As a refreshment, I have some sharing with you about the subject matter.

Team is an organization that have members with complementary skills and generate synergy through a coordinated effort which allows each member to maximize his or her strengths and minimize his or her weaknesses. Team Spirit is then about the spirit of a group that makes the members want the group to succeed.

Being a CM, your role is not only providing input but also coordinating the team to bring up the best solution for the customers. On the other hand, as a teammate, you are encouraging to pro-actively share the viewpoints and possibilities around the others to reach the best compromise. Your area of expertise and experience are definite asset of the team.

Hence, good communication and sharing are the best ways to bring up the team and maintain the team spirit. In order to motivate all the members, therefore, each meeting and discussion session should be task-oriented, constructive and respectful, polite and objective.

The above description about CM is an example only. I believe that you could do more to bring up a stronger team.

On a contrary, those behavior or attitude that deteriorating the team spirit and productivity would be absolutely NOT accepted, such as those offensive, rude and aggressive one.

It only seems like yesterday that I started my career in cards. At first it was hardsell; trying to establish a merchant acquiring business in Calcutta, when cards were not even issued. Soon I got into the thick of things - developing an application capturing system, acquiring system, collections systems and customer service system to support Cardman, which whilst inadequate helped to enrich my knowledge in cards and card processes.

HCC arrived and the face of the earth was changed ! No challenge was big enough - the design of the system kept changing to match the expectations of the business - thus changing from a small card system to one that could support half a million cards and all within a month. Regional processing became a buzz word and the system, though young changed,. yet again. HCC was soon straddling the continents from Asia, to the Middle East, UK and the US.

What a roller coaster ride and what great fun. If I had to do it all over again I would.

WHIRL poses new challenges and with gusto we take it on. Australia is just the first of many sites that we will implement this system.

I wish to thank all of you, those that I have worked directly with and those with whom I have worked indirectly; for having made my stint in cards so memorable.

In time honoured tradition, I will put my card behind the bar on L18 on Friday 21 at 6.00 pm. I would be extremely privileged if you could join me for a drink or two.