Is there a gender equality in Afghanistan, and have they empower women Research Paper

Is there a gender equality in Afghanistan, and have they empower women and give them the chance to represent the afghan society - Research Paper Example The HDI of Afghanistan as of 2014 is 0.468. The country became independent on 19th August 1919.The population of Afghanistan is 31,108,744 as of 2014. This includes approximately 2.6 million refugees who still live in neighboring areas like Iran and Pakistan. The only city in the country which has a pop0ltuon of more than one million is the capital city of Afghanistan, Kabul. Afghanistan is one of the poorest, least developed and most impoverished nations in the world. Throughput the history of Afghanistan, gender inequality has persisted in almost all segments of the Afghan society. The afghan women have experienced major oppression and violence that have resulted in the women of the country becoming oppressed and dominated beings in the country. The processes of oppression in the Afghan culture are deeply rooted and penetrate into the lives of the women in Afghanistan. As a result of all these practices and factors, the women in Afghanistan have started having very low level of self-consciousness have also internalized their images in the society as propagated by their male counterparts. The challenges that are inherent to the problem of gender inequality in Afghanistan are twofold in nature. On one side, the male counterparts of the society consider that the oppression and violence done against the women counterparts of the society are justified as per the socio cultural norms that have been practiced in the Afghan society in the traditional formats. In contrast, the women of the country have become oppressed by these episodes of violence and discriminations because the attitude and behaviors associated with subordination and suppression and being dominated are deeply entrenched in the cultural and social systems of Afghanistan. Thus, the extensive control of the male entities in the society on the woman and the existence of patriarchal arrangements in the rural and urban areas of the country have led to the men of Afghanistan

Special Needs Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Special Needs Report - Essay Example Solution-focused counseling involves a clear set of beliefs about students and an identifiable set of questioning techniques. The central belief is that it is more productive and effective to focus on students' skills, abilities and resources rather than on their weaknesses or what is going wrong and why. Other important beliefs include the following (Gass and Gillis, 1995): The main skill in solution-focused counseling is the use of effective questioning. Presented below are several types of questions that are illustrative of how a positive focus on solutions, rather than problems, can be achieved with students and others who are 'stuck' (based on Manthei, 1997). It is not unusual for students to begin experiencing positive changes in their difficulties in between the problem being identified and the time when they talk to the teacher about it. These 'pre-counseling improvements' often signal ways in which the student has begun successfully dealing with the problem, even if unwittingly so. If such change has occurred, teachers should explore the reasons for those improvements and identify the helpful factors over which the student has control. The three approaches presented so far, the problem-solving and solution-focused approaches and the application of listening skills in counseling on the run, are ones which teachers can use effectively to deal with the majority of situations in schools, which require counseling. They are also ones which teachers can learn relatively quickly, for example, after reading this book and attending a one-day workshop. However, there are a wide range of other counseling techniques or intervention strategies which can be very useful in the school setting, given the right circumstances. These strategies are more specialized ones, which require more extensive information than can be presented here and so require further reading. Teachers have successfully implemented many of these strategies with little or no additional training. However, ideally, they should obtain training on the strategies from qualified counselors and then only use them in settings in which ongoing guidance from colleagues with experience of using the strategies are available. Brief outlines of a selection of such strategies, with suggestions for further reading, are presented below. More information on each of the strategies and a variety of other strategies which can be used in schools can be found in Thompson and Rudolph (2000) and Vernon (1993). Cognitive therapy This is an approach which is based on the view that the feelings and behavior of students are influenced by their thoughts or beliefs (Hughes, 1988). Therefore, changing their

Business and society. Critically analyze Joel Bakans argument in the Essay

Business and society. Critically analyze Joel Bakans argument in the book The Corporation - Essay Example by corporations include polluting and poisoning the environment, making people work like slaves by extending minimal wages, colluding with non-democratic and corrupt state governments to manipulate things in their way, using mafia to silence the voices of opposition. Bakan goes on to propose a range of reforms that could restore the real power back to the people. In The Corporation, Bakan introduces corporations as the instruments of evil and corruption, which could be tamed and restrained by pursuing a range of reforms. In the Chapter One, Bakan goes on to elaborate on the origins of the corporation in a historical perspective. The essence of Bakan’s argument is that in the hope of developing public infrastructure, the nations like the US and the UK allowed the corporations to own minimum liability while carrying on their work. This power of minimum liability extended to the corporations was further protected by bringing in the laws that supported and protected corporations. At a local level, the state governments and the courts of law supported and created legal instruments that protected corporations, to attract corporate investment. With the passage of time, these corporations evolved into organic concepts that exerted immense and uncontrollable power over the shareholders and the masses. Besides, the separation of ownership and control by extending shares to the shareholders allowed the corporations to carry on their business with much less control and restraint. The limited liability gr anted to the corporation was not only protected by the law, but also flowed out of the immense wealth owned by the corporations. Gradually, corporations evolved into self sustaining entities, which had the power to influence the society, but were independent of the society in their working. In Chapter Two to Five, Bakan unravels the harm caused to the society by the corporations in the form of environmental pollution, exploitation of the labor and manipulation of the laws

Special Needs Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Special Needs Report - Essay Example Solution-focused counseling involves a clear set of beliefs about students and an identifiable set of questioning techniques. The central belief is that it is more productive and effective to focus on students' skills, abilities and resources rather than on their weaknesses or what is going wrong and why. Other important beliefs include the following (Gass and Gillis, 1995): The main skill in solution-focused counseling is the use of effective questioning. Presented below are several types of questions that are illustrative of how a positive focus on solutions, rather than problems, can be achieved with students and others who are 'stuck' (based on Manthei, 1997). It is not unusual for students to begin experiencing positive changes in their difficulties in between the problem being identified and the time when they talk to the teacher about it. These 'pre-counseling improvements' often signal ways in which the student has begun successfully dealing with the problem, even if unwittingly so. If such change has occurred, teachers should explore the reasons for those improvements and identify the helpful factors over which the student has control. The three approaches presented so far, the problem-solving and solution-focused approaches and the application of listening skills in counseling on the run, are ones which teachers can use effectively to deal with the majority of situations in schools, which require counseling. They are also ones which teachers can learn relatively quickly, for example, after reading this book and attending a one-day workshop. However, there are a wide range of other counseling techniques or intervention strategies which can be very useful in the school setting, given the right circumstances. These strategies are more specialized ones, which require more extensive information than can be presented here and so require further reading. Teachers have successfully implemented many of these strategies with little or no additional training. However, ideally, they should obtain training on the strategies from qualified counselors and then only use them in settings in which ongoing guidance from colleagues with experience of using the strategies are available. Brief outlines of a selection of such strategies, with suggestions for further reading, are presented below. More information on each of the strategies and a variety of other strategies which can be used in schools can be found in Thompson and Rudolph (2000) and Vernon (1993). Cognitive therapy This is an approach which is based on the view that the feelings and behavior of students are influenced by their thoughts or beliefs (Hughes, 1988). Therefore, changing their

Poetry Explication Essay Example for Free

Poetry Explication Essay Wordsworth is one among the best five poets in English. He wrote many poems and most of them are best known for its treatment of love for nature. â€Å"The Daffodils†, â€Å"Lines Written in Early Spring†, â€Å"To the Cuckoo†, and â€Å"My Heart Leaps Up† are very few of his poems in which the role of nature is predominant. By the close reading of the poems it is obvious that he is an ardent lover of nature. And he has the quality to heal all his deep sufferings by enjoying nature. And he insists his readers that to live in touch with nature and it will cure all their problems. Through his poems he gave such a healing power to nature. In most of his poems he considered nature as a living personality. He is a very sensitive to all changes occurred in nature. I WANTERED LONELY AS A CLOUD (THE DAFFODILS) His poem â€Å"I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud† is one of the most celebrated poem. In which the poet describes about a time when he wandered like a cloud through vales and hills. From the first line of this poem it is clear that the poet feels lonely at the time of writing this poem. Finally he saw a group of daffodils which are â€Å"fluttering and dancing in the breeze†. This is all about the first stanza of this poem. In its second stanza he started describe about the daffodils. The flowers seemed never ending so he compares it with shining stars in the Milky Way. He assumes that he might see ten thousand daffodils at a glance. This shows that the flowers are countless or large in number. And they are â€Å"tossing their heads and sprightly dance†. Here the poet is depressed internally but he tries to find happiness from his surrounding nature. In third stanza he compares the waves of the lake and daffodils. But he says that daffodils have more â€Å"glee† than the â€Å"sparking† lake. And he says that a poet can’t do anything but enjoying it. Even in his loneliness he feels some happiness inside his mind. He says that â€Å"in such a jocunt company† a poet can only enjoy it nothing more than that. He starred at the scene for a long time and he couldn’t understand what he gained by gazing at it. Here he says that nature has a power to attract any man’s attention even if the man is in depressed mood. In its last stanza he describes about what he gained from this experience. He says whenever he feels â€Å"pensive† or â€Å"vacant† this experience fills happiness in the mind of the poet and he started dancing with that flowers. It shows his change of mood after take a look of those flowers. â€Å"They flash upon that inward eye Which is the bliss of solitude; And then my heart with pleasure fills, And dances with the daffodils. † The dancing daffodils have that much influence in the mind of the poet. This experience was capable to heal the inner sufferings of him. From this poem he tries to teach the reader about the importance of man’s connection with nature. Only nature can give utmost pleasure to man than any material possession. MY HEART LEAPS UP (THE RAINBOW) This poem is one of Wordsworth’s widely accepted poems. In which he depicts about his excitements when he saw a rainbow in the sky. This poem is well known because of its simplicity in theme and its treatment of nature. Through this poem he reveals to his readers that how childishly he keeps enjoying nature. He used to see rainbow in the sky from his childhood itself. Now he is a grown up man but still he didn’t lose his spirit towards nature. In short his love for nature is consistent. We can understand it by referring many of his poems. This poem is started with the line â€Å"My heart leaps up when I behold A rainbow in the sky:† From the first line itself he started describing his cheerful experience when he saw a rainbow in the sky. According to him there is no age bound in enjoying nature. He used here present, past and future tenses only to denote his spirit of enjoying the nature. â€Å"So was it when my life began; So is it now I am a man; So be it when I shall grow old,† He says that when he was in his childhood the view of rainbow made the same effect which he feels now, in his manhood. And he wishes to continue like this in his future also. In his mind leading a life without keeping any connection with nature is worse than death. He says that in his future days if he is not capable to enjoy it then â€Å"let me die! †. He can’t think a life without nature because it is everything for him. And through these lines he also shows his consistent love towards nature. His love has same spirit throughout his life. And till his end he wishes to live in nature’s lap. Towards the end of this poem he says that â€Å"The child is father of the man;† which gives a paradoxical meaning here. Commonly we know that man is the father of child. But here he was not talking about its direct meaning. He only means that from the childhood begins manhood. Here the word â€Å"father† means one from whom something begins. The main idea of the poem lies in this line, i.e. , the present is the outcome of past and like this future will be the outcome of present. And in its concluding lines he shows his deep desire to live in connection with nature by enjoying all its varieties. â€Å"And I could wish my days to be Bound each to each by natural piety. † Through these lines he indirectly talks about his immense desire to go back to his childhood. In that age he was very cheerful. Now in his adulthood, because of the bitter experiences of his life, he wishes to attain his childhood once again and he finds that nature is the best mean to achieve it. The themes of â€Å"childhood† and â€Å"nature† are best described through this poem. â€Å"LINES WRITTEN IN EARLY SPRING†: It is a simple, lyric poem. The poet himself said in this poem that he wrote this when he sat under the shade of a group of trees. He was in a relaxing mood at that time and he sat there for a long time by enjoying the music or the sounds from his surroundings. Suddenly the music changes to a melancholy note when he started thinking about humanity. â€Å"In that sweet mood when pleasant thoughts Bring sad thoughts to the mind. † Personally the poet was in a depressed situation at that time. Because of the French Revolution there were problems concerning poverty and society. Moreover he was not take care by his uncle, who was supposed to take care of him since the death of his father, after his graduation. But when he sat under the trees he felt better and slowly it act like a healing balm of his sufferings. But suddenly things have changed. He says that the beautiful sight of nature is a bridge from human soul to god. According to him natural sights are enough to give a perpetual bliss to his mind. â€Å"To her fair works did Nature link The human soul that through me ran;† Through these lines the poet tries to spiritualize nature. He knows that spiritual life is happier than material life. Now his tiresome heart is in search for eternal pleasure. Nature is a perfect creation of god so worshipping it will also give bliss. But the thought of humanity again started disturbing him. And he thinks pathetically about the treatment given to a man by his fellow beings. â€Å"And much it grieved my heart to think What man has made of man. † From these lines he tries to say that all the sufferings of man are only because of the drifting away from nature. According to him nature is the mother of humans. From there only we get complete compensation from all our sufferings. So he indirectly says that men can’t exist without nature. Then he started describing about the flowers in that place. Primrose, periwinkle like flowers are well grown there. After gazing at them he realized that all the flowers are enjoying all their actions even their breathing. From his surroundings he wish acquire some happiness and thus feel an internal bliss. â€Å"The birds around me hopped and played, Their thoughts I cannot measure: But the least motion which they made, It seemed a thrill of pleasure Secondly he started looking at the birds around him. They were â€Å"hopped† and â€Å"played† there. Then he says that he was not able to understand their thoughts but even in their small movements poet could feel â€Å"a thrill of pleasure† in them. Poet’s mind is wounded now. But the pleasant picture of the nature changes his mood and brings happiness slowly. In its fourth stanza he started describing about the trees around him. They were all spreading their leaves to breathe the fresh air. But their also he could see only happiness. He came to a realization that nature itself is blissful. All the creatures which are living in connection with nature are all blessed with peace and happiness. In the final stanza he concludes the poem with an important question that is â€Å"what man has made of man? † He became clear about the fact that drifting away from nature is the cause of all tragedies in human life. This realization ache him very harshly. â€Å"Have I not reason to lament What Man has made of Man? † According to him man himself is only responsible for their sufferings. Throughout the poem the pleasure which he describes is something spiritual or divine and the union of man and nature is also the plan of god. Here it is well expressed the poet’s capacity to spiritualize nature. Thus this poem is all about the relationship between man and nature. â€Å"TO THE CUCKOO†: This poem is one of the best poem in which nature is reflected. Throughout this poem the poet thus the speaker addressing a bird cuckoo. Through this poem the poet welcomes the spring season in the most elegant way. He from his childhood noticed that from the beginning of this season nature seems more beautiful with the â€Å"wandering voice† of the bird cuckoo. And in this poem he indirectly depicting about his belief in supernatural elements and he states that this earth is not only for humans but also for animals, birds, supernatural elements like fairies etc. He starts the poem by calling the bird cuckoo as â€Å"a BLITHE New Comer†. He was attracted by its double fold shouting than anything. The bird is not visible to the poet. So in utter confusion he asks the bird that, â€Å"shall I call thee bird, / Or but a wandering voice? † It also shows his interest to see that bird. In its first stanza he talks about his happiness when he hear the voice of the bird. In his second stanza he describes about when he heard the shouting of the bird cuckoo. When he lied on grass he heard the voice passing through â€Å"hills to hill† but he couldn’t fix the bird and thus the shouting seems to him as a wandering voice. Even he became in confusion that whether the bird is shouting from far away or nearby place. Thus the twofold sound of that bird made him a wanderer. Wordsworth is best known as the poet of eyes and ear. In his third stanza he talks about his pleasure and his experiences after seeing that cuckoo. â€Å"Though babbling only to the Vale, Of Sunshine and of flowers, Thou bringest unto me a tale Of visionary hours. † The valley which was filled with sunshine and flowers seemed more beautiful with the voice of the bird. It gives a feast to his eyes and ears. So it made him to stay there for a long time. It brings happiness to his mind. So whenever he heard its voice his urge to see that bird increases. And in the next stanza he addresses the bird as â€Å"darling of the spring† and he welcomes it to the season. And he says to the bird that the bird is only an invisible thing to him. So he feels that the voice of that bird is something mysteries. Even an unknown sound from nature has profound influence in poet’s mind. That’s why it easily catches the attention of the poet. In its fifth stanza he describes about his childhood. Even in his childhood he wandered a lot to see this bird. He tried to see the bird by following its voice. â€Å"The same whom in my school-boy days I listened to; that Cry Which made me look a thousand ways In bush, and tree, and sky. † He says that even from his boyhood age he was fully attracted by the catching beauty of nature. In his childhood also he used to listen its music but then also he didn’t get a chance to see that bird. The bird stays by hiding itself and through its sweet sound it makes the nature more alive and thus it tries to increase its overall beauty. In his childhood he often searched it â€Å"In bush, tree and sky. † Still he keeps searching it with a hope of success. So these lines also show the theme of hope also. He didn’t tire with his thousands of attempt to see that bird. All his failures made him to search more and more. So by observing nature he got a hope for his future. He believes that one day he will meet the owner of that wandering mysterious voice. In its next two stanzas he depicts about his theme of hope and childhood. Even in his manhood also he is wandering for that bird. He has a spark of hope by the shouting of that bird. He keeps an ardent love towards the bird even if he didn’t see that bird yet. And he says that when he lied on the grass and hear the voice, it made a nostalgic effect  to his mind. He started thinking about his â€Å"golden time†, childhood. From the line, â€Å"And listen, till I do beget That golden time again. † It is obvious that his childhood was full of happiness. That is why he referred it with the word â€Å"golden time†. The music of cuckoo had made this much influence in the mind of the poet. In its final stanza he gives a supernatural power to that bird. He calls it as â€Å"O blessed bird! †. From our childhood itself we heard about the stories of fairies. Fairies are some supernatural elements which help and give happiness to others. So to him the bird cuckoo also like this. It gives intense pleasure to the mind of the people. With its sweet voice it heals the incurable wounds of the mind. In his last stanzas he indirectly depicts about his believe in supernatural elements like fairy. â€Å"O blessed Bird! the earth we pace Again appears to be An unsubstantial, faery place; That is fit home for Thee! † Through this line he says that this world is not only for humans but also for animals and other super natural elements. In his eyes the cuckoo bird is a blessed one because it has the power to heal the inner sorrows of men and it fills eternal bliss in to the mind of the humans. This poem dramatizes the conflict between appearance and reality, particularly as this conflict relates to the central symbol of the poem, the goose fish. The speaker relates the tale of two lovers who encounter a dead fish on the beach after sharing their affection with one another. While looking at the fish, the couple ponders the meaning of this fish. Taken figuratively, the goose fish occupies many roles. As the speaker overlooks the events taking place between two lovers on a beach, he introduces the goose fish as playing the part of an intruder: â€Å"Until they saw†¦ / As though the whole world had found them out, / The goose fish†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (15-17). Shortly after the lovers witness the goose fish, they ponder over what the fish’s big toothy grin â€Å"would express, / So finished a comedian† (30-31). The speaker then expresses the lovers’ thoughts that delegate the fish as an emblem of their passionate love and an optimist of their relationship. Finally, after conveying the numerous roles that the lovers attribute to the fish, the speaker expresses the lovers’ final decision to call the goose fish their patriarch who blesses their union. In reality, the fish can not realistically satisfy these roles because it has died. In this way, the speaker communicates the several roles that the lovers ascribe to the goose fish. However, the poem begins with several oddities that hint to the fact that this poem expresses more than it’s literal words. For example, the poem follows the iambic tetrameter form with each stanza closing in an iambic trimeter line. The form of the poem as well as the speaker’s neutral attitude toward the events that take place create a philosophical and detached tone that suggest that the objects and events within the poem should not be interpreted according to their denotations. Also, the rhetoric of the first line illustrates that the words in that line do not simply describe the beach. The speaker uses long vowel sounds to create the long stretch of beach that the lovers inhabit: â€Å"On the long shore, lit by the moon† (1). The syntax conforms to traditional rules so that the speaker can explicitly narrate the action happening between the two lovers: â€Å"Two lovers suddenly embraced / So that their shadows were as one† (3-4). The lovers share an intimate moment that expresses their love for one another. The vocabulary that the speaker uses such as â€Å"graced,† â€Å"prized,† and â€Å"emparadised† suggests that whenever the couple gets together, they enter their own fantasy dream world that consists of just themselves. In the second stanza, the speaker replaces his long, flowing lines with short, abrupt words to convey the fright that the two lovers experience when an outsider intrudes upon their fantasy world: â€Å"Then, as if shaken by stage-fright / Beneath the hard moon’s bony light,† (10-11). The goose fish, the central symbol of the poem, introduces himself to the pair of lovers. Even though the fish looks deceased, the use of irony that the speaker employs describes the role of the goose fish as an intruder: â€Å"Until they saw, there underfoot, / As though the world had found them out, / The goose fish turning up, though dead, / His hugely grinning head† (15-18). The normal structure of the speaker’s sentence builds up to the suspense of finding out who has trespassed into the lovers’ secret world: â€Å"They stood together on the sand / Embarrassed in each other’s sight / But still conspiring hand in hand,† (12-14). In the third stanza, the speaker describes the importance of the interrupting goose fish on the couple through an iambic trimeter line: â€Å"The only way that could be known / To make a world their own† (26-27). The lovers express astonishment in how a fish has infiltrated their fantasy world. Thus, they try to attribute their own special meaning to the fish to make him a part of their world. The speaker blends the symbols of the moon and the fish to show the merging of the heavenly, or the appearance, with the earthly, or the reality: â€Å"There in the china light he lay, / Most ancient and corrupt and gray† (19-20). As the speaker tells about the fish, he inverts the order of his sentence. The fish’s description follows the introduction of the fish. The speaker reverses his word order to place emphasis on the comparison between the heavenly moon and the earthly goose fish. Descriptive words such as â€Å"fragile† and â€Å"violence† transform the lovers’ dream world into a place of horror because an unwelcome visitor joins them. In the last two stanzas of this poem, the goose fish becomes transformed into three different roles as the lovers attempt to decipher the fish’s true meaning. At first they believe that his â€Å"wide and moony grin† transforms the fish into a comedian (28). The use of the word moony to describe the fish fully joins the symbols of the moon and the fish together. This merge represents the unity of the cosmos and that although the lovers appear to exist only in their own dream world, they still find themselves stuck in reality. The couple quickly determines that the fish does not serve as a symbol of humor, but as an emblem of their love. â€Å"But took it for an emblem of / Their sudden, new and guilty love† (33-34). Through the use of short words, the speaker infuses energy into the lovers’ new interpretation of the goose fish to convey passion and lust behind the lovers’ relationship. Finally, the couple decides to look to the fish as their patriarch and friend. When conveying this final conclusion, the speaker expresses the naivete of the lovers and their desperate attempts to extract blessings from the goose fish. However, the lovers overlook the fact that the fish has died. This use of irony shows how the appearance of the fish symbolizes a personal connection to the lovers while in reality, the dead fish cannot fulfill this role. The visual division of this poem into five stanzas serves to create a play that consists of five acts. The lovers represent the actors of a drama. The fish becomes the unwelcome audience as the lovers share their intimacy with one another. When the lovers realize that something has watched their actions, they shiver with embarrassment, or stage-fright. While pondering over the goose fish, they stand hand in hand as if waiting for the curtain call. The goose fish appears to act as the comedian whose play may end in success or failure of the lovers’ relationship. In this way, the poet reinforces the conflict between the appearance of the numerous roles of the goose fish and the reality that the goose fish no longer lives.

McDonalds Future Policies and Strategies

McDonalds Future Policies and Strategies Introduction In this assignment we will discuss the business, its environment, factors affecting the environment, current market conditions and the affect of the current market on the the business. Identify the stakeholders of the company, strategy, policies used by the business that helps them to gain competitive edge over its customers. Strategic Review Strategic review helps to analyse and review the strategies used by the business for survival and sustainability. It helps us to understand the decisions taken by the management to increase the sales, market share and hence maximising profit. The Company I have chosen for this assignment is McDonalds which market leader in fast food industry is. In this assignment we will discuss McDonalds stakeholder and their current market position of McDonalds. We will also discuss the environment, strengths and the weaknesses along with the strategies used by McDonalds which affected the position of McDonalds either to increase market share or maximising profit. Task 1.1 Identify the importance of environmental factors affecting the organization or sector. We will discuss the factors affecting McDonalds. I have chosen Mcdonalds as a company having worked for McDonalds for about Four years make me understand the culture, structure and the environmental factors that affect the organisation directly and indirectly.Mcdonlads follow the plan to Win and being the Market Leader in the fast food industry with having restaurant in more than 119 countries with more than 31,000 restaurants in operation. The factors that affect the organisation are the political, social, economic, technological and legal .Apart from those Factors like Globalisation, Diversity and Ethics affect the organisation. Globalisation: Globalisation helps in developing a closer contact between different parts of the world, and have increased the possibility of personal exchange, mutual understanding and friendship among world citizens. Corporations are expanding their businesses to world market. Corporations go global for the Survival and sustainabilty.Mcdonalds are operating in more than 119 countries with over 31,000 restaurants in operation. Diversity : McDonalds s follow diversity by employing local people and having local suppliers for the restaurants. It also have the different menu for different countries and follow the culture of the countries. Like not serving beef products in India and having different Entries for ladies in Arab Countries respecting the cultural and religious beliefs of people. Global marketing decisions are no different than those made domestically but the decisions are unique to each country (Sister Sister, 2005). McDonalds realises diversity as an asset that enhances in the profitability of organisation. Diversity directly reflects the interpersonal relationships. Ethics: McDonalds Promote the RMHC(Ronald McDonald House Charity ) which provide room and board, food and sibling support at a cost of only $10 a day for families with children needing extensive hospital care. McDonalds sponsor Olympic athletes. Ronald McDonalds Houses are located in more than 259 communities worldwide and support Mobile care programs which offer cost effective medical,dental and educational services to children.In addition to their community involvement, McDonalds has a long-standing commitment to environmental protection. Restaurants around the world have innovative programs for recycling, resource conservation, and waste reduction. Mcdonalds also help the African farmers by buying fairtrade coffee beans and also the Rainforest Alliances. Task 1.2 Analyze the needs and expectations of all stakeholders involved. McDonalds is a people business-Ray Kroc Person, group, or organization that has direct or indirect stake in an organization because it can affect or be affected by the organizations actions, objectives, and policies. (Businessdictionary, 2010) Customers: McDonalds provide its customer with the nutritional value of the food and tend to innovate new food for its customers and have loyalty options of drink to retain its customers .It also provide healthy food options like salads, water,delli roll and fruits . Franchise holders (franchisees) Franchisees are crucial to McDonalds success; they deliver its brand promise straight to the customer. Nationwide, approximately 85percent of their restaurants are franchised. The sites for the restaurants and either own or leases the land and buildings. The franchisee then, in turn, leases the building from McDonalds by paying a percentage of sales. The franchisee also purchases the cooking equipment, furniture, play land and signage to complete the fit out of the restaurant. Shared investment and shared risk helps to achieve sustainable growth. Employees: Employees are the internal stakeholders and directly affect the working of organisation. McDonalds provide national qualification to its employees and helps to gain work experience. Mcdonalds follow equal opportunities for its employees. Suppliers: McDonalds supply chain benefits the countries economy. As Mcdonalds lay emphasize on the local suppliers. But the suppliers have to maintain the promise of quality for the customer, the ation, including rigorous quality control in all areas of operations-including animal welfare, health and safety, handling procedures and cleanliness. By providing local supplies Mcdonalds generate employment in the countries and supporting economies of thes to be company. This also enhances the growth perspectives of the countries as New Zealand exports beef to United States for beef patties. Community groups: RMHC(Ronald McDonald House Charity ) which provide room and board, food and sibling support at a cost of only $10 a day for families with children needing extensive hospital care. McDonalds sponsor Olympic athletes. Ronald McDonald Houses are located in more than 259 communities worldwide and support Mobile care programs which offer cost effective medical, dental and educational services to children. In addition to their community involvement, McDonalds has a long-standing commitment to environmental protection. Restaurants around the world have innovative programs for recycling, resource conservation, and waste reduction. Mcdonalds also help the African farmers by buying fair-trade coffee beans and also the rainforest alliances. It also is promoting the national Olympics in 2012 . Shareholders: According to the Annual report 2010 Mcdonalds have increased it growth 3.8% and the earning per share of the shareholders have increased by 9% and also the total dividend distributed to shareholders between 2007 -2009 amounted to 16.6 million dollars. Task 1.3 Conclude the major changes taking place in the environment that will affect the strategy. Economy is going through the downturn .It is very tough for companies to survive and sustain in the market. Every organisation follow the internal and external environment to plan any strategy .Profit Maximisation is the main aim of the organisation apart from organisations do plan for the environmental and the social factors that help in achieving the objectives and goals of the organisation. PESTLE Analysis: Political factors: Company is controlled by the policies and regulation of operations .Specific market focus on different areas of concern such as health, worker protection, and environment .McDonalds while operating in India will follow the rules and regulations of India relating to the tax, trade laws and the rights. For example selling of the meat is said to be offensive relating to Hindu community particularly that of beef. Economic factors:- Economic factors are those factors where in the economy of the business is affected it has a major impact on the business these factors such as interest rate , exchange rates could have a devastating effect on the business special when it a multinational business. McDonalds will have to charge customer in the local currency than the standard currency and the price should be within the purchasing power of individual. Social Factors: Social factors are factors originated generally due to the internal stakeholders in the organization, their health and safety. The culture in the organization can have varied effects on the output of the business and the cost of the company is lot more affected due social factors. Technological factors: McDonalds use television advert for the for the marketing purpose. Celebrities and animated depictions are used as an endorsement for I m loving it campaign. McDonalds use inventory system and the management of the value chain allow the easy payment foe their suppliers and other vendor which an individual stores in respective markets deal with. Legal Factors: McDonalds is proving nutritional information of the food on the packaging and the website of McDonalds. McDonalds is using fruits, oatmeal, salad, water and orange juice to promote healthy food habits and fight the obesity. In the Muslim countries McDonalds is using the concept of Halal Food for the target Customers. Other legal concepts like tax obligations, employment standards, and quality requirements are only a few of important elements on which the company has to take into consideration. Otherwise, smooth operations shall be hard to achieve. Environment: McDonalds is using the bin it logo to promote clean society so that the rubbish packaging should not be dumped by the roadside. It is also promoting going green to save energy and reducing wastage to save the environment and showing their responsibilities towards society. Through careful planning and working with The carbon rust we ensure that we use the most efficient equipment for our restaurants according to the technology available(Katie Saunders ,Environmental Manager, McDonalds UK) Mcdonalds is also using contributing in the environmental impact by reducing the energy consumption in restaurants, miniming the use of water in restaurants like using waterless urinals in the restaurants. Mcdonalds is trying to save the environment by reducing waste and reducing the size of the trayliners by 10cm which results in 84 tonnes of paper saving. It is also recycling the used cooking oil for the bio diesel. (McDonalds, 2010) Balance Scorecard Approach: The Balance Scorecard method was given by Kaplan and Norton .It is a strategic approach and the performance management system that enables organisations to translate companys vision and strategy into implementation and take into consideration four perspectives: Financial Perspectives: From the Financial Perspectives Mcdonalds like to focus on the Profitability and sales. For Increasing the sales employees are trained to sell large meals. For the Profitability emphases is laid on the waste reduction and drive thru which is having trained staff to do the job properly. Hand held are used to less the queues on the drive thru as it lessen customer order processing times. Customer Perspectives: Mcdonalds relate to Quality ,Service and value to customers. It target to serve front counter customer in 90 secs and the drive thru customers in 180 sec.Speed and quality is of utmost important to customers. Therefore, customers, like to friendly,fast and quality service every time.New Product like snack wrap, tasty and Great Taste of America is been brought to menu after sometime to retain the customers. Business Process Perspective: From the Business processes Mcdonalds is getting to expand its business by getting global. Also Mcdonalds is adding new product line to its business by opening McCaffes to expand its business. Learning and Growth Perspective: Employee Commitment is very important in the fast food industry. Employee turnover affect the business as retaining the employees is cost effective as recruiting and training is costly. McDonalds provide qualification to its managers from the hamburger university.(maxipedia,2010) Value chain Analysis: Firm Infrastructure: Brand Recognition: Mcdonalds is globally recognised brand. No.1 in Retail food industry. McDonalds is the market leader and exists at number no. 1 in fast food industry. Franchising: About 85% of the restaurants are franchised. Company Image: Company hold a strong image in the community because of the fresh and universal taste. Financial strength: Inspite of the economic downturn Mcdonalds annual sales increased by 3.8 % in 2009. Human Resources: Job Applications: Mcdonalds follow the online application system for recruitment. 2nd largest U.S employer Technology: Just in time order Delivery: Mcdonalds use the refrigerated trucks for delivery as the temperature of the frozen meat patties should not be less than -18 to -22 degrees to be served when cooking. Procurement: Sustainable packaging: Mcdonalds have reduced the size of tray liner and also use the packaging that can be recycled in their concern to protect environment. Renewable resources: 82% of the packing material is from renewable resources. Oil recycling for the bio diesel. Quality Control: For delivery freight truck inspections are inspected and random audits take place for quality control. Inbound Logistics: Operations: Corp. Guidelines for franchisees. Outbound Logistics: Distributor agreement Marketing and Sales: Product: Health and wellness campaign and product offering Price: Providing value to customer e.g. Pound menu, party pack for kids. Promotion: Coca cola endorsement Sponsor of Olympics and feeding the athletes .Mcdonalds is sponsoring Olympics 2012 along with coca cola and Cadbury. Service : Friendly customer service. Clean Environment for customers. Fast food service target to serve front counter customer in 90 sec and drive thru customer in 180 seconds. { Adopted from Harbott.com,2010} Task 2.2 Summarize the position of the organization in its current market. According to The Times In spite of the economy downturn McDonalds is still pushing ahead with the discounting menu. Figures shown by The Times state that McDonald position in the current market is unaffected by the economy downturn .It is following the strategy of the discounting  £or $ 1 menu making it to increase its profit. It has reported the increased sale as 4.2% of the global rise McDonalds share rose from.38 % in early trading of 1950 to  £70.61 in 2010.Mcdonalds is following a low prices strategies on fries,burgers.drinks and the sale of McCafe drinks.(Frean,2010) Mcdonalds is holding strong position in market as it holds more than 32,000 restaurant in operation in more than 117 countries and it has also added to the new product line McCaffes in 2008 providing cappuccinos and frappacinos. And other drinks. Working towards the environments and Children welfare and the organic food and also feeding the Olympics allows them to fulfil their responibilty towards society. Mcdonalds have planned to open around 1,000 more store in 2010 and invest in $2.4 billion to enhance the brand. Mcdonalds have planned to Reimage the exterior and interior of the existing stores to improve seating, lighting and dà ©cor and by doubling drive thru stations to improve speed and convenience.(Yousuf,2009) Task 2.3 Evaluate the competitive strengths and weaknesses of the organizations current strategies. Strengths Weaknesses Opportunity Threats 1) Glo Globalization: 32,000 restaurants serving in more than 117 countr117 countries. 1) Advertisement techniques that target children 1) Innovation: Continued adaptation such as adding on new menu such as snack wrap and great taste of Amaerica to retain the existing customers. 1) Current world economic standing: the companys revenue streams are diversified, but depending on the the length of this recession, they will inevitably be negatively impacted by the trickle down effect. 2) Active Childrens Charity: The Ronald McDonald House helping families with children in hospital. 2) Consumers use disposable income to purchase fast food meals so when the budget it treatened, consumers redirect these funds 2) Conservation: Researching green energies and green packaging solutions Recycling of the waste oil to form Biodiesel.. Using Water less urinals in store to save water consumption. 2) More Casual Dining Restaurants increasing their burger offering and decreasing the price. 3) Adjusted Ingredients and product offerings to comply with upgraded health standards deemed necessary by the USDA:Mcdonalds provide the universal taste in its menu. 3) Public perception: McDonalds has been impacted by negative press like the documentary Supersize Me by Morgan Spurlock in which he contributed our societies obesity to McDonalds and other fast food chains. 3) Exploration: Create new product offerings. Continue to use technology to influence revenue strategy: possibly use text messages to deliver specials offers to individuals who sign up for such services. 3) Public Health Crisis.: people are more foccussed on the dietry needs. 4) Earns revenue not merely by fast food sales, but also as a property investor, a franchiser of restaurants.: More than 85% of the restaurants are franchised throughout the world. Mcdonalds using low price strategy Or the  £1 menu which led t increase in sales by 4.2 % globally in 2010. Task 3.1 Use a range of tools and models to develop strategic options. Turnaround Strategy: Turn around Strategy is used by underperforming companies to normal in terms of acceptance levels of profitability, solvency, liquidity and cash flow. Therefore turnaround strategy is used to manage, stabilise, fund and fix the underperforming and distressed companies. The components of the Turnaround strategies are: Managing the turnaround: Managing in terms of leadership, stakeholder management. Stabilising by ensuring the short term future of the business through cash management. Funding and Recaptilising the company. Fixing the company in strategic, operational and organisational term. Mcdonalds adopted the turnaround strategy in 2003 when the sales declined, ,Measures for the service and quality of the chain continued to fall behind its rivals.To fight back the Company started to follow a turnaround from the corporate level by bringing back the James R Cantalupo former vice president under who the company bloomed from 1990 to 2000 and gained 32,000 franchisees. With the coming back of Cantalupo he started the redesigning by emphasizing more on the quality , friendliness and speedy service of staff and laid emphasis on the increased sales and expanding the more on business. The Mexican Grill and The Boston which was acquired by the Mcdonalds were let out .McDonalds set out new Product line to its Menu By opening McCaffes around the world as expansion in 2003. Breakfast new menu was added as pancakes with the combination of bacon, sausage and egg which was a great success along with the breakfast coffee drinks. It also added healthy food as salads, drinks. Company also added new logo I m loving it in the TV Adverts using Justin Timberlake to target teenagers instead of the kids to endorse Mcdonalds which turnaround a great success for the company and company started to increase its sales following the strategy.(scribd,2010) The changes in the external environment of the business can also be determined by the Porter five force model which exactly shows the real picture of the competition in the market. The model of the Five Competitive Forces was developed by Michael E. Porter in his book à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã… ¾Competitive Strategy: Techniques for Analyzing Industries and Competitors in 1980. Since that time it has become an important tool for analyzing an organizations industry structure in strategic processes. Porters model is based on the insight that a corporate strategy should meet the opportunities and threats in the organizations external environment. Especially, competitive strategy should base on and understanding of industry structures and the way they change. Competition: Since the time Mcdonalds started in 1940 it is providing excellence service to its customer. Market is tough and tight for fast food industry. Opening up of cafe to the product line and serving breakfast has provided tight competition with Starbuck and other breakfast serving restaurant. Burger king and KFC are the two great competitors for Mcdonalds. Ease of entry: it is hard for new entrants to enter the market because of the high cost of entry and research and development cost. Established brand names like Mcdonalds make it even harder and new entrants have to face price competition. Substitutes: there are many products available in the market for substites.People can go to Burger King And KFC and Starbucks looking for substitutes. Power of suppliers: products are not readily available from suppliers so the power of suppliers is relatively low. Power of Buyers :Power of buyer is low. {Adopted from: marketing teacher,2010} Task 3.2 Develop a comparative understanding of activity from organizations in the market. Mcdonalds is the market leader in the fast food industry .Fast food business fluctuates with the economy rise and doom, customer taste, cultural differences, climatic conditions and the buying behaviour of customers. Mcdonalds is a customer oriented business focuses on the service, quality, processes and the accuracy of the service delivered to customer. McDonalds tends to provide universal taste of food to customers despite of their regional differences. It promotes diversity among its employees and believes in equal opportunities to its employees. Regular Training and development of the staff at the operational and management level gives it a stand out position in the market. Innovation and the TV Endorsement and its target market and motto I m Loving it makes it a standalone brand among the customers. To retain Customers Mcdonalds is regularly adding new menu its list and to adapt to cultural differences it follows the culture of the country Like having separate entrances for la dies in the Muslim Countries., to respect religious beliefs of the people it is adapting religious beliefs of the community as serving Halal food in the Arab Countries and Not serving Beef in India. To reduce Carbon Emission promoting Recycling, to save water use recycled water in toilets, to save trees reduce the packaging paper and tray liners and also recycle paper for packaging. For survival and sustainability it follows the local wage rate, local suppliers, local legal and taxation system, and local ethics. Task 3.3. Create a range of feasible options as the basis of future organizational strategy. Mcdonalds strategy is about the fresh and quality food to customer with friendly service. Mcdonalds plan to win and target customer with the universal taste respecting the religious and cultural beliefs. With the environmental issues Mcdonalds is helping to promote cleaner streets by sponsoring bins in conjunction with the council and also initiating people to get the Rubbish in Bin By Using Bin it motto. McDonalds is also getting in recycling revolution by using the waste oil to get bio diesel .In its motive to Save energy and water it is getting waterless urinals in the washrooms to save water and are trying to use the recycled water. For the packaging of the food it is using more than 82% of the recyclable material and trying to cut the 10 cm of the trayliners used to serve customer which eventually is saving about 84 tonnes of paper every year. McDonalds is also working for the animal welfare so that that animals are given the free field to roam around and is using free range eg g for its breakfast menu. ,it is also using the organic food to promote healthy food and also using fair trade coffee beans to help the farmers of Africa.Last but not the least Mcdonalds is sponsoring the london 2010 along with the coca cola and cadb ury. Mcdonalds will still follow the strategy of plan to win and keep on improving its quality, service , speed and accuracy .along with the training and development of employees . Conclusion :In the above assignment discussion has been made over Mcdonalds and its policies and strategies over the future which will them to sustain in the future. Though it is a market leader but by showing its concern over the carbon emissions and the work ethics it is showing the great deal of responsibility towards to society . The moral duty is fulfilled by employing diversity and proper training and development. It believes in the equal oppurtunities to everybody And require great commitment from its people to maintain the standards of service ,quality and friendliness so that people can say I m loving it!!!!!!!!!

I Am Someone :: English Literature Essays

I Am Someone I chose the poem "I Am Someone" by Annastasia Aressia. The author use simplistic words in this poem, which it is a multiple understanding meaning. Each reader can have an opinion on what it is being read, I will give details on the sentences that shows general meaning. Her choices of words were a few, but very mean full. For example, in example of line two, â€Å"I walked past a dead face.† She, the author, starts using these words by explaining that she is in a terrible life time, going on hard times in life, by this line at the beginning of the poem; she starts telling the reader that what the poem is all about, it has some kind of sadness ideas. In line three â€Å"even though the person was alive† she shows the irony of life and the order of life. She shows that for one thing to live another must die. Yet, on the other hand she also shows the important thing that a life means because it says that she does not says if she is alive or not; she still suffering from something, but she still awake. Also, in sentence number four and five she says some similarities â€Å"I saw my eyes in the mirror and cried at the sight† I think that she means that she looks back her self and she still in a bad moon. In lines thirteen and fourteen â€Å"when I thought about love, I got hit bad† She means that not everything is loosen there is always something that it not there but It could be at any time. In the following lines it starts to contradict the meaning of the poem by saying differences and opposite things such as lines twenty-one and twenty-two, â€Å"I realized I was strong when I didn’t cry when it hurt.† Means that not everything is over because she notices that she is really a person, as same as other people, strong, she is someone. Finally she explains that she founds who is she, what she was doing and she also noticed that it is a someone who has a personality by this words; â€Å"I thought I was lost forever when a friend found me.† Line twenty-five. The title of the poem is a very good point. The title describes the poem almost to perfection. The title â€Å"I am someone†, it shows the grand main points of a life.