PR Activity & Promotional Assessment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

PR Activity & Promotional Assessment - Essay Example Marketing guru Philip Kotler also has developed several pages in his bestseller "Marketing Management" to the centrality of customer in affecting brand-building/ PR exercise. Thus, any definition of PR has to come from a customer point-of-view itself. No major organisation of today, can survive without at least a few members of their team, dedicated to launching PR initiatives in order to give the organisation, a certain recognition in the area where it wants its influence to spread, or to be maintained. The purpose and scope of PR can be applied to a multitude of organisations; Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, gives an all-inclusive list in this way (webpage on PR): 3. NGO's such as schools, hospitals, orphanages, etc. use PR as a means to draw awareness to their cause, and appeal to the heartstrings of charitable people in order to establish funds. 4. Politicians use PR exercises, in order to extract votes, or to push new measures. President Bush once came under criticism for spending nearly $2.2 million on his campaign to overhaul US social security (Common Dreams News Centre). In order to grasp the finer elements of PR's nature, it is useful to corroborate information from a PR consultant itself. Sunday Odedele, Managing Director of a Lagos-based PR agency, looks at his profession from the angle of "philosophy" (webpage). Odedele reasons that PR is "human-centric", since the process of maintaining a brand-conscious image stems from the basic human approach to transmit social signals by means of communication, he explores the nature of the PR exercise from the vantage point of core philosophy. Enumerating basic human needs as "survival, health, freedom, fellowship, self respect, knowledge, fulfilment, and happiness", he unconditionally mentions that these needs must be fully-accounted for in any endeavour of a PR initiative, because ignoring them would

Jazz is a Unique Style Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Jazz is a Unique Style - Essay Example The crowd was generally dressed casually and had a wide variety of listeners, ranging from young people to much older ones. What I quickly noticed was that the environment was not as quiet as I had expected it would be. I had done a bit of research into Jazz music prior to the concert and I expected the audience to be dead quiet and listening attentively to the music. This was not the case as part of the crowd was unbearably noisy as compared to other concerts I have been to. This select part of the crowd did not seem to appreciate the truly beautiful music that was being performed. In past concerts I have been in, loud conversations and disruptive noises were not allowed as this was seen to be distracting the performers as well as the audience who were listening attentively. I was amazed though at how well the musicians performed despite this. It was almost as if they had anticipated it. I believe this goes to prove that these musicians can perform anywhere and still do a stellar jo b. The whole time I was there, I listened closely to the music, watched the performer go through the motions and I felt like my mind and emotions wandered in between the melodies. I must admit that I enjoy the guitar most since my childhood, so watching and listening to John Pisano playing it was very rewarding. I got wrapped up in his playing and got a thrill watching him strum the guitar. This song had a constant tempo; it was slow, funky and had an earthy sound to it which made it sound more like the blues.... I had done a bit of research into Jazz music prior to the concert and I expected the audience to be dead quiet and listening attentively to the music. This was not the case as part of the crowd was unbearably noisy as compared to other concerts I have been to. This select part of the crowd did not seem to appreciate the truly beautiful music that was being performed. In past concerts I have been in, loud conversations and disruptive noises were not allowed as this was seen to be distracting the performers as well as the audience who were listening attentively. The only time there was noise was when the performance was over and everyone applauded. I was amazed though at how well the musicians performed despite this. It was almost as if they had anticipated it. I believe this goes to prove that these musicians can perform anywhere and still do a stellar job. The whole time I was there, I listened closely to the music, watched the performer go through the motions and I felt like my mind and emotions wandered in between the melodies. I must admit that I enjoy the guitar most since my childhood, so watching and listening to John Pisano playing it was very rewarding. I got wrapped up in his playing and got a thrill watching him strum the guitar. I was hooked from the very first song they played. This song had a constant tempo; it was slow, funky and had an earthy sound to it which made it sound more like the blues. John Pisano seemed to be improvising during his  solo on the guitar. The bassist was also magnificent on this particular night and his performance was both strong and melodic. This was evident on the second song, in which he actually picked up his bow and employed the arco technique.

Human Resource Practices At Hbl Commerce Essay

Human Resource Practices At Hbl Commerce Essay Habib Bank Limited (HBL) commenced its operations in the year 1947. It has the privilege of being the first bank to establish itself in Pakistan after independence. From there on, the bank has taken leaps and bounds and has shown tremendous growth in the field of banking. It has now because the largest private sector bank in Pakistan. It has customer base of around five million people. HBL has around 1705 branches across the countries. HBL also has international presence in around 26 countries. The bank has subsidiaries in Hong Kong and United Kingdom, it has affiliates in Nepal, Nigeria, Kenya, and Kyrgyzstan. HBL also has representative offices in China, and Iran. The vast international network makes HBL the largest domestic multinational. Such achievements strengthen the position of the bank not only in the domestic market but also brighten the image of the bank in the international market. The company is now planning to expand its operations in UAE, UK, South and Central Asia, Africa, and the Far East. HBL has 55 branches worldwide. The commodities offered by HBL include product offerings and services in Retail and Consumer Banking. The bank has the honor of holding the largest Corporate Banking portfolio in Pakistan with an active Investment Banking arm. Small Medium Enterprise (SME) and Agricultural lending programs and other banking services are made available to customers residing in urban and rural areas. The company leads the market by holding a domestic market share of 40 percent. HBL continues to dominate the domestic banking sector with a major share-holding in foreign remittances and loans to SMEs, traders, and farmers. HBL is currently rated AAA (Long term) and A-1+ (Short term) with stable outlook and has a balance sheet size of USD 13.82 billion. It is the first Pakistani bank to raise Tier II Capital from external sources. (Habib Bank Limited, 2012) HBL has always led the market with example of quality performance and extra ordinary treatment with the clients. It has adapted with the changing times and evolved its practices as well for the betterment of the company. The company has its headquarters in Habib Bank Plaza, Karachi. Company History HBL was founded by late Mr. Ismail Habib on 25th August, 1942 at Bombay. At that time it was the first Muslim bank to be established in the Indian Sub-continent. It was initiated with a capital of Rs 2.5 Million with a mere 12 branch network. (Ayaz, 2011) Prior to Pakistans independence, Quaid-e-Azam during his campaigns realized the importance of a bank that was going to cater to the needs of the Muslims residing in Hindustan. He requested the Habib family to establish a commercial bank. Habib Bank Limited was thus created in 1941. The head office was located in Bombay (now Mumbai). The fixed capital was 25,000 rupees. The bank played a vital role in utilizing the funds from the Muslim community to finance The All-Indian Muslim League for the establishment of Pakistan. HBL also helped the refugees who were hurt in the communal riots and violence that preceded the departure of British. After independence HBL shifted its headquarters to Karachi. Habib Bank Limiteds first international branch was setup in Colombo, Sri Lanka, in 1951. The bank started its international from this year and never looked back after that. In 1975, the company built the Habib Bank Limited building in Karachi to celebrate its 25th anniversary. (Habib Bank Lmited, 2012) The company was nationalized in Zia-ul-Haqs era. Prior to nationalization, HBL had a domestic market share of about 40 percent. After nationalization HBL continued to dominate the market and held a major share in inward foreign remittances (55percent) and loans to small industries. The company expanded its international boundaries and covered USA, Singapore, Oman, Belgium, Seychelles, Maldives, and the Netherlands. (Habib Bank Lmited, 2012) A decade after nationalization, HBLs annual profit was more than twice the combined profit of all the other commercial banks operating in Pakistan at that time which included United Bank Limited, National Bank of Pakistan, Allied Bank limited and Muslim Commercial Bank. HBL had been a source of rapid economic development in the state since its establishment. It financed various government transport schemes, agricultural schemes and leases over the years and remained the largest and one of the most profitable government entities till its privatization. (Ayaz, 2011) It is believed that HBL presented a blank cheque to Muhammad Ali Jinnah at the time of birth of Pakistan. The bank also looked over the initial financial matters of the state by assuming the status of the state treasury till the state bank came into existence. HBL therefore had been very close to the government of Pakistan since it was established due to these significant reasons. Vision Enabling people to advance with confidence and success (Habib Bank Limited, 2012) Habib Bank Limited wishes to see its customers excel in their lives with confidence. The vision of HBL is targeted towards the domestic market and focuses on fulfilling their needs and requirements in order to give them satisfaction, confidence, and the comfort they deserve. According to Rieches, 2012 the vision statement of a coporation provides a platform to inform competent personnel, create strategic alliances, and most importantly loyal customers. It is really a depiction of desired destination. The destination that the corporation wishes to arrive at. It is a long term long goal established by a corporation which reflects where the it wishes to see itself in the future. HBL vision statement is not a very strong vision statement. It does not clearly define where the company wishes to itself in the future. The vision statements are usually one liners and within this limitation the long term goal is defined. HBL however has failed to do so. From the vision statement the readers are not able to gauge about the future plans of the company and what it wants for itself. It does talk about its customers and their benefit. Customers is just one very small part of it. The corporate goal is the most significant thing to be mentioned in the vision statement. The focus of the company only remains on its customers. The vision to help the customers grow is in the right direction but the other stake holders are being ignored. That however is not a good strategy. It does not mention its shareholders, future plans, furture expansions etc. It also does not mention whether the company wants to remain the market leader or not. There is immense competition in the local market and it is no longer easy to survive in this fierce competition without having a crystal clear vision. The vision statement of the company is a weak statement and does nor portray or convey the future plans of the Bank. The statement leads to a lot of questions and it has a lot of ambiguities. Mission To make our customers prosper, our staff excel and create value for shareholders (Habib Bank Limited, 2012) The mission of HBL discusses its customers, employees, and the shareholders. The statement mentions three of the most important dimensions of the company. The main aim of a mission statement it to outline the short or medium term goals of an organization so that the employees can make strategies accordingly. Mission statements are given an enormous importance by the strategists. They consider it to be a reflection of how company is being operated and which direction it intends to take on. It is said to explain the core purpose of companys existence. Famous names in the field of strategic management consider mission statements to be a corner stone of an organization, and believe that a well thought out mission statements tells a lot about an organization (Wheelen Hunger, 2010). They identify nine important components of a mission statement. Though all of these might not be included, or be necessary, but their presence in the mission statement does make the mission statement powerful and gives it ability to make an impact a well. These components include customer, products and services, markets, technology, concern of survival, growth profitability, philosophy, self-concept, concern of public image and concern of employees (Adam, 2009). The researcher has used these nine components as gu ideline to analyze the existing mission statement of Habib Bank Limited. HBL mentions the first component, its customers first. It puts the customers and their betterment as a top priority. That is a very sound strategy. The bank is operation in a competitive market and if it does not follow a consumer centric approach then it is likely to experience downfall in its popularity. Therefore placing the customers as the first and foremost priority is a good strategy that is used by the company. The company indirectly promises to work for the success of its customers and make them prosperous in their life. There is another important dimension covered in the mission statement, the employees of the bank. The employees play a vital role in establishing the company in the market and eventually making it a leader. The mission statement of HBL talks about its employees and providing them with opportunities which would help them excel in their careers. This is a good strategy again. If a company is taking care of its employees it is very likely that the employees are going to work with loyalty for the betterment of the company. It mentions its customer, but more clarification would have been ideal. Its products and services are not clear at all, whereas other components of a powerful mission statement including markets, technology, concern of survival, growth and profitability, philosophy, self-concept, concern of public image and concern of employees is totally missing. Therefore this is a weak mission statement, which could be improved by incorporating these components in to it. Mission statements are often a little more elaborative, than the one under consideration, which conveys a much clearer picture of the organizations mission, purpose and objectives to its stakeholders. Habib Bank Limited should improve its mission statement. Make the component mentions in it more clear and make it more useful for its stakeholders. Values Our values are the fundamental principles that define our culture and are brought to life in our attitudes and behaviour. It is our values that make us unique and unmistakable. (Habib Bank Limited, 2012) Value of a company describes the traits and qualities that shape daily actions with the internal community, customers, and suppliers. These values shape corporate culture when they become deeply held driving forces and high priorities. (Rieches, 2012) Excellence This is at the core of everything we do. The markets in which we operate are becoming increasingly competitive, giving our customers an abundance of choice. Only through being the very best in terms of the service we offer, our products and premises can we hope to be successful and grow. (Habib Bank Limited, 2012) Integrity We are the leading bank in Pakistan and our success depends upon our trust. Our customers and society in general expect us to possess and steadfastly adhere to high moral principles and professional standards. (Habib Bank Limited, 2012) Customer Focus We understand fully the needs of our customers and adapt our products and services to meet these. We always strive to put the satisfaction of our customers first. (Habib Bank Limited, 2012) Meritocracy We believe in giving opportunities and advantages to our employees on the basis of their ability. We believe in rewarding achievement and in providing first-class career opportunities for all. (Habib Bank Limited, 2012) Progressiveness We believe in the advancement of the society through the adoption of the enlightened working practices, innovative new products and processes, and a spirit of enterprise. (Habib Bank Limited, 2012) Operational Structure HBL is one of the largest commercial bank of Pakistan. It accounts for a substantial share (20percent) of the total commercial banking market in Pakistan with a network of 1,705domestic branches; 55 overseas branches in 26 countries spread over Europe, the Middle East, Far East, Asia, Africa and the United States. (Ismail, 2009) HBL wholly owned Subsidiaries namely Habib Bank Financial Services (PVT) LTD. Karachi, Habib Finance International Ltd. (Hong Kong) and Habib Finance Australia Ltd. Sydney; two Joint Ventures namely Habib Nigeria Bank Ltd. (40%) and Himalayan Bank Ltd. (20%). Habib Bank Limited also has two representative offices in Iran and Egypt. (Ismail, 2009) Organization Structure Organization structure defines how job tasks are formally divided, grouped, and coordinated. There are six key elements that managers need to address: work specialization, departmentalization, chain of command, span of control, centralization, decentralization, and formalization. (Robbins, Judge , Sanghi, 2010) Chairman President Board of Directors Senior Vice President Senior Vice President (Finance Audit) Senior Vice President (Asset Remedial) Senior Vice President (Corporate Banking) Senior Vice President (Corporate Banking, Financial Institute, Project Finance) Senior Vice President (Credit Policy) Senior Vice President (Retail Banking) Decision Making The decision making process at HBL is centralized. All the decisions are taken at the top level of the management without any consultation with the lower levels of the hierarchy. According to Famous names in the field of organization behavior define centralized decision making of being concentrated at a single point in the organization. (Robbins, Judge , Sanghi, 2010) The lower-level managers simply have to carry out the top managements directives. A centralized structure reflects a more rigid and strict culture at the organization. It is not considered to be a very responsive structure. Chain of Command The chain of command is an unbroken line of authority that extends from the top of the organization to the lowest echelon and clarifies who reports to whom. (Robbins, Judge , Sanghi, 2010) Chain of command identifies which employee is to report to whom. In HBL chain of command is clear and every employee knows their direct supervisor and to whom he can report. The company is using a unity of command chain of command. This particular type keeps the concept of unbroken line safe and ensures that the employee has one supervisor only to whom the employee is to report. If the unity of command gets broken then the employee might have to respond to the demands of two or more supervisors. Organizational Strategies There are primarily two main types of strategies adopted by the human resource department of an organization. In an interview with the Following are the two main strategies followed by the Human Resource department of Habib Bank Limited: Corporate Strategy HBL focus on two types of corporate strategies Geographic Expansion In this new era of 21st century it would not be wrong to call the world a global village. With the introduction of revolutionary technology the ends of the world are able to communicate with just a click. HBL is trying to capture different international markets by geographically expanding its operations. Diversification In todays competitive world only those companies are able to survive who are the fittest. The key is to either target a particular untapped market or target the needs of several different segments. The latter strategy ensures a wider coverage of the market and as a result increases the market share. HBL is following diversification strategy to tap different segments in the market which possess different needs. HBL introduces different services in intervals to entertain the needs of its diversified customer line. Business Unit Strategies Following are the business unit strategies for Habib Bank Limited: Cost Leadership The cost leadership strategy allows the firm to develop a competitive advantage in the market by keeping the costs as low as possible. The company is able to achieve cost leadership through efficient and effective production system. HBL follows this strategy by providing services to customers at costs lowers than the competitors. Differentiation Differentiation according to Micheal Porter is highlighting the distinctive competencies in a firm which would make the firm stand out from its competitors. HBL is following this strategy to provide unique services to its customer in the banking industry. Human Resource Department According to (Dessler Varkkey, 2012) Human resource is the process of acquiring, training, appraising, and compensating employees, and of attending to their labor relations, health and safety, and fairness concerns The human resource department of HBL tries to perform the same duties as mention by Dessler Varkkey. The department plays a significant role in creating value for the bank. HBL has a very efficient and active human resource department. It consists of competent employees who formulate strategies according to the local and global needs of the industry and employees. The department also skillfully tackles different problems related to the HR department. The department plays an active role in making the bank more successful every day. Over the years, HBL has adopted customer oriented approach in the recent years due to the changing market dynamics. In order to cater to the needs of these customers, the employees of HBL play a vital role. Therefore, in order to keep the employees happy and satisfied with their work, the HR department tries to take care of their needs and requirements in timely fashion. The department takes care of the companys asset the employees and hopes that the asset would pay the company back with full interest. Human Resource Strategies The Human resource department of Habib Bank Limited has six main strategies: Workflows In order to maximize the profits, HBL has planned a mix of long term and short term goals. These goals are designed in a manner that they would help HBL achieve a competitive edge over its competitors. The following measures are considered for this regard: Risk Management Unified Information Technology System Intensive Training and Professional Recruitment Re-organization of the Consumer and Retail Banking Business Information Technology system enhancement Product offering enhancement Advancement of Operations in urban areas Recruitment and Staffing Employment planning is where the recruitment and selection process commences at HBL. This process starts with the forecasting and planning of human resource required for the current and future positions. The process of selection and recruitment process is carried out tactfully and all the dimensions of the candidate are analyzed carefully. Future prospects are also identified while hiring the candidate. Skills, personality, attitude, knowledge are some of the aspects of the candidate which are judged carefully during the recruitment process. Vacant PositionRecruitment Process Forecasting of Positions Identify Pool of Candidates Develop pool of candidates Monitoring, Tailoring Development Screening / Short Listing Final Selection Recruitment and Selection Source: (Shahid, 2012) Employee Separations HBL has started a program which offers voluntary retirement schemes to employees. The employees get a golden handshake in return. The new term for golden handshake is Voluntary Separation Scheme (VSS). This scheme offers a special incentive to the employees who opt for the scheme and provides them a lump sum amount which equals to the salary of twelve months. Employees who work with the bank for a decade or more are entitled to the pension plan. This plan is going to help the employees in a manner that they will have no financial obligations after they have retired. Performance Appraisal Evaluating an employees current and past performance relative to its performance standards is called performance appraisal. A process that consolidates goal settings, performance appraisal and development into a single common system to ensure that employees performance is according to companys aims is called performance management. Ratings as practiced in HBL consist of following five kinds of factors. The following factors are put into consideration while reviewing the performance of an employee and making an appraisal: Productivity Attributes Technology Customer Service Personal Training According to (Dessler, A Framework for Human Resource Management, 2011), training refers to the methods employers use to give new or present employees the skills they need to perform their jobs. HBL follows the follows a four step following process. The training process is as follows: Needs Analysis Identify job performance skills needed, assesses skills of prospective trainees and develop objectives. Instructional Design Produce the training program content, including workbooks, exercises, and activities. Implementation In this step the process gives an opportunity to the trainees to experience situations close to practical life.   Evaluation In this step the success or failure of the program is assessed. Source: (Shahid, 2012) Training and Development Programs HBL uses the following practices for training and development of its employees: Management Trainee Management Trainee Officer (MTO) program looks for highly motivated candidates who exhibit the potential to become future leaders. At HBL, the MTO program offers extensive interactive classroom training, on the job rotations and personal mentoring from senior management to provide a comprehensive learning experience. Management Associate Management Associate Program at HBL is a training and rotational program. The program particularly focuses on handling the branch banking requirements. It also provides numerous opportunities across HBLs network of Retail, Corporate, and Commercial Banking. Cash officers Candidates in this program are the bank ambassadors. Therefore they are required to have exemplary skills when interacting with the clients. The program involves an extensive one-month training period based on branch banking operations before placement in one of the branches. Types of Processes On the Job Training It is when the new employee learns about the job by actually doing it. Methods of on the job training are as follows: Understudy Job rotation Special assignments Action learning Understudy It is also known as coaching. Under this method the employee is placed under the supervision of a professional employed at the organization. The professional provides guidance to the new employee. At HBL, the trainee works under the supervision of a senior manager. The trainee may also work with the employee to be replaced. It takes place at all the levels of the job. New and old, both the types of employees are trained with the help of this method. Job Rotation Job rotation is when an employee is moved from one department to another to not only broaden the skills of the employees but also to analyze the strong and weak points of the employee. HBLs manager associate program makes use of this type of training. Special Assignments Special assignments are given to the employee by the supervisor. These are assignments or tasks to be done within the premises of the branch. Based on the way the task is completed the supervisor analyzed the performance of the employee. Action learning This method is only to be used for the employees based at the managerial level. Under this method, the employees are to work full time in one department. The employees are assigned to take care of the problems which arise and provide relevant solutions for the problems. Compensation The salaries, rewards, bonuses, and incentives on the basis of job and performances are called compensations. HBLs compensation and benefits strategy combines the need to maintain a high performance culture along with market competitiveness. According to performance each employ gets benefits and compensation. Tenure duration is less preferred as compared to the performance of employees. Employees are paid in two forms: Direct Payments These are the payment in the form of wages, salaries, incentives, commissions, and bonuses.   Indirect Payments This mode of payment includes the benefits and perks that are given to the employees for example medical, car, insurance, residence, car fuel, easy loans etc. Industry Analysis The Banking sector is an integral part of the countrys financial services industry. The banking sector experienced growth in 2001 03. During this tenure the deposits rose almost by a 100 percent. The competition is high in the industry with the presence of local and foreign banks. Almost a decade ago, opportunities for foreign banks, especially in consumer and retail banking, were greater  than ever before. In the financial year of 2004-05, the banking sector experienced growth rates of 21% and 36% in its deposit and advances portfolio respectively. This helped improve the stability of the banking sector as compared to 2003 04. (Pakistan Banking Sector, 2009) A significant shift of focus from industrial lending to consumer products has allowed the banks to enjoy enormous spreads. However, the manufacturing sector is still enjoying the highest share in credit facilities extended by the banking industry (Pakistan Banking Sector, 2009). Initially the banking sector was only catering to the needs of big corporations and the government. However after the reforms the sector is now entertaining the middle class as well. The industry was passing through a transitional period from long established patterns and norms to the unknown land of threats and opportunities. The following are the few areas in the banking industry which have witnessed change over the years: Diversity within the commercial banking industry The following segments have experienced change in the few years: operations, market focus, advertising, and use of information technology. The banks are now concentrating more on developing and establishing distinctive image as compared to their competitors. The banks are doing this by introducing unique products in the market. Intensifying Competition The competition in the banking industry has deepened over the years. It has become fierce over the years. There are a few factors who have contributed to the increasing competition. Increased consumer awareness about the different products and services being offered by the banks has increased the competition. The banks in such a situation can no more enjoy saving the deposits of the consumers at lower rates. Such situations may actually force the banks to lend their money to customers which might have a high risk. Profit trends The ratios indicate a growth in the market. There have been a few dips in the market but overall the industry has seen an upward trend over the years. Soaring Loan Losses Troubled loans are regarded as a cancer for this industry. The quality loans are the ultimate goal for bankers in the 21st century. Mergers Mergers have taken their toll in this country. Over the years the country has witnessed many mergers for example Union Bank with Standard Chartered etc. The purpose is to hold on to as much market share as possible and to tame the increasing competition. however there are some setbacks as well for example, the economies of scale after a certain level of expansion no longer exist for the merger. Structure of the Banking Industry Pakistan being a developing country has a relatively low level of income. The required growth rate as a result is also low because of low savings. The standard of living and quality of life are terms still stranger to the people of this country. The foreign aids have been the bridging gap for us between our savings and investments. Nevertheless these aids have become the drowning forces for our country. IMFs main objective for Pakistan is to maintain stable exchange rates, multi-lateral credit system and international liquidity in order to recover from its worst economic crisis. (Pakistan Banking Sector, 2009) Structure of the Pakistani banking sector has substantially changed in the last decade,  particularly following the privatization of the state-owned banks. In 1990, the banking system was dominated by five commercial banks which were all state-owned. The 1990 amendments to the Banking Companies Ordinance launched the process of  financial sector reforms by allowing privatization of the state-owned banks. During the first round of reform, two of the state-owned banks, Muslim Commercial Bank  (MCB) and Allied Bank (ABL), were privatized between 1991 and 1993. The reforms  process was subsequently delayed for several years and resumed significantly only in the early 2000s. With the privatization of the third large bank, United Bank (UBL), in2002, the domination of the state-owned banks was ended. As of September 2003, the asset share of local private banks and public sector commercial banks was 47 percent and 41 percent respectively. Another large state-owned bank, Habib Bank (H BL), completed its privatization n process in February 2004. As a result of this privatization, the share of banking system assets held by public sector  commercial banks decreased to less than 25 percent. The largest bank in the country,  National Bank of Pakistan (NBP), with a market share of approximately 20 percent, remains state-owned and its privatization prospects are uncertain at this stage, although the government divested approximately 25 percent of its capital in 2001-03. A lot of endeavor has been put in the sector in recent years to promote Islamic banking in Pakistan. Numerous conventional banks have also opened up their branches to provide financial services to the consumers. Lately, the banking sector has diversified its product base and carried out a lot of innovation. They have included different customers like the agriculture sector, SMEs, mortgage financing and consumer financing in their customer list. Not only that this diversified lending  portfolio mitigates risks but it also raises the purchasing power of a large segment of  population that was completely shut out from credit markets. Pakistans auto industry has expanded its car production by a multiple of five times in the last four  years as auto finan

Connections between Boo and Tom in to Kill a Mockingbird :: To Kill a Mockingbird Essays

Connections between Boo and Tom in to Kill a Mockingbird ======================================================== Harper Lee seems to be telling toe different stories, that of Boo and Tom. Are there any connections between the storied? Although the novel seems to be telling two different stories, that of Tom Robinson and Boo Radley there are some connections between the stories. The first connection I'd like to highlight is that both Tom and Boo are Mockingbird figures. We know that Atticus and also Miss Maudie tell the children, and I quote, " Mockingbirds don't do one thing but make music for us to enjoy they don't do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That is why it is a sin to kill a mockingbird." We see how Boo is portrayed as a mockingbird figure when he is locked away from any sort of normal life and society. That in turn, ruins any hope he has of a normal life. However, Boo stays out of sight for many years and his only communication with anyone other than his family for many years when he leave gifts for Jem and Scout in the tree outside his house. The presents that Boo leaves show how thoughtful, caring and gentle Boo is. For example he leaves two dolls carved out of soap in the likeness of Jem and Scout. Immense effort and thought would have gone into those dolls, just to pleasure the two children. This shows how Boo is being made a prisoner in his own home, for no reason, he isn't doing anything wrong. Also near the end of the novel we know that if it hadn't of been for Boo, the children would never have made it home that night. This shows that Boo is like a Mockingbird, he doesn't do any wrong at all, and just watches over the children to see they are save and makes them nice things. We know now that a sin was committed when his parents secluded Boo in the house; they have committed a sin, as they would be killing a Mockingbird. This is where we see the first connection between Boo's story and Toms because Tom Robinson is also a Mockingbird Figure. We know that Tom Robinson was found guilty to the charge of Rape to Mayella Ewell. This happened even though there was no evidence whatsoever to say that Tom did it, and plenty to say that he was in fact totally innocent. Also Tom in the trial shows how caring and honest he is when he says, " I felt right sorry for her." This was a huge mistake by Tom as a black man feeling sorry for a

Classic Knitwear Case Study Essay

The product is being launched under the brand name of Guardian apparel and it has decided not to include the name Classic Knitwear. Classic knitwear label should be mentioned along with Guardian label in the product. As the all the cost of advertising/marketing is being borne by Classic Knitwear, it should probably create a line extension to avoid confusion with its other  non-fashion knitwear segment offerings. The number of SKUs include 4 designs in 4 different colours. The number of SKUs can be reduced by using only the 3 most popular colours in 2 most popular styles. This way the SKUs can be reduced to 6 units and this will ensure that the company can concentrate on the colours and styles most in demand rather than spread its resources thin by launching many SKUs. The market research is not extensive, only 1000 respondents were sent requests. This should not be relied upon entirely for making such important decisions. More respondents should be interviewed before coming to a conclusion. Initial distribution is planned through major sporting goods and apparel chains which would support the establishment of the brand in the introductory phase. However, the sale at discount stores and sports & retail outlets simultaneously is inappropriate- the prices must not differ extensively across all outlets. This agreement forced Classic to meet series of steadily rising annual net sales targets for the first four years and target for 4th year must be met in each subsequent year. If it failed to meet the requirements then the license would be cancelled and void. Only the Guardian logo is being used on the product. It may be a headache for Classic if there is any conflict between companies over their agreement in the future. With this agreement a short term benefit can be realised as the determined marketing investment has been reduced to $3 million from initial expectation of $8-10 million. As the brand value of Guardian will increase by its promotion they should also bear some part of marketing expense. Moreover, the clause about termination of agreement should be removed/relaxed as it may lead to an investment loss on part of Classic. Conclusion: The Company is able to cater to the demand of insect repellent clothes which is much higher than the break even sales required for company. So, the company can earn profit margins which are much higher than the current levels. Also, company can break into the Niche and the Retail market through this project. Financial Viability and the other recommendations mentioned  above, make it attractive for the company to go ahead with Guardian Project.

Iron Man: The Real Hero

In today’s society, the concern of people and laws are not about doing good but rather having the appearance of good. People no longer care about what they need to stand for, only that they look like they aren’t sitting down. In fact, men today are treated as outcasts when sticking up for a good thing when it doesn’t have a pleasant appearance. Men such as Thomas Jefferson, Leonidas, Joshua and Jesus, men that represent something greater than what meets the eye, are scarce among us and used to be held in the upmost respect in history. Today, one man personifies the idea of doing good without needing the appearance of good. This icon is Iron Man, as a hero, and as an image of the greater good. Some would accuse Iron Man of wrong-doing in the area of justice and morality, but there is more than what meets the eye under that metal mask. Iron Man was created in 1963, as an icon of American technology and business against Communism in the Cold War. After the Cold War the focus shifted to more contemporary concerns such as terrorism and corporate crime, as seen in the modern movies. In 2008, when the first movie was released, Iron Man was portrayed as a rich young playboy who had no care for anybody except himself. Yet in the movie he undergoes a character change and when he becomes Iron Man, he changes his focus off of himself and onto others. He portrays this by disbanding his company’s weapons program when he finds they are double dealing to other countries other than America. From his birth Iron Man was meant as a symbol of idealism, something of a noble cause. So what is the big deal about some superhero being overlooked as an example of virtue? The big problem is that men are not expected to be what they should be, and their real morality is undermined by the need for an appearance. Because of this false ideology, men like Iron Man are falsely accused for wronging civilization. In reality, Iron Man ought to be held in the upmost respect as a person, and should not be criticized for his outward appearance, but judged based on the goodness of his acts as Iron Man toward humanity. Throughout his history, Iron Man has displayed countless acts of heroism. He has saved countless lives by means of risking his life for others, receiving nothing in return but gratitude. This is best shown by when he first builds the suit, not knowing what the outcome of it will be, but risking his life anyway to save his friend and himself from captivity. After that he flies into countries that are not even his own to save a people who are being oppressed by terrorists and who he has no affiliation with. Therefore, when people attack Iron Man for doing wrong by breaking laws, it is invalid because of the equity Iron Man displays through his acts of vigilanteism. Take into account when he flew over restricted airspace to go save the lives of innocent people who were in mortal danger. Was he supposed to let them die because he could break the law of flying over a restricted zone? Of course not, as the Bible does say that we ought to love our neighbor as ourself, and that we ought also to love our enemy, as Iron Man does in saving a people that are not even his own. Therefore, even when Iron Man is putting himself in these type of situations, he cannot be said to have done wrong, for doing nothing for the people would have been more wrong than him leaving them to die. Yet even with this outstanding display of selflessness, some would still insist that Iron Man still committed acts of wrong-doing, no matter the number of good and noble actions he did. They would assert that Iron Man consistently breaks the law by removing himself from the justice system and taking matters into his own hands. Even though their concern is valid and understandable, it is not relevant according to the definition of wrong-doing. According to Aristotle wrong-doing is â€Å"injury voluntarily inflicted contrary to law. Iron Man’s actions are contrary to some written law, but they uphold unwritten law. His actions do not cause cause voluntary injury, and uphold principles that no written law can overrule, that of defending fellow man, and standing up for what is right. Also, some would accuse Iron Man’s character, as he is a playboy who loves to drink and party. However, this is not relevant to the argument of wrongdoing, and therefore does not effect this topic of discussion. Therefore, because Iron Man has not done any wrong in his actions of extreme patriotism and display of what is really good, the accusations that are placed on his head as a wrong-doer are invalid. The fact that his minor actions contrary to law are outdone by the equity he displays also proves his innocence against such heinous accusations. Iron Man will continue throughout the ages as an icon of justice and virtue, and will fulfill his role as a real hero; one who displays a selfless yet unwavering strive for something better.