Recycling and Plastic Bag Essay

They are also cheap, light, durable, easy to carry and in many cases, free. The most commonly used shopping bag is made of High Density Polyethylene (HDPE). This type is used in the majority of supermarkets and stores. After these bags are used, they often end up in landfills or as litter, roughly only three percent of plastic bags is actually recycled per year (Planet Ark, 2011). The materials used in making plastic bags make them non-biodegradable. According to the science dictionary, 2011 refers to â€Å"these materials cannot be decomposed into environmentally safe waste materials by the action of soil bacteria. † These harmful substances are toxic and take approximately four hundred years to break down, or in this case photo-degrade; which is how plastics made from (HDPE) break down. Since they are not biodegradable, they remain in the environment and are absorbed in soil or water (Indian Centre for Plastics in the Environment, 2010). This essay will discuss the various harmful effects of plastic bags, and demonstrate the risks that these bags impose on humans, animals and the environment. It will also discuss a series of suggested solutions that could help reduce plastic bag usage. Although plastic bags appear to be fragile and light, their negative environmental effect is devastating. Plastic bags may cause large amounts of pollution in every step of their limited life cycle, from the extraction of raw materials, production, transportation, and recycling or disposal. Plastic bags can be defined as the most damaging form of environmental pollution. They can have a damaging effect on marine animals and wildlife in addition to the aesthetic effects on beaches, parks, and trees. Plastic bags are potentially one of the main causes of death to marine animals (Harbor keepers,2008). Up to one hundred thousand marine animals or more die each year from eating plastic bags which are mistaken for food. This can result in blocking the animal’s intestines and possibly lead to the animal’s death. Another possible situation is that wildlife, such as birds, can get tangled in plastic bags causing choking and immobility, which may eventually lead to death. (Senior, 2008) and (Citizen Campaign, 2010). In other situations, after plastic bags photo degrade they remain toxic and could be eaten by fish, shellfish or any other marine life and survive this allows the toxins to enter our food chain through bioaccumulation (Puget Soundkeeper Alliance, 2011). As a solution to these types of problems is taking action by educating and increasing the public’s awareness to the harmful affects that a plastic bag impose on our environment. Applying this would mean to get consumers involved in reducing the number of plastic bags they consume and instead of getting new bags they can simply reuse their old bags (Sea Turtles Conservancy,2011). Another important solution would be using bio degradable bags instead; these types of bags take up a shorter time to degrade and become environmentally safe to both humans and animals. These types of bags are made from natural materials therefore; they are digested if animals swallow them (Biodegradable Plastic Bags,2011). The harmful effects of plastic bags extend to affect human health and social lives. According to the US CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission, 2011) suffocation has been a significant of death among children under the age of one. According to a report presented in 2007 by Clean up Australia, when plastic bags are thrown in the streets they may block the drains and result in flooding during heavy rain. Stagnant water in blocked drains may create a breeding ground for many forms of insects like mosquitoes, which can transmit dangerous diseases such as malaria, dengue fever, and encephalitis (World Health Organisation, 2011). Reducing, reusing and recycling, in that order, could be the most viable option to decrease the social and health impact of plastic bags. Reducing the number of plastic bags can be applied by imposing a fee such as PlasTax. In 2002 PlasTax was issued in The Republic of Ireland, which is a fee on plastic bags. This new tax resulted in a ninety four percent drop in plastic bag consumption in one year (Convery F, McDonnell S, Ferreira S, 2007). The next step is to reuse, instead of disposing of plastic bags consumers should be encouraged to keep reusing their bags. The final step is to recycle the plastic bags, many supermarkets such as Tesco and Sainsbury’s give the consumers the option to bring in their old bags for recycling. In conclusion, usages of plastic bags are very limited unlike their infinite damages. They are harmful to health, the environment and wildlife. The solutions to put an end to the problems associated with plastic bags are available, cooperation between governments, shops and individuals is vital to take the necessary actions by reducing, reusing and recycling plastic bags.

The Reasons Why Humans Connect All Over The World

One of the reasons why humans connect all over the world is because of art. Art is one of the easiest and most important ways to bring a group of people together and the power of art can alter society s views and introduce new ideals into them. For example, Deborah Obalil who wrote Dancin to Freedom: A Historical Analysis of the Rise of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, supports the idea of dance as international: â€Å"Dance is a form of communication; it is body language taken to a greater extreme. In all societies, the physical interaction between people can be as important, if not more important, than the verbal and written communication which takes place.† (Obalil 4) For instance, dance which is a form of art, has united people and cultures since the beginning of civilizations. Tribal dances were one of the first types of dance, and they brought children and adults all in one place, and it either was for recreation or a pray for the gods. Nowadays, it is not as different as in the earlier days; dance is being used as a way of protest, or as a way to stand up for what you believe in, which is no different than praying or believing in a god. Since dance became a form of self expression and a way to show that to the people around you, artists have resorted to choreographing and dancing when they feel something right is not happening. There are many well known names who have turned to movement and dance, such as KatherineShow MoreRelatedIn Our Town Theme1513 Words   |  7 PagesWhen we think about our existence in terms of how we are humans, we take into account what happens in a typical human life. The universal qualities of human existence is the most prominent theme in the book. This theme is noticeable, multiple times throughout Our Town, by Thornton Wilder. One time the theme is shown in the book in the beginning, where the Stage Manager talks about the layout of Grover’s Corners. 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Short Story Traveling - It Leaves You Speechless, Then...

Celavie â€Å"Traveling – it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.† – Ibn Battuta. The world is filled with beauty and I was blessed with a great family and the ability to embrace it. I have traveled the world but when i was assigned with the task of this writing this narrative there was a certain adventure in my life that came to mind. My family and I traveled to the British Virgin Islands and rented a catamaran and island hopped the whole 8 days. My dad s brothers family tagged along too! This is the story of my adventure and all the fun I had, and the best part about it is†¦ you get to come along. It is 4:00 in the morning and you re in the airport in Detroit, you’re excited and can’t wait to board the plane head to paradise. If you have never experienced this feeling you need to at least once in your life. Fast forward 9 hours, two plane rides, one ferry ride and one taxi. You are in the heart of an island village: Tortula in th e middle of what seems to be a dream, crystal blue water, bright sun shining and the white sand was as soft as a baby’s butt, and had a comforting warmth to it. The catamaran was waiting for us in the harbor, her name was Celavie which means that s life in French. She had four rooms with two crew cabins. I slept in the pullout couch. But anyway let s get started with the sailing aspect. We left port on the second day of trip after our briefing, I would love to include everything I did but that would make this way too long so I

Evil Operator - 1584 Words

Only a Prank Call Prankdial.com is a website that offers a wide array of services to its users. It includes applications such as Fake Caller ID, the Ring Prank, Auto Breakup, and many others. Among the most controversial of its services is Evil Operator. This program can be accessed and used by anyone in the world. The idea of the idea of making a prank phone call through the internet has had wide appeal. The program allows you to enter in two different telephone numbers into the site. Before you click the â€Å"Send Call† button, you have two options. The first option explains â€Å"I would like to record this conversation. I agree to notify the caller they are being recorded† and the second mandatory option states â€Å"I agree to the Terms†¦show more content†¦The â€Å"evil operator† must click the button that states that the he or she will agree to notify the recipients that they are being recorded, a poor attempt by the site to establish consent with the pa rties. 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Essay about The Bias of Communication Media and Bias Essay Example For Students

Essay about The Bias of Communication: Media and Bias Essay On the 9th of September 2001, an estimated audience of 2 billion people watched the destruction of the Twin Towers in New York, live on television (Giddens and Sutton, 2013: p766). The notion that information can be spread so fast and to so many receivers is still a relatively new notion to modern society but it has become such an integral part of our everyday lives. As Macionis and Plummer (2012: p762) state, â€Å"this is the time of the media†, with 73% of UK adults accessing the Internet everyday (Ons, 2013). The statistics show that modern media is a huge foundation of our everyday lives, with around 79% of the UK population in 2002 citing television as their main source of world news (Philo and Berry, 20011: p276). Yet how biased is the media we rely on and what is the source of the bias? In this essay, I will seek to address these two concerns, by analysing the forms of media and then the content of media, and examining how these two aspects could be understood as conta ining bias. Over the course of human history it can be seen that the forms of media that have been used can be separated into four broad categories. There are oral cultures, which originated around 100, 000 years ago and are where speech is the only, or primary, means of communication (Macionis and Plummer, 2012: p766). There are writing cultures, where written languages are developed and become the most effective means of communication (ibid). Print cultures developed more recently, beginning with the invention of movable type printing in China as early as 1040 AD, and then more famously by Johannes Gutenberg in Germany around 1450 AD (ibid; Fulcher and Scott, 2011: p360). Finally there are electronic cultures, which are currently what most of humanity’s communic. . ass media in the making unmaking of the New Left. Berkeley: University of California Press.Haralambos, M. and Holborn, M. 2008. Sociology. 7th ed. London: Collins.Herman, E. S. and Chomsky, N. 1994. Manufacturing consent. London: Vintage.Innis, H. A. 1999. The bias of communication. Toronto Ont.: University of Toronto Press.Innis, H. A. 2007. Empire and communications. Toronto: Dundern Press.Macionis, J. J. and Plummer, K. 2012. Sociology. 5th ed. Harlow, England: Pearson/Prentice Hall.Mcluhan, M. 1975. Understanding media. Kent: Whitstable. Ons.gov.uk. 2013. Internet Access Households and Individuals, 2013 ONS. online Available at: http://www. ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/rdit2/internet-accesshouseholds-and-individuals/2013/stb-ia-2013.html Accessed: 31 Mar 2014.Philo, G., Berry, M. and Philo, G. 2011. More bad news from Israel. London: Pluto Pres

Marketing Project McDonalds

Introduction Marketing is a complex process that involves more than just promotional activities. In the contemporary business world, the need for marketing has significantly increased with increased level of competition. Marketing can be defined as a process of facilitating an exchange of something of value for something needed.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Marketing Project: McDonald’s specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This implies that the marketing process is likely to come along with some costs. Marketing process is a very important part of any organization. It is therefore necessary to have a clearly designed marketing plan in order to have a successful organization. It is always necessary to understand the customer’s needs while conducting a marketing plan. Industry Analysis In the current world, the food retail industry has significantly developed. Many players have entered into the market , which has led to rise in the level of competition in the industry. There are several international corporations which are engaged in food retail all over the world. Over the past, these organizations have been engaged in stiff competition with each of them aiming at winning the highest fraction of the market share. For instance, there was a high level of competition in 1980s which was referred to as â€Å"hamburger wars†. This was characterized by price battle which led to a significant fall in prices. In the contemporary world, the level of competition has significantly increased which has led to intensification in competition in the industry. There are several competitors in the food distribution industry in the world. Some of these includes the Burger King, Wendy’s International, Inc., Jack in the Box, Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, Sonic Corporation, White Castle system, Whataburger, CKE Restaurants, Doctor’s Associates and YUM Brands (Africa Awards for En trepreneurship, 2011: par 20). However, these organizations are in most cases engaged in numerous lines of products. Some does better in some while some are better in another line. However, some lines pose a high level of competition.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Company Background McDonald’s is one of the most successful businesses across the world. This corporation is owned by a group of people who comes from all over the world. Among these people are the Muslims and the Arabs. McDonald’s is a neutral corporation which is independent of religious or political interference. McDonald’s is owned by Arab and Muslim business men in Arabian countries (McDonald’s, 2011: par 3). These individuals are responsible for the operations of this corporation in these countries. McDonald’s is the world’s top leading organization in the food ser vice industry (McDonald’s, 2011: par 1). The origin of this corporation can be traced back in 1930s when it started showing good performance in the market. With time, the organization continued with a progress. In its early stages of development, some of the main foods produced were cheeseburgers, hamburgers, shakes, French fries, apple pie and soft drinks (Africa Awards for Entrepreneurship, 2011: par 3). In 1960s, the company recorded a significant boost in the level of its performance. In 1965, the organization offered its shares in public at a price of $ 25.50 each (Africa Awards for Entrepreneurship, 2011: par 5). This was one of the major steps in the process of taking off. Soon after the launch of these shares, the prices shot up to $30 per share. Over the past, the company has encountered a high level of competition from its competitors. This has severally threatened the performance of the organization. However, the company has managed to retain its high level of perf ormance. For instance, the company was faced by a major challenge in 1980s during the hamburger wars. This battle was between various companies in the hamburger chains. During this period, McDonald’s intensified its advertisement campaigns. During this period, the market was characterized by aggressive advertisement campaigns and cut of prices. This reduced the level of returns significantly for McDonald’s. However, McDonald’s market share continued to expand during the time (Africa Awards for Entrepreneurship, 2011: par 7).Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Marketing Project: McDonald’s specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More McDonald’s has a very close examination of the need of its customers. In connection to this, the company planned to diversify its menu in order to suit the changing needs of its customers. As a result of these changes, company introduced chicken McNuggets in 1983 (Africa Awards for Entrepreneurship, 2011: par 8). By the end of the same year, McDonald’s managed to emerge as the second largest chicken retailer in the world. This marked a tremendous growth soon after introduction. One of the strengths of McDonald’s is the fact that its employees are very efficient in their jobs (Africa Awards for Entrepreneurship, 2011: par 9). This had a significant contribution in performance of the organization. For instance, it reduced the operational expenses. As a result of increased employees’ efficiency, McDonald’s to lower the prices of its key products (Africa Awards for Entrepreneurship, 2011: par 11). In 1960s, McDonald’s high level of performance can be attributed to the organization’s skillful marketing and flexibility on response to customer’s demand. With time McDonald’s continued with its expansion where it opened several new restaurants in the region. For instance, the organization was o pening its 1,000th restaurant in 1968 (Africa Awards for Entrepreneurship, 2011: par 12). During this period, the chief administrative and president of the company was Fred Turner. The company also has a global presence and is considered a market leader in the global market. This simplifies the marketing process. One of the main weaknesses of the company is that it faces high price competition or price wars with its competitors. This leads to reduction in the profit margins. Another weakness with McDonald’s is that it uses advertisement strategies which targets children. This denies the company a chance to reach many people. Marketing Strategy or Problem Marketing Strategy Overview Marketing Strategy Statement In the contemporary business world, the market is characterized by a very high level of competition. In order for any organization to survive in such a market, there is a need to have an effective marketing strategy. As already noted, the food retail industry in the wor ld has been similarly faced with a very high level of competition. In order for any corporation to survive in such an environment, it must employ the most effective marketing strategy. In this case, the aim of this strategy is to increase the level of sales in hamburger. This type of food product faces a high level of competition in the market. This has threatened its performance in the market. This strategy is aimed at helping in increasing the level of sales of this product.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Objectives The main objective of this marketing plan is to increase the level of the sales of the McDonald’s hamburgers. From the results released towards the end of the year 2010, the sales rose by 4.8 per cent (Sodersmith, 2010: par 1). This increase was significantly attributed to addition of new items in the menu. In other words, very little of this increase can be attributed to sales from the existing products. Therefore, this strategy aims at increasing the level of hamburger sales by 4% by the end of this year. This strategy is also aimed at increasing the company’s market share for hamburgers. Currently, McDonald’s is facing a very high competition from Subway. Subway is increasing its stores across the world rapidly. Therefore, the objective of this strategy will be to help the organization in retaining its performance. Despite of the high level competition, McDonald’s still remains ahead of Subway in terms of revenue with each recording $24.1 bi llion and $15.2 billion respectively in 2010 (Casestudyinc 2011: par 1). Market Share for Top performing restaurants 2002 1997 McDonald’s 7.3% McDonald’s 7.8% Burger King 3.0% Burger King 3.6% Wendy’s 2.4% Taco Bell 2.2% Subway 1.9% Pizza Hut 2.1% Taco Bell 1.9% Wendy’s 2.1% Table 1. Market Share for different restaurants in 1997 and 2002. (Stewart, 2010: 20) The table above indicates that McDonald’s has a significant market share. The company’s market share was 7.8 percent in 1997. Due to increased competition, this level fell to 7.3 per cent in 2002. Strategic Marketing Components In order to achieve these goals, several components of strategic marketing will be integrated. These will facilitate in realization of the above objectives of the marketing strategy. Branding Branding is one of the most important activities which can significantly determine the success of a particular organization. This is because it helps in cr eation of a unique name which differentiates a company’s products from those produced by its competitors. This exercise plays a pivotal role in attraction and retention of customers in a competitive environment as well as winning their loyalty. However, the success of a brand will largely depend on the effectiveness of the branding process. In order for our company to sell the new product successfully, we need to have an effective branding strategy. In the current business world, the level of competition has significantly increased. Similarly, the level of competition in the food retail industry has also increased. Bearing this in mind, there is a need to come up with a branding program in order to win more customers in the market. In this case, McDonald’s company faces a big challenge in the hamburger market which is faced by a very high level of competition. The organization has a well developed reputation for its performance all over the world. As already noted, the company has also managed to conduct a close observation on the need of its customer’s hence managing to retain high level of consumer satisfaction. These achievements will significantly improve the effectiveness of the branding process. Online branding will be of great importance in this case. In order to convince our potential customers about the quality of our company’s hamburgers over our competitors’, we need to use attractive images of the new product which can easily capture the attention of our potential customers. We are also going to consider the traffic such that the message reaches the right people. Otherwise, the effectiveness of the whole exercise will be impotent. It is important to present on the website something that potential customers can see and believe (Randall 2000: 15). This image will be set that it will be moving across the page. This will significantly help in attracting the attention of our potential customers. SMS Interactive This is one of the most recently developed online advertisement method which can significantly help us in creating our brand. In our case, we are targeting families in all the middle and upper class. The SMS interactive method will help us to increase the level of sales of our hamburgers to this group. According to Face Media Digital (2011: par 5), this method assists a business to engage directly with its potential customers through their mobile phones and getting the feedback instantly. This method will be very useful because it is more cost effective than the traditional methods of advertisement. Therefore, we are going to save a substantial sum of money for the organization. In this method, it will be easier to take queries from consumers. In the process, the company will be able to increase the level of sales. The SMS Interactive combines various marketing communications tools which significantly help in development of an organization’s brand in a most efficient way. Through th is method, we shall be able to read our responders mobile numbers which we can use in exchange of information about the product. This will help us in cultivating loyalty from our potential customers. This method will also help us in concentrating on the traffic which we are targeting in the market. Again, this will also help us in conserving financial and time resources by only investing with potential customers. In order for any business to able to sell its new product, it must be able to advertise and promote it (Business Resource Software, not dated: par 3). These exercises will be of great significance in our case. We are going to apply the push strategy. As the level of competition has increased in the market, we are going to use this method to push our new product into the market. In brand development, communication also plays a pivotal role in promoting the effectiveness of the exercise. One of the main methods of communication to be used will be SMS. This method will help us to reach our potential customers in the shortest time possible. Another advantage of this method is that we shall be able to get the feed back from our customers. This close interaction will help us in creating a strong brand for the Premier Portraits. For instance, we shall be able to convince our client on the quality of our new product. Another important method of communication which will be useful in this case is through email messages. This is another cost effective method that will help us in reaching our customers very fast despite of their geographical locations. This will also enable us in reaching our customers wherever they are. Budget This program will involve competition with already established organizations. Playing in the major league is more expensive than playing in the minor league. This implies that we have to make adequate investment in branding in order to compete successfully in the market. This program will involve an external company which will provide SMS Interactive services. It will also involve the internal branding through our website. Image Positioning In order for any product to be successful in a competitive market, it should cultivate a good image from the potential consumers. We intend to build an image of high quality and low priced product. In such combination, we shall be able to win customers from our competitors. The Target Market The main target market will be both new and existing markets that have recorded low level of performance. In this case, we are targeting families since they are potential customers for our hamburgers. Through collection of adequate information, we shall be able to calculate the consumer’s lifetime value. This calculation will be of great significance as it will help us in estimating the dollar value associated with our customers. This will play a pivotal role in making some critical decisions. By concentrating on these market areas, we expect to increase our market share for hamburgers significantly. Sustainable Competitive Advantage (SCA) In order to be able to come up with an effective marketing strategy, it is necessary to have a sustainable competitive advantage. The competitive analysis gives an analysis of the service or product’s position in the customer’s mind. According to the Business Software Resource publication, it is very vital for the company to know its competitors. In order to be able to compete with its competitors, the company should be aware of its competitor’s strengths and weaknesses. It is through this understanding that the company will be able to formulate strategies to overcome their competitors. McDonald’s hamburgers have been strong compared to those provided by their competitors. McDonald’s has managed to retain its competitive advantage through out its products line. One way through which a company can do this is through differentiation. Differentiation makes the company’s products to appear unique from similar products provided by their competitors. By having a close examination of changing consumer needs, McDonald’s has managed to modify its hamburgers accordingly. This differentiates it from the one provided by its competitors. Marketing Tactics Product Issues In the food industry, products have become so homogeneous that it becomes difficult for consumers to differentiate. In order to solve this problem, we are going to differentiate our hamburgers from those provided in the market by our competitors. This will help our consumers in differentiating our product in terms of quality and package. Distribution Distribution is another important component in marketing plan. The company should choose a distribution method which will facilitate efficiency by making its products available to its customers at the right place and in the right time (Time and place utilities). For instance, a company may decide to make direct sales which involves sale offering using a dire ct, in-house sales through the telephone, mail or through the internet (Business Resource Software, not dated: par 8). In this case, the hamburgers will be sold through our restaurants. In case there is a need for external catering, appropriate arrangement will be made in order to deliver in required time and places. However, the company should make adjustments depending on the prevailing conditions to maximize sales. Pricing According to Westwood (2005), pricing is a key factor in marketing strategy (158). Pricing is a major factor which determines the realization of the company’s marketing objectives. Pricing significantly depends on the product portfolio, product’s life cycles and the objectives for sales turnover and the market share. At McDonald’s, pricing of hamburgers will be determined in three main ways. These includes customer based pricing, Competitor based pricing as well as the cost based pricing. Since the market for hamburger is concentrated with a large number of competitors, it will be important to consider first the prices they are offering in the market. For instance, in case we set a price that is too high, then we will most probably lose our customers to our competitors. On the other hand, setting too low prices may reduce the profit margins. Therefore, a clear understanding of the prices our close competitors are offering in the market will be of great significance in setting our prices. Currently, the share of the market of hamburger is relatively low. Therefore, we shall use a penetrating price in order to expand our market share and then increase our profitability level in the long run. However, the cost of production will be of great significance in setting this price. The price level and the quantity demanded are closely related. When the prices are very high, then the level of quantity demanded tends to be lower. On the other hand, when the prices are very low, more people tend to buy the product or service. How ever, the price at which the company sells its product or service and the quantity sold at these prices are the major determinants of the profits generated. The point above raises a very critical issue in marketing planning. If a company increases the prices of its products, it is likely going to lose its customer. On the other hand, if it lowers the prices, then this is likely going to cut down its profits. It is therefore very necessary for any company to come up with appropriate pricing procedures which are likely to maximize profits. While setting down the price levels, a company must determine cost of producing the items. For instance, a company cannot set its prices below the cost of production. However, there is a high risk of creating price wars when one company sets its process below what its competitors are offering in the same market. As already noted, one of the main problem of unhealthy competition is the pricing wars. When many players enters into the market while the number of consumers remains constant; this leads to a high level of competition as each player try to win more customers in the market (Bungert, 2003: 2). The only slogan in this case becomes the price. In this case, each company will be aiming at under pricing its competitors. Consequently, this leads to fall in prices up to unsustainable levels. In case such a case takes place, it threatens the performance of McDonald’s company. As a result of fall in prices, the company’s total returns will automatically fall. Meanwhile, the company will be forced to increase its expenses on promotion in order to retain or win more customers in increasingly competitive market. Advertising Promotions In order for any company to sell its offer effectively, it should be able to advertise and promote it (Business Resource Software, not dated; par 9). In this case we are going to use the push strategy. In this form of promotion, the company uses the promotion methods which tend to push its product or service into the market place. In order to achieve maximum results, we are going to use two main methods in our advertisement and promotions. Advertising Advertising plays a pivotal role in determining the success of an organization especially in the global market which is characterized by consumers with a diverse background and high level of competition. In advertising, we will apply several types of media to pass information to the Company’s potential customers. This method of promotion can have huge impact especially when the company is extending its services in new market network. We shall apply variety of media including printed, broadcasting and display media. Television is one of the frequently used media by many companies. One of the main advantages of using television is because it will help the company to reach a greater number of its target audience. This is more so important bearing in mind the fact that the company is involved in the global market where it may be very expensive to use other methods of advertisement. Therefore, this media lowers the promotion cost per head. Through this method of advertisement, the McDonald’s will manage to build its brand in the markets. Over the past, this method has yielded good returns through increased level of sales. Another method of advertisement which is going to be applicable to McDonald’s is the display media. This method has also significantly contributed to increasing the level of sales in various organizations. Through the display media, the company is going to use eye attracting pictures which easily attracts the attention of the targeted audience in the market. Consequently, the organization will manage to pass information more easily to the group. One major advantage of this medium of advertisement is that it is more cost effective. It does not require large sums of money like in the case of television. Advertisement as a method of promotion is associated with a number of advantages. To start with, advertisement is effective in reaching a wide range of audience (Trehan and Trehan, 2009: 35).This is because when advertisement is conducted through a media which covers a large number of people, it will reach them more easily. The method will help in reaching a greater number of people compared to other methods like the sales promotion. Another advantage of this method is that it is most effective in creating awareness. When the audience views a certain advert on television regularly, this increases their awareness of the presence of the product in the market. This builds their curiosity to try the new product. In this case, this method will help the company in winning new clients in new markets. This significantly helps the company to increase the level of hamburger sales. Consequently, this will lead to a gradual increase in the market share for McDonald’s hamburgers. Again, advertising helps in building customer trust through repetiti on of the main brand and product. Despite of these achievements of advertising as a method of promotion, it suffers some limitations. For instance, this method is impersonal and therefore it becomes impossible to answer the customer’s questions. However, when a product is introduced in a new market, customers usually have some questions about the product. In this case, some potential clients may be wishing to ask some questions from McDonald’s about its hamburgers. Thus, there is a need to have close interaction with potential clients in order to win them. The company will also not be in a position to understand the needs of their potential clients. For instance, it becomes difficult to pick views from the potential customers through this method of promotion. However, the level of performance is improved by integrating it with sales promotion Sales promotion One way through which McDonald’s can invite a larger figure of customers is through sales promotion. Sale s promotion can significantly help an organization in expanding the number of its customers or clients hence boosting the level of sales. In addition, sales promotion has been of great importance in creating consumer awareness. Through promotion, the company will manage to bring its potential customers to awareness of the product in the market. This method has been of great importance especially in increasing the level of market share. In some regions, most of the people may not be aware of the company’s product. In this case, it becomes very difficult to sell the product in such market. However, the company can overcome this barrier through sales promotion. This attracts customers hence increasing the level of sales. One advantage of using sales promotion is that it can stimulate quick increases in sales by targeting promotional incentives on particular products. These can significantly help in improving the performance of the organization in the short run. This method has h elped several companies in increasing the sales in their market networks (Trehan and Trehan, 2009: 57). This method has been of great importance when the company is venturing into a new market. As already noted, McDonald’s has been spreading at a very high rate. For instance, the company has been extending its products in other parts of the world in a very high rate. In such new networks, most of the people may not be aware of the company’s products. In this case, it becomes very difficult to sell a product in such a market. However, the company can manage to bring awareness to the potential customers through sales promotion. This attracts customers hence increasing the level of sales. In this case, McDonald’s will manage to expand its market despite the high level of competition. Therefore, sales promotion will significantly help in increasing the market share for the McDonald’s hamburgers. Through sales promotion, we shall be able to bring awareness abo ut our hamburgers to our potential customers. In the process, we shall be able to win them to buy our hamburgers. One advantage of using sales promotion is that it can stimulate quick increases in sales by targeting promotional incentives on particular products. These can significantly help in improving the performance of the organization in the short run. McDonald’s versus Subway Table 2. McDonald’s versus Subway. (Case study Inc. 2011) The table above gives a clear understanding of the nature of competition which MacDonald’s faces. It also helps us to understand the historical aspects in the food retail market. Electronic Commerce As defined by Bidgoli (2004), E-marketing is all about sale and purchase of goods or services through digital and electronic means (50). As argued by Aoudia (2009: par 3), internet has become the centre for conversations. Since marketing is about conversations, then internet becomes a favorable place for passing information to the c ustomers. In electronic commerce, most of business practices are conducted through computer networks. In the contemporary world, computer networks have become intensively integrated into business activities. More people can now access computer networks and therefore has become an important component in business activities. In order to reduce our operational costs, we are planning to conduct most of our transactions over the web. For instance, the corporation incurs a lot of costs through manual operations. We are intending to reduce paper work by allowing consumers to make orders online. This will also facilitate the service process. In order to maximize the level of consumer satisfaction, it is necessary to have enough information about consumers. In order to maximize the level of consumer satisfaction, we are going to use electronic means in gathering information from consumers. By so doing, we shall be able to understand our customer’s tastes and preferences. E-marketing w ill be of great significance to McDonald’s in reaching their customers. As Dart (2002) comments, internet, SMS and WAP has significantly contributed to the success of the field of marketing (par 3). The marketers are now able to reach more customers, faster, and even more effectively than before. E- Marketing channels are more direct and it is very easy to make changes depending on the prevailing consumer tastes and preferences unlike the traditional methods where it is very difficult to make such changes. Through e-marketing, we shall be able to overcome the geographical barriers. We shall be able to reach customers all over our market network without necessarily having to travel to these places. Consequently, we shall be able to reduce operational costs incurred through traveling. As a result, we will be able to under price our competitors effectively. In other words, our hamburgers will be relatively cheaper compared to those of our competitors. This will help in developin g our competitive advantage. Implementation Resources Required In order for this plan to be effective, it will be necessary for the corporation to dedicate the required financial and human resources necessary in execution of this plan. As already noted, this plan will require clear information about the customers. Although necessary information will be gathered electronically, there will be a need to have frequent field surveys in order to collect adequate information from consumers. This will require substantial funds in order to conduct such research. In order to execute this plan effectively, there is also a need to train our employees. We shall therefore need some funds to cater for employees’ training. We also require some funds to give our employees some incentives to participate in the plan. Time Line July 2011: Budget preparation August 2011: Market and competition review September 2011: Development of the product’s image October 2011: Sales promotion and creat ing awareness November 2011: Advertisement Epilogue In conclusion, this discussion has clearly shown that McDonald’s has a potential room for improving its market share in the hamburger market. From this discussion, it is clear that an effective marketing plan can significantly improve the performance of any organization. The existing marketing plan has helped the organization in selling its products to its potential customers. However, there is still room for improvement because some of its products are declining in terms of the market share. There is a great need for the company to invest more in promoting its products in order to retain its high level of performance in an increasingly competitive market. Without promotion, very few people will be aware of a particular product which is provided by an organization in the market. In other words, promotion will help the company in informing its potential customers on the presence of its product in the market. Through this stud y, it has been revealed that most of the advertisement tools applied by the organization only mostly reaches only the children. This is so threatening bearing in mind the existing level of competition. The proposed plan will therefore be of great significance in improving the company’s level of sales. Reference List Africa Awards for Entrepreneurship, 2011. McDonald’s Corporation. [Online] Available at:  http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/mcdonald-s-corporation-history/ . Aoudia, R. 2009. Learn about: e-marketing. [Online] Web. Bidgoli, H. 2004. The Internet Encyclopedia. John Wiley and Sons, New Jersey Bungert, M. 2003. Termination of Price Wars: A Signaling Approach. Germany: DUV. Business Resource Software, Inc. n.d. Marketing Plan. [Online] Web. Casestudyinc 2011. McDonald’s versus Subway – The Sandwich Hamburger battle. [Online] Available at: http://www.casestudyinc.com/mcdonalds-subway-comparison . Dart, C. 2002. E-Marketing: New Mil lennia. [Online] Available at: https://themanager.org/pdf/eMarketing_New%20Millennia.pdf . Face Media Digital. 2011. SMS Interactive. [Online] Web. McDonald’s. 2011. Absolute Truths about McDonald’s. [Online] Available at: https://www.mcdonalds.com/us/en-us.html . Randall, G. 2000. Branding: a practical guide to planning your strategy. U.K., Kogan Page Sodersmith, K. 2010. McDonald’s Releases Monthly Sales Report. [Online] Web. Stewart, G. (2010). Hamburger Wars: Burger King vs. McDonald’s. [Online] Web. Trehan, M. and Trehan, R. 2009. Advertising and Sales Management. New Delhi, FK Publications Westwood, J. 2005. The marketing plan workbook. U.K., Kogan. This report on Marketing Project: McDonald’s was written and submitted by user Lillie Quinn to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Learning as Biological Brain Change essays

Learning as Biological Brain Change essays This is a summary of the article, Learning as Biological Brain Change, by Robert Leamnson. It describes dramatic developments in the activity of the brain through the biological process as it relates to learning and remembering. Leamnson raises the idea of new developments in brain research and learning that are rapidly advancing our conceptualization of the human brain (2). According to the author, the brain is powerfully shaped by genetics, development and experience that actively shape the nature of our memory, and culture in which we live (3). Leamnson states, brain and behavior research both suggest that things we remember are reconstructed in the brain at the instant of remembering, and then reconstructed again at each subsequent remembering (1). Memory is an essential element of learning. Learning physically changes the brain. There is no one area of the brain that is solely responsible for memory. Leamnson suggests, that memories are well distributed throughout the structure of the brain. Areas of the brain vary dramatically in their flexibility and their capability to create long-term memories (6). Leamnson goes on to refer to another authors study about the wiring of the brain. John Searle, proposed the idea that a blueprint of the brains wiring does not exist, and the paths that signals take to generate a memory is not known (3). With new research developments, a greater sense understanding of how the brain creates and retrieves memories, how emotions effect rational and ethnical decision making, and how t he brain is influenced by aging can be determined by the brain structure and function (2). Leamnson identifies this by stating, to remember one needs to reflect on new information and relate it to what is already known (4). Leamnson explains while brain connections are vulnerable to aging, neural networks have the potential to grow more sophisticated as we age, making th...