Mrs Bennet’s character in ‘Pride and Prejudice’ Essay

Analyse Mrs Bennet’s character in ‘Pride and Prejudice,’ by looking closely at her attitude and behaviour. Comment on what you think Mr Darcy and Elizabeth think of her, as well as your own views. ‘She was a woman of mean understanding, little information, and uncertain temper.’ Mrs Bennet, the mother of five girls; Jane, Elizabeth, Mary, Kitty and Lydia, most resembles her youngest daughter, Lydia; a shallow and flirtatious girl. Similarly, Mrs Bennet is very excitable and pronounces her fondness for ‘red coats’ when she was Lydia’s age. This declaration of her affection is quite endearing and reveals Mrs Bennet’s younger side. Mrs Bennet and Lydia are the pinnacles of the kind of characters who talk far too much and fuss about silly things. An example demonstrating this aspect of her character is how Mrs Bennet does not worry herself with the moral consequences of Lydia’s ‘infamous elopement’ but fusses about trivial, frivolous things such as wedding clothes and ‘where the best warehouses are.’ This also demonstrates her stupidity and lack of insight into human nature which prevents her from realising how close Mrs Bingley comes to being outright rude. She believes that Mr Bingley’s sisters were ‘charming women.’ Then goes on to comment, ‘I never in my life saw anything more elegant then their dresses.’ Apart from being utterly wrong about them, she demonstrates perfectly her superficiality. She obviously is taken with the sisters because she sees them dressed incredibly ornately, and knows how rich they are, fogging her view of their personality. From the very beginning of the novel, Mrs Bennet comes across as a woman obsessed about marriage. The first event in the entire book is Mrs Bennet gossiping about a young man of good fortune, Mr Bingley, who has just moved into the area. Mrs Bennet is already planning for one of her daughters to marry Mr Bingley, even though she has never met him and doesn’t know anything about him apart from the he is ‘a single man of large fortune; four or five thousand a year.’ She says, ‘What a fine thing for our girls!’ This clearly shows that Mrs Bennet aims to get her daughters married to wealthy men, not minding if her daughter’s love them or if they are nice people or not. This demonstrates an element of foolishness especially as she of all people should know about the problems of such an ‘unsuccessful marriage.’ This, along with the evidence of Mrs Bennet’s silliness seems to suggest that Mr Bennet married Mrs Bennet for convenience and for her looks rather than for love and her personality. Their love-hate relationship relies upon her gullibility and moodiness, and his love of teasing her which keeps Mr him going. Their barely surviving relationship should have shown Mrs Bennet the defects of a marriage for money and convenience, but she has in fact not learnt anything. She is so determined that she even wants Elizabeth to settle for marrying Mr Collins. However, her actions could be seen in a very different light. Perhaps it demonstrates her true love for her daughters. Maybe she wants them to marry rich because when Mr Bennet dies they will not inherit the house or any money because they are girls. The law says that the next male relative has to inherit everything. For this reason Mrs Bennet feels that she needs to secure her daughters future, making sure that they are settled. Mrs Bennet cannot accept not having her way and uses the blackmail, ‘you have no compassion for my nerves’ when she is not granted what she wants. One instance when she uses this excuse is when Mr Bennet refuses to speak to Mr Bingley and invite him over. It is very important to Mrs Bennet that Mr Bingley comes over so that she can try and get one of her daughters married to him. But when Mr Bennet gets in the way of her plan by not visiting Mr Bingley, Mrs Bennet shows that she gets very annoyed. The fickle side of her character is displayed when Mr Bennet finally admits that he has seen Bingley. Mrs Bennet’s mood changes very suddenly and she immediately gets excited and becomes happier. She says, ‘How good it was of you, my dear Mr Bennet,’ showing that she is superficial and that her feelings quickly change, cheering up at the thought of being able to marry off one of her daughters. Although it could also be seen that she is just a very determined person, whose resolution is to get her daughters married. Her determination, however, is sometimes taken a step too far, especially when Jane was invited to Netherfield. Jane requested the carriage to take her to the estate, but Mrs Bennet, excited by the chance for Jane to get to know Mr Bingley better, insisted that she ‘had better go on horseback,’ because it seemed ‘likely to rain.’ Mrs Bingley was in fact hoping that it would start to rain, so that Jane would have to stay at Netherfield, therefore having more time to get to know Bingley. Despite her lack of intelligence, this shows a very shrewd, scheming side to her character forming a plan to keep Jane at Netherfield. Furthermore, she could even be interpreted as uncaring. When it does indeed start to rain, Mrs Bennet’s foolishness surfaces, as she comments on it being a ‘lucky idea’ of hers to have sent Jane on horseback. She shows no regard for Jane’s health, but on the contrary, smugly praising herself for the success of her cun ning plan. On the surface, she does not seem bothered about her daughter’s health, but is more concerned about the achievement of her life’s aim; getting her daughters married. In this respect she seems more aware of her responsibilities as a parent than her husband. Later, she finds out that Jane is unwell, but is not even slightly worried, saying, ‘I am not afraid of her dying. People to not die of trifling colds. She will be taken good care of.’ Despite her unconcerned exterior, I think it is likely that deep down she really does care about her daughters, even though her number one priority is always to get her daughters married. Evidence of her deep down affection for her daughters is when she goes to Netherfield and ‘would have been very miserable’ had she found Jane in any danger. Another redeeming feature of Mrs Bennet is that she is loyal, for example when she stuck up for Elizabeth after Mr Darcy had refused to dance with her. She tells Elizabeth to not dance with Darcy next time, even if he asks her. This is perhaps her way of comforting Elizabeth, because she probably understands that Elizabeth must have been offended. From this point onwards, Mrs Bennet’s impression of Darcy changes completely from being ‘much handsomer than Mr Bingley’ to being a most disagreeable, horrid man, not at all worth pleasing.’ Her attitude towards him changes completely, and she forgets that she ever liked him in the first place. This reveals her fickleness and superficial judgement. When she didn’t know him, she presumed that he was a really nice person just because she knew he was rich, but just as easily as she formed her first opinion of him, she changed her mind. Near the end of the novel she once again changes her opinion of Darcy. Although she has disliked him throughout the whole book, declaring that he is ‘so high and so conceited,’ she is overjoyed at the news of Elizabeth’s engagement to him. She again changes her mind starting to really like him. The rest of the family were worried that she had made the wrong decisions about Darcy and may have been forced to marry him, but Mrs Bennet was not even slightly worried about that. She was just extremely happy that Elizabeth had found a rich husband, and that she only had two more daughters to get married. Her changeability is also brought to surface through her opinion of Mr Collins. Mr Collins is Mr Bennet’s closest male relative, and so is destined to inherit Mr Bennet’s house after his death. According to the law, girls could not inherit anything after their father’s death and so Mr and Mrs Bennet were relying on the fact that they would bear a son. Unfortunately, after conceiving five girls it became obvious that the possibility of having a son was very unlikely, by when it was already too late to start saving money to pay their daughter’s dowry and provide for them for the future. Mrs Bennet particularly didn’t like Mr Collins for this reason, as she blames him for inheriting her house, even though it is not his fault. Even before she has met him or found out anything about him, she has already decided that he is an ‘odious man’, out for what he can get. She goes on to say to Mr Bennet, ‘If I had been you, I should have tried long ago to do something or other about it,’ referring to the fact that his estate has been entailed to Mr Collins. From this, it is apparent that Mrs Bennet blames Mr Bennet for their problems, not being clever enough to understand that it is the law and that there is nothing Mr Bennet could do about it. She proclaims that she ‘hates false friends,’ which is very judgemental of her, but when she realises that Mr Collins wants to marry one of her daughters, her attitude completely changes. She is no longer hostile towards him, and forgets about her grudge against him. However, Elizabeth, being much more sensible than her mother, refuses the offer of marriage because she understands that marriages without love do not work. She has seen her mother and father ‘passing’ their lives, not really understanding each other and sees ‘the defects of such a marriage.’ This decision agitates Mrs Bennet incredibly, who tells Mr Collins that Elizabeth ‘is a very headstrong, foolish girl and does not know her own interests; but I will make her know it.’ Mrs Bennets is very determined to have Elizabeth marry, and she suspects it would be quite had to get such as opinionated girl a husband. She is sure that she will be able to persuade or force Elizabeth to accept the offer of matrimony and doesn’t understand Elizabeth not wanting to marry Mr Collins or that they are incompatible. The way she sees it is that he has money, and will soon inherit Longbourne, so Elizabeth should accept the offer of marriage. This again seem s to suggest that she does not care about her daughter’s happiness but is more consumed with her own security for the future. Mr Collins, having given up on Elizabeth, marries Charlotte Lucas which outrages Mrs Bennet. She irrationally holds Sir William and Lady Lucas responsible for the whole situation, insisting that they must have convinced Elizabeth not to marry Mr Collins, an absurd idea showing how paranoid she is. She often passes blame onto other people, not accepting any responsibility for anything that goes wrong. She is so ‘vexed’ that she is impulsively rude to Sir William and Lady Lucas, spoiling their friendship because of her jealousy. Another aspect of her character is that she is very unsubtle and rude. Even though she spends most her time trying to find suitors for her daughters, she generally has the opposite effect and almost drives away suitors entirely. An illustration of her indiscretion is when she visits Jane at Netherfield. She believes that she is being very subtle in insulting Darcy, but in fact she is quite blatant with her insults and gives Darcy the impression that she is very loud in speech, foolish and insensitive. He is also offended by her lack of breeding and dislikes her since their first meeting at the Ball. He was annoyed at the way that Mrs Bennet would make judgements about people even without knowing them. She declares Mr Darcy to be ‘The proudest, most disagreeable man in the world.’ Without knowing him, Mrs Bennet had already made out his character, which annoyed him greatly. He also didn’t like the way that he would talk loudly about other people, thinking that this was insensitive and completely demonstrated her lack of breeding. He also considers her to be very foolish, and in his letter to Elizabeth he wrote that he tried to break Bingley and Jane up because of their class difference. He also commented on the fact that their mother was foolish, and so he could not let Bingley marry Jane. Elizabeth also considers her mother to be an embarrassment and very foolish. She thinks that her mother is insensitive and not very intelligent for example, when she sent Jane to Netherfield on horseback. Elizabeth was extremely worried about Jane and walked all the way to Netherfield to visit her sister. Her mother embarrasses her on many occasions such as when her mother misunderstands Mr Darcy’s comment on country people and reveals hostility towards him. This shows a lack of breeding and Elizabeth ‘blushes for her mother,’ trying to change the subject. The extreme diffence in character and sense between Elizabeth and Mrs Bennet makes Mrs Bennet look even more foolish and stupid. Mrs Bennet is like a literary caricature of an interfering matchmaker. Her faults are magnified to excessive proportions, making her character almost funny and therefore providing comic relief at tense moments in the play. Her role in the play is to be an obstacle which Darcy needs to overcome and accept in order to show that he truly loves Elizabeth. This is very difficult for Darcy as she is almost his complete opposite. She is silly, obsessive, hysterical and tactless, but in the end he accepts her because of his love for Elizabeth. In conclusion, Elizabeth, Mr Darcy and the reader may feel that Mrs Bennet is a foolish, insensitive woman, appearing to be loud, superficial and quickly irritated, but equally rapidly calmed down. This is because, throughout the novel, Jane Austin allows her more negative aspects to surface at different times throughout the novel by emphasising them through her words and actions. However, I feel that she is in fact a very caring and affectionate mother, who always has her daughter’s best interests at heart. Yet, this side of her personality is not often portrayed, forcing Mrs Bennet to be seen as an interfering, thoughtless woman.

Criminal Justice Paper

In order to succeed at something so selective and challenging you must understand the cause and truly feel the duty it brings to you. Those that possess the characteristics for becoming a police officer could not do anything but be a police officer, its something you're born with and that you feel. It chooses you, you do not choose it. For many in this world the thought of crime scares them. It brings out the fear Of violence, drugs, and the images of some Of the worst places or scariest people this world has to offer. It gives officers of law enforcement it gives the Houghton of opportunity to make a difference.The times in which most run away, officers of law enforcement run towards. To be a police officer it is not about the paycheck, it is not about the power it gives to you over another citizen. Its the ability to make a difference and impact society, the ability to be a part of something bigger than yourself. Being a police officer is not something you chose to do; it is someth ing that chooses you. It's not just a job, it's a lifestyle, its not just a paycheck but a way of life, those that are destined to become police officers don't â€Å"turn it off' after their shift is over, hey don't call out sick, and they don't work regular hours.Police officers sacrifice; they sacrifice their time off, time with family and friends, but most of all they sacrifice themselves and their own well being for the good of those in which they vow to protect and serve, they sacrifice through every single way possible and in some cases they make the ultimate sacrifice. The life of a police officer is not for the faint of heart. It's not for someone who doesn't fully feel and know in their heart that there is no other profession or road of life they could be on other than that of an officer of the law.Ever since I was a child have been infatuated with the police and law. Remember as a child running around my grandparents neighborhood playing â€Å"reliever† with my fri ends and always wanting to be the team tasked with capturing the other kids, or riding our bikes around the neighborhood pretending to pull one another over and issuing fake tickets, sometimes even arresting each other and using the cheap plastic handcuffs from the drugstore to put the â€Å"suspect† into custody.One of my most vivid memories and the one I believe captured my attention to truly make me feel that coming a police officer was the life path I was destined to take was watching cops with my grandmother. I remember fondly sitting on my grandfathers lay-z-boy becoming instantly fascinated with the different traffic stops and dispute calls the police would perform. I remember every episode, I would become so engrossed with what was happening and the different calls the officers would go on that I would imagine was with them and going along as a fellow officer assisting in the arrests.Throughout my life, my opinions and personality changed. Every three years it seemed I was a totally efferent person than the one before, but one thing that always remained was that wanted to be involved in law enforcement in one way or another, I wanted to be a part of the brotherhood and to make a difference, I knew that had the ability both intellectually and integrity wise to get through law school and become a lawyer but knew from a young age sitting in an office wasn't what I wanted to do, I wanted to impact my community in a positive way through law enforcement, I wanted to be down on the street, in the thick of it. Anted to see and handle the crime and the thugs first hand; I wanted to be he face Of law enforcement. The characteristics of the job that made most people deflect away are what attracted me the most. The long hours, the threat of danger and adrenaline rushes, even the middle class pay grades, they all intrigued me and made me want this type of lifestyle even more.As I got older looked into law enforcement more and more and with much more scrutiny and detail, I heard the positives and negatives, the risks and the rewards, and the one thing that always stuck out in my mind was the fact that no matter what I heard or what learned about the career, never lost interest. I never became deterred, I always carried myself as someone who wanted a future career in law enforcement. While some of my friends got into trouble growing up and during high school I made sure to keep my nose clean.I always spoke to everyone with respect and a professional tone, I took my part time jobs seriously and I made good impressions on all those that I met. Felt, and still do feel, that you cannot make a leader, leaders are born. I firmly believe the same goes for police officers, you cannot take anyone and transform them into a police officer, you can only hope that those that possess the qualities of police officer realize their gift and pursue the career.This mentality has driven me to change myself physically, mentally, and it has also caused me to change the views of those around me. When I was younger and I brought up the fact that I would like to become a police officer my parents were not thrilled. They did not want me to spend my career in danger handling the worst people that society has to offer. They wanted me, like most parents, to become a doctor or lawyer, have a comfortable life both financially and personal safety wise. Knew that was better suited for being a police officer out on the street.I did not care about the money or social sacrifices I would have to make, but most importantly I did not value my personal safety over those that looked up to me, this I believe is a huge quality and characteristic of police officers, to wake up every day and know that you may have to lay down your life in order to protect a complete stranger, not everyone could do this. I learned that I possessed this quality during my years as a high school athlete, I played goalie for my high school lacrosse team.I played a different positi on prior to high school but my freshman year the captains came to the am and asked for someone to step up and play goalie, I was the only one in my class to raise my hand. In all of sports, a lacrosse goalie is ranked as one of the top 3 most dangerous positions because the solid rubber ball in the sport travels at a speed of 80 to 95 MPH. The goalie wears almost no pads other than a helmet, chest pad, gloves, and an athletic cup. Throughout a season a goalie suffers severe contusions all over their body and on top of this, they are the last line of defense for their team.The position is a high risk- low reward position. If the team wins, they overlook your saves and focus on he players who scored the winning goal but if you lose everyone looks at you for the amount of goals you let in. Most importantly the position is chaotic, hectic, loud, and fast paced and you need to make a decision quickly. The average goalie has . 2 seconds to make a decision during a game. Therefore you must possess the ability to think quickly on your feet, read, evaluate, and act on a situation extremely fast. This is a huge characteristic of a being a police officer. New that the position was not for everyone, if it was easy everyone would do it was my philosophy, did not question why no one else raised their hand hat day at tryouts but rather did the job knowing that others relied on me. The same applies for that of a police officer. Police officers don't consider the dangers of the job they do, the risks they take every day and the low rewards that come with the job. The greatest reward is something no one else can see, it's something you feel. It's knowing that you are part of select brotherhood of others that do everything they can, and then some, to make the world safer.There are many different forms of law enforcement in the world. I have chosen to pursue the route of a field officer, someone who goes out and tops crime first hand. I have looked at becoming a lawyer or someone who is a part of the processing aspect of law and the one field of law enforcement that speaks to me and attracts me above all others is that of a field officer, or police officer. I have said before that those that are police Officers do not know why they wish to be a police officer, they just know that it is something that has chosen them.I have looked at the different law enforcement agencies on all levels from federal to state to local. Have narrowed it down to two different possible agencies that am pursing and hoping to be employed tit, these are, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Delaware State Police. The FBI is on the federal level while the ADS is on the state level. Each have their own responsibilities, mission statements, duties, and specialized departments within. Before I pursue a career with either of these departments I am attending college and receiving a bachelors degree in â€Å"Criminal Justice†.After college commencement I will be enlisting in the United States Marine Corps Officer Candidate School and serving my country on the national level as a united States Marine Officer for 4 to 6 years of my life. I have chosen the Marines because they claim to be the best. Their motto is ‘The few, the Proud, the Marines†. This has always struck me in a positive, almost challenging way. Other military organizations ask you to join them giving you a list of opportunities and rewards they can give you.The Marine Corps challenge you to join them, they tell you what you can do for them and earn for yourself in the process, they offer the hardest and longest training process out of all the military services and, just like the ADS, they claim to be the best organization out there. Eve always wanted to be a part of the best unit can be. Always wanted to be the best of the best. Feel that there is no other option then to push yourself to the Max and to never Stop trying to get better at everything you possibly can. Eel that obt aining a college degree and becoming an officer in the Marine Corps will help separate me from others in the selection processes of both the FBI and the ADS. Both of these organizations have rigorous and intense selection processes taking on average at least a year to go through both select candidates for specialized training to transform them into effective and capable tools of law enforcement. Eel whole heartedly that the Marine Corps will help prepare me for the discipline and training will endure during the selection process and training periods of both the FBI and the ADS, should I be accepted into these organizations.The Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, is a federal police organization that focuses on neutralizing and preventing crime that are too large and diverse for police agencies on the local and state levels. Their mission statement is, â€Å"To protect and defend the United States against terrorist and foreign intelligence threats, to uphold and enforce the crimin al laws of the United States, and to provide leadership and criminal justice services to federal, state, municipal, and international agencies and partners. (Federal Bureau of Investigation, mission statement, 201 2) The FBI has numerous specialized units; in fact, it's safe to say that they are nothing but specialized units that all work together under one name and for the same cause, to protect the United States. The FBI has field units in security, SWAT, drug enforcement, national security, air security. They also have law units that investigate and chase down some of the country's worst criminals; they sometimes go global in order to track threats against the United States.You can be a linguist and handle language barriers, field agents, they also have a hostage rescue team. The FBI selection process is unbelievably intense there are seven steps to the process. There is the online application process which is the first step and gets your name in the system along with your accomp lishments and attributes. Then comes the written test portion which covers your situational judgment skills along with your logical reasoning skills. The second phase Of testing includes a written paper testing portion along with an interview from a anal of FBI board members.The next phase is a conditional letter which must be written by a member of the FBI board and approved, giving you permission to continue and take the physical testing portion of the selection process. This tests your ability to run in both a sprint and a timed mile run and do sit-up and pushup in timed fashion. If you complete and pass these qualifications you are submitted to go through a thorough background check by the FBI and if everything in your background check checks out you are submitted to go through a medical examination to see if you are in proper hysterical health to be an agent in the FBI.The selection process for the FBI is rigorous, in depth, and competitive. They select only the best candidates and those that they think will perform the job to the best of their abilities to help out the bureau in every way possible. The Delaware State Police, ADS, is a state level organization that specializes in the governing three counties in the state of Delaware. Unlike other state police agencies, the ADS not only patrol high ways and enforce traffic violations, they also handle all other police priorities that local police agencies handle as well.The average Delaware State Trooper on a typical day will handle traffic violations and answer domestic dispute calls. They handle crimes ranging from felonies to misdemeanors. The ADS have canine units, detectives, undercover units, scuba units, SWAT units, air units, and patrol officers. As a Delaware State Trooper you can be a part of any of these units as long as you apply and pass the testing for each. The mission of the ADS is, â€Å"To enhance the quality of life for all Delaware citizens and visitors by providing professional, compe tent, and compassionate law enforcement services. Delaware State Police, Mission Statement, 2012). Like the FBI, the ADS selection process is insanely rigorous and intense, it takes roughly a year to complete and over 1000 applicants apply and out of those, only 23 are selected to become Delaware State Troopers (Tap. 1st class Jewell, A. 2012). The selection process contains a written process after being accepted from an online application. Once the written process is done an oral board interview is conducted.If you pass that you are then submitted to the physical fitness portion of the selection process and tested on your ability to reform sit-ups, pushup, and a timed mile run. If you pass the physical fitness portion you are then submitted to undergo a polygraph exam and fill out a background investigation packet while also being investigated by the police department's investigation unit and interview teams. If all of this is completed and you pass, the ADS will decide on whether or not to admit you to the Delaware State Police Training Academy located in Dover, Delaware.In review of both of these organizations have decided that I will pursue a career with the Delaware State Police as primary career source and the Federal Bureau of Investigation as a secondary career source, as I reviewed and compared both of these organizations have sided with the ADS because of their primary cause which is helping make the community safer on more of a local and state level rather than focusing on a national level. Want to help the people in my community and perform the tasks and duties that are required of the Delaware State Police more so than the Federal Bureau of Investigations.I have failed to list the pay grades of both of the organizations as in my personal beliefs I do not feel that is important, in becoming a ember of law enforcement, such a police officer, it is not about the money. Police officers do the job because it is a calling, the fact that the job pays you is a bonus, police officers don't go into work because of the paycheck they go into work every day with the intentions of doing something good for the community and impacting it in a positive way, they chose this career not because of the pay but because they wouldn't be able to do anything else.If you hear the call Of law enforcement there is no escaping it, you must answer it and until you do so you will not feel fully and truly satisfied. This isn't just a bob but a lifestyle. As stated above, I plan on obtaining a 4 year bachelors degree in criminal justice and serving 4 to 6 years in the SUMS. I feel that taking this route before pursuing my career as a Delaware State Trooper will better prepare me both mentally and physically for my tasks as a police officer, as it will also help me standout in the selection process.I have also gone on multiple â€Å"ride-along† with the Delaware State Police and seen firsthand the day to day calls and activities of a State Trooper. Th is career has called me and I am in the process of answering it, one step at a time. Eve kept my nose clean and stayed out of trouble, I will not jeopardize myself and my future career with reckless behavior. â€Å"If it was easy, everyone would do it'- unknown, that quote sums up my entire attitude towards life, I choose to perform the jobs, duties, and tasks that most do not wish to perform. Eel it as my duty and a sense of guilt comes over me when I do not fully undergo and take down these tasks. Believe this is the mentality most police officers and those that have heard the calling feel. The undoubted need and want to help, they undertake the jobs that most would not. In times of peril it is the police, firemen, paramedics, and military personnel that run toward the danger. This is something that cannot be explained by anyone in any of these fields; it is something that is understood as special and unique to a certain breed of individual.Police officers don't question the thou ght of chasing an armed suspect down a dark alley, they just do. Firemen don't wonder why they go into a burning building as others run out, they just do. Paramedics and military personnel don't realize that they are saving lives by risking their own well being, they just do. The sense and feelings of being in one of these positions cannot be explained, many of times my parents, family members, and friends have asked me, â€Å"Tom why do you want to be a Marine? Or Police Officer? And every time I tell them the exact same thing, â€Å"If you have to ask me, you wouldn't understand†. No one besides a police officer understands why they do it, risk their lives for complete strangers for low amounts of pay, long hours, and low social rewards. They don't do it for any of the reasons above, they do it because it's their duty, it's who they are, and it's ingrained in heir blood and DNA The ability to be a police officer is a unique and special trait; it's not just a career but a l ifestyle.

The Contingency Theory Of Management

Starbucks has evolved one of the fastest flourishing companies in the United States. Get downing from 1992, the company ‘s net gross improved at a compounded growing rate of 20 % , to $ 3.3 billion in financial 2002. Gross net incomes have grown at an one-year compounded growing rate of 30 % to $ 218 million in financial 2002, which is the highest figure in net earning of company ‘s history ( See Exhib it 1 ) . As Business Week tells it: On Wall Street, Starbucks comes last biggest growing narrative. Its stock, including four splits, has raised more than 2,200 % over the old decennary, exceling Wal-Mart, General Electric, PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, Microsoft, and IBM in aggregative return. Now at $ 21 [ September 2002 ] , it is vibrating near its all-time high of $ 23 in July [ 2002 ] , before the overall pronounced bead. 1 To go on this rapid gait of growing, the house ‘s senior executives are looking to spread out internationally. Specifically, they are interested in farther enlargement in Europe ( including the Middle East ) , Asia Pacific ( including Australia and New Zealand ) and Latin America. Expanding in these three continents represents both a challenge and an chance to Starbucks. While the chance of increased grosss from farther enlargement is readily evident to the company ‘s top direction, what is non clear is how to cover with turning â€Å" anti-globalization † sentiment around the universe. This instance looks at issues that are originating as Starbucks starts to rule java markets around the universe and explores the alterations which might be required in scheme. The 25-year end of the company is to be an enduring, and great company with the uttermost respected and recognized trade name in the universe, known for inspiring and fostering the human sprit. The mission statement of the company is to joint several steering rules to estimate the rightness of house ‘s determination. In depicting Starbucks ‘ echt attack towards competition, Fortune notes: The scheme is straightforward: Blanket an country wholly, even if the shops cannibalize each other ‘s concern. A new shop will frequently pull off to capture about 30 % of the gross revenues of a nearby Starbucks, but the company takes this as a good thing: The everywhere attack of the Starbucks cuts down the costs direction and bringing, it decreases the client lines at single shops, and increases pes traffic for all the shops in an country. Last hebdomad 20 million people purchased a cup of java at a Starbucks. No American retail merchant has a highest figure of client visit. A typical client Michigans by 18 times a month ; since the company went public, It has climbed an norm of 20 % a twelvemonth. Even in down economic system, Starbucks traffics have risen between 6 to 8 per centum a twelvemonth. Possibly even most noticeable fact that Starbucks has managed to bring forth those sorts of the Numberss with virtually no selling by giving merely one per centum of one-year income on advertisement. For several old ages, Perceivers have found that US coffee-bar market may be nearing towards impregnation. They point to tag consolidation, as bigger participants of java saloon snap up some of the smaller java saloon rivals. More, they take a note that Starbucks ‘ shop base is excessively maturing, and making to lag in the growing of unit volume and house net income. In the response of that, some point, Starbucks has changed its way towards foreign markets for the continued growing. For illustration Business Week notes: To counterbalance the hesitating returns of its first decennary, Starbucks has no pick but to export its construct smartly. Indeed some perceivers give Starbucks merely 2 old ages maximal before it saturates the U.S. market. The concatenation now [ in August 2002 ] operates 1200 international mercantile establishments, from Beijing to Bristol. This gives immense room for grow. Infact, about 400 or its planned 1200 new shops in this twelvemonth would be constructed overseas, which will stand for a 35 % rise in its foreign base. Starbucks hopes to duplicate the measure of its shops globally, to about 10,000 in 3 twelvemonth period. Our attitude towards international enlargement is to set focus foremost on the partnership, and state 2nd. We believe in local connexion to get everything up and working. Finding the right local spouses is the key to negociate local ordinances and others jobs. We search for spouses who are common in our values, civilization, and motivations about community development. We are fundamentally interested in spouses who could steer us in the procedure of induction in foreign location. We are seeking the houses with: ( 1 ) common doctrine to ours in footings of shared values, corporate citizenship, and committedness to be in the concern for long draw, ( 2 ) experience with multi-unit eating house, ( 3 ) For the bar of impersonators, holding resources to spread out the Starbucks construct rapidly. , ( 4 ) To pick premier existent estate locations, holding strong real-estate experience along with cognition, ( 5 ) Must be holding cognition of retail market, and ( 6 ) committedness of the peop le should be available to our undertaking. In an international joint venture, it is the spouse that chooses shop sites, does all the preparatory and choice work, which are so submitted for blessing to Starbucks. Cydnie Horwat, VP for International Assets Development Systems and Infrastructure, elaborates how a Starbucks market entry program initiates with trade name edifice, which afterwards facilitates further rapid enlargement in a state: When come ining a market foremost, we look for different things in the initial 1 to 3 old ages than subsequently on. During these early old ages we are developing our trade name. Our shops are the largest beginning of advertisement, as they do n't make a batch of separate advertisement. Therefore we possess higher investing in shops in the first 3 old ages. Approximately 60 to seventy per centum of shops which are opened in these initial 3 old ages are our biggest brand-builders. Before 10 old ages, we had 125 shops and 2000 employees. Today we have 62,000 employees working in 30 different states outside of North America, who are functioning about 22 million clients in a hebdomad. Our nucleus client comes about 18 times a month. With the bulk of grownups throughout ball imbibing 2 cups of java a twenty-four hours and with Starbucks holding less than seven percent portion of aggregative java ingestion in the U.S. and less than one per centum globally, these are the initial yearss for the growing and advancement of company. We have got a theoretical account that is rather good tested from market to market. Starbucks is good on its way to go a planetary trade name. Harmonizing to Business Week: [ T ] he Starbucks name and image is associated with 1000000s of people around the universe who consume its merchandises. In Business Week study of the top hindered international trade names published in August 5 [ 2002 ] It came one of the quickly turning trade names. At a clip when one corporate star after another has collapsed to earth, brought down by disclosures of net incomes misstatements, executive greed, or worse, Starbucks has non faultered. But being a international company is non risk free. As Business Week points out, Global enlargement carries a large hazard for Starbucks. For one thing, it makes decreased money one every overseas shop as most of them are operated with local spouses. While this makes easier to get down on foreign sod, it decreases company ‘s portion of the net incomes to merely 20 to 50 per centum.

The financial support for SME's and their development role in Saudi Dissertation

The financial support for SME's and their development role in Saudi Arabia - Dissertation Example Recently, Saudi Arabian government has started to give importance to its SME sector in order to improve domestic competitiveness. In such context, research finding of this paper will help the policy makers to take their decisions more strategically. Very few researchers have tried to understand the problems of SMEs in Saudi Arabia in quantitative manner hence findings of this research paper will shed light on a much neglected area in literature regarding SMEs. SMEs in Saudi Arabia are facing problems regarding accessing financial support from financial organization and lack of talented human resource pool. Biased and un-cooperating government policy has also decreased the competitiveness of SMEs in Saudi Arabia. In this paper, the researcher has taken subjective measures instead of objective view to answer the research questions. Secondary data analysis on the basis of backed by accessing various types of secondary data sources such as books, academic journals, online journals etc. S imple mathematical and arithmetic measures are used in order to treat the data and extract valid information from the raw data. However, major limitation associated with this paper is its inability conduct the analysis by using complex predictive and inferential statistical techniques. Acknowledgements I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Jen Magson who is the research method lecturer and has helped me immensely in preparing the research design for this research paper. Without the support of Amanda Smith who is EAP lecturer, I would not be able to complete this research paper hence I am grateful to these two lecturers for giving me the opportunity work on this project. It would never be possible for me to accomplish this project without their immense support and pedagogy. Table of Contents Table of Contents 4 1. Introduction 6 2. Literature Review 6 2.1 Small and Medium Enterprises 7 2.2 Financial Support for SMEs 7 2.3 Developmental Role of SMEs 8 2.4 Conclusion 9 3. Res earch Questions 9 4. Results, analysis & discussion 9 4.1. Methodology 9 4.2 Introduction 10 4.3 Qualitative Analysis 10 4.4 Quantitative Analysis 14 5. Conclusion & Recommendation 24 5.1 Limitation 25 Appendices 29 Appendix 1: Questionnaire 29 Words Count- 4978 List of Figures Figure No. Name of the Figure Page No. 1 Distribution of Age of Respondents 16 2 Business Segment of Respondents 17 3 Financial Support to Start Business 18 4 Number of Employees 19 5 Annual Turnover 20 6 Difficulties 21 7 Duration of Business 22 8 Response Distribution for Question 8 23 9 Response Distribution for Question 9 23 10 Response Distribution for Question 10 24 List of Tables Table No. Table Name Page No. 1 Distribution of Age of Respondents 15 1. Introduction Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) play an important role in the development of any economy. Port (2010) highlighted that the mushrooming of these small organizations therefore creates the desired multiplier impact on the level of employment as well as economic progress made in the country. Despite their importance, SMEs, however, lack the required financial support in order to expand in size and contribute more towards the economic progress of the country (Hertog, 2010). Isenberg (2011) has stressed on the fact that role of SME in developing economy increases in manifold manner for those countries where scope for other large and capital intensive industries is small. Szabo (2006) has pointed out that

Culture and communication in the global hospitality workplace Essay

Culture and communication in the global hospitality workplace - Essay Example Thus, in order to improve the productivity of hotel business, it is necessary to understand the consumers’ needs. It is worth mentioning that in order to overcome the cultural conflicts and misunderstandings, an intellectual training program was introduced in 1960 (Gong, 2008). The primary goal of this intellectual training program was to avoid the clash of different cultural values and norms. The training also helps to improve the performance of employees and efficiency of an organization (Gong, 2008). Contextually, the objective of this essay is to identify the relevancy of culture and communication to the global hospitality workplace. Cultural conflicts occur at instances when people stop communicating with other who belongs from different cultures, which leads to miscommunication or break of further communication. In hospitality industry, the management body requires understanding the varied needs and demands of customers from different cultures, and wherein only good communication skill can help them to increase their understandings. This in turn supports the organization to increase its productivity. However, it is also required for the managers to identify the causes of conflicts and solve those accordingly. The managers should also develop an intellectual communication skill to be successful in the global hospitality market (Gong, 2008). In the hospitality management process, there are four rules to establish intellectual communication skill. One of such rules is that it is necessary to understand the cultural differences. Moreover, it is also needed to describe or evaluate other’s behavior. It is also important to understand the viewpoints of other people. In addition, one should not hesitate to gather information of others and their culture as it reduces the possibility of misinterpretation or miscommunication. Communicating effectively in a hospitality

Computing Business e-Systems and Technology Essay

Computing Business e-Systems and Technology - Essay Example i. Keep all the divisions/ sites fully connected through LAN, WAN or MAN depending upon the distances between those sites. ii. Keep an updated record of the Human Resources of the company. iii. Makes available the daily/ weekly/ monthly reports of different sites. iv. Assimilate latest information about the company's competitors v. Help in preparing a roadmap for future expansion vi. Enhance research, development and innovation activities. vii. Ensure greater ICT focus viii. Help in long range and strategic planning. ix. Help in improving the production processes x. Help in identifying and strengthening the Critical Success Factors (CSF). 2. Such an investment can support a core competency. Great companies invariably have one or two core competencies, something they can do better than anyone else. An IT investment in a company's core competency can create a significant barrier to entry for other companies, defending the organization's primary turf and protecting its markets and profits. 3. An EIS can build supply chain networks. Firms that are a part of an integrated supply chain system have established relationships of trust with suppliers. This means faster delivery times, problem-free delivery. 4. An EIS can bring the company in league with E-commerce. Though a company dealing in defence matters may not that be open to e-commerce like a white goods company, but still the company web sites can be personalized to each customers interests, expectations, and commercial needs. They can also be used to create a sense of community. Both of these tend to increase customer loyalty. Scope and Method During the earlier attempt, the company used in-house talent for developing an EIS....Great companies invariably have one or two core competencies, something they can do better than anyone else. An IT investment in a company's core competency can create a significant barrier to entry for other companies, defending the organization's primary turf and protecting its markets and profits. 3. An EIS can build supply chain networks. Firms that are a part of an integrated supply chain system have established relationships of trust with suppliers. This means faster delivery times, problem-free delivery. 4. An EIS can bring the company in league with E-commerce. Though a company dealing in defence matters may not that be open to e-commerce like a white goods company, but still the company web sites can be personalized to each customers interests, expectations, and commercial needs. They can also be used to create a sense of community. Both of these tend to increase customer loyalty. During the earlier attempt, the company used in-house talent for developing an EIS. An in-house resource has the advantage that it knows more things about the functioning of the company. But it has a significant disadvantage that it doesn't know much about the competitor's strengths and the latest trend in the market place. Moreover Communication Company is not supposed to have the kind of expertise required for a detailed survey and subsequent data analysis. Since the company has al

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3 discussion questions and participation questions I will post a couple more later. thanks - Essay Example The best way to protect intellectual property rights is for managers to utilize a mechanism called patents. A patent is a special type of license that protects your intellectual property rights up to 20 years. An industry that depends on protection for its survival is the pharmaceutical industry. Patents are a way to pay justice to investors or companies that believe in innovation. A pharmaceutical company can take up to 16 years and upwards of $800 million to develop a new drug. Managers have to establish control mechanism in order to protect tangible and intellectual property rights. For example the research and development people should work in an area separated from the rest of the staff. The internal security of the building is also important. A way for a corporation to improve its security is by installing various cameras around the building. Performing trimester audits can help increase the accountability of the managers and workers of an enterprise. The OSHA Act protects all parties that participate in the corporate world. Safety is something that companies cannot forget since we are dealing with the well being of human workers. If an Act such as the Occupational Safety and Health Act would have existed in India in 1984 the tragic events of Union Carbide which killed thousands of people may have been avoided. The government has to establish responsible regulation to protect workers from being the victims of abusive behavior to their patrons. The Family Act you mentioned is a very governmental initiative because it protects the basic right of people when they needed the most. A major illness to a family affects people emotionally which can hurt their profitability at work. An interest fact you mentioned in your post was that employer are obligated to place an ASHA poster visible to the employees. I believe a lot of companies may be violating this regulation. At my last place of work I did see such a poster anywhere in the building. The minimum wage in

Points To Consider Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Points To Consider - Article Example All the members contributed to effective team building because they considered the ideas of others as valuable and they were well aware of the history and feelings of each other. They resolved their minor issues by themselves. They set rules and regulations to be followed and formed consensus on any problem arising. It was not only erecting tents in the evening but it was more of team building. It was the sense of responsibility which this group of people were showing. Everyone was responsible for his work. Even small children were contributing in this team by collecting firewood. The newcomers were warmly welcomed by Steinbeck’s team. Help was to be provided for newcomers so that they could set up their perimeter. They are helped in cooking food and their sadness is shared for leaving their homes. Past is not revised before them so that they may move on without any regrets or memories from the past. Songs should be sung for the newcomers so they do not become nostalgic and they can easily adapt themselves to the new place. Hence the idea was to be helpful to the newcomers in all possible manners. Conclusion and observation is very important for team building. Everyone must know that what is right and what is wrong. And punishment is also set for the wrongs. Rules and regulations are being followed and they are same for everyone. No one is above these regulations. Poor are equally treated. If anyone could not share his rich food with the poor, he should not eat it openly. Ultimate freedom is the main cause of Frankl’s. If a person is having some future goal only then he can remain optimistic. In this case, the goal and hope of prisoners was freedom. If they think that they cannot achieve the goal, all their resistance would be long gone and they will be subjected to despair and diseases, either physical or mental. Goals and targets act as motivating factors for people in harsh situations

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Sexual Harassment, Arbitrators and Vacated Awards - Essay Example Such awards reinstating the accused are likely to be vacated if a company has an express sexual harassment policy or on the basis of legal and social norms. In Stroehmann Bakeries, Inc. v. Local 7761, the accused was discharged by Stroehmann for violating the rule prohibiting immoral conduct after the employee of a customer alleged that he had touched her breast, pushed himself against her and made sexually explicit remarks. The arbitrator ruled that the company's investigation into this incident was insufficient. The 3rd Circuit Court vacated the award, stating that "[t]here is a well-defined and dominant public policy concerning sexual harassment in the workplace which can be ascertained by reference to law and legal precedent." The court also pointed out that the arbitration award would have affected the employer's ability to prevent sexual harassment2. Although the courts upheld termination of employment where sexual harassment was claimed, these decisions do not require employers to terminate an accused harasser in all instances. The employer must determine whether the harassment occurred and then its response must be calculated to prevent further harassment, given the particular facts and circumstances at the time. If the termination results in a grievance, the arbitrator has to determine whether the termination is supported by just cause. Part of these considerations is to determine the relief, if any, in a case. The public policy exception to enforcement of labor arbitration awards arises when an award reinstates a previously discharged individual. The usual standard for discipline and discharge in labor cases is just cause, which does not have a precise meaning and the arbitrator has to decide on a case to case basis. Therefore, it seems inappropriate for a court to set aside an arbitral decision reinstating a grievant merely on the grounds that it does not agree with the arbitrator's assessment that just cause was lacking. On the other hand, the Supreme Court has recognized the public policy exception; hence courts have a right to apply it under appropriate circumstances. Although the Supreme Court has not specified as to what kind of award violates public policy, it has said that public policy is to be ascertained by reference to laws and legal precedents. Further, it has acknowledged that the public policy exception is narrow and therefore for an order to be vacated on these grounds, the award must violate a specific law or court decision and the occurrence of such a violation is to be determined only by the courts. Clearly, arbitrators possess no independent powers beyond what the parties confer on them through their contracts and the Courts in general, have allowed arbitrators to make crucial inferences regarding the possible future conduct of grievants when they determine their awards. The court's assessment of whether public policy was violated by an arbitration award has at times been based on these inferences. The Labor law policy favors disputes going to arbitration and the Collective Bargaining Agreement or CBAs usually authorize arbitrators to reinstate employees. The courts, in general, have held that a public policy collision occurs only if positive law explicitly prevents reinstatement. However, the Supreme Cour

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Impressionism and Expressionism - Essay Example The essay "Impressionism and Expressionism" examines impressionism and expressionism. Vincent van Gogh and Jozef Israels have pieces of art that portray such styles. While in Nuenen, Holland at his father’s lodge, Vincent composed â€Å"Potato Eaters.† This painting is the first of his works that reveals influences from the farmhand descriptions of Jozef Israels. In â€Å"Potato Eaters,† Vincent even reveals this influence and defines Israels as the "the Dutch Millet.† Vincent reveals his admiration for a painter of anglers and small-scale farmers who he referred to as â€Å"Dutch Millets.† Between Vincent’s â€Å"Potato Eaters† and Israels’ â€Å"Peasant Family at Table,† Vincent was clearly inspired to compose his own idea of a small-scale farmer’s dinner setting. In terms of composition styles, â€Å"Potato Eaters† reflects Israels’ subject and style of art. At the same time, â€Å"Potato Eatersâ⠂¬  has darker shades, animpasto paint textures, and more inspiration from Rembrandt’s tenebrism. Tenebrism is a style of portraiture used by Caravaggio and his successors wherein several objects are vibrant in terms of color while the rest of the painting has dense shadows. Tenebrism remains an impressionist style of painting. In â€Å"Potato Eaters,† the point of view is skewed. The askew nature of the painting shows Vincent’s naivetà © and originality at the same time. This is also a major similarity between â€Å"Potato Eaters† and Israels’ â€Å"Peasant Family at Table.†

Paper on hotel rwanda Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Paper on hotel rwanda - Essay Example Two peoples made up the greater portion of the population, the Hutus and the Tutsis. During the European rule the Tutsis were the privilege class, the Hutu were not. However, after the European influence departed, the region erupted in civil unrest. For 30 years the issues between the Tutsis and the Hutu escalated culminating in the Tutsi Massacres in 1994; approximately 1 million Tutsi and neutral Hutus were killed in only 100 days. A counter-offensive began that same year and a fragile government organization was managed in 1996. It might be hard to determine what is right and wrong in times like these. This horrible period of time is detailed in the film â€Å"Hotel Rwanda,† and that Paul Rosesabogina, the main character in the film, must survive. Paul works in the hotel where he is able to gain favor with influential guests and public figures. He is a Hutu, but he is not involved in the hate crimes being committed in the streets, his wife, Tatiana, is, in fact, Tutsi. As t he violence gets worse he begins taking in more and more refugees into the high class hotel, in hopes of protecting them and his family from the society crumbling around him and the violence right outside their doors. He wants the American Military to intervene, they will not. He wants the United Nations to step up; they were not quick to become involved. At one point he even attempts to blackmail the Hutu General when he cannot bribe him. In the end, Paul, his family, and the refuges find safety after crossing a Tutsi border.(Hotel Rwanda) In a time when ethics and morality may seem lost and ones internal compass might spin out of control given all of the factors present in the film, assigning a philosophical school of thought to Paul’s actions in Hotel Rwanda, given the only option between Utilitarianism and Deontology, is an interesting task. In order to approach that question it is important to clarify these two ethical perspectives. Utilitarianism, essentially, bases dec ision making on whatever is best for the majority group that causes the least amount of harm, which creates the means to universal happiness and least amount of pain; while the Deontological perspective focuses on one’s individual duties one owes to others.(McGill) One focuses on the greater good of the greater majority and the other focuses more on the individual. These ideologies could not be more different. While both have their strengths they, also, have their weaknesses. Utilitarianism worries of the potential negative consequences that could occur given any ethical decisions. Deontology bases the right and wrong upon the individual’s ability to make ethical decisions based upon a moral standard.(McGill) Strangely, some of Paul’s actions in Hotel Rwanda could be described using either school of thought, while others are completely divergent. Paul participates in â€Å"bribery† in order to gain favors. Many would say that this is unethical. However, f rom a Utilitarian perspective he is not unethical, he is only participating in behaviors that are common of the majority. Participating in majority practices is in essence maintaining â€Å"majority happiness.† From a Deontological perspective his â€Å"unethical’ bribery could be perceived as his ethical decision, or duty, to involve himself in the act in order to protect his family, and later the refugees. His individual duty he owes his family. When Paul switches from bribery to blackmail to get what he wants from the Hutu General,

How to Write a Visual Analysis Essay to Comic Essay “In As the World Burns” Essay Example for Free

How to Write a Visual Analysis Essay to Comic Essay â€Å"In As the World Burns† Essay In As the World Burns: 50 Simple Things You Can Do to Stay in Denial, authors Derrick Jenson and Stephanie McMillan create a clever comic essay to capture their youthful audience into imminent environmental issues. First published in 2007, their essay contains bantering between two young girls which engages the audience into a statistically dominated argument on how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to save the planet. However, the statistics show that minor lifestyle changes will not have a lasting impact. Then, with input from many pleading species of animals and a native person, a resolution to change is decided upon. Big business, industrialism, over-population and a modern technical society are portrayed as the main problems. The authors present a strong message to future generations on environmental issues, using a comic style with young children as the main characters, native peoples and pleading animals, and repetition with emotional and ethical appeals to the readers. The authors use a comic style which is well suited to the intended audience. The girls’ bantering back and forth to solve the world environmental issues appeals to youth, through the knowledge of one girl and the idealism of the other. One is idealistic and the other a brainy one. The authors cleverly use children to get the message across of our environmental imbalance. In one scene’s caption the light hair girl says,† And the rich keep getting richer and the poor keep getting poorer. And it all keeps killing the planet†. Some may find that Jensen and McMillan’s pictures and text are simplistic and annoyingly over-done. The bantering and pleading may put-off some readers. This comic technique has not-so-subtle innuendoes of politics and anti-establishment. A good example of this is the cow who remarks â€Å"And recognize your real enemies: production, the system that requires, the people in power who keep it running.† The use of native people and pleading animals is also an effective technique. This is especially evident when a crow brings various species of animals to the discussion with the girls. A rapid succession of pleas are written, a good example is a heron saying, â€Å"Fight with all your heart† and a toad’s exclamation of â€Å"It may even be too late.† These statements conjure-up emotions due to the visual impacts and words on the reader. The native person suggests that their land should be returned to them, in its original, pristine state. The third part of the author’s message is delivered through repetition and emotional appeal. Through the voices of children and soon to appear various species of life, the pleas are unrelenting and repetitive. People like children and animals; this is a good avenue to gain immediate attention to the audience. The anxiety of simply living in today’s world is brought forth by the authors in the girls’ reaction to giving up their standard of living in these statements: â€Å"We don’t know how to live without these things.† and â€Å"We’ll die without them†. These examples are one way that the authors pull the audience into an emotional state of guilt. Authors Jenson and McMillan successfully deliver an environmental message using a comic style with young children, pleading animals and native people, and a repetitive, emotional appeal. The criticisms of government and politics are craftily woven into the essay especially for the desired audience. The tone of this essay is emotional and authoritative; only if the reader does what is suggested by the animals will the world survive. The repetition of the animals’ emotional pleading has a lingering effect on its readers. How can one resist pleading animals? The essay’s ending makes the reader feel that there is acceptance by all parties of the need to change and all will be in harmony. The author’s succeed in communicating a message of hope: we can save the planet if we work together in harmony with nature. Jenson and McMillan’s essay did a fine job in communicating their thoughts and imparting the urgency of our need to change our behaviors for the environ ment now. Examples of  Thematic Essay on StudyMoose Visual Analysis Essay Examples Steps Helping to Write the Visual Analysis Essay Visual Analysis Essay

Spatial Decoupling methods for Digital Suscriber Line

Spatial Decoupling methods for Digital Suscriber Line In this paper, we present a novel method of spatial decoupling method to the pre- and post-processing of bundled digital subscriber line (DSL) systems using polynomial matrix decomposition algorithms. The proposed algorithm introduce a novel analysis and synthesis frequency splits in addition to upper frequency limits that play a major part in achieving the expected data rates. Instead of the traditional discrete multitone (DMT) architecture, sophisticated modulation structures known as filtered multitone (FMT) precoder for the downstream, and its upstream counterpart an inverse FMT equalizer are evaluated. Simulation results confirm that per-band equalization of polynomial matrices can enhance data rates by using this proposed spatial decoupling approach for DSL lines. Index Terms- Polynomial Matrix Decomposition, Filtered Multitone, DSL, DMT, WHAT IS OFDM? In this paper, we present the foundation for a future generation of spatial decoupling method to the pre- and post-processing of bundled digital subscriber lines (DSL) systems. The paper proposed a new analysis and synthesis frequency splits in addition to upper frequency limits that play a major part in achieving the expected data rates. Instead of the traditional discrete multitone (DMT) architecture, a more sophisticated filtered modulation structure known as filtered multitone (FMT) is proposed in the downstream, and its upstream counterpart an inverse FMT operation. DSL have for decades used DMT to allow the transmission of several high speed broadband signals through the twisted pair copper wire at the same time. Each broadband signal is on a separate frequency or, more specifically, assigned to independent DSL tone/ channel. For instance, what we call Channel 2 occupies 54 MHz-60 MHz. Within each channel used for NTSC analog TV transmission, one will find an amplitude modulated (more specifically, vestigial sideband amplitude modulation or VSB-AM) visual carrier located 1.25 MHz above the lower channel edge, and a frequency modulated aural carrier 4.5 MHz above the visual carrier. A color subcarrier is located in between the visual and aural carriers, approximately 3.58 MHz above the visual carrier. When the cable industry made the jump to digital transmission several years ago, the modulation of choice was QAM. Each downstream QAM signal which is really a double-sideband, suppressed-carrier analog RF signal occupies the same six megahertz of bandwidth as an analog TV signal. The current method of QAM transmission is known as single carrier QAM (SC-QAM); the latter is true even when DOCSIS 3.0 channel bonding is used. Each channel slot carries only one modulated carrier a QAM signal hence, the SC-QAM moniker. The entire data payload transmitted in the channel modulates just that one QAM signal. Now imagine transmitting a large number of individual very-narrow-bandwidth QAM signals hundreds or even thousands within a given channel. A 6-megahertz-wide channel could, for example, contain up to 480 narrow QAM signals that are spaced only 12.5 kilohertz apart. Each of these narrow QAM signals, called a subcarrier, subchannel, or carries a small percentage of the total payload at a very low data rate. The aggregate of all of the subcarriers data rates comprises the total data payload. For improved spectral efficiency, the subcarriers actually overlap one another. This sounds counterintuitive, because one would be inclined to think that, if signals overlap each other, interference will occur. With OFDM, the subcarriers are mathematically orthogonal to that is, distinguishable from one another, which takes care of the interference concern. Orthogonal in this case means the subcarriers are independent such that there is no interaction between them despite the overlap in frequency. The concept is analogous to having zero inter-symbol interference (ISI) in the time domain. Orthogonality is achieved by spacing the subcarriers at the reciprocal of the symbol period (T), also called symbol duration time. This spacing results in the sinc (sin x/x) frequency response curves of the subcarriers lining up so that the peak of one subcarriers response curve falls on the first nulls of the lower and upper adjacent subcarriers response curves. Orthogonal subcarriers each have exactly an integer number of cycles in the interval T. With OFDM, the concept of a six-megahertz-wide channel no longer is necessary. The previously mentioned NCTA paper includes an example of a downstream OFDM channels bandwidth being as wide as 192 megahertz, supporting some 15,200 subcarriers spaced 12.5 kilohertz apart. Along with the subcarriers are pilot tones for synchronization and other purposes. There are guard bands at each end of the 192- megahertz-wide channel, resulting in a useful bandwidth of 190 megahertz. The useful symbol duration time is 80 microseconds (ÂÂ µs), the reciprocal of which is the previously noted subcarrier spacing: 1/0.000080 second = 12,500 hertz. The total symbol duration time is 84.13 ÂÂ µs, which includes what are called guard interval samples and symbol shaping samples. Assuming 4096-QAM on each subcarrier, the 192- megahertz-wide channel supports 2.11 Gbps without FEC. Other example channel bandwidths discussed are 96 megahertz and 48 megahertz. All of these particular OFDM channel bandwidths are multiples of six and eight megahertz, which allows easier coexistence with todays North American and European channel plans. If the spectrum doesnt have enough room for a full OFDM channel, some of the subcarriers can be nulled, which effectively turns them off. OFDM can be used for multiple access say, as OFDMA in the upstream by assigning different subcarriers to different users. OFDM also can be used in combination with such other multiple access schemes as time division multiple access (TDMA). In this case, the full channel would be assigned to one user at a time, and the multiple access achieved via time division. When combined with TDMA, OFDM can deliver a very high peak-data rate, which may be desirable for some applications. Pros And Cons Advantages of OFDM include the ability to adapt to such degraded channel conditions as severe microreflections without the need for complex adaptive equalization algorithms. One reason for the latter is that a very narrow bandwidth subcarrier typically experiences what is known as flat fading when micro-reflections affect channel response. This is in contrast to a SC-QAM signal that occupies the full channel bandwidth and is susceptible to amplitude ripple (standing waves) across that full bandwidth. Each OFDM subcarrier sees just a tiny portion of the ripple, which for the most part affects only the amplitude of the narrow subcarrier. Compensating for what amounts to little more than an amplitude variation among subcarriers simplifie s the fix. Likewise, the composite OFDM signal is more robust than SC-QAM in the presence of interference. For example, a narrowband ingressor like a pager transmitters signal affects only a few subcarriers rather than taking out the full channel. Depending on the severity of the interference, FEC may be able to deal with it. Alternatively, the OFDM transmitter simply can disable a few subcarriers to avoid narrowband interference on problem frequencies. Inter-symbol interference is generally less of a problem with OFDM because of the low data rate per subcarrier. As discussed earlier, the overlapping nature of OFDMs subcarrier transmission provides high spectral efficiency. If information about the channels condition is sent back to the transmitter by the receiver, then adaptive modulation, FEC and power allocation can be applied to all subcarriers, blocks of subcarriers or even individual subcarriers. In other words, some subcarriers in the channel can use higher orders of modulation than other subcarriers, some subcarriers can have more aggressive FEC, and the power of individual subcarriers can be varied all on an as-conditions-warrant basis. OFDM does have a few disadvantages: It is susceptible to frequency and clock errors, although the pilot carriers that accompany the subcarriers help to mitigate this by providing the receiver a means of synchronization. OFDM has a high peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR), but a spectrum full of SC-QAM signals does, too. While PAPR-reduction techniques are available for OFDM and OFDMA, they probably wont be necessary in a typical cable network. Some of OFDMs high spectral efficiency is reduced by the use of cyclic prefixes, which help to maintain subcarrier orthogonality. Why Bother? You may be wondering why one would even consider a new PHY for a possible future version of DOCSIS. After all, SC-QAM works well, and channel bonding can be used to significantly increase data throughput. The good news is that OFDM isnt some new-fangled technology without a proved history. It is used in Wi-Fi networks, worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX), long term evolution (LTE), digital audio broadcasting (DAB), ultra-wideband (UWB) and Europes digital video broadcasting (DVB). A variation of ODFM also is used in asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL) and very high-speed digital subscriber line (VDSL). The previously discussed advantages bring a lot of signal transmission flexibility to the table. When OFDM is combined with more powerful FEC like LDPC, higher orders of modulation can be used within the limits of the channel conditions, of course. Toss in new frequency splits and upper frequency limits seem improving the future DSL systems, supporting far higher data rates than are possible the existing DMT-QAM.

The Growth Of The Takaful Industry Economics Essay

The Growth Of The Takaful Industry Economics Essay Takaful is derived from an Arabic word â€Å"Kafala† which means mutual guarantee, whereby a group of participants agree to mutually guarantee among themselves against a defined loss. This simple concept of takaful is the foundation of the takaful business, which is the present Shariah-compliant insurance Takaful is â€Å"a scheme based on brotherhood, solidarity and mutual assistance which provides for mutual financial aid and assistance to the participants in case of need whereby the participants mutually agree to contribute for that purpose† The contemporary jurists acknowledge that the foundation of Takaful was laid down in the system of â€Å"Aaqilah†, which was an arrangement of mutual help or indemnification customary in some tribes at the time of the Prophet (peace be upon him). Takaful provides solidarity in respect of any tragedy in human life and loss to the business or property. The elements present in the conventional insurance viz; Gharar (uncertainty), Riba (interest) and Maisir (gambling) are against the tenets of Islam. Muslim Scholars do not object to insurance per se but only to certain weaknesses in the insurance contract (which weaknesses render the insurance contracts fasid). It is for this reason, 1972 Fatwa by National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs of Malaysia that life insurance is not lawful as it contains gharar, Maisir and riba. Hence, takaful tries to remove all these facets present in the conventional insurance and works within the guidelines of Shariah. The concept of tabarru makes the transaction permissible and valid according to Islamic law. It changes the basis of contract from an exchange contract (muawadat) which is bilateral in nature, to a charitable contract, which is unilateral. 2.0 Takaful Industry overview Globally, the takaful industry has been growing rapidly, appealing to both Muslims and non-Muslims. Currently, there are more than 110 takaful operators worldwide. As per the Ernst Youngs World Takaful Report 2009, global Takaful contributions have risen to $3.4bn in 2007 as compared to $2.5bn in 2006 (36% Growth). The new projections for 2012 for Takaful Market are US$ 7.7 bn and US$ 11.0 bn by 2015. Saudi Arabia was the biggest market in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), with contributions totaling USD 1.7 bn in 2007, and Malaysia the largest takaful market in Southeast Asia with contributions of USD 800 mn. Malaysia has achieved significant milestones in the development of its takaful industry. With the enactment of the Takaful Act 1984, the first takaful company was established in 1985. Since then, the industry has been gaining momentum and increasingly recognized as a significant contributor to Malaysias overall Islamic financial system. There are currently eight takaful operators and two re-takaful operators, with five foreign participations from the UK, Bahrain, Germany and Japan. These takaful operators conduct both domestic and foreign currency business. 2.1 Current Trends and Future prospects With the expanding demographics of Islamic countries and that of the Islamic population globally, the prospect of takaful looks promising. The Accounting Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFI) has been playing a key role in framing and reviewing the regulatory standards governing takaful companies. With improved standards of living and increasing awareness of Takaful, the market is expected to see steady growth in per capita spend on Takaful premiums and also in terms of market share in comparison with conventional insurance. 2.2 Strategic Issues and Challenges With projected growth as described above, the industry will experience much change. As with all new product offerings, success will depend on several factors, both internal and external. Highlighted below are a number of strategic issues and challenges that providers will contend with as the industry expands. Distribution Challenges New entrants should create synergies that can be used to leverage existing distribution channels, banc-Takaful and strategic alliances across geographies. This will also enable the operators to increase premium volumes to improve profitability; a key factor in surviving the ‘start-up years. Developing Innovative Products Developing attractive and competitive products that meet diverse customer needs will be a major challenge for Takaful operators. Though Takaful operators cater to a very specific and presently unsatisfied market, they still need to create product offerings that are as sophisticated and innovative as their conventional competitors. Improving Marketing and Branding Tactics The present brand value of Takaful is relatively limited particularly in non-Islamic countries. Analysts have suggested that Takaful has enormous potential for Islamic and non-Islamic populations, offering an ‘ethical insurance alternative. Experts also propose that Takaful can potentially be a useful mechanism for poverty alleviation. Raising the Standards in Customer Service As the industry grows and becomes more competitive, building customer service skills and developing best practices will become increasingly important. At present, general customer service standards are average among Takaful providers, relative to their conventional counterparts. IT Solutions for Takaful Issues such as innovative product development, time to market, servicing of policies and claims within acceptable time lines, accuracy of calculations, cost containment, and improvement in service standards can all be facilitated by the implementation of robust and flexible IT solutions. Takaful compliant IT solutions serve an important purpose from a regulatory compliance standpoint and can help operators avoid susceptibility to unfavourable regulatory decisions and the possibility of increased regulatory compliance costs. 3.0 Takaful Models A takaful model depicts the relationship between the company and the participants. Based on the nature of relationship between the company and the participants, there are various models like Wakalah (agency) Model, Mudarabah Model and the combination of agency and Mudarabah models. In Mudarabah model that is practiced mainly in the Asia Pacific region, the policyholders get profit on their part of funds only if Takaful Company earns profit. The sharing basis is determined in advance and is a function of the developmental stage and earnings of the Company. In Wakalahmodel, the surplus of policyholders funds investments net of the management fee or expenses goes to the policyholders. The shareholders charge Wakalah fee from contributions that covers most of the expenses. In order to give incentive for good governance, management fee is related to the level of performance. 4.0 Takaful Categories 4.1 General takaful The general takaful provides protection on a short-term basis, normally covering a period of one year. It commonly provides protection for property loss or damage, liability arising from damage. In general Takaful, the company raises a fund, which called as ‘tabarru fund or account, where the participants pay to the fund. The company will invest the remainder of the fund after deducting the operational cost of the scheme. Any profit or return from the investment will be returned back to the fund. If there is any participant who faced loss or damage to his property or belonging, then the particular participant will be compensated from this fund. 4.2 Family takaful The family takaful is a combination of protection and long-term savings, usually covering a period of more than one year. It provides benefits if the insured is inflicted by a tragedy as well as potential profits. Risks covered include premature death, illness and permanent disability, and regular income during retirement. 5.0Shariah issues in Takaful: As is the case with any industry in its nascent stages, the takaful industry too is facing its own set of teething problems. Whenever we go to conferences (or) read the literature and article related to takaful, the general and the most common allegation (or) complaint is that, â€Å"Inconsistency in the interpretations of certain Shariah rules or standards is said to be an issue of the Takaful Industry†.Some of the commonly discussed Shariah issues relating to takaful are: which is the right model to follow?, who are the real owners of the takaful fund?, the methodology and the process to be adopted to share the surplus between the participants, the issue of hibah (gift) in a takaful policy, the issue of insurable interest and whether underwriting in concordant with the principles of maqaasid as-Shariah etc. So, let us analyse these issues in the light of Shariah to understand the arguments for and against each of these issues to get a clear idea on the issue. Finally, we will also try to analyze if the issue of inconsistency is as serious as it is being projected and what are the areas which need to be standardized, if at all it is required. 6.0 Issue #1: The dilemma of choosing the right takaful model In many of the takaful conferences and literature available, the question that is manifested is regarding the different takaful models existing in the world market. Some people express a desire towards a standardisation of takaful products as this will avoid confusion, facilitate regulation etc. Before we analyze the pros and cons of this thought, let us understand the modus operandi of the mudarabah model. Some people, usually criticize the mudarabah model since the operator too shares the underwriting surplus which should ideally belong to the participant. 6.1The modus operandi of the mudarabah model Generally, many Takaful companies (especially those using the Mudaraba principle) claim that their operations are based on the concept of mutual or co-operative insurance as approved by the Muslim jurists. This claim is on the basis that: They receive the premium or contribution from the insured on the basis of the Mudaraba principle, whereby the company becomes the entrepreneur (Mudarib) and the insured party the capital provider (Rab al-Mal). The insured party agrees to donate a certain percentage (or in some cases as in General Takaful the whole of the amount paid) of the premium/contribution to a special fund used to pay compensation or benefits to contributors. Any surplus left in the fund after settlement of all claims is shared by the company and the insured as profit in a ratio as agreed in the contract. An insured party who has received compensation, the amount of which is greater than what he could have received as a share of the surplus had he made no claim, is not entitled to share such a surplus. The company uses normal actuarial principles to calculate risk and premium. 6.2The industry practice Until recently, the Mudaraba model adopted by Malaysian takaful operators refers to profit as the underwriting surplus, which is the excess of premiums over claims, plus investment returns. This arrangement marks a departure from the original Mudaraba model, which will entitle the takaful operator a ratio in the investment returns, without sharing in the underwriting surplus. The modified Mudaraba model justified the sharing of the underwriting surplus on the grounds that such an arrangement would allow takaful operators to withstand competition and avoid overpricing, which may eventually sway takaful participants from takaful, and be attracted to conventional insurance, with all its non-Shariah compliant elements. This is further justified by the fact that there is nothing haram in sharing the underwriting surplus, in the view of the absence of any textual or general Shariah principle disapproving such a practice. 6.3Modes of surplus distribution Generally the surplus which is generated after paying all the claims and other expenses is distributed in the following ways. Pro-rata mode: Whether the surplus is underwriting surplus plus profit or underwriting surplus only, it is distributed in proportion to the premium paid by the participants, without differentiating between claimable and non-claimable accounts. Selective mode: This mode tends to indemnify non-claimable accounts only. Takaful operators tend to deprive claimable accounts, so that they become more prudent in the future. 0ff-setting mode: This mode tends to offset the rate of underwriting surplus from the amount claimed. This is applicable only on accounts whose underwriting surplus less than the claims. If the underwriting surplus is equal or more than the claims, then the participant does not share in the surplus. 6.4Do Takaful models need to converge? While the positive desire towards a standardisation of takaful products to avoid confusion, facilitate regulation etc, are welcome, the other side of the coin is that takaful is an Islamic phenomenon and should be viewed through the prism of fiqh and socio-cultural context. We should realise that takaful per se is not a product, and thus should not be equated with insurance. It is described as a system, rather than a product, which aims at the joint-guarantee between the contributors in a risk-covering scheme. We should not lose focus of the source of the inspiration of takaful. It is primarily to spread a risk to alleviate financial burden when it inflicts a person in a spirit of humanism. Unlike in the past, presently money is contributed in advance. This element of philanthropy should also be reflected in takaful to differentiate it with insurance, which is a pure tug of war between maximising premium to be paid and minimising the compensation to be paid. If one adulterates the spirit of takaful and treats it as a pure standardised commercial venture then the Shariah spirit may be lost. The different models in fact create a space to reactivate the juristic acumen. For any legal system to survive, especially in an era of globalisation and universalism, one should allow the system to evolve. This evolution is in turn influenced by many external factors such as politics, schools of law, tax implication etc, which differ from country to country. For instance, many multinational banks offer different home financing products in different jurisdictions. May be in one country Ijarah (lease) will best suit everybody while in another country the Murabaha (differed payment). This shows the versatility of Islamic law. The same spirit should prevail for takaful. One cannot replicate these products on the basis of Islamic law and then try to standardize the Islamic products developed on the premise of conventional products. This should not be the case, a change in mind set is required because Islamic financial products should have its own features ultimately. Standardization is good in a way as it brings in more certainty. However, one should ponder on Imam Maliks attitude towards standardization of Islamic law when Ibn Muqaffa asked the caliph of that time to standardize Islamic law. But he refused on the basis that the jurisprudence developed by other imams also had their proofs from Shariah. Hence one cannot accept only Maliki school of law. In other words Islamic law must preserve its legal elasticity. By standardizing Islamic finance one will lose the legal beauty inherent in Shariah. Therefore by accommodating various models different branch of fiqh is revived. 7.0 Issue #2:The issue of surplus distribution The most critical issue in takaful is the issue of surplus distribution. Being a taawuni instrument to provide a mutual guarantee for possible risks, surplus arises as an issue of what to do with it if such risks are dealt with through risk transfer or indemnification. A recorded surplus at the end of the financial year of a particular takaful operator is an issue that invokes both Shariah and legal scrutiny. As far as surplus distribution is concerned, two juristic views have surfaced and dominated the takaful industry in the Middle East and Malaysia. The first one categorically prohibits the sharing of the underwriting surplus between the takaful operator and the participants, but the other view validates the sharing, based on ratios that differ according to the line of products offered. The opponents of sharing the underwriting surplus back their contention by decisions taken by highly acclaimed institutions, such as AAOIFI, whose standard on takaful reads: â€Å"The Takaful operator does not share in the (underwriting surplus)†. The AAIOFI Standard on takaful states: â€Å"The underwriting surplus and its returns, less expenses, and payment of claims, remain the property (milk) of the policyholders, which is the distributable surplus. This is not applied in commercial insurance, where the premiums become the property of the (insurance) company, by virtue of contract and acquisition, which would make it revenue and a profit for commercial insurance† This statement by AAOIFI raises the issue of ownership claimed on the premium paid. On one hand, the participant has donated the premium as tabarru, hence, losing title over it, as prescribed by the rules of hibah in the Shariah, but on the other hand, he still holds claim over it in the form of getting the whole underwriting surplus or a part thereof. Hence, let us analyse the ownership issue element in hibah and the extent of its Shariah compliancy. There are a number of jurists who emphasized that pure hibah leads the wahib to relinquish his ownership over the object of hibah. Ibn Qudamah asserts that â€Å"al-hibah tamalik†- a hibah which requires the wahib to enable the beneficiary to claim title of the object of hibah. Al Imam al- Shirazi points out that â€Å"Al-hibah tamlik bighayri ‘iwadd â€Å"- a hibah which enables the beneficiary to own the object of hibah without an exchange. In such a case, the juristic implications of hibah, as Ibn Nujaym al- Hanafi asserts, will be the transfer of hibah to the beneficiary, entitling him to hold title over the object of hibah (thubut al-Milk lil mawhubi lahu). Generally speaking, the Shafi‟is view hibah as transferring the ownership of an asset without exchange during ones lifetime, on a voluntary basis. The other mazahib (schools of jurisprudence) refer to the same meaning, with a special emphasis on the element of â€Å"no exchange†, i.e.: bi ghayri ‘Iwadd. This transfer of ownership would be effective, either by way of acquisition (qabd) on the part of the beneficiary, which is the view of the Shafi‟is and Hanafis, or by way of ijab and qabul (offer and acceptance),, which is the view of the Malikis. This juristic approach is an evidence that tabarru requires the relinquishing of ownership over the object of hibah. Since the latter entitles tamlik to the beneficiary, we can rightly say that the mutabarri (donor) does not hold any legal right or claim over the asset donated. Having said so, the takaful operators are at liberty to stipulate conditions on how the underwriting surplus should be distributed, invoking the doctrine of shurut (conditions) in contracts, as articulated in Islamic jurisprudence. The only shroud of right that the donor may still enjoy to hold title of his hibah is when he donates it in exchange for a counter value, a principle known as â€Å"hibah al-thawab† Contemporary scholars like al-Qurdaghi are of the view that the principle of hibah al-thawab (a gift for on exchange) is a good premise to justify the confinement of surplus to the participants only. It is true that some of the Prophetic hadiths referring to hibah al-thawab have secured some right of ownership to the donors after donation. Abu Hurairah narrated that the Prophet (s.a.w.) said: â€Å"The donor holds an exclusive right of ownership over his hibah, provided he is not rewarded for it†. This hadith is the only piece evidence attesting to a conditional ownership of the hibah by the wahib, allowing him to retract his hibah if he is not rewarded or satisfied with the reward. However, as clearly understood from the hadith, this evidence only gives conditional retraction of the same gift, not a surplus of it. In the case of Islamic insurance (takaful), this hadith is not applicable to surplus distribution, rather it is about retraction of hibah. Another hadeeth which is given as an argument for confining the surplus distribution to the participants only is the hadith of Nahd/Nihd. It has been mentioned in Saheeh Al-Bukhari, (Book of Sharikah) that â€Å"Muslims did not see any harm in Nahd†. The latter, as Ibn Hajar explains, is â€Å"The allocation of a fund in proportion to the number of participants (in the fund)†. Although this arrangement was more useful and practical in journeys to provide mutual coverage of expenses, it has been viewed as a mechanism to transfer risks, whether in a journey or otherwise. After citing the same hadith, the appendix of AAOIFI Standard on Takaful provides an explanation to Ibn Hajar‟s definition of Nahd. The Standard states that Ibn Hajars definition of Nahd refers to the underwriting surplus, which should be redistributed to the participants, so that it could be used in another journey. Revising Ibn Hajars view in his Fath al-Bari, it can be hardly understood that Ibn Hajars definition and explanation of Nahd does not refer in any way to surplus redistribution to the same participants. The hadith, is thus, completely silent about surplus, opening the doors for ijtihad to be exercised, in view of the maqasid al-Shariahand general Islamic financial principles. Another issue raised by those who oppose the sharing of surplus to the takaful operator is that Sharing in the underwriting surplus is a kind of taking peoples property unjustly. This contention is held by prominent scholars like Hussein Hamid Hassan and Al-Qurgaghi. The contention seems to go beyond the accepted parameters of justice. Although there could be plausible grounds for such a view, in light of the practices of some takaful operators that seize the lions share of the underwriting surplus, there should not be any shred of doubt that, in light of our earlier juristic analysis, sharing the underwriting surplus is Shariah-compliant as long as it falls within the parameters of accepted conditions (shurut), as well as the principle of the rida (satisfaction), featuring such contracts. With the existence of sound regulatory framework that caps the percentage of the distributable surplus, takaful operators will not be in a position to take peoples property unjustly. 8.0 Issue #3: Distribution of death benefit in family takaful Another Shariah issue (or) concern raised is in family takaful on to whom should be the death benefit is paid after the death of the participant. One group of scholars and Takaful operators say that it should be given entirely given to the beneficiary as in the case of conventional insurance and the other group feels that the beneficiary should act as a executor of the deceased and the benefit should be distributed to the legal heirs of the deceased. So, let us analyse the arguments put forth by the two sides in the light of Shariah. 8.1The concept of mal in the light of Takaful benefit The Arabic word mÄ l, or property, originates from the root word mawala that literally means to finance. ZuhaylÄ « defines mal literally as being anything a man owns that is in his actual possession and this includes corporeal and usufruct. The classification of mÄ l by Dr. Muhammad Daud Bakar, which is suitable to the modern context, appears to adopt the majoritys definition. According to him, mÄ l or property can be classified into three types: Tangible assets like landed property, present items and stock including Islamic bonds that are asset-based such as ijÄ rah, musyÄ rakah and mudarabah bonds. Intangible assets such as copyright and royalty, trade name, trademark etc Financial rights (haqq mÄ liyy) such as rights to receive (receivable) that include Islamic bonds, deferred dowry maintenance, right to damages, the right to takaful compensation, etc. In the modern application, takaful benefit is also treated as mal (property). According to Sec.2 Takaful Act 1984, takaful benefit includes any benefit, pecuniary or not which is secured by a takaful certificate, and â€Å"pay† and other expressions. In family takaful, there are two accounts, namely the Participant Account and the Special Participant Account. The premium is paid into both accounts based on a ratio agreed by the takaful operator and the participant. The Participant Account is considered to be the deposit account of the participant whereas the Special Account is for the sole purpose of making donations. When a participant dies, there is no question regarding the heritability of the money in the Participant Account as it is part of the deceaseds estate. However, the money payable by the takaful operator taken from the Special Participant Account for the death benefit is still questionable. It is a standard practice in Malaysia that the payment of the money by the takaful operator to the nominee appointed by the deceased participant is subsequently distributed among the participants legal heirs in accordance with the farÄ `id law. The distribution of the proceeds among the legal heirs of the deceased participant has seemingly become standard practice in Malaysia. Section 65(1) of the Malaysian Takaful Act, 1984 stipulates that the payment of takaful benefits is made to the proper claimant. Section 65(4) explains that the ‘proper claimant is a person who claims to be entitled to the sum in question as executor of the deceased or who claims to be entitled to that sum under the relevant law. 8.2The concept of ownership in Takaful benefit Islamic law provides four legitimate means for acquiring absolute ownership[13]: (i) The contract of exchange such as trading and leasing contracts, and unilateral contracts such as wasiyyah, hibah and waqf, (ii) the replacement, or khalafiyyah, i.e. inheritance, the payment of diyyah and compensation, (iii) the control over permissible things such as fish in the sea and birds in the sky and (iv) The growth and the production of things owned such as eggs, milk, etc. Takaful benefit falls under the second part of the first category, i.e. unilateral contract (tabarruat). It could be contended that without the participation of the policyholder, the takaful operator would never pay the money. In other words, it is the contract entered into by the policyholder for family takaful, which generates the benefits. This contention is based on the fact that ones effort becomes a justification for ownership. As a result, the money is divisible among the heirs of the policyholder according to the law of farÄ `id. 8.3The takaful benefit to sole beneficiary vs. to the legal heirs Takaful contracts realize the obligation upon the company to pay. They do not create wealth in the insureds ownership, but rather they create an obligation to ease the burden suffered due to the losses of fellow participants. The participants contribution is his or her donation for the good of others, not for himself. The proceeds payable belong to the fund of the participants, not the takaful operator. Therefore, even though it is the deceaseds effort, the money is more appropriately to be regarded as an obligation upon the takaful tabarru fund to pay on behalf of other participant as financial assistance to the insureds family in case of death. This is the importance of considering a legal and financial entity for the fund. This monetary obligation is directly based on the agreement or promises of mutual assistance stated in the contract. In other words, the tabarru fund managed by the takaful operator on behalf of the participants agrees to pay the proceeds, and the matter of to whom they are paid should be freely and totally left to the agreement or the stipulation made by the policyholder to the company. This is similar with the condition made by the performer of wakf as he stipulated condition is binding. The primary objective of takaful is to provide financial assistance to the participants family. If the payment is payable strictly only to the heirs of the participants or insured, it implies that it is the property of the deceased. If this is so, the money is subject to the fulfilment of certain rights that must be carried out before distribution to the heirs, such as the payment of burial expenses, the deceaseds debts. This would mean that the compensation is not being used to ease the burden of the family but rather it seems that other fellow participants are under an obligation to settle the debts of the dead participants. In this regard, the creditors would have prior rights over the participants dependants. The dependants would only receive the benefits after the creditors claims have been satisfied. As such, inserting a clause legally and strictly imposing a duty on the appointed nominee to distribute the money among the legal heirs of the dead participant seems to contradict the objective of both the takaful. Inserting such a clause as currently practiced in Malaysia is not based on valid arguments. Furthermore, by considering it an estate for inheritance purposes, the takaful and insurance activity becomes a source of income. This is contradictory to the purpose of takaful i.e. mutual cooperation to ease a burden. Interestingly there are a number of contemporary fatwas allowing the distribution of takaful benefit to a particular beneficiary which is the common practice in the conventional insurance. The SAC of Bank Negara in its 34 meeting held on 21st April 2003 resolved: Takaful Benefit can be used for hibah since it is the right of the participants. Therefore the participants should be allowed to exercise their rights according to their choice as long as it does not contradict with Shariah. The status of hibah in takaful plan does not change into will (wasiah) since this type of hibah is a conditional hibah, in which the hibah is an offer to the recipient of hibah for only a specified period. In the context of takaful, the takaful benefit is both associated with the death of the participant as well as maturity of the certificate. If the participant remains alive on maturity, the takaful benefit is owned by the participant but of he dies within such period, then hibah shall be executed. A participant has the right to revoke the hibah before the maturity date because conditional hibah is only deemed to be completed after delivery is made (qabd). The Participant has the right to revoke the hibah to one party and transfer it to other parties or terminate the takaful participation if the recipient of hibah dies before maturity The takaful denomination form has to be standardized and must stipulate clearly the status of the nominee either as a beneficiary or an executor (wasi) or a trustee