Discussion methods Essays

Discussion methods Essays Discussion methods Essay Discussion methods Essay yawning, whispering to a friend, etc. C. Asking Good Questions Questions are a fundamental part of discussion groups. Good discussions usually stem from asking quality questions. Questions can enhance the discussion and even change the atmosphere of the group itself. D. Experiential Learning We learn best when we are actively involved in the learning process. Using the discussion method, a students personal experiences are followed by observation, reflection, and analysis of these experiences. This process leads to formulation of bstract concepts and generalizations, which, in turn, leads to hypotheses to be discussed and tested in future experiences. E. Emphasis on Sstudents Sstudents experiences serve as the basis for the discussion Although the teacher must have a specific goal in mind and a general framework for reaching the goal, student input determines the specific direction the discussion takes. Merits 1. Emphasis on Learning instead of Teaching, Discussion Method emphasises pupil-aactivity in the form of discussion, rather than slmply telllng ana lecturlng Dy tne teacner. I nus, tnls metnoa Is more erec Participation by Everybody. In this method, everybody participates in the discussion, and therefore thinks and expresses himself. This is a sure way of learning. 3. Development of Democratic way of Thinking. Everybody cooperates in the discussion, and the ideas and opinions of everybody are respected. Thus, there is a development of democratic way of thinking and arriving at decision. 4. Training in Self-expression. During discussion, everybody is required to express his ideas and opinions in a clear and concise manner. This provides ample opportunities to the sstudents for training n self-expression. . Spirit of Tolerance is inculcated. The sstudents learn to discuss and differ with other members of the group. They learn to tolerate the views of others even if they are unpleasant and contradictory to each others views. Thus, respect for the view points of others is developed. 6. Learning is made Interesting. More effective learning is possible when the sstudents discuss, criticise a nd share ideas on a particular problem. Active participation by the sstudents in the discussion makes learning full of interest for the sstudents. This also ensures better and effective earning. . Motivation: It helps in motivating the sstudents through their participa tion in discussion and it helps in developing students ability to express them orally. 8. Logical reasoning: All the sstudents try to give more practical and logical reasons for their beliefs and dis-beliefs as a result of which, feeling of healthy competition gets developed in them. Such kind of competitive atmosphere helps in motivating the sstudents to get more and more knowledge from various sources. Limitations 1. Tend to get off topic if the instructor doesnt continually redirect ideas. 2. Not uitable for presenting information for the first time. 3. Content is limited and the method is time consuming. 4. The larger the groups the more difficult it is to guide the discussion. 5. All types of topics cannot be taught by Discussion Method. 6. This method cannot be used for teaching small children. 7. More informed and eager pupils tend to monopolize the discussion. 8. Some sstudents may not take part while others may try to dominate. In spite of these limitations, Discussion Method is a very useful and effective method for the teaching of home science. Role of a teacher The Teachers Role in the Group Discussion In a discussion involving the total group, the teachers role is a crucial one. As the one who does the major share of the planning and preparation, and who usually leads the discussion, the teacher is the dominant and central figure. In the planning and preparation stage, the teacher may need to orient sstudents to the discussion technique in order to prepare them to use discussion time economically. They will need to be encouraged or directed to do some reading or other research and to make note of posslDle questlons prlor to tne Olscusslon. I ne teacner also wlll need to De prepared ith current information. If the class for bank tellers is going to discuss security problems, the teacher may find it necessary to learn about the latest security techniques before leading the class on the topic. During preparation, the teacher can also prepare a list of pertinent and leading questions, designed to help cove the necessary ground and stimulating thinking. The teacher should plan the setting for close but informal grouping, with chairs in a semi-circle, in clusters, or around a large table or grouping of tables. The teacher-leader should be located near the apex of the ushaped group, r wherever all sstudents can see and hear him/her. As the discussion begins, the teacher should lead off by introducing the topic to be discussed, the general limits of the topic, and the time schedule agreed on. The teacher should make the problem clear to all by stating it in specific and direct terms. For example, the teacher in the child care class would not announce the topic simply by saying Today we are going to discuss lead poisoning, but perhaps by saying, What is the scope of the problem of lead poisoning in children today, and what actions can be taken to control the problem? The teacher may formulate some leading questions while a student writes the on the chalkboard. Such questions might be: How serious is the problem of lead poisoning in children: Why are children more seriously affected than adults? What can the government do about the problem? What can the child care worker do? It will be necessary to allow some warming-up time, but as the group gains more experience in discussion, less teacher prompting will be needed. The teacher need not be afraid of some silence as sstudents organize their thoughts, but dead stops in the discussion should be avoided by the use of stimulating questions. As the discussion progresses, the teacher should attempt to establish a free and friendly atmosphere in which contributions can be made without fear, and all have an equal oopportunity to participate. The teacher sets the friendly tone, gives consideration to all contributions, and guides the talk within the outlines of the problem. Each member is encouraged to contribute, with special attention being given to sstudents who are timid or who have difficulty in expressing themselves in public. The extent of learning is closely related to the degree of student interaction and participation. The skillful discussion leader develops an awareness of facial expressions and is sensitive to enthusiasm and to the attitudes of the group. At this stage of the discussion, the teacher should be stimulating sstudents to reason out the problems, helping them to evaluate what they hear, and suggesting possible class activities as outgrowths of the talk. If several small group discussions are operating, the teacher can circulate quietly among the groups, guiding the discussions as he/she would with the total group. In addition, the teacher can make periodic summaries of the discussion, and can ormulate generalizations applicable to other situations. The teacher may also keep the thinking open by taking the weak side of a question, suggesting an opinion to arouse controversy, or acting as the devils advocate. In an office practice class Olscusslon 0T pay ana worKlng conaltlons, Tor Instance, tne teacner may take tne position that lower pay for women is Justified because of their high turnover and the lesser demands made on them. The purpose of this controversial statement would be to force sstudents to substantiate their contentions to the country. All of this is done from the teachers background of knowledge about the subject, but without attempting to force a personal position on the class and without imposing a predetermined solution to the problem. This kind of openness requires a leader who is free from a drive to determine, who is personally secure and willing to be a follower sometimes, and who can restrain his/her own desire to talk. Some situations may develop in the course of a class discussion that can be difficult to handle. The following list addresses some potential problems and suggests some possible solutions to these problems. The Teachers Role in the Panel Discussion The panel leader (in this case, the teacher) is the most important member of the panel. He or she directs preplanning activities, assists any member who is having trouble, and takes responsibility for the overall functioning of the group. A wellprepared leader builds discussion outline†usually a series of questions concerning major issues. The questions may never be asked in exactly that form, but the leader can use them to help keep the discussion within the guidelines. The leader has the responsibility to oversee the panel members preparation and performance. Each member needs to get an over view of the whole problem from reading, then study his/her own particular aspect of the problem (e. g. , the present state of affairs, steps that might be taken, and the effects of such action). During the discussion, the members are exchanging ideas among themselves, but they are doing it for the benefit of the class, so they should partially face and talk to each other, and partially to the audience. Prepared speeches are not in order. The effective panel member (aided by the teacher) will† 00make short contributions, not over one minute in length 00ask probing questions f the other panelists 00follow the discussion of the other panelists 00follow the discussion carefully, actually listening to what others have to say 00relate remarks to what already has been said Douse tact and a friendly approach, and avoid disparaging remarks As the panel opens, the leader offers introductory remarks, states the problem, asks a question of a panel member, or challenges the group. Surprisingly, perhaps, the effective leader usually is the quietest person on the panel. He/she gently steers the discussion, clarifies concepts, and allows the free flow of ideas. As in the group discussion, the leader may need to control the overly-talkative person, encourage the timid, keep the discussion reasonable and cool, and keep the talk on the topic. One of the more exacting responsibilities of the leader is to provide smooth transitions from one aspect of the problem to another. This can be done by a short summary of the discussion up to that point, and an equally short introduction to the next phase of the discussion. When the panel comes to a close, the leader makes a very brief summary 0T tne Olscusslon†a remlnaer 0T wnat tne panel nas Sala, ana tne points o greement reached. After the panel discussion, the leader may invite questions from the class, with a remainder that they are to be brief and to the point. A suggested timing for the whole process might be as follows. 05 minutes for introductions and remarks 0025 to 35 minutes for the panel 005 to 10 minutes for student questions 005 minutes for the teachers critique of the panel process. It is often helpful for the teacher to follow through during the next class period with review of the principles evolved through the discussion. It is at this time, also, that the teacher can give the lass the benefit of his/her own ideas and understandings on the topic and can present his/her general expert con clusion. The Teachers Role in the Symposium In order to gain maximum benefit. rom the symposium. It would be helpful if all interested classes could be brought together at the same time for the symposium. Sstudents can, of course, assist in all phases of the planning. They can help in locating suitable speakers formally inviting them to participate, providing transportation or greeting them at the school, and thanking them at the close of the meeting. Ultimately, however, it is the teachers responsibility to be sure that all of these arrangements have been handled satisfactorily. The symposium if not difficult to conduct. the topic is announced briefly and stated clearly, the speakers are introduced and their special backgrounds noted, and the first speaker is called upon to begin he/her presentation. The chairman can make a short transitional statement as the second speaker has been given a specified time for his/her presentation and his held responsible for presenting a particular aspect of the problem, the chairman oes not direct the discussion or interject his/her own ideas. At the end of the formal speeches, the chairman may direct audiences questions toward specific speakers for responses. A following class period might be used for group discussion of what the class has learned from the symposium. This would also he the correct time for the teacher to present his/her own reactions and conclusions. As in any discussions technique, the teacher should help the class evaluate the experience they have Just had, and suggest to the group how they can improve on the experience in future situations of this kind.

I Want to Express a Contrary Opinion in Spanish

I Want to Express a Contrary Opinion in Spanish Sometimes a simple no,  the same word translated in English and Spanish,  is not sufficient to express disagreement with what someone has said or implied. In polite company or when discussing a topic, phrases like, on the contrary, help express differences in opinion. As in English, on the contrary, means not at all or quite the opposite in Spanish, too. There are a several ways to say this in Spanish. Examples of Being Contrary in Spanish Two common ways of saying on the contrary in Spanish are the adverbial phrases al   contrario  or, somewhat more formally,  por  el  contrario. Quite the opposite, is expressed in Spanish by using the adverb, opuestamente. These phrases all express being contrary and are  common in both writing and speech.   Spanish Sentence English Translation Al contrario, son muy buenas noticias. On the contrary, its very good news. Por el contrario, no ha habido crecimiento de empleos en el sector privado. On the contrary, there has not been employment growth in the private sector. Creo al contrario de lo que usted dice va a pasar. I believe the opposite of what you say is going to happen. Crees que la gente no puede cambiar? Opuestamente, s que pueden! Do you think that people can not change? Quite the opposite, they can! Other Ways to Express Disagreement Spanish has many other ways of expressing disagreement, such as in English, exclamatory phrases like No way! can get the point across. Spanish Sentence English Translation De ninguna manera el gobierno central permitir la anarqua. In no way will the government allow anarchy. Yo no estoy de acuerdo. I dont agree No creo. I dont believe so. No lo veo as. I dont see it that way. Entiendo lo que quieres decir, pero... I know what you mean, but... Estoy de acuerdo hasta cierto punto. I agree to a certain point. Y t, vas a estudiar? Qu va! And you, are you going to study? No way! Oye, esa moneda es ma! Hold on there, that coin is mine! Cree que Windows es ms seguro que Linux. Ni hablar! He believes Windows is more secure than Linux. No way! ​

Education by Postcode Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Education by Postcode - Essay Example (58) Hence as a result, the modern society's realization of the fact that education is indeed a vital part of human development, it could not be denied that experts on the matter never stop finding better ways to assist human individuals [both young and old] to realize their capabilities and the opportunities available for them to learn more and be able to have better use of their time as well as to have better future ahead of them. It could be noted education then is drawn even closer to the learners so as to assure that the said individuals would not loose their interest in the matter simply because of the not being able to handle the matter considerably for certain reasons. (Vandergrift, 1992, 58, 59) In some faraway places, say for example distant areas that are found around the suburbs, universities and other he facilities for learning are at times absent in the area. Hence, as a result, only a few among those living in such areas are able to get access to the most effective educati on that they deserve. To be able to cater to these students, the experts found better systems of learning that would be most effective for the learning of the said individuals. ... Most of these educational forms take place through the Internet. Botelho (2004) describes the matter as a process that involves high tech gadgets as means of connection between instructors and students which include a hooked up video conferencing may best be used in this course of learning thus virtually connecting the learner to the instructor's care. (Internet) It is undeniable that through the said process, students are given the chance to learn normally even though they are not physically present in class. (EET, 2007, Internet) The said process is still classified as part of the postcode system of education because the process still involves snail-mailing the results of exams, provision of some school materials (such as books and other materials of the same kind) that the students may need for learning. Through this, the student would have soothing tangible out of the system that he or she chooses to learn from. Vandergrift (1992) further adds that education, as known is very much significant for the human society as this is viewed and considered as the most efficient and effective means for personal and social development among human individuals. (58) The concept of education entitles an individual, if properly trained and utilized the essential ability to progress for personal sustenance and economic survival. This is considered as one of the most important realm in one's life that must be achieved by each and everyone in the society. In addition, education can be used by the society as a whole to developed productive and capable citizens for fueling the progress of the humanity. Thus, education indeed is important. In the present

Economics of the firm - IKEA Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Economics of the firm - IKEA - Term Paper Example It ensures to bring product within the buying capacity of as many people as possible. IKEA takes challenges to provide the best quality at low price. Hence, success of IKEA is based on the secret recipe of simple yet effective business model. This report is aimed at providing the detailed review of the economics of IKEA, giving insight about firm’s internal conduct as well as impact it receives from domestic and international events. NATURE OF PRODUCT OR SERVICE IKEA furniture nature can be classified as normal goods; between the broad categorization of normal and inferior goods. Technology has played an incredible role in determining the demand for furniture. At IKEA, technological development has ensured continuous innovation that facilitated furniture in a flat package that is also easy to assemble by self at home. Moreover, technological advancement enables firm to sell online, allowing people to devise their own set up using IKEA applications and reduce cost with maximum benefit with IKEA’s life improvement projects. IKEA ranks first on top 20 furniture retailers (Daten, 2011) due to low price among its main differentiating factors. (Daten, 2011) Furniture has high price elasticity that threatens sale in case of rising prices. On the other hand, prices of furniture are rising due to declining natural resources and rising price of furniture components such as steel, plastic, aluminum etc as presented in graph below (Daten, 2011). (Daten, 2011) Survey report has shown that more than 75 percent consumer keep an eye on price when buying price (Daten, 2011). Therefore, IKEA is benefitted for its low price where other competitors get hard hit due to price. Housing demand compliments furniture demand. Availability of widest range of home furnishing product at affordable price makes IKEA preferred choice. During economic downturn, IKEA has managed to carve profit with its low cost offering fetching sales for being growingly adopted as substitute for high cost offerings in home furnishing . IKEA sales grew by 6.9% and stores increased by 2.7% in the year 2011 (Ikea., 2011). Finished flats as main drivers of furniture demand still have sizeable market as projected for 2012, survey report shows: (Daten, 2011) MARKET TREND Being home item furniture is used by almost all family members; hence, there are large numbers of factors that affect its purchase. These aspects include personal, product, industry, availability and many other domain all putting equal pressure in driving consumer behavior. Survey results driving the furniture purchase from two perspectives as shown in the following figures (Microsoft, 2011): (Microsoft, 2011) Shopping behavior for furniture purchase is affected by following factors (Microsoft, 2011): (Microsoft, 2011) Keeping all these factors, the survey found IKEA is the most preferred furniture retailer as shown: (Microsoft, 2011) Survey results regarding reasons resulting in furniture buying is mentioned bel ow: (Microsoft, 2011) Among many factors leading furniture buying, income and price are very important. At IKEA constant innovation reduces prices which in result drive sales. At an average IKEA reduces its sales price by 2-3 percent per year (Ikea, 2011). An indifference curve for furniture consumption with change in prices from IKEA has been developed showing the increase in

Outline Spelling and Structure Check Essay Example for Free

Outline Spelling and Structure Check Essay I. Introduction. 1. African American women are faced with the conflict between reality and their happiness. The reality is that African American women are facing unfair treatment, unjust social structure, and racism in a society that consists of white people as the majority. They will be able to achieve happiness and acceptance when they are treated just as the white people are treated, when respect to the African American race is recognized, and when they are provided more opportunities and not discriminated just because of their color. 2. Elise Jonson McDougald wrote the essay entitled â€Å"The Task of Negro Womanhood† for all African America women. 3. In the novel Passing by Nella Larsen, two characters, Irene and Clare, demonstrated the problems of African American women outlined in McDougal’s essay. 4. Looking at the two characters, we analyze what â€Å"passing† truly means. We also look at why the women pass off as a white person, how they are doing this, and what results do they get. Only after can we find the solution for the two womens happiness in the McDougald essay. 1. Clare desires for the outside beauty. She gives importance to material things. She deceives her husband when she passes off as a white person when the truth is, she belongs to the African American race. She gets what she has dreamed of all of her life. However, she is not happy because of her lies and not knowing where to place herself in society. 2. She felt lonely, as she could not relate her problem to her husband. She then meets her old friend, Irene, whom she started to compare herself with. As a result, she realizes that material things are not essential in life and that family and identity are the more important things that she has to think about. Ultimately, her lying leads to her death. 2. For Irene, family is more important. She has the right moral values. When she met Clare, she also started to compared herself with the other woman. She felt inferior to Clare and worried living as   a true African American woman. She forced her husband to be a doctor and regret not â€Å"passing.† As a consequence, she lost her husband’s trust when she sat back and let Clare die. 3. The two women fail to live a happy life. McDougald gave each other solutions to their misery. 4. Conclusion.  McDougald emphasizes the beauty and importance of African American women’s identity. What does the color â€Å"black† for African American mean? Black color is the African American’s racial stem. They have to understand first about their race and their history, and then we can change problems that they deal with from the society. In the novel, both women

Purchasing New Cars is NOT the Best Way to Help Environment :: Automobiles Global Warming Climate Change

More and more families have their own car. As a result, the air in cities is increasingly polluted. Owners should be made to switch to less polluting vehicles. To what extent do you agree? With the economic growth of the society, more and more families are able to own automobiles of their own. As a result, thus caused very serious environment problems, the air pollution within the metropolis area is getting worse day by day. Residents’ daily lives are affected by the pollution, and basic life requirement such as breath fresh air becomes unreachable. Even worse that the future living condition of our children is seriously threatened. We must call up the conscience of our drivers and shanghai government to take actions to protect the environment, and keep the pollution as low as we can. This essay will look at the advantage and disadvantage of the government making car owners buy rehire which produce less pollution. The advantage of the government making car owners buy new cars replacing old smoke maker will benefit the improving of the environment, also in the same time stimulate the development of the automobile industry, and meanwhile benefit the economic growth. Also the development of the automobile industry will offer an opportunity of social reemployment. On the other hand, this policy can also change people’s perspective of living and consideration of the environmental problems. Make people more concern about the conservation of the environment, and evoke their conscience to protect the environment. By thus we can reduce the pollution, and make better environment. So changing new cars will also make the city looks flourishing, reduce the exhaust emission, and make people healthier. However, every coin has two sides, the biggest disadvantage of buying new cars is it creates more disposals of the old vehicles, which will become a huge burden of society. How do we deal with these new disposals, where should these old vehicles go to, and how do we dismantle them. There will be a new environment problem emerge for us to solve. Also on the other hand, people have to spend more money on changing new vehicles, which will bring more burdens to their lives. These are the most disadvantages we have to consider In conclusion, by analyzing the advantages and disadvantages, I personally think it is not the best way to improve the environment and reduce the pollution by purchasing new cars.

Alliance Boots Marketing Essay

Task 1 (L.O.1.1) What is the Marketing Process? There are many different definitions of the Marketing Process, here are just two of them. i) â€Å"Marketing is the social process by which individuals and organizations obtain what they need and want through creating and exchanging value with others.† (Kotler and Armstrong 2010) This basic definition of marketing explains how societies and organisation interact, where an organisation fulfils the wants or needs of individuals. In return, the organisation hopes to make a profit. ii) â€Å"Marketing is the process of planning and executing the conception, pricing, promotion and distribution of ideas, goods, and services to create exchanges that satisfy individual and organisational goals† (Marketing Principles, BPP Learning Media,2010 pg.6) This definition looks at marketing more from the view of an organisation. It takes into account a lot more factors, such as the marketing mix, and looks at marketing as something that has to be done in order to achieve their goal, ie. Profits. The marketing mix is essential for an organisation to establish both its target market and unique selling point, it uses the 4 P’s to help find these. The four P’s are the idea of modern marketing theorists and they cover the ways that an organisation can influence consumers to buy their particular brand. The Four P’s are Product, Price, Place, and Promotion. Product: A product is anything that can be offered to the marketplace for consumption that will satisfy a need or want. It is not just something physical (tangible), it can also be a service provided e.g. cleaners, psychics etc., where, once the transaction is finished the consumer does not have anything to show for the money spent. These are non-tangible goods. The packaging of a product is important, not only as protection, but for communication (how to use a product), to remind consumers of the brand, and also to express company brand values (fair trade, supporting charities etc.). (appendix 1.1.1) Price â€Å"Costs will dictate the minimum price that can be charged in order to make a profit† (Marketing Principles, BPP Learning Media Pg.19)  Except for Loss Leaders, the purpose of a product is to make a profit for an organisation. The product must be bringing in more money than it’s costing to make or it’s not a viable source of income. This involves balancing a range of factors. Some examples are: 1. The price of competitors: If a product costs too much when compared to a similar product, the company could price itself out of the market. 2. What the target market is willing to pay: â€Å"The amount your target market is prepared to pay for your product depends on its features and the target market’s budget.† (http://www.learnmarketing.net/marketingmix.htm). 3. Consumers Perception: Some consumers will equate the price of goods with quality. What matters for a product in relation to pricing is the average price paid. Eg. Fashion & technology starts off with high prices, while FMCG’s start low Place   Traditionally in the 4P’s, place refers to distribution. It is concerned with where the product is bought and consumed, and getting the product in the right place at the right time (S. Hilliard, notes). Distribution also concerns itself with where a product is made, how it is stored and how many people are involved with a product before it reaches the shelves. The more people involved, the more expensive the product. If the producer of a product sells directly to the public, they must be easily accessible. There are three main distribution strategies available: 1. Intensive Distribution: This can be used for impulse or low-priced goods e.g. Coca-Cola. 2. Selective Distribution: This is used when a product is sold in a few places. Products still gets to wide geographical markets, but at the same time, feels like there’s some exclusivity to it. Eg. John Rocha at Debenhams. 3. Exclusive Distribution: Is when a product  is given to a sole distributor. The product is usually high-priced. Eg. Ferrari dealers or boutique clothes. Promotion Promotion is the means by which information about a product is communicated. It is done through advertising and Public Relations, where the company pays for, and so has control over information given to the consumer (Tesco’s Computers for schools programme). Publicity is uncontrolled and so can have a bad, as well as a good impact on a company (BP’s Gulf of Mexico’s oil spill). It is vital for businesses to have good reputations since the internet is so easily accessible to the public nowadays, and news is not so easily forgotten. Promotion also involves the selling efforts of staff involved with a product. If a consumer is happy with service they would be more likely to come back to the same store but may not talk about it to other potential clients, on the other hand, if a consumer has a bad experience in a place they are far more likely to tell other people about it. You can find examples of this all over social media sites. Promotional offers are also helpful in stimulating a demand for goods, especially impulse bought goods. Eg. Boots pharmacy’s â€Å"Three for the price of two†. Task 2 (L.O.1.2) Alliance Boots Marketing Approach: Charles Revlon said â€Å"In the factory we make cosmetics, in the store we sell hope†. This can also be said of the company this assignment will be looking at. Alliance Boots marketing approach is both market and consumer based. They have necessary goods like prescription medicines & opticians, but they also have their health and beauty ranges in-store, they are also a major pharmaceutical wholesaler and distributor, in doing this they have become a world leader in their field. Their revenue at year ended 31March 2012 is  £23 billion, up 18.4% on 2011. Their trade profit was almost  £1.03 billion, up 12.4% on the previous year and 88% over the last five. The cause for this is that they been increasing their direct ownership in emerging global markets, they have also been increasing joint ventures with companies such as Farmexpert & Guangzhou Pharmaceuticals Corporation in China (Alliance Boots Annual Report 2012 Pg.7). They have brought their products such as No.7 and Boots Laboratories into countries where they do  not have a retail presence through selling to independent pharmacies and online. In their stores, the organisation is very concerned with customer care. They have training programmes for their staff when launching a new product so staff can be informed in case of questions from the public. At the moment they are refitting stores and opticians so as to make them more accessible to consumers. Boots are continuing to develop their website, and also their BootsWebMD.com page, a health. The Boots brand is the most recognisable pharmacy-based health and beauty brand in Europe and their No.7, Soltan and Botanic ranges are synonymous with good quality and good value (Appendix 1.2.2). This and other promotions like their â€Å"Only at Boots† offers are what they use to keep themselves ahead of competitors. They seek to give consumers the best possible value by reducing prices where possible and also increasing their â€Å"Advantage Card†, and in doing so promote brand loyalty, which leads to extra sales. The organisation has gone into multiple charities to continue with improving the brands name and keeping itself in the public’s mind. They understand that the â€Å"link between good Corporate Social Responsibility and good business is vital† (Boots Annual Report 2012 Pg44). In this, they encourage their people to volunteer in charities that benefit local communities, and have developed a good reputation by doing so. They have volunteers that travel to the developing world to help promote eye-care in collaboration with Vision Aid Overseas. (Appendix 1.2.1) In the U.K. especially, Boots have a very selective strategy when looking at where to put their stores so as to maximise their profits. They place their flagship stores in the heart of major towns or cities for all the consumer’s needs, their local pharmacies are healthcare focused for communities, high street stores are geared towards health and beauty, and finally their stores in airports for travellers’ last minute needs. Task 3 (L.O. 2.1) SWOT Analysis of Alliance Boots Strengths * They are world leaders in a market that has potential for long term growth and so are at the forefront of technology * 69% of a survey asked why they shopped at Boots said it was because of the range of products in  their store(*table down the bottom*). They have a wider selection than competitors in their market. * With training programmes for Boots staff, especially for their own brand products, consumers can be more informed about any questions or worries they may have without necessarily having to go to a doctor. * Their brands are well trusted by consumers so they have a loyal group of consumers. * Through BCM, their Contract Manufacturing business, they manufacture special prescription medicines for individuals. * Boots have an excellent reputation when it comes to delivery of prescription medicines for patients’ needs Weaknesses * As a major organisation in their field, any negative publicity could cause major damage to the brand’s name. In 2011 Alliance Boots offered members of its final salary scheme the chance to take part in a so-called â€Å"pensions increase exchange†. This would see members handed a one-off increase to the value of their pensions in place of annual inflation-linked rises. This may lead to problems for them in the future if pensioners do not get enough money to see them all the way through old age which, in turn, could see consumers look at Boots in a bad light. (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/pensions/8820994/Alliance-Boots-could-be-open-to-pension-mis-selling-claims.html) * During a recession, people are more willing to buy generic brands, in doing this, the organisation may lose out on selling their own brand products and so lose out on profits. Opportunities * Boots are continuously evaluating franchise opportunities in selective countries with large populations, and growing healthcare expenditure that they have not yet penetrated. * They have attempted to tackle the weakness mentioned above by releasing their own generic brand of pharmaceuticals, â€Å"Almus†, which has been released in six countries, after the recent launch in Germany. * In certain health and beauty stores (mainly stores inside shopping centres), the group have just started to sell sandwiches and drinks to give consumers a place to grab a quick lunch. When it comes to profit, to paraphrase another company’s slogan â€Å"Every Little Helps† . Threats * Boots had an excellent market position; it was in this position that the company had to deal with changes in the external business environment. There were supermarket chains like TESCO that entered the personal care market with big plans and stores that covered every product line that the customer would deal with. Naturally, supermarket chains threatened the niche that Boots was ruling and these large retailers had much more to offer than just drugs, drawing in crowds from all parts with a comprehensive product package under one roof. * Other more direct competition, like Superdrug have been a threat to Boots recently. They have launched their own brand of cosmetics which has meant that Boots, in response have had to lower their prices. Pest Analysis of Alliance Boots Political With governments increasing the number of medicines available for purchase for minor illnesses, Boots have been able to sell a lot more over the counter products to consumers without them having to go to the doctor for prescriptions. The American company Walgreens have bought a stake in the organisation. â€Å"The U.S. government is becoming the largest payer of prescription drugs could be a larger long-term challenge for pharmacy reimbursement.† (http://eupolitics.einnews.com/article_frame/120352863) There is a view that this has been done as a way for Walgreens to hedge their bets, in case it becomes problematic getting reimbursed from a government trillions of dollars in debt. Economics With the worldwide recession at the moment, a lot of companies are finding it hard to run a business profitably. Alliance Boots seem to have made their industry recession-proof. Consumers may go without holidays or nights out, but it seems the population still can’t do without their health and beauty products. Although, consumers do seem more brand aware and are more receptive to lower priced or generic brands. Sociocultural Factors A person’s social environment includes their living and working conditions, income level, educational background and the communities they are part of. The organisation seems to understand this and in developing worlds where they have a market presence they support multiple charities, Doctors without  Borders in Africa and South America. â€Å"As an organisation focused on pharmacy-led health and beauty, promoting and supporting a range of initiatives that improve the health and wellbeing of the communities in which we serve is a natural extension of our business activities.† (http://media.allianceboots.com/app_media/alliancebootscsr/home/pdfs/AllianceBootsCorporateSocialResponsibilityReport.pdf). Closer to home, they understand how the government are trying to promote a more healthy lifestyle (although not doing a whole lot to encourage it, reduce taxes on health products/ fruit)* and are trying to capitalise on the idea. Technology Through Boots â€Å"Centre of Innovation†, the organisation tries to get new entrepreneurs to get in contact with them. If a product is good enough Boots may help fund it with a view to the product going into their stores. In the U.K., they are trying to lower their carbon footprint by fitting new stores, and refitting existing stores with sky lights, sun pipes and solar panels. These stores have seen their carbon emissions reduced by a third. Task 4 (L.O.2.2 & 2.4) Buyer behaviour is the study of the why, when, what, where and how consumers buy a certain product. To steal a line from the real estate industry, the three most important things in marketing are segmentation, segmentation and†¦ segmentation. Research places groups into different segments and allows an organisation to know the geographic, demographic, and psychographic variables (target market) to aim their products at. The two products this assignment will be looking at are 1) â€Å"Boots Winter vaccine† and 2) â€Å"FCUK men’s deodorant†. (Appendix 2.2.1, 2.2.2 & 2.2.3) The stages of buyer behaviour are: * Need recognition * Information search * Evaluation of alternatives * Purchase decision * Post purchase evaluation (Marketing Principles BPP Learning Media Pg. 132) Need recognition: 1) A person vulnerable to influenza and wants to protect against it. 2)  Consumer needs a new can of deodorant. Information search 1) Internet search, Emails ( If the consumer has an Advantage Card) 2) Ask friends, TV adverts, flyers from the last time shopper was in the store Evaluation of alternatives: 1) Talk to a GP. Are the GP’s services more hygienic? 2) Is the price okay for the product compared to the other products like Lynx, Nivea etc, does it smell better than the other products? Purchase decision: 1) Confirm that factors important to the consumer are met. 2) Price is right, product smells good. Post purchase evaluation: 1) Did the vaccine work? Were the standards of the consumer met? 2) Does the spray do what it was bought for? Segmentation: Geographic: As seen in task 2, Boots have strategically placed stores to maximise their consumer base and profits. (Flagship stores corner shops, airports etc.). Demographic: Appendix 2.2.4 1) Winter Flu Vaccine: * With winter starting soon Boots are beginning to promote their Winter Flu vaccination service. This will be aimed at a wide demographic. * This vaccination is strongly recommended for: * persons aged 65 and over †¢ Those with a long-term medical condition such as diabetes, heart or lung disease †¢ People whose immune system is impaired due to disease or treatment †¢ Persons with a Body Mass Index (BMI) over 40 †¢ Pregnant women (can be given at any stage of pregnancy) †¢ Residents of nursing homes and other long stay institutions †¢ Healthcare workers †¢ Carers †¢ People with regular close contact with poultry, water fowl or pigs. (http://www.boots.ie/winter-flu-vaccination-service.aspx) 2) FCUK men’s deodorant: Boots target market for this and all other â€Å"designer† body-sprays are males aged from 16 to 35. These are consumers (usually) with plenty of discretionary income and who may feel more under pressure to look their best. They don’t always worry about money when it comes to this. Psychographic: 1) Winter Flu vaccine Boots aim this product at people who are security and status seeking. If this is to work for them they cannot afford to be lackadaisical when it comes to hygiene. They can instil confidence in their consumers simply because they are such a well-known brand, and if they had any negative press it would surely be widely reported on. 2) FCUK men’s deodorant: This product is a more expensive option than a lot of the competitive products Boots have for sale. It’s also a bit more expensive than if consumers were to go into a supermarket and buy the same product. As FCUK is a well-known brand, consumers who are status seeking could be looked at as a potential target-market base, but consumers who have the â€Å"Hedonistic† approach to life would be more appropriate. Task 5 L.O. (2.3& 2.5) Boots target-market ranges from the pharmacies they supply as part of their wholesaling and distribution right through to what they hope will be their loyal consumer. Through wholesaling, they must ensure their products are the best quality for the best price when compared to rivals like Superdrug. If they were to be found to lack the quality of their rivals it could have a lasting damaging effect on the organisation. (Boots estimate the goodwill of their name in their joint ventures to be worth  £4.7billion). As a pharmacy store Boots are aimed at consumers who are security and status seeking. Recently their â€Å"First Leaf† advertisement for the autumn/ winter begun on television and was aimed at mothers who want to avoid illnesses in their family throughout the winter with vitamins and throat sprays, and at the  same time promotes luxury items like bubble-bath and autumn coloured hair-dyes. The â€Å"advantage card† is a major factor in how Boots target their market. They have been able to understand their target market so well that they send separate offers to individuals based on their spending habits, which encourages consumers back to the store and can only be an advantage on their behalf. The card has also gotten excellent reviews from consumers on websites like reviewcentre.com. Boots are in a very strong position for the challenges that may face them in the next few years. Although with the â€Å"green movement† becoming a more prolific part of lifestyle segments, they could promote their CSR, which does a lot of charity works in developing countries they have employees in. They do not test on animals, or have testing carried out on their behalf. With governments looking to provide more cost-effective ways of managing healthcare, Boots could possibly expand in communities through weight- management programmes, health check-ups and smoking cessation advice. But if they don’t do this I still think they’ll be fine.