Review of the Financial Statements of Merck and Novartis Companies

In module 2 case study I am to do the following understanding financial reports and continue to review the financial statements of Merck and Novartis to learn additional information. The emphasis of this Case is to review the income statement, balance sheet and computation of ratios. Review the financial statements for the companies and answer the following questions for the last reporting year: What components of stockholders' equity does each of the companies disclose?Merck & Company IncThe components of the stockholders equity common stock (authorized and issued), other paid-in capital, retained earnings, accumulated other comprehensive loss, and treasury stock. Novartis International Ag. The components of the stockholders equity are share capital, treasury shares, reserves, and non-controlling interest. Do the companies have preferred stock shares outstanding? If so, what special features do these shares contain? Merck & Company Inc. Merck has authorized 20,000,000 shares of pref erred stock in 2012.All preferred stock from the AMI a merger in 1998 is being converted to either cash or shares of Merck stock. Novartis International Ag. Novartis did not report any preferred stock. Do either of the companies report treasury shares? If so, do the companies disclose the reason for reacquiring the shares? Merck & Company Inc. Yes Merck reported treasury shares; they reported the purchase of treasury shares on the balance sheet in the equity section and also on the summary of common stock and treasury stock transactions.In this case no they didn’t disclose any reasons for reacquiring shares other than those from the merger. Novartis International Ag. Yes Novartis reported treasury share; No they did not disclose reasons for reacquiring shares Income Statement. What are the basic and diluted earnings per share for each company? Merck & Company Inc. Basic earnings per common stock $2. 03 Diluted earnings per common stock $2. 00 Novartis International Ag. Basic earnings per common stock $3. 93. Diluted earnings per common stock $3. 89Have the companies reported any discontinued operations? Merck & Company Inc Merck has not reported any discontinued operations Novartis International Ag. Novartis reported no discontinued operations for 2012. Do the companies disclose any stock compensation plans? If so, are they reporting such plans under the fair value or intrinsic value methods? What was the value of compensation expense measured for any outstanding stock option plans? Merck & Company Inc. Yes they are reporting under the fair value method.The value of the compensation expense measured was approximately $72 million to the holders and $4 million Merck common shares issued. Novartis International Ag. Novartis did not disclose any stock compensation plans Financial Ratios Compute the following ratios. Also, interpret and assess each group of ratios for the company. What type of story are the ratios telling the analyst? Profitability ratios: ? Gross profit margin = Gross income/sales. The gross profit margin is a financial ratio which is a measurement of a company's manufacturing and distribution efficiency during the production process.A company uses its gross income to fund such company activities as research and development and marketing, which are important for generating future sales. A prolonged decline in the gross profit margin is a red flag for possible impending negative pressure on sales and, ultimately, earnings. You need to know the trend of the company before you can make an analysis of whether or not the gross profit margin is good or not, in this case Novartis has a better gross profit than Merck. Merck & Company Inc. 8,739/47,267 = . 185 Novartis International Ag. 11,243/56,673 = . 198?Net profit margin = Net income/ sale Net profit is the profit that is generated from all phases of the business, including interest and taxes. This is the â€Å"bottom line† that garners most of the attention in dis cussions of a company’s profitability. The net profit margin (net margin) compares net income to sales. A consistently high net margin is often indicative of a company with one or more competitive advantages. Furthermore, a high net margin provides a company with a cushion during downturns in its business. In this case Novartis has a better net profit margin than Merck.Merck & Company Inc. 6,299/47,267 = . 133 Novartis International Ag. 9,618/56,673 = . 170 ? Return on stockholders' equity = net income/ shareholders equity Return on equity (ROE) is equal to a fiscal year's net income. It measures the rate of return on the ownership interest of the common stock owners and measures a company's efficiency at generating profits from every unit of shareholders' equity. Return on equity for most companies certainly should be in the double digits; investors often look for 15% or higher, while return of 20% or more is considered excellent.Neither of these companies is great for their ROE but they are close, Novartis being higher. Merck & Company Inc. 6,299/53,020 = . 119 (12%) Novartis International Ag. 9,618/69,219 = . 139 (14%) Liquidity ratios: ? Current ratio = current assets/current liabilities The current ratio is a financial ratio that measures whether or not a firm has enough resources to pay its debts over the next 12 months. While Merck is able to pay back its debt, Novartis can pay its debt more easily and have a lot left over. Merck & Company Inc 34,857/18,348 = 1. 900.Novartis International Ag:  124,216/30,946 = 4. 013 ? Quick ratio= current assets-inventory/current liabilities Generally, the quick ratio should be 1:1 or higher; however this varies widely by industry. In general, the higher the ratio is, the greater the company's liquidity (i. e. , the better able to meet current obligations using liquid assets). The quick ratio is also known as acid test ratio. Both companies have a quick ratio but Novartis has a better quick ratio than Merck. M erck & Company Inc. 34,857-7,305/18,348 = 1. 501 Novartis International Ag. 124,216-6,744/30,946 = 3. 796?Inventory turnover = COGS/Inventory The inventory turnover is a measure of the number of times inventory is sold or used in a time period such as a year. Merck & Company Inc Inventory not specified on the 10K. Novartis International Ag. 18,756/6,744 = 2. 781. Leverage ratios: ? Debt-to-assets= Total debt/total assets Debt to asset ratio is a financial ratio that indicates the percentage of a company's assets that are provided via debt. Novartis has a lower debt than Merck. Merck & Company Inc. 18,348 + 16,348 = 34,696 34,696/106,132 = . 327Novartis International Ag:  5,945/124,216 = . 048 ? Debt-to-equity= total debt/total shareholders’ equity The debt to equity ratio, usually abbreviated as D/E, is a financial ratio indicating the relative proportion of shareholders' equity and debt used to finance a company's assets. Novartis used fewer loans to finance the companyâ⠂¬â„¢s assets than Merck. Merck & Company Inc. 34,696/536,020 = . 065. Novartis International Ag. 5,945/69,219 = . 086 ? Times-covered ratio= earnings before interest and taxes/ interest Times interest earned (TIE) is a measure of a company's ability to honor its debt payments.The times interest earned ratio is also referred to as the interest coverage ratio. Merck & Company Inc. Only had a consolidated statements of income Novartis International Ag. Only had a consolidated statements of income What type of information do you find in footnotes to the financial statements? Additional information provided in a company's financial statements. Notes to the financial statements report the details and additional information that are left out of the main reporting documents, such as the balance sheet and income statement.This is done mainly for the sake of clarity because these notes can be quite long, and if they were included, they would cloud the data reported in the financial statement s. Do you find the balance sheet, income statement or other measures such as ratios the most informative? Comment on the advantages and disadvantages of using ratios for analysis. I find that the balance sheet and the income statement have the standings of how the company did per quarter but the ratios show comparison of how they did. The ratios are good because you breakdown all the big numbers and just use percentages and analysis what is important.The balance sheets show the breakdown of all the individual accounts consolidated so both are good. A disadvantage of depending on the statements are that they can mislead you indifferent ways, if you only look at the numbers and do not look at the foot notes you may make a bad decision. Bad information can also be given through the statements, although this is illegal people still do it and later on change it or say it was a mistake but you may not catch that. Ratios can also have disadvantages like if they are not computed correctly y ou may have the wrong percentages or you may have nothing to compare them to.

Mollie Bentley â€Rowe Essay

To what extent did Russia undergo economic and political reform in the years 1906 – 1914? Russia underwent economic and political reform to a limited extent. Although Peter Stolypin was pushing for reform, he was undermined by the mindsets of peasants and the fundamental law. From the years 1906 – 1914, Peter Stolypin was pushing to de – revolutionise the peasantry and put into place economic reform, and there is evidence of this working. During these years large amounts of agricultural reform were set in motion. In 1906 45.9 million tonnes of agricultural production was produced, by 1913 this had grown significantly to 61.7 million tonnes. The massive change in the amount of product shows that agricultural and therefore economic reform had taken place. Farmers, at this time, had also started paying higher taxes, which is sign of higher income, again strengthening this idea of economic reform occurring. Stolypin, however successful he was in his endeavours, was pushing fiercely for a more independent and de-revolutionised peasantry. During November 1906, huge action was taken to change the way the peasants lived. They were freed from the constraints of commune control and land banks were set up to give money to those peasants who chose to leave. Many were also encouraged to move to Siberia, all of these reforms were starting to lay a foundation for a more independent peasantry. Economic reform was being pursued desperately by members of the government such as Stolypin, this can been seen by the copious amount of law, for example peasants leaving commune control, being put into place. The fact these laws were coming about shows that Russia was undergoing economic reform to some extent during this period, whether it was successful or not. Much like economic reform, during this time frame, the government also showed signs that they were undergoing change. The fundamental law of 1906 shows that political reform was definitely taking place, as it established Russia’s first form of democracy and created the national parliament. The  decisions of the Dumas reveal that there was an extent of change occurring within politics; they made reforms against capital punishment and a reform for famine relief. The third Duma also replaced land captains, created health and accident insurance as well as installing reform to the army and the navy. These polices mean that change was taking place as before 1906 it was barbaric to even suggest the idea of democracy in Russia. These changes show that the political side of Russia was undergoing reform to some extent. As previously stated, there was a clear sign that economic reform was trying to be put into action, but because of peasant attitudes towards these ideas, Russia could only undergo reform to a limited extent. An attempt was made to modernise Russia farming technique from the almost archaic method of strip farming, however only 10% of Russian peasants actually took on board this reform and changed to a new method. The peasants were too stuck in their ways to change which hindered the amount of agricultural and therefore economic reform Russia could go through. Because of the peasants even the ministry of agriculture had started to lose faith in the reforms by 1913. There was also a distinct lack in reform towards the natural side of Russia, with it more going backwards than forwards. For example, strikes from the ministry of trade and industry rose from 24 in 1911 to 2401 in 1914. This coupled with the mass slaughter of gold mine workers in 1912 (Lena Goldfields), highlights that the exact opposite of reform was happening and Russia was receding to events more like bloody Sunday than heading towards a new modernised country. This huge leap backwards means that there was little economic reform taking place and Russia was only undergoing it to a limited extent. Although the Dumas showed signs of reform in political Russia, there was still a heavy autocratic rule on the new democracy, which limited the extent that Russia was allowed to undergo changes. The fundamental law, while being a step forward for political reform, also limited the extent to which it could be taken. It created a parliament compromised of an upper and lower house. The upper house was mainly chosen by the Tsar and consisted of aristocratic tsarist followers; it also had the ability to overrule the democratically elected lower house. This meant that the only laws to be  passed would be in the Tsar’s best interests, severely restricting any reform that might take place. The fundamental law also stated that the Tsar had supreme autocratic power; the law hadn’t changed the positioned of dictator he had held previously. The fundamental law only served as a trick so the middle classes thought they were getting reform. The first Duma lasted 73 days, made 391 requested of which 2 were passed. The difference in the request passed and the requests made shows that very little political reform actually took place. By the 3rd Duma, the voting franchise had been restricted so only the wealthy could vote, this Duma consisted of member the Tsar felt were right, they also had little reform and were know as the ‘Duma lords and lackeys’. A restricted voting franchise erases all the concepts of democracy, which makes it very hard for political reform to take place. It was the fundamental law which gave the Tsar the same autocratic power that he’d had previously that restricted the amount of change that could happen, and meant Russia only underwent political reform to an extremely limited extent. In conclusion, in the years 1906-1914 Russia underwent political and economic reform to a limited extent. This is because peasants refused to change ideas, but there was still some evidence of agricultural produce improving, and while industry went on more frequent strikes, the farmers paying higher taxes shows that there were small changes in Russia’s economy. The fundamental law also became a hindrance to any reform that could take place politically and definitely limited the extent that Russia could undergo reform, however there were still some laws passed and the creation of a national parliament in the first place is a massive change, which meant although it was limited, some reform still happened.

The influence of ink and color paintings in China art history Research Paper

The influence of ink and color paintings in China art history - Research Paper Example At the international scene, Chinese art has been doing extremely well especially in the western markets. This can be attributed to immigration of artists to western countries during Tiananmen Square uprising in 1989. Prior to this uprising, Chinese paintings and art were not properly established in the west, due o the fact that the country was locked from foreigners. Currently, Chinese art is among the most revered in the world. Artists concentrate on themes that are centered on their rich exotic culture, which has increased their popularity in the western world. It is worth noting also that most artist have adopted literati form of art to distinguish their art from the rest. ‘Admonitions of the instructress to the court ladies’ by Gu Kaizhi, is one such painting that has had a tremendous impact in the world of art. Dated back to the 8th century, this painting adopts the linear style of figure painting popular in the fourth century. Though two scenes are currently missin g, the painting had nine scenes initially. It is a political parody that criticizes the immoral behavior of an empress while at the same time instructing ladies on correct behavior. Due to its popularity, many a powerful men in history were in possession of this portrait. This is evident by the number of seals and inscriptions on it. Another example of a Chinese painting that has been the center of marvel among art lovers is ‘Along the River during the Qingming Festival’ by Zhang Zeduan. The painting depicts the street.

Blue print Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Blue print - Essay Example The service blueprint to be used in this department needs to incorporate other relevant departments of the hotel so that provision of services is of high quality promoting customer loyalty. In addition, service blueprints can be used in the promotion ventures of the Chairman and Yip restaurant. The purpose of a promotion is to create awareness of the available services to potential customers. Therefore, a blueprint can ensure that the promotional activity is successful. Moreover, promotions usually target to register a higher percentage of sales (Kalakota & Robinson 2004, p. 116). These activities can be incorporated into the blueprint ensuring a more effective promotion strategy. In addition, service blueprints can be used in the human resource management department. The principle purpose of using service blueprints in this department is to empower the staffs of the of the Chairman and Yip restaurant. A blueprint indicating job descriptions for each position in the restaurant can be designed. This helps to ensure that each individual working in this restaurant understands their responsibilities and roles clearly. In addition, a service blueprint can be used in the development of the selection criteria. The restaurant can design a flow chart that highlights the available vacancies, the qualifications of the required candidates and uses it to assess the potential candidates for the positions (Kalakota & Robinson 2004, p. 117). Using a service blueprint makes the selection criteria clear for those assigned to this responsibility. Moreover, service blueprints can be used in the appraisal systems of the Chairman and Yip restaurant. Notably, it is important for th e restaurant to appraise the performance of all the employees over a certain period. Appraisal of performance helps to determine whether employees perform their roles to the required standards, and whether they have gained new skills on the job. A blueprint can be used in determining the

Leadership style Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Leadership style - Essay Example There are many leadership styles, and all have consequences on the organizational productivity. Some may lead to improved productivity while others lower the workers’ morale. This essay is a critique of the leadership styles of two leaders of X&Y Company. It also presents an assessment of the value of Hersey and Blanchard’s situational model as an explanation of their leadership behavior. It involves consideration of the Anglo context of Likert’s ideas and their generality to the professional group of Hickson and Pugh’s groups of societies. The production manager of X&Y company demonstrates bureaucratic leadership whereby all the organizational processes are carried out according to the laid out procedures, and every member of the organization’s staff understands his/her role in the process (Huczynski and Buchanan, 2007 p 36). None of them has a right to change any of the steps involved. Decision making process in the production department follows the conventional plan that was developed in 1999 when the organization was launched. No inventions have been adopted since that time. However, the department deals with processes involving high risks. Any action that deviates from the schedule may adversely affect the organization as a result of accidents that may result. Following particular procedures is therefore appropriate for this department. On the other hand, there is a tendency for dissatisfaction of the staff due to monotony and rigidity of leadership. The employees in this department complain of exhaustion and claim that the leader demoralizes them since they do not have a chance to raise decisions. There are no flexible practices such as off duties and shifts since the leader argues that every worker has experience and knowledge in the particular sections such as operating machinery, and dealing with the

Ourselves Alone by Anne Devlin Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Ourselves Alone by Anne Devlin - Research Paper Example The setting of the play is generally around Andersonstown, West Belfast, with succinct side tracks to South Belfast and Dublin. The play has been produced, directed, and enacted manifold times. One presentation is by Crash Box Players and Lost Angels, directed by Steven Friedland, and produced by Kathleen Dunn, Laura Niemi and Elise Robertson. The cast of the play includes Jake Alston (as Danny/Second Soldier), Kelly Boulware (as Cathal/First Soldier), Ed Cunningham (as John McDermot), Kathleen Dunn (as Donna), Darrel Guilbeau (as Gabriel/Policeman), David Lane (as musician), Jack Mungovan (as Liam/Musician), Laura Niemi (as Frieda), Elise Robertson (as Josie), Joel Stoffer (as Joe Conran), and Joseph Whipp (as Malachy). The cast is very talented, giving extra beauty to the theme of the play. The play made its appearance in London during 1985-86. Anne Devlin, the daughter of a controversial labor leader in Belfast, Paddy Devlin, has attempted to accomplish a surmountable job telling the story of the Belfast when it was seeing some of the worst days of its history, through weaving of the story related to three Catholic women, whose lives underwent many changes brought about by the ongoing incidents and happenings in Belfast. Anne Devlin shows, in the play, how men reveal their macho by converting the society into a war zone. These men also included those who were struggling for the Irish independence, who were unknowingly converting the community into a zone of never-ending siege. Culture was being ignored. Family lives were suffering. â€Å"†¦where women suffer a double oppression--subjugated as much by their brothers, fathers, husbands, and lovers as by the Brits. Ourselves Alone tries to expose the ugliness of the Belfast blood knot†, writes Adler (para.2). It was hard to decide where Belfast was heading to. The storyline revolves around three ordinary Catholic women, including two Andersonstown sisters, Donna and Josie McCoy, and their brotherâ⠂¬â„¢s wife, Frieda, who has been a Long Kesh prisoner, as shown in the play’s early scenes. Donna is kind of superficial, Josie possesses a strange hidden agenda, and Frieda is shown struggling with life in order to bring up her infant alone, when her husband is in prison. Frieda’s pro-IRA father has disowned her, and she wants to be a singer but her father sends her into the arms of a Workers' Party organizer and anti-IRA zealot. All three of the Catholic women wish and struggle to escape the political peril that is affecting their lives, but they cannot take a step because they are bound to the family loyalties residing in their hearts. Their complex relationships with men are also a hurdle. Donna waits for her lover for five years who is in prison, but when he comes out of the jail, she finds that he is not the kind of man who was worth waiting for. Josie has been a courier when rebellion against the British was going on, and has interest in politics of the trouble going in the Ireland; yet, she is trapped inside her wish for a romantic relationship. She fancies the men in her life, who are there to subjugate her. She is in love with an IRA leader, but is also in a relationship. She gets pregnant with her partner. What is interesting about the play is that Devlin’s Catholic women are not the rebellious heroines of the Ireland. Instead, they are making victims of themselves by not reacting against the harsh circumstances, keeping

Bmg Entertainment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Bmg Entertainment - Essay Example There is competition from other major record companies such as: - Sony Music Entertainment Universal Music Group Warner Music Group WEAKNESS Decisions about how to organize and operate the company With BMG Entertainment, three of the 25 units within the division were making losses. High prices charged at the store. PORTER'S FIVE FORCES ANALYSIS The bargaining power of the customer is high. The customers have tendency of switching to another product without incurring high cost of switching. There are so many customers for the music. The customers are responsible for the supplier's revenue realized as they buy a large portion of the industry's output. The bargaining power of the suppliers is not high. Availability of substitute products. There is low switching cost created by suppliers' products. There are few suppliers for the product. A large customer of suppliers comes from individual buyers. The buyers' market place success does not determine the suppliers' goods. The threat of new entrants is not too high. The industry requires high capital to start. There are economies of scale. Product differentiation is moderate. The threat of substitute products is high. The existing product has the same quality and performance to that of the substitute product. The substitute products are offered at lower prices. There is few switching cost incurred by the buyers. The intensity of competitive rivalry among competitors is high. Switching costs incurred are low. The growth in the music industry is high. Diversification is moderate. Fixed costs are too high. Competitors for the industry include: Sony, Universal, EMI, BMG and Warner Music Group. VRIS MODEL Resources/Capability V R I S Performance Good...For this case, BMG Entertainment is supposed to use differentiation strategy, as what the customer need is a variety of music at a low price. The company should not be left behind technology wise; hence in order for them to retain their customers, they should introduce Online retailers to sell music at low prices. BMG Entertainment should develop websites whereby their customers will be able to download music at low prices. By adopting the technological change, BMG Entertainment will be in a position of producing a variety of products and selling at relatively low prices. This is more convenient to customers in term of price as its low and they will prevail in the market against its rivals. BMG Entertainment can prevail in the market if they upgrade their website system. They should invest heavily on digital technology for the sake of handling their digital customers professionally. They should introduce more Online retailer store that will make download of music cheap. BMG should use Joint Venture, Multi domestic and related diversification strategies. Joint Venture will expand rapidly at low cost, shared risks and less competition.

Emerald Emerging Markets Case Studies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Emerald Emerging Markets Case Studies - Essay Example Major changes have been elaborated to bring out the descriptive cause and effect based on the observations. The outcome of research ascertained that behavior and performance were affected by unethical haraam practices such as being late for work for no valid reasons, heavy drinking, taking long lunch hours, disrespect and anger when dealing with colleagues and even when addressing her seniors. These findings and results once tabled can be used by other employees as lessons to follow as well as for managers to devise strategies aimed at improving the performance of the most important asset in any organization which is the human resource (Muhammad, & Rehman, 2012). The employee in question has been referred to as an underperformer for his unsatisfactory work performance and failure to undertake her duties as per the standards required. Maryam Qureshi, has also been termed as an employee who did not comply with workplace rules, policies and procedures. In addition, she used to cause disruptive behaviour that impacted on the co-workers. Given the existing economic situations where businesses and profit making organizations are working hard to maximize profits, it is very crucial to make sure that employees respect their lines of duty. However, obtaining 100 percent of employee’s efficiency is not guaranteed as seen in the case study with Maryam. An underperforming worker can affect the bottom line of the company’s objectives, workplace morale, making other employees’ work look more difficult. Thus, the best thing to deal with such a case is to dismiss the staff in question. However to avoid running into legal problems, there are certain procedures that should be followed. For instance, in this case the management has to carry out a substantial performance review process so as to have a sufficient evidence to support the decision of firing Maryam (Burke, & Cooper, 2011). Maryam’s case does not look complicated since

Role Model Considerations Essay Example for Free

Role Model Considerations Essay Through the discussions and readings, I gained extensive insight on the many aspects related to teaching. A teacher holds a respectable position in society and he should always try to maintain this through his conduct. A teacher’s primary duty is to teach. But in order to successfully do his duty, it is not just sufficient to be excellent in one’s subject. His class performance is judged not only on the basis of how he is teaching but also on the basis of how he is interacting in class. He should also try to be honest in other activities of school apart from teaching. I can confidently say that the readings and discussions have helped me in successfully achieving the three learning objectives of this week. It is extremely important to identify the potential impact of controversial personal conduct on employment and licensure. To be an honest teacher does not just imply an honest dissemination of knowledge but also points towards the rules and regulations set by the school authorities that a teacher should follow at any cost. Even if one is a good teacher, if he is dishonest in other activities of the school he should be considered unfit to continue with his job. This implies in the areas relating to boundary violations between teacher and students and issues relating to appropriate and inappropriate forms of communication with students as well. If a teacher’s character is not good, the students do not respect him. Ultimately if things go out of hand he may not only have to face a lot of shame for his misconducts but he might even get fired from his job. In my future endeavors I would make use of the facts that as a teacher one should be well versed with the rules and regulations of the institution he is teaching in. He should know the areas in which a student should be reprimanded and the issues in which the students have full rights. He should keep a check on his conducts and should never intentionally or unintentionally cross the line that is supposed to be between a teacher and a student. If a teacher is able to achieve all this he always remains in the hearts of the students long after they have passed out. A teacher should try to be an inspiration and not someone who is criticized and made fun of.

The Importance of National Belonging in the Development of Nation States Essay Example for Free

The Importance of National Belonging in the Development of Nation States Essay Prior to the late 19th Century Europe consisted of many small states that lacked a sense of unity. The sentiment stirred up in the wake of the French Revolution; the idea of a sovereign people with natural rights and equality appeared attractive to many of these nations. Around this time Europe saw the emergence of Nation States encompassing a people who had a shared history, culture, language, religion and beliefs. How important this sense of national belonging was is something we shall explore by looking at events in such places as Germany, Italy and France. We will decide whether it was patriotism or other factors such as warfare and the rise of industry which had the biggest parts to play on the European stage. Above we have just described the common factors which contribute to making a nation; find one territory with specific boundaries and borders and fill it with these people and you would in theory have made a nation state. However the idea of national belonging is not quite so black and white, nor so easy an idea to prove. Ernest Renan, a noted theologian seemed to realise that rules about having a shared language or shared religion were simply not realistic when taking into account minority communities and religious toleration. Instead Renan makes allowances that in some areas factors such as these would be contributory but actually in his words ‘A nation is therefore a vast solidarity, constituted by the feeling of sacrifice one has made in the past and of those that one is prepared to make in the future. Renan continues stating that it is ‘the clearly expressed desire to pursue a common life. ’ This swing towards nationalism was sparked in part by the cultural movement which followed the Enlightenment period and was known as Romanticism. An era when poetry, music and art were increasingly used to influence the nation, the movement supported ideas such as the importance of national pride giving precedence to ‘senses and emotion over reason and intellect. German artist Caspar David Friedrich captured this sentiment in his painting The Oak Tree in Snow which depicted a barren tree with new life springing from the roots symbolising a lost past with the promise of future new growth. This was particularly poignant as the Oak Tree was a symbol for German national sentiment. Similarly in Italy the poet Ugo Foscolo wrote ‘How thou art humiliated by foreigners who have the presumption to seek to master thee! But who can depict thee better than he who is destined to see hy beauty all his life long? ’ Foscolo’s argued that tourists could not appreciate the greatness of his country, only those who could share in its history can take possession of the pride that accompanies the honour of being Italian. These two examples are interesting because at the time of their publication no Germany or Italy as we know them today yet existed so this at least proves that in the minds of those living by Romanticism values at least thought that national sentiment was desperately important. In addition to the evidence of Romanticism championing the unification cause Germany and Italy shared some other similarities. Firstly, and perhaps most obviously we can tell from studying a ‘before and after’ map. In 1815 Italy was a collection of many smaller states some of which we know were controlled by the Austrian empire and Germany is a jigsaw of German speaking states. However by 1914 clear boundaries had been drawn and both territories are much more obviously defined. Also both countries contained several nationalist activist groups, some public, some as secret societies who all had the same aim of achieving unity but for different reasons and with variations on the end result. In Italy the strength of opinion was such that some organisations were willing to use violence such as in the case of the Carbonari group who proclaimed ‘He alone is worthy of life who loves his country’. Revolutionary group Young Italy was also key in generating public support for the Risorgimento (Resurrection) nationalists. Germany also contained these pressure groups and parties from both countries took part in the rebellions of 1848 and while both had some success, yet another similarity is that both were eventually beaten back in Italy by Austrian intervention and in Germany by the Prussian King Frederick William IV. The revolutions swept across much of Europe leaving thousands dead in the name of unification. This however does not necessarily mean that it was patriotism or an unqualified sense of national belonging that drove them. Other considerations included for businessmen policies for reviving trade, students were concerned about poor job prospects and a lack of social status and peasants wanted an end to the last vestiges remaining of the medieval feudal system. For the peasants at least it is most likely this was their sole motivation as the concept of nationalism would have meant little to them in their daily struggle to feed and clothe their families. Both Germany and Italy appeared to be committed to unification and key figures helped to bring this about. In Germany Gottfried Herder significantly influenced public opinion with his philosophical ideas about human nature. Herder placed huge importance on national language ‘Has a people anything dearer than the speech of its fathers? ’ He goes on to say that the culture of a people ‘thrives only by means of the nation’s inherited and inheritable dialect. ’ This idea is so fundamental to Herder’s beliefs that he says ‘no greater injury can be inflicted on a nation than to be robbed of her national character, the peculiarity of her spirit and her language’. Herder however gives little consequence to the political aspects and it is possible therefore that the changes which inevitably took place in Germany were not due to his romanticism based contributions but this does tell us how strongly he felt about the importance of national sentiment. In Italy it was figures such as Count Camillo di Cavour who propelled the unification forward but his motives were much different from that of Herder. Cavour conspired with Napoleon III of France against the Austrians which resulted in several territories becoming part of Sardinia where Cavour happened to be Prime Minister. Giuseppe Garibaldi was a respected military commander throughout this period of war whose notable success was motivated by his vision of a united Italy. Unification of both countries was hardly plain sailing and problems arose for various reasons. Italy perhaps suffered because the reason for the unification had been more political than sentimental. Massimo d’Azeglio, a pro nationalist is believed to have said ‘We have made Italy, now we have to make Italians. ’ The death of Camillo di Cavour regardless of his motives was described as ‘the architect of national unity’ and his death in 1861 was a definitive blow to the cause. Germany’s problems centralized around regional rivalries with people confused as to whether they first belonged to their region or their country, this was certainly the case with some Bavarians. It has commonly been supposed that all of the events leading to unification of countries such as Germany and Italy and the revolutions that shook Europe were triggered in France by the revolution of 1789-1799 as can be seen in this statement; ‘The French Revolution completed the nation which became one and indivisible’. Many in France had sought an end to an absolute monarchy and what was deemed an autocratic domination by the French government. Instead they hoped for a shift towards modernity where all men would be equal under the law and have no special privileges simply because one happened to be born aristocratic or have an elitist position in society. The end of feudalism and the ‘ancien’ (old) regime gave way to new ideas summarised once more by Ernest Renan ‘It is France’s glory to have proclaimed, through the French Revolution, that a nation exists by itself The principle of nationhood is ours’. It would be reasonable then to suppose that France had enjoyed great success in providing a patriotic example that other countries hoped to follow and yet once again we find resistance and also some contradictions. While some supported unity for political reasons such as in the case of the Leon Gambetta, a French statesman who supported republicanism, he said in a letter to the leader of the Breton armed forces in 1870 ‘I beg you to forget that you are Bretons, and to remember only that you are French. While a novelist later in 1884 remarked ‘the word patrie signifies nothing and stirs nothing. It exists no more in local speech than in local hearts. ’ It is hard to assimilate all the opinions and motivations for why the French either supported or rejected the idea of national belonging but it does seem that the more urbanised areas, under the direction of intellectuals, students and politicians for their own agendas were more in favour of being ‘Frenchmen’ than those who resided in more isolated, rural communities occupied mostly by peasant farmers who wanted peace not war. Peasant farmers in particular were to suffer greatly when we consider how the rise of industry commonly termed as the industrial revolution were to affect national feelings. While the ending of feudalism had allowed some peasantry to buy small patches of land, for others, some who were affected by the enclosure laws could find themselves as landless labourers unable to grow their food or gather fuel from common land. In Britain the Chartism movement of 1839 sought to represent all workers who found themselves in a piteous position uniting opinion against social injustice. We are bowed down under a load of taxes our traders are trembling on the verge of bankruptcy, our workmen are starving, capital brings no profit and labour no remuneration. ’ Chartists and their Parisian counter parts the Artisans identified themselves as socialists. Obviously this was a time of great economic change and awareness of class distinctions at the time of the industrial boom was growing. Karl Marx was a German radical whose notion of Socialism was closely linked to that of Communism which he and his colleague Frederick Engels was active in promoting. Marx was particularly concerned about the struggle of society with relevance to these class distinctions. He highlighted in his ‘The Communist Manifesto’ ‘The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles’ Marx states that the working class (proletariat) and the new middle class (bourgeoisie) are fighting these ‘class struggles’ over the means of production. He claims that the bourgeoisie exploits the proletariat and was motivated by ‘naked self-interest. He goes on to say however that the lower bourgeoisie class will also suffer as the higher middle class overtake them too. ‘Partly because their diminutive capital does not suffice for the scale on which modern industry is carried on their specialised skill is rendered worthless by new methods of production. ’ Marx’s conclusion being that eventually the middle classes and the working class would find themselves in much the same situation and have more in common. This therefore was the significant factor pointing towards nationalism and not the sense of national belonging or sentiment itself. Having considered the factors which were successful in bringing about unification it appears that political reasons had the greater impact. Cavour enjoyed success in Italy through negotiations which involved war and gaining new territory. Herder in Germany relied on sentimental and romanticism theories but Germany encountered difficulties in rallying the nation who were confused about their regional or national identity. Educated French sectors of society were enthusiastic but failed to significantly influence the peasantry while radicals like Marx renounced any importance of the idea of national belonging. Still it is impossible to ignore that there were many individuals such as Foscolo, Friedrich and Garibaldi who shared a united vision of a united country but it is unlikely that their sense of national belonging was the major significant factor in the development of nation states.

Who are the Mongols and what did they do?

Who are the Mongols and what did they do? Who are the Mongols? They are a tribe that has variety of groups, nowadays they spread into China, Mongolia, and Russia. In the past they were great invaders that controlled Europe and Asia. The name Mongol appeared in Tang Dynasty in the 8th century as an invading tribe They became more powerful after the fall of Liao Dynasty (1125). Later the Tatars and Jin Dynasty weakened them. Where did the Mongols live? It is the dwelling place for the Mongolians and Turkic, it is similar to tents, but has thick wall. It is not stable, however, it can be assembled again transported easily, such as transported by camels to be rebuilt in other places. The Founder of the Mongol Empire: Genghis Khan He was the founder of the Mongol Empire in 1206 and invaded Europe and Asia. He improved writing system, brought religion, and made a unified empire. Before he died, he split his empire for his sons and grandsons. Mongol Conquest The Mongols conquest was throughout the early 13th Century, throughout Europe and Asia. They might began their conquest because less people traded with them and began to trade with Jin and Xia Dynasty. Another reason is that Genghis Khan believed that it was Gods mission. Central Asia After the unification, Genghis Khan started to expand his empire starting from the Khwarezmid Empire or Iran. The population in Islamic Central Asia and northern Iran was decreased because each Mongolian soldier was required to kill a certain number of person, such as 24. Europe The Mongols started the invasion in Rus, the Battle of the Kalka River in 1223 between the scouts. Over 1237-1240, they destroyed all the cities in Europe except Novgorod and Pskov. The evidence was the journey wrote by the Giovanni de Plano Carpini, the envoy of the Pope. Middle East They invaded Iran, Iraq, Syria, and parts of Turkey, later they also went to Gaza into Palestine in 1260-1300. The Battle of Baghdad and the Battle of Ain Jalut occurred and the Muslims were the first ones to be able to stop the Mongol force at Ain Jalut. East Asia They invaded China, which later they set the Yuan Dynasty, Japan, Vietnam, and Korea. When they invaded Korea, Korea was forced to be the vassal and becoming an ally of Yuan Dynasty in the future. The Founder of the Yuan Dynasty: Kublai Khan He was the 5th great khan of the Mongol Empire and grandson of Genghis Khan. He found Yuan Dynasty in 1271 and the Mongols ruled China since then. He died at the age of 72 due to his conflicts and sadness in the empire. Marco Polo and Kublai Khan Marco Polo met Kublai Khan and became a confidant for him from 1214-1294, as well as official. Kublai Khan liked him, he requested Marco to tell him about the world. As a reward, he gave Marco and his brother the gerege (the golden tablet) to protect them. Yuan Dynasty, the End of the Mongol Empire It was in between the Song and Ming Dynasty (1271-1368) Kublai Khan maintained the Chinese government during this dynasty, or absolute monarchy. Later the dynasty had a famine and conflicts between people, and the Chinese overthrown them and became the Ming Dynasty. Use of 3-4 Horses Each soldier will have 3-4 horses because they can travel for a long period of time without resting of the horse. They would switch horses throughout their traveling. Using this advantage, each soldier can scout easily and observe the routes. Cavalry Archers 60% of the Mongols were archers that ride horses, they were very light and could maneuver. Mongolian horses were used, they were strong and sturdy. The Mongols also used stirrups to make the archers shoot arrows in any directions. Breaking Tribal Connection In the past, many tribes were fighting each other such as Naimans, Merkits, Tatars, and Keraites and they often causes blood feuds. When Genghis Khan had new soldiers that came from those tribes, he set leaders to divide them and cut the heritage connections to prevent conflicts. Biological Warfare Infected Mongolians were thrown using catapults over the Crimean walls. The plague spread inside Crimea and spread to Sicily, North Africa, Southern Italy, and Europe in 1348, or the famous Black Death. They thought that the stench killed them, but it was actually the plague. Mongol Bow It was constructed by many types of material, or Composite bow. This type of bow was used during Genghis Khans reign and could shoot in a far distance with great accuracy. Range of the Bow In Siberia, there is a stone that was inscribed says that in the time after Genghis Khans conquest of East Turkestan, Genghis Khans nephew shot a target at 536 meters. In a novel Khà ¶kh Sudar, it describes 5 Mongolian soldiers hitting the target for 3 times using the bow at about 500 meters. The Kharash When a city surrender to the Mongols, the Mongols would gather the people in the city out and force them to be human shields. They would push them in front of the army and let them take arrows and other attacks. This tactic can also feared the other enemies of the Mongols. Flanking The Mongols would set leaders and let them split the army into groups, about 10 10,000 troops per group. They would flank their enemy from the sides using the groups of troops, such as 500 to right side and 500 to left side. Encirclement This tactic was used to prevent the escaping of the people in the city theyre fighting with. Basically, they would surround the city from both side, and support each other. If they fail, they would flee, choosing to save the soldiers, and study the opponent for the next times attack. Feigned Retreat The Mongols would pretend to retreat and lure the enemy into the position where they have advantage. If they used this tactic once, they would wait for days or weeks to trick the enemy that they were really defeated, then they would attack the enemy later. Impact of Innovation on Consumer Behavior: Google Impact of Innovation on Consumer Behavior: Google Introduction As innovation is becoming a competitive necessity for marketers, and it is having an important role on modern organizations; all the companies worldwide are promoting it on their business operations. In this paper I will explain what marketing strategy organizations use to make changes in order to survive in this high competitive environment. My intention on this topic is to see how a specific marketing strategy, like innovation, influences on consumers behaviour. Innovation is one of the main tools that organizations use in order to positively influence consumers buying behaviour and attract more customers. To better understand innovation and the role that it has on a company I will first define it and then bring a real example from a well-known company and explain the ways that this company uses in order to promote innovation. The company I choose to analyze is Google since it is consider as being both a successful and innovative company in a short period of time. By many researche s and surveys conducted the worlds most innovative companies today are considered to be Apple Computer, Google, Toyota Motor, and Microsoft with Apple the top leader. (James P. Andrew, 2006, p.4) Brief Description of the Topic and the Position I have taken Nowadays organizations are operating in a strong economic crisis. Competition is becoming intense from day to day and companies are hardly trying to attract new customers and also retain the existing once. Economic crisis leads to uncertainty of the employees and employers and in this situation the companies are requiring a high resistance of change in order to survive. The marketing department and consumers are the main tools in the process of organizational change, collaborating with customers will be the key for their success. According to Peter and Olson 2010, understanding consumers is a critical element in developing successful marketing strategies. (p.13) The position that I take in this paper is supporting the use of innovation in companies. I think that innovation influences positively to consumers, and I am in favor of promoting innovation in companies as it will have a strong influence on consumers buying behavior. Innovation will make the products more attractive for consumers, and they will be more curious to try them. According to James P. Andrew, 2006, innovation today remains the top strategic focus for many companies where 72% of the executives have ranked it as the top-three strategic priority in the company importance for influencing consumers behaviour. The same percentage of executives said that they will increase spending on innovation in the coming years as they perceive it as the most important tool for surviving in this turbulent business environment that is created today. Promotion of innovation in a company should be developed in a way that it supports marketing strategies and consumers needs and wants. Innovation as a Marketing Strategy Traditionally innovation is defined as the creation of new products and services for new customers or also for existing once, it also refers to the improvement of existing products in order to achieve cost reduction. In his article for innovation, Buxton, 2005, explains that the levels of innovation and creativity in a company can be improved with the appropriate management and organization as they are not born with people but are developed through the work experience that people make. For Buxton innovation in a company is far more about prospecting, mining, refining and adding value to gold than it is about alchemy. Rather than focusing on the invention of the brand new, one might better strive for creative insights on how to combine, develop and leverage what is already out there, but hidden, or not understood. (William Buxton, 2005, p.1) Rogers, 1998, p.6 explains that the highly innovative firms would be expected to have higher percentage of sales compared with firms that make ne w or improve products. It is very important that executives in a company have innovative ideas and explain to others how important innovation is to the future of the company. The complexity and crisis of todays business needs a strong focus on innovation and also in the way of thinking differently in order for companies to be different from others and try to survive on the market by attracting new customers. As a company innovator Buxton says that it is not enough to simply have great ideas. If you wanted the ideas to come to fruition, you had to spend as much time directing your innovation and creativity to fostering a culture of creativity and receptiveness to innovation within the company, as you spend on the ideas themselves. (William Buxton, 2005, p.2) So, we can say that innovative activity requires a strong collaboration from all the elements of the firm. In order to promote innovation for a company it is very important the use of new technology, which allows the company to be more competitive in the market and respond in a faster way to the market needs. Defence of my Position: Why Companies Should Invest on Innovation? As it is explained on James P. Andrew article 2006, and as we have learned on MBA courses, companies all over the world practice innovation with a main and primary objective which is a fast growth and success in the industry. Other companies say that investing on innovation is the best practice to eliminate the risk of the company. There is no single best organizational structure for innovation. Indeed, almost any company, regardless of size, shape, culture, or hierarchical structure, can be innovative. (James P. Andrew, 2006, p.22) There are different marketing tactics that marketers can influence consumer behavior and increase their probability of purchase. According to Peter and Olson (2010) the first tactic used by marketers is obtaining information on consumers affect, cognition, and behavior relative to the product, service, store, brand or model of concern through consumer research. (pg.232) Based on the information received from the consumer research data marketers design different marketing mix stimuli, one of which is innovation. Research and Development is considered as the most important innovative tool for companies, and most of the companies all over the world are spending most of their moneys on RD as they believe that it is the best way on helping the companies on cost savings and enhances their ability to develop products and services which will be attractive for customers. (James P. Andrew, 2006, p.3) Product design and idea generation are very important in maintaining customer loyalty and havi ng higher sales than when companies are focusing only on the financial side. I support the investment on innovation because from the articles I read on this topic, the top innovative companies mentioned above, which have highly invested on innovation; have gained customer trust, better quality, a better organizational culture, and a long-term customer relationship. These features that the companies gain from the innovation strategy are the most important once for the positive influence on consumer behaviour and for the economic growth of the company. According to Muller et. al. 2004, today investment in innovation projects is more than ever important because it helps the companies to develop new businesses, create new customers and maintain the old once, creates new market entrants, shortens product life cycle and helps the companies to maintain competitive advantage. So, even if companies spend some money on promoting the innovation, for them should not be considered as a problem because they will gain this money in a short period of time, and beside this th ey will also gain a good reputation which is considered as the most important asset that a company can have. How Google Promotes Innovation Googles mission is to organize the worlds information and make it universally accessible and useful. (Iyer, 2008, p.3) Google is considered to be a company which is very successful and at the same time is ranked the second company after Apple on the worlds most innovative companies. But how does this leader company in its industry promote innovation as the key of its success? Iyer 2008, on his article has considered Google as being an innovation machine as it has been considered as the creator of new approaches to business and management innovation by using the best technology and investing a huge amount of money, a strategy that allowed the company to develop innovation in a short period of time. What mostly matters for this company, are the new ideas and new products that Google announces every day and not the financial profits that it makes. Iyer, 2008, further explains that this innovation strategy that Google has used allowed it to have a rapid growth in the market, a huge produ ct development, to be more satisfied and motivated and also to have better customer relationships. The key success for the companys innovation strategy are its creators, independent software vendors, Google engineers and open source community who by collaborating together make up a diverse product development network, develop new offerings that keep consumers engage, generate revenue and extend value of Googles tools and technology. (Iyer, 2008, p.5) The strategy on innovation promotion has worked perfectly on Google, and it has produced many new products and features that have positively influenced on consumer behaviour. Another strategy that Google has used on promoting innovation is the estimation on time of market changes and the offer of the new products and services quickly than other firms. So, we can see that Googles strategies to innovation are unique, and they have allowed the company to attract the most talented employees and engineers and a lot of satisfied consumers. So, looking how consumers respond to innovation from the above examples, I strongly defend my position on using innovation as a positive marketing strategy. The Other Side of the Coin: People who dont Accept Investing in Innovation Different companies will use different methods and tools to promote innovation, and with the passing of time all companies improve their methods of innovating as new things come out very quickly. But not all companies accept innovation as a marketing strategy to attract more customers. Some think that it is costly while other dont have the right resources to promote it. As we can see on the article of Muller et. al. 2004, some companies that cannot innovate by themselves have invested more by buying innovation in order to survive, Coca-Cola acquired Mad River Traders, which is a market of alternative beverage, but this is a strategy that costs more to the companies than when innovating alone, and they dont prefer using it. For a company it is very important to have money and to invest in order to promote innovation. Rogerss article explains that investment in new machines, marketing expenditures, investment in training and the purchase of new technology are considered as the most imp ortant field of investment which help the company to promote innovation. Many companies dont have the money, and many others dont have the right employees to push the company promote innovation. Muller et. al explains that the most important things that promote innovation in a company are the amount of capital invested on it, the talent which are the employees, and the time that is dedicated to innovation strategies. May companies dont support the investment on innovation because of the lack of capital. In order to succeed in an innovation project it is very important that executives and employees of the company should make a training and research in innovation. They should be able to estimate the potential market for the new idea, what innovation tools are needed for an innovation strategy and what methodologies should be available to the employees. Especially in todays economic crisis, most of the companies dont spend money on training and RD for innovation; they prefer to spend them in other fields. Other challenges that companies face when they try to become innovative are, globalization, organizational issues (such as metrics and measurement, structure, and people), and leadership remain three of the biggest challenges facing companies that are seeking to become more innovative. (James P. Andrew, 2006:4) But, based on the data and example I gave above I think that their position on this topic is not good. Comparing the positive and negative sides of innovation it has more posit ive once as it satisfies more its customers and positively influences on their buying behaviour. Conclusions Concluding my paper I can say that based on what I researched on innovation, and the knowledges I had on Consumer Behaviour and Marketing Strategy lessons, I have learned that innovation and its promotion in a company improves a lot business processes by giving to the company cost advantages, quality advantages, and consumer satisfaction which are the key performance objectives that allow a good operation strategy in any organization. Today all the companies are taking advantage from the new technologies and innovation in order to be the leaders of the market and to gain the highest market share by attracting more customers. So, as the result of this intensive business climate and high availability of information system, the company should frequently redesign and innovate in order to achieve improvement for their future operations and to be at top levels in the market where it operates. Before starting to implement an efficient innovation promotion in a company it is very important for people who will guide it to consider it from the financial point of view, users view and also from opportunities that the innovation system will give for development in the future. I have also learned that after the implementation of the innovation system for further succeeds it is very important for the firm to make continuous control and improvements of it and also to have a higher collaboration between the innovation promotion and all other departments of the company where innovation will be promoted. A good customer relationship is also very important for the implementation of the best marketing strategy, as customers are the once whose need will be satisfied with the creation of the product. When developing innovation a firm should start by analyzing the behavior of its consumers and designing the best marketing strategies that fits their needs. As explained by Peter and Olson (2010) marketers have to analyze and understand not only consumers of their products and brands but also consumers of competitive offerings and the reason they purchase competitive products. (p.13) Through consumer research, marketers obtain information on consumers affect, cognition and behavior based on the product or service they are going to produce. Understanding consumers help in developing successful marketing strategies, while the implementation of the right marketing strategies makes possible the increase of chances that consumers will have positive feelings about the product or service, and will repeatedly purchase them.

Kurt Lewin Essay -- essays research papers

Kurt Lewin Kurt Lewin was a great innovater at his time in the field of Psychology. The theories he developed, the methods of reserch he used and the people he influenced all have had a profound impact on Psychology and even more specifically on Social Psychology. Lewin was born in 1890 in what is now Poland but at the time was the Prussian province of Posen, in the village of Moglino and was the second of four children (Greathouse). His parents owned a general store, and a farm on the outskirts of the village. When Lewin was fifteen his family moved away from the small village, the farm and their store and went to Berlin. It was in Germany was where Lewin began his formal education, but like most people he was unsure of what he really wanted to study at first. In 1909 Lewin began attending the University of Frieberg where he started to study medicine. This did not interest him so he transferred to the University of Munich where he tried to study Biology. Again Lewin decided that this was not for him so he transferred for the last time, this time to the University of Berlin where his study of Philosophy and Psychology began (Frostburg). Lewin was said to have "found many of (the school's) department's courses in the grand tradition of Wundtian psychology irreverant and dull (Greathouse)." He would eventually receive his Ph.D. in the "experimental study of associative learning" at the University of Berlin in 1916 (Jones). Lewin was married twice in his life, the first time in 1917 to a schoolteacher named Maria Landsberg with whom he had the first two of his four children, but in 1927 they divorced. In 1929 he remarried to Gertrud Weiss who he had his third and fourth child with (Frostburg). But before Lewin actually received his degree, he served in the German Army during World War I. While in the service Lewin rose from the rank of private to Lieutenant and was wounded in battle (Jones). These experiences may have had a significant effect on his later research on group psychology. After the war in 1921 Lewin began work at the Psychological Institute at the University of Berlin, where he had the opportunity to work with Wolfgan... ... to speak where ever he went. Students and colleagues working under at different times and at different institutions have said that they felt like the were "doing important work (Patnoe pg. 15)." and there is very little that can provide for a better working environment then honest pride in one's work. Kurt Lewin's work in Child Psychology, Group Psychology, Social Psychology, the psychology of prejudice and his new methods of testing and retesting theories through Action Research were all groundbreaking at the time and continue to have their impact on the field today. But, Lewin was not only a genius in terms of his work in Psychology, he also had a great ability to make the people that he was working with better at their own work. Many of his students and colleagues went on to be some of the most influential minds in psychology. The group he worked with at MIT at the end of his life was especially influential. A study in 1984 showed that "eight of the ten most cited social psychologists are direct descendants of this line of researchers (Patnoe pg.11)." It is fair to say that Kurt Lewin was the father of modern Social Psychology.

Romeo And Juliet: Fate :: essays research papers

The only theme that tragedy reveals is that the noble and good must suffer. There is no lesson we can draw from tragedy that will help us avoid the fate of the protagonist. It is known that in Shakespeare’s tragedies the main characters die in the end. Romeo and Juliet being a tragedy, sets up a situation where we know that Romeo and Juliet are going to die in the end. There are many events that lead to their deaths. The Capulets and Montagues share the responsibility for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet because of each family’s stubborn refusal to end an enduring feud. If their feud could have been resolved the children of each family would not have shared this terrible fate. Friar Lawrence was also partially to blame through his actions in trying to help the couple. At the end of the story the Prince, is the only character who reminds everyone the reality of how Romeo and Juliet’s death occurred because of everyone’s faults. Romeo and Juliet didn’t even try to tell their parents, Lord and Lady Montague and Lord and Lady Capulet, about love between they shared for each other because they were afraid that their parents wouldn’t understand them. Perhaps the families would have understood, the problem is, we don’t know, because Capulet and Montague learned about their children’s love when they were already dead. If Romeo and Juliet were comfortable with telling their parents of their marriage then there would have been fewer complications regarding the marriage with Paris. If it wasn’t for the hostility between the two families then they wouldn’t have cost Romeo and Juliet their lives. The masque was the most important part of the story. Romeo was wearing a mask to hide his face. Since Juliet couldn’t see his face, it allowed Juliet to fall in love with him before she saw who it was. If Juliet had known Romeo was a Montague she would probably not have fallen in love with him. Juliet said: "My only love, sprung from my only hate! Too early seen unknown, and known too late!" (I-5) Juliet realizes that it was a mistake to fall in love with Romeo, because he is a Montague, but it is too late, because she is already in love. Friar Lawrence also had a big part in the story. All his good intentions, the play still ends in tragedy.

Separation And Linking Of Contractual Arrangements Accounting Essay

Measurement standards explained under IAS-18, to assist the users of the fiscal statements in better application and proper apprehension. A coverage entity should mensurate gross originating from an addition in the assets or a lessening in its liabilities or the net consequence of their combination at the just value of that addition or lessening. Gross should be measured at the just value of the consideration received or receivable. For a hard currency sale, the gross is the immediate returns of sale. For a recognition sale, the gross is the awaited hard currency receivable. If the consequence of the clip value of money is material, the gross should be discounted to show value. Gross excludes gross revenues revenue enhancements and similar points because these are non economic benefits for the entity.Gross from the sale of goodsThe gross revenues of goods should be recognised as gross after the undermentioned conditions are satisfied. The important hazards and wagess have been transferred from marketer to purchaser. Managements and control of the trade goods is non retained by the marketer. The dealing sum of the goods can be measured faithfully. The economic benefit of goods related dealing will flux to the marketer. The cost incurred or to be incurred can be measured faithfully.Gross from servicesThe acknowledgment of services rendered is measured in conformity with the phase of completion. The undermentioned conditions must be satisfied. The gross can be measured faithfully. The economic benefit of the dealing will likely flux to the supplier. The completion phase can be measured faithfully at the coverage day of the month. The costs incurred and the cost to finish can be measured faithfully. When these conditions are non met, the gross should be restricted to recoverable merely and the remainder should reflect as unrecoverable debts or commissariats for unrecoverable debts in the fiscal statements.Interest, Royalties and DividendsGross received from these beginnings should merely be recognised when they have been measured accurately and the reception from it is likely. gross should be recognised as follows. Interest should be estimated on a clip apportion footing where necessary, taking into history the effectual output of the plus. Royalties are accrued in conformity with the relevant contract. Dividends are recognised when they are declared and when the stockholder # s right to have payment is established.Examples in using gross acknowledgment through a series of mini instance surveiesExample 1On 1st October in the current twelvemonth, a private tuition supplier enrols a pupil on a six-month class. Lectures are held on a regular basis every hebdomad over the whole six-month period. The tuition fees are $ 6000 and one time paid is non-refundable. All books and stuff have to be purchased individually. The pupil pays a first episode of $ 3000 prior to the beginning of the class, and the balance of $ 3000 in six, $ 500 monthly episodes. The tuition supplier has a fiscal year-end of 31 December and proposes to recognize gross in the fiscal statements on a hard currency reception footing. At the twelvemonth terminal, the three monthly episode due have been received.Required:Tuition supplier should be advised on the right accounting intervention for this dealing.Answer to Example 1At 31 December, it is necessary to find how much gross is to be recognised in regard of the proviso of tuition, i.e. in the sale of a service. The proposal is to recognize gross of $ 4500, this being the hard currency received. This is incorrect. The measuring of net income, and therefore the acknowledgment of gross, has to take some history of the duplicate procedure. At the twelvemonth terminal, precisely one half of the class has been delivered. Consequently, one half of the gross can be recognised, i.e gross revenues should be $ 3000. While there are some staged payments, i.e. there is component of deferred consideration, these are paid over a affair of months instead than old ages. The clip value of money is consequently non regarded as stuff over this period, and so it is non necessary to dismiss the consideration received to get at the just value of the consideration. The $ 1500 received, but non yet recognised as gross at the coverage day of the month, is to be non-refundable there is, in fact, an duty to finish the contract. As deferred income, it is included n the statement of fiscal place / balance sheet as a liability instead than as equity. The original proposed intervention anticipated gross and therefore exaggerated net income in the short term. The right intervention can be summarised as follows: Dr Cash 4500 ( Bing the reception of hard currency ) Cr Revenue / Gross saless 3000 ( Bing the gross earned being recognised ) Cr Deferred income 1500 ( Bing the monies received in progress of the bringing of the services )Example 2On 1 November 2000, a auto retail merchant agreed to sell a motor vehicle for $ 20000. At the clip, the client negotiated a three-year free service understanding as portion of the dealing. This service understanding is usually sold for $ 1000. Besides, on 1st November 2000, the client paid a non-refundable sedimentation of $ 2000. A farther $ 10000 is collectible three months subsequently on 1st February 2001. The client has been taken advantage of a free offer and will pay the balance of the $ 8000 on 1st February 2003. Delivery of the auto to the client will take topographic point on 1st February 2001. The auto retail merchant has a fiscal twelvemonth terminal of 31 December and proposes to recognize the sale of the auto at $ 20000 in the fiscal histories for the current twelvemonth.Required:Rede the auto retail merchant on the right accounting intervention for, this dealing.Answer to illustration 2Fir st let us see the timing of the transaction- when the gross revenues take topographic point. this dealing is for gross revenues of goods, and we should find when the hazards and wagess of the ownership have left the retail merchant. The timing if the sale is, hence, 1st February 2001, as this is when the client takes ownership of the auto and the public presentation of the sale contract is, in consequence, well completed. No gross can be recognised in the current accounting period. The auto retail merchant has received $ 2000 in the current period. This has been banked ( Dr Cash ) and is to be regarded as deferred income ( Cr Deferred Income ) as, at the coverage day of the month of 31st December 2000, there has been no public presentation of the contract. While the sedimentation is said to be non-refundable, the auto trader does non hold an duty to finish the contract. Consequently, deferred income is included in the statement of the fiscal place / balance sheet as ability instead than as equity. There is besides a demand to see how to mensurate the gross generated from the ultimate sale of the auto. Two issues arise here. First there are two transactions- the sale of the auto and the sale of the three twelvemonth service understanding. This is because, in substance, the service understanding has non been given away for free, and the gross from that ( $ 1000 ) should be acknowledged individually and so recognised over the three old ages. Second, the deferral consideration of $ 8000 that will be two old ages after the sale, should be measured at just value by being discounted at the present value to reflect the clip value of money. All of this could be summarised up in diaries as follows- if we assume a price reduction rate 10 % for mensurating the clip value of money.1st November 2000Dr Cash 2000 ( Bing the reception of hard currency ) Cr Deferred Income 2000 ( Bing monies received in progress of the sale being recognised and so deferred income )1st February 2001Dr Deferred Income 2000 ( To unclutter out the brought forward deferred income history ) Dr Cash 10000 ( Bing the reception of hard currency ) Dr Receivable 6612 ( Measured at present value with a price reduction rate of say 10 % [ 8000/1.12 ] ) Cr Deferred Income 1000 ( In regard of the monies received in progress for the three-year service understanding ) Cr Sales/Revenue 17612 ( Gross in regard of the auto reconciliation figure )Example 3On 1st December in the current twelvemonth, an cyberspace travel agent accepts a payment by recognition card of $ 1000 in regard of a hotel engagement for the undermentioned February. The travel agent confirms the engagement and issues the client with an appropriate reception. In due class, the cyberspace travel agent will pay $ 900 to the hotel. Having received $ 100 from the client ( Dr Cash $ 1000 ) , the cyberspace travel agent proposes to instantly recognize $ 1000 as gross in the current twelvemonth ( Dr Gross saless $ 1000 ) . It will so enter the liability to pay the hotel ( Cr liability $ 900 ) and complete the dual entry by posting this as an disbursal ( Dr Expense $ 900 ) , the cyberspace travel agent has a fiscal twelvemonth terminal of 31st December.Required:Rede the cyberspace travel agent on the right accounting intervention for this dealing.Answer to illustration 3It appears that the cyberspace travel agent has so acted as merely an agent and non as a principal. All it has done is to supply an debut. It has non really been responsible for the proviso of a bed for dark. The gross that it should recognize, hence, should be confined to the committee that is due. This is merely $ 100. This earned on 1st December and can be recognised as a liability. When you can reason that the proposed accounting intervention does non, in fact, really overstate net income, it is still misdirecting as it would give the insouciant reader an feeling that the degrees of activity in the company were higher than they really are. To sum up in journal signifier, the right intervention is ; Dr Cash 1000 ( Bing the banking of the hard currency received ) Cr Revenue/Sales 100 ( Bing the committee earned as an agent ) Cr Hotel Creditor 900 ( Bing the liability to pay money over to the hotel )Specific state of affairssBill and keep agreementsIt is referred to the contract for the supply of goods, where the purchaser accepts rubric to the goods but does non take physical bringing of the point until a ulterior day of the month. Provided the goods are available for bringing, the purchaser gives expressed instructions to detain bringing and there are no changes to the footings on which the marketer usually trades with the purchaser, gross should recognize when the purchaser accepts rubric.Payments for goods in progress ( e.g. sedimentations )Gross should be recognised when the bringing of the goods to the purchaser takes topographic point. Until so, any payments in progress should handle as liabilities.Payments for goods by episodesGross is recognised when the important hazards and wagess of the ownership have been transferred, which is normally when the bringing is made. If the consequence of the clip value of money is mat erial, the sale monetary value should be discounted to its present value.Sale or returnSometimes goods are delivered to the client but the client can return within a certain clip period. Gross is usually recognised when the goods are delivered. Gross should so be reduced by an estimation of the return. In most instances a marketer can gauge return from the past experience. For illustration, a retail merchant would cognize on mean what per centum of goods are returned after a twelvemonth terminal and could set gross by the sum of expected returns.Presentation of gross as a principal or as agentThe chief supplies the goods or services on its ain history, while the agent receive a fee or committee for set uping proviso of goods and services by the principal. The principal is exposed to the hazard and wagess of the dealing and therefore records gross as gross sum receivable. The agent merely records the committee receivable on the dealing as gross. An illustration would be a decorative agent who earns committee on the figure of decorative sold. The agent owns no stock list, so is non exposed to obsolescence and therefore could merely enter committee as its gross. The decorative is exposed to the stock list obsolescence and merc handising monetary value alterations, so would enter the gross sum of the sale as gross.Separation and linking of contractual agreementsSometimes concern provide a figure of goods and services to client as a bundle. For illustration, a client might buy package together with regular ascents for one twelvemonth. The job here is whether the sale is one dealing or two separate minutess. A ‘Package ‘ such as this can merely be treated as more than one separate dealing, if each merchandise or service is capable of being sold independently and if a dependable just value can be assigned to each separate constituent. Using the illustration above, if support service is an optional supernumerary and the package can be operated without it, the sale is two ( or more ) separate minutess. If the sale is one dealing and the sum of gross recognised depends on the extent to which the marketer has performed at the coverage day of the month.Disclosure demand of IAS-18Harmonizing to IAS-18 an entity should unwrap: Its accounting policies for gross including the methods adopted to find the phase of completion of service dealing. The sum of each important class of gross recognised during the period. The sum if gross originating from exchange of goods and servicesAssetss and liability theoretical account for gross acknowledgmentThe gross recognised demands in IAS-18 focal point on the happening of the critical events instead than alterations in assets and liabilities. Some believe that this attack leads to debits and credits that do non run into the meet the definition of assets and liabilities being recognised in the statement of the fiscal place. The International Financial Reporting Standard Board has developed two attacks to implement the plus and liability theoretical account: The far value ( measuring ) theoretical account, in which public presentation duty are ab initio measured at just value. The client consideration theoretical account, in which public presentation duty are ab initio measured by apportioning the client consideration sum. It is likely that neither of these will be the concluding theoretical account and the concluding criterion is expected to be drawn from both of them.Failings under IAS-18A practical failing of IAS-18 is that ir gives deficient counsel on contract that provides more than one goods or services to the client. It is ill-defined when the contracts should be divided into constituents and how much gross should be attributable to each constituent. IFRS ( International Financial Reporting Standard Board ) often receives petitions for counsel on the application of IAS-18. Since IAS-18 was originally issued, concerns and dealing have become much more complex. For illustration, computing machine companies often enter into swap minutess. Minutess may include options, for illustration, to purchase portions or to return goods within a specified clip. Some entities have exploited the failings in IAS-18 in order to unnaturally heighten gross ( a practical sometimes called aggressive net incomes direction ) . For illustration, some package companies recognise gross revenues when order are made, good before it is Reasonably certain that hard currency will be received. The chief issue is one of timing. At what point in a dealing should an entity recognise gross? Three inquiries can be helpful in covering with an unusual dealing or state of affairs: When is the ‘critical event ‘ ? This is the point at which most or all of the uncertainness environing a dealing is removed. Has the marketer really performed? Transaction that gives rise to the gross are lawfully contractual agreements, irrespective of whether a formal contract exists. Gross can merely be recognised when an entity has performed its duties under the contract. For illustration, an entity can non recognize gross at the clip that it receives payment in progress. Has the dealing increased the entity ‘s net assets/equity? For illustration, when an entity makes a sale, its assets addition, because it has receivable ( entree to future economic benefits in the signifier of hard currency ) . Therefore it recognises a addition. This is one of the chief principal in the standard model.Current Developments in Revenue RecognitionThe board of International Financial Reporting Standard have been doing steady advancement since July 2010 to re-deliberate the proposed counsel and have finalized their re-liberations on cardinal gross measuring and acknowledgment issues. Some of the more important determinations to day of the month include: Clarifying when public presentation duties are distinguishable. Confirming that offers to supply goods or services that the client can supply to its client are public presentation duties. Clarifying the standards for when public presentation duties are satisfied over clip. Retaining the proposals associating to the usage of a residuary attack to gauge the standalone merchandising monetary value of a public presentation duty. Removing the demand to measure burdensome public presentation duties. Retaining the demand to account for clip value of money in contracts with a important funding constituent. Clarifying the aim of the restraint on acknowledging gross from variable consideration taking the exclusion for licences of rational belongings where payments vary based on the client ‘s subsequent gross revenues ( for illustration, sales-based royalties ) . Retaining the demand to capitalise contract acquisition costs if they are incremental and recoverable. Confirming collectability is non a threshold for gross acknowledgment and holding that initial and subsequent damages of client receivables should be presented as a separate disbursal point in the statement of comprehensive income. Agring that a licence is either a promise to supply a right which transportations at a point in clip or a promise to supply entree to rational belongings which transfers benefits to the client over clip ; and Deciding on revelations, passage, and effectual day of the month for public companies and non-public companies. The International Financial Reporting Standard substantively concluded re-deliberations of their joint 2011 exposure bill of exchange, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, in February 2013. The boards reached determinations on the staying cardinal issues including revelations, passage, and effectual day of the month at their most recent meetings. The boards ‘ timeline indicates the concluding criterion is expected in the 2nd one-fourth of 2013. The criterion will be effectual for the first interim period within one-year coverage periods get downing on or after January 1, 2017. Entities will hold the option to use the concluding criterion retrospectively or utilize a simplified passage method. An entity will non repeat prior periods if it uses the simplified method. Detailss of these determinations, every bit good as a comprehensive expression at the theoretical account at the terminal of the cardinal re-deliberations, are included in this Data line. Any staying â€Å" sweep † or new issues identified by the boards will be discussed at future board meetings, as needed.

Position paper: Should internationalism be embraced? Essay

The source presented talks about the Canadian government’s upcoming actions as it deals with the country’s economic affairs. It can be inferred that the author feels that economic prosperity is the most important sign of progress and a good quality of life for Canadians, as jobs and economic growth can lead to â€Å"long-term prosperity† that will benefit every citizen of the country. An example of this envisioned economic prosperity is the Harper government’s economic action plan, which seeks to supply more jobs in order to prolong and strengthen Canada’s performance economically. By saying that costs must be reduced or eliminated in international affairs, it can be assumed that the author favours nationalism over internationalism. The speaker’s stance can then be assumed that he or she would most prefer to have their country reap the most benefits through the improvement of economic budgeting, over being a world citizen who cares more for the welfare of the world as a whole, and can be inferred that their position supports unilateralism, wherein a country’s decisions are made by themselves, without international influence. An example of favouring nationalism over internationalism is the recent backing out of Canada from its military participation in Afghanistan, due to its expensive costs. This example shows the challenge between balancing both nationalism and internationalism, as Canada’s purpose of providing military aid to Afghanistan shows that the country seeks to be of help during international crises, but then its withdrawal shows that as much as Canada seeks to aid Afghanistan, it has to prioritize its own welfare first in order to keep giving help. The speaker’s sentiment in the last sentence shows exactly that the programs and benefits must be beneficial to Canadians, not in international affairs where they feel that giving our resources only hinders Canada’s path to economic prosperity. Some would agree with the source, as Canada’s welfare must always be prioritized over that of international issues, because they feel that providing aid and resources to other countries would only hinder our progress for prosperity. Others, however, feel that while Canada’s well-being as a country is essential, it is also important to take part in international affairs as a means of economic  progress, humanitarian aid, and having an influence over the decisions that are being made in international affairs. With these in mind, it is best to agree with the perspective that Canada should also take part in international affairs, as it benefits other countries as well as our own, taking into account that our internati onalistic participation can have an influence in preventing conflict around the world, and that economic progress can be achieved through internationalistic participation. Canada’s reputation as a supporter of humanitarian actions has been established through its constant participation of giving aid and resources for those in need. This reputation is evident during the country’s active involvement in providing help during major natural disasters, such as the earthquake in Japan on 2010, and the Typhoon Hayan that occurred in the Philippines. Due to these humanitarian actions, Canada has donated millions in order to aid countries as they reestablish themselves after these calamities. It can be assumed that these actions would not be supported by the speaker of the source, as it does not â€Å"directly affect Canadians† in an economically positive manner. However, one has to take in mind that these countries that have been hit by unfortunate calamities may have caused major economic losses, the destruction of their environment, and the loss of millions of lives. What if Canada were to experience such a calamity? One may argue that these countries are economically lower than Canada, allowing us to be able to support and rebuild ourselves. However, one has to take in mind that if we ever experience the destructive losses that these countries have suffered, help would most likely be given by the countries that we have aided during their adversities, as a sign of gratitude for what we have done for people â€Å"thousands of kilometers away†. Another known reputation of Canada is its active participation in peacekeeping operations that ensure to resolve a conflict between two parties. This was clearly evident when Canada seeked to impose the involvement of military troops during peacekeeping operations, which was implemented through the United Nations. This change in the ways that peacekeeping operations were done greatly improved the UN’s strength in ensuring a successful reconciliation between parties, a critical factor that  was skimped on during the establishment of the League of Nations. This was put into action during the suez crisis, as both parties were reconciliated successfully. Canada’s involvement in military operations and international organizations not only provides military help, but also shapes critical decisions that may affect the rest of the world, such as Canada and other nations such as the United States putting pressure on Russia’s Vladimir Putin for their disagreement with Pu tin sending military troops to Crimea. Despite the failure of Canada to drastically affect Putin and Russia’s decisions, the international pressure that was applied may have been critical in preventing further conflicts from happening. These acts of peacekeeping argue against the source’s perspective, Finally, Canada’s participation in International Organizations benefit the country in more ways than one, particularly that of economic progress. The country’s participation in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) seeks to eliminate trade barriers and tariffs, proving that this international participation benefits Canada economically. Adding on to Canada’s benefits of participating in international organizations is our participation in the United Nations and humanitarian involvements, that fosters Canadian pride. Some would agree with the source, as Canada’s welfare must always be prioritized over that of international issues, because they feel that providing aid and resources to other countries would only hinder our progress for prosperity. Others, however, feel that while Canada’s well-being as a country is essential, it is also important to take part in international affairs as a means of economic progress, humanitarian aid, and having an influence over the decisions that are being made in international affairs. With these in mind, it is best to agree with the perspective that Canada should also take part in international affairs, as it benefits other countries as well as our own, taking into account that our internationalistic participation can have an influence in preventing conflict around the world, and that economic progress can be achieved through internationalistic participation.

Individual delivery of a learning and development session plus 2000 words reflection

our site – CUSTOM ESSAY WRITING –How to engage in a conversation with clients that would lead to sales?Part A: Lesson PlanThe specific group of learnersFor this study the specific group of learners included the sales and marketing attaches attached to sales agent who deals with automobiles.The training needsThe training meets the needs of knowledge how to pitch their sales to the potential customers as it was always difficult to pitch sales to potential automobile customers. Unlike in other markets where there was only one product in the automobile market there were different types of products that met various needs of the customers. Therefore it was necessary to train the new employees how to understand the customers during the initial conversation. It was important to train the trainees how to learn the needs of the customers and meet those needs by helping the customer to select a car that would meet their potential needs. The other need was to create confidence amo ng the trainees to face client and to ask tough questions.The overall aim of the whole learningThe overall aim of the learning was to equip the trainees with the sales knowledge on how to engage a conversation with clients that would lead to sales. The aim was to help the trainees to understand the potential client’s needs without first asking the price and the money that the customer has. The specific aims were to teach how to ask questions that lead to sales and how to keep from discussing price and discuss the value of automobile.Learning outcomesThe learning outcomes are improved understanding of the sales concepts such as asking question and having discussion that make the customer understand the value of the automobiles that he or she is going to purchase.Overall timeline of the session including the content heading and contentTable 1: Session and content SessionContent IntroductionDefine pitching as the ability to convince the client by having appropriate words and information concerning the products. It is convincing the clients that the product has the capacity to meet the customer needs and wants. LecturesTeach clients about asking questions, pitching and asking client questions that will lead to closure of the sale. Role playsOrganise trainees into pairs where one of them acts as a salesman and the other as client Table 2:Mini lesson plan Time durationLearning and development methodTrainer activityLearner participationAids and resources 0-1st minuteIntroductionDefine pitching as the ability to convince the client by having appropriate words and information concerning the products. It is convincing the clients that the product has the capacity to meet the customer needs and wants.Take notesPower point 1-5th minuteLecturesTeach clients about asking questions, pitching and asking client questions that will lead to closure of the sale. Taking notesPower point 6-10th minuteRole play to identify of learningOrganise trainees into pairs where one of them acts as a salesman and the other as clientThe student will act as a salesman while the other students will act as the purchase with a certain budget and is looking for a car model that can fit within that model. Each student will have to act as a salesmen and a client. This will be done by organisation the students in groups of two. The student will act in front of the class.A classroom 11-12th minuteBrainstorm on potential questions to ask clientsAsk students the best type of questions to ask clients provide two questions they would ask a potential customer that would make them know the customer and the need that the customer has.The student to provide tow questions that they would ask potential automobile client.A handout with open ended questions that the sales man should ask clients 13 – 15th minute Question and answersEvaluate students on their ability to ask questions that make the customers to explain their needs. They will also be valued on the basis of the answers and personal obtained from the client such as budget and the car model the client is looking for or the functionalities that the client is looking for in car.Students to fill in a form indicating what roles they have played and the questions they have formulated as well as comment what was interesting and what they have learned about the lesson.A notebook The lesson will considered to be effective based on the students understanding of the sales concepts such as asking questions and having discussion that make the customer understand the value of the automobiles that he or she is going to purchase. Task B: Personal ReflectionIntroductionThis is a reflection on how I planned the lesson and the activities that were undertaken to teach students about executing good auto sales. Various knowledge and theories about theory of learning were employed in this research to ensure that the lesson was effective and it attained the research objectives of making the student understand how to execute good auto sales. The first part is the introductory section. The second part of this reflection reflects on the lesson plan and takes into the consideration the theory that was used in planning the lesson and the learning activities. The third section measured the effectiveness of the lesson. The fourth section reflects on what happened in the practice aspect of the lesson and what has been learnt from this experience.Plan for the lesson and the theory taken into considerationIn planning for this lesson, I was aware of three learning theories which were the behaviourism, cognitivism and constructi vism. The behaviourism holds that teaching should be behaviour oriented and it should make the learners to respond in a particular way through stimuli-response (Salsbury and Melinda, 2008). This means that the teachers should provide stimuli and condition the learners to respond to the stimuli in particular way. This means for instance hearing a door bell rising should lead to the response of opening the door (Fink, 2005). However this theory is mostly applicable in social and in behavioural training such as training soldiers and members of the discipline forces which was not the case for this lesson. Learning is assessed through drills and real life experiences. The other learning theory that could be applied in learning is the cognitive theory. This theory holds that information can be retained in memory through deliberate cognitive activities such as memorising and doing mental exercises. The exercise should be enhanced through internal processing of information. The cognitive learning theory holds that learning is student based and should be examined through individual assessments. The other learning theory that could be used in designing the lesson plan is the constructivism which holds that learning is based on the individual’s interpretation of the information and knowledge. It holds that there is no single way of interpreting and applying knowledge as each person has their own viewpoints and experiences that shape their world view (Mccrea, 2015). Therefore every individual is expected to act differently and to understand the provided knowledge distinctly from the other person. When using this theory the most applicable teaching methods included brainstorming, case studies, simulations or role playing, and problem based learning. In my lesson the constructivism was used to impart knowledge to the students. The theory was preferred because the lesson focused on the sales training which was based on experiences of greatest salesmen. There was no given way of doing sales as different people had done it differently depending with the customers and the types of products and service that they were selling (Serdyukov and Ryan, 2008). Sales was also dependent on the types of customers as each type of customer had varying needs when purchasing an automobile as some wanted automobiles that were luxurious others wanted performance such as speed and acceleration. Other customers wanted low costs automobiles such hence price was the most significant consideration. Others wanted to conserve the environment and wanted vehicles that were environmentally friendly such as the hybrid vehicles. This meant for one to be a great salesmen they had first to understand the individual customer and then apply the knowledge that they have on selling on the individual customer (Salsbury and Melinda, 2008). Therefore constructivist approach was the most appropriate learning approach that could be employed in teaching the learners about good auto sales. When using this theory the learning activities included role playing and simulation activities that included simulating sales scenario and the type of conversations that occur between the potential customers and the salesmen (Salsbury and Melinda, 2008).How the success of the lesson was assessedThe first way of assessing the effectiveness of the lesson was ensuring that the learning objectives were met. The learning objectives for this study were met. The first objective of this lesson was to ensure that the students understood how to ask questions that led to sales. The second objective was to ensure that the students learned how to discuss the value of the automobile rather than the price of the automobiles. The other way that the effectiveness of the lesson was i dentified was through participation of the students in the lesson activities (Zimmerman, 2015). All the students that were involved in the lessons activities retained more knowledge than those who were not involved. For instance one of the ways of ensuring that the students understood the lesson was asking them to participate in role playing where they will act as a salesman and client. Those who managed to ask the open ended questions that made the client to talk about themselves and the need that was to be met by the automobile were considered to have understood the lesson or the content for that learning. Also the students who discussed the value of the car more than the price were considered to have met the objective of the lesson. However, assessing the effectiveness of the lesson was difficult especially because the time allocated for the lesson was not adequate for all the students to participate in the role play. However, it ensured that each individual understood and learne d to apply the selling techniques on their own individuals’ capacity based on the clients’ needs. Activities during the practice and what I got from the practice One of the things that happened during the practice is that the students were excited about the lesson activities. The students wanted to participate in formulating the appropriate questions that they should ask potential automobile clients. The activity was the most interesting part and each student participated in formulating questions that they would ask a potential customers. However some of the students who were not confident did not participate. The other aspect that was interesting to the students was that of role playing. The students played according to social groups which made it interesting. Some of the client were tough and made the lesson exactly like what would happen to a car salesman. However those who were shy did not perform well in the role playing because they asked direct questions that could be answered fast (Skowron, 2010). On assessing the students based on their participants in role playing most of the confident students who were outgoing had better performance than the shy students. In the written test most of the student had better scores indicating that the information was highly retained by the students after the role play and simulation of a sales scenario (Zuiker, et al., 2016). The students were also happy and excited because they were actively involved in the lesson. Based on this experience the most important thing I have learnt is that the students have the capacity to learn on their own with minimal guidance. I noted that to be effective the teacher should incorporate more doing activities in the lesson because they helped the student to apply knowledge in real life situation other than having theoretical knowledge only. However, the time allocated for the lesson was not enough to include more activities in the lesson plan.ConclusionThe reflection has echoed the learning that has been accrued during the preparation of the lesson plans. The exercise has helped me to put into use theories of learning employed in teaching. I have noted that each theory applies in different scenario based on the subject being taught. I have noted that involvement of the student in real life activities through role playing and simulation was effective especially in teaching studies that required application of knowledge in strict life situation like selling to cus tomers who are different and need differing products. References Fink, D. L. (2005) Integrated course design. Manhattan, KS: The IDEA Center. Mccrea, P. (2015) Lean Lesson Planning: A practical approach to doing less and achieving more in the classroom. Brighton: Teacherly. Salsbury, E. and Melinda, S. (2008) Lesson Planning: A Research-Based Model for K-12 Classrooms. Alexandria, VA: Prentice Hall. Serdyukov, P. and Ryan, M. (2008) Writing Effective Lesson Plans: The 5-Star Approach. Boston: Allyn & Bacon. Skowron, J. (2010) Powerful Lesson Planning: Every Teachers Guide to Effective Instruction. 10th edn. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press. Zimmerman, B. (2015) ‘Self-Regulated Learning: Theories, Measures, and Outcomes’, International Encyclopedia of the Social & Behavioral Sciences, pp. 541-546. Zuiker, S., Anderson, K., Jordan, M. and Stewart, O. (2016) ‘Complementary lenses: Using theories of situativity and complexity to understand collaborative learning as systems-level social activity’, Learning, Culture and Social Interaction, 9(11), pp. 80-94