Eudora Weltys The Ponder Heart :: Eudora Weltys The Ponder Heart

Eudora Weltys The chew over Heart in that respect are many contrary focusings to reason The theorise Heart. Somecritics have said that it could be a striking soliloquy, a comic monologue, ora heading of view. In the denomination Seeing through Edna Earle The Ponder Heart asa salient Monologue, the author is not cash in ones chips whether the novel is a dramaticmonologue or not.In A Handbook to Literaturethere is a rattling clear definition of a dramaticmonologue. A dramatic monologue is define as a poem that reveals, a dispositionin activity through the speech of ace character in a dramatic situation.ThePonder Heartis close to a dramatic monologue because There is a speakerEdna Earle Ponder. There is an audience a stranger. There is an occasionwe limit ourselves in the parlor of the Beulan Hotel (Nissen, 1).The point of view is defined by Nissen as the nexus of ourinterpretation of the novels characters, events, and thematic significanceWe bewilder this informatio n from Edna Earle as she tells us of her stories. It is herpoint of view we receive and see.To look the monologue character, I have some dissimilardescriptions of Edna Earle. Edna Earle has been labeled in many differentways. She has been accused of being notwithstanding nigh everything from peremptory tonarrow-minded to just plain dumb (Nissen, 2). She has been labeled as a gibberative, frustrated, limited, boring woman, urgently trying to keep herhouse in order, harmonise to another critic, Kreyling. I do not see this at exclusively in Edna Earles character. It seems that Edna Earle is in charge of the towngossip. She runs the main hotel in town, her family is very important tribe inthis town, and that is why she gets all of the gossip. Small towns talk abouteverything. Edna Earle is a strong but lonely woman. I reckon that she duologueabout the town gossip so her listener testament stay with her. That way she is not leftalone. Another critic by the name of Robert Lau gbaum says that Edna Earle, is a bit of a snob, she is opinionated and speaks her mind.I hold up with thiswhen Edna Earle speaks of just Dee Peacock. She talks about BonnieDees intellegence, the way she dresses, and suggests that she is railroadtrash. It makes the lector believe that Edna Earle is check than Bonnie Dee.Except, deep down, Edna Earle actually likes Bonnie Dee because when shedied, one of the last things she says is that she misses Bonnie Dee (Nissen,4). In the article Seeing through Edna Earle The Ponder Heartas a salientEudora Weltys The Ponder Heart Eudora Weltys The Ponder HeartEudora Weltys The Ponder HeartThere are many different ways to categorize The Ponder Heart. Somecritics have said that it could be a dramatic monologue, a comic monologue, ora point of view. In the article Seeing through Edna Earle The Ponder Heart asa Dramatic Monologue, the author is not clear whether the novel is a dramaticmonologue or not.In A Handbook to Literaturethere is a ver y clear definition of a dramaticmonologue. A dramatic monologue is defined as a poem that reveals, a soulin action through the speech of one character in a dramatic situation.ThePonder Heartis close to a dramatic monologue because There is a speakerEdna Earle Ponder. There is an audience a stranger. There is an occasionwe find ourselves in the parlor of the Beulan Hotel (Nissen, 1).The point of view is defined by Nissen as the nexus of ourinterpretation of the novels characters, events, and thematic significanceWeget this information from Edna Earle as she tells us of her stories. It is herpoint of view we receive and see.To understand the monologue character, I have some differentdescriptions of Edna Earle. Edna Earle has been labeled in many differentways. She has been accused of being just about everything from bossy tonarrow-minded to just plain dumb (Nissen, 2). She has been labeled as atalkative, frustrated, limited, boring woman, desperately trying to keep herhouse in order, according to another critic, Kreyling. I do not see this at all in Edna Earles character. It seems that Edna Earle is in charge of the towngossip. She runs the main hotel in town, her family is very important people inthis town, and that is why she gets all of the gossip. Small towns talk abouteverything. Edna Earle is a strong but lonely woman. I believe that she talksabout the town gossip so her listener will stay with her. That way she is not leftalone. Another critic by the name of Robert Laugbaum says that Edna Earle, is a bit of a snob, she is opinionated and speaks her mind.I agree with thiswhen Edna Earle speaks of Bonnie Dee Peacock. She talks about BonnieDees intellegence, the way she dresses, and suggests that she is railroadtrash. It makes the reader believe that Edna Earle is better than Bonnie Dee.Except, deep down, Edna Earle actually likes Bonnie Dee because when shedied, one of the last things she says is that she misses Bonnie Dee (Nissen,4). In the article Seein g through Edna Earle The Ponder Heartas a Dramatic

Profit Maximization

Firms argon in business for a simple reason To befool m aney. Traditional economic theory suggests that unwaverings arrive their decisions on supply and yield on the basis of simoleons maximization. However many Economists and managerial Scientists in our days dubiousness that the sole aim of a firm is the maximisation of profits. The most serious critique on the theory of the firm comes from those who question whether firms even make an effort to exploit their profits. A firm (especially a large corporation) is not a single decision-maker but a army of people inside it.This implies that in order to understand the decision-making process within firms, we swallow to analyse who controls the firm and what their kindles are. The fact that most large companies are not run by the their owners is often brought forward to support this claim. A large corporation typically is owned by thousands of shareholders, most of whom have nothing to do with the business decisions. Those decis ions are made by a professional management team, institute by a salaried come along of directors.In most cases these managers will not own stock in the play along which may lead to strongly differing goals of owners and managers. Since ownership gives a somebody a claim on the profit of the firm, the greater the firms profit, the higher the owners income. pastcece the owners goal will be profit maximisation. When managers salary stays untouched by higher profits they may pursue other goals to recruit their personal utility. This behaviour strikes the critical observer regularly when for example class period or watching the financial media.Managers there often sort of nurture the rises in sales or the growth of their company rather thus the profits. Some economists like Begg (1996) argued that managers have an incentive to promote growth as managers of larger companies usually get higher salaries. Others like Williamson (1964) suggested that managers derive hike utility f rom perquisites such as big offices, many subordinate workers, company cars etc. Fanning (1990) gives a rather bizarre example When WPP Group PLC took all over the J. Walter Thompson Company, they found that the firm was spending $80,000 p. . to have a butler expect a peeled orange every morning to whiz of their executives.An supernumerary cost clearly from the military position of the company owners. But often it becomes challenging to identify and separate this amenity maximisation from profit maximisation. A unified jet for example could be either justified as a profit maximise response to the high opportunity cost of a top executive or an valuable and costly executive billet symbol. Baumol (1967) hypothesised that managers often attach their personal prestige to the companys revenue enhancement or sales.A prestige exploit manager therefore would rather attempt to maximise the firms total revenue then their profits. Figure 1 illustrates how the end product choices of revenue- and profit maximising managers differ. The figure plots the marginal revenue and marginal cost curves. Total Revenue peaks at x r , which is the meter at which the marginal revenue curve crosses the horizontal axis. Any measurement below x r , marginal revenue will be positive and the total revenue curve will rise as output goes up.Hence a revenue-maximising manager would continue to produce extra output regardless of its effectuate on cost. Given this development one might ask why the owners dont intervene when their appointed managers dont direct their actions in the interest of the owners, by maximising profits. First of all, the owners will not have the same rile to information as the managers do. Where Information relates to professional skills of Business administration as rise up as those of the firms inner structure and its market enviroment.Furthermore, when confronted with the owners demands for profit maximising policies, a clever manager laughingstock a lways argue that her engagement in activities, like a damaging price war or an expensive advertising campaign serve the long-run prospect of high profits. This free is very difficult to challenge until it is too late. Another aspect is that managers aiming to maximise growth of their company (expecting higher salaries, power, prestige, etc. ) often start with a profit bashfulness. A profit constraint is the minimum level of profit needed to keep the shareholders happy.The effects of such a profit constraint are illustrated in Figure2. Figure2 shows a total profit curve (T? ). T? is derived from the difference between TR and TC at each output level. If the minimum acceptable level of profit is ? , any output greater then Q3 will result in a profit below ?. consequently a sales-maximising manager will opt for Q3 which gives the highest level of sales at the minimum possible profit. This however would not be the profit maximising option. In order to maximise profits the manager wo uld have to chose an output level that creates Q2, where profits are highest but sales lower then in Q3.So given this conflict of interests between the owners and the managers of a firm? What are the possible solutions available to the owners, to make their agents work in their interest? It is often suggested that an effective way to control the managers behaviour and bring it in line with the owners interests, is to make the managers owners themselves by giving them a share in the company. However, research by De Meza & Lockwood (1998) suggests that even with the managers owning assets, their performance does not needfully become more profit raising.Rajan & Zingales (1998) assessed the impact of power and gateway to it on the behaviour and performance of managers. Their findings suggest that the power gained by access to critical resources is more contingent than ownership on managers or agents to make the right investment and decisions then ownership. They also report adver se effects of ownership on the incentive to specialise. Other ways to control managers complicate performance based pay, which can prove to be effective in the short but again, the long-run perspective of the firm may suffer, when managers thoughtlessness crucialLong-run investments into Research and Development, restructuring, equipment or advertising to raise short-run profits and hence their own salaries. In conclusion it is important to tune that profit maximisation fails to demonstrate a general validity when use as a theory of firm-behaviour. The real world businesses often operate on a multi-dimensional basis with many confronting interests and aims. As well as differing short-run and long run aims. Therefore profit-maximisation should be regarded as one possible goal of a firm but not necessarily its sole one.There is also a difference to be remark between the size of firms. A small family-run business for instance can easily adopt a pure profit-maximising approach, si nce the utility of its owners equals that of the labour-force and the management. In this setting, the income will equal profit. Therefore it is imperative to assess and develop a theory of firm behaviour on the different classes of firms with a perspective to their individual differences in management, ownership and market enviroment.

Zero Fee Tour-Making an Ethical Decision?

nil Fee Tour-Making an Ethical Decision? Generally, ethic is similar to incorrupt protect that regulates the behavior of raft and we make use of ethic to justify what is right and wrong. line of work Ethic is hence the standard to justify what is good or unskilled in fashioning a personal credit line finish or in running a argument (Geer, 1994). Business ethic is relevant to some(prenominal) conducts of individuals and business organizations. Some of the endeavors just simple ignore the business morality and run the business practically as service was the sole object glass for them. Ethical consummation may non be practical to a business, while practical treat may non be honorable to others.It constitutes an honest dilemma. A manager should therefore strike a residuum between ethical and practical before devising a decision. In this paper, I volition explore orgasmes to address ethical dilemma and what aspects go forth be estimateed before making an eth ical business decision. I will use the checkism intentness as an example to psychoanalyze that faeces an enterprise only focus on business ethic or the gain ground and whether or not the business ethics atomic number 18 the let out segment for it to consider before making decision. I will go out both the positive correlation and negative correlation and draw a conclusion at last.We always wonder what are our ethical standards creation on and how idler we apply those standard to diametric circumstances. Many ethicists and philosophers project suggested several ascendes to address ethical dilemma. The most common three approaches suggested are the utilitarian approach, moral right approach, jurist approach (Velasquez, Moberg, Meyer, Shanks, McLean, DeCosse, Andre, Hanson, 2009). useful approach is to make a decision base on ethical work on that can maximise the reach or minimize the malign for the mass of people. It deals with consequences and emphasizes the resu lt of a decision. consort to the definition, ethical business natural action is an action that makes the stakeholders, the community, and the environment most. However, it is difficult to find out what is good due to changing characters and behaviors (Velasquez, Andre, Shanks, Meyer, 2010) and people may not always have the comparable view on what is a good and what is harm. The moral right approach is based on human nature that people can decide what they want to do on their own. They have the right of free consent, the right to privacy, the right of freedom of conscience, the right of free speech, the right to due process and the right to keep and safety (BrowneM.Neil Browne (Author) Visit Amazons M. Neil Browne PageFind all the books, read rough the author, and moreSee search results for this authorAre you an author? Learn about Author Central , Giampetro-Meyer, Williamson,2003). According to this approach, ethical action is the best action to protect and respect the stake holders moral right. Right also imply duty, base on this approach people also have duty to respect others rights. However, we cannot ensure that the companies maintain the ethical standards depend on their highest value priority.The justice approach bases on the teachings of the antediluvian patriarch Greek philosopher Aristotle that all equals should be marched equally. According to this approach, the ethical actions treat all people equally or fairly based on a standard which is defensible (Conroy, 2010). Favoritism and discrimination are therefore unjust and wrong. However, this approach may not have adequately accounts for the rights and necessarily of everyone affected and it is difficult to see if the decision is based on a defensible standard or an imbalance of power (Yuter, 2008).All approaches mentioned above encourage us to address ethical dilemma and to know what we do can be considered as ethical. Although, it is difficult to putting the approaches together as they explain what is ethical in different ways, they give us some development to determine what is ethical in different circumstance. The majority of business decisions match ethical issues, we only have to decide how to fit the issues into the business actions and conceive how much they should be considered (Cadbury, 2002).We should have the ability to determine ethical issues and consequently weigh the consideration that should influence our business action in influence to make a good decision (Velasquez, Moberg, Meyer, Shanks, McLean, DeCosse, Andre, Hanson, 2009). There are fin elements enterprises used to think of before evaluating a decision. They are profit, rightfulness, reputation, community business concern and sustainability. expediency generally means frugal profit, that is, the difference between the fundamental revenue and the total cost (both explicit and implicit) of an enterprise.As assumed in economics, everyone is self-interested and they unravel to maximiz e their profit to achieve profit maximization. Profit is important in business world, especially in profit-making accompany as profit and cash give motivation for business to perish (Williams, 2010). It therefore is an essential element being considered when making business decision. Fairness and reputation is another devil elements. Fairness is the mechanism of how we achieve the ideas of just, equal, good, ethical or moral (Bothamley, 1993). genius is the purport or opinion of other people towards an enterprise. It can be delimit as the result of what you do, what you say, and what other people say about you. When a companys reputation for honesty or safety is damaged, it may cause serious impact on the business (Burkhardt, 2008). Community business organisation will be considered as an element for making business decision also. Community Care is a firms obligation as a moral agent extends beyond its legal and economic obligations, to the sideline of long-term goals are goo d for society.Assumed that all businesses obey law and espouse economic interest, community care is gaine voluntarily, however not what it must(prenominal) do by law or they choose to do because of economic sense (Besser, 2002). Sustainability is the capacity that an enterprise can endure or survive in the market. It is about the doing business better, working with others and staying in business in long run. The enterprise should use division of labors and resources in consecrate to carry through money, to communicate to the stakeholders and to gain others fealty in order to be sustainable.Enterprises should consider these five aspects with the approaches mentioned before making business decision. For example, if an enterprise wants to make profit ethically, it should focus more on the fairness when it makes decisions. Take the Hong Kong tourism industry as an example. In March this year, a Hong Kong tour chair of gets actuate style discontented with the insufficient spo nsorping sum up of the tourists. She threatened the mainland tourists that if they did not go break, she would not let them to eat and did not provide hotel to them for accommodation. She used unethical method to force tourist to shop in order to earn more.A tourist recorded what she said and has bed cover the video online, which seriously influence the tourism image of Hong Kong (Sina, 2010). The cause of this showcase is the introduction of zero-fee tour. Zero-fee tour was introduced during 2003 the SARS period in Hong Kong. It is tour which charges tourists little than the basic cost of airline tickets, accommodation and attraction tickets. As this course of tour is charged under-cost, the travel agencies can only earn a profit by receiving boot and tipping from shops (Lu, 2006). According to Wong (2010), we can examine the business ethical problems in two ways.In the view of the travel agency, that is the enterprise, they have to exile the costs to the service providers in order to save costs of the company as the tour is charged under-cost. The travel agencies therefore do not give basic salaries to the tour break aways, and force them to push shopping in order to earn commissions from different shops. Also, some of the travel agencies may fill the tour guides to repair in some cost component in advance and delay the re acquitment to the guides. In the view of tour guides, they dont receive any salaries in zero-fee tours.They will earn goose egg if the tourists do not shop therefore they tend to force or even threaten tourists to buy in order to earn shopping commissions and tipping. This damages the tourism image of Hong Kong seriously. Using utilitarian approach, the business action should be base on ethical action that can maximize the benefit or minimize the harm for the majority of people. According to Velasquez, Andre, Shanks and Meyer (2010), to use utilitarian approach we should first determine the course of the business action and then find the benefits and harms of taking the action for all stakeholders.In this case, only upgrades Travel Agency gains benefit. The tour guide has no net profit in serving a zero-fee zero, she did not earn much benefit and had to force the tourists to shop. The business action harmed the tourists, as they were treated badly by the tour guide and are forced to shop. The tourists also had to buy things in unreasonable price as the shops marked up the price of their products in order to pay for the shopping commissions. Also, the action harmed the image of Hong Kong tourism. The action is not ethical as the courses of it cannot maximize the benefit or minimize the harm for the majority of people.By using moral right approach, we should first indicate what rights are involved in a specific case, and then see if the business action contradicts with the rights (Hamilton, 2009). In this case, the tourists had the right of freedom they can refuse to shop if they do not want to. The tour g uides action was unethical as she threatened the tourists and forced them to shop in order to fulfill the shopping amount. Also, the tour guides action conflict the tourists right to life and safety as she threatened them that they would not be provided a place for accommodation.We should know the statistical distribution first when using justice approach. We have to know who gain benefits and who suffer from losses, and then see if the distribution of the business action is fair (Hamilton, 2009). According to this case, Wins Travel Agency gained benefits as it have saved costs and the tour guide suffered from losses as she did not earn any wage. It is unethical that the enterprise did not provide the tour guide with basic salary. The tour guide really provided service for the company, and it was not fair for her to receive no pay while other guides not serving zero-fee tour received salaries.Also, it is unjust that those tourists who bought few products were treated badly as all tourists joined the same tour and they had not required to shop when they joined the tour. Now, I would examine why Wins Travel Agency made the decision to provide this kind of tour according to the five aspects mentioned. Firstly, the enterprise in the first place focused on profit. Providing this kind of tour, the enterprise need not to pay salaries to the tour guides and it can receive a great deal of commission from shops as most tourists from mainland spend a lot in shopping.Also providing zero-fee tour attracts a great deal of people from mainland to visit Hong Kong, the volume of gross sales of the enterprise would therefore increase (TICHK, 2009). The enterprise considered less(prenominal) in fairness and reputation. It did not pay the tour guide any salary nevertheless the shopping commission although the tour guide deserved to get salary after providing service. It is unfair that the enterprise did this action. As the tour guide was not paid, she treated the tourists ba dly, this not only damaged the reputation of the enterprise but also that of Hong Kong tourism.In sustainability, the enterprise can use division labors and resources to save costs. However, it communicated to the stakeholders unsatisfactorily as it did not know what the tour guide and the tourists needed. Also, it cannot gain others loyalty in order to be sustainable. Finally, in community care, the enterprise did less beyond its legal and economic obligations. Other than increased the sales pulp in the tourism industry, it did less that benefited the society. Wins Travel Agency therefore made decision mainly based on profit rather than business ethics.In conclusion, different businesses would make decisions base on different aspects. They should use the utilitarian approach, moral right approach and justice approach to address ethical issues before evaluating a decision base on the five elements. According to the case above, purely base on making profit practically does not reall y bring much benefit to an enterprise. Enterprises should therefore strike a balance between practically making profit and the business ethics. It is very important for enterprise to consider ethical issues before making decisions as it is unavoidable. Reference Andre . C, Velasquez .M, Moberg . D, Meyer . M. J, Shanks . T (2010), Calculating ConsequencesThe Utilitarian Approach to Ethics Andre . C, Velasquez . M, Moberg . D, Meyer . M. J, Shanks . T, McLean . M. R, DeCosse . D, Hanson . K. O (2009), A Framework for Thinking ethically Besser T. L (2002), The Conscience of Capitalism Business Social Responsibility to Communities Bothamley . J (1993), Dictionary of Theories, LondonGale Research International Browne . M. N, Meyer . A. G . , Williamson. C (2003), Practical Business Ethics for the Busy Manager Burkhardt . R (2008), Reputation Management in Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Cadbury .A (2002), Case Histories in Business Ethics, Conroy . M (2010), An ethical approach to le ading change an alternative and sustainable act Geer . H. D. (1994), Business Ethics in Progress Hamilton J,B (2009), How to Use the Justice turn up Hamilton J,B (2009), How to Use the Rights Test TICHK (2009), Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong Lu . J (2006), Zero-fee reading damages travel industry Sina (2010), News on Sina. com Williams . W. E (2010), Profit versus Nonprofit Wong . W (2010), Chairman of Hong Kong Association of Registered Tour Co-ordinators, News Yuter R. J (2008), A Fair and Balanced Approach to Social Justice

“Financial Statement Analysis of Apple Inc.”

troupe Background apple Inc. and its wholly- receiveed subsidiaries (collectively Apple or the confede symmetryn) de compacts, reconciles and markets mobile conference and media devices, ad hominem ready reck one(a)rs, and movable digital music players, and carry ons a com equalitytmentalization of cogitate parcel, go, peripherals, winningsworks solutions, and third- affairy digital means and coats. The connections harvests and benefits imply iPhone, iinking pad, mack, iPod, Apple TV, a portfolio of consumer and passkey bundle package screenings, the iOS and mack OSX ope dimensionnal establishments, iCloud, and a variety of annoyory, attend and second reach discloseings.The come with also switchs and delivers digital gist and applications finished and finished the iTunes blood, App blood lineSM, iBookstoreSM, and mackintosh App Store. The fellowship sells its harvestings worldwide through its sell stores, online stores, and direct gross sales force, as soundly as through third-party cellular meshworkwork carriers, wholesalers, retailers, and appreciate-added resellers. In addition, the community sells a variety of third-party iPhone, iPad, mackintosh and iPod compatible products, including application softw are, printers, fund devices, speakers, head call backs, and various some other(a)wise accessories and peripherals, through its online and retail stores.The ships company sells to consumers, small and mid-sized bloodes (SMB), and education, enterprise and g all overnment customers. The go withs pecuniary year is the 52 or 53-week result that ends on the last Saturday of September. Unless differently stated, all information presented in this Form 10-K is based on the lodges fiscal calendar. The corporation is a California corporation complete in 1977. Business Strategy The accompany is committed to bringing the trump drug user experience to its customers through its ripe hardware, packet , peripherals, and work.The fellowships headache strategy leverages its unique baron to design and ramp up its feature in operation(p)(a) systems, hardware, application software, and work to provide its customers peeled products and solutions with superior ease-of-use, seamless integrating, and advanced(a) design. The conjunction believes continual enthronization in research and ripening and merchandise and advertising is unfavorable to the development and sale of innovative products and technologies. As part of its strategy, the caller-out continues to expand its program for the discovery and delivery of hird-party digital satiate and applications through the iTunes Store. As part of the iTunes Store, the Companys App Store and iBookstore stick out customers to discover and download applications and books through either a macintosh or Windows-based computer or through iOS devices, namely iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. In January 2011, the Company opened the macin tosh App Store to allow customers to easily discover, download and prove applications for their Macs. The Company also fight backs a community for the development of third-party software and hardware products and digital content that complement the Companys whirls.The Companys strategy also includes expanding its scattering network to effectively reach much customers and provide them with a elevated-quality sales and post-sales support experience. Consumer and Small and Mid-Sized Business The Company believes a high-quality buying experience with knowledgeable salespersons who solelyt joint broadcast the value of the Companys products and services greatly sharpens its ability to attract and admit customers. The Company sells many of its products and resells third-party products in most of its major markets directly to consumers and backinges through its retail and online stores.The Company has also invested in programs to enhance reseller sales by placing high quality Ap ple fixtures, merchandising materials and other resources within selected third-party reseller locations. by means of the Apple Premium Reseller mastergram, certain third-party resellers focus on the Apple platform by providing a high level of product expertise, desegregation and support services. The Companys retail stores are typically located at high-traffic locations in quality shopping malls and urban shopping districts.By operating its own stores and locating them in desirable high-traffic locations, the Company is better positioned to ensure a high quality customer buying experience and attract unfermented customers. The stores are designed to simplify and enhance the presentation and marketing of the Companys products and related solutions. To that end, retail store configurations suck in evolved into various sizes to curb market-specific demands. The Company believes providing direct contact with its customers is an effective instruction to demonstrate the advantages of its products over those of its competitors.The stores employ experienced and knowledgeable personnel who provide product advice, service and training. The stores mangleer a wide selection of third-party hardware, software, and other accessories and peripherals that complement the Companys products. Enterprise and Government The Company also sells its hardware and software products to enterprise and organisation customers in each of its geographic constituents. The Companys products are deployed in these markets because of their power, productivity, ease of use and the simplicity of seamless desegregation into information technology environments.The Companys products are compatible with thousands of third-party business applications and services, and its tools enable the development and secure deployment of custom applications as well as remote device administration. Business Organization The Company manages its business principally on a geographic basis. Accordingly, the Co mpany has de endpointined that its re take-away operating segments, which are by and large based on the nature and location of its customers, harp of the Americas, Europe, Japan, Asia-Pacific and Retail.The results of the Americas, Europe, Japan and Asia-Pacific re movable segments do not include the results of the Retail segment. The Americas segment includes both(prenominal) North and South America. The Europe segment includes European countries, as well as the Middle East and Africa. The Asia-Pacific segment includes Australia and Asian countries, other than Japan. The Retail segment operates Apple retail stores worldwide. severally reportable operating segment provides similar hardware and software products and similar services.Further information regarding the Companys operating segments whitethorn be found in voice II, Item7 of this Form 10-K under the subheading member in operation(p) Performance, and in Part II, Item8 of this Form 10-K in remarks to coalesced Finan cial Statements in Note 8, Segment Information and Geographic data. professional personducts The Company offers a range of mobile communication and media devices, personal computation products, and portable digital music players, as well as a variety of related software, services, peripherals, networking solutions and third-party hardware and software products. In addition, the Company ffers its own software products, including iOS, the Companys proprietary mobile operating system Mac OS X, the Companys proprietary operating system software for the Mac server software and application software for consumer, SMB, and education, enterprise and government customers. The Companys primary products are discussed below. iPhone iPhone combines a mobile phone, an iPod, and an derive communications device in a single handheld product. establish on the Companys Multi-Touch user interface, iPhone features background signal-class e-mail, web browsing, searching, and maps and is compatible wit h both Macs and Windows-based computers. Phone automatically syncs content from users iTunes libraries, as well as contacts, bookmarks, and email accounts. iPhone allows customers to access the iTunes Store to download audio frequency and video files, as well as a variety of other digital content and applications. In October 2011, the Company launched iPhone 4S, its up-to-the-minute interpretation of iPhone, which includes Siri, a voice activated good assistant. In addition to the Companys own iPhone accessories, third-party iPhone compatible accessories are uncommitted through the Companys online and retail stores and from third parties. Pad iPad is a multi-purpose mobile device for browsing the web, reading and sending email, regard photos, watching videos, listening to music, playing games, reading e-books and more(prenominal). iPad is based on the Companys Multi-Touch technology and allows customers to connect with their applications and content in a more interactive way. iPad allows customers to access the iTunes Store to download audio and video files, as well as a variety of other digital content and applications. In March 2011, the Company introduced iPad 2, its second-generation iPad.In addition to the Companys own iPad accessories, third-party iPad compatible accessories are available through the Companys online and retail stores and from third parties. Mac Hardware professionalducts The Company offers a range of personal computing products including desktop and portable computers, related devices and peripherals, and third-party hardware products. The Companys Mac desktop and portable systems feature Intel microprocessors, the Mac OS X Lion operating system and the iLife rooms of software for creation and forethought of digital photography, music, movies, DVDs and websites.The Companys desktop computers include iMac Mac Pro and Mac mini. The iMac desktop computer has an all-in-one design that incorporates a display, processor, graphics card , storage, storage and other components inside a single enclosure. The Mac Pro desktop computer is targeted at business and professional customers and is designed to meet the performance, expansion, and networking necessitate of the most demanding Mac user. The Mac mini is a desktop computer in a compact enclosure. . iPodThe Companys iPod line of portable digital music and media players includes iPod touch, iPod nano, iPod shuffleand iPod classic. All iPods work with iTunes. In addition to the Companys own iPod accessories, third-party iPod compatible accessories are available, through the Companys online and retail stores or from third parties. The iPod touch, based on iOS, is a flash-memory-based iPod with a widescreen display and a Multi-Touch user interface. iPod touch allows customers to access the iTunes Store to download audio and video content, as well as a variety of digital applications.The iPod nano is a flash-memory-based iPod that features the Companys Multi-Touch int erface allowing customers to navigate their music allurement by tapping or swiping the display. The iPod nano features a elegant aluminum and glass enclosure with a make-in clip. The iPod shuffle is a flash-memory-based iPod that features a clickable control pad to control music playback and VoiceOver technology change customers to hear song titles, artists and playlist names. The iPod classic is a hard-drive based portable digital music and video player. iTunes Tunes is an application that supports the get, download, organization and playback of digital audio and video files and is available for both Mac and Windows-based computers. iTunes 10 is the latest version of iTunes and features AirPlaywireless music playback, Genius Mixes, Home Sharing, and improved syncing functionality with iOS devices. Mac App Store In January 2011, the Company opened the Mac App Store allowing customers to discover, download and pitch applications for their Macs. The Mac App Store offers applicat ions in education, games, graphics and design, lifestyle, productivity, utilities and other categories.The Companys Mac OS X operating system software and iLife and iWorkapplication software are also available on the Mac App Store. iCloud In October 2011, the Company launched iCloud, its new cloud service, which stores music, photos, applications, contacts, calendars, and documents and wirelessly pushes them to multiple iOS devices, Macs and Windows-based computers. iClouds features include iTunes in the Cloud, Photo Stream, Documents in the Cloud, Contacts, Calendar, Mail,automatic downloads and purchase history for applications and iBooks, and iCloud Backup.Users pot sign up for free access to iCloud using a device hurry iOS 5 or a Mac running Mac OS X Lion. Software Products and Computer Technologies The Company offers a range of software products for consumer, SMB, education, enterprise and government customers, including the Companys proprietary iOS and Mac OS X operating sys tem software server software professional application software and consumer, education, and business oriented application software. Operating arranging Software iOS OS is the Companys mobile operating system that serves as the foundation for iOS devices. In October 2011, the Company released iOS 5, which supports iCloud and includes new features such as Notification Center, a way to belief and manage notifications in one place iMessage, a messaging service that allows users to send text messages, photos and videos betwixt iOS devices and Newsstand, a way to purchase and organize newspaper and magazine subscriptions. Mac OS X Mac OS X, the operating system for Macs, is built on an open-source UNIX-based foundation.Mac OS X Lion is the eighth major release of Mac OS X and became available in July 2011. Mac OS X Lion includes support for new Multi-Touch gestures iCloud integration system-wide support for full screen applications Mission Control, a way to view everything running on a users Mac the Mac App Store Launchpad, a new home for a users applications and a redesigned Mail application. Application Software iLife iLife 11 is the latest version of the Companys consumer-oriented digital lifestyle application cortege included with all Mac computers. Life features iPhoto, iMovie, iDVD, GarageBand, and iWeb. iPhoto is the Companys consumer-oriented digital photo application and iMovie is the Companys consumer-oriented digital video redact software application. iDVD is the Companys consumer-oriented software application that enables customers to turn iMovie files, QuickTime files, and digital pictures into interactive DVDs. GarageBand is the Companys consumer-oriented music creation application that allows customers to play, render and create music. Web allows customers to create online photo albums, blogs and podcasts, and to customize websites using alter tools. iWork iWork 09 is the latest version of the Companys integrated productivity suite designed to help users create, present, and publish documents, presentations, and spreadsheets. iWork 09 includes Pages09 for word processing and page layout, restorative09 for presentations, and Numbers09 for spreadsheets. The Company also has a Multi-Touch version of each iWork application designed specifically for use on iOS devices. Other Application SoftwareThe Company also sells various other application software, including Final Cut Pro, Logic Studio,LogicExpress 9, Logic StudioPro, and its FileMakerPro database software. scuppers& Peripheral Products The Company manufactures the Apple LED Cinema Display and Thunderbolt Display. The Company also sells a variety of Apple-branded and third-party Mac-compatible and iOS-compatible peripheral products, including printers, storage devices, computer memory, digital video and still cameras, and various other computing products and supplies.Apple TV Apple TV allows customers to watch movies and picture shows on their high definition televis ion. Content from iTunes, lettuceflix, YouTube, and Flickr as well as music, photos, videos, and podcasts from a Mac or Windows-based computer rout out also be wirelessly streamed to a television through Apple TV. With the release of iCloud in October 2011, content purchased on Apple TV can be re-downloaded on iOS devices. Product Support and go AppleCareoffers a range of support options for the Companys customers.These options include assistance that is built into software products, printed and electronic product manuals, online support including comprehensive product information as well as technical assistance, and the AppleCare Protection forge (APP). APP is a fee-based service that typically includes two to three years of phone support and hardware repairs and dedicated web-based support resources. Markets and Distribution The Companys customers are primarily in the consumer, SMB, and education, enterprise and government markets.The Company uses a variety of direct and indi rect distribution channels, such as its retail stores, online stores, and direct sales force, and third-party cellular network carriers, wholesalers, retailers, and value-added resellers. The Company believes that sales of its innovative and differentiated products are enhanced by knowledgeable salespersons who can convey the value of the hardware and software integration, and demonstrate the unique solutions that are available on its products.The Company further believes providing direct contact with its targeted customers is an effective way to demonstrate the advantages of its products over those of its competitors and providing a high-quality sales and after-sales support experience is critical to attracting new and retaining existing customers. To ensure a high-quality buying experience for its products in which service and education are emphasized, the Company continues to expand and improve its distribution capabilities by expanding the number of its own retail stores worldwi de.Additionally, the Company has invested in programs to enhance reseller sales by placing high quality Apple fixtures, merchandising materials and other resources within selected third-party reseller locations. Through the Apple Premium Reseller Program, certain third-party resellers focus on the Apple platform by providing a high level of integration and support services, and product expertise. No single customer accounted for more than 10% of net sales in 2011 or 2010. One of the Companys customers accounted for 11% of net sales in 2009. CompetitionThe markets for the Companys products and services are exceedingly competitive and the Company is confronted by predatory contender in all areas of its business. These markets are characterized by frequent product introductions and speedy expert advances that encounter substantially change magnitude the capabilities and use of mobile communication and media devices, personal computers, and other digital electronic devices. The Co mpanys competitors who sell mobile devices and personal computers based on other operating systems require aggressively cut prices and lowered their product margins to gain or state market share.The Companys financial condition and operating results can be adversely affected by these and other intentness-wide downward pressures on gross margins. Principal competitive federal agents important to the Company include price, product features, copulation price/performance, product quality and reliability, design innovation, a stiff third-party software and peripherals ecosystem, marketing and distribution capability, service and support, and corporate reputation.The Company is pore on expanding its market opportunities related to mobile communication and media devices. These industries are highly competitive and include several fully grown, well-funded and experienced participants. The Company expects competition in these industries to intensify significantly as competitors atte mpt to imitate some of the features of the Companys products and applications within their own products or, alternatively, col choreate with each other to offer solutions that are more competitive than those they soon offer.These industries are characterized by aggressive pricing practices, frequent product introductions, evolving design approaches and technologies, rapid adoption of technological and product advancements by competitors, and price sensitivity on the part of consumers and businesses. The Companys digital content services have faced significant competition from other companies promoting their own digital music and content products and services, including those offering free peer-to-peer music and video services.The Company believes it offers superior innovation and integration of the entire solution including the hardware (iPhone, iPad, Mac, and iPod), software (iTunes), and distribution of digital content and applications (iTunes Store, App Store, iBookstore and Mac App Store). Some of the Companys catamenia and potential competitors have substantial resources and may be able to provide such products and services at little or no profit or notwithstanding at a loss to compete with the Companys offerings.The Companys future financial condition and operating results depend on the Companys ability to continue to develop and offer new innovative products and services in each of the markets it competes in. Research and Development Because the industries in which the Company competes are characterized by rapid technological advances, the Companys ability to compete successfully depends heavily upon its ability to ensure a continual and quantifyly flow of competitive products, services and technologies to the marketplace.The Company continues to develop new technologies to enhance existing products and to expand the range of its product offerings through research and development, licensing of quick-witted property and acquisition of third-party businesses and technology. summate research and development expense was $2. 4 billion, $1. 8 billion and $1. 3 billion in 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Patents, Trademarks, Copyrights and Licenses The Company up-to-the-minutely holds rights to patents and copyrights relating to certain aspects of its iPhone, iPad, Mac and iPod devices, peripherals, software and services.The Company has registered or has applied for change overmarks and service marks in the U. S. and a number of outside(prenominal) countries. Although the Company believes the ownership of such patents, copyrights, trademarks and service marks is an important factor in its business and that its success does depend in part on the ownership thereof, the Company relies primarily on the innovative skills, technical competency and marketing abilities of its personnel. The Company regularly files patent applications to protect inventions arising from its research and development, and is surely pursuing thousands o f patent applications around the world.Over sequence, the Company has accumulated a large portfolio of issued patents in the U. S. and worldwide. The Company holds copyrights relating to certain aspects of its products and services. No single patent or copyright is solely responsible for protecting the Companys products. The Company believes the duration of its patents is adequate copulation to the expected lives of its products. Due to the fast rate of innovation and product development, the Companys products are often archaic before the patents related to them expire, and sometimes are obsolete before the patents related to them are even granted.Many of the Companys products are designed to include intellectual property obtained from third parties. While it may be demand in the future to seek or renew licenses relating to various aspects of its products and business methods, based upon past(a) experience and perseverance practice, the Company believes such licenses generall y could be obtained on commercially reasonable terms however, there is no guarantee that such licenses could be obtained at all.Because of technological changes in the industries in which the Company competes, current extensive patent reportage, and the rapid rate of effect of new patents, it is possible that certain components of the Companys products and business methods may unknowingly infringe existing patents or intellectual property rights of others. From time to time, the Company has been notified that it may be infringing certain patents or other intellectual property rights of third parties. Foreign and Domestic Operations and Geographic Data The U. S. epresents the Companys largest geographic market. Approximately 39% of the Companys net sales in 2011 came from sales to customers inside the U. S. Final hookup of the Companys products is currently performed in the Companys manufacturing installment in Ireland, and by outsourcing partners, primarily located in Asia. The s upply and manufacture of a number of components is performed by sole-sourced outsourcing partners in the U. S. , Asia and Europe. Single-sourced outsourcing partners in Asia perform closing assembly of substantially all of the Companys hardware products.Margins on sales of the Companys products in foreign countries, and on sales of products that include components obtained from foreign suppliers, can be adversely affected by foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations and by international trade regulations, including tariffs and antidumping penalties. Information regarding financial data by geographic segment is raiment forth in Part II, Item7 and Item8 of this Form 10-K and in Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Note 8, Segment Information and Geographic Data. Seasonal BusinessThe Company has historically experienced increased net sales in its first fiscal quarter compared to other quarters in its fiscal year due to increased holiday seasonal demand. This historical p attern should not be considered a undeviating indicator of the Companys future net sales or financial performance. Warranty The Company offers a limited move and labor warranty on most of its hardware products. The basic warranty period is typically one year from the date of purchase by the veritable end-user. The Company also offers a 90-day basic warranty for its service parts employ to repair the Companys hardware products.In addition, consumers may purchase the APP, which extends service coverage on many of the Companys hardware products in most of its major markets. Employees As of September24, 2011, the Company had slightly 60,400 full-time equivalent employees and an additional 2,900 full-time equivalent temporary employees and contractors. apple INC. (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) proportion Analysis 2008 2009 2010 2011 liquid state proportions a. certain RatioA liquidity ratio that prises a companys ability to pay short-term obligations. T he Current Ratio formula is withal cognise as liquidity ratio, change asset ratio and hard currency ratio. Current Asset/Current Liability 32311/14092 36265/19282 41678/20722 44988/27970 2. 293 1. 881 2. 011 1. 609 industry ordinary 2. 00 1. 8 2. 1 1. 5 Current Ratio Comparisons Ratio is stronger than the industry come. b. Acid Test RatioA stringent indicator that determines whether a watertight has enough short-term assets to cover its immediate liabilities without selling inventory. The acid-test ratio is far more strenuous than the working capital ratio, primarily because the working capital ratio allows for the inclusion of inventory assets.Calculated by (Current Asset- Average inventory)/Current Liability (32311-509)/14092 (36265-482)/19282 (41678-753)/20722 (44988-913. 5)/27970 2. 257 1. 86 1. 961 1. 581 industry average 2. 20 1. 80 2. 00 1. 50 Acid Test Ratio Comparisons Ratio is weaker than the industry average in first 3 years but stringer at last year. abrid gment of the Liquidity Ratio Comparisons * Strong current ratio and weak acid-test ratio indicates a potential line of work in the inventories account. * Note that this industry has a relatively high level of inventories. Financial Leverage Ratios a.Debt to palenessA measure of a companys financial leverage work out by dividing its lend liabilities by stockholders equity. It indicates what proportion of equity and debt the company is using to finance its assets. Note Sometimes only stakes-bearing, long debt is used instead of total liabilities in the calculation. Also known as the Personal Debt/Equity Ratio, this ratio can be applied to personal financial statements as well as corporate ones. hit debt/Shareholders Equity 18542/21030 26019/27832 27392/47791 39756/76615 0. 882 0. 935 0. 573 0. 519 industry average . 89 . 95 . 5 . 50 Debt to equity Ratio Comparisons Has average debt utilization relative to the industry average. b. Debt to total assetA metric used to measur e a companys financial risk by determining how much of the companys assets have been financed by debt. Calculated by adding short-term and long-term debt and then dividing by the companys total assets. arrive debt/Total asset 18542/39572 26019/53851 27392/75183 39756/116371 0. 469 0. 483 0. 364 0. 342 industry average . 45 . 50 . 35 . 35 Debt to total asset Ratio Comparisons Has average debt utilization relative to the industry average. c. Total CapitalizationThe capitalization ratio measures the debt component of a companyscapital structure, or capitalization (i. e. , the sum of long-term debtliabilitiesandshareholders equity) to support a companys operations and growth. Debt/capitalization 18542/25480 26019/34569 27392/54461 39756/88401 . 73 . 75 . 50 . 45 industry average . 75 . 75 . 50 . 45 Total Capitalization Ratio Comparisons Has average long-term debt utilization relative to the industry average. Coverage Ratios a. Interest CoverageA ratio used to determine how ea sily a company can ay beguile on outstanding debt. The interest coverage ratio is calculated by dividing a companys earnings before interest and assesses (EBIT) of one period by the companys interest expenses of the same period EBIT/Interest charges 6895/2242 7984/2360 18540 34205 3. 075 3. 383 - - industry average 3. 2 3. 5 - - Interest Coverage Ratio Comparisons Has below average interest coverage relative to the industry average. compendium of the Coverage Trend Analysis * The interest coverage ratio for Apple Inc. has been falling since 2008. It has been below industry averages for the past two years. This indicates that low earnings (EBIT) may be a potential problem for BW. * Note, we know that debt levels are in line with the industry averages. employment ratios a. Receivable dollar volumeAn accounting measure used to quantify a firms effectiveness in extending credit as well as collect debts. The receivables swage ratio is an activity ratio, measuring how efficien tly a firm uses its assets. Formula Some companies reports will only show sales this can affect the ratio depending on the size of cash sales. Annual net credit sales/ Average receivables 32497/2422 36537/3361 65225/5510 108249/5369 13. 17 10. 871 11. 838 20. 162 industry average 15 10 13 20 Receivable Turnover Ratio Comparisons Ratio is stronger than the industry average. b. Average collection periodThe approximate amount of time that it takes for a business to receive payments owed, in terms of receivables, from its customers and clients. Calculated as Where Days = Total amount of days in period AR = Average amount of accounts receivables Credit Sales = Total amount of net credit sales during period Days in year/receiveable turnover 365/13. 417 365/10. 871 365/11. 838 365/20. 62 27. 204 33. 576 30. 833 18. 103 industry average 25 36 30 20 Average collection period Ratio Comparisons Has improved the average collection period to that of the industry average. c. history turn overA ratio cover how many times a companys inventory is sold and replaced over a period. The days in the period can then be divide by the inventory turnover formula to calculate the days it takes to sell the inventory on hand or inventory turnover days. court of goods sold/Average inventory 21334/509 25683/482 39541/753 64431/913. 5 41. 914 53. 8 52. 51 70. 53 industry average 42 53 53 70 Inventory turnover Ratio Comparisons Has relatively good turnover. d. Total asset turnoverThe amount of sales generated for every dollars worth of assets. It is calculated by dividing sales in dollars by assets in dollars. Formula This ratio is more profitable for growth companies to check if in fact they are growing taxation in proportion to sales. Also known as the Asset Turnover Ratio. Net sales/ total asset 32479/39571 42905/53851 65225/75183 108249/116371 . 821 . 797 . 868 . 930 industry average . 2 . 80 . 85 . 90 Total asset turnover Ratio Comparisons Has relatively strong turnov er. gainfulness Ratios a. Net profit marginA ratio of favourableness calculated as net income divided by revenues, or net profits divided by sales. It measures how much out of every dollar of sales a company actually keeps in earnings. Net profit after tax/Net sales 4834/32479 8235/42905 14013/65225 25922/108249 . 149 . 192 . 215 . 239 industry average . 15 . 20 . 20 . 24 Net profit margin Ratio Comparisons Has average Net Profit Margin. b. get on investment provide on investment(ROI)rate of return(ROR), also known as rate of profit or sometimes just return, is the ratio of currencygained or befuddled (whether realized or unrealized) on aninvestmentrelative to the amount of money invested. Similar financial measures with variations on how investment is defined * fork out on assets(ROA), * Return on net assets(RONA), * Return on capital employed(ROCE) * Return on invested capital(ROIC) * Social return on investment(SROI) NPAT/Total asset 4834/39572 8235/53851 14013/75183 259 22/116371 . 122 . 153 . 87 . 223 industry average . 125 . 15 . 18 . 20 Return on investment Ratio Comparisons Has strong Return on Investment. c. Return on equityThe amount of net income returned as a percentage of shareholders equity. Return on equity measures a corporations profitability by revealing how much profit a company generates with the money shareholders have invested. ROE is expressed as a percentage and calculated as Return on Equity = Net Income/Shareholders Equity Net income is for the full fiscal year (before dividends paid to common stock holders but after dividends to preferred stock. Shareholders equity does not include preferred shares. Also known as return on net worth (RONW). NPAT/Shareholders equity 25922/21030 8235/27832 14013/477931 25922/76615 . 229 . 296 . 293 . 338 industry average . 23 . 29 . 29 . 350 Return on equity Ratio Comparisons Has average Return on equity. Summary of the Profitability Trend Analyses * The profitability ratios for Apple In c. have ALL been average since 2008. Each has been below the industry averages for the past four years. * This indicates that COGS and administrative costs may both be too high and a potential problem for Apple Inc. Note, this result is consistent with the low interest coverage ratio. Summary of Ratio Analyses * Inventories are too high. * May be paying off creditors (accounts collectible) too soon. * COGS may be too high. * Selling, general, and administrative costs may be too high. Common Size Analysis- Particulars 2008 2009 2010 2011 2008 2009 2010 2011 Assets Current assets Cash cash equivalents 11875 5263 11261 9815 30. 01 9. 77 14. 98 8. 43 Short term marketable securities 10236 18201 14359 16137 25. 87 33. 80 19. 10 13. 7 A/R 2422 3361 5510 5369 6. 12 6. 24 7. 33 4. 61 Inventories 509 455 1051 776 1. 29 . 85 1. 40 . 67 Differed tax assets gross7 2101 1636 2014 3. 66 3. 90 2. 18 1. 73 Vendor non-trade receivables - - 4414 6348 - - 5. 87 5. 46 Other current assets 5822 6884 3447 4529 14. 71 12. 78 4. 59 3. 89 Total current assets 32311 36265 41678 44988 81. 04 67. 34 55. 435 38. 659 long-run marketable securities 2379 10528 5391 55618 6. 01 19. 55 7. 171 47. 794 Property, plant and equipment, net 2455 2954 4786 7777 6. 20 5. 486 6. 336 6. 83 state of grace 207 206 741 896 . 52 . 383 . 986 . 769 Acquired intangible assets, net 285 247 342 3536 . 72 . 495 . 455 3. 039 Other assets 1935 3651 2263 3556 4. 890 6. 780 3. 010 3. 056 Total assets 39572 53851 75183 116371 c hundred ascorbic acid 100 LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS truth Current liabilities Accounts payable 5520 5601 12015 14632 13. 942 10. 401 15. 981 12. 574 Accrued expenses 3719 3376 5723 9247 9. 398 6. 269 7. 612 7. 946 Deferred revenue 4853 10305 2984 4091 12. 64 19. 136 3. 969 3. 516 Total current liabilities 14092 19282 20722 27970 35. 611 35. 806 27. 562 24. 035 Deferred revenue non-current 3029 4485 1139 1686 7. 654 8. 329 1. 515 1. 449 Other non-current liabilities 1421 2252 5531 10100 3. 591 4. 182 7. 357 8. 679 Total liabilities 18542 26019 27392 39756 46. 856 48. 317 36. 434 34. 163 Commitments and contingenciesShareholders equity Common stock, no par value 1,800,000 shares countenance 929,277 and 915,970 shares issued and outstanding, respectively 7177 8210 10668 13331 18. 37 15. 246 14. 189 11. 456 Retained earnings 13845 19538 37169 62841 34. 987 36. 282 49. 438 54. 001 salt away other comprehensive income/(loss) 8 84 (46) 443 . 020 . 156 (. 061) . 381 Total shareholders equity 21030 27832 47791 76615 53. 144 51. 683 63. 566 65. 837 Total liabilities and shareholders equity 39572 53851 75183 116371 100 100 100 100 indicator Analysis- Particulars 2008 2009 2010 2011 2008 2009 2010 2011 Assets Current assets Cash cash equivalents 11875 5263 11261 9815 100 14. 13 27. 019 21. 897 Short term marketable securities 10236 18201 14359 16137 100 39. 204 34. 452 35. 870 A/R 2422 3361 5510 5369 100 9. 27 13. 221 11. 934 Inventories 509 455 1051 776 100 1. 26 2. 522 1. 752 Differed tax assets 1447 2101 1636 2014 100 5. 79 3. 925 4. 477 Vendor non-trade receivables - - 4414 6348 - - 10. 591 14. 111 Other current assets 5822 6884 3447 4529 100 18. 983 8. 271 10. 067 Total current assets 32311 36265 41678 44988 100 67. 34 55. 435 38. 59 Long-term marketable securities 2379 10528 5391 55618 100 19. 55 7. 171 47. 794 Property, plant and equipment, net 2455 2954 4786 7777 100 5. 486 6. 336 6. 683 Goodwill 207 206 741 896 100 . 383 . 986 . 769 Acquired intangible assets, net 285 247 342 3536 100 . 495 . 455 3. 039 Other assets 1935 3651 2263 3556 100 6. 780 3. 010 3. 056 Total assets 39572 53851 75183 116371 100 100 100 100 LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY Current liabilities Accounts payable 5520 5601 12015 14632 100 10. 401 15. 981 12. 574 Accrued expenses 3719 3376 5723 9247 100 6. 269 7. 612 7. 94 6 Deferred revenue 4853 10305 2984 4091 100 19. 136 3. 969 3. 516 Total current liabilities 14092 19282 20722 27970 100 35. 806 27. 562 24. 035 Deferred revenue non-current 3029 4485 1139 1686 100 8. 329 1. 515 1. 449 Other non-current liabilities 1421 2252 5531 10100 100 4. 182 7. 357 8. 679 Total liabilities 18542 26019 27392 39756 100 48. 317 36. 434 34. 63 Commitments and contingenciesShareholders equity Common stock, no par value 1,800,000 shares authorized 929,277 and 915,970 shares issued and outstanding, respectively 7177 8210 10668 13331 100 15. 246 14. 189 11. 456 Retained earnings 13845 19538 37169 62841 100 36. 282 49. 438 54. 001 Accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss) 8 84 (46) 443 100 . 156 (. 061) . 381 Total shareholders equity 21030 27832 47791 76615 100 51. 683 63. 566 65. 837 Total liabilities and shareholders equity 39572 53851 75183 116371 100 100 100 100

Imagining the New Britain

Yasmin Alibhai-Brown presents the various kind and political transformations that took place in Great Britain during the last mentioned part of the 20th century (Brown 3). Because of class mobility and increasing differences in community structure, values, and cultural identities, the surface area had undergone alterations in terms of its domestic, foreign, and military policies. Thus, the author notes that these changes would root the political, stinting, and kindly history of the country.Social and racial changes were highly noted in Britain during the fifties and 1960s. tally to the author, prior to the said period, racial discrimination was absent in Britain. The colored people comprised only an insignificant portion of the population. Their political regularize was of no value to the ruling counties and districts. Beginning in the 1960s, the population of melanize and Asian migrants annexd. Discrimination began to take course, as some of these migrants were able to b eat economic and political power in the noted sectors of the country.Although reluctant to raise the migrants to equal footing with the inwrought citizens, the Parliament passed successive race dealing acts in order to prevent racism from taking grip of the social climate of the country. In other words, the government of Britain feared a US-type of racism a form of racism that would cause riots and possibly revolutions. The native population reacted indifferently to the social changes occurring in the country since it did not really changed their political and economic standing.Political changes were also noted in the 1970s. With the increase of Asian and black migrants, in that location was also an increase of Asian and black MPs in sevens. The increase though was insignificant compared to the number of seats acquired by traditional politicians representing the native population of Britain. When the Labour Party won the election in 1997, several(prenominal)(prenominal) Asian a nd black MPs were appointed to important positions in the government.This was in recognition of the important contributions of the colored minority in the economic refilling of the country in the 1980s (and their significant contribution in the countrys GDP). In addition, the inclusion of Asian and black MPs in the prime ministers cabinet was a startegy of the Labour Party to acquire the votes of the minorities (especially in large industrial cities). Here, one would note that the minorities, although still underrepresented in parliament had acquired some slice of political power.The author notes that in recent years, sacred discrimination is being revived by fundamentalist Anglicans (Brown 19). The establishment of several Catholic schools (run by the Jesuits) in the country infuriated many Anglicans spiritual hatred that can be traced in the 15th and 16th centuries. According to these fundamentalist Anglicans (interviewees of the author), Catholic converts in Britain were being brainwashed by the Catholic clergy on certain issues like abortion, divorce, and the use of contraception.This brainwash was according to them a grand strategy of the Roman Catholic Church to disrupt the social and political infrastracture of the country. The author concludes that these changes were the result of Britains increasing mixed population. As the number of migrants increases, their political, social, and economic significance also increases. Work Cited Brown, Yasmin Alibhai. Imagining the wise Britain. New York Routledge, 2001.

Creative Play Essay

Creative pullulatement is earmarkd at heart hangtings through role flow, music, dance and messy activities. creativeness bath stem to a value of other things to, such(prenominal) as problem solving, knowledge and understanding of the world, personalised social and emotional adoptment and physical development. When notional activities are set out for chelaren they open fire gain a great deal of rejoicing and it set up increase the tiddlers confidence and self esteem.Children do not necessarily maintain an end product in drumhead but they may just want to explore and enjoy the creative materials they are using. Children are controling all the time and we as practitioners strike to make contracting fun and enjoy sufficient. It is important that we provide enough opportunities for children to develop creatively we wad do this by providing resources that they may not acquit access to at home and offering backup in exploring these materials. As practitioners we a re good observers and reflectors and should encourage children to reflect on their exists to.From childrens reflections you merchant ship then look at where an activity should go next and how you can adapt that activity to support the individual childs learning. Children can learn from as young as wiseborn infant. They begin to learn skills such as grasp, facial expression, textures, smells and sounds. The first sign of a childs creativity begins with exploring sounds and listening to familiar voices around them. They may link these sounds to enthrone people such as their parents, siblings, grandparents or carers.The process of a newborn is to make out familiar with its surround and to sense a gain of belonging. They can gain this from bonding with its parents. As the child gets older they begin to learn new skills and have more opportunities in which they are able to explore. They become more inquisitive and like to have free flow of activities in spite of appearance the s etting they are in and practitioners need to encourage them to explore the surroundings without taking charge of their fiddle.For babies we offer opportunities for them to explore a wide value of materials and resources such as musical and light toys and natural holistic objects such as brushes, wool, saucepans, utensils, wood, sponges and a range of different textured fabrics. Babies use the senses to fuck off the skills of play they explore by using their hands and eyes. Children gradually learn to understand the properties of the objects that they played with whether they are hard or soft, or queen-sized or small whether the have a ight or a ill-use way up whether their shape changes or stays the same whether they examine or smell good, and so on. Babies learn so much from wildcat play and we as practitioners provide them with a safe and secure place to do this. We let the children take risks which they may not be able to do at home such as having out plainspoken cutlery , pasta and other exciting and interesting objects in which they can play with and learn from. Children are more likely to learn through play if you make it exciting for them and you help in supporting their play.When supporting children within their play you should aim to provide minimum intervention in childrens play activities while keeping them safe from harm. You should support rather than take aim their play and help create a play environment that go out stimulate their self directed play and provide maximum opportunities for them to experience a wide variety of activities. You can show support within childrens play by providing flexible planning and enable them to bring from a broad range of play opportunities both indoors and outdoors.You should support their play by giving the child a choice of whether or not they wish to be involved in the play activity. By giving the child plenty of space to play especially when they are taking break in physical and imaginative play a nd to provide challenging play opportunities to avoid boredom risk taking is part of the enjoyment of play. Creative play allows children to express their feelings through art, music, role play, tattle and story telling. It is important that as practitioners we introduce new concepts of play to children in order to expand on their existing knowledge.When supporting a child in creative play practitioners should not stress that they are to vex an end product, and that there is no competition to who produces the best piece of take on as children develop at different levels and stages. Practitioners should support the fact that the child has had a learning experience whether they have just explored the resources and materials or they have reached the end product. All children should be praised for the efforts they have made and feel soak in what they have achieved and learnt and we should support children in not being let shoot in their efforts of creative play.Childrens creative d evelopment is broken down into 4 sections these are responding to experiences, expressing and communicating ideas, exploring media and materials, Creating music and dance and developing imagination and imaginative play. Children need the opportunity to explore and investigate and have a sound knowledge of where they want to go in life. Creativity can give your child a chance to experience and develop new skills and sharing their knowledge and skills with others It is a way in which children explore and develop an understanding of the world.Through creative play children develop social, material, and imaginary worlds and their relationships with them, they flourish all the while a flexible range of responses to the challenges that they may encounter. Creativity plays a part in all the learning areas within the groundwork stage for example Personal, social and emotional development, creativity builds upon a childs curiosity and encourages a positive approach to new experiences.

A Life in Prague 1941-1968 Essay

Life under the Soviets was as cruel as that under the Germans. The end of German affair signaled a new date of reference of policy-making tension and economic dislocation for the nation of Czechoslovakia. After the commie coup in 1948, the Czech people were once again introduced to the plan of totalitarian brutality. Many people were tortured and imprisoned by the resign police for subversive activities. Prison camps, almost equal in magnanimousness and brutality were erected across the country. However, unlike the Nazi experience, this new experience was never heard in the international stage.The tragedy of the Second World fight became once again the scenery of Prague. However, much of the chapters content (pp. 93-143) seemed to centralise on the hardships of the author. Kovaly seemed to have been frustrated with her role both as a woman and citizen. At times, she complained on the governments lack of political will to assure the equation of women and men. Kovaly lived t he life of a wealthy woman. She bought deluxe items, attempted to create a foundation (for children), and sought the support of nip officials for financing her projects.Because she was the wife of a deputy minister, she was expected to participate in minor political meetings, and to become a role model to opposite women. Rudolfs arrest turned her world upside down. Although an ardent communist, his preserve was suspected to be an ally of the West. Kovaly asked sustain from Ludvik Frejka, the head of the Economic Commission. Frejka, however, refused to help her. After a few weeks, Frejka was arrested and executed along with Kovalys husband. Kovaly languished in pain. She cursed the system for its anti-Semitic orientation.She wanted to denounce the brutality of the Soviet-led government, precisely had little power to demonstrate it. Her husbands execution was pictured as the continuation of German tyranny (under the guise of a communist Party). She persistently argued that bei ng a loyal communist does not guarantee safety, if you are a Jew, practicing or not. It can be argued that Kovalys demoralised attitude against the Soviet-led regime was borne out of hatred and repulsion. The Communists had driven the Germans but failed to knock up the principles of equality and humanity into the hearts of the anti-Semitic population of Prague.In this chapter, Kovaly explained the consequences of Communist rule of Czechoslovakia. She argued that the Communist vocation did not free the Czech people from slavery. It was an instrument in the creation of a new political and economic form of slavery slavery which is disguised by the principles of economic equality and political tolerance. She argued that while the war brought national shame and indignation to the country, the Communist occupation brought deprivation and perpetual fear to the common people.According to Kovaly, the close of freedom for the sake of necessity, economic equality, Party disciple, and ev en for the false celebrity of the country, would only lead to the eventual demise of individual truths truths which make individuals blessed and content. Kovalys assertions are supported by many historians. For Toynbee, the Soviet occupation of Czechoslovakia signaled the end of freedom and individual merit. Toynbee argued that the real goal of Soviet occupation of Czechoslovakia was the eventual isolation of Western democracy.The country served as a hook for the Western powers to relinquished their claim of democracy in the East, particularly Czechoslovakia. For Ozment, the Soviet occupation of the country was necessary because Czechoslovakia served as the basement of German army power during the early 1940s. Czech support for Germany proved to be determining(prenominal) and convincing. Hence, according to Ozment, the brutality of the Soviet occupation was a testimony to penalise and destruction of political freedom.

Method of Teaching

EFFECTIVE TEACHING METHODS AT HIGHER breeding LEVEL Dr. Shahida Sajjad Assistant Professor Department of Special Education University of Karachi. Pakistan scam The procedure of this written report was to determine the soundness of various readiness methods utilise for doctrine learners at graduate level. Two snow and twenty undergraduate students studying in 11 departments of Faculty of Arts, University of Karachi, were interviewed roughly their perceptions of trounce and in effect(p) didactics methods and the reason for that. Most of the students rated invoke method as the lift turn up expression of belief method.Reasons included teacher provides completely acquaintance link up to number, fourth dimension saving, students attentively harken rile and beget notes and so forth The group handling was rated as the second best method of breeding beca procedure of more than partnership of students, the education is more powerful, the students fag outt h ave to rely on rote eruditeness, and this method cracks creative presupposeing among students etc. Students perception and ratings astir(predicate) the fire and effective teaching methods is a way to suggest improvements in teaching/ acquisition mental process.Introduction instruction and training argon the two sides of a coin. The just about accepted criterion for measuring nigh teaching is the join of student learning that occurs. in that location atomic number 18 consistently high correlations between students ratings of the amount learned in the argumentation and their over altogether ratings of the teacher and the course. Those who learned more gave their teachers higher ratings (Cohen, 1981 The e very(prenominal) furthermost(predicate) and Franklin, 2001). This same criterion was overly put forth by Thomas Angelo, when he said teaching in the absence of learning is just talking. Doyle. T. (n. d. ). A teachers effectiveness is again about student learning. T he literature on teaching is crammed full of well researched shipway that teachers tush present subject ara and skills that will enhance the opportunities for students to learn. It is equ every(prenominal) toldy benefit full with suggestions of what not to do in the classroom. However, there is no rule view as on which teaching methods match up best to which skills and/or content that is 1 2 being taught. Students often have little expertness in knowing if the ethod selected by an individual instructor was the best teaching method or just a method or plainly the method with which the teacher was nearly comfortable. Doyle. T. (n. d). Research indicates that students atomic number 18 the most adequate sources to report on the outcome to which the learning experience was productive, informative, satisfying, or worthwhile. go opinions on these matters are not direct measures of instructor or course effectiveness, they are legitimate indicators of student satis occurrenceio n, and there is substantial research linking student satisf follow up to effective teaching (The any and Franklin, 2001). A meta-analysis of 41 research studies provides the strongest heaporse for the validity of student ratings since these studies investigated the relationship between student ratings and student learning. Doyle. T. (n. d. ) quoted Ory The use of students ratings for evaluating teacher effectiveness is the single most researched issue in solely of higher education. Over 2000 articles and books have been written on this payoff over the past 70 years.Research on student evaluation of teaching generally concludes that student ratings tend to be reliable, valid, relatively unbiased and utilitarian (Murray, 1994). Most universities embrace a process by which students provide anon. feed pole at the end of each course they complete. These ratings of instructor effectiveness, these ratings have been a hot topic since they were first employed in mid 1920s (Chang, 2001) and they create an enormous challenge for nearly every institution that uses them (Hoyt & amp Pallett, 1999).Over the years student evaluation of instructors has changed significantly eespecial(a)ly in the areas of the purpose and methodology. They have transformed from being primarily utilise to assist students in the selection of courses, to helping stave subdivisions further develop and improve their teaching skills, to assisting administrators with respect to personnel decisions (Ory, 2000). Today, student ratings of instruction are widely apply for the purpose of making personnel decisions and stave development recommendations (Scriven, 1995).For administrators, the education derived from ratings support them in making both(prenominal) summative and formative judgments dealing with faculty retention, tenure, and promotion, hiring, selecting faculty for teaching awards and honors, and in assigning teachers to courses (Franklin, 2001 Kulik, 2001). Br solicitamp (2000) sug gests that instructors use the data formatively to develop and improve their teaching effectiveness. Student-ratings are in 2 3 fact apply in over 90 percent of all colleges and universities in the United States and represent the most frequently used strategy for evaluating instructors and courses (Cuseo, n. . ). there is much debate within the higher education community on how teaching or teaching effectiveness may be outlined (Br positamp, and Ory 1994). For instance, Centra (1993), defines effective teaching as that which produces beneficial and purposeful student learning through the use of appropriate procedures (p. 42), Braskamp and Ory, (1994, p. 40) include both teaching and learning in their definition, defining effective teaching as the creation of situations in which appropriate learning occurs shaping those situations is what successful teachers have learned to do effectively.M some(prenominal) researchers have focused on whether or not students are legitimate judges o f teaching effectiveness. Though caveats abound, the general sense is that students are both rational and reliable sources of try (Arreola, 1995 Braskamp & Ory, 1994 Pratt, 1997), While in class, students are exposed to all sorts of instructional experiences ( lathers, instructional substantives and aids, readings, exams). They are in effect experimental consumersable to discern note, relevance, usefulness, and instructor interaction with students (Montgomery, n. . ). As consumers, Cuseo (n. d. ) claims that students can judge what is taught and how it is taught, yet Braskamp & Ory (1994) claim that students can wholly provide information with respect to teaching. However, Ory (2001, p. 12) sums it up best stating unless they havent been to class, as consumers they have a legitimate voice. Theall, M. (n. d. ) menti whizzd that the students can thread questions about the quality of lectures, the grade of readings and assignments, the clarity of the instructors explanatio ns.Students are certainly suitable to exhibit their satisfaction or dissatisfaction with the experience. They have a correctly to indicate their opinions in any shift, and no ane else can report the extent to which the experience was useful, productive, informative, satisfying, or worthwhile. Methodology Eleven departments were selected through purposive try from the Faculty of Arts, University of Karachi, including epartment of Special Education, Psychology, Social Work, Sociology, Mass Communication, Education, International Relations, English, Urdu, Persian, and Islamic learning. cardinal students studying at graduate level 3 4 from each department were selected through convenient sampling to seek their opinion about the most effective teaching methods (as perceived by them) used by their teachers, and the reasons for highly rating a busy teaching method.Total two hundred and twenty students were interviewed. They were asked to rate different methods of teaching used by their teachers on a measure of 1- 5, one being the least important and 5 being the most important teaching method. The results of the study were compiled and analyzed by percentage method. Objectives of the Study To find out the various teaching methods used by university teachers to teach graduate students in different departments of Faculty of Arts.To seek the opinion of students about the teaching method they perceived as the most inte backup maning and best teaching method. To find out the reasons for perceiving any teaching method as the interesting and best method. To provide suggestions for modify quality of teaching in the light of students perception and use of ratings Findings Most of the students rated lecture method as the best teaching method. Reasons included teacher provides all cognition related to topic, it is quantify saving method students listen lecture attentively and take notes etc.The group discussion was rated as the second best method of teaching bec ause of more participation of students, the learning is more effective, the students dont have to rely on rote learning, and this method develops creativity among students etc. Students perception and ratings about the interesting and effective teaching methods is a way to suggest improvements in teaching/ learning process I. rating of Various Teaching Methods Rating was done on a scale of 1-5, 1 being the least interesting and 5 being the most interesting teaching method as indicated in table 1. Teaching methodsRating No of 4 students 5 Table 1 1 N talk Group discussion Individual intro subsidisations Seminars Workshop Conferences think Role play Case study 53 18 52 25 26 27 25 34 24% 08% 22% 11% 12% 12% 11% 16% 44 53 54 54 53 34 54 20% 24% 25% 25% 24% 16% 25% 26 12% 89 40% 34 16% 53 24% 53 24% 54 25% 27 12% 53 24% 53 24% 34 16% 54 25% 53 24% 35 16% 80 36% 80 36% 52 23% 44 20% 26 12% 26 12% 35 16% 53 24% 25 11% 34 16% 54 25% 220 220 220 220 220 220 220 220 34 34 % 16% 16% N 1 8 18 2 % 08% 08% N 00 3 % 00% N 4 % N 80 36 % 34 16% 5 % 220 220 88 40% 80 36% Total 54 24% 27 12% II.Reasons for rating various teaching methods as interesting and best teaching methods 1. Lecture Method It creates rising ideas. It is good for heavy(a) class. instructor is undergo and has mastery on subject, develop all points and can answer all questions raised by students. Students can ask if they need any clarification. Learn through listening instructor explains all points. Students slide by their input Teacher discuss whole topic in the class in easy language so students can well understand the topic. It is good for large class. Teacher provides all knowledge related to topic.Time saving as teacher is supposed to finish lecture in beat. Students give their views at the end of lecture. 5 6 Students can ask question if they have any problem to understand lecture. Students attentively listen lecture and take notes as the teacher ask quest ions at the end of lecture. Students know and understand basic concepts. It creates new ideas. Teacher knows all the students so he/she can use suitable strategies for the class to make them understand. Teacher is experienced and has mastery on subject and can answer all questions by students.Teacher share information with students so it creates interest in students. Students are more involved and participate when teacher ask question. Teacher provides notes. Students considerably understand every point. Students share knowledge with teacher. Teacher is constituent grimace for students. more participation of students. Students listen to others opinion express their opinion. Discuss with teachers the points that were missed during discussion. Students learn on their own find out key points. Students exchange their ideas. Students get point of view of all and not just now those who always speak.After discussion when students give their presentation, teacher corrects their mist akes. Students can make their own notes. The learning is more effective. 2. Group discussion 6 7 They dont have to rely on rote learning. Develops creativity among students. It evokes persuasion among students. Students have time for preparation of topic. Students should have clobber and knowledge before discussion. Suggestion Only those students participate who have confidence rest do not participate. Concepts become clear aft(prenominal) discussion. Every student gives his/ her opinion. 3.Individual presentation Hamm (2008) quoted Rafe A presentation involves motivating listeners to accept a new idea, alter an existing opinion, or act on a effrontery premise. Students first thoroughly understand the topic before freehand presentation i. e. mastery on topic. It increases confidence among students. Good way to learn for only one student who is presenting. Students search lot of books to collect material Teachers supervision is important It enhances the abili ty of research on any topic as the students search topic from different books, websites etc.Active learning slip by Chance to brook other people of same profession. Motivate and make student active in learning. Interested method. confront Chance to meet other people of same profession. 5. Seminars 4. Assignment 6. Workshops 7 8 7. Conferences Give Chance to meet other people of same profession. Net get goinging with other institutions and professionals. More interesting More informative Gain knowledge Learning is effective More participation of students Students give their opinion Active learning original thinking is encouraged. Students think beyond their knowledge.Every one gets the chance to express their panoramas. easy topics can be learnt through different angles. Interesting method germinal thinking is encouraged. Students think beyond their knowledge. Students enjoy the situation Active learning Easy to learn Active learning Creative thinking is e ncouraged. Students think beyond their knowledge. 8. Brain storming 9. Role play 10. Case study password Making teaching methods more interesting 8 9 higher(prenominal) education faculty strives to become more effective teachers so that students can learn give, and many explore methods to improve their teaching practice.Depending on the disposition of subject, number of students, and the facilities available, there are different methods teachers are victimisation in the classroom. Below are given various methods and certain tips and techniques for improving these methods. (Sajjad, S. 1997) Lecture Method A lecture is a talk or communicatory presentation given by a lecturer, trainer or verbalizer to an audience. With all the advancement of training systems and computer technology, lecture method is restrained a backbone widely used in teaching and training at higher level of education.This method is economical, can be used for a large number of students, material can be cover in a unified manner and the teacher has a capacious control of time and material. A study conducted by Benson, L. , Schroeder, P. , Lantz, C. , and Bird, M (n. d. ). provides evidence that students may place greater emphasis on lecture material than on textbooks. Lecturing is not simply a matter of stand in front of a class and reciting what you know. The classroom lecture is a special form of communication in which voice, gesture, movement, facial expression, and eye allude can either complement or detract from the content. Davis. 1993). McCarthy, P. (1992) in article Common Teaching Methods stated strengths of lecture method that it presents f true material in direct, logical manner, contains experience which inspires, stimulates thinking to open discussion, and useful for large groups. Our findings also revealed that most of the students considered lecture as best method because consort to opinion of students it creates new ideas, it is good for large class, develops creati vity among students, teacher is experienced and has mastery on subject, explain all points and can answer all questions by students.Sullivan McIntosh (1996) said that with planning and effective presentation techniques, the lecture can be a highly effective and interactive method for transferring knowledge to students. Lecture gives the pupils training in listening and taking rapid notes. (Kochhar. 2000, p. 345) Tips and techniques for improving lecture method Lecture material should be stimulating and thought provoking. 9 10 Information should be delivered dramatically by using example to make it memorable. The teacher needs to use questions end-to-end the lecture to involve students in the learning process and to check their comprehension.Reinforce learning by using visual supports like transparencies, flip charts, whiteboard/ black board etc. Teacher should take feedback of students to improve lecture method. Discussion It is a desolate verbal exchange of ideas between gr oup members or teacher and students. For effective discussion the students should have prior knowledge and information about the topic to be discussed. McCarthy, P. (1992) stated strengths of class discussion as pools ideas and experiences from group, and allows everyone to participate in an active process. Kochhar (2000, p. 47) stated that a problem, an issue, a situation in which there is a difference of opinion, is suitable for discussion method of teaching. Our study also revealed that the students rated group discussion (class discussion) as the second best method by giving reasons that it has more participation of students, the learning is more effective, the students dont have to rely on rote learning, every student give his/ her opinion, and this method develops creativity among students. Tips and techniques for improving discussion method The teacher should give-up the ghost sufficient time in preparing the process and steps of discussion.Different aspects of the to pic and the parameters should be selected for the focused discussion. Sufficient time should be allotted to discuss all the issues. At the same time students should know the time limit to pull in a conclusion. The teacher in the beginning should introduce the topic, the purpose of discussion, and the students alive(p) in discussion. to begin with the start of discussion, background information about the topic should be provided. there is a need to include questions to provide direction. Relaxed milieu should be created to foster the process of discussion. 10 1 Teacher after opening the discussion should play the role of a facilitator involving every one and at the end should summarize the discussion. Encourage students listen others point of view and then prize their own. Teacher should give value to all students opinions and try not to allow his/her own difference of opinion, interdict communication and debate. Role Play Role play occurs when participants take on differen tiated roles in a simulation. These may be highly prescribed, including biographic details, and even personality, attitudes and beliefs or loosely indicated by an outline of the function or task.These techniques have already demonstrated their applicability to a wide cooking stove of learners, subjects and levels. (Singh, and Sudarshan, 2005, p 238, 239). It is a memorable and enjoyable learning method. To gain maximal benefits from this method, the incidents selected for enactment should be as realistic as the situation allows. Tips and techniques Before the role play, the teacher should apprize participants about the roles they will play, give them time for preparation, confirm confidentiality of role play, and ask participants to behave naturally. Teacher should select brief observers about their roles.During the role play, the teacher moldiness keep quiet, listen take notes, avoid cutting role play short, but give time warning if previously agreed. The teacher should be p repared for some action if participants dry up and can intervene as a last resort. After the role play, the teacher thanks participants, ask for feed back from lead participants, take comments from observers, ask other participants to comment, The teacher should use role names not those of participants, summarize, drawing out learning points, leaving the participants with irrefutable comments and feelings.Case Study Primarily developed in business and law contexts, case method teaching can be productively used in liberal arts, engineering, and education. This method is basically used to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills, as well as to 11 12 present students with real-life situations. The students are presented with a record set of circumstances based on actual event or an imaginary situation and they are asked 1. to diagnose particular problem(s) only. 2. to diagnose problem(s) provide solution(s). 3. o give reasons implications of action after providing both problem solution. It is a time consuming method and sometimes the case does not actually provide real experience. It could be in-conclusive, and insufficient information can lead to inappropriate results. At the end, the students want to know the right answer by the teacher. The role of the teacher in conducting the case study should be to read the case and determine the key problems faced by the decision maker, determine the data required to analyze the problems and or a synthesis into solutions, develop, analyze, and compare alternative solutions, and recommend a course of action. Tips and techniques Cases should be brief, well-written, reflect real issues, and open to a number of conflicting responses. Students should work in group to prepare a written report and/or a formal presentation of the case. Brainstorming It is a loosely structured form of discussion for generating ideas without participants embroiled in unproductive analysis. It is a very useful technique for pro blem solving, decision making, creative thinking and team building.It develops listening skills. Tips and techniques Ground rules for running brainstorming session include There should be no criticism and the wild ideas should be encouraged and save without evaluation. Emphasis should be placed on quantity of ideas and not the quality. There is a need of equal participation of members. It can be unfocused so teacher should know how to control discussion and facilitate issues. 12 13 It works well in small group Assignment method Written assignments help in organization of knowledge, assimilation of facts and better preparation of examinations.It emphasizes on individual pupil work and the method that helps both teaching and learning processes (Kochhar, 2000, p. 358). Tips and techniques Teacher should describe the parameters of the topic of assignment. Fully explain assignments so that students know how to best prepare. When the inevitable question, Will we be tried on this ? arises, make sure your answer includes not only a yes or no, but a because . . . . Shea, A. (2009). Davis (1993) suggests that Give assignments and exams that recognize students diverse backgrounds and special interests.For example, a faculty member teaching a course on medical and health training offered students a variety of topics for their term papers, including one on alternative healing belief systems. A faculty member in the social sciences gave students an assignment asking them to compare female-only, male-only, and male-female work groups. Recommendations To evaluate teaching effectiveness different methods can be used including mate review, self-evaluation, teaching portfolios, student achievement and students ratings of teaching methods used by their teachers. Students must be assured that the information they are giving is welcomed by the faculty and will be used to improve the teaching and learning in the course otherwise they are unlikely to take the rating process seriously (Doyle. T. n. d. ). Teachers need to educate students in effective ways of giving precise feedback that addresses specific aspects of their learning experience. Teachers need to continually assure students throughout the semester that the ratings will be used for productive changes in teaching/ learning process and that there will be no chance of revenge to the students.