning an event. Setting up the programme The programme is the list of what is happening at the event and the order in which it is happening. It guides the organisation of the event and will be used by attendees. The programme’s quality and content will help to guide people’s interest as well as give them an outline of what is going to happen during the day. The programme will also give details of any special guests, speeches, entertainment, prize-giving or free gifts that might be part of the event. Sometimes a guest speaker may encourage more people to attend and this will need to be highlighted in the programme. There are a variety of different types of programme that may be used for an event. These may include programmes that have various activities that attendees can select from or programmes where everyone is following the same structure for the event. The length of time for the event will also influence the programme. All-day events need more time for people to travel to the event and for coffee and lunch breaks. Events that take place over a few days may require arrangements for accommodation including breakfast. Preparing and distributing supporting documents Most events require some form of hard copy or soft copy that can be distributed. For environmental and cost reasons, soft copies are often preferred. Sometimes documents may be supplied on a USB stick or in a free wallet or bag that is given out by the event organiser. Often promotional items include advertising material for the organiser to give them maximum publicity and raise awareness of the organisation. The main documents that might be needed for an event are listed in Table 18.2. A number of different documents may be needed to support an event. These may be more traditional paper documents or other methods that organisations are increasingly using such as websites with a secure username and password, email or social networking websites to distribute information about events. There are also a number of other documents that may be produced that are not given out to attendees. These are used by the organisation to monitor and track the progress of the event, for example, a risk assessment or a budget plan. Organisational procedures Organisations will usually have a set of procedures that they follow for events, and these procedures will change depending on the size of the organisation, the type of event that is taking place and who is involved. Current legal requirements There are a number of important legal requirements that need to be considered when organising an event. These include contractual, health and safety and age requirements. Most legal requirements are covered by a contractual agreement that will be agreed either verbally or in writing. The contract sets out the offer and prices for the individual elements of the event including: * venue * catering * insurance * advertising/promotion. Separate agreements can be made with outside suppliers and may include those used for booking a hotel venue or hiring equipment. The Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982 ensures that the event organiser is supplied with goods and services as part of a contract; it also protects suppliers and customers. The Act sets out requirements for ticketing that protect both the event organiser and attendees, and also protects consumers from faulty equipment. There is more information about contracts, agreements and consumer protection in Unit 21. There are stringent health and safety requirements for events. Risk assessments will highlight any issues found whilst organising an event and help the organiser take steps to reduce the likelihood of anything untoward happening. More specific requirements for health and safety can be found later in this unit. Finally, any event that is organised needs to meet age requirements. For example, at a music event or festival, it must be ensured that young people are aged 18 or over if they are going to buy any alcohol or tobacco products that are on sale. Remember that any event must take place within the law and steps must be taken to avoid any problems. Limits of the role An event organiser must consider the levels of authority that come with the role. Knowing what you can and cannot do is very important. For example, at some events the event organiser may not have the authority to sign a contract for services or they may not have the authority to make the final decision as these decisions may ultimately be the duty of their line manager. An event organiser may also work with other individuals or groups who need to make decisions about the event, which means that any decisions have to be shared by the group rather than be taken by a single person. Time management The role of an event organiser involves multi-tasking which means that good time management is an important quality for the job. Good time management means that you focus on what is important and keep everything on track. The most common time management mistakes made are: * wasting time doing activities that are not relevant to the event, such as checking personal emails * waiting for someone else to do something before being able to progress on another aspect of the event * not being organised, e.g. spending time looking for paperwork or going over tasks that you have done before. Problem solving There are few events that do not have any problems at all. To help the event run smoothly the organiser will need to have already thought about what possible problems might occur and have made contingency plans. For example, if the event is to include computer presentations or DVDs the organiser may want to check the services provided at the venue and also take along their own lap top and projector as a back-up. Some problems cannot be anticipated; therefore quick thinking is necessary and good event organisers have this quality and are able to sort out solutions. Negotiating Negotiating skills are essential for any event organiser. Negotiating, unlike other types of communication, is not about making demands or threatening people, it is about trying to get to what is known as a ‘win win’ situation where both parties are happy with the outcome. It may be necessary to negotiate prices on contracts to try to get the best possible deal, which is particularly important if the event is being done on a budget. Negotiating may also be used to ask for something that is not usually possible, for example, a particular type of catering or entertainment that may be more difficult to provide than usual. Planning The main role of an event organiser is to ensure that everything goes to plan so that the event is a success. Planning does not just include the event itself, it also needs to take into account other events that are happening around the same time. Too many similar events happening in the same week may result in poor attendance at your event. The time of year will also influence the planning of an event. When planning an event, the organiser needs to think about the following. * Whether the event needs to be inside or outside. It is usually more appropriate to run outside events in the summer. * Whether the event is linked to a particular festival or tradition. If so, it will need to happen at the same time. * Whether the event depends on other factors such as supplies that are only available at certain times of year or are cheaper in a particular month to save costs.

Columbia Capital Structure

Some other risk factors include substantial cyclical fluctuation, the effects of unseasonable weather conditions, and the popularity of the outdoor activities. In order to minimize the negative impacts on this business, the company started a series Of strategic initiatives, such as product innovation program, new multi-channel and multi-country direct-to-consumer platform, information management and their enhanced marketing efforts. All those improvement and implementation involve significant investment in SO&A expenses and its fixed cost.Thus it is essential to look back and evaluate their current capital structure and payout policies to exam whether the company would start on carrying debt or whether they have residual cash return to their investors. Despite Columbians regular dividend payouts and stock repurchases, they does not maintain a healthy cash and short-term investment balance. According to the financial data provided in Annual Report, the major financing needs include ca pital expenditures, working capital expenses, stock buybacks, and dividend payouts. In 201 1 , Columbia spent $78 million in capital expenditure and $92. Million in working capital investments; which was increased from $29 million and $78. 9 million from last year. Even though the company's net income increases over time, they have generated negative free cash flow for both fiscal year of 2011 and 2010 with around $14. 6 million and $53 million respectively. Currently, the company sales short-term investments to finance those capital expenditures which should not be a long term strategy as the company only has $2. 9 million short-term investments sitting on the balance sheet at the end of 2011.If the company maintains its profitability and its capital structure as the end of Fiscal year 2010, Columbia will have significant financial difficulties to meet capital expenditure requirement and will have emitted resources for distribution to investors in the form of a cash dividend and st ock repurchases with current payout rate. In conclusion, Columbia may need to seek additional funding. Even though, historically the company have limited their reliance on debt to finance their working capital, capital expenditures and investing activity requirements.We suggest that the company need to revise their capital structure policy by increasing debt to finance the business activities. Debt not only can provide coverage for any general costs and unforeseen expenses, it also serves as a tax shield allowing more capital to be available to investors. The assumption here is that the company can earn more in tax savings from borrowed funds than it pays in interest expenses and fees on these funds. As shown in Exhibit X, Columbians WAC hit a minimum of 6. 6% at 30% debt ratio, or debt to equity ratio of 0. 3. As the graph illustrates below, less than 30% debt or debt beyond 40% cause WAC to increase. Also, the PEPS and ROE increase compared to the current 100% equity model. In a b usiness, debt is a two-edged sword. Aggressive use of leverage increases the amount of financial resources available for growth, expansion, and payout for investors. But if Columbia adopts a highly leveraged capital structure policy, it may find its freedom of action restricted by its creditors and its profitability may hurt as a result of paying high interest expenses.It may also affect the company's profitability and liquidity when the business has trouble meeting Operating and debt liabilities during unfavorable economic conditions. Additionally, too much debt versus equity would potentially affects business' credit rating, which is the evaluation of a company's ability to repay principle and interest on debt obligations. Since the company do not have much experience on carrying debt on their lance sheet, we recommend the company to start the process slow.

“How My Brother Leon Brought Home a Wife” by Manuel E. Arguilla Essay

Baldo and his older brother Leon were both waiting for their visitor riding a carratela. When Baldo sa his older brother’s wife, who is Maria, he was amazed by her beauty as he narrates their journey to their home in Nagrebcan. Maria was felt a bit anxious because of meeting Leon and Baldo’s parents for the first time, but along their way home, she discovered the differences of the life of the people lived there and the life in the city where she met and fell in love with Leon. Characters Leon/Noel – Maria’s husband, older brother of BaldoMaria – Leon’s wife Baldo – Leon’s younger brother, also the narrator of this story Mother and Father of Leon and BaldoAurelia – Leon and Baldo’s younger sister Labang – the carabaoSetting Nagrebcan, Bauang La Union Plot Leon and Baldo waited for the arrival of Maria at the barrio. Maria was afraid that she will not be accepted by Leon’s father because she may not able to adapt their way of living in the province. Baldo was ignoring to his older brother’s question about why did they have to go to Waig instead of Camino Real. (The reason is that their father wanted to test Maria if she is worthy to be Leon’s wife.) Baldo discussed their travel to his father. Leon’s entire family talked to Maria. 1. Who among the characters in the story you appreciate most? Why? What trait/quality/characteristics you want to this character? Why? For my opinion, I think I appreciate Maria most. Because she accepted and respected Leon for what he really is. She didn’t care what Leon’s life back in Nagrebcan. She was a supportive and a loving wife to Leon. She was so endearing and kind-hearted lady. She was very keen to meet Leon’s family. The fact that the rural is different from the city can be somewhat discouraging but the closer hey get to the house, Maria still manages to overcome any trials.

Crowd-funding web sites are growing rapidly and have become one of the Essay

Crowd-funding web sites are growing rapidly and have become one of the newest ways of raising funds for various purposes - Essay Example Examples of these websites include: Kickstarter which finances creative projects, IndieGoGo which finances a wide range of ideas and new startups and rocket hub. Discussion The above three crowd-funding are elaborated here: Kickstarter: This is a financial site for inventive projects ranging from games, films as well as music  to art, technology and design. In this avenue each project creator is solely setting his project's financial support goal and deadline (Holden & Finlayson 2005).  If the project is liked by the people, they can guarantee money to facilitate it happen.  Given the project does well  in achievement its backing goal, every backer credit card is charged  on expiry of the time whereas if it fails to achieve its goal no one is charged thus funding in site is all-or-nothing. All items on Kickstarter have to be projected with clear goals and deliverables because it does not allow charity, cause or fund me projects. As (Huzel & Huang 1992) argues, Backers of th ese projects come from its fans and friends and also from blogs, Press, Facebook, Twitter, and Kickstarter itself. A sponsor of these projects obtains a close look at the creative process, and thus ensures that project comes to life. They can select from a range of distinctive rewards given by the project initiator which range from a copy of whatever is being produced e.g. a DVD, CD, book or a skill unique to that project. 100% ownership of the project remains with the creators. For successfully funded projects Kickstarter charges a 5% fee to the finances collected. Processing fees for US-based project done Amazon payments and those for non-US ones done through a third-party payment processor amount to 3-5% (Lawton & Marom 2013). Indiegogo: This  is a multinational  crowd-funding  website whose main aim is to help individuals raise money for their personal projects. It has the same layout as Kickstarter though one can start any project even charity donations (Maguire 2012). Th e flexible funding plan has been developed to help backers receive the money even if the project fails to reach its funding goal though a higher fee charges are levied for this. Its founders are: Danae Ringelmann, Slava Rubin, and Eric Schell in the year 2008. The web site's structure gives users an interface to do the following: create their own page for funding campaigns, set up a  PayPal account, draft "perks" for various levels of engagements and then publicize it in the social media like  Twitter, Facebook and other similar platforms. Indiegogo charges a levy of 4% for every fund raised, and a 3% fee for credit card processing, plus an extra $25 wire fee to non-U.S campaigns (Rauf 2014). In case members had applied for the Flexible Funding plan and the campaign fails to attain its goal, Indiegogo charges 9% of the fund, but all the same get to take the outstanding balance away. Unlike other similar websites e.g.  Kickstarter, Indiegogo releases the money immediately, when the donations are collected via the user's PayPal accounts (Neiss, Best & Cassady-Dorion 2013). Indiegogo also gives a straight credit card settlement acceptance via their portal. Those contributions are given up to the second week after the completion of a campaign.

Choosing a Career - Pharmacy School Personal Statement

Choosing a Career - Pharmacy School - Personal Statement Example I feel these feelings are based on my childhood experiences. I came to the United States from Vietnam at the tender age of ten. Since then I have received so much love and support from this country that I feel it is time for me to start paying back and what better way to do it then as a pharmacist. My interest in sciences began quite early in life when I used to visit the local drug store with my parents. I was always impressed as to how the pharmacist always knew which medicine to dispense and to whom. It was this curiosity that made me take up a part-time job at the drugstore during my school intervals. This job helped me obtain a better understanding of particular illnesses and their cures through various drugs. I developed an insight into the general know-how of drugs particularly the usage, the allocation and the regulation of drugs. Consequently, I focussed my attention on the field of sciences at the high school. Mind you I wasn't a bookworm I actively participated in extra curriculum activities including various clubs and community service. Nevertheless, as a result of my deep interest in sciences and practical experience at the drug store, I was able to secure my graduation from high school. It was that memorable day that I decided to pursue pharmacy as a career. I feel that the prime purpose of seeking education is to develop the innate qualities of an individual to the fullest extent possible. Any education theory is strongly based on a conception of the aim in life and the laws of mental change. I personally believe that education is the development of intellectual and moral qualities. A Doctor of Pharmacy Degree would provide me with the requisite knowledge to help me in fulfilling this goal not to mention fuel my career aspirations. Moreover, I feel that pharmacy is a field that has become an integral part of today's world. The profession is respected across the globe and has great potential in various industries. I have always believed that time that slips away never comes back and I for one, plan to make the most of my time and to achieve as much as I possibly can in the shortest time possible. The Doctor of Pharmacy degree would be the stepping stone for me to materialize this goal. My career aspirations have remained the same since my high school graduation and it is rarely that a decision made right after high school continues to be the right one later on in life. In my case, I am sure my decision is not only correct but is perfect for me and in line with my future goals. I have been happily working at a retail pharmacy as a pharmacy technician for the past two years. That job has further strengthened my belief in the pharmacy career. I have even evaluated future job opportunities and studied the requirements various companies have with their pharmacy candidates. I have kept all this information in mind and when finally selecting this degree as my final and only choice. Keeping my long-term goals in mind I feel that I don't just want to succeed in life but I want to succeed while gaining job satisfaction. For this to be possible I must ensure that I get the relevant degree from a respected college, followed by the right job befitting my profile and eventually enjoy a comfortable future with a good quality of life. I feel that I would make an extraordinary pharmacist thanks to my love for people and for the profession.     

The role of the mentor in organising, managing and leading programmes Essay

The role of the mentor in organising, managing and leading programmes of learning in clinical education - Essay Example Facilitating learning is very important, as its very nature is very complex ranging from different aspects of the body of knowledge. Learning from the behavioral perspective is a changed of behavior; and it is associated with changes inside of a person from cognitive perspective (Brockbank and McGill, 2006). Learning is one of the most important things to acquire in this world. It is essential because it is viewed as the result of how humans adapt to their environment (Murre, 1992). In nursing career, educating others is an essential intervention which also depicts the importance of learning (Bastable, 2008). All of these substantially illustrate why it is important to facilitate learning. Mentors therefore should be able to come up with simple or basic ideas in order to facilitate learning and ensure that there is increase in knowledge of their learners as far as mentoring is concerned. In nursing, mentoring is necessary and the role of mentors is simply as facilitators emphasising learning in an effective and practical way. Adult learning can be well facilitated using experiential learning, which means acquiring substantial knowledge can be appropriately achieved out from somebody’s significant experiences. In fact, one of the most familiar adages puts it, â€Å"Experience teaches us best.† This can be further elaborated from Kolb’s theory of experiential learning. ... In fact, one of the most familiar adages puts it, â€Å"Experience teaches us best.† This can be further elaborated from Kolb’s theory of experiential learning. Illustration 1: Kolb’s cycle of experiential learning (Quinn, 2000). In this theory, Kolb’s emphasised four generic adaptive abilities to reach effective learning and these involve concrete experience, reflective observation, abstract conceptualization, and active experimentation (Quinn, 2000). It is therefore the role of mentors to effectively organise activities that will allow full immersion of their students into concrete and fresh experiences. Along the way, mentors have to manage important activities that are crucial in the creation of learning experiences. It is not just enough to organise activities, but leading and management is necessary because everything that the mentors do should be considered a guiding path for students to effectively take in order to facilitate learning at a highest maximum level as possible. Students on the other hand must be able to learn from their experiences by reflecting on them. Furthermore, it is also important for them to come up with significant concepts out from their personal observations on their experiences. Finally they have to apply whatever theories they have learned. All of these are important things that students must do while their mentors are facilitating for their learning (Quinn, 2000). It is in line with these that regarding their ability to facilitate learning, mentors must be able to support learning in practice, they have to demonstrate effective time management and leadership skills, and should be able to organise students’ clinical experience (Quinn, 2000). Another

Persuasive speech Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 4

Persuasive speech - Essay Example We decided that we needed to help such women in Africa who had no access to health facilities and who had no way of reaching facilities due to pours roads and poverty. We called some friends back in Kenya who informed us that the problem of woman not having access to health facilities was a chronic problem in the country and infect in the whole continent and that the lady in the video was infect one of the luck few who survived due to the elephants and tourists help. This set us on a fact-finding mission, which put us in connection with the ministry of Health as well as the ministry of gender in the Kenya who were very willing to facilitate and coordinate for us so that we could start up mobile clinics and build health facilities in remote areas of Kenya. They were also willing to give us the free immunization kits for babies and mothers as well as free family planning kits provided by the government. They also promised to give us some medical personnel who would be on government pay. The need for funding was all that remained and this is where we will need our partners help. We concluded that the best way to go about this was to raise money through a website and to seek assistance from other like-minded organizations in order to help the women of Africa. We also decided to seek the help of the WHO were very willing to assist us. To enable this great work we had to be registered as a nonprofit organization. Our name is â€Å"African Sister†. This is the vehicle through which we will work to help our sisters in Africa. A non-profit organization that we have started will enable you to contribute to society by giving of your resources in terms of money and labor. It will also give you the opportunity to travel and interact with new cultures. We shall be giving a certificate of participation for all those who will take part in the

Concept note Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Concept note - Essay Example It is in directive to achieve responsibilities. ‘Alvin Toffler’ first interpreted the word ‘Adhocracy’ in the year 1970 (Mintzberg & McHugh, pp. 160-197, 1985). The origin of the term adhocracy demonstrates that it specifically defines to explain the flexible dealing with daily changing objectives and motives. Nowadays, in the modern culture, these types of operational systems can be under implementation in the firms having high-risk rates to survive and among the blue-collar organizations, and in those organizations that plan to short-term projects or developed on a temporary basis. Similarly, if the organization persists to develop its structure permanently and is aware of the future risks then it has to maintain its bureaucratic structure to fight with the long term business deals. It also helps to maintain the company’s good will and repute in professional market. This term clearly contradicts to the term bureaucracy that refers to set of defined rules and set hierarchy in accomplishing organizational goals (Thatchenkery, pp. 67-74, 2010). It is a method of supple and casual organization and administration instead of unbending bureaucracy. Adhocracy (Dolan, pp. 33-50, 2010) later on revised in some common literature and in governmental pomposity to define a kind of unsystematic answer by politicians to developing issues, generally focused around American fiscal policy and in foreign policy development, unanimously that resembles Lind bloom’s "muddling through" metaphor (Thatchenkery, pp. 67-74, 2010) than a flexible, but determined organizational strategy. In other words, Adhocracy is simply a flat structure organization that does not follow any hierarchy (Dolan, pp. 33-50, 2010). The norms and regulations of such an organization rely upon a typical non-bureaucratic chunk of ideas. Selective decentralization is a specific characteristic of adhocracy that means a focus of control for decision-making. This phenomenon ex ist in functional divisions within the organization for example the decentralization of the pool system in some organizations taking place of centralized culture and also hierarchical system that majorly defines the outlines for responsibilities in the respective areas that helps in capturing errors and biases more easily. In the adhocracy, the business is proficient of rearranging its own structure including vigorously altering the work ?ow, shifting accountabilities and adjusting to changing environments (Aart & Wielinga, pp. 567-599, 2004). Adhocracies are the organizations and systems with a very beautiful concept in which a system operates in a non-hierarchical structure and has no uniform procedures for dealing with daily problems, is low in reinforcement and prearranges a momentary life. The variance between an adhocracy and the dual intent of bureaucracies is that there is a lack of typical job description definition and no classi?cation of programmed circumstances in adhocr acy. Simultaneously, professional bureaucracy and machine bureaucracy (Baum, pp. 29-43, 1987) is an older shape of Adhocracy, when adhocracy takes a growing form, it may lead to these two possible compositions. Machine Bureaucracy (Huber, pp. 50-67, 2006) is an obvious in its rigid observance to the important individualities of Weberian style bureaucracy. It is a preferred model in a constant atmosphere with routinized procedures. In any case, workers within an adhocracy will have to ?nd innovative keys to

SLP - WORK MOTIVATION Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

SLP - WORK MOTIVATION - Essay Example In acquiring addition skills in training, I have applied them in my work place to make it more presentable. When encountering some hardships and problems, I always consult my boss regularly regarding any troubling issues though not all the time he is ready with an answer. Being inventive with some ideas to which I share with my boss before tackling my job, has contributed to the current success. Regular meetings with him aimed at discussing as well as highlighting how I can improve my working skills has also played a significant role, which aligns with my scores so far obtained. Based on the content and figures above depicting my commitment and the freedom I enjoy at my work place, I believe, if my employer starts giving rewards and appraisals to employees, this score would rapidly improve. For instance, incentives like new promotions opportunities if one achieves a certain goal set by the employer. This will motivate a healthy competition among employees to vie for the new positions though in terms of outstanding respective performances (McGregor). Another aspect encompasses if the employer regularly increases employees’ based on merit, this will motivate one to work extra hard and do a presentable job accordingly. This is especially in introducing overtime remunerations for extra worked hours will encourage employees to work even hard. Praising and recommending employees work will motivate and encourages one to keep on working hard within a working institution. Management should involve employees in decision making by listening to their suggestions about what they feel and think (Chapman, 2014). This will be a great privilege towards making employees feel honored and thought of positively by their superiors. If the employer comes up with a plan to pay for extra training for employees to acquire additional skills to improve, their work quality I strongly believe this can improve the personal score of an

The Ring Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Ring - Movie Review Example Keller watches the tape in order to find out the mystery behind it and concludes that the videotape has some connection to a little girl called Samara. Keller tries her best to piece together the puzzle of the mysterious tape before the seven days when she would die. It is at this juncture that the drama begins as she embarks on a race against time, where she has to unravel the knotted threads of the secret of the video if she has to save herself. The movie scares not with the regular arsenal of blood and gore, but by instilling in the viewer the fear of the unknown that runs down your spine because of the inability and sheer helplessness of the individuals who become the targets of the mysterious Samara in the videotape, who is on a rampage seeking revenge. The entire movie swings like a pendulum back and forth between modernism and post- modernism views. Meta narratives are the rules that determined "the legitimacy of particular forms of narrative" and this helps us to determine their legitimacy and truth for the different forms of narrative employed. (Malpas, Postmodern) In the context of the movie, 'The Ring," the opening scene itself sets the mood for a post-modern, meta narrative method of telling the story. On the other hand, the modernist view of a grand narrative could be seen in the scene when Rachael falls into the well. In speaking of the grand narrative Malpas states, "A grand narrative tells the story of the progress and development of narrative. ., grand narratives legitimate their content in relation to an overarching theme or idea." Some of the key words in this quotation are "progress and development". According to the Merriam - Webster dictionary, the word "progress" is defined as "a gradual betterment, how we gauge our lives when we move forward, for example when we make technological advancement to better our lives" and the word "development" means to go through a natural process of growth, differentiation, or evolution." While the narrative is many short stories contained in a collection, and used to weave the incidents and experiences of the past while trying to make progress in the future, the grand narrative has all these small stories linked together in a single novel from the beginning to the end. The conversation between the two girls about the tape reveals that the narrative, or in this case, the urban legend is true. The videotape has a semiabstract quality about itself, and there is hardly anything that can testify to its evil intentions. But the legitimacy of the tape is established due to the fear inherent in the girls. The truth of the event, which during its retelling by the girl in question, seems rather far - fetched becomes verifiable when she dies under the most suspicious circumstances. As Malpas puts it, "A metanarrative thus sets out the axioms that allow communication to take place, and determines the legitimacy of a narrative for a particular genre, as well as giving the rules to determine its truth or falsity." The following is a good example of this. What starts as a gossipy chat between two teenagers has become a legitimate narration, the veracity of which is established beyond

Family Structure and Support Issues in the US and the Egypt Essay

Family Structure and Support Issues in the US and the Egypt - Essay Example As a result, these two societies have different settings for marriage. In Egypt, marriage has remained to be a social contract between two people from the opposite sex without underestimating the place of polygamy (Amos & Howard 2). On the other hand, marriage in the USA can be defined as the union between two parties of the same or either sex. Divorce in Egypt discredits one of their social standings while in the USA one gets viewed like a hero (Abrams 61). Nevertheless, divorce exists in both societies.  American culture got created out of a mixture of people, the majority being Christians, this gets evidenced by the national holidays of the USA and also in the national anthem. Egypt, on the other hand, is formed by a majority of Muslims. Religion governs a people's political, economic, legal and personal lives (Wertenbruch 43). The American culture is thus more of the German culture than it is of the Egyptian culture since Germany got founded on a Christian religion. There are a number of similarities between, German and American cultures. To begin with music, folklore, dressing and literature are all affiliated with each other. Secondly, the two also share values and norms (Lepenies 39). The American value system got founded on investment more than any other country it can be characterized by, efficiency, neatness and cleanliness, volunteer- ship and honesty. Egypt on her side upholds a value system characterized by integrity, transparency, unity, and hard work.... Divorce in Egypt discredits one of their social standing while in the USA one get viewed like a hero (Abrams 61). Nevertheless, divorce exists in both societies. Question 3 American culture got created out of a mixture of people, majority being Christians, this get evidenced by the national holidays of the USA and also in the national anthem. Egypt, on the other hand, is formed by a majority of Muslims. Religion governs a people's political, economic, legal and personal lives (Wertenbruch 43). The American culture is thus more of the German culture than it is of the Egyptian culture since Germany got founded on a Christian religion. There are a number of similarities between, German and American cultures. To begin with music, folklore, dressing and literature are all affiliated to each other. Secondly, the two also share values and norms (Lepenies 39). The American value system got founded on investment more than any other country it can be characterized by, efficiency, neatness and cleanliness, volunteer- ship and honesty. Egypt on her side upholds a value system characterized with integrity, transparency, unity, and hard work. Question 4 A secular society has no state religion. A secular society is heterogeneous and highly individualistic. Statistics show that America has all religions inclusive of atheists. A sacred society on the contrary is one that has a state religion and is primarily homogeneous, perfect examples of sacred societies are Vatican and Madina (Allen 77). During the time of ousting Hussein Mubarak, all people in Egypt participated but due to the extent of religion women live with deprived freedom. For instance, women cannot make decisions for themselves even unto a lifetime spouse in marriage. To expound on the extent of religion in Egypt is the

Effects of Violent TV Programming on Adolescent Behavior Essay Example for Free

Effects of Violent TV Programming on Adolescent Behavior Essay Violent behavior is a central theme in many kinds of media. Television and movies depict violent behaviors as acceptable ways of communicating and resolving problematic social situations (Strasburger Donnerstein, 1999). During the twentieth century, Americans were introduced to a wide variety of media technology, including televisions, digital computers, video cassette players and handheld electronic machines (Anderson Bushman, 2001). Although television is but one of the many media venues, it represents the predominant medium to which very young children are exposed. The 1972 report to the Surgeon General found that 96% of American homes have one or more television sets and the average home set is on more than six hours a day and frequent viewing usually begins at about age 3 and remains relatively high until about age 12 (1972, pp. 1-2). Kaisers study (1999) found that children spend up to 40 hours per week in front of the television. For children under the age of 7, Wright et al. (1994) found that media exposure averaged just over four hours per day. Other studies have concurred that the television has become a predominant medium of experience for the child. In a 1990 position paper, the NAEYC stated that the trend toward increased depiction of violence in the media jeopardizes the healthy development of significant numbers of our nations children (1990, p. 18). The viewing experience is highly complex, subjective, and dependent upon the childs level of cognitive and emotional understanding (Wright et al. , 1994). Social scientists and policy makers have expressed concern about the potential negative impact of exposure of violence on children (Bushman Geen, 1990). They have explored the negative impact longitudinally, both experimentally and observationally, and found that children as young as 2 and into adolescence are adversely affected by televised violence. Studies demonstrated that after viewing violent programs, the child behaved aggressively and imitated the scenes of the violent behavior in his play (Anderson Bushman 2001). This paper explores the current state of research in this area and seeks for the relationship between television watching and childhood violence. Television and Violence The most recent large-scale longitudinal study was initiated in 1994 by researchers at the Universities of California, Texas, Wisconsin, and North Carolina. The National Television Violence Study (NTVS) was deemed the largest scientific study of television violence ever undertaken (Federman, 1998). NTVS involved a three-year effort (1994-1997) to review violence in televised programming. It examined three areas of concern: televised programming context, factors that either positively or negatively alter the risk of viewing violence, and the interactions between programming and the viewers. In this study, nearly 10,000 hours of televised cross-channel programming were examined using five major groupings: broadcast networks, independent broadcast, public broadcast, basic cable, and premium cable. The authors found that 61% of programs contain violence. By the third year of the study, there was more violent interaction observed across the programs analyzed. Specific to the younger child, the study found that childrens programs, as a genre, contained the greatest share (50%) of all high-risk violent interactions, as well as the highest ratio of interactions per hour (. 75) (Federman, Vol. 3, 1998, p. 175). Child-oriented cable programs such as those on Cartoon Network, Disney, or Nickelodeon contained the most high risk violent interactions (27%), compared to general-entertainment basic cable (24%), independent broadcast (19%), and premium cable (17%) (Federman, 1998). Early morning viewing, which is primarily child-focused cartoon programming, has at least one high-risk violent presentation every hour. In one week, a child is exposed to at least 20 violent behavior depictions, and in one year over 1,000, if he watches three hours of early morning television a day (Federman, 1997-1998). The authors also found that over the course of three years there was little change in the overall number of violent programs. However, there was a significant increase (8%) in the portrayals of violent incidents per program and childrens programs continued to depict violence in animated stories (Federman, Vol. 2, 1998). In many of these violent interactions, the main character did not experience any appropriate consequences for aggressive behavior. One of the goals of the NTVS was to encourage more responsible television programming and viewing. The study emphasized the message that understanding the impact of viewed televised violence offers an opportunity to significantly reduce the risks to society that are posed by exposure to televised violence. Young Childs Experience of Violence The American media is rife with portrayals of justified violence (Federman, 1997-1998). The good guy beats up the bad guy, and laughter or expressions of glee follow hurtful acts. This conveys the message that aggression is an acceptable way to solve problems and express frustration. Children of all ages watch television and videos on a daily basis and are exposed to acts of violence that potentially shape their way of thinking and behaving (Minow Lamay, 1995, p. 36) Cartoons feature patterns that are more likely to encourage aggression in children, especially if they are under the age of seven (Boyatzis et al. , 1987). Aggressive behaviors, often portrayed in the genre of animation aimed at children, are confusing for the young child. The stories presented as humorous, with laughter accompanying actions that are hostile and aggressive. This may lead to a decrease in his potential fear of danger and may also foster desensitization to harmful situations (Federman, 1997-1998). Significant results revealed that televised violence is changing the behavior of children (Federman, 1997-1998). Individuals of all ages learn through observation. Three important factors affect the impact of learning through modeling. First, the more engaging and attractive the model is, the more the viewer will stay attentive; the less appealing the character is, the more likely the viewer will be distracted or ignore the experience. The second compelling factor is the repeated exposure of the modeling stimuli. As a result of repeated exposure, modeling stimuli eventually produces enduring, retrievable images (Bandura, 1977, p. 25). The third factor, the complexity of the observed experience, affects the rate of observational learning. It is based on the observers capacity to process information. However, the young child may imitate without knowing what his behavior means. Bandura suggests that immediate imitation does not require much in the way of cognitive functioning because the behavioral reproduction is externally guided by the models action (Bandura, 1977, p. 27). Banduras research throughout the 1960s and 1970s with the inflatable Bobo doll demonstrated a relationship between viewing aggressive acts of behavior and performing them. He found that children would more often choose the Bobo doll to punch after viewing a televised violent program than reading a book or choosing a quiet game. Although Banduras work on modeling has been challenged over the years, there has been strong support. Later researchers have expanded Banduras initial studies, finding that the younger the child is, the more likely he will use imitation rather than rational thinking to choose an appropriate, non-violent way of relating. Eron et al. (1972) reported a strong relationship between viewed violence at age 8 and aggressive behavior. Canton and Sparks (1984) found that preschool children have a greater fear response than older children and react accordingly to what they see. Singer et al. (1999) concluded that there was a significant association linking violent exposure with childrens self-reported violent behaviors. Boyatzis et al. s 1995 study of 52 elementary school children with a mean age 7 years, 9 months, showed how children reacted to watching an episode of The Power Rangers. They found that the childs aggressive tendency and lack of fear was immediate and markedly greater following an exposure to but a single episode of The Power Rangers. (Boyatzis et al. , 1995, p. 53). Animated programming such as The Power Rangers, Ninja Turtles characterizes the hero as attractive, strong, and powerful. These characters use violence to solve problematic situations and rescue the helpless victim. The NTVS found that a preschooler who watches an average of 2 hours a day of such content will 43 be exposed to at least 10 hazardous portrayals a week, and over 500 in a year (Federman, Vol. 3, 1998, p. 163). Other studies have documented the relationship between exposure to violence and aggressive thought and action. For example, Josephson (1987) presented two television excerpts, one violent and one non-violent, to 396 third-grade boys from 13 schools. She hypothesized that there was a relationship between viewed violence and aggressive play behavior. Significance was found in increased aggressive behavior in boys who played a game of hockey after watching a violent program. Boys who scored high on characteristic levels of aggressiveness used more aggressive behaviors in their hockey game if they were in the groups that viewed violence. Furthermore, she found that the boys who watched the violent tape and were not given verbal cues about appropriateness of the behavior played more aggressively after the tape than either the boys who watched a non-violent tape, or boys who watched a violent tape but were given verbal cues that commented on appropriateness of behavior(Josephson, 1987). Children are being presented with messages that invite aggressive ways of relating to resolve situations and handle life events (Groves 2002). Current televised shows use cartoons, as well as live actors, to display forms of aggression as a means of relating to others and solving problems. A significant shift in televised programming, though, has occurred with the portrayal of aggressive behavior through more real life characterization, as illustrated in shows like The Power Rangers. The visual experience of aggressive behavior has become more like real life to the child because instead of viewing animated characters using aggressive behavior, the child can now watch individuals similar to himself transmogrify into violent machines (Boyatzis et al. , 1995). In this mechanical state, the portrayed behavior is violent and aggressive with the childs intention of solving a problem. Witnessing these aggressive acts of behavior gives the child a script to construct his social interactions. Since young children create and store behavior that they see, viewing violence becomes a potential way of relating to an experience. Whether the televised programming is in the form of cartoons or real life, social scripts are constructed by the child and are then employed in day-to-day experiences (Groves 2002). Mitigating the Influence of Violent Television Even though there have been numerous studies documenting the impact of televised violence on the behavior of children, the television industry has been reluctant to change violent programming (Singer et al. , 1999). As a result, recent research has focused on how to mitigate the experience of what the child sees rather than waiting for the industry to change what is presented to the public. The child uses internal processes, relying on cognitive and emotional capacities, to actively understand what has been experienced. In his efforts to understand these experiences, the child will find a way to concretize the experience into either emotional or behavioral responses. Younger children need the assistance of another to understand what they experience because they are unable to adjust their viewing and comprehension activities in response to learning instructions (Field Anderson, 1985, p. 91). Collins, Sobol, and Westby (1981) studied 47 children with a mean age of 7. 8 years. Children who watched a program in the presence of an adult who provided ongoing commentary showed improved comprehension of the plot and the witnessed experiences. Without adult participation, the younger children remembered only the aggressive behaviors without remembering the link to either the motive or the consequence. Huesmann et al. (1983) sampled 169 first- and third-grade children over a two-year period. The focus of the study was to mitigate the relation between aggression and television violence viewing in children through an intervention that altered the childrens attitudes about aggression and violent shows (Huesmann et al. , 1983, p. 899). They found a significant change in how the child responded to violence when the experimenter commented on the violent behavior. More children responded with appropriate answers when they were directly asked, what are the bad things that could happen when a child imitates the aggressive behavior of a character? St. Peters et al. (1991) found that the role of co-viewing by the parent with the child is beneficial. This study was conducted over a two-year period and involved the participation of 271 children, ages 3 to 5 years, and their parents. Parental comments about the televised material helped the children understand what they saw. The parents comments differentiated acceptable and non-acceptable behavior for the child. Young children need this clarification and guidance because they have relatively few internal structures to guide them in their behavior (St. Peters et al. , 1991). Kubey (1996) noted that network and cable programming are unsuitable for some children, especially the young child. No amount of adult commenting will completely mitigate what a child experiences. Monitoring and limiting a childs choice of television shows to reduce the exposure to violent behaviors is similar to monitoring a childs choice of foods to ensure health and nutrition. Children are victims to the effects of exposure to violence. Parents are critically important as a resource for the child in his attempt to understand the world. Grover (2002) noted that the child who has been exposed to violence responds more favorably to a nurturing, sensitive and caring adult relationship. The more parents know about their childs changing capacities to understand the world, the better able they are to respond empathically and appropriately to the child (Garbarino, 1992). However, it is essential, as a parent is a primary resource to buffer, explain and clarify life experiences for the child that are beyond the childs capacity to understand ((Minow Lamay, 1995). The study by Singer et al. (1980) found that parents influenced their childrens perceptions of the importance of television by the type and amount of television viewing they had. Collins et al. (1981) found that parental commentary helped children understand the implicit program content. The longitudinal study by St. Peters et al. (1991) of 3- and 5-year-olds and their families viewing patterns found that parents viewing choices play a role in determining a childs exposure to television programs. Conclusion Young children often copy the violent actions that they have witnessed. Banduras work on modeling in the field of social learning has been significant in conceptualizing the relationship between viewing violence and subsequent behaviors. The solution for ameliorating the impact of televised violence focuses on change in parental attitudes as well as profound changes in the entertainment industry. Changing parental attitudes and behavior toward media violence is more feasible than changing the way the entertainment industry portrays violence. Educating parents about the childs cognitive and emotional developmental capacities has been recommended widely as one solution to lessen the potential impact of media violence. References Anderson, C, Bushman, B. (2001). Effects of violent video games on aggressive behavior, aggressive cognition, aggressive affect, physiological arousal, and prosocial behavior: A meta-analytic review of the scientific literature. American Psychological Society, 12, pp. 353-359. Bandura, A. (1977). Social learning theory. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall. Boyatzis, C. J. , Matillo, G. M. , Nesbitt, K. M. (1995). Effects of The Mighty Morphin Power Rangers on childrens aggression with peers. Child Study Journal, 25(1), pp. 45-55.

Literature on Capitalist Society

Literature on Capitalist Society Wake me when its quitting time (introduction in progress) Bureau of Labor Statistics reports on use of time on an average weekday in 2015, shows that Americans age 15 and over slept about 8.8 hours, spent 5.2 hours doing leisure and sports activities, worked for 3.5 hours, and spent 1.8 hours doing household activities. The remaining 4.7 hours were spent in a variety of other activities, including eating and drinking, attending school, and shopping (xxx). While every job includes some tasks that are not part of the job description, theres a discrepancy between position and what workers actually spend their time doing. A 2014 survey conducted by market research firm Harris Interactive, found that U.S. employees at large-sized companies (1000 employees or more) only spend 45 percent of their time on primary job duties (XXX). The other fifty five percent of the time? Email, meetings, administrative tasks, and interruptions. Among their chief complains, meetings that could be email and the most frustrating workdays are when all of the above pre vent a worker from doing their job. Distractions arent limited to being work related either. With virtually every workplace being connected to the internet or every worker having a smartphone in their pocket, miniature escapes from work are only a click away. Employers arent turning a blind eye to this A third of employers said that even if performance isnt affected, they care if employees spend time on non-work related emails and websites (http://www.careerbuilder.com/advice/cyber-monday-shopping-at-work). This obviously sets the employee and employer in an adversarial relationship. A sort of cat and mouse game where management is trying to squeeze every possible ounce of productivity out of their employees, who very often have little invested in the company besides time, given little motivation to do more than what is asked of them, if that. This adversarial view is a byproduct of what F. A. Hayek would describe as classical liberalism. In his book The Constitution of Liberty, Hayek lays out his defense of free market capitalism. Whoever desires the regular income for which he sells his labor must devote his working hours to the immediate tasks which are determined for him by others. (186). This sets up the two major classes, the employee and the independent, similar to the proletariat versus the bourgeoisie in Marxist philosophy. The employed, as Hayek sees them, are beholden to the Independents. They arent exploited in strict Marxist sense, but have made the voluntary choice to eschew greater responsibility for the security of a more-or-less guaranteed paycheck. For the independent, it is a question of shaping and reshaping a plan of life, of finding solutions for ever new problems. (188) The independents are the risk takers, the innovators, and the ones engaged with the world as a whole. What does this mean for the employed? When they made the choice for sell their time for money, did this also rob them of their engagement with their workplace or world? A quick web search results in thousands of hits regarding employee engagement. To management, it is the emotional commitment an employee shows for the organization and its goals (Kruse 2012). An engaged employee is one who cares and is passionate about his job and company goals. This employee exists outside of Hayeks labels, not just to working to get their paycheck rather their goals and the companies goals are aligned. Yet, a 2015 survey of employee conducted by Gallup Daily found that the employee engagement is stagnant. Gallup categorizes workers as engaged based on their ratings of chosen metrics, such as having an opportunity to do what they do best each day, having someone at work who encourages their development and believing their opinions count at work that predict important organizational performance outcomes. The majority (50.8%) of employees were not engaged, while another 17.2% were actively disengaged. Actively disengaged is the best possible description of the Dante Hicks and Randal Graves, the protagonists from the 1994 slacker-genera hit Clerks. The opening sequence is relatable to anybody whos ever called themselves employed. A faceless, nameless boss calls Dante to get him to open his convince store on his off day. However, he isnt directly told to, however the boss employs a management technique of asking him. Dante offers little resistance; his greatest concern is playing in a hockey game that afternoon. Of course, the boss promises him that he will only have to work until noon, a promise on which he later reneges and to which Dante has no recourse. This familiar scenario directly puts the employed at odds with the employer, whos intrusion into the work-life balance is disrupted. This balance between life and work, according to Hayek, is primarily a concern of the Independent class, For the independent there can be no sharp distinction between his private and his business life, as there is for the employed, who has sold part of his time for a fixed income (188). This distinction can be considered a separation between work and personal life, however the lines between the two have gradually become blurred, attributable to the technology advancements which allow people to be constantly connected and businesses to be active and accessible at all times without boundaries (https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/273280). This separation of work and life is complicated when we start to identify who we are by who we work for. In the Journal of Organizational Behavior, Prof. Daan Van Knippenberg wrote that When working in an organization, employees identify, to some extent, with the organization, as part of a collective group. (571). The ever minimizing of the life work balance increases how much the employee identifies themselves with what they do. Dante and Randal are represented as mostly intelligent, self-aware individuals struggling to find their identity in the employed class. The movie takes place over the course of one day, detailing with some exaggerated but clearly repeatable service industry woes. Long periods of boredom broken up by demanding and odd customers. Dante struggles to grin and bear it, going through the motions of a script. Throughout his day, hes forced to interact with all sorts of demeaning or aggressive customers, but because of his position, he capitulates, unable to confront them due to his position. This service role is known as emotional labor, which is defined as the management of feeling to create a publicly observable facial and bodily display; emotional labor is sold for a wage and therefore has exchange value (Hochschild, 1983). Where Dante is freely selling his emotional labor, Randall takes the alternate route. Randal vocally and sometimes violently reacts to the service work setting. Hes a working-class hero, acting out what many in the service industry can only fantasize about, his only active engagement in the workplace telling customer exactly what he thinks, and calling out Dantes passiveness. Hayek sees their status as a voluntary one, their minimal responsibilities are exactly what theyre looking for. Dantes active disengagement is a product of what Marx described as alienation. His mundane existence doesnt just lack genuine interaction, its in direct conflict with his role in customer service. Marx predicted This alienation in modern industrial production under capitalist conditions workers will inevitably lose control of their lives by losing control over their work. Workers thus cease to be autonomous beings in any significant sense. (https://faculty.frostburg.edu/phil/forum/Marx.htm), Employees, regardless of their position in life, are human, have lost control of their ability to express their humanity in their work. This loss of control, which Hayek argues is voluntary if not gladly given up, is a driving factor behind the lack of engagement at work. Marx saw this as Men no longer enjoyed the right to dispose of what they produced how they chose: they became separated from the product of their labour. Dante is miserable because he never sees the result of his labor, hes walk ed on daily, by company and customer alike, and is denied any recompense because of how utterly replaceable he is. At the end, Dante laments for change Im stuck in this pit, earning less than slave wages, working on my day off, dealing with every backward fuck on the planetà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ I cant make changes like that in my life. If I could, I would-but I dont have the ability to risk comfortable situations on the big money and the fabulous prizes. (XXX) He sees his status as part of the Employed class as being inescapable. Randal essentially (and likely unknowingly) replies with Hayeks views Youre comfortable. This is a life of convenience for you, and any attempt to change it would shatter the pathetic microcosm youve fashioned for yourself. (XXX). Dantes situation is no better off than where he started, only realization that he is firmly entrenched in the world of the Employed, envying the independents. Point is-Im not the kind of person that disrupts things in order to shit comf ortably. He desperately wants change, but doesnt know how to change. The want/need for change is the drive behind Fight Club, a 1996 novel by Chuck Palahniuk. Palahniuk describes the real-life events that inspired the book in an interview with The Guardian (after getting into a fight) à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ I went back to work just so bashed, and horrible looking. People didnt ask me what had happened. I think they were afraid of the answer. I realized that if you looked bad enough, people would not want to know what you did in your spare time. This, along with other stories about the service industry told to him by friends inspired the creation of his main character(s) in Fight Club. They, specifically the narrator and Tyler Durden, became agents of change in their boring and tedious world. From the beginning of both the book and movie, the themes of repetition, alienation, tediousness, and inauthenticity are key. The narrator, a middle aged white male who in all interactions never gives his actual name, describes his occupation as a recall specialist for a major automobile company. He works a nine to five white collar desk job, where each move he makes is dictated by a boss. He then goes home to an apartment filled with junk he doesnt need where he continues to want more. His days are repetitive to the point where he can tell what day it is based off the color of his bosss tie. He feels detached from the world, his flat affect is exacerbated by insomnia and isolation. His entire world is set up in what he describes as single serving Everywhere I travel tiny life. Single-serving sugar, single-serving cream, single pat of butter (Palahniuk, 28) to a fellow passenger on an airplane that his job is apply a formula, one that that determines if the price of a recall is more than the cost to fix the defective parts and lawsuit settlements. He is essentially employed to apply his companys bottom line against the potential cost of human lives. The job is undoubtedly depressing and morally questionable. The loss of human life, a simple mathematical equation, the nature of the job practically calls for detachment. The narrator finds authenticity was in support groups for the sick and dying, as recommended to him by a doctor who he was seeing to treat his insomnia. Here, the narrator meets Bob, a former bodybuilder now testicular cancer survivor. Bobs openness and authenticity allow the narrator to compare true suffering to his own. He finds the only place where people are present, where they really listen to him, is in a place where they think he is just as sick as they are. Instead of appreciating the analogy and realizing that he is still healthy enough to change his life, to take a risk and find new employment, maybe even go out on his own, he instead becomes addicted to the meetings, finding ways to attend one a week. Nevertheless, he makes no meaningful changes in his life and despite searching for human contact, he is also exploiting or manipulating the members of these groups to gain the acceptance he cannot find elsewhere. The narrator, tired of his job vacations to a nude beach. After sleeping, he wakes up to see Tyler Durdan, pulling driftwood out of the ocean and forming a structure. He constructs a sculpture out of them that casts a shadow in the shape of a human hand. For one minute, one perfect minute, Tyler had sat in the palm of a perfection hed created himself The display of enjoying the work you created, even if it lasts for one minute, sets the stage for Tyler. He, like Randal Graves, is a walking fantasy for the everyday working man. He belongs to both the independent and employed classes, and moves seamlessly between the two. At nights, Tyler is a part time movie projectionist. Through the narrators description, we learn of the miserable conditions of working in older theaters that use multiple reel projectors that require changing during the film. The projectionist booth is soundproof because inside the booth is the racket of sprockets snapping film past the lens at six feet a second, ten frames a foot, sixty frames a second snapping through, clattering Gatling-gun fire (Palahniuk, 27). The projectionists shining moment comes through when they perform the changing of reels mid-film. The dark is hot from the bulbs inside the projectors, and the alarm is ringing. Stand there between the two projectors with a lever in each hand, and watch the corner of the screen. The second dot flashes. Count to five. Switch one shutter closed. At the same time, open the other shutter. Changeover. The movie goes on. Nobody in the audience has any idea. The alarm is on the feed reel so the movie projectionist can nap. A movie projectionist does a lot hes not supposed to. Not every projector has the alarm. At home, youll sometimes wake up in your dark bed with the terror youve fallen asleep in the booth and missed a changeover. The audience will be cursing you. The audience, their movie dream is ruined, and the manager will be calling the union. The implication is a well-done job is one that is completely unnoticed, the only time the movie watchers even consider the projectionist is if they make a mistake. This lack of appreciation in the work place severely impacts a workers engagement The single highest driver of engagement, according to a worldwide study conducted by Towers Watson, is whether or not workers feel their managers are genuinely interested in their wellbeing. Less than 40 percent of workers felt so engaged. (https://hbr.org/2012/01/why-appreciation-matters-so-mu). The idea that Tyler is waking up in the middle of the night, afraid that hes missed his cue to change reels when not even at work is also a sign of the ever-increasing intrusion of work on the life-work balance, despite not being the owner of the company. As member of the Independent, Tyler owns his own soap company. In describing the process of making soap, he details the history, likening the discovery and creation of soap to sacrifice. Tyler steals fat at first from the love interest in the book, Marla Singer, and later from liposuction clinics, processes it, and uses it to create his soap, which he then sells back to those who can afford it. Capitalism embodied. After an unfortunate incident leaving the Narrator homeless, he meets Tyler in a bar. Its here that Fight Club is born. They both admit to never having been in a fist fight, and at Tylers suggestion, has the narrator hit him as hard as he can. Others at the bar take notice, and the club is created. This community they create, like the support group the Narrator attended before, are a place to find acceptance. (marx alienation, club as employment?) With fight club in his life, the emptiness now seems to be filled. In fact, fight club has become the most important thing in his life. After some time, the damage to the Narrators appearance accumulates, cuts become scars, bruises are slow to disappear or are replaced by new ones. This is highlighted when his boss decides to deliver the presentation personally instead of the Narrator. During the meeting, he locks eyes with the Microsoft rep, Walter. Walter is described as having soft, clear skin and perfect teeth. Hes essentially a representation of what the Narrator was, or at least wanted to be: complete. This transformation and comparison to Walter denotes the transformation that the Narrator is taking part in. Hes discovering that his identity and value exists separate of his occupation. He sees his corporal and spiritual self-destruction as ways of discovering who we are, and what we are really capable of. Tyler explains this in a monolog Man, I see in fight club the strongest and smartest men whove ever lived. I see all this potential, and I see squandering. God damn it, an entire generation pumping gas, waiting tables; slaves with white collarsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Were the middle children of history, man. No purpose or place. We have no Great War. No Great Depression. Our Great Wars a spiritual war our Great Depression is our lives. Weve all been raised on television to believe that one day wed all be millionaires, and movie gods, and rock stars. But we wont. And were slowly learning that fact. And were very, very pissed off (Palahniuk 75). This is where Hayek and Tyler both agree, there is something seriously lacking in a society in which all the intellectual, moral, and artistic leaders belong to the employed class (193). Tyler wants the men to feel like they are appreciated as both employed members of society and as individuals themselves. Though it only exists for a few hours a week, Fight Club is a total embodiment of a classless society because their possessions and social status do not matter for that one perfect moment. The members once had dreams and goals, however most eventually settle into Hayeks employed class because of the fear of failure, debt, or simply the lack of opportunity. This is exemplified by the sacrifice of Raymond Hassels life. Raymond is ambushed by the Narrator at a bus stop, after a late-night shift at a convenience store. Hayek surmised that its in societies best interests for the employed to change their station in life, even if they wanted to do so. It may indeed prove to be the most difficult task of all to persuade the employed masses that in the general interest of their society, and therefore in their own long- term interest, they should preserve such conditions as to enable a few to reach positions which to them appear unattainable or not worth the effort and risk (186). Tyler and the Narrator reject the notion that maintaining the status quo is best. Through fear of being murdered by the narrator, Raymond is forced at gunpoint to realize the value of his own life, and is encouraged to return to school and pursue his dream of becoming a veterinarian. This idea, that fear must be used to truly grant the masses their freedom, has sinister implications. While Raymond may now try to better his life, but is only motivated by corrosion. The conversation that takes place is similar to what happened between Dante and Randal in Clerks, only slightly more aggressive, and at gun point. Ironically, in the alternate ending of Clerks, Dante is killed after closing the store by a man after the small amount of money in the register. The narrators insurance job, the threat against Raymonds life, the human sacrifice origins of soap; death and work are a constant theme through the book. This brings us back to Bob, the narrators first friend in the support groups. In the Hayek sense of the word, Bob was an independent who took his chance and failed. Bob was a bodybuilder who at his peak, marketed a chest workout program sold on late night TV. His career path destroyed his body with anabolic steroids. After multiple divorces, he was diagnosed with testicular cancer. Then he went bankrupt. Hayek sees Bobs failure as the cost of freedom, When men are allowed to act as they see fit, they must also be held responsible for the results of their efforts (139). Bobs choices, much like the narrators, Dantes and Randals, are afforded to them because they live in a free society. This freedom to fail, is exactly what is stolen from Raymond in the narrators efforts to save him from his fear of failure. The consequences of this theft mark a turning point in the book, the fight club itself takes a darker turn, as does Tylers philosophy. Realizing the dependence on the employed, Tyler sets in motion a proletarian revolt. The people youre trying to step on, were everyone you depend on. Were the people who do your laundry and cook your food and serve your dinner. We make your bed. We guard you while youre asleep. We drive the ambulances. We direct your call. We are cooks and taxi drivers and we know everything about you. We process your insurance claims and credit card charges. We control every part of your life (Palahniuk p. 166). Their clubs purpose has change, their perfect moment has passed. Equality and appreciation were once their goals, now Tylers vision has become the independent focus of the organization. This is a vision of a new world that returns to a pre-agrarian way of life as his prescription for saving the planet. Project Mayhem is born out of what fight club was, now mo re of a cult where, with time and effort, members can graduate to the higher echelons of understanding. Fight club allowed the men to independently search for their identity separate from their station. This move from freedom to fascism, though fantastical, is warned against by Hayek, Freedom is thus seriously threatened today by the tendency of the employed majority to impose upon the rest their standards and views of life (186). Failure, fear, and complacency are dangerous, sometimes even fatal, but they are necessary prices to pay for a free system. Works Cited http://scholarship.sha.cornell.edu/chrpubs/155/ http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/doc/875560685.html?FMT=AI Palahniuk, Chuck. Fight Club. New York: Henry Holt Co., 1996. Uhls. Jim. Memorable Quotes from Fight Club. International Movie Database. 1999. Singer, Peter. Marx: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford University Press, USA, 2001. Segal, Jerome. Agency and Alienation: A Theory of Human Presence. Rowan Littlefield, 1991 Marx, Karl and Friedrich Engels. The Communist Manifesto. Ed. Samuel H. Beer. Wheeling: Harlan Davidson, 1955. https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/240076 https://www.bls.gov/tus/charts/ https://faculty.frostburg.edu/phil/forum/Marx.htm Palahniuk, Chuck. Fight Club: A Novel (p. 27). W. W. Norton Company. Kindle Edition.

Analyze The Performance Of Maybank Group Finance Essay

Analyze The Performance Of Maybank Group Finance Essay 3.1 INTRODUCTION In this chapter, the researcher will look at the history of Maybank group as a whole besides that, the researcher will also review and analyze the performance of Maybank group and also Islamic product that been offered by Maybank Islamic Berhad. COMPANY HISTORY 3.2.1 Maybank Maybank was incorporated on 31 May 1960 and began operations on 12 September in the same year, rising from the spirit of Independence to pave the way for dynamic change in the countrys banking and financial landscape. Our founders were visionary in their desire to see Maybank grow to excel both in the domestic market and in the region. Over the years, Maybank has led an aggressive drive to expand network and maximize reach. The Group has consistently set new benchmarks in product and service delivery by achieving many firsts in the industry such as rural credit scheme, cards services, corporate and investment banking, mobile banking services, internet banking and Islamic banking. Maybank operates through an extensive network of over 1,700 offices in 14 countries including 7 in South East Asia. The Group is represented in the major financial centres of London, New York, Hong Kong and Singapore. 3.2.2 Maybank Islamic Maybank Islamic Berhad, a wholly-owned subsidiary and the Islamic banking arm of the Maybank Group, is the largest Islamic bank in Malaysia. It started its initial operations offering Islamic financial services through a window concept in 1993 and later converged to full-fledged Islamic banking operations on 1 January 2008. With a breadth of more than 17 years experience in the Islamic banking and finance, Maybank Islamic has been regarded as the leading Islamic bank in the Asia Pacific region and ranks among the worlds top 15 Islamic financial institutions. Today, Maybank Islamic proudly stands above its peers in the home market with Shariah-compliant assets of more than USD12 billion commanding significant market share in financing and deposits of over 24% and 21% respectively. Maybank Islamic believes that serving the needs of customers is a priority and as such it is committed to provide a wide array of Shariah-compliant financial products and services to suit its customers preference and choices. Apart from commercial banking offered by Maybank Islamic, Maybank Groups Islamic investment banking and capital market business are offered through Maybank Investment Bank and selected overseas offices in major financial centres of Bahrain, London, Singapore and the international offshore financial centre of Labuan. As an industry icon, Maybank Islamic is committed to scaling new heights as reflected in the way the Bank operates its business, the way its deliver products and services to customers and in the way the Bank engages more than 25,000 Maybankers across its home country as well as its business partners and stakeholders globally 3.3 OBJECTIVE OF ESTABLISHMENT The objectives of the establishment of Maybank Islamic Berhad are as follows: 1. To continues as a Market Leader in Islamic banking field in the aspect of products and services. 2. Introduced the financial product that is based on MM concept as a an alternative to current the BBA product 3. Introduced the financial product that is based on Ijarah Mutahiah Bittamlek 4. Introduced the management of investment in an Islamic way 5. Involved in asset management in an openly way 6. Introduced Islamic card credit 7. Actively involved in Murabahah commodity product BOARD OF DIRECTORS Dato Seri Ismail Shahudin Dato Seri Ismail Shahudin was appointed as a Director and Chairman of Maybank Islamic on 23 January 2010. He was Chairman of Bank Muamalat Malaysia Berhad from 2004 until his retirement in July 2008. He has held senior positions in Citibank, serving both in Malaysia and New York, United Asian Bank and Maybank where he was appointed Executive Director in 1997. He left Maybank in 2002 to assume the position of Group Chief Executive Officer of MMC Corporation Berhad prior to his appointment to the Board of Bank Muamalat Malaysia Berhad. His current directorships in companies within the Maybank Group include as Director of Maybank Berhad. He serves as Chairman of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee and as a member of the Credit Review, Risk Management, and Employee Share Option Scheme Committees of Maybank Berhad. Tan Sri Datuk Dr Hadenan bin A. Jalil Tan Sri Datuk Dr Hadenan bin A. Jalil was appointed as a Director of Maybank Islamic on 23 January 2010. Tan Sri Datuk Dr Hadenan bin A. Jalil was Auditor General from 2000 to 2006. He served with the Government for 36 years in various capacities in the Treasury, the Ministry of International Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Works prior to his appointment as Auditor General. His current directorships in companies within the Maybank Group include as Director of Maybank Berhad. He serves as Chairman of the Audit Committee and as a member of the Credit Review, Nomination and Remuneration, and Employee Share Option Scheme Committees of Maybank Berhad. Zainal Abidin Jamal Zainal Abidin Jamal was appointed as a Director of Maybank Islamic on 23 January 2010. He is a practicing corporate and commercial lawyer and established his firm, Zainal Abidin Co, in 1987, where he is a Senior Partner. He was enrolled as an Advocate Solicitor of the High Court of Malaya in 1986. Between 1983 and 1986, he served as the Company Secretary of Harrisons Malaysian Plantations Berhad. Prior to that, he had practiced in Singapore where he was enrolled in 1980 as an Advocate and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Singapore and had also served as a First Class Magistrate in Brunei Darussalam. His current directorships in companies within the Maybank Group include as Chairman of Mayban Trustees Berhad and Director of Maybank Berhad, a Director of Etiqa Insurance Berhad, Etiqa Takaful Berhad, Maybank International (L) Limited, and Mayban International Trust (L) Ltd. Datuk Dr. Syed Othman bin Syed Hussin Alhabshi Datuk Dr. Syed Othman bin Syed Hussin Alhabshi was appointed as a Director of Maybank Islamic on 30 January 2008. Datuk Dr. Syed Othamn has vast experience as an academician. He held various academic leadership and research post at International Islamic University of Malaysia, University Utara Malaysia, University Tun Abdul Razak and Institute of Islamic Understanding of Malaysia before he assumed responsibility as the Professor of Islamic Economics, Chief Academic Officer and Head of Takaful at International Centre for Education in Islamic Finance (INCEIF). Datuk Dr. Syed Othman is a director of Etiqa Takaful Berhad. He is also a director of Prima Prai Sdn Bhd, Epen Bina Sdn Bhd and Universiti Teknikal MARA Sdn Bhd. PRODUCTS AND SERVICES IN MAYBANK ISLAMIC Home Equity-i HomeEquity-i is a shariah compliant home financing plan based on the Musharakah Mutanaqisah or diminishing partnership concept. Maybank Islamic (the bank) and applicant enter into a joint partnership with bank to raise capital for acquiring a property. Both parties become joint property owners with shares allotment based on amount of capital contributed. Maybank Islamic releases its shares to applicant who gradually acquires banks ownership of the property with monthly payments made over an agreed time period thereby diminishing the banks share till property is fully owned by applicant. Home Fianancing -i BBA is defined as deferred payment sale. BBA involves the sale and purchase transactions between the bank and the customer. Under this concept, customers may defer total payment of asset which is the property in installments over a specific period of time. Fixed payment that shows exactly what customers need to pay throughout the tenure. useful for those working on a monthly budget. MaxiHome-i MaxiHome-i refers to Home Financing under Variable Rate Financing (VRF). Maxihome Loan Packages cater to the needs of individuals and small businesses, including financing the purchase of new properties, sub-sales, refinancing, redraws and remortgages. This product is applied under the concepts of Bai Bithaman Ajil (BBA). BBA is defined as deferred payment sale. BBA involves the sale purchase transactions between the bank and the customer. Under this concept, customers may defer total payment of the property in installments over a specific period of time. ShophouseEquity-i ShophouseEquity-i is a shariah compliant home financing plan based on the Musharakah Mutanaqisah or diminishing partnership concept. Maybank Islamic and applicant enter into a joint partnership with bank to raise capital for acquiring a property.Both parties become joint property owners with shares allotment based on amount of capital contributed. Maybank Islamic releases its shares to applicant who gradually acquires banks ownership of the property with monthly payments made over an agreed time period thereby diminishing the banks share till property is fully owned by applicant. Shop house Financing-i A fixed rate financing for shop houses currently being practiced under the concept of Bai Bithaman Ajil (BBA), Shop house Financing-i is recommended especially for homebuyers who prefer a fixed monthly budget where you know exactly how much to pay throughout the tenure, whether by a single instalment sum or in-line with the multi-tiered rates. MaxiShop-i MaxiShop-i refers to Shophouse Financing-i under Variable Rate Financing (VRF). MaxiShop Loan Packages catering to the needs of individuals and small businesses, including financing the purchase of new commercial properties, sub-sales, refinancing, redraws and remortgages. The scope of commercial properties under MaxiShop includes shop houses, shop offices, commercial lots in shopping complex, office lots, factories, industrial buildings. This product is applied under the concepts of Bai Bithaman Ajil (BBA). BBA is defined as deferred payment sale. BBA involves the sale purchase transactions between the bank and the customer. Under this concept, customers may defer total payment of the property in installments over a specific period of time. Variable Rate Financing (VRF) CASH LINE -i (OVERDRAFT) Murabahah  is another type of sale and purchase contract, with a deferred payment element. The contract of sale may take place when a buyer who wishes to purchase assets, requests the Bank to purchase assets at cost (purchase price) and in return the Bank will charge the buyer an agreed profit margin which is incorporated into the selling price. The selling price is subsequently payable on a deferred single payment. ExeCash-i Standard ExeCash-i Standard package is an Islamic Personal Term Financing under the Shariah principle of  Bai Inah  (sale with immediate repurchase).  Bai Inah  is a buy and sell contract whereby Maybank Islamic (the Bank) would sell its assets to the applicant on deferred payment basis. Subsequently, Maybank Islamic (the Bank) would buy back the same asset from the applicant at a lower price on cash basis. Under  Bai Inah  concept, Maybank Islamic will use its asset as an underlying asset for the sale and purchase transactions. ExeCash-i Special ExeCash-i Special package is an Islamic Personal Term Financing under the Syariah principle of  Bai Inah  (sale with immediate repurchase).  Bai Inah  is a buy and sell contract whereby Maybank Islamic (the Bank) would sell its assets to the applicant on deferred payment basis. Subsequently, Maybank Islamic (the Bank) would buy back the same asset from the applicant at a lower price on cash basis. ExeCash-i for GLC ExeCash-i for GLC is an Islamic Personal Term Financing under the Shariah principle of  Bai Inah  (sale with immediate repurchase).  Bai Inah  is a buy and sell contract whereby Maybank Islamic (the Bank) would sell its assets to the applicant on deferred payment basis. Subsequently, Maybank Islamic (the Bank) would buy back the same asset from the applicant at a lower price on cash basis. The  ExeCash-i for Government Linked Companies (GLC)  provides financing without collateral to meet any of your personal needs. KOWAMAS KOWAMAS is an Islamic Personal Term Financing under the Syariah principle of  Bai Inah  (sale with immediate repurchase).  Bai Inah  is a buy and sell contract whereby Maybank Islamic (the Bank) would sell its assets to the applicant on deferred payment basis. Subsequently, Maybank Islamic (the Bank) would buy back the same asset from the applicant at a lower price on cash basis.The personal financing package for  Koperasi Wawasan Malaysia Berhad (KOWAMAS)  provides financing without collateral to meet any of your personal need. Hire Purchase-i Hire Purchase-i is based on the underlying Shariah principle of Al-Ijarah Thumma Al-Bai (AITAB). It means leasing and subsequent purchase. It refers to 2 contracts undertaken separately and consequentially i.e.  Al-Ijarah  contract (leasing) and  Al-Baicontract (purchase). It is an extension of the principle of  Al-Ijarah  whereby both parties further agreed that at the end of the lease period, the customer will purchase from the Bank the asset concerned at an agreed price with all the lease rentals previously paid constituting part of the price. Operations of Hire Purchase-i are based on Hire Purchase Act 1967 whereby all provisions that conform to Shariah requirement are applicable. Maybankinvest-i Maybankinvest-i is an alternative Share Trading / Financing package from Maybank that is based on the Shariah principle of Murabahah. Under this contract, Maybank agrees to finance your share trading activities in approved Shariah counters listed in Bursa Malaysia. ASB Financing-i ASB Financing-i is another form of term financing to purchase ASB unit trust based on Shariah principles of  Bai Inah  (sales with immediate repurchase) 3.6 PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS OF MAYBANK ISLAMIC BERHAD The performance of Maybank Islamic Berhad are analyzed from the information that have been obtained from overall performance data of Maybank Maybank Islamic just been setup recently , thus the performance will be measured along with the parent company, all of the performance regarding loan that had been published and other information are depend from the performance of Maybank. The only thing that is separated is total net income and operational income of a Maybank Islamic  [1]  . The analyses that have been done by the researcher are from the analysis of a Maybank itself. It includes various information of a bank performance as a whole that gave a clearer picture about the important information regarding total asset, total liability, total loan and various more. Besides that, there is also analysis of a statement of income that includes the performance of Maybank Islamic. 3.6.1 Total Assets  [2]   For the financial year ended 30 June 2010, outstanding assets of the Group expanded by 8.4% or RM26.0 billion resulting the total asset of group at RM 336,700 Million while at the Bank level, it increased 4.2% or RM10.1 billion to record an amount of RM 248,392 Million . For the previous year, the corresponding growth rates were 15.5% at Group level and 8.7% at Bank level. The bulk of the Groups growth in assets was derived from the expansion of net loans and advances which grew by RM19.8 billion or 10.6% and RM7.0 billion or 4.9% for the Group and the Bank respectively. As at end of June 2010, net loans and advances represented 61.0% of total Group assets, higher than the 59.8% as at the end of June 2009. 3.6.2 Securities purchased under resale agreements  [3]   Securities purchased under resale agreements are securities which the Group and the Bank had purchased with a commitment to resell at future dates. The commitments to resell the securities are reflected as assets on the balance sheet. Conversely, obligations on securities sold under repurchase agreements are securities which the Group and the Bank had sold from its portfolio, with a commitment to repurchase at future dates. Such financing transactions and corresponding obligations to purchase the securities are reflected as liabilities on the balance sheet. As at end June 2010, the Group held RM371.2 million of securities purchased under resale agreements. 3.6.3 Deposits and Placements with Financial Institutions  [4]   The Groups deposits and placements with financial institutions grew by RM2.6 billion to RM8.9 billion or 41.5% as Customer deposits growth outpaced the growth in loans and advances. 3.6.4 Life, General Takaful and Family Takaful Fund Assets  [5]   After a growth of 7% or RM1.1 billion in the previous year, this balance sheet item grew by a similar 7% to RM18.0 billion as at end of June 2010 3.6.5 Securities Portfolio  [6]   The investment securities portfolio of the Group decreased by RM3.6 billion or 6.2% mainly due to a reduction of shorter tenor Available-for-Sale holding (RM5.2 billion) as interest rates were expected to rise in the first half of 2010. Securities Held-for-Trading increased by RM1.2 billion which was partially offset by the reduction in Available-for-Sale portfolio. Around 79% of the securities portfolio comprised of securities Available-for-Sale and further 16.5% securities Held-to-Maturity while 4.9% of the securities portfolio is Held-for-Trading. 3.6.6 Loans, Advances and Financing  [7]   The Groups net loans and financing for financial year of 2010 expanded by 10.6% or RM19.8 billion compared to 12.9% or RM21.2 billion the previous financial year. The Groups gross loans grew 10.3% compared to 13.0% the previous year with domestic and overseas loans growth of 11.0% and 8.8% respectively. The domestic operations growth of 11.0% was better than the 6.5% recorded in the previous year as consumer loans expanded by 15.0% on the back of the RM3.3 billion or 28.6% growth in securities loans, mainly for the purchase of relatively low-risk Amanah Saham Bumiputera units, and the RM2.6 billion or 13.2% increase in vehicle loans. The Groups overall domestic loans market share stood at 17.6% compared to 17.8% the previous year. Mortgage loans grew by RM3.1 billion or 9.8% compared to 3.3% in the previous year with market share at 13.4% compared to 13.9% the previous year. Credit card receivables for the financial year rose RM0.6 billion or 16.0%, outperforming the industrys 11.3% growth leading to market share rising to 12.8% from 12.7% the previous year. Automobile financing for domestic operations recorded a growth of 12.2% compared to 11.0% in the previous financial year and outperformed the industrys growth of 8.5%. With growth exceeding the industry, the market share for financing of motor vehicles rose to 17.4% from 16.8% in June 2009. As at June 2010, the overseas operations loan book accounted for 32.3% of the Groups loan base from 32.8% in the previous year. The gross loans book for Singapore recorded a growth of 3.4% or RM1.3 billion after registering a growth of 6.2% in 2009. While for Indonesia, mainly due to Bank Internasional Indonesia, gross loans grew 37.7% or RM4.7 billion to RM17.1 billion. In the other overseas locations, total gross loans declined 3.7% or RM0.4 billion mainly due to the reduction in loan exposure in the US and United Kingdom following the financial crisis. The Groups Islamic gross financing and advances grew by 31.2% or RM8.2 billion during the year. Islamic banking constitutes a growing portion of the Groups banking business, accounting for 16.3% of gross loans and financing from 13.7% the previous year. Islamic gross financing accounted for 24.0% of domestic gross loans, rising from 20.3% recorded in the previous year. Sustained efforts implemented to continuously improve asset qual ity have been effective. The Groups gross NPL ratio declined to 2.9% from 3.5% the previous year. The Groups net NPL ratio declined to 1.2% from 1.6% the previous year. The Groups net NPLs declined by RM0.5 billion to RM2.3 billion as at June 2010. The Groups NPL reserve cover (net of IIS) rose to a healthy 124.5% compared to 112.9% the previous year. 3.7 Deposits from Customers  [8]   The Groups customer deposits expanded by 11.4% or RM24.3 billion to RM236.9 billion while at the Bank level it grew by RM7.3% or RM11.9 billion to RM175.4 billion. The Groups strong franchise contributed to a growth of 9.1% for demand deposits and 9.9% for savings deposits. The Banks domestic operations remained the leader in both demand and savings deposits with market shares of 20.7% and 27.4% compared to 21.3% and 26.6% respectively in the previous year. Fixed deposits grew by 10.0% compared to 12.3% in the previous year. The Groups overall deposit funding mix improved slightly as the Groups higher cost fixed deposits declined to 55.1% of total customer deposits from 55.8% in June 2009 3.6.8 Deposits and Placements of Financial Institutions  [9]   This item fell by 19.2% or RM5.5 billion due to increase in deposits from customers (RM24 billion) which resulted in less sourcing of funds from interbank market. 3.6.9 Shareholders Equity  [10]   The Groups shareholders equity rose by 12.0% or RM3.0 billion to RM27.9 billion. The increase was mainly due to increase in retained profits for the year. 3.6.10 Net Interest Income  [11]   Net interest income of the Group increased by RM851.4 million or 14.4%. The average net interest margin was 2.82% from 2.72% the previous year due to lower interest expenses in the Malaysian operations, especially interest expenses from fixed deposits, and lower interest expenses in the Singapore operations as well as full year contribution from Bank Internasional Indonesia (BII) for financial year of 2010. 3.6.11 Islamic Banking  [12]   Net income from the Groups Islamic banking operations increased by RM210.4 million or 17.2% to RM1.4 billion. The increase was mainly due to growth of assets in Islamic business, specifically hire purchase and residential mortgages. 3.6.12 Overhead Expenses  [13]   The Groups overheads expenses rose by RM852.9 million or 15.3% over that of the corresponding year as a result of an increase in personnel cost, full-year contribution from BII and expansion of BII, higher establishment costs, and credit card related expenses due to higher transaction, volume. The Groups cost to income ratio declined to 49.8% from 52.8% previously as net income growth outpaced the growth in expenses. Personnel costs increased by RM364 million or 14.3% due to an increase in salary, EPF, bonus and training. Establishment costs increased by RM66.2 million as a result of higher cost from depreciation and rental. On a comparable basis, the Groups adjusted cost to income ratio (without insurance claims and unrealised loss) would be 47.8% against 49.1% for the previous financial year. 3.6.13 Loan and Financing Loss and Provisions  [14]   Loan loss and provisions of the Group amounted to RM1.2 billion, which is RM510.8 million or 30.1% lower than that of the previous year. This decrease was primarily due to high general provisions made in the final quarter of financial year end of 2009 resulting from the weak global economic situation. 3.6.13 Taxation  [15]   The effective tax rate of the Group is 26.1% which is higher than the statutory rate of 25% mainly due to non-deductible expenses. 3.7 CONCLUSION From the analysis it clearly shows that the financial performance of Maybank Islamic experienced a strong growth. The increasing of the loan product especially individual loan and also with the stable increase of total income after tax , in addition to that the reducing of non performing loan portrayed the growth of Maybank Islamic especially their financial performance . According to a rough estimation from the analysis, it clearly shows that Maybank Islamic can compete with other Islamic banking institution. Based on the total asset that is increasing yearly and non performing loans that are reducing, it portrayed that the total net asset of Maybank Islamic are going stronger. Besides that, the increasing of individual loan shows that this institution gaining the trust of the community. Although there is a slight fall in Islamic deposit, but it is mainly because of Islamic debt and sukuk debt that occur outside of the country resulting the cost of fund to increase, and it is not because of a belief of a people about Islamic product offered by Maybank Islamic are not interesting enough. As a conclusion, Maybank Islamic Berhad has a strong position in their field as their finance and asset position are really good.