Analysis Of McDonalds Corporations

Analysis Of McDonalds Corporations In this report, thorough analysis of McDonalds Corporations position strategies has been design on the basis of the given contexts. Two different topics have been given to discuss in this case. The first topic focuses on the environmental factors that may affect McDonalds business. This topic has been addressed by six different factors which may broadly affect the business of McDonalds. Specific focus has been given to each factor and minute issued have been addressed in our discussion. It has been tried to give a comprehensive analysis of all the relevant ideas regarding this topic to make a reasonable discussion. The second topic given has been focused on the recent strategic stands taken by McDonalds. It has been asked to identify the pros and cons related to these strategies. The discussion has been done to create a comprehensive commentary about the pros and cons of each strategy. Every strategy has been evaluated on the basis of their individual merits. The subjects are quite sensitive and have specific implications to the business of McDonalds. in order to identify advantages and disadvantages each strategy has been clearly scrutinized. It has been tried to provide valid and reasonable remarks about these strategies. At the end, some relevant ideas have been presented to provide a more understandings of these issues. The entire report has been done with a reasonable understanding about the issues in question and all other factors relevant to the study. Introduction This study has been done to provide a reasonable understanding about business policy and strategic management development. McDonalds Corporation (NYSE: MCD) is known as the worlds largest chain of fast-food restaurants, serving approximately 47 million customers daily. Once it was the largest global restaurant chain, but it has since been exceeded by multi-brand operator Yum! Brands (KFC, Taco Bell and others) and sandwich chain Subway. Every McDonalds restaurant is run by a franchisee, an affiliate, or the corporation itself. Its revenues come from the rent, royalties and fees paid by the franchisees. It also earns form sales in company-operated restaurants. From the accounting records we can see that McDonalds revenues grew 27% over the three years ending in 2007 to $22.8 billion, and 9% growth in operating income to $3.9 billion. Generally McDonalds sells hamburgers, cheeseburgers, chicken products, French Fries, breakfast items, soft drinks, milkshakes, and desserts. Now-a-days, in order to respond to the obesity trends in western nations and in the face of criticism over the healthiness of its products, the company has modified its menu to include such healthier alternatives as salads, wraps and fruit. McDonalds began its business in 1940, with a restaurant opened by brothers Dick and Mac McDonald in San Bernardino, California. They have introduced the Speedee Service System in 1948, which established the principles of the modern fast-food restaurant. A man with a chefs hat on top of a hamburger shaped head was the original mascot of McDonalds. The name mascot was Speedee. Ronald McDonald replaced Speedee in 1967 when the company first filed a U.S. trademark on a clown shaped man having a puffed out costume legs. McDonalds opened its first restaurant in the United States, Canada, Costa Rica, Japan, the Netherlands, Germany, Australia, France, El Salvador and Sweden in order of openings. Objective of the report: This report is prepared to gain a broad idea about business strategy formulation and evaluation of these strategies. It is also done to understand the different influences the environmental factors have on the operations of a Multination Corporation. Major objectives of the report are to: Provide a conclusive idea about business environment of McDonalds Understand the impacts and implications of changing environmental factors Gain reasonable perception about strategy formulation Achieve realistic insights about strategy evaluation Attain a thorough knowledge about pointing out the pros and cons of different strategies Methodology of the Report The research methodology is the complete techniques that we will follow to conduct the research. So, we can describe the methodology in the following steps: Data Collection Present information was collected from two sources: Primary Source: Primary data of this report was collected by means of questioning of McDonalds employees and operational managers. Secondary Source As secondary source I adopt some text book on Marketing, Management and also some websites. Data Collection Method Observation: Since the report was descriptive in nature data being analyzed conceptually. Limitations: The field level survey was missing in some areas of our study due to some practical constrains. Question 1: Environmental factors impacting upon McDonalds: As a leading fast food restaurant in the world, environmental factors in different countries are crucial considerations for McDonalds. Following discussion focuses on the environmental issues of relevant to the business of the firm. General environmental factors impacting on a corporations business: If generalization is used, for a multinational corporation, following factors can be identified as major issues: Demographic Geographic Economic Socio-cultural Technological Political-legal These factors have serious implications for any Multinational company. Detailed discussions of these factors are given below: 1. Demographic environment: Demographic environment, which can be defined as the environment consisting of factors related to age, sex, gender, education level, marital status, occupation, religion, birth and death rate, average size of the family, average age of marriage etc. of a specific populace of a specific region, is the most important feature that may impact the business of the firm. As it is a Multinational corporation, the impact of demographic environment on McDonalds can be examined on regional basis. United States of America: United States is the birth place of McDonalds. Basically it is the birth pace of Fast Food culture. The people of United States of America love to enjoy their meal and the idea of fast food have been a turning point of their life style. From the demographic aspect of the region, we can point out the following issues: United States has one of the highest population growth rates among the industrialized nations. So it generally indicates the development of a large market for the corporations. 45% of the children under 5 years old belong to the minority groups of the populace. Hispanic population increased by 14%. McDonalds has been developing its menu to target this population. According to U.S. census Bureau News 2006 studies, the average income of Americans is around $46000. One of the main reasons of increase in McDonalds sales in US is the introduction of Asian Chicken Salad, which indicates importance of Minority groups in US market. Different minority groups are emerging as the economically significant groups. For example, Asians as a minority group has an average income of around $57500 which is well above the average income of Americans. So focusing business on the basis of these kinds of developments may prove fruitful in the future. Around 81% of the populace lives in urban areas where drive-through system is one of the most popular systems of getting easy meals. Europe Europeans are getting more and more interested in having quick meals from fast food shops, as their hectic lifestyles suit this mechanism. Though the sales of McDonalds dropped 14 percent, the expansionary plans of McDonalds reflects the significance of this Market. Following ideas emerged from our analysis: Demographic behavior has changed drastically in Europe. General fertility rate is below the replacement rate in many countries of the region. But a new pattern, described as a `second demographic transition have emerged, as age of first marriage and first child has changed. These changes in behaviors culminated to an increase in population growth. On average, population growth increased somewhat in the region. In European Market, McDonalds stores enjoy more customer visits and highest company-operated margin since 2001. This may be attributed to increased population and changing trends of food habits towards fast foods. Gender differences have been reduced dramatically. Economically solvent mothers are spending much to provide best quality products for their children. For this reason, McDonalds introduced R Gym to enhance children customer base. Asia pacific and Middle East: This is the region where McDonalds has the highest possibility of exponential growth due to demographic as well as socio-cultural and economic changes. Demographic factors can be specified in following manner: Countries like China and India, with high population growth rates, are considered as emerging markets for fast food industries. In order to capture the expanding markets in China and India, McDonalds has increased its outlets in both of these markets. Income of the people of this region has been increasing gradually over time, which indicates people having more spending power. Middle Eastern regions are considered as one of the wealthiest regions of the planet. Population growth is also relatively high in this region compared to the industrialized countries. Migration trend towards urban areas is a major factor to consider for Corporations like McDonalds. Latin America Although regarded as one of the poorest regions of the world, this market has been changing its economic and socio-cultural patterns to become one of the lucrative markets. According to 2005 statistics the population of South and Central America is 588 million. The population growth is about 0.6%. This is quite significant information as it indicates a big market for fast food industry. Due to the low income and economic inequality, Latin American market is still not a big revenue source for McDonalds. Different ethnic groups with diverse cultures are prominent features of this region. Economic inequality is dominant in this region. According to World Bank reports, approximately 25% people live less than $2 a day. Huge amount of people live in rural areas, or under developed areas in the cities. Migration rate to the cities is increasing day by day. The following diagram depicts the importance of each regional segment for McDonalds based on sales revenues. Source: http://internationaltrade.suite101.com/article.cfm/mcdonalds_global_sales [Visited on 23/12/2009] Figure 1: McDonalds regional sales revenue. 2. Geographic Environment: Geographic factors that may affect the business of McDonalds can be pointed out in the following discussion: The distribution points of McDonalds are vital considerations as it is involved in a business which requires easy accessibility for the customers. So locations of the distribution centers should be close to populated areas. Some of the McDonalds stores are connected to gas station or convenient stores to target the shoppers. McExpress are shops having limited seating arrangements, located in shopping malls. In its mission statement, McDonalds vowed to provide services in the best possible means. This requires quick and correct service. So, warehouses for the raw materials should be located in the strategic places for easy transfer. Geographic segmentation is very important for McDonalds. As fast food culture is mainly the trend in cities and urban areas, the strategic establishment of distribution points are needed. McDonalds have locations in Disney Theme parks and Ocean Park. This strategy helps to increase sales promotion and expand customer base among the visitors of the theme parks. Competition is anther driving issue for McDonalds to choose the locations of its business carefully. McDonalds may choose a location where it will get a strategic advantage. To have a competitive advantage it introduced locations in Wal-Mart stores. To target trackers and travelers, McDonalds has developed McShop, which may have services found at truck stops. 3. Economic Factors: Many economic factors may affect the operations of McDonalds. These economic factors are identified in the following discussion: The economic cycle of different countries may affect the revenue generation of McDonalds. But as the business seems well diversified, the effects may be nullified to a negligible extent. In 2006, McDonalds global sales rose 5.8% from the previous year. Sales margin improved in all geographic locations. McDonalds has a large amount of long term debt of about $8 billion. So, changes in interest rates or tax policies of the government may affect favorably or adversely. The exchange value of dollar against other currencies may affect the profitability of McDonalds. As it is operating in different regions, so it may consider the exchange rates differentiations of different currencies. There may be some possibilities that inflation rate may adversely affect the business of McDonalds. Increase in inflation rate may cause the price of raw materials to rise. This may also drive the customers away from the restaurants. Income level of the general people varies with the economic condition of the nation. So, in the times of recession, economic conditions may adversely affect the purchasing power of people, thus affecting the business of McDonalds. McDonalds operating earnings, earnings per share and overall revenue increased 15%, 17% and 10% respectively. It also announced dividend at the rate of $1 in year 2002 per share. This indicates 276% increase of dividend payout from the period of 2002. These numbers reflect economically a strong position for McDonalds. 4. Socio-cultural Factors: Every corporation should analyze the important socio-cultural factors relevant to their business. Such relevant factor regarding socio-cultural environment of McDonalds are discussed below. The healthy lifestyle trend has become a global phenomenon in recent days. McDonalds must consider this to maintain a competitive position in the market. McDonalds Healthy Lifestyle programs attracted health conscious people. It has become worlds first fast food service restaurant to provide nutritional information on majority of its food packaging. As women are becoming more independent and families are becoming smaller and smaller, fast foods are growing in their popularity. Eating home cooked meals are becoming a luxury in the fast paced unban lifestyles. So, restaurants are gaining momentum in their businesses. McDonalds operated in different regions of the world. In order to maintain its profitability it must keep track of regional cultural and sociological changes. For example, increased migratory trends towards cities in developing nations can be an advantageous sign for McDonalds. McDonalds needs to be aware of local trends in different regions. For instance, by presenting French Fries as vegetarian food, McDonalds had to pay a hefty price as fines in 2002. McDonalds has introduced R Gyms, a form of interactive game zones, designed for children aged 4 to 11. To emphasize on physical activity, they are equipped with stationary bicycles attached to video games, dance pads, basketball hoops, monkey bars, an obstacle course, and other games. It has introduced a new slogan to its recruitment posters: Not bad for a McJob, to encourage employees to be related with McDonalds. McDonalds jobs have been regarded as of low pay, just above the legal provision, required little skill and little job security. It has been trying to improve the conditions 5. Technological Factors: To maintain a competitive edge against the rival companies, McDonalds must be aware of the recent technologies and innovations. New and improved technologies can reduce the man power needed in processing the food thus reducing the labor related costs. New innovations can help McDonalds to create more environment friendly operating systems which will help them to reduce their carbon footprint in the world. To tackle environmental issues, McDonalds has incorporated technology into its business. McDonalds has started using corn-based bio-plastic to produce containers for some of their products. Innovative technologies can also help to reduce the levels of processing and contamination due to human interactions with the food processing functions. It may also help to reduce energy consumption thus reducing the actual cost of serving the customers. In Europe, it has started recycling vegetable grease to use it as fuel for its trucks. In 2000, it has opened a restaurant in Sweden which was the first to intentionally incorporate green ideas. 6. Political- Legal Factors: Political structure of a nation and the ideology of political parties need to be carefully assessed to run business on that states. Confiscation, domestication, tax control, exchange control, interfere of government on business operations are common in global business. Following factors may be taken into considerations about the political and legal factors: Stable political situations are always important incase of operating businesses in different regions of the world. Government policies, tax policies, regional cooperation policies etc. may affect the operations of McDonalds. Law regarding the business operations, legal suits and other legal obligations may influence the business of McDonalds. McDonalds has been involved with number of legal cases, mostly concerning with trademark. Some social cases like, The McDonalds Coffee Case in 1994, hampered the public image of McDonalds. Question2: Evaluation of current strategies in use: McDonalds has been taken some specific steps to enhance the profitability of the corporation. From the perspective of its performance and future potentiality evaluation, these strategies can be critically examined. The strategies chosen by McDonalds are assessed in the following discussion: SWOT strategies: McDonalds has chosen these strategies based on their SWOT analysis. These strategies may have some advantages and disadvantages. SO strategies: These strategies are taken in line with the strength of McDonalds and on the basis of the opportunities the firm has within its arena of operations. The firm has chosen the following strategies: 1. Expanding into Chinese market: McDonalds is thinking of expanding its Chinese market via increased advertising and numbers of outlets. This strategy can have some merits for McDonalds operations. Advantages: Chinese market is a growing market for McDonalds. The population of China is increasing rapidly and the demand for fast food is also growing at a good pace. By developing a good market in China may prove valuable for McDonalds as it has a potential for good return in future. Drive-through system is gaining popularity in china as number of car owners are increasing. This is a very good indication for McDonalds to provide this kind of services in increased number of locations. McDonalds has a brand name which is globally recognized. McDonalds can use this position of its brand name for its advantage. In China, it would be much easier for McDonalds to advertise as it has an easily recognizable brand name. In order to increase the market share, McDonalds must increase its advertising in China. It has to compete against already established quick service providers like Yum Brands. Increased advertising will enable it to capture new markets in China as well as enhance brand exposure. Increased numbers of the restaurant locations in China will provide easy accessibility to the customers. As the number of consumers is increasing the number of locations must be increased in order to meet the current demand. This strategy may pose some disadvantages for McDonalds. Disadvantages: Increased number of advertisements means increased costs. This means less revenue will be off settled by increased operating cost. As McDonalds operates its business on the basis of franchising, increased number of locations may mean lesser amount of control over its operations. In its mission statement it states to be the best quick service provider. Increased number of locations may cause McDonalds to hire employees who are not competent enough to provide good services. It may also force McDonalds to increase training costs. Quality control may not easily be done if numbers of restaurant locations are increased. Although this strategy may have some potential demerits, this strategy is a very good step for McDonalds. Chinese market is becoming the fastest growing market and McDonalds need to enhance its market share in China in order to ensure its sustainability as one of the leading quick service provider in the world. 2. Acquiring Krispy Kreme Corporation McDonalds has taken a strategic choice to integrate horizontally by taking over Krispy Kreme Corporation, which is at the verge of going bankrupt. This strategic decision may have some good implications for McDonalds. Advantages: By expanding horizontally it will be able to outreach more customers with more ease. As Krispy Kreme Corporation is at the verge of bankruptcy, it will be easier of McDonalds to acquire this company without substantial financial implications. Krispy Kreme Corporation may willing be merged with McDonalds without showing any hostility towards the acquiring company. McDonalds should be able to use the existing infrastructure of the Krispy Kreme Corporation in order to conduct its business. Loyal customers of the Krispy Kreme Corporation may still be with this company after the acquisition. This way McDonalds may be able to acquire a new customer base. Acquiring Krispy Kreme Corporation will put McDonalds in a competitively advantageous position. This will mean less competition for McDonalds and infrastructure and customer base development. This strategy may have some potential disadvantages as follows: Disadvantages: There is a chance that Krispy Kreme Corporation may not be willing to merge with McDonalds. This may force it to take strategies against the acquisition. If acquisition happens in this situation, then McDonalds will be in a disadvantageous position. The customer base of the Krispy Kreme Corporation may not support this acquisition. This may drive them away and reduce the benefits of this acquisition. There is a potential of dilution of control and profit of the shareholder in case of this acquisition. For this reason McDonalds may change the top management of Krispy Kreme Corporation. This may affect the whole operations of Krispy Kreme as new management may have a different style of running the business. By comparing the disadvantage with the advantages, we can easily say that the disadvantageous situations may occur in highly probabilistic circumstances, which make those less potent. So this strategy may prove profitable for McDonalds. WO Strategies: These strategies are taken on the basis of the analysis of the weaknesses and existing opportunities of McDonalds. The firm has chosen the following strategy: 1. Menu development: McDonalds has chosen to develop its menu based on healthy lifestyle trends. It is also thinking of introducing Hispanic food lines. This strategy may have following advantages: Advantages: Providing healthy foods may increase the customer base of McDonalds as there is a global trend of shifting to this kinds of foods now-a-days. Increased Hispanic population forced McDonalds to focus on this group. By creating Hispanic food line, McDonalds may be able to capture a more diverse and wide customer base. There is a bad name of fast food of being unhealthy. By providing more healthy food, McDonalds may be able to change this perception which may be a competitive advantage for McDonalds. There may have some disadvantages of this strategy. Disadvantages: This strategy may cost McDonalds more as it requires more investment from McDonalds part. The new product lines for Hispanic population may not be successful or needs more time to be successful. Focusing on Hispanic population may be frowned upon as being a racially motivated strategy. In order to capture the market and be in line with the global trend, McDonalds need this strategy to be implemented. ST Strategies: McDonalds Corporation also has some strategies based on its strength and potential threat analysis. These strategies are discussed below. 1. Increase number of restaurants located in theme parks: McDonalds is thinking of forward integrating by increasing the number of locations in the theme parks of Disney and Ocean Park. This strategy may have some pros and cons which have been identified in the following discussion: Advantages: By increasing the number of locations in the theme parks McDonalds can capture more of the customer base by providing more services. Mutual understanding between theme parks managements and MacDonalds may increase the brand exposure of McDonalds. By expanding the operations to the theme parks it can appeal to the children which may eventually lead to brand loyalty. Disadvantages: This strategy may increase the operational cost of McDonalds. Quality control may not be an easy proposition. More advertising may be needed in order to make all the locations popular. This strategy may be profitable for McDonalds in the long run and it may be recommended to be pursued by McDonalds. 2. Increase advertising of coffee line: McDonalds is trying to increase advertising of the coffee line in key markets like China and North America. This strategy may have some advantages for McDonalds. Advantages: By developing a market penetration strategy, McDonalds can increase coffee sales, which is one of the weak links of its operations. By increasing the advertising, it can acquire more customers in the morning time when the demand of coffee is highest. McDonalds can create an image of best quick service coffee provider by increasing the frequency of advertisements and providing customers with quality services. Disadvantages: It will increase the sales cost of McDonalds and reduce the profit. Increased advertising may prove fruitful if it can provide good services. But id it fails to live up to the mark then rival companies can take advantage of the situation. Increased advertisement for coffee line may prove fruitful for McDonalds as it has beaten its traditional rivals in coffee taste test according to consumer report. So this strategy is quite a good stand for McDonalds. WT Strategies: McDonalds has been thinking of taking some strategies based on its weaknesses and threats analysis in order to enhance its operational efficiency. Following discussion has been done to point out those strategies and some relevant issues about those strategies. 1. Develop the menu to keep up with the competition: McDonalds one of the main concern is lack of menu development. In order to appeal to the Asian and Latin American markets, it is thinking about menu development. Advantages: Creative menu development will appeal to growing markets like Asian and Latin American markets, which will increase its customer base. It may reduce the operational inefficiency and create more customer satisfaction Customer retention may increase as more options of food items are included in the menu. It will increase its profitability in the long run and create stronger customer base. It will help to capture the potentially profitable markets of Asia and Latina America. The underserved niche of the industry may be capture if creative menu developments occur. Disadvantages: Cost of product development and market survey may increase, which will reduce the profit of the company. New products may fail to appeal to the targeted customer segment, which will result in operational loss. New product development may need new kinds of technologies or raw materials, which will increase capital expenditures of McDonalds. This strategy may increase the profitability of McDonalds as new customers are induced to buy its products. It will also increase the customer base and customer retention rate. 2. Redesign the website to make it more users friendly: Making the website more users friendly is another ploy of McDonalds to increase its efficiency. The advantages and disadvantages of this strategy is discussed below. Advantages: Redesigning the website will increase the knowledge of the customers about McDonalds and its products. Internet is one of the best possible ways to advertise the products of any corporation. Revamping the website may increase its potential customer base by providing them with best possible information. Creating a user friendly website may increase the customer satisfaction. Disadvantages: This strategy may reduce the profit of the organization for the time being, but this may increase capital expenditure of the company. Creating a user friendly website requires expert handling of information. If it is not done efficiently, then it will prove worthless for the Company. The strategy of improving its website can be a fruitful ploy for McDonalds if it is done efficiently. 3. Increasing sales promotion and advertising: Increasing the amount of sales promotion and advertising in key markets to increase consumer awareness of the products is an important strategy for McDonalds. The pros and cons of this strategy are discussed below. Advantages: This will increase the consumer awareness of the products and services of McDonalds. This may also increase the number of customers of the company. This may help McDonalds to capture customers from its rivals if it is done efficiently and effectively. This will also help to gain a competitive advantage in key markets. Disadvantages: Increased cost for McDonalds will offset the profits. Increasing advertising and sales promotion is the best possible way for McDonalds to increase its customer base. Recommendation Following recommendations can be

Exploring the Validity of the Statement that the Eruption of Thera Caus

Minoan Crete was a civilization experiencing great social and economic prosperity during its zenith around the time known as Late Minoan 1 (LM 1) (Sheppard Baird 2009). However the Minoan population ended abruptly and seemingly simultaneously 430 years later, this left archaeologists and historians searching for the cause (Castleden 1990, 143). The main reason archaeologists are studying the reason for the downfall is because if a date was known, a more precise historical timescale could be produced that would give a more accurate chronology of ancient history during this time (Barber 1990, 221). Ever since Sir Arthur Evans developed the concept of the Minoan civilisation, there have been many proposed reasons for the downfall, each with their own evidence and supporters (Sheppard Baird 2009). It was in 1939 that Syridon Marinatos, a leading 20th century archaeologist of Crete, initially suggested that the volcano Thera was the reason for the Minoans demise (Castleden 1990, 143). Ma ny more hypotheses as to what caused the destruction have stemmed from this initial thought, such as tsunamis, economic and agricultural decline as well as foreign invasion. However due to advances in science and further studies into Thera and the Minoan’s history, this volcano no longer seemed the only plausible cause for the disappearance of Minoan Civilisation (Sheppard Baird 2009). Thera was located on the present day island of Santorini, 120 km north of Crete, and for hundreds of years there was little to no activity. It wasn’t until three and a half thousand years ago when the historic eruption occurred (Cecil 2011)(Ancient Greece org 2010). There were three phases to the eruption, first pumice was ejected which covered Akrotiri in a layer rang... ...h: a new view of the â€Å"Palace of Minos† at Knossos, Routledge, London. Cecil J., 2011 The fall of the Minoan civilization , BBC-History , BBC http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/greeks/minoan_01.shtml accessed: 30 April 2012. Hood S., 1971 The Minoans: the story of Bronze Age Crete, Praeger Publishers, Michigan. MacDonald C. Driessen J., 1997 The Troubled Island: Minoan Crete before and after the Santorini eruption, Università © de Lià ¨ge, Histoire de l'art et archà ©ologie de la Grà ¨ce antique. Platon N. 1966 Crete, Archaeologia Mundi series, Frederick Muller Limited, London. Pyle D.M, 1989 Thera and the Aegean world III, Ther Thera Foundation, London. Sheppard Baird W., 2009 The Bronze Age Eruption of Santorini and Late Minoan IB Destruction Event , Minoan Atlantis http://www.minoanatlantis.com/LM_IB_Destruction.php accessed: 30 April 2012.

Deep side of the Sea

Hurry! Give her mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. I can hear someone scream: well that is not the only thing I can hear. I can hear the siren and footsteps of people rushing here and there. Now the sounds are beginning to faint and my entire body is aching. It hurts a lot but I cannot really tell where, now all I can hear are my own thoughts. I feel lightweight. I have no control over myself. I am drifting away to someplace and amazing thing is that I feel secure, while light surrounds me and it’s very quite. I guess it all started when my parents left for Canada and I being the only child had to stay home alone. A dream come true, I had through to myself: I was so happy, now I could go anywhere I wanted to, go to every party in town or better yet, through a party of my own. I spent few days doing nothing and handing out here and there. Then the day came: I was invited to go to the biggest beach party in town with my friends. So I gathered myself, surf board, suntan lotion etc and left. We reached there at around 10:00 am. I knew no one around a bit, those people were new to me but I still manage to mingle. The Party was going great, people were laughing, dancing and simply letting go of themselves. Later everyone decided to go for a swim, so I went along, splashing here and there, and life seemed nothing but a beautiful dream. The guys decided to go in deeper but I did not want to go, nor I wanted anyone to think I was a chicken. So being extra cautions I went but tried to stay a little behind. I wasn’t afraid. I just wanted to be careful. The guys were just playing around when a massive wave hit us, knocking everyone towards the shore, except me. I could not believe what was happening to me, some force was pulling me towards as if it wanted me down there. Water began to surround me eyes, they hurt so bad that now I could not even see anything. I tried my best to regain control but it was all in vain. I could see people far away, frantically running here and there but no one dare come for my rescue. I was really tired and I wanted to let go, and that’s what exactly I did and it felt good. I don’t remember what happened next but I could feel myself being dragged somewhere by someone. Presently I do not die, where I am but if it definitely not the sea. God! I hope I do not die what will become of me? And what about my family, they do not even know where I am, would I ever see them again God! Please help me get through this.

Women Of The Civil War - 1553 Words

Women of the Civil War The Civil War is a very important part of American history – simply put, it determined what kind of nation the United States would be. The Civil War resolved whether the United States is what determined the survival of the Union or whether the Confederacy would gain independence. It is the battle that determined whether the largest slaveholding country in the world would continue to exist as such since it thrived on the fundamental idea that â€Å"all men are created with an equal right to liberty.† Many men were drafted and put their lives on the line during the war to fight for the freedom or the right to own slaves. The men were not the only individuals affected by the war; it significantly affected the lives of many†¦show more content†¦Other women would serve as spies for the states or work as nurses on the battlefields. Many women, however, took on roles at home while their husbands, fathers, sons and brothers left to fight in the war. Free women were no t the only women individuals affected by the war. It was the war that was fighting for the freedom of slaves and thousands of enslaved women began transitioning to being a free woman. Women played many roles during this time and refused to sit waiting for the men in their lives to come back home from battle. No matter what roles/duties they took on, it redefined the traditional role of a housewife and mother than women normally played and their importance in the war effort was very significant. It is speculated that there were hundreds of women that served as spies for both sides during the Civil War. What these women would do was gather valuable information from the military by flirting with male soldiers. They smuggled supplies, medicine, and ammunition across enemy line by hiding everything underneath their skirts. A Confederate spy named Emeline Pigott would gather information by entertaining Union soldiers at parties she held in her own home. She would pass this information along to the Confederate army by leaving secret messages in hiding spots or by crossing enemy lines and delivering messages by hand. However, not many women spies would get away with it, and were quickly caught and arrested. It was their â€Å"unladylike† acts of

Corruption Of Control In Animal Farm, By George Orwell

John Dalberg Acton once said, â€Å"Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.† This seems similar in the case of Animal Farm, a book by George Orwell. In the story the tired animals rebel against their owner and set up their own government, but the pigs assume control and abuse their power which corrupts the whole system by oppressing the other animals and exploiting them. Even though the pigs abuse their power, the naive animals are the reason why the pigs rose to control because the working animals were tricked by the pig’s corruption of language, persuaded by their propaganda, and were naive time and time again. One reason why the pigs are still in control is because the animals were tricked by the pigs was when they†¦show more content†¦Another reason is that they could have tried to use their education and been smarter to realize what was going on in the farm. It clearly states in the novel that, â€Å"ALL â€Å"ANIMALS ARE EQUALâ €  (Orwell 13). It then changes for that to the same commandment, but with a twist. As shown in the last chapter â€Å"ALL ANIMALS ARE EQUAL, BUT SOME ANIMALS ARE MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS† (Orwell 127). The slight change of all the commandments symbolizes how much the farm is being changed and twisted by the will of the pigs. This last change shows that the farm has reverted back to it’s former state. If the animals were smarter and not have been so naive, and could have stood up to the pigs, resulting in the decline of Napoleon’s dictatorship. This is important because if they were smarter and wiser as a whole, than it would have been easy for them to not get fooled, making it way harder on the pigs to keep control. This is true because without the working class of animals supporting Napoleon, the pigs would not be able to live so lavishly. Standing up to the pigs and questioning them was very key for the animals when they knew something was fishy was very imp ortant, but when Clover asks Muriel to read the commandments for him, and realizes the slight change at the end every time, he never seems to go straight to the pigs and confront them. The working animals were to passive in this situation and were the most responsible for the pig’s continuing tyranny. And Finally, the animalsShow MoreRelatedAnimal Farm Character Analysis713 Words   |  3 Pagesâ€Å"ALL ANIMALS ARE EQUAL BUT SOME ANIMALS ARE MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS† (Orwell 134). In George Orwell’s allegorical fable, Animal Farm, a group of animals lived with their master, Jones. Jones was an unfair man who didn’t care too much about the animals. One day Jones forgot to feed the animals, so they revolted. The animals wanted a perfect place without the corruption of man. 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Poverty Case Study - 1277 Words

Poverty The concept of poverty, when applied in both developing and developed country contexts, needs to be broadened beyond a uni-dimensional concentration on a person’s lack of financial resources. It is widely agreed that the relationship between poverty and education operates in two directions: poor people are often unable to obtain access to an adequate education, and without an adequate education people are often constrained to a life of poverty. However, before addressing the interrelationships between poverty and education, it is important to discuss the concept of poverty. Poverty has many dimensions and does not merely entail low levels of income or expenditure. The work of Amartya Sen (1992, 2001) has broadened our†¦show more content†¦However, the poor also seem to be more responsive to school quality. If educational quality is poor, then poor people are more likely not to attend than rich people (Morrisson, 2002, p. 15). Thus an increase in educational quality is another strong incentive for the poor to attend school, again increasing enrolment. It is not only the costs or the poor quality of schooling that reduce demand for education among the poor. In many societies, and particularly in rural areas, the benefits of education may be low or not yet well understood. Often the poor, even when they are educated, have difficulty finding jobs that compensate them adequately for their education. This may be because the education they receive is of a lower quality, or may be perceived to be of a lower quality, than is the case in schools in richer areas. It may, however, also be because jobs are scarce in rural areas, where many of the poor live, and the economic benefits of education are therefore not apparent to parents. This is particularly true for girls, adding to the trend towards lower enrolment ratios for girls. Many Better educated people have greater probability of being employed, are economically more productive, and therefore earn higher incomes. The impact of education on earnings and thus on poverty works largely through the labour market, though education can also contribute to productivity in other areas, such as peasant farming (Orazem, Glewwe amp; Patrinos, 2007:Show MoreRelatedPoverty Case Study878 Words   |  4 Pagesimage shows the calculation of a confidence interval that is 1.96 times the standard error, i.e. 95 percent confidence. It also shows how the application of this confidence interval about the mean creates two legs outside of the mean, which, in this case, each represent 2.5 percent confidence respectively. 3b. Percentage of Republicans in 1984: 44.22% Percentage of Republicans in 1992: 41.86% = = -0.99 to 5.71 3c. 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This was also the issue with selecting case studies which deals specifically with sociable housing which in these communities is widely known as co-housing. The evidence collected from sources had to be carefully selected and used accordingly. A model was then developed to assess how people of different background can be incorporated through various substances. This was then implemented within separate case studies and the results explored and analysed. The model was then trie dRead MoreCase Study Solving3562 Words   |  15 PagesCase Study Method in Management Management education is mainly aimed at developing managerial skills in students. 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Child Abuse A Topic to Take Lightly Essay Example For Students

Child Abuse A Topic to Take Lightly Essay Child Abuse: A Topic to Take Lightly? In recent years, child abuse has become, for the first time, an issue worthy of much attention. Child abuse happens everywhere; it is deeply embedded and practiced in many various cultures and geographical locations. Everyone has his or her own opinion on the significance of child abuse. To some, abuse merely is a topic that people have become obsessed with. Many people believe that abuse is only an extreme word for good discipline. These people are blind to the seriousness of child abuse. There are several very negative effects that spur from child abuse. These effects are anything but healthy in reference to the development of a child abused in any way. Many parents, in every culture, use child abuse as a method of conditioning their children to behave well. They use severe negative reinforcement too punish their children. These parents only see the immediate effects of child abuse. Naturally, if a child is beaten for doing something wrong, they will learn not to do it again. However, abused children tend to develop many problems later in life. In some cases, abused children will avoid growing close to people. They feel more comfortable trying to hide all of their pain and suffering. An approach like this to building relationships can lead to a lack of the true sense of intimacy and trust. A child will isolate themselves from others and experience severe loneliness. Abused children are more likely to bully other children around, isolating themselves from their peers (Judith 117). They sometimes fall into the pattern of befriending people who will only betray and cause them Abuse to a child can be a source of very painful experiences. Children often handle these experiences in the wrong way. Sometimes, these children try to ignore these painful feelings, which makes it difficult to learn how to cope with them. This behavior may lead to confusion and high stress. Children often become lost in the wavering maze of feeling little or no emotion, then switching to being overwhelmed with emotion and not knowing how to handle their feelings. These children may become psychologically unhealthy due to their emotionally instability (www.childabuse.com). Someone that was abused as a child is more likely to become an abusive parent than someone who was not (Judith 221). In this way, abuse can carry on from generation from generation. These families have unhealthy relationships. Family members frequently lack the love, caring, and friendship that everyone needs. Being neglected of these important feelings can cause frustration; this can cause a child to feel secluded, depressed, or cause them to be violent. It is even hard on me at the age of 18 being away from my family. Sometimes I dont have anyone to talk to about personal feelings or anyone to show me true love and compassion. My friends have become more close to me than I ever thought they would. Tender love and care are things that everyone needs to experience. Abuses is a problem that more people face than most think. If more people learned about the effects of abuse, the general development of our children would be much better. Some people, however, just dont care to learn about abuse or problems it may cause. Child abuse is a problem that is so prevalent, it is difficult to prevent. Hopefully, in the future, a much higher percentage of our society will better understand the devastation that Bibliography: Work Cited Herman L., Judith. Trauma and Recovery. Basic Books, 1992. DiScala, C., Sege, R., Guohua, L., and Reece, R. .ubde7cd107b50ee151d02d3113a51d309 , .ubde7cd107b50ee151d02d3113a51d309 .postImageUrl , .ubde7cd107b50ee151d02d3113a51d309 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ubde7cd107b50ee151d02d3113a51d309 , .ubde7cd107b50ee151d02d3113a51d309:hover , .ubde7cd107b50ee151d02d3113a51d309:visited , .ubde7cd107b50ee151d02d3113a51d309:active { border:0!important; } .ubde7cd107b50ee151d02d3113a51d309 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ubde7cd107b50ee151d02d3113a51d309 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ubde7cd107b50ee151d02d3113a51d309:active , .ubde7cd107b50ee151d02d3113a51d309:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ubde7cd107b50ee151d02d3113a51d309 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ubde7cd107b50ee151d02d3113a51d309 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ubde7cd107b50ee151d02d3113a51d309 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ubde7cd107b50ee151d02d3113a51d309 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ubde7cd107b50ee151d02d3113a51d309:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ubde7cd107b50ee151d02d3113a51d309 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ubde7cd107b50ee151d02d3113a51d309 .ubde7cd107b50ee151d02d3113a51d309-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ubde7cd107b50ee151d02d3113a51d309:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Lab Report: Beginning ASL 3 4 Essay Child Abuse and Unintentional Injuries: A 10-Year Retrospective. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med., 2000. http://www.childabuse.com U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, Advisory Board on Child Abuse and Neglect. A Nations Shame: Fatal Child Abuse and Neglect. April 1995. .