Prevalence of Dementia among the Elderly - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 2 Words: 562 Downloads: 4 Date added: 2019/10/10 Did you like this example? Part A: Research development Definition of dementia Dementia is a term that is used to describe the decline in mental ability that interferes with daily life. Dementia is more prevalent to the elderly than in children and youth (Harvey et al., 2003). A good example of dementia is memory loss. It is worth noting that dementia is not a specific medical condition but rather an overall term that defines a wide range of symptoms that are associated with cognitive impairment and decline in memory and other thinking skills (White et al., 2005). Vascular contributors of Dementia Vascular dementia occurs after a stroke (Whitehouse et al., 1982). It is the second most prevalent among patients after the Alzheimer’s disease. Furthermore, there are many other medical conditions that cause symptoms of dementia such as vitamin deficiencies and thyroid problems (Wimo et al., 2013). Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Prevalence of Dementia among the Elderly" essay for you Create order Symptoms of dementia While signs and symptoms of this disease vary greatly, two of the following mental functions are significantly impaired to be termed as dementia. The mental functions include communication and language, memory, ability to pay attention and focus, visual perception, reasoning and judgment (Law Quirion, 2001). It has been found that people with dementia have short-memory, cannot keep track of wallet or purse, have problems in paying bills, remembering appointment, planning and preparing meals or traveling out of the neighborhood (Plassman et al., 2007). Part B: Research Proposal Prevalence of dementia among the elderly Introduction Dementia is a medical condition that is manifested in the form of a decline in mental ability including memory loss and other cognitive impairments (Plassman et al., 2007). It is common among the elderly. That is, the disease is more prevalent among the aged than in children and youth. Patients suffering from this condition usually have problems such short-term memory, inability to plan for their daily chores, remembering of events and even in communication and reasoning. It has been found that many dementias are progressive (Regier et al., 1993). That is, the symptoms start out at mild levels and then gradually become worse over time. However, if one is experiencing changes in thinking skills or memory difficulties, he or she should see a physician for professional evaluation of the condition (Evans, 1990). Statement of the problem According to Brookmeyer and Kawas (1998), there are various causes of dementia including stroke, cerebral capillary abnormalities, capillary morphology, depression, medication side effects, vitamin deficiencies, thyroid problems and excessive use of alcohol. However, the prevalence of these causes has not been well investigated. This work aims at highlighting the prevalence of the causes of dementia in the United States. General objective To determine the prevalence of the causes of dementia in the United States Specific Objective To determine the prevalence of the causes of dementia using statistical approach Methodology This work will employ a quantitative research design. That is, upon the collection of data, a statistical analysis will be employed to determine the prevalence of the causes of dementia. The study will rely on secondary data collection method where data from 100 articles related to causes of dementia will be obtained (Hebert et al., 2013). The articles will be obtained from the Journal of Neurology, Journal of the Neurological Sciences, Neurochemical Research, Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders, Neurobiology of Aging and Ageing Research Reviews. The various causes dementia will be evaluated in terms of their mean, variance, standard deviation, and p-value in the United States (Hurd et al., 2013).

Determining Reading For Students And Identifying Their...

Determining reading groups in our classroom is imperative. After assessing our students and identifying their areas of needing improvement teacher should proceed to create different reading groups in the classroom. Teacher need to take into account that grouping practices are highly effective for teaching practices. These practices help enhance reading acquisition competences. The techniques can assist students with cooperative learning and peer tutoring. The strategies of whole class, one on one, small groups and pairs can be plan to meet our student’s individual needs. The whole class instruction is concentrated more on the general population of the students. It is a strategy that most teachers use in the traditional classroom. The whole group can benefit students because they are mixed and can help each other with the lessons. During whole class instruction we can engage students to ask questions and discuss answer. Also, the topic can be summarize and review to make sure our students comprehend the topic of the lesson. An example of whole groups’ strategy is when students finish reading a story the teacher can circulate worksheets with questions to complete. Another method of grouping is small group instruction. This strategy offer the students with the opportunity to get feedback from other classmates. It is a more relaxed approach for teachers to make sure the students are understanding and also can monitor for behavior. Small groups can do much good to students withShow MoreRelatedThe Fastest Growing Subgroup Of The Nation Are English Language Learners1659 Words   |  7 PagesThe fastest growing subgroup in the nation are English Language Learners (ELLs). Over a period of 10 years, from 1995 to 2005, ELL students grew over 60% (Wolf, Herman, Bachman, Bailey, Griffin, 2008). Since 1980, the number of residents aged five years and older that speak a language other than English at home has more than doubled. Fewer than half of these re sidents are proficient in English. Utah is showing similar trends in population as it is growing more ethnically and racially diverseRead MoreGrade 12 National Assessment Of Educational Progress6761 Words   |  28 PagesWhen national, state, and local dropout and graduation rates are published, it is difficult to deny that U.S. middle and high school students are in need of special literacy and/or mathematics supports to reverse the current trends. In 2003, a commission established by the National Assessment Governing Board (Governing Board) to review and make suggestions about indicators of academic preparedness for postsecondary education and training recommended the use of the grade 12 National Assessment ofRead MoreChapter Five. Summary, Discussion And Implications. . Introduction.3928 Words   |  16 Pagesof early intervention programs. The thinking is that if an area of challenge is detected and addressed early in a child’s educational programming, it would preven t the identified child from needing to receive costly special education services. This is a major concern, since special education costs are the second biggest driver in most school district budgets, directly behind employee compensation. In addition, the potential for this area of challenge compounding are reduced. To this end, â€Å"The 2004Read More7 Starts3518 Words   |  15 Pagesencompassed kindergarteners to college students; represented a range of subject areas including reading, writing, social studies, mathematics, and science; and were conducted in numerous countries throughout the world, including the United States. The gains reported in the studies they describe are among the largest found for any educational intervention. Typical effect sizes were between 0.4 and 0.7. In other words, the achievement gains realized by students whose teachers rely on formative assessment canRead MoreEvaluation Plan for Arkansas School of the 21st Century Program6447 Words   |  26 PagesDistrict. By August, 2013, seven preschool classrooms will join kindergarten and first grade students at the new Paragould Primary building located on Country Club Road. The Paragould School District was successful in passing a millage to build this site and a middle school (Gilliam, amp; Marchesseault, 2005). Th e funding has been successfully braided together since 1996 using funds from the Parents as Teachers program, Even Start, Arkansas Better Chance, DHS vouchers, 21st Century Community LearningRead MorePtlls Level 311404 Words   |  46 Pagesresponsibilities and boundaries are as a teacher in terms of the teaching cycle. Why are these necessary? b. Identify the legislative requirements and codes of practice that directly impact on your teaching. c. Identify the legislative requirements and codes of practice that directly impact on your learning environment. ANSWERS 1.1. †¢ Explain what your actual or perceived role, responsibilities and boundaries are as a teacher in terms of the teaching/training cycleRead MoreAssignment - Knowledge Management11898 Words   |  48 Pagessignificantly to the mounting concern about the state’s ability to sustain acceptable levels of performance. What are the benefits of a knowledge transfer program? Knowledge transfer [KT] programs prevent critical knowledge loss by focusing on key areas. Some of the immediate benefits of KT programs are: 1. They provide reusable documentation of the knowledge required in certain positions or job roles. 2. They result in immediate learning and knowledge transfer when carried out by individualsRead MoreMastering Graduate Studies 1e32499 Words   |  130 PagesInformation Grand Canyon University. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, in any form or by any means, without permission in writing from the publisher  custom textbook usage The following icons have been created to assist students’ interactive experience in usage of this textbook. These will appear across the top or bottom of every page. Table of Contents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Underlined text Glossary term definition/directiveRead MoreImpooving Employee Performance72019 Words   |  289 PagesSegments Standards of Performance 3. The Appraisal and the Interview The Appraisal Process Preparing for the Appraisal Interview Conducting the Appraisal Interview vii xiii xv 1 5 25 49 v vi C ON TE NT S 4. The Performance Improvement Plan Preparing an Effective Plan 5. On-the-Job Coaching The Effective Coach Coaching Approaches and Techniques 6. Five Program Requirements An Effective Performance Review Program Posttest Test Answers and Reasons for Them 7. Leaders Who Coach CreateRead MoreUrban Areas Of Rural Areas9857 Words   |  40 Pagesfrom rural to urban areas and this has made it difficult to improve as well as sustain development in rural areas. The arrival of civilization brought about urbanization. Civilization is the height of man’s inventions as a means of raising his standard of living. Man believes in high-living and indeed obtains much pleasure in the company of other fellow men. People agglomerate in cities to be able to communicate person to person, person to firm person to government. Urban areas constitute the development

Human Addiction to a Nonrenewable Resource - Oil

Question: How has the evolution of the automobile as the major terrestrial type of transportation gone hand-in-hand with petroleum? Answer: Introduction Non-renewable resources are the resources that cannot be readily replaced by natural means. Few non-renewable resources are fossil fuels such as coal, oil or natural gas. These resources are also called depletable resources as they are depleting and leading to a worldwide power crisis (Epstein, 2014). The energy consumption has increased throughout human history with the increase in population. There is a great need and demand for non-renewable energy as it is used to run conveyances, provides light, run machineries and various other reasons. The usage of non-renewable resources leads to economic growth (Pao Fu, 2013). The human beings are highly dependent on the non-renewable sources of energy as it forms a part of their daily life. With the continuous demand of fossil fuels, it has always been in use. The non-renewable resources take centuries or millions of years to form naturally. With the increased usage, the researchers have estimated that these fossil fuels would cease to exi st over time (Nyambuu Semmler, 2014). Uses of oil and its family of products Crude oil is a non-renewable resource of energy that is used to make liquid petroleum products. Crude oil is the only fossil fuel that is available in liquid form and is used in preparing gasoline, heating oil, diesel fuel, jet fuel, residual fuel oil, asphalt, propane and various others. The above mentioned family of products are put to various uses, a few of which are discussed (Abdel-Aal Alsahlawi, 2013). Crude oil is used to prepare plastic that can be further used in production of cases, toys and countless number of everyday items. Petroleum is used to make clothing colourful and non-flammable. It is also used in the production of polyester, nylon, rayon and various others. Petroleum is used in carpet or linoleum flooring. It is also used in preparing various kitchen equipments such as door liners, non-stick pots and pans. Heating oil is used for heating homes in many cold countries across the world. Gasoline is used in conveyances like cars and vans. Asphalt is used in recreation of bicycle paths, playgrounds, running tracks and tennis courts. Diesel oil is used for running motor vehicles and power generators in factories (Speight, 2015). Evolution of the automobile and increased usage of petroleum Petroleum was high in demand even before the evolution of automobiles. The first automobile, Benz Patent-Motorwagen, was invented in the year 1886 (Parment, 2014). During the Industrial Revolution, the fuel was used to power the economy. In the mid 19th century, petroleum demand had risen to global prominence. America put the petroleum industry to a new level and used it to power automobiles, airplanes, ships and so on for generating electricity. Petroleum consumption also increased because the popularity of automobile grew with time and had a boom period after World War I (Ross, 2012). During the war, automobiles were in short supply and there was unsatisfied demand. The automobiles grew in demand as it narrowed the gaps between rural and urban life. Automobiles run by petroleum made commutation easy for farmers, officials and regular lives of people. Automobiles were used for personal as well as industrial uses that brought stronger competition and increased the demand for fuel han d-to-hand (Bridge Le Billon, 2013). Health and environmental impacts of terrestrial type of transportation Health impacts Exposure to automobile-related air pollution has a number of heath outcomes. Such pollution leads to increase in health and death risks. Leaded gasoline has various health impacts as the chemical is distributed to the bones, brain, liver, kidney, teeth and blood. There are serious health impacts such as impairment of brain function in children, increase in heart diseases, lower IQ and respiratory diseases. The developing nervous system is affected and leads to decline in intelligence quotient, aggression and attention deficit order (Grabow et al., 2011). Lead can also be harmful in pregnant women as it can cause still birth, miscarriage, low birth weight, premature birth and minor malformations. Longer exposure to lead can cause headache, lethargy, muscle weakness, convulsions, paralysis, cancer and anaemia. Major respiratory disorders are asthma, bronchitis leading to COPD and cardiovascular diseases. The male fertility also seems to be affected by automobile-related pollution. Carbon monoxide (CO) when inhale affects bloodstream, reduces the availability of oxygen and can be extremely harmful to public health (Akumu, 2012). Environmental impacts Increased use of automobiles has resulted in various environmental problems such as climate change, water quality, air quality, land take and biodiversity. Climate change- The transportation activities release million tons of gases into the atmosphere such as carbon monoxide, lead, methane, nitrous oxide and various others. These gases lead to ozone depletion. Air Quality- The toxic air pollutants emitting from automobiles reduce the quality of air. Acid precipitation, smog and other effects damage air quality causing forest decline and lack of natural visibility (Lera-Lpez, Faulin Snchez, 2012). Noise- The automobiles lead to noise pollution as there are continuous irregular and chaotic sounds. The hearing organs can be affected as the sounds are unpleasant. Water Quality- The automobiles also impact the hydrological activities by contaminating rivers, lakes, oceans and wetlands. Accidents like oil spills cause serious water pollution. Biodiversity- The natural vegetation is also affected by transportation. Many animal species are becoming extinct as a result of changes in their natural habitats and reduction of ranges (Dixon, 2013). Best policy and economy approach(s) for the eventual decline of fossil fuels According to Waldman (2015), Saudi Arabia plans to extend the age of oil. The aim of the petroleum minister is to diversify away the overreliance on oil revenues. The minister intends to decline demand for oil. Energy plays a central role in the global economy. The risks must be assessed and following insights for policy makers are listed as follows: Reduce energy demand Create low-cost alternatives (Nelson et al., 2014). The policymakers could focus on reducing coal consumption and minimize asset stranding. The operating hours of industries must be made flexible and consistent. The plants must be retired that do not imply air pollution control standards. The energy demand can be reduced by raising energy taxes or removing the subsidies applicable on fossil fuels. This would help in giving the consumers price signals higher than fair cost. This would eventually lead to decline in demand. Taxes are the primary mechanism for consumption reduction. The windfall would be greater than the cost to consumers (Golosov, Hassler, Krusell Tsyvinski, 2014). Pricing and innovation policy complement each other. Low-cost alternatives are identified that would reduce the use of fossil fuels. Government may seek to maximize the value of non-renewable resources (Kutting, 2011). The policies would not only influence the value at risk but also the ultimate financial cost. Biofuels has advantage over conventional fossil fuels as there is reduction in emission of greenhouse gas (GHG) (Atabani et al., 2012). One of key competitive advantages the fossil fuel industry has had is the huge capital, complexity risk and high level engineering skills required to develop them. Commodity pricing, incumbent corporate structures and investor practices have been designed around, and therefore favor, fossil fuel. It is suggested that the coal-fired generation in countries like India and China must be slowed (Lin Li, 2012). Renewable energy provides another potential option, but unlike most fossil fuels, renewable energy is typically financed at local financial market conditions that can significantly increase the cost of renewable energy (Ouyang Lin, 2014). The industries must convert sunlight, nuclear power, earths heat into energy that can be used by people. If prices of fossil fuels were raised, there would be no disincentive to invest in the renewable resource energy plants. Addressing the climate change issue is more likely to reduce the value of fossil fuel resources. Financial mechanisms can also reduce the impact of stranding. Changing the financing and business models can be developed for addressing budget consequences and phasing out fossil fuel production (Nelson et al., 2014). Finally, a Carbon Tracker Initiative can be taken for aligning capital markets with the climate change policy agenda. Lower carbon sources must be articulated, planned and accepted generally by the investors (Carbontracker.org, 2016). Conclusion There is a great need and demand for non-renewable energy as it is used to run conveyances, provides light, run machineries and various other reasons. . The non-renewable resources take centuries or millions of years to form naturally. With the increased usage, the researchers have estimated that these fossil fuels would cease to exist over time. Crude oil is used to prepare plastic that can be further used in production of cases, toys and countless number of everyday items. Gasoline is used in conveyances like cars and vans. Petroleum was high in demand even before the evolution of automobiles. The toxic air pollutants emitting from automobiles reduce the quality of air. Exposure to automobile-related air pollution has a number of health outcomes. Such pollution leads to increase in health and death risks. The risks must be assessed and it can be controlled by reducing energy demand and creating low-cost alternatives. References Abdel-Aal, H., Alsahlawi, M. (2013).Petroleum economics and engineering. Akumu, J. (2012).Harmful Effects of Leaded Gasoline. Algeria. Retrieved from https://www.unep.org/transport/PCFV/PDF/Algeria/Harmful%20Effects%20of%20Leaded%20Gasoline,%20Jane%20Akumu-%20UNEP.pdf Atabani, A., Silitonga, A., Badruddin, I., Mahlia, T., Masjuki, H., Mekhilef, S. (2012). A comprehensive review on biodiesel as an alternative energy resource and its characteristics.Renewable And Sustainable Energy Reviews,16(4), 2070-2093. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2012.01.003 Bridge, G., Le Billon, P. (2013).Oil. Cambridge, UK: Polity Press. Carbontracker.org,. (2016).What is Carbon Tracker?. Retrieved 22 February 2016, from https://www.carbontracker.org/ Dixon, J. (2013).Economic analysis of environmental impacts. London: Earthscan. Epstein, A. (2014). The moral case for fossil fuels. New York: Penguin Group. Golosov, M., Hassler, J., Krusell, P., Tsyvinski, A. (2014). Optimal Taxes on Fossil Fuel in General Equilibrium.Econometrica,82(1), 41-88. https://dx.doi.org/10.3982/ecta10217 Grabow, M., Spak, S., Holloway, T., Stone, B., Mednick, A., Patz, J. (2011). Air Quality and Exercise-Related Health Benefits from Reduced Car Travel in the Midwestern United States.Environ Health Perspect,120(1), 68-76. https://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1103440 Kutting, G. (2011).Globalization and the environment. Albany: State University of New York Press. Lera-Lpez, F., Faulin, J., Snchez, M. (2012). Determinants of the willingness-to-pay for reducing the environmental impacts of road transportation.Transportation Research Part D: Transport And Environment,17(3), 215-220. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.trd.2011.11.002 Lin, B., Li, A. (2012). Impacts of removing fossil fuel subsidies on China: How large and how to mitigate?.Energy,44(1), 741-749. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2012.05.018 Nelson, D., Zuckerman, J., Goggins, A., Vladeck, T., Herv-Mignucci, M., Szambelan, S. (2014).Moving to a Low-Carbon Economy: The Impact of Policy Pathways on Fossil Fuel Asset Values. Retrieved from https://climatepolicyinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Moving-to-a-Low-Carbon-Economy-The-Impacts-of-Policy-Pathways-on-Fossil-Fuel-Asset-Values.pdf Nyambuu, U., Semmler, W. (2014). Trends in the extraction of non-renewable resources: The case of fossil energy.Economic Modelling,37, 271-279. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.econmod.2013.11.020 Ouyang, X., Lin, B. (2014). Impacts of increasing renewable energy subsidies and phasing out fossil fuel subsidies in China.Renewable And Sustainable Energy Reviews,37, 933-942. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2014.05.013 Pao, H., Fu, H. (2013). Renewable energy, non-renewable energy and economic growth in Brazil.Renewable And Sustainable Energy Reviews,25, 381-392. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2013.05.004 Parment, A. (2014). Auto Brand: Building Successful Car Brands for the Future (p. 172). Britain: Kogan. Ross, M. (2012).The oil curse. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. Speight, J. (2015).Handbook of petroleum product analysis. New York: Wiley-Interscience. Waldman, P. (2015).Buying Time: The Saudi Plan to Extend the Age of Oil.Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 22 February 2016, from https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-04-12/saudi-arabia-s-plan-to-extend-the-age-of-oil

MacDonalds Market Analysis

Introduction McDonald’s is one of the largest food stores and it serves more than 58 million customers every day. The company was founded in 1940 by Richard and Maurice, McDonald brothers. The company expanded its operations by opening of new restaurants in different countries including Costa Rica, Canada, Japan, Panama, Germany, France, EI Salvador and Sweden. The first store was opened in 1974 in Woolwich, London.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on MacDonald’s Market Analysis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More By then, the company had established 31, 000 restaurants in 119 countries across the world. The company has provided employment to more than 1.5 million people. Previously, the company operated specifically on traditional foodstuff such as burgers, soda and fries; however, there has been an advancement to include healthier foodstuff such as wraps and hamburger in their menu (McDonald’s 20 10). The company has also ventured into a new environmental policy that states that â€Å"we believe that being the world’s best family restaurant involves protecting the environment at the local and global level. We strive to ensure that our operations today do not have a negative impact on the lives of future generations† (Brown 1999, p. 56). Other products that the company has introduced recently include eggs and free-range chickens, in addition to local sourcing of produce from different countries that the company has based its operations (McDonald’s 2010). Review and analysis of the strategic analysis Following many decades of operations, the company is invigorating its products and using several initiatives to push its innovation ahead. MacDonald’s Company, which operates more than 30000 restaurants, serves approximately 50 million customers each day. Its success has been attributable to its decades of expansion, profits and sales growth. For the fi rst time, the company recorded a losing quarter in 2002. Following demands to get back McDonald on track, fresh strategies had to be devised. By use of its own 5Ps, MacDonald’s is refining and developing fresh policies to offer a variety of products, build value, and come up with modernized and contemporary stores. This would result to delivery and balancing of value pricing with more valuable items and using innovative and bold promotions to market its products. Implementation of most of the company’s policies involves customer surveys and ranking of restaurants so as to achieve the company objectives.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More New menu products are some of the unique strategies that are likely to ensure customer satisfaction. Additionally, restaurant operation time can has been increased, in addition to acceptance of debit cards and credit cards as mod es of payment. The company also collects important data from the suppliers and franchisees, which can help in product development. Smarter and cleaner restaurants are benchmarked from other renowned retailers. There has been a remarkable reduction in the trouble experienced during the beginning of the millennium. The company has registered growth especially in terms revenue, and the core business will remain the focus. A 7 years ownership rights in Chipotle Mexican Grill is an example of the commitment to expand its operations or focus on its McDonald brand whose key aim is to attract more customers. Another key market strategy which is very critical is leveraging of the menu improvement. Enhanced local coverage and ensuring the best experience of the customers is a central focus in Europe. Africa and Middle East markets have concentrated their efforts on building sales by extending the working hours. The top management is betting on the core brand and hopes that fruits will be born e. McDonald’s mission statement McDonald’s vision is to become a world leader in quick service restaurant services. Being a leader in this case means providing excellent quality, service, value, and cleanliness such that every customer in every restaurant is satisfied. In addition, McDonald’s has a brand mission, which states that they want to be their customers preferred place and eating manner. The company’s worldwide activities are aligned along the global strategy referred to as Plan-to-Win, focusing on five distinctive customer experience which includes products, people, place and promotion. The company is particularly committed to enhancing its customer experience, which is evident in the chairman’s message to the shareholders, when he states that: As always, running better restaurants is our number one priority. We will improve operations excellence around the world through new technology, better training, and service enhancements that will make it easier for our managers and crew to quickly and accurately serve the customer (Brown 1999, p. 23). Positioning strategy Product positioning enables the customer to identify with the unique nature of the products. The customer uses particular attributes to define the product relative to the competitors’ products. For example, a particular brand can be positioned as healthy, all-purpose. The customers should be provided with a lot of information regarding the product so they can identify with its unique characteristics.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on MacDonald’s Market Analysis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Although the consumers can position the products in their minds without the help of the marketers, the marketers may not wish to leave the position of their products to chance. Instead, they find it important to plan the positions of their products in a manner that will yield the best possible outcome. MacDonald’s takes the position of an affordable place to eat without negating the quality of foodstuff, hygiene and service. The peaceful surroundings and calm back ground music signifies the comfort that the company stands for in slogans such as â€Å"you deserve a break today†¦.feed your inner child† (Brown 1999, p. 25). MacDonald’s has maintained a cordial relationship with its customers. It is this kind of pledge on quality food and service in a hygienic, clean and calming environment that enhances positive customer relationships (McDonald’s 2010). SWOT analysis Strengths McDonald’s has successfully been doing business since 1955, with a couple of its top corporate employees garnering vast experience in this field. The company is very popular among the media polls, and it is ranked very high The company is focused on community and social responsibility activities hence its popularity. Weaknesses The company’s m arket testing of pizza generated insignificant results, hence placing them at a disadvantaged position in the midst of the fast food pizza chains. Training of new employees consumes a lot of money for the company. Capitalization of organic food trends is yet to be achieved. Opportunities Hamburger which is believed to lead to good health is provided by the company hence a potential for attracting new customer who are health conscious. The surroundings of the eating place are industrial and Formica and it is probable to provide fashionable and classy environment such as the one in the New York City on Broadway. This attracts more customers who are fashionable and of high class. The company can offer discretionary allergen free foodstuffs. Threats There are yardstick for making grave from cradle kind of marketing. Children who are merely one year can be entertained in the restaurants for special meals, playgrounds, toys and movies tie-ins. Children enter into adult hood while feed ing on the company’s products. As such, the company is criticized by parent advocate groups for marketing its products on small children which is perceived as somewhat unethical. Any form of contamination of the foodstuff, particularly e-coli, can lead to a very bad publicity. The company is under threat from its competitors such as Taco Bell, Burger King, KFC, and Wendy’s together with other mid-range restaurants. How McDonald’s spend its time and money? The company spends its time and resource purchasing inputs, and providing outputs to its customers. This includes but not limited to the following activities: preparing foods stuff for the customers offering its services to its customers marketing its products and bloods name engaging in social corporate roles such as environment conservation paying salaries on its employees conducting research and development activities with the intention of innovating new products and improving the existing ones Have the a ctivities of the past year aligned with the company’s vision or mission? The activities of the past one year were determined to maintaining the progress and efforts of the company’s brand across the world. Although the environment of doing business was full of challenges, the chairman claimed that the company pushed its way ahead. There was particular focus on acquiring customer insights, strategy alignment, and buttressing of the pillars of business, from the company’s value and convenience and its value to its menu. All these activities were in tandem with the company’s mission and vision (Kotler, Jain Maesincee 2002). Formulate two (2) x short and two (2) x long term objectives for McDonalds to assist them to continue to do business in this ‘new environment’. Short-term objectivesAdvertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More McDonald’s aim’s at offering efficient and quick products which are suitable for customer’s health McDonald’s struggles to create awareness of nutritious menu products. For instance, McDonald’s aims at popularizing foodstuffs which contains fruit and vegetables, as well as daily options suitable for children. Their meals are prepared in a manner to avoid customer dissatisfaction. Long-term objectives The company will undertake innovations to come up with new technology, invest in better training and focus on improving service delivery, all with the aim serving customers satisfactorily and to improve the health status of the menu items. The company will center on the appropriate priorities to maintain relevance of its brand and meet the upcoming needs of the customers. Key Performance Indicators Short-term KPI: comparable guest count Long-term KPI: comparable sales The reasons why these objectives are legal and ethical These objectives are cente red on ensuring good health for the customers. Some entail improvement in the company’s operations so as to ensure that the menu items that are sold by MacDonald’s promote the health status of its customers, an act which is very ethical. Besides that, some objectives may be primarily for improving the brand of the company or products through advertisement. Ideally, such kind of advertisement does not fall under any category of advertisements which are evidently illegal, such as advertisement of harmful drugs. Furthermore, it can be argued that such an activity is ethical because it educates people on good feeding styles. For example, McDonald’s promotes their foods as nutritious, yet there is no clear evidence that it is unhealthy (Kotler, Jain Maesincee 2002). Resources and financial capability to achieve these objectives McDonald’s has successfully been doing business since 1955, with a couple of its top corporate employees garnering vast experience in this field and hence available to steer the company towards achievements of its objectives. The company’s cash flows are health as evident from the annual reports, and hence able to adequately finance its expenditure so as to achieve these objectives. In the past, the company has managed to achieve its objectives by application of ‘Plan to Win’ framework, which allows execution of activities that surrounds five components including people, place, products, and promotion. This plan has been coupled with its financial strength and discipline to enhance customer experience (McDonald’s 2010). Risk assessment To manage its risk which mainly results from health campaigns that target on its fast food, McDonald’s has introduced healthy hamburger which is widely acceptable in the current health-conscious society. The company can capitalize on this product to sell its self (through brand promotion) as one that promotes better and healthy eating habits. By do ing so, the company’s brand will become more popular among the target group. Basically, such a promotion is both legal and ethical because, as discussed earlier, it does not lead to the kind of promotions that can be categorized as either unethical or illegal. After all, the intention is to promote the health status of the society which is absolutely positive. Nonetheless, the health status of hamburger is not known to many people, or despite its healthy nature, it is not acceptable in some societies. In the event that the product is not acceptable in some societies, the company may want to undertake educative campaigns to promote it. References Brown, E 1999, Food Distributors, Forbes, New York. Kotler, P, Jain, D Maesincee, S 2002, Marketing moves: a new approach to profits, growth, and renewal, McGraw-Hill Education, New York. McDonald’s 2010, Annual reports (2010) Web. Web. This report on MacDonald’s Market Analysis was written and submitted by user Deac0nFr0st 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.