The memo requests help from David Chung on benchmarking and product development techniques for a client in the Chinese market. The writer, a junior actuary, is working on a benchmarking and product development project but lacks experience with the cultural and business environment in China. They provide a list of benchmarking and product development techniques and ask Chung to recommend the most appropriate approach for the Chinese client given their limited budget. The writer hopes Chung can advise based on his previous relevant work experience in China.

1. BIS Memo
I. Leave a Personal Comment
Date: November 16, 2016
To: David Chung (Senior Actuarial Analyst at Large Accounts
Pricing at Aviva Canada)
Cc: There was no need of CC in this context
From: Mr. ABC (junior actuarial analyst at Lombard
International)
Subject: Interested in your product development and
benchmarking techniques
Mr. David, thank you accepting my request to join you on your
professional network. I have completed my graduate degree in
business information systems. Nonetheless, I am pursuing my
career in actuarial sciences. Currently, I am working a junior
actuarial analyst at Lombard International. I have viewed your
profile and it seems very impressive to me. You have very
diversified skills in resolving actuarial related issues.
Moreover, I am inspired from your product development and
benchmarking technique. These days, I am working on
benchmarking and product development project for my Chinese
clients. I need your help as I am facing some issues in
evaluating best benchmarking techniques. Moreover, the
investor has a limited budget to inaugurate its product in
Chinese market. I do not have extensive and in-depth knowledge
regarding cultural and industrial environment of China.
I have observed through your profile that you have previously
worked as an actuarial analyst in which you resolved issues
related to bid development, pricing, product development,
benchmarking, research and analysis in Chinese market in a
very sophisticated manner. I have knowledge of certain types of
benchmarking such as collaborative benchmarking, SWOT,
internal benchmarking, generic benchmarking, competitive
benchmarking and peer benchmarking. However, I am confused
that which is most adequate technique for the Chinese market?

2. In addition, I have searched on internet and also asked my
colleagues regarding some other techniques. However, these
techniques are very conventional and I do not think so that any
conventional technique will be appropriate for a well-developed
market. Therefore, kindly help me choosing most innovative
technique to fulfill the demands of my client. Secondly, I have
list of product development technique but I am not sure which
one will be most suitable for my client. Kindly have a look on
the list below and recommend me most appropriate techniques.
· Conjoint analysis
· Actions steps
· Blind tests
· Bootstrapping
· Core benefit proposition
· Delphi methods
· Expert opinion surveys
· Formal planning
· Intention Surveys
· Multi-dimensional scaling
· Parallel processing
· Portfolio matrix
· Stakeholder analysis
If you want to recommend me any other technique regardless of
this list, then it will be great favor from your side. I will wait
for your earnest response.
This is the memo which I have written to David Cheng.
Currently, he is working as senior actuarial analyst at Large
Accounts Pricing at Aviva Canada. Previously, he has worked at
RBC Insurance and Munich Re Canada. Prior to working in
Canada, he has extensive experience of working in various
corporations in China. He completed his graduation from
University of Waterloo.
II. Joint Directory
I also developed my signature to build relationship with the
people in the same field. I have joined several blogs and social
media focus groups and proposed them solution for the

3. problems they were facing. Moreover, I joined the directory
developed by actuaries.org.uk in which there are lots of senior
actuarial analysts. However, as I am fresher in this field so I
offered them to provide my service voluntarily in any sense. My
signature is as below:
III. Signature
Mr. ABC
Junior actuarial analyst
Lombard International
[email protected]
lombardinternational.com
“The strength to be there”
1 | Page
Week 8: Paper Project
Paper Outline
Thesis Statement
Religion is a blend of nature and culture.
Scope of research
Religion as a result of nature
Real life example of religion as a result of nature
Religion as a result of culture
Real life example of religion as a result of culture
Religion as a blend of both nature and culture
Real life example of religion as a result of both nature and
culture
Preliminary Outline
A. Introduction
B. Literature Review
i. Religion as a blend of both nature and culture
ii. Supporting evidence
iii. Current state of affairs

4. C. Discussion
D. Conclusion
E. References
Week 9 Paper Project: Introduction
No one should be too confident on the correctness of their
religious beliefs. The reason for this is because of the religion
is a reflection of culture and nature. This is to say that people
that are born in a part of the world that is characterized by a
certain culture are likely to subscribe to a certain religion. For
example, people born in the Middle East are likely to subscribe
to Islam and the case is also true for people that are born in
Italy and subscribing to Christianity. ON the other hand this
argument is nullified by objections such as there are exception
of people who belong to religions that are not common to their
surroundings. Another premise is that an argument for any
religion cannot be defined wrongly. The above premise show
that the basis of religion can also lean towards the nature of the
individual. Since the two concepts cannot be shunned, and
considering the purpose that religion serves, it is therefore
undisputable that religion is a blend of both culture and nature.
Week 10: The Conclusion
From all the literature above, one can argue conclusively
that religion is both a product of culture and nature. On the one
side, people often subscribe to religions that are dominant to
their surroundings or places of birth or none at all if there are
too many religions that are conflicting in nature. On the other
hand, religion seems to come quite naturally to humans. People
want to see purpose in the world and without sufficient answers,
they tend to rely on religion to provide these answers. People
tend to believe in a power that they cant see and this comes
instinctively to them. In a nullity of explanation, religion offers
answers that are appealing to most people. The foundation of
religion lies therefore depends on both of these concepts; nature
and culture. Nature explains the quest for religion while culture
depends which nuanced version of religion answers these

5. unanswered questions that are entrenched in the minds of most
human beings.
Week 11: References
References
Dawson, C. (2009). Enquiries into religion and culture (1st ed.).
Washington, D.C.: Catholic University of America Press.
Greene, R. (2016). Religious belief is human nature, huge new
study claims. Religion.blogs.cnn.com. Retrieved 24 November
2016, from http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/05/12/religious-
belief-is-human-nature-huge-new-study-claims/
Schneider, L. (1964). Religion, culture, and society (1st ed.).
New York: Wiley.