Industrial Revolution Essay Example for Free

Industrial Revolution Essay Industrial Revolution is regarded as a very important period in human development which occurred in the period towards the end of the 18th century stretching to the 19th century. Industrial revolution is said to have begun in the United Kingdom and later spread to other parts of the world including the rest of Europe, North America amongst other parts of the world. During this period there were major transformations in the agricultural sector, transportation, and manufacturing among other spheres of life. These changes were to have profound impacts on the social, economic, and cultural life of the people in Britain which was the cradle of the revolution. This paper shall examine the central ways in which the Industrial Revolution changed the western societies. Impacts of the Industrial Revolution The inception of the Revolution is regarded as a crucial turning point in the history of mankind as it led to alterations in virtually every aspect of life. The Revolution started towards the end of the 18th century when there was mechanization of the textile industry, emergence of new iron making skills, and an increase in the utilization of polished coal. There were improvements in the transport network which facilitated exchange of goods and services. Generally, a growth in various industries was witnessed and manual labor was replaced by mechanization which led to increased production . The textile industry was among the first to feel the impacts of the industrial revolution. The invention of the cotton gin in 1794 brought efficiency in separating of cotton seeds from fiber. The discovery of the sewing machine in 1846 further revolutionized the textile industry as the making of clothes moved from homes to industries. Apart from the impacts of the industrialization on the domestic industries, the revolution led to increased productivity in the farms due to mechanization of agriculture. With increased productivity in the farms, industries cropped up and individuals clustered in particular regions working in the industries or engaged in trade. This eventually led to the development of towns and cities . Advancement in technology during this period led to the growth of capitalism as the owners of the means of production grew richer. There was an increase in the economic growth which was due to the new technologies of the industrial revolution as seen in the doubling of the UK’s purchasing power and a rise in the total national income during the 19th to 20th century . The revolution also brought about changes in the country’s political structures in Britain as capitalists begun replacing the land owners of the agrarian period to become influential in the country’s economic and power structure. There were also alterations in the working conditions as factories provided the workers with poor working conditions. These included poor ventilations, overcrowding, child labor was on the rise, and individuals were poorly paid and worked under dangerous and unsafe environments . The laborers were paid less wages that led to development of slums since they could hardly afford decent housing. The workers were generally working under extreme conditions which forced the government of the day to pass legislations that would govern the interests of the workers. The workers also initiated efforts that resulted in the creation of trade unions which agitated for their interests . The Industrial Revolution also led to developments in the transport and communication sector. Several inventions led to the efficiency in this sector as road networks were improved, water transport boosted through the invention of steam engines, and communication made easier especially with the discovery of telegraphic machines. Railway transport was also developed and this eased the transport of bulk goods, products, and raw materials to the industries . Conclusion There is no doubt that industrial revolution was a defining moment in human history. There were great advancements and innovations that were aimed at making life more efficient at the same time increasing production. Though the revolution came up with its challenges, it remains to be a crucial part of human history as it totally revolutionized the world into a new order.

Bottled water purchasing patterns of university students

Bottled water purchasing patterns of university students Safe and reliable drinking water is an issue in most of the countries, so companies have installed their plants to supply water in bottles to satisfy the consumers. But the reliability of all bottled water is always questioned. In Pakistan the purified water bottled industry is approximately 25 years old. It made its advent in Pakistan in 1980s. Abehayyat was the pioneer brand at that time. It is a common perception that most mineral bottled water appears to be safe and of better quality than water from other sources (Filtered, Boiled and Tap water), but the quality of some brands is spotty, however, and such products may pose a health risk. (Natural Resources Defense Council, 2008) There are rifts which seek to question the reliability and hygiene of Bottled water. Following are some brands of bottled water which are present in Karachi Market: 1. Aquafina 2. Aqua safe 3.Classic 4. Culligan 5. Kinley 6.Nestle Furthermore, primary research has determined which brands are available, famous and considered to be reliable in the minds of students. Research Problem This research explores the purchasing patterns of university students with regard to their attitude and buying behaviour of mineral bottled water. By attitude I mean the following: Is a particular gender more attracted to mineral bottled water? Is household income affecting the buying behaviour towards mineral bottled water? Do particular brands affect the buying behaviour of students? What is the students perception towards the reliability, and hygiene factors of mineral bottled water? Which type of media is more influential for consumers regarding mineral bottled water? What factors (brand image, company image, price, bottle shape and bottle size i.e. 0.5 liter, 1 liter, 1.5 liters, 2 liters, 5 liters, 10 liters, and others) influence students for using mineral bottled water? These are the major questions which need to be addressed. 1.3 Scope of the Study The study was conducted in only two universities of Karachi First is Karachi University; my focus was only on two departments Food Sciences and Chemistry. Second is Bahria in which our respondents would be students of Management Sciences i.e. BBA and MBA. Study Objectives The main objectives of the study are the following: To explore how demographic factors (income, gender etc) psychographic factors (interest, attitudes, opinions loyalty etc) affect buying of mineral bottled water. To describe the information about brands of mineral bottled water available in Karachi Market To find out which type of source of information (communication medium) is more influential for students towards mineral bottled water. Importance of Research This study has been helpful in evaluating consumers perception towards mineral bottled water in Karachi. What they perceive regarding each and every brand of mineral bottled water. This study has let us know about the top of mind brands of mineral bottled in Karachi market. It can help the companies to know that which segment be targeted and which marketing strategy of mineral bottled water be implemented. 1.6 Research Methodology This study is qualitative in nature. Qualitative method is suitable to ascertain the in-depth insights of students regarding mineral bottled water. It helps in exploring students perception and attitude towards the purchase of mineral bottled water in Karachi. Researchers used in-depth interviews with students based mainly on open ended questions. In depth discussion encourages a spontaneous and free flowing exchange of opinions and ideas among respondents. We have taken two extremes, one is Government owned Karachi University in which Food Sciences and Chemistry departments were interviewed because they deal in chemicals and reactions, so they must have clear knowledge about the composition of mineral bottled water. And second is privately owned Bahria in which BBA and MBA departments were interviewed with mainly upper upper middle class backgrounds. A reason of choosing these disciplines is to get a clear idea of behaviour and class because lots of students drink mineral bottled water as a symbol of status. Non probability, convenience sampling technique was used to conduct In-depth interviews. The questionnaire was finalized after consultation with the instructor, and was used after instructors approval 1.6.1 Sampling Data Collection In this study it includes a total sample of 200 students from two universities of Karachi i.e. KU BAHRIA. Breakup is given as follows: Karachi Institute/Departments Management Sciences Undergraduate BBA Graduate MBA 1.BAHRIA Male Female Male 25 25 25 Sub Total 50 50 Total 100 BBA and MBA students were chosen to assess the different perceptive of two different disciplines. Being business students they have an understanding and knowledge of marketing and brand concepts. Karachi Institute/Departments Food Sciences Chemistry 2.Karachi University Male Female Male 25 25 25 Sub Total 50 50 Total 100 BAHRIA and KU were chosen to get an equal representation of students in Karachi from every aspect i.e. socio-economic class and perception. Aforementioned departments have been chosen, their students possess sufficient knowledge beverages and chemical compositions. Data Collection: Secondary Data: This data was conducted through research Journals, previous Researchers conducted, business magazines and relevant websites Primary Data: Non probability convenient sampling technique was used to collect data through semi-structured questionnaires. Relevant samples (Top of mind brands of mineral bottled water revealed by students at a later stage) 1.7 Limitation of This Study This was a new area of research which had not yet been tapped in Pakistan, so it is very difficult to acquire information (especially from secondary data). This research was confined to only two universities of Karachi. Within those universities two departments were targeted for this research. This research concerns only the behaviour of students towards mineral bottled water because their consumer patterns may differ from outside market or other departments of universities or other universities of Karachi. Growing terrorist concerns resulted in the closure of Universities which led to delays. 2. Literature Review 2.1 Mineral Bottled Water: An Overview Mineral Bottled water by definition is pure water bottled for commercial purposes sold to consumers throughout different countries at different prices. It is now clear that mineral bottled water has become a commodity and various brand names have sprung up around the globe. According to Hall (2007) Water bottling is a huge business which is getting greater, by growing annually about ten percent over the past five years. There is no arguing how much mineral bottled water has become a part of our lives. Mineral bottled water is easily available everywhere in our colleges, universities, hospitals etc. Mineral bottled water has become a popular source of refreshment and revitalization internationally. Mineral bottled water has become a multibillion dollar industry with huge profit margins which has led to some big questions. Can we really put a price on something that is such a sustainable part of life and isnt putting a price on mineral bottled water denying some people the right to consumption of safe and reliable water resources? But even bigger questions are what is mineral bottled water exactly is it pure mineral water or is it just filtered tap water that has gone through a process of purification and put in plastic bottles along with a price tag that has a huge cost to profit margin for the manufacturers According to Eric Goldstein, co-director of the urban program at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), a non-profit organization devoted to protecting health and the environment. Evocative names and labels representing pastoral scenes have persuaded us that liquid is the purest drink around. But we should not think that mineral bottled water is better regulated, protected and safer than tap water. Some mineral bottled water does come from sparkling springs and pristine sources, but 25 percent or more of mineral bottled water comes from a municipal supply, which is treated, distilled and sold to us, at raised prices. Most people are amazed to find out that theyre drinking overvalued tap water, but bottlers do not need to mention the resource on the label. (Jemmott, 2008). 2.1.1 Origin of Bottled Water Columbia Water Centre says that since ancient times mineral bottled water has been around in some form or the other.  In the first century AD, during the times of the Roman Empire, people would travel to collect water in ceramic containers from the areas source water to their homes to enjoy it, and the rich had slaves and servants who did this for them. Water is and always has been a source of life sustainability and people have always considered mineral water as therapeutic so in some form or the other water has been used for commercial gain. According to the Columbia Water Centre bottled water did not become a business until the 1700s. Before the opening of spas where people used to come for the treatment of illnesses, modern medicine people started to consume mineral waters to help treat constipation, kidney stones and for common health.  The business of mineral bottled water began with the opening of spas. Initially, the spas would give out the water to their guests when they left to take with them.   Then in the early 1800s, the spas began to ship the water to people, by charging only the shipping costs and not for the real water. As this practice rose, the spas realized that they could earn profits by charging for the mineral water also. Vittel, Evian, Perrier and San Pellegrino, are the early suppliers of mineral bottled water who are still well known among others. But according to McCormack (2004) the real boost of bottled water market did not commence until 1968 when Vittel revolutionarily launched the first plastic bottled water aimed for general public consumption and within thirty years time it became a contemporary phenomenon. The plastic bottle made it easier to carry around water for consumption leading to its massive sales and growth as an industry. 2.1.2 Bottled Water Worldwide Scenario According to Jemmott (2008) Mineral Bottled water is in all places, restaurants, homes, stores, offices and aeroplanes and all across the country. In 2006, we consumed more than eight billion gallons of the matter, which was 10 percent more than 2005. Its stimulating, calorie-free, handy, and tastier than the other tap water, also better than sugary sodas. Because of this According to the (World Watch Institute, 2007) consumers feel that choosing bottled water is a convenient alternative to buying many other packaged beverages, which may include unessential sugars, caffeine, and other chemical additives. It would seem that buying and drinking water is a logical action. Water bottlers around the world use this consumer faith to promote their product as convenient, safe and clean etc. They use a variety of marketing tools to communicate their message to their target audience. The non-alcoholic beverage industry spends an average of $2 billion per year (as of 2005) on advertising, making these beverages one of the most heavily advertised commodities in the U.S. (Zheng and Kaiser, 2008) This is no ordinary amount it shows how aggressively the bottled water industry markets its image of purity and safety. 2.1.3 Global Bottled Water Market According to statistics presented by the Global Industry Guide, In 2006 the global market of mineral bottled water grew by 7% and reached to $60,938.1 million, whereas on 2011, the value reached to $86,421.2 million which was an increase of 21.8% from 2006 to 2011. In 2006 market grew by 8.1% and reached a volume of 115,393.5 million litres. The market forecast for 2011 is to have an increase of 51% from 2006 with a volume of 174,286.6 million litres. bottled-water world figures Source: New Internationalist, Plastic is Forever, 2008 The United States holds the highest consumption in terms of countries followed by Mexico and then by China. In terms of regional global bottled water sales Europe is clearly the leader as shown in the pie chart below. Figure 2.8: United Kingdom Bottled Water Market Segmentation II: % Share, by Value, 2005(e) Source: Datamonitor (2), (2005), Global Bottled Water, Industry Profile, p. 12. 2.1.4 Market share and Distribution According to Zhao (2006) Group Danone, which is one of the worlds largest food producers, holds the largest market share in the UK bottled water market by the end of 2004. The company had a 22% of the market consumed volume, followed by Nestle S.A., accounted for 13.4% of the market. The domestic player-Highland Spring, which is one of the UKs leading bottled water suppliers, had 10.3% market share. In 1992 one could find seven hundred brands of mineral bottled water in the United States, and today there are over a thousand brands of mineral bottled water there and the number keep on increasing. The top five companies in the United States are earning billions, and the US companies are controlling just about half of the worlds market for the bottled water. 6 Source: US Bottled Water Industry 2.2 Bottled Water Pakistan Scenario It is clear that bottled water is a global phenomena and the focus of much consumer attention internationally. The figures clearly show a growing consumer trust in bottled water. The question now is does Pakistan have a similar level of consumer trust which has lead to an increase in bottled water consumption. In an article by Syed Ali Muhammad (2005) In Asian Countries, demand for mineral bottled water has developed by leaps and bounds over the past seven years, the Trans-Caucasus, North Africa and Middle East. The bottled water market in Pakistan is observing nearly 40 percent of the annual growth. Advertisement campaigns for mineral bottled water seldom show it as a lucrative luxury item; however they give the impression that it is a part of common effort against shortage of water. According to Rosemann (2005) A yearly consumption of about 2 litres per person bottled water.128 Compared with Thailands 43 litres and Philippines 15 litres per capita consumption, this seems relatively low. But taking Pakistans population into account, one has to estimate an annual consumption of 318 million litres. While again, sufficient figures are not available to prove this 964 percent consumption increase in five years, one is able to conclude that Pakistan is a highly dynamic and lucrative market. The statistics and figures above clearly do mention that Pakistan itself is a very lucrative market. There is a growing concern that people here are putting their trust in bottled water. Consumers use pet water bottles on the go because of their mobility and they use larger bottles of water at their homes for daily drinking purposes. Daily Pakistani consumers are bombarded with a plethora of ads depicting bottled water as pure, hygienic and safe. This may be factual but it also displays a clear opinion that the consumers share that water from other sources namely tap water is not fit for consumption and for people who have a choice they are switching over to bottled water. But are consumers here putting their trust into bottled water a little too early. What are the systems that govern bottled water in Pakistan namely its quality and the availability of safe brands of bottled water in the Pakistani market? 2.2.1 Pakistan Bottled Water Market According to the Standards and Quality Control Authority Pakistan, out of the 200 companies selling mineral bottled water in Pakistan, only 27 companies keep up the set standards. (Syed Ali Muhammad, 2005) The Pakistani bottled water market has about 27 corporations officially selling their products. But during summers there is a high fluctuation and this number exceeds to above and beyond 200 companies that flood the market with products that were not there before. The Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority, under the Ministry of Science and Technology, is the national standardization body. It is their duty to ensure the safety and standards of products in Pakistan. From the viewpoint of quality control, PCRWR is observing a variation in the market of 50 percent, e.g. yearly about half of the brands vanish and are substituted by new brands. In 2005 PSQCA admitted that 200 companies are selling bottled water in Pakistan, but only 27 are registered as maintaining standards stipulated for the product. Nestle itself estimates approximately 150 water brands, with only 15 registered under the PSQCA scheme. (Rosemann, 2005) Rosemann (2005) further states that Nestlà © controls the majority of the market (over 50 percent) with its brands Pure Life, AVA and Fontalia, while Danones subsidy Sparkletts holds 12 percent and another local brand BSW has an estimated five percent market share. 2.3 Consumer Perception towards bottled water In terms of definition consumer perception talks about how a person or an organization views a certain commodity or service. How he or she understands and apprehends that certain commodity or service. In this case consumer perception talks about how a consumer looks at and rates bottled water. What are the factors that lead to consumers purchasing mineral bottled water? According to one study by MRUK research when asked to describe their reasons for using bottled water, respondents cited a range of different answers. In the May 2006 wave of research, over one-third (39%) of respondents reported that bottled water had a better taste, with a similar proportion (36%) who believed that bottled water was of better quality. This represents a significant increase over the September 2005 wave of research when only 14% of respondents cited better quality as a reason for using bottled water. (McKissock et al., 2007) Below is a table listing the reasons consumers use Bottled water: Table 1 Reasons for using Bottled Water April 04 Sept 04 Sept 05 May 06 Better taste 33 23 32 39 Convenience 32 29 31 12 Better quality 16 3 14 36 Safer / healthier for the children 2 5 4 3 Prefer flavoured water 5 7 8 10 Prefer sparkling water 3 5 3 2 Habit 1 16 8 11 Source: Mruk research limited (Consumer Perceptions and Experiences of Drinking Water Quality in Scotland: Secondary Research) In another research by the Consumer Attitude Survey on Water Quality Issues (1993), people do show signs of worrying about tap water safety even in countries where tap water is filtered and provided to people on a regular basis. Figure 2.2: Why people drink bottled water Source: Consumer Attitude Survey on Water Quality Issues (1993), American Water Works Association Research Foundation. p19. (Zhao, 2006) The success story of bottled water as discussed seems to come from a variety of factors. Namely Consumer Perception of higher quality, better taste, convenience etc. Because water is a source of life consumers see some water brands as revitalizing and even consider some water as healing. A notable example is Fuji Water, which was bottled in Viti Levu, Fijis main island, claiming has a very low pH level and contains the highest concentration of silica which helps tissue repair and reduce risk of heart disease, was becoming the No. 1 imported water in the U.S and also found it way to the UK supermarket chain, Waitrose (Rosa, 2004). But this isnt the only perspective that consumers share about bottled water there are many who do feel that bottled water is a drain on our resources, as it takes more water to produce the plastic bottle then it does to actually fill that said bottle. Source: MANATAKA: American Indian Councilhttp://www.manataka.org/images/tapwater.jpg As the picture illustrates there are different perspectives shared around the world. From how bottled water is manufactured to how it impacts our planet and the way we live. According to Jemmott (2008) Agree, some mineral bottled water does come from pristine sources and sparkling springs, but 25 percent or more of mineral bottled water comes from a municipal supply, which is treated, distilled and sold to us, at raised prices. Most people are amazed to find out that theyre drinking overvalued tap water, but bottlers do not need to mention the resource on the label. If more than 25 percent of bottled water comes from the tap instead of some pristine lake or some secret spring full of minerals that are pure then why do consumers feel it is the purest drink out there? This is the perception that has been built around consumers even in countries where tap water is provided filtered to each and every home as a basic human need. The success story then definitely remains to be positive consumer perceptions that outweigh the negative perceptions. It is these positive perceptions that are promoted my billion dollar advertising and promotion campaigns. This positive perception building has led to bottle water becoming big business with even bigger profit margins. Theoretical Framework There are many perspectives to Bottled water around the world from general consumer preferences to University students consumption preferences. Universities around the world in developed countries like U.S., U.K. and Canada have both positive and negative perceptions about bottled water. Students in these universities have various arguments and counter arguments regarding bottled water preferences. Universities students who hold positive perceptions see bottled water as a healthy diet and lifestyle choice, for them bottled water is part of life and walking around campus one can clearly see people holding water bottles. They drink because of positive perceptions regarding taste, quality and convenience (Battle of Water bottle, 2000; Devasenathipathi et al, 2008; Jemmott, 2008; Pip, 2000; Rosa, 2004; World Watch Institute, 2007; Zhao, 2006). They said that every story has two sides to it and because in the developed world tap water is filtered there is a long debate over Bottled Water versus Tap Water. Some students also see bottled water as a waste of precious water resources, a source of plastic poisoning and a drain on the environment. They question its purity and whether it is safe to drink or not. (Bottled Water vs. Tap Water, 2008; 2000, No Bottled Water at University, 2009; Rosemann, 2005; The Battle of Bottle). Both these positive and negative perceptions determine the sales of bottled water domestically and abroad. As discussed above there are different perspectives to Bottled water around the world from general consumer preferences to University students consumption preferences. Therefore, it was our endeavor to find out Students perceptions about Bottled Water in Karachi. What effects their purchase decisions and how and why they choose to or not to drink Bottled water. Data Analysis Findings Monthly Household Income of the respondents of both universities; BAHRIA and Karachi University Aforementioned figures shows that who used bottled water, majority of the BAHIRIAs students have had their monthly income more than Rs.60,000, whereas 28 students household income was Rs.40,000 to Rs.60,000. In addition to that only 2 students those household incomes was under Rs.20,000. While majority students of KU have had their household income in between of Rs20,000 to Rs.40,000. However, only 10 students those household incomes were over Rs. 60,000. 3.2 Residential Area of Students of BAHRI and KU Out of the 18 towns of Karachi, Our research incorporated respondents from 11 towns of Karachi. Figure 3.2(a) explained that the most of the inhabitants of Gulshan town were consuming mineral water than any other type of water. Whereas figure 3.2(b) shows that the most of the inhabitants of Gulshan town were consuming mineral water than any other type of water. 3.3 Type of water were being used by students for daily drinking purpose Above figure 3.3(a) shows that there were huge differences in the responses of the students of university BAHRIA and KU. In figure 3.3(a) shows that in BAHRIA, among 100 interviewed students 57% were the daily users of mineral water, whereas 21% were the users of filtered water, 15% were boiled tap water and only handful amount of students 7% were the users of tap water. On the contrary, figure 3.3(b) shows that among the 100 students of KU, majority 54% were the users of boiled tap water. However, 20% were the users of tap water, 18% were the users of Mineral Water and only small chunk were the users of filtered water. Thus, it is extensively noticeable that the majority of the students of BAHRIA were the users of mineral water comparative to KU. 3.4 Reasons behind drinking particular type of water As per above figure 3.4(a), among the 100 students of BAHRIA, 44% thought that the reliability plays vital role while using particular type of water and 35% were in view of easy access and 21% students preferred to cite their own factors namely hygiene and price. In figure 3.4(b), however, 54% from 100 students of KU believed that easy access is important factor for them rather than reliability. Hence only 46% students marked their answers for reliability. Therefore, there is visible difference between the views of BAHRIAs students and KUs students. For BAHRIANS reliability was the main reason for using particular type of water but for KU students easy access was the foremost reason. 3.5 Top of Mind brands of Bottled water Figure 3.5(a) shows that from 100 students of BAHRIA; Nestle mineral water was the top of mind. Addition to that 80% students recalled Nestle water when they were asked the name of first brand came to their mind. Moreover, only 13% students were recalled Aquafina as their top of mind brand and only 7% students had top of mind awareness of Culligan. In other mentioned brands 42% students recalled Aquafina and 17% for Nestle and 16% Culligan. In figure 3.5(b) 68% students of KU had an awareness of Nestle as their top of mind brand and 27% students recalled Aquafina as their top of mind of brand. In other mentioned brands 33% students marked Aquafina in other mentioned brands, 18% 17% students marked Nestle and Culligan respectively. Hence, it is widely visible that the BAHRIANS has more top of mind awareness of Nestle comparative to KU students. As far as other mentioned brands are concerned Aquafina was being marked after than Nestle by both universities students. 3.6 Frequency of using bottled water among students In figure 3.6(a) out of 100 students of BAHRIA 14% students who were consuming bottled water several times in a day. Moreover, 32% students consumed bottled water at least once in a day, 36% were consuming more than once in a week and 16% students who were consuming bottled water once a week. There were small chunk of students who consumed bottled water less than once a week. However, figure 3.6(b) shows that in KU out of 100 students only 6% of students were consuming bottled water several times in a day. 22% students were consuming at least once daily, 17% students consumed bottled water more than once in a week, and 10% students consuming once a week, 12% students were consuming less than once a week and 33% students were consuming bottled water once a month or less. Therefore, the students of BAHRIA consumed more bottled water than KU students. Similarly, the frequency of consumption of bottled water of BAHRIANS was far more ahead than KU students. Though the respondents of KU belonged to Food and Sciences department yet their frequency of consumption is less than BAHRIANS. However, in KU 33% students marked their answers of consuming water in a month or less, on the contrary there wasnt a single respondent in BAHRIA, whose consumption of bottled water was as lowest as KU students. Aforementioned figures show that the students of BAHRIA were more attracted towards bottled water than KU students. As far as gender was concerned Females were more inclined towards using of bottled water than male; in both universities. 3.7 Size of bottles preferred by students In figure 3.7(a) majority of the students of BAHRIA purchased bottled water from university Cafe and the size of the bottle was 0.5 litre because on the other hand students were in view that the they purchased 1.5 liter or larger than this quantity rather preferred to purchase from shop. As far as figure 3.7(b) is concerned that the students of KU whosoever consumed bottled water they had preferred to purchase from university cafe of 0.5 liter and preferred larger quantity of bottled water from nearby shop of their respective homes. Thus, there is not visible difference because 0.5liter was sufficient for them to consume at university as compared to other sizes of bottled water in both of the universities. 3.8 The most important factors towards buying of bottled water Figure 3.8(a) shows that in BAHRIA 61% students thought of availability was the most important factor for purchasing bottled water, 16% students were in view of Price is the most important for purchasing bottled water, 12% students for promotion and only 9% students thought that they were attracted by the packaging of bottled water. On the contrary, figure 3.8(b) in KU 44% students were in view that availability was the most important factor for purchasing bottled water, 35% students were price conscious, 12% and 9% students were being attracted by promotion and Packaging respectively. Therefore, Price for BAHRIANS is least issue than KU students because only 16% students from 100 students in BAHRIA were considering price, whereas 35% students of KU had the influencing factor of price. Reasons behind influencing factors towards the purchase of bottled water Majority of respondents believed that availability is the major factor for influencing the purchase of bottled water. Moreover, respondents believed that out of mind, is out of sight so being on the shelves of shop would have much influence on the purc

Trends in UK Rape Statistics Over Time

Trends in UK Rape Statistics Over Time National statistics about crime in England and Wales have been collected and published by the Home Office since 1805 (Clarke, 2006). Originally, the statistics only included proceedings and convictions data from the courts. However, in 1857, data about crimes reported to and recorded by the police were also introduced in to the statistics, with the introduction of the latter, the government seized the opportunity and could exercise oversight over what was then a highly localised policing structure accountable at the local political level (Clarke, 2006, p. 7), meaning that the government could watch over the statistics produced by the police when it came to politics. This essay is going to look at the figures for Rape from these statistics provided, and comment and discuss the trend of rape over the last 120 years, and will also look at the origin and location of these statistics and how they have changed and the impact the changes have had on rape. There are many different definitions to the word Rape in the English language. But overall it is not all that hard to define because most of the definitions broadly have the same concept of what rape is. One definition of Rape, comes from Randy Thornhill and Craig Palmer, who define rape as: copulation resisted to the best of the victims ability unless such resistance would probably result in death or serious injury to the victim or in death or injury to individuals the victim commonly protects (Thornhill Palmer, 2000, p. 1). However, they do also acknowledge that other sexual assaults such as oral or anal penetration of a man or a woman under the same conditions, can also be classed as rape (Thornhill Palmer, 2000, p. 1). Another definition of rape comes from Merriam-Webster, which defines Rape as: unlawful sexual activity and usually sexual intercourse carried out forcibly or under threat of injury against the will usually of a female or with a person who is beneath a certain age or incapable of valid consent because of mental illness, mental deficiency, intoxication, unconsciousness, or deception (Merriam-Webster, 2017, p. 1). However, the main legal definition comes from government legislation website, by The National Archive, under the Sexual Offences Act 2003 which defines Rape as: (1) A person (A) commits an offence if- (a) He intentionally penetrates the vagina, anus or mouth of another person (B) with his penis, (b) B does not consent to the penetration, and (c) A does not reasonably believe that B consents. (2) Whether a belief is reasonable is to be determined having regard to all the circumstances, including any steps A has taken to ascertain whether B consents. (3) Sections 75 and 76 apply to an offence under this section. (4) A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable, on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for life. (Sexual Offences Act, 2003, p. 1). In addition to this, the Sexual Offences Act 2003 also has definitions of rape for rape offences committed against children under the age of 16 and even younger children, who are under the age of 13. The definition for rape or other sexual activity of a child under 16 is as follows: The elements of the offence are: (A) aged 18 or over intentionally causes or incites another person (B) to engage in an activity the activity is sexual, and either (B) is under 16 and (A) does not reasonably believe that B is 16 or over, or (B) is under 13.(Sexual Offences Act, 2003, p. 1) Finally, the Rape of a child under 13 is defined as: (1) A person commits an offence if- (a)he intentionally penetrates the vagina, anus or mouth of another person with his penis, and (b)the other person is under 13. (2) A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable, on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for life. (Sexual Offences Act, 2003, p. 1). Now that the definition of rape has been outlined, we can now move on to look at the trend of rape over the last 120 years and how it has changed over time and the reasons for it. If we look at the graph for Rape over the last 120 years, we can see that there has been a huge increase in the amount of rape that has taken place compared to the amount of Criminal Damage that has occurred. As we can see from the graphs below, the trend for Rape has significantly increased over the last 120 years. Even though the graph for Criminal Damage shows that the trend for Criminal Damage has increased, we can see from the chart that criminal damage peaked in 2008/09 and then the figures started dropping, resulting in the trend decreasing. As far as rape goes, the main increase has been over the last 20 years, mainly because of the new laws that were introduced in the Sexual Health Act 2003 replacing the old laws of the Sexual Health Act 1956. As can be seen from the graph, after the new laws were introduced in the Sexual Health Act 2003, the rate of rape per year increased by 2561 between the year 2001/02 and 2002/03. This is because the Sexual Health Act 2003 introduced the new law that allowed for more sexual offences to be classed as rapes. For example, before this new law, it can be seen from the two bar charts below that the rape of a child under 16 or even under 13 wasnt even recorded by the police until 2004/05 when Sexual Health Act 2003 was properly taking form. Further to this, the rape of a female in general wasnt even recorded by the police in these statistics until 1995 as can be seen in the graph below. A reason for this can be because before 1991, it was legal for a husband to rape his wife. This was suggested by Sir Matthew Hale, in Historia Placitorum Coronea, who stated that the husband cannot be guilty of a rape committed by himself upon his lawful wife, for by their mutual matrimonial consent and contract the wife hath given herself up to her husband, consent which she cannot retract (Hale, 1736, p. 629). However, after this case, that rule was abolished by the judge hence making marital rape illegal. Despite this, female rape wasnt recorded pre-1995 because it wasnt until 1994 when S.1 of the Sexual Offences Act 1956 was substituted by S.142 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 to include marital rape, and so added the following to the definition of rape: (3) A man also commits rape if he induces a married woman to have sexual intercourse with him by impersonating her husband.(4) Subsection (2) applies for the purposes of any enactment. (Criminal Justice and Public Order Act, 1994, p. 1). After this law was introduced, female rape started to be recorded by the police. Furthermore, two feminist researchers, Jalna Hanmer and Sheila Saunders, found that the encounters that women faced by men everyday were not revealed in the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) because the CSEW is not designed to disclose information of that kind of nature. This suggests that rapes which may have occurred prior to 1995 were only reported to the police in the last decade. This may have been because of the changing in the social construction of the police, meaning that there are more female officers now than there used to be, which makes rape victims more likely and willing to talk to instead of male officers. In addition to this, society has also changed to provide more victim support for rape victims by establishing rape centres for victims (Hanmer Saunders, 1984). However, having said this, we are looking at police recorded crime statistics. These statistics are not exactly accurate because there are some rapes or crimes not recorded by the police at all. This is because we are looking statistics from the Crime Survey for England Wales. According to a Crime Statistics 2006 report, by the then Home Secretary of State Charles Clarke, even though there is a lengthy history of reported and recorded crime statistics, that were used to judge police performance, the statistics, for a while now, have been documented as having a number of weaknesses (Clarke, 2006, p. 7). He went on to outline three main weaknesses in the statistics from the CSEW. He stated: First, there have been regular claims that the police adjust their crime statistics to improve measured reported performance (Clarke, 2006, p. 7), meaning that the statistics recorded by the police are not exactly, as they have been adjusted so that the police look more credible and it looks as thou gh they have high performance. Second, the processes and categories used by local police to record crime have historically had a significant degree of local variability; this has made it difficult both to make comparisons among local forces and to form aggregates to provide a meaningful national picture (Clarke, 2006, p. 7). This suggests that the categories that police use to categorise the crimes, are only clear to the local police who have created these statistics, as the statistics are mainly based on the crime in their area, which makes things very ambiguous in the grand scheme of things, when a bigger picture of crime rates in England and Wales. Third, the picture that emerges from recorded crime is potentially distorted by the unknown and uncontrollable variability in the publics reporting of crime to the police (Clarke, 2006, p. 7). This weakness proposes that when the crimes are recorded, the statistics are not entirely accurate because it is not possible to distinguish how many people from the public reported a crime, and how many of the statistics have been adjusted by the police like the first weakness. However, the then home secretary did state that whilst the problems we have remain, there have been several attempts made over the years to address these perceived problems that are there in the Crime Survey for England Wales. These weaknesses are a big factor in the statistics we have for rape, as they came from the CSEW. As the weaknesses mentioned in the report exist, our statistics for rape may not be entirely accurate. This leads us to believe that there may have been more rapes reported by the public but not recorded by the police, and of those that were recorded, only a few maybe accurate as the others may have been adjusted to make the police look more efficient. A further problem this creates for the statistics we have is that, like the second weakness mentioned above, some rape statistics may not have been recorded in the survey by the police as they may not have fell into any of the categories that the police were using to define rape. This could possibly have had a major impact on the statistics we have, hence, impacting the graphs that have been used above to illustrate the trend of rape. To summarise, this essay has looked at the overall trend of rape over the last 120yrs and compared it to the trend of Criminal Damage statistics over the last 120yrs, to show the trend of rape over this period. This essay then delved deeper into the main statistics and broke them down into figures of rape over the last 20 years and then went even further and showed the trends of rape of females of different ages, for example under 16s and under 13s. After that, this essay looked at reasons as to why the statistics are showing what they showed and then went onto discuss the location of where the statistics were found and outlined the problems with the CSEW. Because of these weaknesses, the essay finally looked at how the weaknesses impacted on the rape statistics that we had and used to illustrate the trend of rape from 1898 to 2014/15 which has increased. References   Clarke, C. (2006). Crime Statistics: An Independent review. London: Home Office. Retrieved March 19, 2017, from http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20110218135832/http:/rds.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs06/crime-statistics-independent-review-06.pdf Criminal Justice and Public Order Act. (1994, November 3). Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994. Retrieved March 13, 2017, from The Government Legislation Website The National Archive: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1994/33/section/142 Hale, S. M. (1736). Historia Placitorum Coronae: The History of the Pleas of the Crown (Vol. 1). Oxon (Oxfordshire): Professional Books Ltd. Hanmer, J., Saunders, S. (1984). Well-founded fear : a community study of violence to women. London: Explorations in Feminism Collective (Great Britain). Merriam-Webster. (2017). Rape. Retrieved February 27, 2017, from Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rape Sexual Offences Act. (2003, November 20). Sexual Offences Act 2003. Retrieved February 27, 2017, from The Government Legislation Website The National Archive: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42 Thornhill, R., Palmer, C. T. (2000). A Natural History of Rape: Biological Bases of Sexual Coercion. Cambridge: The MIT Press.

Midsummer Nights Dream by William Shakespeare :: Papers

Midsummer Nights Dream by William Shakespeare Works Cited Missing Many miraculous events happen in Shakespeare's, "A Midsummer Night's Dream." Magic is an extensive part of the play, as well as, the incredible characters, including: Puck, Lysander, Hermia, Helena, Bottom, and many more. A numerous amount of the characters play more than one important part, to progress interest, in the play. But the most important event in the play is that love and betrayal are the two most crucial elements in the development of the play. One of the characters, Lysander, loves Hermia. They are deeply in love with each other and they care about one another very much. Lysander says, "I will my Hermia" (1.1.227). What he means by this is that he will do anything for her, and by justifying my, he is saying that they are together, and Hermia is his one true love. "Content with Hermia! No; I do repent the tedious minutes I with her have I spent. Not Hermia but Helena I love" (2.2.111-113). Lysander betrays his love for Hermia by getting a magical spell in his eyes to make him love Helena. But he does not get this magic done to him just once, but twice. So, he falls back in love with Hermia, and he stays with her for the rest of eternity. Another one of the characters, Demetrius, loves Hermia, just as Lysander does. Demetrius says, "And here am I, and wood within this

Shakespeares Ambiguous Hamlet Essay -- Free GCSE Coursework

  Ã‚  Ã‚   That ambiguity exists within the Shakespearean drama Hamlet is a fact accepted by literary critics. Ambiguity of both word and action occur in the play. Let us examine the problem. Ruth Nevo in â€Å"Acts III and IV: Problems of Text and Staging† explains the ambiguity present within the hero’s most famous soliloquy: The critical problem arises from the perception that the speech apparently confuses two issues. Since we know what Hamlet’s obligatory task is, we cannot but register the possibility that the taking of arms and the â€Å"enterprises of great pitch and moment† refer to the killing of Claudius, though the logic of the syntax makes them refer to the self-slaughter which is the subject of the whole disquisition. And conversely, because self-slaughter is the ostensible subject of the whole disquisition, we cannot read the speech simply as a case of conscience in the matter of revenge – Christian revenge and the secular sanctions and motivations of honor. Whether Hamlet is talking of his revenge or of his desire for death, or of both, one substituting for the other as mask for truth (or truth for mask) therefore becomes the problem that this speech poses. (46)    Other examples of ambiguity are found in this tragedy by the Bard of Avon. D.G. James says in â€Å"The New Doubt† that the Bard has the ambiguous habit of charging a word with several meanings at once:    â€Å"Conscience does make cowards of us.† There has been, I am aware, much dispute as to what the word means here. For my part, I find not the least difficulty in believing that the word carries both its usual meaning and that of â€Å"reflection and anxious thought.† It is a platitude of Shakespeare study that Shakespeare could, with wonderful ease, charge ... ...es: An Impulsive but Earnest Young Aristocrat.† Readings on Hamlet. Ed. Don Nardo. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1999. Rpt. from The Masks of Hamlet. Newark, NJ: Univ. of Delaware P., 1992.    Shakespeare, William. The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 1995. http://www.chemicool.com/Shakespeare/hamlet/full.html    West, Rebecca. â€Å"A Court and World Infected by the Disease of Corruption.† Readings on Hamlet. Ed. Don Nardo. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1999. Rpt. from The Court and the Castle. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1957.    Wright, Louis B. and Virginia A. LaMar. â€Å"Hamlet: A Man Who Thinks Before He Acts.† Readings on Hamlet. Ed. Don Nardo. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1999. Rpt. from The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. Ed. Louis B. Wright and Virginia A. LaMar. N. p.: Pocket Books, 1958.

Rhetorical Analysis Essay

Abraham Lincoln’s â€Å"Second Inaugural Address† and Emily Dickinson’s â€Å"Success is Counted Sweet,† are two inspirational pieces of art that fall under two different types of discourses. The â€Å"Second Inaugural Address,† is a great example and definition of what Rhetoric is. It encompasses all four resources of languages- argument, appeal, arrangement, and artistic devices. â€Å"Success is Counted Sweet,† doesn’t cover the four resources of language that apply to rhetoric; therefore, it is categorized as a poem. According to the chapter, â€Å"rhetoric addresses unresolved issues that do not dictate a particular outcome and in the process it engages our value commitments.† (15). We see how Lincoln’s inaugural speech tries to engage in the values of the people as he brings up the main issue that has effected the country, the Civil War. During the time of Lincoln’s â€Å"Second Inaugural Address,† he was facing a divided nation in the midst of a civil war. Lincoln built an argument within his speech with a goal set in mind: To establish a common ground or compromise between the North and the South. Lincoln only hopes to change the outcome of the nation by stating, â€Å"with high hope for the future, no prediction in regard to it is ventured.† This shows that the unresolved issue has no dictated outcome, but he can only hope for a better future for the nation. A great rhetoric calls people to action and Abraham Lincoln does so by stating, â€Å" let us strive on to finish the work we are in†¦ to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.† Through this statement, Lincoln also creates a patriotic appeal to the nation as well as a sense of loyalty to the country as a whole. Lincoln creates an emotional appeal of unity and forgiveness by speaking about â€Å"peace†, â€Å"binding up the nations wounds,† and to â€Å"care† for the nation in which the Americans live in. Abraham Lincoln’s artistic devices also make his inaugural address a perfect example of a rhetorical discourse. He uses diction by reinforcing the commonality of the divided people, the North and the South. He states how  both, the North and South, â€Å"read the same Bible and pray to the same God,† and neither the North nor South expected for the war the magnitude or the duration which it attained. Lincoln also maintains an optimistic tone throughout the speech and invokes unity with his parallel structured sentences. Emily Dickinson’s â€Å"Success is Counted Sweetest,† doesn’t cover all four resources of language. It is a poem that does not call for action but does create an emotional appeal for the people. Throughout her poem, she created an emotional appeal for success and its value and the desire and want for success. We see how she creates such emotion when she states, â€Å"The distant strains of triumph break, agonizing and clear.† What Dickinson means by this is that gaining success can be the most beautiful accomplishment but at the same time, agonizing to reach. This creates an emotional appeal for those who are living through the Civil War, making the people have a desire for peace, but they have to go through bloodshed in the process of gaining success. Emily Dickinson carries out artistic devices throughout her poem, which also creates an emotional appeal for the audience. She uses metaphors to describe success by stating, â€Å"Success is counted sweetest.† Dickinson also uses her poem to recreate what was occurring at the time of the war. She speaks of the â€Å"purple Host† which is the representation of the Army and â€Å"capturing the flag,† which is the flag of victory during the war. She also appeals to the senses by stating, â€Å"as he, defeated, dying†¦. distant strains of triumph†¦agonizing and clear.† This paints an image of those in the war struggling for success. Dickinson also uses allusion by making this poem an indirect reference to â€Å"V-Day†. Although these pieces were written around the same time, we see how one calls for the action from the nation, meanwhile the other piece just creates an emotional appeal about the Civil War. Lincoln’s attitude showed he believed in justice and had a balanced view upon the nation as a whole and wanted to make a change. He seeks compromise through his inauguration address through an argument, creating emotional appeal, by arranging the speech accordingly, and using artistic devices to make it inspiring. Emily Dickinson focuses on sending the people a message through emotional appeal. She reaches our emotions reminding us how we don’t appreciate success. She also gives us the feeling that only by failing or lacking success we will learn how important it is for the people to achieve success. Although Lincoln’s â€Å"Second Inaugural Address,† and Emily Dickinson’s â€Å"Success is counted Sweet,† are not in the same category, they are both moving and emotional pieces. They are two different works or art that will forever remind us how much of an impact the Civil War was to the United States of America.

McDonald’s: Customer Driven Essay

What does it mean to be customer driven? One Fortune 500 Company that lives to please and satisfy their customers is, McDonald’s. According to the article The Ray Kroc Story (2012), McDonald’s passion for quality and customer service all began with a man named Ray Kroc (p.1). In 1954, Ray came across a restaurant in San Bernardino, California run by brothers Dick and Mac McDonald. He was immediately captivated by how effective their small operation was. Ray found that the restaurant only offered a limited menu, which consisted of burgers, fries, and beverages. Due to the limited variety, the brothers were able to focus on what was really important, which was quality customer service. Ray Kroc had formed a vision. The article The Ray Kroc Story (2012), he pitched his vision of McDonald’s restaurants all over the United States to the brothers (p. 2). In 1955, one year after discovering the small restaurant in California, Ray Kroc founded the McDonald’s Corporation. Five years later, Ray bought the exclusive rights to the McDonald’s name, and by 1958 McDonald’s has sold its 100 millionth burger. According to the article The Ray Kroc Story (2012), Kroc’s unique philosophy was that he wanted to build a restaurant system that would be famous for its food consistency, its uniform methods of preparation, and that was customer driven (p. 3). He wanted to be able to serve burgers in Alaska that would taste the same in Alabama. To make this a reality he persuaded franchisees and suppliers to buy into his vision. This was that they were not working for McDonald’s, but rather for themselves, for McDonalds. Ray Kroc never stopped working for McDonald’s. He worked there right up until  he passed away on January 24, 1984 (p. 4). He worked out of his wheelchair in his office, nearly every day, in San Diego, California. Ray Kroc’s legacy and passion for quality, service, and efficiency continues to still be an integral part of McDonald’s today. McDonald’s has more than 33,500 restaurants worldwide. It also has 1.7 million employees, throughout 119 countries. McDonald’s mission statement and list of values truly shows how they are customer driven and what they focus on, to continue being successful. The article McDonald’s Mission and Vision (2010-2012), their brand mission is to be their customers favorite place and way to eat (p. 1). They operate around seven core values every day. The first value is that they place the customer experience at the core of what they do. They say that their customers are the reason for their existence. They show their appreciation by providing every person that walks through their door, and drives through their drive thru with high quality food. Their goal is quality, service, cleanliness, and value for each and every customer. Second, they are committed to their customers. McDonald’s provides ample opportunity, they nurture talent, and they develop leaders. This company believes that a team of well-trained individuals, coming from diverse backgrounds, working together fosters respect, and is key in their continued success. The third value according to the article McDonald’s Mission and Vision (2010-2012) is that they believe in their system (p. 1). McDonald’s has a business model that Ray Kroc compared to a three legged stool. His philosophy was based on the simple principle of the three legged stool: one leg was McDonald’s, the second leg was the franchisees, and the third leg was McDonald’s suppliers. Fourth, they operate their business ethically. This company believes that sound ethics is good business. They strive to hold themselves and to conduct their business to a high standard of fairness, honesty, and also integrity. McDonald’s believes that they are individually accountable and collectively  responsible. Fifth, they give back to their communities. McDonald’s is serious about the responsibilities that come along with being a leader. They try to make the world a better place by helping their customers build better communities, supporting the Ronald McDonald House Charities, and by leveraging their size, scope, and resources. Sixth, they grow their business profitably. This company is a publicly traded company. Being that they are publicly traded, they work to provides sustained profitable growth for their shareholders. In order to do this they have to focus continually on their customers and the health of their system. The last and final value that McDonald’s lives by is that want to continuously improve. They consider themselves a learning organization. One of the goals under this value is to anticipate and respond to changing customers, employees, and system needs through constant innovation and evolution. Ray Kroc (2010-2012) once said, â€Å"McDonald’s is a people’s business† (p. 1). One major way this company shows that it cares about its customers, can be seen through the company’s involvement in their customers communities. McDonald’s is a part of a global network of local family restaurants, and they are proud to give back to the communities they serve. They demonstrate this by supporting local sports teams, helping talented young athletes, and taking steps to improve neighborhoods. Two example of this can be seen through McDonald’s involvement in the McDonald’s All American High School Basketball Games, and Camp Mickey D’s. Every year the company brings the top high school basketball talent in the nation together to raise money for the Ronald McDonald House Charities. Camp Mickey D’s was created by Sybel Pici, owner of three McDonald’s franchise in Texas. This program helps students come to terms and grips with the challenges of the workplace, while making a connection between school and work. One of the most widely recognized ways that McDonald’s shows it is customer  driven is through its support of the Ronald McDonald House Charities. According to the article The Ronald McDonald House Charities (2010-2012), the Ronald McDonald House Charities was founded on the idea of strength through numbers (p. 1). Through this customers and families find strength from staff, donors, and each other. The Ronald McDonald House provides a home away from home for families whose children are in hospitals or need medical treatment. Since 2002, McDonalds has brought together its franchisees, suppliers, employees, and customers to take part in a worldwide annual fundraiser. This fundraiser has brought in nearly $170 million for the Ronald McDonald House Charities and other various charities. McDonald’s has many strong suits. First, they rank high on the Fortune Magazine’s food service companies that are most admired. They have global operations all over the world. McDonald’s has cultural diversity in the foods that are provided based on the location. This company has great locations in theme parks, airports, Walmart stores, and along well traveled roads. They have efficient operating guidelines in the assembly line fashion. One weakness is that they are failing the pizza test market therefore limiting the ability to compete with fast food pizza providers. Their training costs are high due to high turnover. They have minimal concentration on providing organic foods. McDonald’s has large fluctuations in the net and operating profits making impacts on investors. There are quality concerns due to franchised operations. Last, they focus on burgers and grease fried foods and not on healthier options for their customers. One opportunity that McDonald’s has is they are opening more joint ventures with several different retailers. They have become more responsive to the social changes and healthier options. They are advertising the capabilities of WIFI. The company has been expanding on the advertising in regards to being more socially responsible in the environment. They have expanded in to newly developed parts of the world. They have opened products up to allergen free options such as peanut free and gluten free foods. Last they have ventured into more enticing beverage choices. One threat is that their marketing strategies are enticing people all the way from small children to adults and they take criticism because of it. McDonald’s has lawsuits for offering unhealthy foods with addictive additives. They have contamination risks. One threat is that there are a large amount of other fast food places that are open and serve as competition. The competition is focusing on healthier dieting by consumers. Last there is a downturn in economy which limits people to going out to eat. Through the vision of Ray Kroc, a Fortune 500 company was formed. Through McDonald’s mission statement and seven core values, this company has had continued success over the years. The success of this company is a direct result of being a truly customer driven company. References McDonald Mission and Corporate Values :: AboutMcDonalds.com. (n.d.)._† Official Global Corporate Website :: AboutMcDonalds.com_. Retrieved March 24, 2012, from http://www.aboutmcdonalds.com/mcd/our_company/mission_and_values.html Ronald McDonald House Charities :: McDonalds.com. (n.d.). _Home :: McDonalds.com_. Retrieved March 23, 2012, from http://www.mcdonalds.com/us/en/our_story/our_communities/rmhc.html The Ray Kroc Story :: McDonalds.com. (n.d.). _Home :: McDonalds.com_. Retrieved March 22, 2012, from http://www.mcdonalds.com/us/en/our_story/our_history/the_ray_kroc_story.html