Financial Industry Analysis on MCU Sustainable Banking

Background of the Australian Financial Sector Australia is one of those stable economies which have faced the Global Economic Crisis quite successfully. The banking sector of Australia has earned a worldwide due to sound supervision and regulatory framework for the financial market.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Financial Industry Analysis on MCU Sustainable Banking specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More According to the Global Competitiveness Report 2011 – 2012, issued by the World Economic Forum, the ranking of the Australian economy out of 142 selected economies of the world is 20. The financial market of Australia has a ranking of 6 out of 142 financial markets of the selected countries in the report (Schwab, 2011; Invest Victoria, 2009). These rankings depict the stability and progress of the Australian financial sector. The corporate and domestic customers enjoy the flexibility with which they are able to avail the financial services in the country. There has been a consistent increase in the volume of assets of the financial service providers in Australia; in fact the growth rate of the financial sector has leaped forward than the overall economic growth of the country. The banking sector of the country comprises of half of the financial sector of the country. Apart from banks, other institutions, such as â€Å"Authorized Deposit taking Institutions (ADI)†, also provide financial services (MCU, 2011). The total assets of the financial institutions in December 2010 stood at $ 2,524 billion, out of which $ 1,887 billion were attributable to the major banks and $ 76 billion to the credit unions and building societies operating in Australia (Donovan Gorajek, 2011; ABA, 2011). These figures were approximately half way down five years back, i.e. in December 2005; the major banks had a total assets figure of $ 918 billion and the credit unions and building societies had $ 52 bil lion worth of total assets (Donovan Gorajek, 2011). These figures show how much the sector has grown over a span of five years.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More MCU Sustainable Banking Maleny Credit Union Limited (MCU Ltd) is a licensed financial service provider in Australia and is also authorized in inviting public deposits as an independent institution â€Å"Authorized Deposit Taking Institution (ADI)†. Beginning its operations back in the year 1984, MCU has successfully carried out its operations which are mostly community based. With 5,500 members (approx) the institution has managed to increase its total assets to above 60 million dollars (MCU, 2011). There is a wide range of services available to the customers of MCU. These services include on-call savings accounts, term deposits, lending services, insurance, financial planning service, free car search service and non-cash payment facilities which includes VISA debit cards, e-banking, electronic funds transfer, BPAY and other cheque facilities which are similar to those provided by the conventional banks. The area of operations of MCU includes Maleny and Sunshine Coast Hinterland (MCU, 2011). There are other financial institutions also where MCU operates, but the operations of MCU are distinguished from others as the institute invests back the amounts or deposits raised from the local community in light of the policies which are designed locally. This strategy helps MCU in making sure that the capital of the community is not moving out of the area of its operations. The operations and investment of MCU are comprised of: Giving loans at the community level with the objective of bringing sustainability in the environment; Donating or sponsoring public welfare projects through devoting up to 10 percent of the profit before taxation; Helping micro finance groups (MCU, 2011). Apart from the fact that MCU is a relatively small organization, it has a proactive approach towards working for sustainability in the environment through collaborating with other organizations. In honor of its services, the Sunshine Coast Environmental Council (SCEC) awarded MCU with the â€Å"Air Quality Award† in the year 2003 (MCU, 2011). The objective of this report is to present an analysis of the Maleny Credit Union Limited (MCU Ltd) which discusses the significance and effects of different internal and external factors. The analysis is carried out while using the strategic tools like SWOT Analysis, PESTLE Analysis and Porter’s Five Forces Model.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Financial Industry Analysis on MCU Sustainable Banking specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More SWOT Analysis Strengths Due to lower interest rates charged by MCU as compared to the rates charged by the banks on the loans given and becaus e of the higher rate of returns offered to those who invest their money with MCU, the company holds a better position in the market in terms of attracting further investment (CSR Credit Unions, 2011). Due to the deep penetration of MCU in the community where it operates, the union enjoys a stable progress. The fact that MCU hires majority of its staff members from the local community also gives an advantage to the union which banks are unable to grasp (MCU, 2011). MCU is famous for its service quality among the community. This customer satisfaction is a huge advantage for the company which further ensures the future progress of the union. The members or the depositors of MCU feel like being part of the organization as they are able to control the activities of the union and have right to vote during the election of the directors for the union. These rights strengthen the relationship between the company and its customers further (CSR Credit Unions, 2011). The offering of green loans and green products financing allows MCU to enjoy supremacy over its competitors (MCU, 2011). Weaknesses Although the existence of credit unions is based upon the very fact that they are to serve communities at large, but due to this limited operational base, MCU’s customers are not able to avail normal banking facilities out of their community areas. As for example, people feel inconvenience while maintain their accounts with union due to the non-availability of ATM Machines and Branches of MCU in other parts of the country (CSR Credit Unions, 2011).Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More MCU’s offered products are not very diversified as they are in the case of a banking company. The limited product options for the customers and potential customers may leave them unsatisfied. As for instance, the company does not offer long term commercial mortgage loans (MCU, 2011). A majority of the credit unions operating within the country lack the necessary resources with which they may offer a wide range of products and services to their customers. MCU also faces a shortage of resources due to the limited area of its operations (CSR Credit Unions, 2011). Opportunities Keeping in view the lower interest rates at which the credit unions offer loans as compared to those rates which are generally offered by the banking sector, MCU has an opportunity to expand its operations. Moreover, the profit rates offered by MCU are much higher than the conventional banks which also offer an opportunity for the MCU to invite more investors or depositors. Due to the community based opera tions of MCU, the institution can penetrate further within the community in which it operates and keeping in view the needs and preferences of the local people, it can diversify its services and the financial solutions offered. Threats The global economic crisis is the biggest threat to every business concern all over the world. Although Australian financial sector held up better than the financial sectors of other major economies, but still there are fears that the trails left by the economic crisis may affect the financial sector of the country (Hillier, 2010). The ever increasing intensity of the competition in the Australian financial system generally and in the credit unions particularly, is likely to affect the overall profitability of MCU. PEST Analysis Following is the PEST Analysis of the Australian Banking Sector: Political The political conditions are stable in Australia and are supportive for the financial sector. The positive role of the Government can be justified by considering the announcement of the Australian Government to remove the â€Å"Guarantee Scheme for Large Deposits and Wholesale Funding† from March 2010 which signified the government’s support for the financial sector (CSR Credit Unions, 2011). Economic Australian economy is a developed and modern economy. According to the estimates made in the year 2010, the GDP growth of the country is 2.7 percent. The rate of inflation recorded in the third quarter of the fiscal year 2010 was 2.8 percent. The unemployment rate in the country is 5.5 percent only. All these figures suggest vibrant economic conditions for the investors and the financial sector (CSR Credit Unions, 2011). Social Following good economic conditions of the country as a whole, the people living in Australia are financially stable and have higher purchasing power parity which is good and motivating for new investors. Moreover, people living in Australia are well educated and therefore it is suggested th at the companies operating in the financial sector shall make sure the provision of information related to their products and services being offered (CSR Credit Unions, 2011). Technological In terms of the quality of research institutions in the country, Australia ranks as the tenth highest country out of 133 countries. The ability of people living in Australia to adapt new technologies is fourth highest among 57 countries observed in this respect (Australian Government, 2010). These facts signify that the technological development in the country is not only promoted but also accepted by the people of Australia. Porter’s Five Forces Model Following is the analysis of the Australian Financial and Banking sector on the basis of Porter’s Five Forces Model: Threat of New Entrants Keeping in view the sound economic conditions in Australia and the opportunities in the banking sector, there is huge attraction for potential investors. As can be seen in case of credit union s, there are many opportunities for new entrants and along with these opportunities the new entrants have further options to start their businesses, i.e. to start as a conventional banking organization or opt for a non-banking organization startup (Australian Trade Commission, 2011; Argent, 2002). Bargaining Power of Buyers The bargaining power of buyers is however increasing and has a significant influence on the operations of the banks. Although costs for switching have decreased due to the efficient ways of doing business, but the fact that customers’ loyalties are difficult to be maintained have increased the bargaining power of buyers. Bargaining Power of Suppliers The bargaining power of suppliers is theoretically expected to be high in the Australian banking sector due to a finite number of market participants (Unnithan Swatma, 2001). However, the limitations enforced upon banks by the perceived bargaining powers of suppliers are overcome by the ability of the ban king organizations to operate through other means, such as internet banking and through financial intermediaries (Cronin, 1998; Kotler Armstrong, 1997). Substitutes The substitutes in the banking sector are readily available due to the diversity brought into the banking sector after inclusion of non-banking entities. Nowadays there are certain activities related to the banking sector which is carried out by non-banking entities, such as the issuance of credit cards and the sanctioning of loans and other facilities (Kent Debelle, 1999; Donovan Gorajek, 2011). Competition There are certain factors which have created a relatively new competitive environment for the banking sector. As for instance, the shift in consumers’ preferences over time, the effects of globalization, innovations and developments due to technological advancements and the inclusion of non-banking organizations in the financial sector are deemed to be the major causes for increasing competition in the industry (Australian Government, 2010). Conclusion Analyzing the Australian financial and banking sector by applying three major strategic tools, it is concluded that the economic conditions prevailing in the country are sound and supportive for the existing and potential investors and businessmen. The role of credit unions in the Australian communities has also been discussed while considering MCU Sustainable Banking, which shows that the potential for credit unions in Australia is huge apart from the lack of diversity in their services and limited areas of operation. Furthermore, the financial sector of the country is growing and remained stable during the global financial crisis. There is a healthy competitive environment prevailing in the banking sector and the Australian government is dedicated to promote it. Limitations The availability of information related to the subject of this report has been the foremost limitation faced by the author. Moreover, there are instances where data pertaining to latest financial year was not available and the author had to make use of the figures pertaining to previous periods. References ABA. (2011). Financial Services Sector. Retrieved from Australian Bankers’ Association Inc.: http://www.bankers.asn.au/Default.aspx?ArticleID=618 Argent, N. (2002). A global model or a scaled-down version?: geographies of convergence and divergence in the Australian retail banking sector. Geoforum , 33 (3), 315-334. Australian Government. (2010). Australia: Economic Strength and Resilience. Australian Government. Australian Trade Commission. (2011). FINANCIAL SERVICES: INVESTMENT BANKING. Retrieved from Australian Trade Commission: http://www.austrade.gov.au/Invest/Opportunities-by-Sector/Financial-Services/Investment-Banking/default.aspx Cronin, M. J. (1998). Defining Net Impact: The Realignment of Banking and Finance on the Web, Banking and Finance on the Internet. New York: John Wiley and Sons. CSR Credit Unions. (2011). Advan tages and Disadvantages of Credit Unions. Retrieved from CSR Credit Unions: http://www.csrcreditunion.com.au/advantages-disadvantages-credit-unions.htm Donovan, B., Gorajek, A. (2011, June). Developments in the Structure of the Australian Financial System. Retrieved from Reserve Bank of Australia: http://www.rba.gov.au/publications/bulletin/2011/jun/5.html Donovan, B., Gorajek, A. (2011, June). Developments in the Structure of the Australian Financial System. Retrieved from Reserve Bank of Australia: http://www.rba.gov.au/publications/bulletin/2011/jun/5.html Hillier, B. (2010). Australia’s resilience during the global crisis, 2007-2009. Marxist interventions , 59-77. Invest Victoria. (2009). Australia’s Banking System. Melbourne: Invest Victoria. Kent, C., Debelle, G. (1999). Trends In The Australian Banking System: Implications For Financial System Stability And Monetary Policy. Reserve Bank of Australia. Kotler, P., Armstrong, G. (1997). Principles of marketing. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall. MCU. (2011). About Us. Retrieved from MCU – Sustainable Banking: http://www.mcusb.com.au/about-mcu/ MCU. (2011). Services. Retrieved from MCU Sustainable Banking: http://www.mcusb.com.au/services/ Schwab, K. (2011). The Global Competitiveness Report. Geneva: World Economic Forum. Unnithan, C. R., Swatma, P. (2001). eBanking on the internet – A preliminary research comparison of Australian and Indian experiences in the banking sector. School of Business Information Technology. This report on Financial Industry Analysis on MCU Sustainable Banking was written and submitted by user Duncan Mccall to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Essay about Asim Partial Assignment

Essay about Asim Partial Assignment Essay about Asim Partial Assignment Memo Date: December 29, 2014 To: David Brown, President From: Asim Mehboob, VP Information Technology Subject: Advisory Committee – System Development I am writing this memo regarding the discussion we had that number of legacy system still in place which cause issues when data from different sources need to be combined. As a result, a new integrated system should be developed, in order for the company to contribute in operations, improve financial reporting and increase productivity. As VP of Information Technology have formed an advisory committee which will support the planning and development of the new system and will also act as the liaison between the development team and the rest of the organization. The committee will be structured so that the needs and asks of all areas in the business will be brought to the discussion and planning phase of the system. I would like to present advisory committee members which have been selected based on their potential skill and knowledge of the business in the organization and I am sure they will focus that the planning, development, implementation of the new system is achieved with the required level of effectiveness and efficiency. The members of advisory committee are as follows, VP of Information Technology The VP of IT role at Spa works is important because the effectiveness of the system development will require appropriate technical and business knowledge of the current system in order to plan and develop the new system and transition from the old one without a substantial and material disruption in the operations. As VP of IT I have the required skill and background about business to provide the requirements and support in planning, organizing, assigning and controlling the setup of the new integrated systems. Director of Operation One of key post is director of operation that lead the business from the front, the person I selected for monitoring day to day operation of all spas and has been with our organization for thirteen years. He has thorough knowledge of the everyday activities of the spas and is also accountable for keeping all the managers informed on all operational modifications. His knowledge and expertise will help us in the planning and implementation of the new system. Director of Finance/Accounts The director of finance/accounts will perform a prime role in budgeting and cost control on this project. He also has a comprehensive and required knowledge of the current financial reporting system and requirements. He was selected for prompt financial reporting and sound analyses for all financial decision. He will assure that this project is completed in the most cost effective manner also provide major input in the development of the new system. HR Manager HR manager chooses â€Å"right man for right place in right time† .Also the latest expansion will mean hiring additional employees, need training and development, incorporate the payroll and the record keeping for employees. HR will also help in making sure the right skill set is hired for the roles required. The person I decided is jack of all and will also play an important role in planning the new system and requirements. Marketing Manager The marketing manager is a well-trained person who has substantial experience in understanding Spa Works, customers and also its competition. The most important roles of the marketing manager are market research, development of marketing strategy and wide range plan, marketing mix and CRM. The accomplishment of the system development depends on the involvement of each member of the Advisory Committee. I am confident that you will agree with the selection of the members of the committee. I will arrange a meeting with the committee members upon your approval on this proposal and for further discussion .They all will be able to respond to any questions or concerns you might have .I hope this project would drive Spa Works towards better reporting, better

Improving the General Health of People with Learning Disabilities Essay

Improving the General Health of People with Learning Disabilities - Essay Example The mental health, consequences of behavior on health and epilepsy management of these patients is focused mostly by psychiatrics who addresses the discrepancy in clinical health and practices. Introduction Inequalities in health status The achievement of better health is an apposite goal for all, including those with learning disabilities. Characters with learning disabilities are heterogeneous in nature and exhibits needs that vary. The impact of environmental and social factors on health matters is definitely bigger in these groups. Gates (2009) Improved health is likely to improve the quality of lives of the families and individuals of the affected population, thus the need to remove great differences between those learning with disabilities and the public population will be strong. I will in this article discuss the areas that need to be improved for the learning-disabled which are high in disparities among healthy care related matters. Some of these include: A distinction in he alth as a result of increased mortality, morbidity, rise in negative decider of health such as increased poverty and a variation in health care as a result of unequal and inequality of health services to the learning-disabled.(Fraser 1998:293) I will focus on the issues and details that must be considered in order to make the necessary improvements in health matters. I consider tackling five areas in particular, which include: health needs the disparity in health, barriers to better health, health provision in primary care and fully addressing the disparity in the health care for the learning-disabled. Disparity in health The issue of indifference of health care Gates (2009) must be addressed in order to reach an appropriate development in health to the same level of health care that the public population enjoys. Inequalities in health care and access were an issue of health disparity in the past, as minor ethnic groups were the most affected between the population and the groups in health care facilities. Recently, Surgeon (2002) has focused their interest on disparity for those with learning disabilities. This concept adds a spotlight to the appropriate planning of services. However some difficulties are present particularly when intending to allow for the effects of etiology of the recipients disability on any obvious disparity. For instance, Gates (2009) relentless advances in accident prevention measures, in treatment induced abnormalities and cases of epilepsy may cause a reduction in disparity in various groups among the population. Health needs Welsh (1996) suggest that citizens with learning disabilities have mutual specific and general health needs. This should be provided within the primary health care environment. Common morbidities occur at greater frequencies that arise from professional health needs that are related with definite medical conditions. The conditions are not one of their kinds to individuals with learning disabilities as they have a high prevalence in the population resulting in an important part of health assessment. This has brought to the table that a consensus can be of; sensory deficit, epilepsy and disturbance in the behavior and psychology among the learning-disa

HES Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

HES - Coursework Example Drilling fluids are used in offshore oil and gas exploration for a number of reasons, including lubricating the drill bit, cleaning and conditioning the hole, maintaining the pressure of the borehole, as well as washing out rock cuttings out of the borehole to the surface. The drilling fluids is not normally used in its original state, instead, the fluids are mixed with some chemicals in order to maintain their properties. However, there has been an increased concern of the impacts of the drilling fluids and solid cuttings on the environment. GESAMP (1993:18) reported that these solid cuttings and drilling fluids contain hazardous chemical mixture that pose a danger to the environment, particularly to the marine life. As such, there is increased need for solid and gas drilling companies to ensure proper disposal of solid cuttings and drilling fluids as a means of conserving the environment. The main environmental issue linked to the drilling fluids concerns its negative impact on the performance and the continuous accumulation of solid cuttings (AUMS 1989:1). The aim of this paper is to examine some of the environmental issues related to drilling fluid management in light of the various types of drilling fluids. The paper will also explore the negative environmental impacts of improper disposal of drilling waste. Finally, the paper will conclude by discussing measures that oil companies need to take to mitigate the environmental impacts of the drilling fluids. The exploration of offshore oil and gas has intensified in the recent past. This is attributable to the increased need for energy independent. Even though the use of fossil fuel energy has been blamed for the increased production of greenhouse gases that cause global warming, its exploration is not about to end anytime soon. The world will still experience increased exploration of oil and gas (Reis 1996:6). However, the rate at which offshore exploration has increased in the recent past has caused many co ncerns, especially to environmentalists (Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association Ltd 1998:51). This is attributable to the magnitude of pollutants generated by the drilling activities. Normally, when exploring offshore oil and gas, engineers normally use the drilling fluid (mud) to lubricate the drill bit, wash out the solid cuttings, condition the hole, as well as to maintain the pressure of the borehole. This is very important for effective exploration of offshore oil and gas, according to Armsworthy, ? Cranford, ?and Lee (2005:8). The drilling fluids used in the exploration of offshore oil and gas are normally not pure. They often contain additives and chemicals meant to enhance the operational property of the final mixture (Cordah Environmental Management Consultants 2000:5). The operational properties enhance using chemicals and additives include density, reactivity, viscosity, ion-exchange parameters, salinity, and fluid loss. Obtaining the right property of the fluid is important for ensuring effective drilling operation. The main types of drilling fluids in use include water-based fluids and non-aqueous fluids. Water-based fluid is a drilling fluid which comprising of a mixture of water,

Adolescent Student Attitudes Towards Mathematics Essay

Adolescent Student Attitudes Towards Mathematics - Essay Example Mathematics not only helps one individual in building his skills but also teaches one individual how to use them in his practical life. Keeping the importance of mathematics in mind this subject is compulsory in almost all sorts of education systems. As this subject is compulsory for everyone some students face difficulties while studying it while some do not. However the subject of Mathematics is considered the most difficult one by the students too. The pace of learning of a student depends on many factors. A student's attention should be focused on the topic he is learning. The attitude of learner and the environment in which he is studying are the major factors of his learning process. In this article, I would further discuss the attitude of students and their environment and background in detail to find out the reasons of changing attitudes of students towards mathematics. Students' background means the situations and conditions of their daily routine and their relation to their home. In contrast, the attitude of the students talks about their awareness, approach and feelings about mathematics. It is observed that the situations in the home make the base of the students' future formal learning either strong or weak. A student always needs his mother, who is known to be the first teacher of a child, to help and guide him in solving complex mathematics topics and questions. The understanding, feeling and concerns of students' also play a magnificent role in their progress of learning a particular subject. The pace of learning and level of understanding of a particular subject can be determined and assessed properly if these factors are kept in mind. Many researches have evaluated the result that students' personal and family background contribute to a great extent in the accomplishment of their goals including their success in mathematics. The changing attitudes of students towards mathematics and other studies also depend on their social life. Certain questions must be answered to understand why their attitude changes. Q1: Are their any resources available for the students at their home If so what are they and if not what would be the effect How does it affect their attitudes Home has been verified to be the greatest support for the students to carry good marks along with the willingness to study further and more efficiently. The environment provided to the student greatly influences the student to focus on his studies. Mathematics, being a complex subject for the students, requires attention and time. A student having an educational environment at home is observed to be more competent in his studies than the student having a less-educated environment around him. The learning opportunities, physical and mental relaxation and the peaceful environment of home play a great role in the success of a learner. A number of researches have already shown the positive relationship of learning accomplishments and home issues. The availability of books makes the first impression and acts as the first motivation for the student to work hard in his studies. The students follow the path of their parents and elders. Although books are believed to be the fundamental learni ng resources, other support stuff are thought as supplements which provide ease in the learning particularly that of mathematics. Such materials are calculators, computers, laptops, dictionaries, guidebooks and study tables. The educational qualification of parents also affects the students' academic life. If the parents are well educated and know the importance of education they would always emphasize on the students' learning. Mathematics needs a lot of attention and

A Servant Leadership Analysis Leadership Essay

A Servant Leadership Analysis Leadership Essay In many situations we are able to draw associations or determine one situation resembles another. Â  When individuals in leadership roles give of themselves so that others may have it is often associated with a negative connotation. Â  Although giving and serving is not viewed in the political or religious aspect, leaders tend to develop their own views and formulate ideas that have been tampered with by politician or religious leaders. Â  Many of the political and religious leaders have a major influence of the day-to-day operation and views of society. We first have to know what leadership is. Leadership is the ability to get other to follow you willingly. A leader must have a vision and know exactly where to go. They also have to take the vision and act upon it and not sit back and let the followers do all the work. Within the vision, they have to communicate with their followers to the point that they are with the vision as well. It also takes dedication to be a leader. They have to do whatever it takes to make sure that they can get to the next step of the vision. There are more qualities but this is some of what take to be a leader. Now, what is servant leadership? Robert K. Greenleaf describes servant leadership as a type of leader that serves others, rather than the followers serving the leader. Doing so will have the followers achieve and improve. As any leader, they are responsible for the followers and those that are not on the same level as others. The people served grow as individuals, becoming healthier, wiser, more autonomous and more likely themselves to become servants (Greenleaf, 1977). There are 10 characteristics that will be briefly discussed: Listening being able to hear what your follower have to say about how they feel in certain situations is very important. Empathy being able to show empathy for your followers, even when some will not accept some views from their co-workers. This will help take more difficult situations Healing healing means a process when something or someone takes time to repair themselves. As a leader, you have to acknowledge the good and the bad situations in life while being able to do well (spiritual). Awareness the leader have to be aware (or in other words, constant communication) of the surroundings of themselves and others that follow them. Persuasion being able to convince and inspire your followers that the vision that you have for the group will benefit not just for the internal (the group), but the external as well (the company to the clients). Conceptualization with the vision at hand, the leader have to think beyond the current goal. They have to see the big picture. They have to have ideas and plans to figure out any problems that may occur. Foresight in order to develop this characteristic effectively, the leader have to be able to analyze any situation and have a great amount of discernment when it comes to decision making. There would be times that the powers that be will expect the leader to complete some tasks that may not suit too well with the leader. Foresight will help the leader to come to a sensible conclusion that will satisfy both their bosses and their followers. Stewardship leaders are stewards first. To become a great leader, they have to be a great follower. Although leading the people, their goal is to serve others. This trait is used continuously with pastors that lead the church. Commitment to the growth of people in order for the world to recognize the changes, the leader must first change themselves. If you are not able to change for the better, whatever changes that are made may not be accepted. Building community the community is not completely healed. Leaders have to take proper actions to help make the community better and not just healed, but to be made whole. One way to do this is by simply being active in the community and show an example that teamwork is very effective when you work together. Servant leadership is heavily influenced by the Christian faith. All Christians are called to be servants, even when you are called to be a leader. In order to be a leader, you had to be a good and obedient servant in order for God to call you higher in ministry. Jesus showed a great example of servant leadership when he washed the feet of the disciples. He also showed us that we need to put aside our personal gain and makes sacrifices to fulfill the needs of others. You have other that will would climb up the ladder and only motivate themselves and not help others. This is something that Jesus did not demonstrate throughout his ministry. The Hinduism religion exemplified servant leadership. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was the political and spiritual leader of India. He used the ahimsa philosophy which means total nonviolence. He was known to tell the truth and encourage those who followed him to do the same. Martin Luther King, Jr. believed that Gandhi was indeed an example of a person that showed servant leadership because Gandhi was not all about him and trying to control the people of India, but to serve them so they can recognize their dignity and power. Even through the process of gaining independence from Great Britain, Gandhi gave India hope that this vision can come true. He never claimed himself as a leader but became a catalyst to many Hindu leaders after him. The Islam religion also exemplified servant leadership. The prophet Mohammad said this about servant leadership: A ruler who has been entrusted with the affairs of the Muslims, but makes no endeavor for their material and moral upliftment and is not sincerely concerned for their welfare will not enter Paradise along with them. (Al-Bukhari, 1997, p.166) Mohammad wanted to show the people that the servant is the leader of the nation, not the leader. Islams concept of servant leadership is serving the workers and the community as their main priority. Like Christians, Islam want to provide services to others, to be an integral part of the community and to further understand their spiritual side of their organizations. A couple of years ago, the past moderator from the Eastern Shore Virginia/Maryland Baptist Association wanted to do something that will help families that could not afford anything (food, toys, clothes) for Christmas. He called it Christmas Without Walls. As an example of the characteristic stewardship, he took it upon himself to buy turkeys, toys and clothes to help these families in his area in order for them to have a better Christmas then they had years before. This led the church to follow his example and they too started to donate items to the less fortunate. In the last couple of years, they were able to bless more than 300 families and looking to do more this year now that other churches are joining to do the same in their own communities. He also showed another characteristic of building communities as becoming an example to show that once you put out, others will follow and together we all can do anything. To model yourself as a leader from a servant leadership approach, self awareness is important. You have to know your own strengths and weaknesses, what inspires you, what motivates you, and how you relate to others. This will allow you to give more of yourself to others when it comes to relationships as this will build up your self esteem and confidence. Emotional intelligence allows you to evaluate others emotions as well as your own. As a result, you understand yourself, your goals, intentions, responses, and behavior. This also led to understanding others and their feelings. Being able to understand other peoples feelings mean that you care about their values and beliefs, even when some of theirs do not agree with your own (this is an empathy characteristic of servant leadership). It do not matter on the religion but no how we treat others in general. Our beliefs may be from a religion but we are given free will on how we treat others. If you are able to put self aside and help ot hers, you will be showing an example to others and will follow you and even inherit your ways.

Marketing :: essays research papers

American companies take many things into consideration when marketing products in other countries. The article â€Å"Tough Cookies† by Oliver Libaw, and the article â€Å"Not so fast† by Jean-Marc Lehu discuss marketing American Products in other countries. â€Å"Tough Cookies† discussed Nabisco and their success of selling Oreos and Chips Ahoy in Mexico. â€Å"Not so fast† discussed the triumph of the store Crazy George, which is like American Rent-A-Center, in the United Kingdom and their failure in France. North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which was established in 1994, made it possible for Nabisco to sell their products in Mexico. NAFTA produced almost free trade between the United States and Mexico. The European Union (EU) did basically the same thing as NAFTA in Europe. EU produced many marketing advantages because it made it possible not to have to market items by one nation at a time. NAFTA and EU make marketing products in other countries easier.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Nabisco took a big chance by marketing their cookies in Mexico. Nabisco succeeded in establishing their products even though Mexico was in a recession. The company realized that there was an open opportunity for their products. In Mexico there was not a cookie exactly like theirs. Oreo and Chips Ahoy are the best selling cookies in the United States so they thought that the products might do the same in Mexico. They did not have an expansive advertising campaign. Instead they relied on in-store promotions. On reason for their success is that they have a strong distribution and name recognition. Many people did not think that the product would sell, even though they have great presence. There are two main events that might have helped Nabisco. One event is that snack foods are cheaper, so instead of eating more expensive, healthy foods, people switched to a substitute. Another event is that the people who were buying the cookies are the wealthier individuals, which price would not effect them.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There is research that proved to Nabisco that they would be successful in Mexico. There are generalizations that have been discovered for many cultures, each culture respond to products and marketing differently. Hispanic culture as a whole are very name brand oriented, they especially American products. They are willing to pay a little extra for quality that goes along with a name of a product. This would make sense for the success of Nabisco. Their cookies are slightly more expensive then other cookies but they were still successful in the Mexican market. Nabisco also did not spend much on advertising, they relied on word of mouth to get their name around. The buying pattern of the Hispanic culture suggests that they listen