McDonalds Company Corporate Social Responsibility

McDonalds Company Corporate Social Responsibility Competition is an integral part of any firm’s functioning; the choice of the means, strategies, and tools to enhance the firm’s competitive advantage is often the key to understanding the roots to its success or failure, as well as the issues connected with its competitive behavior.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on McDonalds Company Corporate Social Responsibility specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Every business owner wants to be successful, and wants to receive the highest revenue possible. Nevertheless, there are always certain limitations, requirements, and factors that produce a complex influence on the firm’s functioning and predetermine its profitability. Business stakeholders should always keep in mind that the firm cannot function in an isolated way; the strategic success of any company depends first of all on the way it attracts customers. One of the effective tools to improve communicatio n with customers, to raise the corporate image and reputations, and to preserve a positive social image, is to get actively involved in the corporate social responsibility (CSR) issues. They are nowadays recognized as one of the dominant factors affecting the company performance; CSR has become particularly important under the conditions of the modern economic crisis when large corporations cooperate with worldwide NGOs and governmental authorities in order to help states overcome the problems of unemployment, hazards to health, and inequality of people (Royle 2005, p. 42). The majority of large and successful corporations pose corporate social responsibility as one of their top priorities in business operations; it is evident that this way they manage to cater for their customers and to create the constant, stale, and reciprocal relationships with their clients. In case corporate social responsibility standards are kept to, there is always much more customer confidence loyalty. As in case with McDonalds that is the subject of the present paper, the mission statement of the company clearly states that the main task of the company is to create unique and unforgettable experiences for their customers (McDonald’s Corporate Responsibility Values in Practice). The present mission statement is clearly customer-focused, which will surely create a positive feedback from customers feeling that they are valued.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More It is true that the core assumption lying in the basis of the Porter’s model is that the industry structure produces a strong and inevitable influence on the firm’s performance. The five forces outlined by Michael Porter include the threat for businesses because of the entry of new market participants, the intensity of rivalry firms experience inside the market segment, the pressure from prod uct substitutes or very similar products of rivals, the bargaining power of buyers and suppliers (Ormanidhi Stringa 2008, p. 57). Therefore, engagement in CSR activities falls within the framework of ‘intensity of rivalry’ – all fast food leaders in the field have strong positions, and they can easily survive even under the conditions of fierce competition. McDonalds is the $40 billion company that employed about 1.6 million workers worldwide in 2005, and reported serving 46 million of customer a day (Royle 2005, p. 45). McDonalds has been involved in the corporate social responsibility activities for a long time, since its administration realized the potential for the corporation in the socially responsible approach. Even upon a glance at their CSR philosophy, one can assume that McDonalds provides 10% of Americans with their first job, and has become the number one job training center in the USA, which creates a highly positive reputation and image for the com pany and improves its position regarding its competitors (Royle 2005, p. 45). There is a great number of corporate social responsibility activities in which McDonalds is currently involved; upon viewing its social responsibility page at the official McDonalds website, one can see that there are the following CSR activities McDonalds pursues: Proper care about nutrition and well-being of customer Expanding the food menu for children with proper attention paid to their unique needs Education and information provision about useful nutrition Implementation of the forestry policy Popularizing environmental considerations on product packaging Provision of financial and volunteer support for Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) Proliferation of volunteer activities through an online management tool Publicizing all production and transportation processes through the â€Å"from Farm to Front Counter† program (McDonalds Corporation Worldwide Corporate Responsibility 2010 Report 2010 , pp. 6-10). It is not only a strong focus on the customer satisfaction but also considerations of profitability that make the CSR activities of McDonalds effective. There is a feasible contribution that McDonalds makes to the economies of the countries in which its major markets operate, such as the USA; for example, the expenditures for philanthropic activities in 2006 constituted $13.6 million, while the 2009 figure equals $19 million.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on McDonalds Company Corporate Social Responsibility specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The McDonalds Corporation paid $493 million of social taxes in 2006, and the figure rose to $568 million in 2009 (McDonalds Corporation Worldwide Corporate Responsibility 2010 Report 2010, p. 10). However, at the same time the corporation experiences substantial gains deriving from the introduction of CSR initiatives. For instance, the electricity consumption rates ha ve decreased considerably to the level of 1.689 kWh/TC, 100% of meat-producing plants go through thorough certification and analysis, and more than 90% of employees receive their professional certification in the McDonalds-owned Hamburger Universities (McDonalds Corporation Worldwide Corporate Responsibility 2010 Report 2010, pp. 7-10). The popularity of CSR activities has been realized by all leaders in the fast food market, which is proven by the active engagement in such actions by other US leaders in the fast food industry such as Burger King, KFC, and Pizza Hut (Royle 2005, p. 45). The present observation supports the claims of Ormanidhi and Stringa (2008) about the applicability of the Porter’s Five Forces model to the assessment of CSR activities as well, since they contain the element of competition for the customer loyalty as well. The deep involvement in community work, volunteer work, and other types of CSR activities called philanthropic activity by the company ar e first of all driven by the effort to reduce the negative impact of such Porter’s force as ‘pressure from substitutes’. There is a clear indication on the emphasis put by the company administration on authenticity of their products and services. Even their mission statement claims about the creation of unique customer experiences for each single client coming to a McDonald’s restaurant. In addition, the business objectives published at the official side of McDonalds indicate the wish to take care about customers’ health, and to place their customers and commitment to them to the core of their corporate values. Obviously, it is a clearly beneficial competitive strategy, since the principle of ‘stakeholder democracy’ is fully retained at each level of the corporation’s functioning (Royle 2005, p. 42).Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Another popular CSR activity that McDonalds has implemented only recently is the online discussion blog â€Å"Open for Discussion† initiated by the company in order to engage in closer and more active communication with customers and stakeholders on health and environmental issues (Fleck, Fieseler, Meckel 2009, p. 1). It is an experimental form of communication between the complex body of an organization and its stakeholders that proved highly successful and beneficial in terms of ensuring the implementation of corporate business objectives, tracking customer satisfaction, and monitoring the feedback received from customers as well. The present feature of the McDonalds CSR activities is also directed at reduction of the ‘pressure of substitutes’ factor from the Porter’s five forces model of competition. There is a clear advantage in communication tools that McDonalds employs, and the CSR activities it undertakes provide the corporation with a confident co mpetitive advantage, and customer loyalty in the industry with very easy entry conditions. Arriving at a conclusion in the discussion of McDonalds CSR activities ensuring its sound competitiveness in the market of fast food, one should assume that the company has chosen the correct focus of its CSR initiatives, and manages to secure its leading place in the global fast food production and service. The competitive business strategy of the company is highly adjusted to the current needs of all stakeholders, including investors, shareholders, customers, and international controlling institutions. The business strategy of McDonalds is focused on environmental protection, care about health and well-being of clients, education for staff, and adjustment to customer needs. The company also ensures transparency of its processes (e.g., through the â€Å"From Farm to Front Counter† manual). In the industry offering more or less standardized and comparatively cheap products, the present strategy wins a leading role, positive reputation, and beneficial social image for McDonalds, ensuring its profitability and diminished impact of Porter’s five forces of competition. References Fleck, M, Fieseler, C, Meckel, M 2009, ‘Micro-Dialogues in Cyberspace – McDonalds Blogging Efforts in Communicating Corporate Social Responsibility online. The 59th Annual Conference of the International Communication Association, Chicago, IL. McDonald’s Corporate Responsibility Values in Practice 2011, McDonalds Official Site. Web. McDonald’s Corporation Worldwide Corporate Social Responsibility 2010 Report 2010. Web. Ormanidhi, O, Stringa, O 2008, ‘Porters Model of Generic Competitive Strategies: An insightful and convenient approach to firms’ analysis’, Business Economics, July 2008, pp. 55-64. Royle, T 2005, ‘Realism or idealism? Corporate social responsibility and the employee stakeholder in the global fast-food industry†™, Business Ethics: a European Review, vol. 14, no. 1, pp. 42-55.

Cultivating Editor Relationships Bears Multi-Assignment Fruit

Cultivating Editor Relationships Bears Multi-Assignment Fruit Last week I sent a two-sentence query to the travel editor at the San Jose Mercury News about visiting specific spots in Southern California- would she be interested in an article? Her answer: â€Å"Sure. Sounds fun!† It can’t be that easy, right? Yes, it was- but only because I’d written many travel pieces for this editor over a number of years. Better yet, because my writing style and process clicked well with her needs, she’d actually created a loose category of articles (called â€Å"Trail Mix†) for me to conceive and write, of which the above was one. There will be many mixings of trails to come. Keeping in this vein, I once wrote a magazine piece about my girlfriend buying an old Airstream trailer sight unseen on eBay. The editor of a new Airstream magazine read it and contacted me about writing an article for his magazine. Yesterday I turned in what might be my 40th (if not more) article for the magazine. Don’t get me wrong: I’ve sent hundreds, perhaps thousands, of pitches that have died an un-replied death, and hundreds more that got me the one-sentence â€Å"not for us† reply. But occasionally, writers can connect with editors so that mutual trust, confidence, and suggested future work define the relationship. And don’t forget another component: getting paid regularly. Sure, Craft clear pitches: Be specific about an article’s scope and details. Include a suggested headline. Put in a succinct

How has UK joining the European Union impacted the doctrine of Essay - 1

How has UK joining the European Union impacted the doctrine of parliamentary sovereignty - Essay Example essure because of some statutory reforms passed by former regimes affiliated to the Labour party in early 1970s and consequently at the end of the 20th century. Tracking back to the 70s era, the British government enacted laws that saw it join the European Communities (Gifford 2009). Their entry into the European Union brought about some fundamental effects in the UKs parliamentary sovereignty. The principle of UKs Parliamentary sovereignty is derived from historical events that took place in late 1600s. Scholar’s trackback parliamentary sovereignty to the Glorious Revolution that took place in the year 1688. It is regarded by certain individuals as being a significant occasion in the lengthy growth of the separate powers and privileges of the UK Parliament, creating the dominance of laws over prerequisite powers. The UKs Parliament statutory power comprises not only the ability to amend the laws, but also the fact that no other institution within the constitution should have the power of doing so, other than the parliament. By Parliaments sovereignty, it is predestined that there are no statutory restrictions on jurisdictive powers and influences of the UK parliament (McGarry 2012). The Queen gives the bills that are approved by both houses namely: - the House of Commons and the House of Lords the Royal Assent to transform them to become Acts of "the UK" Parliament . Parliamentary Sovereignty additionally includes the notion that the UK courts are compelled to empower laws that are ratified by the UK parliament and to not question the decisions of the parliament exemplified in the statute. According to Albert Venn Dicey, the parliament has a right to unmake or make any rule and there is no other individual or institution recognized under the UK law, who has the mandate to supersede or set aside parliaments legislation. This declaration by Dicey demonstrates the typical explanation of the principle of Parliamentary dominance. It is, however, said that this

Computer Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Computer Assignment - Essay Example PARC's success has led Xerox to spin off new companies based on their accomplishments, and many of their researchers from the early days have gone on to join or create successful computer businesses of their own. The future is happening today at PARC. Cringely described Bill Gates as a "megalomaniac" and Steve Jobs as a "sociopath" (Cringely: x) their differences do not end there. They came from two very different worlds to succeed in personal computing. They are also similar in many respects and some of these similarities have been a problem for them. Bill Gates came from an influential family and has strived in life to be recognized in his own right and succeeded, even though he dropped out of Harvard as a sophomore. Microsoft's operating system, MS-Dos, was bought by one of the largest computer manufacturers in the world, IBM. Windows and Internet Explorer have set the standards that other software developers have tried to copy and compete with. Microsoft itself, along with PARC, has influenced the way that corporations in the computer industry are run. It has also influenced how these businesses conduct business. Steve Jobs never knew his real parents and it is believed that this fact accounts for his volatile nature and the need to be recognized in hopes that his parents will find him. ... Microsoft's operating system, MS-Dos, was bought by one of the largest computer manufacturers in the world, IBM. Windows and Internet Explorer have set the standards that other software developers have tried to copy and compete with. Microsoft itself, along with PARC, has influenced the way that corporations in the computer industry are run. It has also influenced how these businesses conduct business. Steve Jobs never knew his real parents and it is believed that this fact accounts for his volatile nature and the need to be recognized in hopes that his parents will find him. Unlike Gates, Jobs was already working, at a video games manufacturer, when he entered the industry. Apple computers are his claim to fame. It was his idea to refine and perfect Steve Wozniak's original computer, and then market it. Unlike Gates, he has left Apple and moved on to other things. The NeXT computer was his creation. He is always looking for a new idea and better ways of computing and communicating. In that respect both men are similar. They both want to improve the way that we work, play and communicate with personal computers. Neither of them was afraid to use other's ideas and products, by adapting them to their needs, and turn them into their own successful products. Jobs appropriated the mouse and Gates rewrote BASIC. They saw the possibilities and with a few changes of their own created new products which revolutionized the industry and how we use computers today. They are both excellent salesmen: enthusiastic, driven, and influential. They are able to captivate audiences with their energy and belief in their products and turn them around to their way of thinking. Neither of their initial products was perfect, but people bought into

IT and Customer Relationship Management Essay Example for Free

IT and Customer Relationship Management Essay Read the Harvard Business School case for Maru Batting Center, # KEL688. The optional technical note, Using Customer Relationship Management to Analyze the Lifetime Value of a Customer #KEL695, can also help walk through the exercises. The data in Excel format is available for download in the course package, #KEL691. Answer the questions below based on only information presented in the case and your understanding of the case. You may answer the questions in either essay or bullet points form. Be concise and substantiate your answers with logical arguments and flow of thoughts. Question 1 What is the customer acquisition cost for Maru Batting Center (MBC) for the following customers? a) A Little Leaguer b) A Summer Slugger c) An Elite Ballplayer if MBC places the ad in the local baseball enthusiasts magazine d) An Elite Ballplayer if MBC purchases the List and invites all target customers to the gala event e) An Entertainment Seeker Question 2 Without discounting cash flows to take into account the time value of money, how soon will MBC break even on the following customers? a) A Little Leaguer b) A Summer Slugger c) An Elite Ballplayer if MBC places the ad in the local baseball enthusiasts magazine d) An Elite Ballplayer if MBC purchases the List and invites all target customers to the gala event e) An Entertainment Seeker Question 3 Taking into account the time value of money and assuming that 100 percent of a customer segment will have experienced attrition once the net present value of annual profits per customer falls below  ¥100, what is the lifetime value to MBC of the following customers? a) A Little Leaguer b) A Summer Slugger c) An Elite Ballplayer if MBC places the ad in the local baseball enthusiasts magazine d) An Elite Ballplayer if MBC purchases the List and invites all target customers to the gala event e) An Entertainment Seeker Question 4 Little League representatives have approached MBC from the nearby Chiyoda ward who are eager to gain the jersey subsidy the Minato ward has enjoyed due to the company’s sponsorship. Because the parents of Chiyoda Little Leaguers will have to travel a greater distance, Maru believes there will be a lower response rate (8 percent) and a lower retention rate (65 percent), which she can make up for by purchasing slightly lowerquality jerseys, reducing the cost of sponsorship to just  ¥600 per player. However, the Chiyoda ward representatives demand that theirs be the only ward receiving such a sponsorship, which means MBC must choose between the two wards. The Chiyoda representatives argue that because their ward has twice the number of Little League customers, it is more attractive than the Minato ward. Should MBC pursue the Chiyoda ward sponsorship? Explain your reasoning.

A milimeter too far Essay -- Medical Research

A millimetre too far: Discuss metastatic melanoma (skin cancer) with particular reference to the genes involve. Introduction In 2008 11,767 new cases of malignant melanoma was reported in the UK (UK, 2011) . Melanoma involves melanocytes of the skin which have a role in protecting the deeper layers of the skin from UV light emitted from the sun. Metastatic melanoma occurs when a primary tumour travels into the bloodstream and spreads to other body parts i.e. liver or lymph nodes. The survival rate for people with metastatic melanoma decreases the later the diagnosis and the bigger the spread (metastasis) of the cancer. Scientists have therefore investigated ways in which treatment for melanoma can be improved by diagnostic markers and by targeting the genes involved in the development of melanocytes; also the genes involved in uncontrolled proliferation as seen in metastatic melanoma. BRAFV600E Mutation of BRAF gene (a member of the RAF family of serine-theronine kinase (Gorden et al., 2003) has led to countless research on therapeutic treatments that target BRAF gene and inhibit its expression. Before melanoma gets to the metastatic stages there are a series of somatic mutations in melanocyte genes that leads to the transition from radial growth phase to vertical growth phase (Tan, 2012). Over activation of BRAF gene (somatic mutation) in melanoma leads to the uncontrolled proliferation and survival of melanoma cells via activation of the RAS/RAF/MAPK pathway (Gorden et al., 2003); the attachment of BRAF to RAS proteins activates the MAPK pathway involved in melanoma proliferation and the regulation of genes involved in the metastatic cascade. Recent studies showed that 92% of melanoma samples had a substitution (l... ...M., Elder, D. E., Hsu, M. Y., & Herlyn, M. (1994). Regulation of Mel-CAM/MUC18 expression on melanocytes of different stages of tumor progression by normal keratinocytes. [Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.]. Am J Pathol, 145(4), 837-845. Tan, W. W. H., J.E.;Schulman, P. (2012, 29 Feb 2012). Malignant Melanoma Retrieved 15 March, 2012, from http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/280245-overview Toh, B., Wang, X. J., Keeble, J., Sim, W. J., Khoo, K., Wong, W. C., . . . Abastado, J. P. (2011). Mesenchymal Transition and Dissemination of Cancer Cells Is Driven by Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells Infiltrating the Primary Tumor. Plos Biology, 9(9). doi: ARTN e1001162 DOI 10.1371/journal.pbio.1001162 UK, C. r. (Producer). (2011, April 5). Skin cancer - UK incidence statistics. Retrieved from http://info.cancerresearchuk.org/cancerstats/types/skin/incidence/#Trends

Automobile and Roll Cage Analysis Essay

Efficycle 2012 is a national level technical event, whose objective is to bring out the creative and innovative ideas of Engineering students. It aims out at creating a vehicle which is economical and eco-friendly. It also provides us a platform where we are applying the basic engineering skills we had learned. Our task is to design and build a three wheeled vehicle, powered by human and electrical means. The design should be commercially viable as a product and should be attractive to the consumers. It can be driven either alternatively or simultaneously by both mechanical and electrical means. This report details the considerations and processes behind our all-terrain vehicle. INTRODUCTION EFFI-CYCLE 2012 is an intercollegiate design competition for undergraduate students which are aimed at designing and fabricating an energy efficient hybrid human powered three? wheeled electric vehicle. It provides us an opportunity by setting up a trend of using eco? friendly vehicles in India and come up with some innovative designs. We, GREEN RHINOS, consists of 8 undergraduate 3rd year students from Mechanical and Production department of Government College of Technology, Tamil Nadu. The team was keen on utilizing the platform to learn, innovate and implement. The following paper outlines the design and analysis of the Efficycle 2012 – Green Rhinos three wheeled vehicle. DESIGN METHODOLOGY: The designing of the vehicle has been carried after studying the various designs of the fore-mentioned trikes, followed by its advantages and disadvantages. All the design issues were studied and an attempt has been made tosolve them in the present design. Then, the design is subjected to various load conditions at the sides and front with finite element analysis using ANSYS. It was also made sure that the components used where readily available so that without a major modification, we can use it in the manufacturing process. SOFTWARE USED: ?Designing and Assembly of the vehicle:Solidworks-2012 ?Roll cage analysis: ANSYS TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS: ?Frame: IS1239 MS 1’ inch rod ?Welding type: MIG ?Bending: Mechanical type bending ?Brake: Hub brake and Rim brake ?Steering: Rack and Pinion ?Motor: 0. 5 HP , 24V PMDC ?Battery: 12V, 35 am-hr ?Suspension: Spring-arm suspension type ?Drive train: Sprockets and chain ?Controller unit: PWM unit ?Tyres: Cycle tyre 28 inch diameter? SALIENT FEATURES ?Individual suspension system to the front two wheels. ?Rack and pinion steering system. ?IS1239 MS frame ?Seating position – enabling complete view to both drivers. DESIGN SYSTEM The design section is classified as follows: 1. Roll cage design and analysis 2. Drivetrain 3. Steering 4. Suspension 5. Tires 6. Brakes 7. Wheel Assembly 8. Aerodynamics ROLL CAGE DESIGN: ?Roll Cage Model Using Solidworks: Roll cage provides three dimensional stability and safety to the drivers. The roll cage was designed with utmost care to reduce the weight without compromising the safety of driver. The rules for designing the roll cage were carefully revived and the design was made in such a way that each and every member falls within the rules. The material for the rollcage is chosen as IS1239 mild-steel after considering various materials in terms of material strength, its availability and cost. Table showing the list of various available materials: MATERIALYIELD STRENGTH (KSI)MODULUS OF ELASTICITY (KSI)COST PER METER (RS) AISI 101853. 729700600 AISI 102042. 7297002200 IS 123959. 1229700150 AISI 413065. 1297002500 Of all the available materials, the chosen one is IS 1239 MS pipe because of its weight and cost. It weighs around 0. 8 kg per m. Moreover, we had chosen seamless tube manufactured by drawing process, owing to its high strength rather than the pipe manufactured by rolling process. ?Roll cage analysis using ANSYS: Roll cagewas analyzed in the ANSYS software. Cage was analyzed at each and every stage and the extra members were provided in order to reduce the stress concentration. The roll cage is initially meshed and the nodes are found. Final design is tested at 2000N in case of front and side impact which is very sufficient to ensure safety. The cage also passed all other tests and had a good factor of safety. The stress diagrams are given below. Analysis Results: Type of TestForce appliedResult Front impact2000Passed Side impact2000. Passed Roll over2000Passed DRIVETRAIN: The drive transmission is facilitated with the help of chains and sprockets. It is a rear wheel drive vehicle. The transmission is alternatively or simultaneously driven by motor or manual pedaling. Manual drive type: The drive train plays a major key role in every vehicle. In our vehicle, we had used the pedaling system found in boats which is simply attached to the frame with the help of bearings on both sides. At the centre of the crank, a sprocket of 48 teeth had been fitted which is directly connected to the left freewheel, (where threading is done manually) of the rear tyre, providing a simple transmission system as found in ordinary cycles. Electrical drive type: The simpler the electrical drive is, the simpler the manufacturing process goes on. A 0. 5 hp motor mounted under the right side of the seat is connected to the right freewheel of the rear tyre. It is connected with the help of cycles chains and sprockets. Three reduction has been given to the motor. Under the left seat, four 12 v 35 am-hr batteries has mounted and connected in series to provide power to the motor. Further, a PWM circuit controller mode has been installed to the system, so that a efficient way of control is provided with the least losses. STEERING SYSTEM: The main objectives of the steering system are to provide the driver with an accurate, predictable, and reliable method for navigating a vehicle over rough terrain. A small turning radius provides the driver with a responsive and controllable ride. The rack and pinion system is a proven method of steering that is direct and reliable. In addition, the steering system does not interfere with the suspension, allowing for optimal negotiation of off-road conditions. SUPENSION Suspension is the term given to the system of springs, shock absorbers and linkages that connects a vehicle to its wheels. It is the critical part of an automobile which absorbs shocks and vibrations and gives smooth ride. It also control the force transmitted by sprung and unsprung mass. Therefore it becomes important to have very good design of suspension system based on non-linear parameters and design variables. As concerned with our three wheeled vehicle, a spring arm suspension system has been used. Spring arm type shock absorbers are so easily available and has good shock absorbing characterisitics. It is connected directly to the wheels and the frame, providing a jerk-less driving. TYRES: Selecting the tires is one of the most important things as the whole vehicle is in contact with the road on these points. Tyres provide the required traction for the vehicle. We had chosen ordinary three-wheeler tyres and made a modifications over the tyres replacing the central hub of the wheel. Front and back tires Diameter28 inches Width2 inches HUB: BRAKES: Brakes are the frictional devices used to retard the motion of the vehicle. It converts the kinetic energy of the vehicle into heat energy. According to the EFFICYCLE 2012 rules, all the wheels should be locked when braking is applied. While designing the brake system, simplicity was given prime importance and itwas decided to use hub brakes for the front two tyres that are attached over the hub assembly. Then for the rear wheel, rim brake has been given. SEATING ARRANGEMENT: Two seats are arranged parallel aside one another so that the complete view of the roads are clearly visible to both the drivers. Seats have been so arranged so that it provides a good back support. The seats are good designed and readily available in the market. AERODYNAMICS: The shape of the vehicle so designed is such that the aerodynamic mechanism would work better. Fairings had been added to enrich the look and style of the vehicle. ASSEMBLED VIEW OF OUR DESIGN: SUMMARIZED COST REPORT: S. NOSYSTEMCOST 1ROLL CAGE2800 2STEERING5800 3SUSPENSION1000 4DRIVE TRAIN20000 5WHEELS3500 6BRAKES800 7OTHERS2000 TOTAL37000 PROJECT PLAN: Sl noDateDescription 14-8-12 to 8-8-12 Discussion about the efficycle and analysing about the problems on the fabrication of our model and making plan and scheduling according to the problem. 29-8-12 To 16-8-12 Selection of the material 317-8-12 To 20-8-12Market research 527-8-12 To 4-9-12 Fabrication of Roll cage 65-9-12 To 10-9-12Steering, suspension and wheel work 711-9-12 To 20-9-12 Drive chain work 825-9-12 To 27-9-12 Electronic work on motor, battery and controller unit. CONCLUSION: Our cycle has been designed so that it meets all the needs of the consumers. The roll cage has been designed completely for the safety factor and it provides ultimated safety for the riders. Efficient braking system had been installed. Simple steering system.

Differences in Business Practices in Islamic Countries Compared to the United States Essay

The purpose of this paper is to give professionals working in Islamic countries a better understanding of the business system in those countries. The Islamic world may be complex as its 1.3 billion people, but there is one rule is straightforward for all Westerners and should never be broken if you want to do business in this area. â€Å"One thing you do not bring up is the Palestinian-Israeli situation.† Advised Samuel L. Hayes III, an expert on Islamic finance and an emeritus professor of investment banking at Harvard Business School. (Lagace, 2002) Business people, particularly Westerners who work in this region of the world or do business with an Islamic business person, need to understand the extent to which religion and Islamic law are intertwined at all levels of society, including commerce, to greater and lesser degrees depending on the country. â€Å"This law is seen as deriving from direct, divine command.† Said Vogel. â€Å"This is important to grasp.† (Lagace, 2002) Keywords: Koran, Islamic Law, Islamic World When doing business within an Islamic country you must understand the basic tenets of the Islamic religion as it relates to commerce. Knowing this you will have an easier time abroad. Contracts should be fair to all parties. A partnership is preferred over hierarchical claims. (Lagace, 2002) Any type of speculation is prohibited. There is no gambling. â€Å"For instance, if you invested in an Islamic mutual fund, among those industries which would be barred from representation as funds would be the gambling industry. But gambling also relates to futures to currency hedging; so it’s a major situation that you have to be aware of† (Lagace, 2002) this is also found in the Qur’an. â€Å"O you who believe! Intoxicants and gambling, sacrificing to stones, and divination by arrows are an abomination of Satan’s handiwork. Eschew such abomination, that you may prosper† (Qur’an 5:90). Interest is prohibited. â€Å"Those who devour usury will not stand†¦.Allah has permitted trade and forbidden usury†¦. Allah will deprive usury of all blessing, but will give increase for deeds of charity†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Qur’an 2:275-6). â€Å"O you who believe! Devour not usury, doubled and multiplied. But fear Allah, that you may really prosper† (Qur’an 3:130) this isn’t always practiced, but it is the theory. Compassion is required when a business is in trouble. â€Å"Those who devour usury cannot stand†¦. That is because they say, trade is only like usury; yet Allah has allowed trade and forbidden usury†¦. Allah does not bless usury, and He causes charitable deeds to prosper, and Allah does not love any ungrateful sinner. Oh you who believe! Be careful of your duty to Allah and relinquish what remains due from usury, if you are believers. If the debtor is in difficulty, grant him time until it is easy for him to repay. But if you remit it by way of charity, that is best for you if you only knew.† Qur’an 2:275-280 In conclusion, there are basic rules when dealing in an Islamic country that must be followed. Never mention the Palestinian-Israeli situation. Speak English when making deals; this is a status for them to speak English. Send a woman to do a man’s job. Appreciate the intertwining of religion and Islamic law. Show compassion for a business in trouble. (Coady, 2013) These basic principles that the Islamic countries follow are not the bias principles that we here in the States follow. We are taught to make a profit and anything much less is a failure in the business world. We must understand to do business with other countries, especially Islamic countries where religion and business go hand and hand we sometimes have to forget our ways and be flexible. When in Rome, do as the Romans.

Tense When Using the Subjunctive Mood of Spanish

Tense When Using the Subjunctive Mood of Spanish Learning not only when to use the subjunctive mood, but which form of the subjunctive to use, can be one of the most difficult parts of learning Spanish verb usage. The rules can appear quite complicated at first, partly because the subjunctive mood is nearly absent in English. But learning the tenses - either in the traditional way of memorizing rules and then applying them or by becoming familiar enough with the language to know what sounds right - is essential to gaining fluency. Four Subjunctive Tenses in Everyday Use In normal usage, Spanish uses the subjunctive mood in a single simple present tense as well as three tenses that can refer real or hypothetical past actions: Present subjunctivePresent perfect subjunctiveImperfect subjunctivePast perfect (or pluperfect) subjunctive Remember that, generally speaking, the subjunctive is used in dependent clauses. Which form of the subjunctive is used depends on two factors: The tense of the verb in the main clauseThe time relationship between the subjunctive verb in the dependent clause and the main verb Although there are exceptions, and the rules of grammar in real life are more fluid than is suggested here, the following list shows the most common (but not only) ways in which the tenses are differentiated: If the main verb is in the present, future, or present perfect tense or the imperative mood, and the dependent (subjunctive) verb refers to action that takes place (whether in actuality or not) at the same time or after the main verb, then the dependent verb should be in the present subjunctive. Example: Espero que comas. (I hope you eat.)If the main verb is in the present, future or present perfect tense or imperative mood, and the dependent (subjunctive) verb refers to action that has been completed (whether in actuality or not), then the dependent verb should be in the present perfect subjunctive. Example: Espero que hayas comido. (I hope you have eaten.)If the main verb is in the preterite, imperfect, past perfect or conditional tense, and the dependent (subjunctive) verb refers to action that takes place (whether in actuality or not) at the same time or after the action of the main verb, then the imperfect subjunctive is used. Example: Esperà © que comieras. (I hoped you ate.)I f the main verb is in the preterite, imperfect, past perfect or conditional tense, and the dependent verb refers to action that has been completed (whether in actuality or not), then the past perfect subjunctive (also called pluperfect subjunctive) is used. Example: Esperà © que hubieras comido. (I hoped you had eaten.) These verbs are often the equivalent of English verbs taking the form of had participle. Note that in many cases there are various ways of translating the sentence to English. For example, espero que comas also could be translated as I hope that you will eat. Because there is no future subjunctive in everyday use, verbs in the present subjunctive form often are translated into English using the future tense. Dudo que me compres recuerdos, I doubt you will buy souvenirs for me. Another Analysis of Subjunctive Tenses Heres another way to look at the sequence of verb tenses: If the main verb is in a present or future tense, use either the present subjunctive or present perfect subjunctive, depending on whether the subjunctive verb refers to action (or presumed action) that has been completed.If the main verb is in a past or conditional tense, use either the imperfect or past perfect subjunctive, depending on whether the subjunctive verb refers to action has has been completed (or presumably completed) at the time of the action in the main verb. These tenses can seem confusing at first. But as you learn the language they will become second nature. To learn more about this topic explained in a different way, see the lesson on the sequence of tenses. Sample Sentences Using the Subjunctive Tenses  ¿Por quà © preferimos que Siri sea una mujer? (Why do we prefer that Siri be a woman?) Both the main verb, preferemos, and the dependent verb, sea (from ser) are in the present tense. The dependent verb refers to an action that takes place in the present. No estoy feliz que el presidente haya ganado la eleccià ³n. (I am not happy that that the president has won the election.) The present perfect subjunctive is used because the election is a completed action. Sus amigos consolaron a Pablo luego de que à ©l perdiera el juego. (His friends consoled Pablo after he lost the game.) Because the main verb is in the preterite and its action clearly took place after the action in the dependent clause, the imperfect tense is used to refer to the completed action. La doctora negà ³ que hubiera comprado un apartamento en ese edificio. (The doctor denied she had bought an apartment in that building.) The action of the dependent verb took place (or didnt) at an indefinite time, and the main verb is in the preterite, so the pluperfect is used.

100 Reasons To Focus On Blog Readabilityâ€Not Traffic

100 Reasons To Focus On Blog Readability- Not Traffic The purpose of content marketing isnt to increase blog traffic. Yet here we are, focusing on things like  getting more social shares  or growing our email list- things that have numbers we can measure.  In the midst of all of this focus on growth, we missed on  something incredibly important: How do we get people to read our content? Youd be surprised at how much money and effort youre putting into content that isnt being read. 100 Reasons To Focus On Blog Readability- Not Traffic via @JulieNeidlingerWhy People Arent Reading Online Content Lets put a number on it: Less than half of your blog readers actually read past 100 words. Thats 100 reasons you should focus on creating content that keeps readers interested in your entire blog post. Thats a real bummer if youre writing long-form blog posts of 2,000 words or more. In 2013, Slate author Farhad Manjoo wrote an article about how people don’t read online content. Manjoo asked a data scientist to analyze Slate’s traffic, and discovered that online readers have a dismal ability to focus. By the time readers scroll to the 100-word mark, half of them have decided to leave, though some will share the partially-read post on their way out the door. Less than half of your #blog readers read past 100 words. Heres how to fix that.Manjoo, a writer, was bothered. He noted the poor connection between shares and blog readership. Lots of social action didn’t mean deep reading, and content that was fully read didn’t always generate many tweets. Manjoo’s article was shared an impressive 13,000 times, with a majority of those shares, if the research was correct, from people who didn’t read past a few introductory paragraphs. Like Slate, you put time and money into creating great content. You assume that if it was shared, it was (mostly) read. Wrong. There is a lack of blog readership happening that those sharing numbers can’t measure. You can stop reading now if you don’t care if anyone reads your content. Banner blindness and desensitization When the web was new, maybe readers noticed banner images. This is no longer the case, however. It’s called banner blindness, and it means that repeated exposure to banner images and other marketing techniques have left readers desensitized. Even if a banner graphic or pop-up modal is important, you’ve unwittingly used a form that your reader has been trained to ignore and skip. How bad is this ability to ignore? According to HubSpot, the average clickthrough rate of display ads is 0.1%, with half of those being accidental. Readers are learning to tune things out, and this includes your content. Your best work, your most clever copy, your beautifully designed ad. Unnoticed. There is so much content marketing spilling over the dam that readers, in doing everything they can to maintain focus, have learned to block out what they think isn’t important- just like they learned to ignore banner ads. To cope with all of the content, readers default to skimming and skipping. Elmore Leonard and the skippable parts In his 10 Rules Of Writing, author Elmore Leonard ended his list with this: Try to leave out the part that readers tend to skip. Leonard understood how people read books, whizzing by solid paragraphs of purple prose to get to the dialogue. The dialogue, after all, is where the characters develop, where they interact, where the action happens. Try to leave out the part that readers tend to skip. - Elmore Leonard How do people read online? They read just as Leonard warned us about. They skip what they think is unimportant. They skim until they see something interesting. According to Tony Haile, CEO of Chartbeat (the same company that Slate used for data analytics) 55 percent of online readers spend less than 15 seconds on a page. Why aren’t they reading the whole thing? People are reading under time constraints. They are reading in hyperspeed. A bulleted list tells them that they can grab information quickly. Paragraphs that have more than one idea won’t fly. Every paragraph’s first sentence must be a lede. They don’t have time to read a lot of copy. They’re busy looking for something to share, not a meaty thesis that they have to think about. People are only reading what they think is relevant. Researcher Jakob Nielsen found that readers are skimming first, deciding whether or not there are enough indicators that tell them to read. They want to see keywords highlighted through the copy, whether as subheaders, bold text, or color. They don’t want to see clever subheadings. People want the conclusion first. They warm to the inverted pyramid style of writing that is familiar to journalists, laying out the conclusion first. 80 percent of a reader’s time is spent â€Å"above the fold†, i.e. before they have to start scrolling. Everything important has to be at the top. People don’t have time for snake oil. Readers look for cues that you and your copy can be trusted. They don’t like marketese (â€Å"best ever!†), and they want to see outbound links. In essence, skippable parts are the author’s vanity at the expense of readers’ time. Your content must be built for skimming. Unfortunately, content marketers are busy creating long-form posts because search engines seem to prefer them, according to Neil Patel of QuickSprout. They compound this insult using questionable graphics and call-to-action techniques because the analytics â€Å"prove† that this works. This is a problem. With the explosion of content marketing techniques that are built for  traffic hits and analytics rather than readers, we have trained our readers to ignore our content. Have we trained our readers to ignore #contentmarketing like they ignore banner ads?There is less and less leeway when it comes to getting  your content noticed in a crowded arena with weary and unwilling readers. It’s do-or-die within in a few seconds.  It has to happen in 100 words. How To Get People To Read Your Content Nielsen’s research suggests that only 20 percent of your web copy is read. How do you feel about that? You probably hoped for a better return on your financial and time investment. Your introductions really do matter. Introductions start with the hook- that matters. You have to avoid the initial bounce of readers who click in and out in an instant. But past the hook? Your first 100 words are important. Write headings that tell what the content is about. People are skimming the internet, so be sure your headings and subheadings are clear. Avoid vague headlines. That way, if someone is skimming, they know what your content is about and whether or not it's worth their time to read. If they determine it isn't worth their time... You have to let some readers go. Not everyone wants to read every piece of content you create. Perhaps a  team blog has a leg up on solo blogs in that having a team of bloggers with different writing styles  and topic ideas  means you'll have a good mix of content. Some content is a hit, some is a miss, and some topics your regular readers don't care about. That's fine. You must make your content fit how people want to use it. You may wish to write 5,000-word blog posts, but your readers may only want cursory coverage. Bend your content to fit how it will be consumed. Not getting comments? Not getting much discussion on content toward the end of a long post? Readers not sharing s from the end of your posts? Then maybe your readers want shorter posts. Stop fixating on clicks, hits, and conversions. What happens after the click is as important. Medium.com understood this from the beginning, and chose to measure how much a piece of content is read versus whether someone clicked through to it. This is your takeaway: readers use your content how they want to, not how you want them to.

Research project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

Research project - Essay Example The report by A.T. Kearney, Inc. (2015) also reveals that the US and China are among such nations that have a significant online market size. It is also notable that the UK, Japan, Germany, and France, are also among such nations, which have considerable online market size. A.T. Kearney, Inc. (2015) in its report also suggests that Hong Kong, and Singapore, is among such nations that have a significant infrastructure, which largely contribute to the growth of e-commerce. The other nations including the US, UK, Japan, South Korea, Germany, France, Belgium, Australia, Canada, Netherlands, also have considerable development in infrastructure, which significantly contribute to the growth of e-commerce. In the report by A.T. Kearney, Inc. (2015), the nations such as Denmark, the UK, Germany, South Korea, Hong Kong, Netherlands, and Sweden are considered to possess potential consumer behaviour, which has led to the growth of e-commerce in retail in such nations. It is also notable that the other nations such as the US, Japan, France, Belgium, Australia, Canada have considerable potentiality in consumer behaviour, which has led to the growth of e-commerce market in such nations. However, the report by A.T. Kearney, Inc. (2015) also suggests that apart from China, and Venezuela, very few nations have considerable growth potential in e-commerce retail industry. The underneath tabular description represents the current scenario of e-commerce retail industry in some of the nations. According to the report by A.T. Kearney, Inc. (2015), majority of the nations do not possess a considerable potentiality in e-commerce retail market. This is largely because of the fact that although the e-commerce retail market is growing positively in the global context, but it is in decreasing rate. It is only notable in China, Venezuela, and few other nations, where retail e-commerce market is growing at an increasing rate. The underneath graphical

Practical Life Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Practical Life - Essay Example Teaching polite responses: - children show respect and care to others by good manners they learn. By this tender age, the child should be saying, â€Å"excuse me†, â€Å"please† â€Å"thank you† frequent and this should be a reminder. For instance, if she received a gift in school, teach her to say, â€Å"thank you†. When a child needs something from you as a parent, e.g. a book, explain to her that that you would prefer buying her if she talks politely, â€Å"please mum, would you buy me a book?†, and you do not like if she demands or give orders. Avoiding overreacting: - if your child abuses you by calling you ‘butthead’, try to keep your emotions and react politely. Usually, children who want to annoy and provoke a reaction will tolerate any repulsiveness just to raise your anger. However, face them quietly but boldly and tell them, â€Å"In this family we do not call each other such names.† Thereafter, show them how to get what they need respectfully: â€Å"if you need my help, just ask politely, ‘mum! Please assist me, I have some homework and I cannot manage