Employer Strategies for Responding to an Aging Workforce - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 14 Words: 4122 Downloads: 5 Date added: 2017/09/21 Category Advertising Essay Type Argumentative essay Did you like this example? Table of Contents Executive Summary1 Introduction2 Part A2 Demographics2 Impact and challenges in service industry for assigned HR trend (aging workforce). 4 Challenges of an aging workforce:5 Solutions to Challenges of an Aging workforce7 Part B Fairprice Xtra @ Ang Mo Kio HUB8 Challenges Faced9 Relevant Solutions10 Feedback12 Referencing14 Appendices15 Executive Summary This report is commissioned to provide our readers with more information on aging workforce. Firstly in Part A of our report, we will be discussing about the demographic changes in Singapore. These include life expectancy; income distribution and how household sizes have evolved throughout the years for instance. This will in turn give us more insights as to why Singapore is currently facing with the challenge of an aging workforce. Next, impact and challenges of aging workforce in the service industry will be further elaborated. Some of the impact of an aging workforce will be lower labour productivity rate and greater healthcare services for the elderly. One challenge face by HR companies will be how they can retain the knowledge and skills of these older workers. Solutions for HR companies on how to overcome such challenges are also suggested. One such solution is to implement a flexible retirement age program for the older workers. Moving on to Part B of this report, our group visited the Fairprice located at Ang Mo Kio and made an evident observation. Observations of the workers were made. We have identified a few problems associated with having too many aging staff further explained below. This is followed by our recommended solutions with one of the problems illustrated through a skit which can be found under Appendices. Introduction Singapore faces the problem of an ageing workforce which brings about new opportunities and challenges faced by employers and government and how they respond to an aging population. Today, Singaporeans have a longer life expectancy and wil l need to work longer, so that we lead healthy and productive lives and  have sufficient reserves for retirement. For employers, it means that there will be less young people entering the workforce each year in the future. Singapore’s workforce is aging rapidly and companies and the government faces the challenge to positively shape the mindsets of employers and employees towards employing older workers and to facilitate the re-design of jobs to make them more suited for older workers. Part A Demographics Age is one of the major demographic changes in Singapore. People are living much longer than they used to. Compared to year 2000, life expectancy has increased from 78 years to 79. 9 years in year 2006. The population has also increased from 4,027,900 to 4,483,900 in the same period. Life expectancy at birth has increased from 71 males and 76 females to 77 males and 81 females. Life expectancy at retirement age 62 is now over 20 years for both males and females. From year 2000 to 2006, the number of males per 1000 females is falling from 998 to 982. If this continues, there is bound to have more females than males. In year 2007 alone, the statistics has fallen to 979. Income distribution has improved tremendously from $3,458 to $4,867 from year 1993 to 2003 per household. There is an annual growth of 6. 9% sales in services industry. Services ranges from health services, food and beverage services, transport and storage services, retail trade, information and communication services, wholesale trade, education services and all other services. The services sector comprised 138,700 establishments and employed a total of 1,047,400 workers in 2005, or an average of 8 workers per establishment. The biggest employment size in the services industry though falls to accommodation and food and beverage services with average of 20 workers per establishment. This is followed by transport and storage with an average of 12 workers per establishment. Emp loyment rate for those aged 25 to 64 edged up to a new record of 76. 5% from 75. 5% a year ago. Supported by efforts to improve employability of older workers, the employment rate of older residents aged 55 to 64 rose by 2. 5% over the year to 56. 2% in June 2007. Most of the new jobs taken up by residents were in occupations paying more than the median income. Nine out of ten jobs gained by residents from 1997 to 2007 went to Professionals, Managers, Executives and Technicians (PMET), mostly in the services sector. Over the past three years, the gains were more spread out across the occupational groups, with more residents employed in sales services jobs than before. Nevertheless, the majority of 71% of the jobs created for residents from 2004 to 2007 still went to PMETs. Consequently, PMETs now form 49% of the resident workforce, up from 40% a decade ago, while the share of production related workers correspondingly declined from 31% to 26% and clerical, sales service worker s from 29% to 25%. The workforce is also rapidly aging with slightly over half, 53%, of the economically active residents aged 40 years or older, including 25% aged at least 50 years, up from 33% and 13% respectively in 1991. While the strong labour market performance in 2007 has lifted prospects even for the older and less educated, these workers nevertheless remain more vulnerable to losing their jobs and less likely to be re-employed during a downturn. The challenge remains in enhancing their long term employability amid a volatile economic environment. Household size had become smaller due mainly to the increasing proportion of one person households. 9. 4% males and 15. 5% females aged 35 to 39 years remained single compared to less than 11% in the 1970s. Family life cycle has declined also by other factors such as lower fertility rate and delay in child bearing. Impact and challenges in service industry for assigned HR trend (aging workforce). Impact of an aging workforce: 1 ) Lower Labour Productivity Rate The impact that resulted from an aging workforce would be lower productivity and efficiency rate when it comes to the accomplishment of a certain task. Their movements and mobility will be slower than the younger staff. As compared to a teenager, an elderly will definitely take a longer time complete his job and hence, affecting the productivity of the work performance which might in turn slow down the business process. 2) High Turnover Rate As the workforce ages, more and more baby-boomers will become eligible to retire, creating a competition for the experience and skill of mature workers and turnover is expected to accelerate. With a huge turnover rate, companies will face problems in replacing those who retire thus, resulting in low unemployment rate thereafter. In addition, just because they cannot replace the elderly who retired adequately, economic growth will be slowed down, affecting the business outlook. 3) Greater Health Care needs f or older workers Due to an aging workforce, more health care centers for elderly workers have to be set up in ensuring the health of these workers as elderly will have a tendency to fall sick more easily. In addition, generally speaking, elderly are more prone to injuries such as backaches and leg pains for instance. Only with good health then will they be able to perform their job well. Furthermore, companies will have to anticipate the labour shortages frequently since there are more elderly staff working these days. 4) A competitive economy Singapore’s aging workforce has crucial implications for its economy as we are one that experience rapid structural changes. In such an economy, the depreciation rate of human capital in terms of technology specified skills is expected to be high as new jobs created may require skills that are different from those that have been lost. This will be vividly reflected in older people as they will experience difficulties in acquiring new skills. Therefore, the decrease in the rate of depreciation of the technology specified human capital of older workers could dampen overall economic growth. Challenges of an aging workforce: 1) Communication Barriers Elderly workers’ education qualifications are low as majority of them do not have the privilege to go through formal education back then. Due to the lack of education, they might not be able to understand English as effectively in their respective workplace. In addition, there is a high probability that these elderly workers are not able to converse properly in English much less, fluently. Hence, there is a tendency that their English will be misunderstood by customers and maybe amongst colleagues as well. This in turn creates a communication barrier between the older staff and the younger ones. 2) Unable to catch up with advanced technology The older staff might not be able to understand how various latest machineries work within the company due to its co mplexity which is difficult for them to comprehend and apply thereafter. In addition, often or not, the instructions of machineries are written in English which might be a problem to them as well for they might not be able to understand the instructions completely. Furthermore, older staff will take a longer time to pick up new skills as compared to the younger staff. 3) Resilience to changes The aging workforce will be accustomed to how their company functions and operates as they could have been working at their various companies for a long time. It will be difficult to make them accept and learn new skills as effectively as compared the younger workforce who will be more adaptable to changes. Thus, they will be resilience to the upcoming changes involving the advancement in technology, job rotations and maybe even the changing in business operations as well. ) Retaining knowledge or experience of the older worker The older workers are normally the ones who possess most knowled ge on their job scopes as they have been doing and repeating the same processes almost everyday other day. In addition, the experiences they have gained throughout the years of working at the company are invaluable and these experiences are an asset to the company. Thus, the company will now face with the challenge of whether or not the experiences that the aging workforce possess can in turn to applicable or even transferred to the upcoming younger workers. ) Flexible Retirement Age Minister Mentor Mr Lee Kuan Yew recently made some comments on the need to work longer. In 1999, the retirement age was raised from 60 to 62. There are 3 reasons for the implementation of the extended retirement age. Firstly, Singaporeans now live longer. The average life expectancy is about 80 years old. This has risen due to advances in medical science and also better living conditions. This also means that if one were to retire at age of 62, there is another 18 to 20 more years of living. Secondly, n ot every worker will be as fortunate. Some will have to work because they lack sufficient funds for retirement, furthermore, people will live longer these days hence, they will require a bigger sum of savings. Therefore, if savings are insufficient to these workers, companies will expect many more people to work after the age of 62. Lastly, there is a trend of shrinking family size going on nowadays. Shrinking family size means that there are now fewer young people to support the elderly. In addition, values have changed over the years, elderly are now increasingly expected to be self-sufficient after retirement. In conclusion for this challenge, companies have to anticipate such a change in which the older staff will still want to work after their retirement and come out with a flexible retirement age plan for the aging workforce. An important point apart from just blind employment, companies have to ensure that these workers stay relevant and employable by equipping with the necessary skills or even arrange them to work at places that are less strenuous. Solutions to Challenges of an Aging workforce 1) Communication Barriers In order to overcome communication barriers, it is possible that the company provides subsidized language classes for elderly workers. In addition, perhaps incentives can be given for workers who get pass each level. Further rewards like an extra day off can be given to motivate fast learners who are spotted making good use of their English learnt from classes at work. 2) Unable to catch up with advanced technology For the elderly workers to keep up with the changing trends in technology, one particular staff can be assigned to oversee the workers who are using the machineries daily. They can then explain to those who are not aware of the proper usage of the machineries, and show them step by step how to use them. A set of instructions can also be printed in a suitable language for elderly workers, to read through when they a re free. Simplified instructions can be placed somewhere noticeable near the machineries as well. 3) Resilience to changes It is comprehensible that elderly people are more rigid and less adaptable to changes. However, they can be encouraged to be more flexible if we are more patient with them. What they need is the care and respect, and they are actually willing to learn as long as they have someone to guide them along the way. One suggestion would be to pair up elderly workers, so that they can help each other when learning new skills, and at the same time feel comfortable that they are not the only ones taking a longer time to learn. The younger employees should be trained as well, to motivate the older workers, and boost staff morale, should the older workers find it hard to adapt to new company policies. 4) Retaining knowledge or experience of the older worker To ensure that knowledge and experiences are retained, the company can recreate job designs, like creating adviso r positions within departments, whereby workers who have stayed for more than 10-15years in the company can train others who are less experienced. They can be given rewards like an amount of money or products, if the employee under them is promoted within a given period. Not only will they feel appreciated, they will also feel that their loyalty to the company has not gone to waste. Focus groups can also be scheduled, to find out more about how they feel about the company, and share their experiences with others. ) Flexible Retirement Age One way could be to allow corporations and unions to find ways and means to allow workers to work beyond retirement age since there will be lesser young workers filling the vacancies of the jobs. More flexible work arrangements can be made to make it easier for workers to work after retirement. Management, unions and workers can work together to create windows of opportunity for workers to continue working in the same company after a certain age, t hough not necessarily in the same department and salary. Older workers can also work on flexi-hours arrangements, or part-time and contract arrangements. Alternatively, these older workers are also free to move out of their current jobs after retirement and take up other jobs that will suit them more. Part B Fairprice Xtra @ Ang Mo Kio HUB We visited the Fairprice located at Ang Mo Kio and made an evident observation. We noticed that their employees mainly consisted of aging staff. We have identified a few problems associated with having too many aging staff further explained below. This is followed by our recommended solutions with one of the problems illustrated through a skit which can be found in our appendices. Challenges Faced 1) Aging Workforce Plenty flock the mall almost everyday and with the Fairprice at NTUC spacious with a huge floor area of 77,000 square feet. While NTUC is trying to keep up with the high traffic of patrons shopping at NTUC, they are facing an in evitable problem; aging staff. The problem of aging staff is the level of efficiency and effectiveness that will affect customer’s satisfaction. Customers are likely to be unhappy if they are made to wait long. As aging staff are unlikely to have a high level of energy and tend to be slower by nature, the high traffic may very simply cause them to suffer from periodic stress and affect their temperament. In some cases, it will affect the level of productivity and the way they relate to customers. However, while it would be unfair to say that all aged staff are liabilities and don’t perform well, there are some aged staff who perform better and that is only through experience in which accumulated from serving NTUC for a considerable period of time. In the long run, another issue that could arise is when the aging staff reaches the retired age or the decision to retire. This may cause NTUC operational problems as they may not have sufficient staff to tend the cashi er and back room operations. With increasingly high traffic from NTUC customers, manpower remains an important fundamental in the daily running of their business. Moreover, aging staff are also more prone to illness as given their age, they to have a less strong immune system and hence more medical leave can be expected to be taken which results again in decreased fficiency. 2) Employee Retention We realize that Fairprice lacks the manpower to manage the huge store with many departments to keep an eye of given their large floor space. Furthermore, we noticed that they are very few supervisors monitoring the operations within the store and this serves as a difficult task for them should a product be running low on the shelves and requires replenishing. Back room employees have the task to run these jobs and with the size of the outlet, it can be an exhausting job for them especially so if they were to experience labour shortage, Another problem we observed is the lack of younger t alents working at NTUC. The staff mainly consists of older workers. We conclude that this is probably due to their inability to retain or rather attract younger workers. As a result of this customers could expect a growing lack of efficiency in their overall NTUC shopping experience. The managers need to promote job enrichment or job re-design to motivate the employees to avoid them from engaging a similar job. This mundane activity does not allow the employees to experience new task that will give them the opportunity to learn and acquire new skills and knowledge on other areas. While this may have an impact on younger workers who are active and needs job experience, the aged staff will need other forms of motivation and benefits so as to keep them as loyal employees. The needs of the aged workers are different and they need to have better working environment and working hours for their health concern and well-being. Relevant Solutions Older people take a longer time to adapt to their surroundings. Hence one solution NTUC could adopt is to tailor a training programme to specially cater to the needs of the aging staff. This would include training them thoroughly and over an extended period of time. This is so that they are better equipped with the necessary skills to satisfy the demands of their job scope which would lead to improved efficiency. NTUC would do best by achieving a balance in the number of older and younger staff they employ. Younger staff would offset the lack of efficiency that is associated with aging staff who on the other hand make up for it through numbers by ensuring that NTUC do not face manpower shortages with more interested applicants applying for job vacancy at Fairprice compared to their younger counterparts. NTUC should also look towards recruitment in hiring and retaining younger staff. Perhaps they could outsource their HR recruitment function as NTUC would then be able to take advantage of their expertise which would the n ensure competent and qualified workers. Additionally, these 3rd party service providers possess with them a wide and comprehensive database which ensures a wider pool of talent to choose from at the same time ensuring also that there are always sufficient workers to run their operations. NTUC could also encourage a friendlier working environment by calling for employees to help one another. For instance, if a staff is not doing his work correctly or is slow, fellow staff could teach or help out. Or if you notice a colleague struggling with a customer enquiry, a fellow staff should take the initiative to step in and not wait to be approached. This would foster good relationships among staff and also create a more customer oriented environment. Another thing that is difficult to control is the taking of medical leave that can NTUC short of human labour should any of their employees suddenly call in sick. This is a common problem among the aging staff as given their age, they c an be more susceptible to falling sick. This problem can easily be remedied by having part-time staff on stand-by and by offering them slightly above market-rate wages or special benefits to entice them to be back-up staff. Below are solutions towards increasing the welfare benefits of the staff to retain them Solution: * Hold annual NTUC workfare to attract younger generations to choose NTUC as a part-time job of choice. * Increase benefit of aged staff if they work longer. * Provide monetary incentives for staff who introduced potential employee to management. * Yearly pay increment after 5 years of working with NTUC * Introduce better staff lounge to ensure that the staff’s welfare is well taken care of by the management to satisfy and delight employees. Introduce job rotation and split shifts to allow flexible timing for aged employees who needs a more relax working hours to avoid long and mundane working hours. * Allow flexible leaves for employees. During busy period s, operational hiccups may occur if any employee wishes to take emergency leave for important matters. * On-the-job training to upgrade the employees’ knowledge on other aspects of NTUC’s operations to give them opportunity to perform in other areas and discover hidden capabilities. Feedback In part A ,we learnt mainly of how the aging workforce is really a cause for concern, considering human labour is Singapore’s most powerful and only resource. We have further learnt that the maturing workforce is often seen as an issue to be dealt with instead of a great opportunity to be leveraged. Our group also gained certain insights in making a trip down to Fairprice. For one, we noticed an express queue specifically for those with 5 items of purchase or less. While it cuts down on queuing time and better facilitates the purchasing process we noticed that this condition was not observed many. We spotted many with a handful of items proceeding to the express queue and what was appalling about that was how the cashiers didn’t look at all surprised and didn’t even bother to impose the condition of 5 items or less. Another thing we noticed was how it was difficult it was to get assistance when we wanted, there was hardly a single staff in sight save for the cashiers and even they were obviously too preoccupied serving other customers. Our group were there on two separate occasions and both times we took notice of how there was almost little or no supervision of the staff. This could perhaps be attributed to the large store area which makes the governing of staff more difficult. Perhaps NTUC could do better in taking action for instance install more cameras to ensure staff are not skiving but dutifully doing their work and right for that matter. Otherwise, they could increase the number of supervisors on shift. Overall, in doing Part B, it had benefited us by letting us know the various challenges faced by the Human Resource Depa rtment in a company in the real business world. We are able to analyse the problem in depth and come out with creative solutions for this challenges. Referencing * Shandre Thangavelu. Aging and Economic growth. 1st February 2008 https://nt2. fas. nus. edu. sg/ecs/pub/wp-scape/0613. pdf * Judith L. Diversity in the workplace. 1st February 2008 https://www. streetdirectory. com/travel_guide/1322/business_and_finance/diversity_in_the_workplace. html * Deputy Secretary-General NTUC, Heng Chee How. Speech. 31st January 2008 https://www. ntuc. com. sg/ntucunions/speeches/speeches_240507. asp Ministry of Manpower, Gan Kim Yong. Committee of supply speech. 1st February 2008 https://www. mom. gov. sg/publish/momportal/en/press_room/mom_speeches/2007/20070308-committee0. html * Enterprise one insights. 1st February 2008 https://www. business. gov. sg/NR/rdonlyres/22E806B0-C152-48A9-B91E-5A1E6E9BBFDF/16529/EnterpriseOneInsightsIssue0507. pdf * News release. Challenges in HR. Enterprise one insights. 2st February 2008 https://www. ntu. edu. sg/corpcomms2/releases/17%20Feb%2006%20NBS%20prof%20outlines%20challenges%20ahead%20in%20HR%20management%20NR. df * Ministry of Manpower, Gan Kim Yong. Approach to effective employment. 1st February 2008 https://www. wda. gov. sg/PressRoom/Speech/2007/20071114. htm * S. Ramesh. Helping older workers stay employed. 1st February 2008 https://www. channelnewsasia. com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/276748/1/. html * Secretary General, Lim Boon Heng. Speech. 28th January 2008 https://www. ntuc. org. sg/ntucunions/speeches/speeches_171204. asp * MOM website. 1st February 2008 www. mom. gov. sg * Statistics Singapore. 28th Febuary 2008 www. singstat. gov. sg Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Employer Strategies for Responding to an Aging Workforce" essay for you Create order

Essay about Same-Sex Marriage Should be Legal - 854 Words

So now you see the light, eh! Stand up for your rights. Come on! Get up, stand up: stand up for your rights! Lyrics form the song, Get Up, Stand Up, by Bob Marley If you listen to the TV or radio talking heads, it would be easy to think that America is permanently in the grip of some major political issue. That there is always some great political division at stake†¦show more content†¦He was quite upset about recent vote in Maine and a vote a year ago in California and was arguing for enacting some forceful decisions on the federal level. I, on the other hand, while agreeing with him on the essence of the problem, was not so sure that this is an issue to be forced or legislated. Especially when you take into account all of the difficulties the country is facing right now. However, after thinking about it a little bit more, I decided to address this problem in front of you, try to convince you that it is indeed a major issue and worth casting apathy aside. At the same time Id like to offer a solution that may make a resolution of this problem more palatable for everyone. First, why do I think this is important? On the surface I dont have a horse in this race (Im not gay or have close gay or lesbian friends. In fact thats likely the case for most of us - only about 5% of the population is gay or lesbian). However, when you look closer at the problem, you can see that this is really about how we treat minorities in general and whether we grant them the same rights as for majority. And everyone - I repeat - everyone at some point of our lives is a minority. For instance, I am a minority because of my religious views. You can be minority because of the color of your skin, your political convictions or simply because of your gender. For example, my profession - science and engineering - is male dominated and women are a minority. How we treatShow MoreRelatedSame Sex Marriage Should Be Legal1288 Words   |  6 Pages Marriage is not precisely the same as it used to be interpreted. For example, women used to be their husband’s property. Sometimes th e women were forced to marry whoever their parents wanted them to marry and most of the time they couldn’t leave the marriage. Nowadays women have more freedom. They can vote, they can run their own business, and they can marry whichever man they want to. The laws change as the people’s mind change. As they get more comfortable with the idea, they become more openRead MoreSame Sex Marriage Should Be Legal Essay1475 Words   |  6 PagesSame sex relationships relate to when a man or woman are attracted to someone of the same gender of themselves. It is being rejected as same gender marriage denies the obvious purpose between a man and a women which is procreation (Richardson-Self, 2012). Denying same sex couples the legal right to get married, could mean that they are being denied their basic human rights to enjoy human benefits (Richardson-Self, 2012). However, the opposing view is that if gay marriage was granted the legal rightsRead MoreSame Sex Marriage Should Be Legal1403 Words   |  6 PagesSame-Sex Marriage â€Å"I now pronounce you†¦Ã¢â‚¬  At some point in a person’s life, they have heard or will hear those words. What follows, however, has changed somewhat over the years; although, the commitment has remained the same. Those words historically indicate that until the death of a spouse, that couple shall remain together. Who should be able to determine whom that spouse is for that person? Some people judge others for their sexuality and how it is affecting them, but they never stop andRead MoreSame Sex Marriage Should Be Legal1144 Words   |  5 PagesGay Marriage There are many issues the revolve around same-sex marriage. Many issues like: Whether same-sex should be legalized and should there be an amendment on same-sex marriage? There are multiple side to view this, but gay marriage but in my opinion gay marriage is socially accepted. it should be legal and it does affect American teens in a broad spectrum of ways. There have been a lot of issues on whether or not same-sex marriage should be legal or not. According to Burns, â€Å" The unionRead MoreSame Sex Marriage Should Be Legal998 Words   |  4 PagesSame sex marriage ought to be legalized on the grounds that it is uncivilized and unmerited. Marriage is a commitment between two people that cherish one another. In almost every country and culture, marriage is a commitment of loyalty and love. Marriage is an authority contract gathering two individuals together, furnishing them with profits of holy matrimony such as tax cuts and clinical privileges. The debate throughout most countries today is whether or not the rights of these profits and commitmentsRead MoreSame Sex Marriage Should Be Legal1659 Words   |  7 Pages Same-sex couples can hardly remember a time where they were not fighting for their right to marriage in the United States. After several court cases, California Proposition Six, and their struggle against the Defens e of Marriage Act (DOMA), same-sex couples found their way into U.S. society. Many misguided studies appealed to those opposing same-sex marriage, but after several years of integrating in society, same-sex couples found the support they were looking for. Before the Supreme CourtRead MoreSame Sex Marriage Should Be Legal899 Words   |  4 Pages In the United States, same sex marriage became legal nationwide on June 26, 2015, when the United States Supreme Court overruled the court in favor of same sex freedom and marriage. The victory of same sex marriage came to be recognized from the Obergefell v. Hodges case which was submitted when an American Ohio man was denied and regretted to get his name on his late husband’s death certificate. Same sex marriage has been a controversial social issue in the United States for several decades. SinceRead MoreSame Sex Marriage Should Be Legal1491 Words   |  6 PagesSame sex marriage is one of the most debatable issues in the modern world. Marriage has been accepted as the social union between a man and a woman for the past thousand years. Homosexuality was viewed with scorn, and marriages among same sex couples were prohibited in most cultures across the globe. However, gay relationships are slowly obtaining acceptance, as homosexuals have come to be expressive in fighting their rights to marry in the early 90’s. As homosexuality grows in acceptance in theRead MoreSame Sex Marriage Should Be Legal892 Words   |  4 PagesLove Same sex marriage is now allowed in all states across the country. But it took years and years for this â€Å"issue† to be finally laid to rest. The first state to legalize same-sex marriage was Massachusetts in 2004. There was not a last state to legalize gay marriage. The supreme court realized how many states were now legalizing it, so they just had all of the states left legalize it as well. ProCon.org supplies information that â€Å"Twenty-six states were forced to legalize gay marriage becauseRead MoreSame Sex Marriage Should Be Legal2253 Words   |  10 Pages1776). The recognition of same-sex marriage is an issue influenced by numerous factors, and debates continue to arise over whether people in same-sex relationships have the right to marriage. Marriage provides many benefits, legally, financially, and personally. Same-sex marriage can open up those in same-sex relationships to tax benefits and financial demands comparable to those afforded to and required of peo ple in opposite-sex marriages. Same-sex marriage also gives them legal protections, such as

Business Communication and Organizational Culture

Question: Discuss about the Business Communication and Organizational Culture. Answer: Introduction The concept of the groupthink is first coined by a research psychologist Irving Janis in the tear 1972 (Bell 2016). Lee et al. (2016) explain the concept of group thinking that it occurs when overconfidence leads the common sense and problem-solving abilities. Moreover, in business, it can be explained from a scenario where a group makes faulty or ineffective decisions and it has to be supported by all the team members even though some of them think that it is not correct (Bell 2016). The primary objective of this business report is to highlight some examples of groupthink and their associated potential reason for its operational failure. Traits of Group-thinkers Some of the traits that a group possess and can be considered to be the main cause of the occurrence of the group thinks are illustrated below: In the context of an isolated group, if a group of people that only considered their group or community to be the main and do not consider the presence of other communities and individuals from other ethnic backgrounds; they can be group-thinkers. Cherry (2015) portrays that in this case, the isolated group only reinforces their moral superiority and hate another group. In the context of professional organizations, if all the members of the company manufacture products that is quickly becoming outdated and denies adopting new alternatives for the betterment of the organization; they can also be considered as group-thinkers (Janis 2015). Moreover, in common people also this insolence of group-thinking can be seen regarding politics. People follow one political idealand stop watching working approach of other political groups, which leads to hate and distrust people who disagree with them (Janis 2015). Example of groupthink In this section, some of the major examples of group thinking will be illustrated: One of the famous examples of group-thinking is that of Swissair. Brinkmann and (2014) explained that this airlines services provider once was financially so fortunate that they are known as "Flying Bank." The managing authorities also thought that they were invulnerable. This lead to a state of arrogance and delusional self-belief, and as a result, they also become a "mutual appreciation society." Consequently, they also started formulating new strategies like "Hunger strategy," where they develop acquisition of small airlines rather than entering into alliance agreements (Sims and Sauser 2013). This lead to the extreme failure of the concerned organization and the company was fully collapsed in 2001. In recent times, some people believe the thought of Maurice Newman can be considered as an example of group-thinking. The concerned person stated argued that the concept of the climate change is vague and there is a little reality in the concept. The news article of "The Weekend Australia," reported that, when a majority of 97% of the scientists agrees that climate change is an urgent human-made problem, then it is questionable how a non-scientist can challenge that climate change is unreal (Theaustralian.com.au 2016). Moreover, Rhodes (2013) highlights on another side of the coin by stating that scientists also reveals their opinion and to the scientific facts how much global warming is curbed by taking green initiatives throughout these years. Thus, this conflicts results in an unquestionable war among the politicians and scientists of climate science rather than taking effective steps for protecting planet earth. Another example of group-thinking in the corporate world is about Marks Spencer and British Airways." Riordan and Riordan (2013) highlighted that both these companies develop over-confidence of their profitability and released globalization expansion strategies and overlook its respective potential failure. The prime reason for this is that both these companies had an illusion of their invulnerability. Riordan and Riordan (2013) also depict that analysis of Jack Eaton's content reveals that during their adoption of globalization strategies, all eight symptoms of groupthink were there and resulted in an immense loss for both of the companies. The shares of Marks Spencer fell from 590 to less than 300 and the shares of British Airways fall from 740 to 300 (Riordan and Riordan 2013). Identification of potential reasons for its operational failure Cherry (2015) suggested some of the reason for the failure of the concept of Group-thinking: Collective rationalization is a case, where a group ignores warning from their higher authorities or oppositions and they continue to proceed on their approaches (Petrakis and Konstantakopoulou 2015). Bell (2016) mentioned that illusions of invulnerability are the major reason for the failure of business decisions in the corporate world. Petrakis and Konstantakopoulou (2015) on the other hand emphasized on a stereotyped view of the others, where an individual stops to understand the ethical concerns of others and underestimate the potential of others in contributing effective suggestions. In the case of Swissair Airlines, the decision for acquisitions of small airlines rather than collaborations with the leading airline's services was the potential reason for the collapse of the concerned organization. The reason for investing in these small airlines services is to get a foothold in the EU market to attain a membership of the EU that is rejected by EU resulting in a huge loss for Swissair Airlines (Louie 2013). Moreover, in the case of calling the effect of the greenhouse as a delusion, it can be said that Maurice Newman takes advantage of the designation, chairperson of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and expounded private views on climate change (Taylor 2016). The lack of meeting with government personnel and communication with the general communal, the action of the concerned person leads to the conflict between scientists and the government of Australia. Lastly, the illusion of invulnerability was the wrong move in collapsing of Marks Spencer and British Airways. Louie (2013) states that businessperson has to consider the recent demand of the market and the political stability along with a pre-mortem business-analysis before taking any business decision. However, both of these organizations only consider their business growth throughout the past years. This was the potential wrong move that results in their failures of activities. Conclusion Thus, it can be concluded that Illusions of Invulnerability, Stereotyped View of Others, Collective Rationalization and Mind Guards can be considered as symptoms of the group-thinking. This result in business failures as a group only considers their view, opinion, strengths and business stability and overlooks the negative consequences that can occur in future. Thus, every organization and individual have to analyze the environment in the surrounding the future opportunity for correct investments and taking an effective business decision. Reference List Bell, R.M., 2016, January. FIRST CENTURY GROUPTHINK: AN EXEGETICAL CASE STUDY. In Allied Academies International Conference. Academy of Organizational Culture, Communications and Conflict. Proceedings (Vol. 21, No. 1, p. 6). Jordan Whitney Enterprises, Inc.] Brinkmann, U. and van Weerdenburg, O., 2014. Intercultural Competences for Culturally Diverse Teams. In Intercultural Readiness (pp. 135-175). Palgrave Macmillan UK. Cherry, K., 2015. What is groupthink. About Education. Janis, I.L., 2015. Groupthink: the desperate drive for consensus at any cost. Classics of Organization Theory, p.161. Lee, S.T., Chae, J., Uyen, N.B.T., Gim, G. and Kim, J.B., 2016. A Study of Groupthink in Online Communities. Louie, J., 2013. Greed and Corporate FailureThe Lessons from Recent Disasters. Management Research News. Petrakis, P.E. and Konstantakopoulou, D.P., 2015. Strategic Scenario Thinking. In Uncertainty in Entrepreneurial Decision Making (pp. 141-153). Palgrave Macmillan US. Rhodes, R.A.W., 2013. From Prime-Ministerial Leadership to Court Politics. P. Strangio, Paul t Hart and J. Walter (Eds.), Prime Ministerial Leadership: Power, Party and Performance in Westminster System, pp.318-333. Riordan, D. and Riordan, M., 2013. Guarding against groupthink in the professional work environment: a checklist. Journal of Academic and Business Ethics, 7, p.1. Sims, R.R. and Sauser, W.I., 2013. Toward a better understanding of the relationships among received wisdom, groupthink, and organizational ethical culture. Journal of Management Policy and Practice, 14(4), p.75. Taylor, L., 2016. Climate sceptic Maurice Newman not reappointed as government adviser. [online] the Guardian. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/sep/28/climate-sceptic-maurice-newman-not-reappointed-government-adviser [Accessed 25 Dec. 2016]. Theaustralian.com.au., 2016. Groupthink reigns in climate research. [online] Available at: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/opinion/groupthink-reigns-in-climate-change-research/news-story/3a9bfe035ecf96a668a32c1689f4d1dc [Accessed 25 Dec. 2016].

The Korean Family Hierarchy Essay Research Paper free essay sample

The Korean Family Hierarchy Essay, Research Paper Korean temple By: intma1 Talk about sarcasm. Buddhist monastics, those shaven-headed figures in grey robes, choose to go forth this earthly universe ( that is, everyday society ) in favour of an ascetic being based on supplication and self-denial. But now their unworldly life style is going a tourer merchandise # 8230 ; with the monks # 8217 ; blessing! Cloistered life as a tourer attractive force? It # 8217 ; s portion of a planetary fad for monasticism. From the Himalayas to the Hudson River, monastics are in. Nipponese salarymen are tossing their occupations and flying to monasteries. In Taiwan last twelvemonth, monasticism become large intelligence. Hundreds of households were shocked when their promising boies and girls opted for Buddhist cloistered life alternatively of comfy callings in concern. Meanwhile, in the United States, at least one monastery finds it necessary to turn away manque novitiates. we are non beging careers, the monastery says gently The worldwide reclamation of involvement in mo nasticism has reached out to Korean Buddhists excessively. We will write a custom essay sample on The Korean Family Hierarchy Essay Research Paper or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Peoples are interested in Buddhist monastics and how they live. Many people, whether seeking enlightenment or merely fed up with the noise and flashiness of consumer society, would wish to seek the cloistered manner of life. So why non give them a gustatory sensation of it? That is exactly what monasteries in Korea are making. They offer tourists a brief but uncovering expression inside Buddhist Monasticism. Western normally think of Buddhism as a faith of vegetarians who expect to be reincarnated after go forthing this universe at decease. Buddhists aim to rectify this oversimplified image. Buddhism has a long and complex history. It originated in India some 2,600 old ages ago and was introduced to Korea in about the 4th century A.D. Since so, Buddhism has exercised a enormous influence on Korean civilization and produced many widely admired plants of art. Pulguksa Temple are Sokkuram Grotto, built in the eight century, are two of the most celebrated illustrations of Buddhist art a nd architecture. Those two attractive forces, along with the Tripitaka Koreana ( a aggregation of woodblock texts of Buddhist Bible, made in the thirteenth century ) , were added to the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage list in 1995. Today Korean Buddhism involves more than 10,000 temples and 20,000 monastics, and is the belief system of 15 million Koreans ( about tierce of the population ) . More than 900 of those 10,000 temples are greater than 50 old ages old. Buddhism histories for more than 80 per centum of Korean cultural resources designated as national hoarded wealths. Now that foreign visitants are taking an involvement in Buddhist monasticism, Korean Buddhists are get downing to market traditional Buddhist ceremonials and ascetic patterns as cultural merchandises. Already, some temples admit tourers for a close expression at what goes on inside a monastery. The Buddhists think they can promote tourers to look beyond the touchable side of Buddhism, viz. its temples and pagodas , and experience Buddhist civilization on a more intimate degree. Alone Korean Buddhist ceremonials for tourers are planed, such as traditional dining rites of Buddhist monastics. Plans besides call for the tea ceremonial to go a tourist attractive force. Many temples are opening tea houses to pull tourers. Most of these temples sell traditional teas made by monastics themselves.Actually, this gap of Buddhist monasteries to foreigners is non a new phenomenon. For some clip, major temples have admitted Koreans and foreign visitants to a summer preparation class that lets invitees withdraw from the helter-skelter earthly universe for a piece. Though physically strenuous, and really brief ( merely four darks and five yearss ) , this experience is seen as an chance for participants to reload themselves by trying the cloistered life style. Worship before the image of Buddha, sitting in speculation, talk and tea ceremonial Sokkuram Grotto is 3 kilometer off from Pulguksa Temple by a short cut along the mountain ridge and 9 kilometers off by a paved route. Based on a balance between squares and circles, consecutive lines and curves, and planes and ball-shaped forms, the grotto is structured in a perfect harmoniousness. The 38 figures carved on the wall of the chamber are all chef-doeuvres. The Sokkuram was modeled after the rock cave temples of China, but in china these were cut into the face of natural stone drops, whereas the Sokkuram is a semisynthetic rock grotto designed as a scene for the worship of a chief statue of Buddha. The Sokkuram has a rectangular ante chamber and a round interior chamber with a vaulted ceiling formed from carefully cut blocks of rock. this domed ceiling shows non merely great proficient accomplishment but besides a solidness reflecting sophisticated cognition of the mechanics of emphasis. Yet it is its sculpture that makes the Sukkuram unique. Most conspicuously the big rock statue of the Sakyamuni Buddha in the centre of the interior chamber, the eleven-headed Goddess of Mercy and the assorted Bodhisattvas and Arhat ( adherent of Buddha ) carved in alleviation in a hemicycle on the environing wall, the two Inwang ( # 8221 ; benevolent male monarchs # 8221 ; ) on the walls of the anteroom, and the Four Deva Kings standing guard along the passageway-each of these adds its ain typical note to the symphonic music of beauty presented by the Sokkuram as an built-in whole. to be certain, in their rotundity of face and ampleness of organic structure there is grounds of influence from T # 8217 ; ang Buddhist sculpture, but the Sukkuram examples suggest a deeper sense of religious beauty. Sokkuram Grotto is one of UNESCO # 8217 ; s World Heritages. From Kyongju coach terminus, take the metropolis coach to Pulguksa. It runs every 10 proceedingss and takes 45 proceedingss. And 20 proceedingss by coach from Kyongju Station. Sokkuram was built by Prime Minister Kim Tae-song in 751 along with the Pulguksa Monastery. It was repaired by Priest Chongyol in 1703 and the rock stairway was added at this clip, and once more in 1758 by Priest Taegyom. The full grotto was dismantled for fix during the Nipponese business period ( 1913 # 8211 ; 15 ) and once more in 1962-64 to forestall the eroding of rock by dew condensation. This grotto was built with white granite in the signifier of a niche and enshrines a sitting Buddha at the centre surrounded on the wall by 39 Bodhisattvas, 10 adherents, and Devas and guardian male monarchs. It represents the Pure Land in which Buddha resides. This rock cave temple is the crystallisation of Shilla # 8217 ; s faith, scientific discipline and art, a monumental accomplishment of Buddhist civilization of the Unified Shilla period. The chief statue in Gupta-style enshrined in the grotto is seated cross-legged on an octangular base. Two slits for eyes, soft superciliums, the wisdom hidden between the eyes, the oral cavity as if to be opened for sermon, and the hanging long e ars all combine to stand for the empyreal province of enlightenment. This brilliant work is possibly the finest thing in all Korean sculpture. Map Live PictureDescription: Pulguksa Temple and nearby Sokkuram Grotto are located on the mid-slope of Mt. T # 8217 ; ohamsan ( 745 m ) which literally means # 8220 ; mountain that holds and lets out clouds. # 8221 ; The artistic creative activities of Unified Shilla were the merchandises of to the full matured techniques. Having outgrown the gaucherie of the Three Kingdoms preriod, art now revealed a extremely developed esthetic sense. Although the art of Unified Shilla employed the technique of realistic representation, the intent was non to portray objects merely as they appear in existent cubic decimeter ife but rather to seek to give expression to a concept of idealized beauty. Moreover, in the works produced at this time, an effort to create a world of unflawed harmony is evident. The special characteristic of the art of the Unified Shilla period, then, is its attempt to create a beauty of idealized harmony through the application of refined artistic craftsmanship. The art of the Unified Shilla period may be said to be represented at its finest by the Pulguksa temple in Kyongju and the nearby Sokkuram grotto. Pulguksa Temple and Sokkuram Grotto, the cradle of Buddhist culture during the Shilla Kingdom, were first constructed in 535 A.D., the 22nd year of King Pophung’s reign. The king followed his mother’s wish for the kingdom’s stability and peace by constructing the temple. Two hundred years later, during the reign of King Kyongdok (742-764), the temple was redesigned and rebuilt by the chief minister (Chungsi) Kim Tae-song. A large temple with original flo or space exceeding 2,000 kan(unit for the space enclosed by four pillars) in the combined area of its buildings, its wooden structures dating from Shilla were destroyed by fire during the late sixteenth century Japanese invasions and what we see today is a modern restoration. The beautiful â€Å"cloud bridge stairway† leading up to the entrance gate (called the Mauve Mist Gate), consisting of a lower flight known as the Bridge of White Clouds and an upper flight named the Bridge of Azure Clouds; the novel shape of the stone supports for the two front pillars of the Floating Shadow Pavilion to the right, or west, of the Mauve Mist Gate; the balanced proportions of the two pagodas, the Pagoda of Many Treasures and the Pagoda That Casts No Shadow, which form a complementary pair to the left and right of the Taeungjon (Hall of Sakyamuni, the temple proper)–all these display this same mature beauty of harmony. The stone pagoda, in particular, is widely admired as a unique e xpression of Shilla artistry –in contrast, the emphasis in China was on brick pagodas and in Japan on those of wooden construction. Of all the many remaining stone pagodas, the Pagoda That Casts No Shadow and the Pagoda of Many Treasures, together with the Lion Pagoda at the Hwaomsa temple, are regarded as the crowning glories among such monuments built in the Unified Shilla period. Sokkuram Grotto is readily accessible by paved road (9 km) or hiking paths (3 km). Within the domed rotunda is a large sculptured stone Buddha image of magnificent artistry. Representing the culmination of East Asian Buddhist art, the seated Buddha gazes toward the East Sea. Pulguksa Temple is one of UNESCO’s World Heritages. Sokkuram Grotto is 3 km away from Pulguksa Temple by a short cut along the mountain ridge and 9 km away by a paved road. Based on a balance between squares and circles, straight lines and curves, and planes and globular shapes, the grotto is structured in a perfect har mony. The 38 figures carved on the wall of the chamber are all masterpieces. The Sokkuram was modeled after the stone cave temples of china, but in china these were cut into the face of natural rock cliffs, whereas the Sokkuram is a man-made stone grotto designed as a setting for the worship of a principal statue of Buddha. The Sokkuram has a rectangular ante chamber and a circular interior chamber with a domed ceiling formed from carefully cut blocks of stone. this domed ceiling shows not only great technical skill but also a solidity reflecting sophisticated knowledge of the mechanics of stress. Yet it is its sculpture that makes the Sukkuram unique. Most prominently the large stone statue of the Sakyamuni Buddha in the center of the interior chamber, the eleven-headed Goddess of Mercy and the various Bodhisattvas and Arhat (disciple of Buddha) carved in relief in a semicircle on the surrounding wall, the two Inwang (†benevolent kings†) on the walls of the antechamber, and the Four Deva Kings standing guard along the passageway-each of these adds its own distinctive note to the symphony of beauty presented by the Sokkuram as an integral whole. to be sure, in their roundness of face and ampleness of body there is evidence of influence from T’ang Buddhist sculpture, but the Sukkuram examples suggest a deeper sense of spiritual beauty. Sokkuram Grotto is one of UNESCO’s World Heritages.____________ Prime Minister Kim Tae-song is said to have built this cave temple in the 10th year of the reign of Kyongdok-wang of Unified Shilla (751). The numerous stone Buddhist figures in the grotto represent the best sculpture of the Unified Shilla dynasty and of all Korea. The main hall beyond the small antechamber is round and the ceiling is domed. Within the rotunda sits a majestic Buddha, 3.48m high. carved in granite and facing east. Surrounding the Buddha are many figures in relief. First, two Devas, one on each side, stand guard. Next are two Bodhisattvas (the saint next in importance to Buddha), also one on each side. Further guarding the Buddha are his ten disciples. The eleven-headed Avalokitesvara a Bodhisattva (the Bodhisattva of Boundless mercy) is sculptured on the wall behind the main figure. There are ten niches around the dome. They contain seven seated Bodhisattvas and one Vimalakirti (the name of a famous lay disciple of the Buddha). Two are empty. The Eight Guardian Demons, the Two Vajradharas (the guardian gods of the temple), and the Four Guardian Kings are sculptured in relief on granite salbs lining the wall of the antechamber and the passageway to protect the Buddha and the Buddhist world. To only list this grotto as National Treasure No. 24 does not give due emphasis to its importance in Oriental culture. It is without exaggeration the most remarkable and unequaled art treasure accomplished by Far Eastern civilization. Besides, it is commonly referred to as one of the three Buddhist mysteries in the Fa r East Asia. The Sokkuram was constructed during the mid-eighth century by the famed Minister Kim Daesung who is also credited with building Pulguksa in 751. Report of the 19th Session of the Committee Following is part of the â€Å"Report of the 19th Session of the Committee† regarding Sokkuram Grotto and Pulguksa Templ. Established on the slopes of Mount T’oham in the 8th century, the Sokkuram cave contains a monumental statue of Buddha looking at the sea in the bhumisparsha mudra position. With the surrounding portrayals of gods, Bodhisattvas and disciples, realistically and delicately sculpted in haut relief and bas relief, it makes up a masterpiece of Buddhist art in the Far East. The Temple of Pulguksa, built in 752, and the cave form a body of religious architecture of exceptional significance. Established on the slopes of Mount T’oham in the 8th century, the Sokkuram cave contains a monumental statue of Buddha looking at the sea in the bhumisparsha mudra position. With the surrounding portrayals of gods, Bodhisattvas and disciples, realistically and delicately sculpted in haut relief and bas relief, it makes up a masterpiece of Buddhist art in the Far East. The Temple of Pulguksa, built in 752, and the cave form a body of religious architecture of exceptional significance. Sokkuram Grotto On the way to the Grotto Legend Versus History Questionable Identity of the Buddha Guardian Deities in the Foyer Central Buddha Image Ten Disciples in Relief Goddess of Mercy in Relief Ten Kamsils (niche) on the walls

Comparative Analysis Practice

Secondary Data and Secondary Analysis - An Overview

Secondary Data and Secondary Analysis - An Overview Within sociology, many researchers collect new data for analytic purposes, but many others rely on secondary data- data collected by somebody else- in order to conduct a new study. When a research uses secondary data, the kind of research they perform on it is called secondary analysis. Key Takeaways: Secondary Data Secondary analysis is a research method which involves analyzing data collected by someone else.A great deal of secondary  data resources and data sets are  available for sociological research, many of which are public and easily accessible.  There are both pros and cons to using secondary data.Researchers can mitigate the cons of using secondary data by learning about the methods used to collect and clean the data in the first place, and by careful usage of it and honest reporting on it. What Is Secondary Analysis? Secondary analysis is the practice of using secondary data in research. As a research method, it saves both time and money and avoids unnecessary duplication of research effort. Secondary analysis is usually contrasted with primary analysis, which is the analysis of primary data independently collected by a researcher. How Do Researchers Obtain Secondary Data? Unlike primary data, which is collected by a researcher herself in order to fulfill a particular research objective, secondary data is data that was collected by other researchers who likely had different research objectives. Sometimes researchers or research organizations share their data with other researchers in order to ensure that its usefulness is maximized. In addition, many government bodies within the U.S. and around the world collect data that they make available for secondary analysis. In many cases, this data is available to the general public, but in some cases, it is only available to approved users. Secondary data can be both quantitative and qualitative in form.  Secondary quantitative data is often available from official government sources and trusted research organizations. In the U.S., the U.S. Census, the General Social Survey, and the American Community Survey are some of the most commonly used secondary data sets within the social sciences. In addition, many researchers make use of data collected and distributed by agencies including the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Education, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, among many others at federal, state, and local levels. While this information was collected for a wide range of purposes including budget development, policy planning, and city planning, among others, it can also be used as a tool for sociological research. By reviewing and analyzing numerical data, sociologists can often uncover unnoticed patterns of human behavior and large-scale trends within society. Secondary qualitative data is usually found in the form of social artifacts, like newspapers, blogs, diaries, letters, and emails, among other things. Such data is a rich source of information about individuals in society and can provide a great deal of context and detail to sociological analysis. This form of secondary analysis is also called content analysis. Why Conduct Secondary Analysis? Secondary data represents a vast resource to sociologists. It is easy to come by and often free to use. It can include information about very large populations that would be expensive and difficult to obtain otherwise. Additionally, secondary data is available from time periods other than the present day. It is literally impossible to conduct primary research about events, attitudes, styles, or norms that are no longer present in todays world. There are certain disadvantages to secondary data. In some cases, it may be outdated, biased, or improperly obtained. But a trained sociologist should be able to identify and work around or correct for such issues. Validating Secondary Data Before Using It To conduct meaningful secondary analysis, researchers must spend significant time reading and learning about the origins of the data sets. Through careful reading and vetting, researchers can determine: The purpose for which the material was collected or createdThe specific methods used to collect itThe population studied and the validity of the sample capturedThe credentials and credibility of the collector or creatorThe limits of the data set (what information was not requested, collected, or presented)The historic and/or political circumstances surrounding the creation or collection of the material In addition, before using secondary data, a researcher must consider how the data are coded or categorized and how this might influence the outcomes of a secondary data analysis. She should also consider whether the data must be adapted or adjusted in some way prior to her conducting her own analysis. Qualitative data is usually created under known circumstances by named individuals for a particular purpose. This makes it relatively easy to analyze the data with an understanding of biases, gaps, social context,  and other issues. Quantitative data, however, may require more critical analysis. It is not always clear how data was collected, why certain types of data were collected while others were not, or whether any bias was involved in the creation of tools used to collect the data. Polls, questionnaires, and interviews can all be designed to result in pre-determined outcomes. When dealing with biased data, it is absolutely critical that the researcher is aware of the bias, its purpose, and its extent. However, biased data can still be extremely useful, as long as the researchers carefully consider the potential effects of the bias. Updated by Nicki Lisa Cole, Ph.D.

Crimes Against Property Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Crimes Against Property - Assignment Example Women carried purses of various sizes, wore outfits with long voluminous skirts, and were decked out in shawls, gloves and muffs. The social class of these offenders in the period immediately following the Civil War was mostly lower. Perpetrators were usually part of the lower class who engaged in much petty criminal behavior, of which shoplifting was just one facet. Although there is no economic theory of shoplifting, the decision to commit this crime is one that is taken rationally, weighing up the implications and advantages of this choice now and in the future. In order to alleviate the prevalence of shoplifting, goods are often not on open display. In order for a customer to see that good which has caught their eye, the customer has to ask the attendant who will retrieve it from behind a counter or barrier of some kind. Also, most businesses have designed their retail stores to funnel all customers to and through the main exits. These changes have dramatically altered the preval ence, practice, and perception of shoplifting (Bamfield, 2012). Furthermore, in order to reduce the prevalence of shoplifting, private security officers possess authority which is a mixture of their powers as civilians and certain special requirements which were added by a special law or ordinance. Majority of the private security officers possess only citizen powers, hence they often function as agents of their employers. These security officers are trained to protect self and property from harm (Button, 2007). As a result, a private security officer working for that business or owner has the same authority, no more-no less. The private security officers have special skills that would enable them to detect the presence of a shoplifter within the premises. In other cases, these security officers have been granted special police powers by a local, state or federal government authority. However, even though the security officer has been granted this type of power, it is limited to the grounds and buildings of the employer. Nearly all the private security officers who work for retail stores have arrest powers for shoplifting incidents. These powers exist because the security officer is working for a shopkeeper. As part of their training, the private security officers have the right to detain a person when there are levelheaded grounds to believe that the person has shoplifted (Arrington, 2006). Home invasion robbery differs from similar crimes, such as burglary or breaking and entering, in how the crime is defined. According to the Illinois Criminal Code, home invasion is an unlawful entering of a dwelling by a person who knows someone was present therein, and armed with a dangerous weapon either uses or threatens use of force or injures someone inside the home. In some states, this difference means that a defendant can be convicted of both home invasion and another crime, such as armed violence during residential burglary based on one unlawful entry. On the othe r hand, other states hold that conviction of home invasion bars conviction of related crimes such as residential burglary based on one unlawful entry. Home invasion is often classified as a separate offense because of the brutal intent to commit various crimes such as robbery, rape, assault or murder against people in the home. Nonetheless, home invasion is not a legally defined crime federally and is only such

Hotel management questions(answer each questions with few sentences) Essay - 4

Hotel management questions(answer each questions with few sentences) - Essay Example Also, cashiers are in charge of making transactions between different currencies. Some precautionary steps that employees can take include checking that the card has been signed, when the expiration date occurs, and ask for some form of identification if it is felt to be necessary. Additionally, employees can make sure that documents containing information about a payment card number only include part of it for security reasons. The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) is designed to combat computer breaches, payment card fraud, and also report identity theft. This is critically important because it adds an extra layer of security for cardholders. It applies to all merchants who accept debit or credit cards as a form of payment. There are severe penalties for merchants who choose not to comply. A second-party check is made out to the guest presenting the check, while a third-party check is made out to someone who then signs the check over to the guest for presentation. The reason why many properties choose not to accept these types of checks is that if the writer of the check stops payment then it can be difficult to recover any funds. When accepting personal checks, a property should take into account whether the check is for the room and taxes only, food and beverage purchases, and will a check need to be verified after each subsequent transaction. Also, the property must decide whether or not checks from foreign bank accounts are acceptable, and will other types of checks, such as money orders, be okay. If necessary, a property should inform a guest that their credit will be denied, although it should be done in a nice manner so as to respect the guest. Ideally, the guest should be taken aside and informed of their credit problems. All efforts should be made to cater for the guest, including allowing them to investigate the problem on their own. Incomplete or illegible guest registration records can pose a problem because it

Mill vs. Raz Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Mill vs. Raz - Essay Example Guided by 'one very simple principle' he outlines an argument for a system, which he believed, provided the best possible environment for individual and social progress (Mill, 1991, p.30). Mill advocates for human's shortcoming and their incompleteness of knowledge, which means that the "truth" is not always the truth. Based on Mill's assertions, any one group who attempts to coerce another group or individual is breaching individual liberty, which leads to the stagnation of the intellectual community. The key to progress lies in the condition of seeking the best span of human experience and development. The individual in the Millian liberal society is engaged in 'experiments in living'; attempts to find "new, deeper or merely different sources of happiness in life", uncoerced by the state or fellow individuals. (Ryan, 1991, p.166) The most important aspect of well-being is to note that the individual has complete authority in matters regarding themselves, society does not have the r ight to restrict the individual, as long as the actions of the individual is not causing harm to themselves or others. Liberty is, therefore, an integral component of well-being; liberty provides the best possible conditions to achieve the "permanent interests of man as a progressive being." (Mill, 1991, p.31) In Joseph's Raz's The Morality of Freedom, his theory does not rest on a human being's fallacies but instead he argues that the individual's w... Raz creates an idea of the individual's well-being results from not just one being but that individual's situation within a culture, history, and society. He makes the simple argument that if a government can make a universal decision to prevent murder, then the state can act in defense of moral reason. Raz states that 'governments should promote the moral quality of the life of those whose lives and actions they can affect.' (1988, p.415) He advocates that the individuals will adapt to society's preferences and then will be able to have a good life, striving for well-being. Raz declares that the importance of a liberal society does not rely on the individual choice, as it does for Mill, but instead the individual should be able to choose between various alternatives that have been determined and supported by the society where the individual resides. A person's well-being should not be dependant on how the individual lives their life and how they determine their actions to be of vale but rather their well-being rests on how living a life is valuable independent of how it helps the individual. As he explains, an "autonomous life is valuable only if it is spent in the pursuit of acceptable and valuable projects and relationships." (1988, p.417) To best illustrate Mill and Raz's ideals for an individual's well-being take for example an person's addiction to alcohol. Through Mill's theory, the demand and priority for an individual's liberty in this self-regarding conduct and the belief in human experimentation does not accrue any benefits for the individual. It is highly unlikely that the majority of individuals will benefit from a life influenced by drugs. Raz on the other hand argues that the life of a drug addict is clearly inferior in terms

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.

Computerized Physician Order Entry Essay

CPOE stands for Computerized Physician Order Entry and it is the feature of the electronic health record that improves quality of care, patient safety, and clinical efficiency. The CPOE can help the improvement of the medical workflow process in many kinds of ways. This is because the CPOE monitors any generating of related orders, any duplicate orders, prevent lost orders, eliminates any errors due to handwriting that is hard to read, reduce medication errors, reduce time that is spent filling orders, and improve productivity in the doctor’s office. Results that are computerized improve the medical workflow process because it eliminates any lagging time that is spent. This leaves more time for the patient to spend more time with the doctor and be treated faster. These results are easier to access rather than flipping through paper file. Having these improvements are beneficial to the patient. CPOE protects all patients because it helps reduces the medication errors of drug allergies, dosage issues, and interactions with drug to drug. With Computerized Physician Order Entry systems it detects all interactions and allergies and alerts them to the pharmacy. Once the alert comes in, the pharmacist will call the doctor and get it fixed before anything seriously bad would happen when the patient takes their medication. Thanks to CPOE, all these alerts help with saving lives. There are many benefits that come with the CPOE. One benefit is that it improves all documentation that is received by the ancillary department in the medical field. It reduces the mistakes that are made with the misinterpretation of prescription orders. With the CPOE, there is no need for re-entry of any data into the system of the ancillary department. Another great benefit is that it reduces all medical errors dealing with medications. When it comes to the medical field, CPOE helps catch all drug allergies that patients may have and any drug to drug interactions. The CPOE is the best benefit that a patient can have. The CPOE is so efficient that it allows doctors to spend more time treating patients instead of writing notes in the patient’s files. The doctor has more time to come up with a treatment plan for the patient and they would be able to sit there to explain it to them better. The CPOE can be time consuming and cost money. Once a medical facility passes the time and the cost then they would see the great benefits to the facility and to their patients. In conclusion, the Computerized Physician Order Entry will help with the improvement of a facility’s safety and care standards. That would give the patients satisfaction of their doctor and their treatment. The medical facility would also appreciate how easy the system is to use and the medical personnel would appreciate how much time they are saving with the system so they can attend to important matters. Technology in the medical field is going to continue to grow every year and it will focus on the patients and the medical staff.