Mcdonald’s Practices/Operations in Turbulent Environment

McDonald’s strategic plan is called ‘plan to win’ which helps McDonald’s to be the best fast food restaurant chain rather than the biggest fast food restaurant chain. (kspain, 2008) In turbulent environment, McDonald’s tries to achieve high performance by applying the 5 P’s: people, product, price, promotion, and place or distribution. Product involves both intangible and tangible offerings of the business which customer can see, feel, taste or smell. (Kukreja, 2011) Next, price consists of all the costs of production and delivery of the product or service. Then, promotion comprises all the types and manner of communication that companies use to make products or services known to the customer. Finally, place or distribution is the channel that connects the products or services to the consumers. McDonald’s focuses primarily on its people or focusing on maintaining and improving employee satisfaction in order to maintain good relationship between the employees and the customers. In order to improve employee satisfaction, McDonald’s uses flexible schedules for the employees to fit their working schedule into the way they live their life. McDonald’s also uses celebrating diversity in their hiring way to combining their ideal work force with different people from different backgrounds with different interests. (Mcdonalds, 2011) Besides that, McDonald’s also simplifies the restaurant environment for their staff and customers in a faster speed. To enhance the relationship between employees and the customers, McDonald’s ensures their staffs are friendly and as well as fast with hospitality training. Finally, McDonald’s also provides cost-efficient, relevant training for their world-wide workforce and provide career opportunities for people to achieve their potential. In the product strategy, McDonald’s offered a wider variety of food. McDonald’s strategic planning focuses on breakfasts, chicken, beverages and convenience. The Southern Style Chicken Biscuits are launched for breakfast in McDonald’s. However, the Southern Style Chicken Sandwiches are launched for lunch and dinner. McDonald’s introduced new hot specialty coffee offerings on a market-by-market basis in their beverages business. Besides that, McDonald’s also offered burgers-and-fries instead of just offering snack foods and desserts. Despite of negative image of McDonald’s for the unhealthy food, McDonald’s offers oatmeal and salads to replace high calorie breakfast sandwiches for somewhat healthier options. Lastly, the Happy Meal is one of the good product strategies which aim kids providing kid’s favorites such as small French fries and chicken nuggets along with a small toy. ECUATORIALL, 2012)These planning enables McDonald’s to satisfy customers’ desire for food that fit into today’s lifestyle. For the price strategy, McDonald’s had introduced value meal for their customers. The value meal allows customers to buy a sandwich, French fries, and beverages at a discount price when purchased together. McDonald’s restaurant offer seven to twelve value meals for the lunch and breakfast menu. McDonald’s also offers a dollar menu which consisting many individual items costing only $1. 00 each. investopedia, 2009) Other than that, some of the individual franchise owners offer daily specials of special menu items with lower price such as Big Mac Mondays. These helps McDonald’s to offer affordable prices to customers and also to be profitable for the company. McDonald's spent huge amount of money on promotion which is presented in marketing, leadership and trust. McDonald’s focuses primarily on targeting the children. With this, McDonald’s offers happy meals which targeted children by giving along the small toys with the meals. ECUATORIALL, 2012) McDonald’s also offers various schemes for winning prices by giving lucky draws and also scratch cards when an order is placed on various mean combos. On the other hand, McDonald’s also does its promotion by advertising to make people aware of an item, feel positive about it and remember it. They do their promotion through television, hoardings and bus shelters. Some of the most famous marketing campaigns of McDonald’s are â€Å"You Deserve a break today, so get up and get away- To McDonald’s†, â€Å"Aap ke zamane mein ,baap ke zamane ke daam†, â€Å"Food, Folks, and Fun† and â€Å"I’m loving it†. (scribd)

Family Business Transitions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Family Business Transitions - Essay Example This activity generates a significant proportion of the economy in many countries, whereby the enterprises are approaching the point where business owners' are making serious decisions regarding their long term future, this decision impacts, individual businesses, business sector and the whole society. This move results into a widespread interest in various business succession planning. Though this business operates within personal relationships which affect and influence the business concern. When these relationships are central to the operations of the business, then there must be a focus upon the relationship in a successful negotiation of a business transition process. It is not normally easy to have a successful family business transition, since there are many problems associated in this generation to generation transition. This family business includes relationship involving individuals and those involving the business itself. The individual relationship has an impact on transition whereby, the quality of the relationship is vital, whether they are involved directly or indirectly. Most problems occur in this individual relationships where we find the small generation has no desire to take over the family business, this may not be... ion transition process, this includes: Poor communication this can lead to negative emotions evolving during the transition process , there is also a psychological factor under which the perception of the key family stake holders especially those of the highest generation and the lower generation has a crucial influence considering their roles, intentions and attitudes of others within the transition process. Therefore when the low generation is not psychologically prepared to take control over the transition then this makes this process unsuccessful and also when the transition process is not successful then the successor is not psychologically ready to prosper. This makes the incumbents and the successor's mental status very important in judging when the transition should be taken and what requirements are needed for the process to be successful. 2 Also family values influence the business heavily, whereby there happens to be a higher risk for poor long term business performance, this normally occurs when the subject of the business relies on the family needs. Under this case of psychology we find tat during the transition process, the psychological process results into conflicts between individuals, that is between the incumbent and the successor, there is therefore a contradiction arising at the succession, whereby, the successor desires to imitate the incumbent in order to supersede him while seeking independence, this causes an internal conflict for the successor on how to behave, in such a situation , both the incumbent and the successor desire to be a leader thus reinforcing a leader role causing a spiral of conflicts, confusion and confrontation. 3 Many family business issues derive from the different experiences of each family member presenting the

Marks & Spencers Dividend Policy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Marks & Spencers Dividend Policy - Essay Example This paper evaluates the different ways a firm pay out cash to its shareholders such as dividend payout, stock repurchase and new stock dividends as practiced by Marks & Spencer. The first step toward understanding dividend policy is to recognize that the phrase means different things to different people. A firm's decisions about dividends are often mixed up with other financing and investment decisions. Some firms pay low dividends because management is optimistic about the firm's future and wishes to retain earnings for expansion. In this case the dividend is a by-product of the firm's capital budgeting decision. Another firm might finance capital expenditures largely by borrowing. This releases cash for dividends. In this case the firm's dividend is a by-product of the borrowing decision. There is one possible source of the firm's investment outlays and borrowing which is an issue of stock. Thus dividend policy is defined as the trade-off between retaining earnings on the one hand and paying out cash and issuing new shares on the other. (Brealey & Myers, 2003) There are many firms that pay dividends and also issue stock from time to time. They could avoid the stock issues by paying lower dividends. Many other firms restrict dividends so that they do not have to issue shares. They could issue stock occasionally and increase the dividend. Both groups of firms are facing the dividend policy trade-off. In short, companies can hand back cash to their shareholders either by paying a dividend or by buying back their stock. (Carlson, 2001) Most companies pay a regular cash dividend each quarter, but occasionally this regular dividend is supplemented by a one-off extra or special dividend. Dividends are not always in the form of cash. Frequently companies also declare stock dividends. Both stock dividends and splits increase the number of shares, but the company's assets, profits, and total value are unaffected. The distinction between the two is technical. A stock dividend is shown in the accounts as a transfer from retained earnings to equity capital, whereas a split is shown as a reduction in the par value of each share. (DeAngelo, DeAngelo, & Skinner, Special Dividends and the Evolution of Dividend Signaling, 2000) Many companies have automatic dividend reinvestment plans (DRIPs). Often the new shares are issued at a 5 percent discount from the market price; the firm offers this sweetener because it saves the underwriting costs of a regular share issue. Sometimes 10 percent or more of total dividends will be reinvested under such plans. Sometimes companies not only allow shareholders to reinvest dividends but also allow them to buy additional shares at a discount. In some cases substantial amounts of money have been invested. (Scholes & Wolfson, 1989) There is an important difference in the taxation of dividends and stock repurchases. Dividends are taxed as ordinary income, but stockholders who sell shares back to the firm pay tax only on capital gains realized in the sale. However, the Internal Revenue Service is on the lookout for companies that disguise dividends as repurchases, and it may decide that regular or proportional repurchases should be taxed as dividend payments. (Jagannathan, Stephens, & Weisbach, 2000) Stock Repurchase There are three main ways to repurchase stock.

Sustainable Solutions Paper, Part II Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Sustainable Solutions Paper, Part II - Essay Example The first aspect of business that the company needs to develop is its production unit in order to dominate the existing market. The company will need to increase its production by 15% in every consecutive month. Increased production will require the company to increase its influence of coverage of the market. This will require the company to intensify its activities in sales promotion and advertising. Albani expect to increase its markets by 10% at the end of July. In addition, the company expects its products to be available throughout the year including the peak period. Landscape analysis involves a detailed study of a potential opportunity with the aims of establishing its viability (Boar, 2001). Businesses are also interested in analysing the similarity between their business models and actual business situation. Landscape analysis theories relate the risks involved with making a drastic change in a business and the related benefits. Despite the risks, businesses are optimistic that changes within their structure will have beneficial results. The perfume industry is a dynamic industry that is expanding constantly. However, the company is not reciprocating the dynamism of the market. The risk factor resulting from intensive changes within a company’s operation is the main factor hindering its growth. The conservative nature of the market is the main factor that is discouraging the company from adopting appropriate changes in its structure. The perfume industry will experience constant growth in the next twenty years. However, the growth will not be visible in all sectors of the industry. For instance, the market will not grow proportionately as the production. This is because buyers in the market are not flexible about new products. However, usage of perfume and beauty products is likely to increase considerably due to the increasing market demands and lifestyle changes. Secondly, the target market

Marcus allius Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Marcus allius - Essay Example Most of the expressions that Aurelius portrays in his advice to himself employ a much-defined strategy of approaching life. Accordingly, this section of the essay elaborates the manner in which he wants to live his life. Remember, the actual circumstance dictates that he loves his life as a scholar. Accordingly, the philosophy or attitude of his life considers the fate of so many things as personal. That is; it the duty of anyone, including himself, to determine what kind of life he would like to live. He believes that there are four core things besides any other form of jurisdiction. That is; there is oneself, the flesh, spirit and the reasonability level (Aurelius 6). Therefore, Aurelius does not believe in being a slave of his life. Aurelius has the guts and attitude to face issues especially as they arise. That is; issues that affect life deserve immediate attention. According to most of his arguments, he possesses numerous proposals of using formidable force to extinct what he discerns as evil and inappropriate to live. The perception of facing life on prompt dimensions and argumentative life could facilitate further action by Aurelius. For instance, his ideology of life is based on what he aims at doing in the present. For instance, he considers everything that gets done or says as paramount. The value of life to a supernatural perception is not part of his dual reasoning behind life. This ideology is one of the facilitating ideologies that boosts his attitude towards sin (Aurelius 7). Sin is an action. It could get committed on a willing or an unwilling basis. For instance, some of the sins that we commit are actually out of the urge while others are out of anger. Anger is justified to lead towards sin, such as killing. This differs from the perception of killing or even extracting sin from the society with regards to desire. There is no concept in forgiving if sin got desired (Aurelius 10). The entire philosophical interpretation of

Renters Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Renters - Essay Example If it there is no comparison, one should lower the tax rate. To report rental income, one can use the form 1040 that comprises of all the schedules from A to F, J, L, M, & SE, and the other form 1040 with few information and no schedules. If your buildings, apartments, or rooms provide only trash collection, heat, and light among others, one should only report the rental income and expenses on part 1 in schedule E form 1040. If the apartment provides extra services that are essential to tenants’ convenience, like maid service, regular cleaning, and changing linen should report the rental expenses and income in Schedule C form 1040. It indicates considerable services of the apartment or business as the real estate dealer One can include rental income from the real state property owned by the taxpayer with the income they are reporting for their convenience store by including it on the schedule C used to report sales activities. This may be helpful as in most cases one may be subject to risk on activities carried out as business or trade. Typically, schedule C highlights the loss and profit from the business. It underlines basic services imposed for tenant’s convenience, and the total rental expenses and income (Anderson, 2011). The rental income is an income that is subject to self employment taxes. It is worth noting that, rental income is indicated on schedule E with Supplemental loss and income of tax return. Such incomes are derived from corporations, rental income, royalties, and trusts just to name a few. Nevertheless, even though such are categorized as income, it is not earned until one rent a personal property rather from real estate. Rental income takes place when one invests money in estates, which is return on investment in the form of rent. Therefore, the rental income can only be subject to self-employment taxes if there is investment obtained. However, if the apartment does not give

Adamsrill Primary School Single Equality policy Essay

Adamsrill Primary School Single Equality policy - Essay Example Unlike the Equality Act, the single equality policy requires schools to go beyond aspects of race, disability and gender to include sexual orientation, age, and belief or religion, when propagating equality. I believe the single equality policy at Adamsrill primary School is committed to serving the school community’s educational needs especially through protecting equal opportunities, cultivating good relations and eradicating unwarranted discrimination (Adamsrill single equality policy n.d, p.1). As a diverse school, I understand Adamsrill needs to cultivate a culture of value in diversity where discrimination is eliminated, equality propagated and good relations fostered. The culture of value in diversity offers a wonderful experience to students, staff and visitors each day. Through a strong leadership team, I believe monitoring and reviewing the inequality practices regularly will enable Adamsrill to accommodate changes to its profile (Adamsrill single equality policy n.d , p.1). By enrolling students from numerous backgrounds, the enrollment of any new student could result to significant changes in school profile. In my view, Adamsrill Primary School’s efforts to ensure that equal opportunities are available to the entire school community are evident in the school’s mission to provide services without considerations for race, faith, religion, disability, socio-economic background or gender (Adamsrill single equality policy n.d, p.1). I believe that this is a good way to promote an inclusion and diversity culture that every stakeholder takes pride in and motivation to fully participate effectively in all school activities. Adamsrill’s Primary also offers inclusive teaching and uses different attributes of students to assess their performance while the data is used to raise the teaching standards (Adamsrill single equality policy n.d, p.2). Some aspects considered in inclusive teaching are race, gender, age, disability and special educational needs and free school meals. Adamsrill School’s discipline among students is also inclusive as discrimination of any kind is harshly challenged while respect for all is propagated. Students are also made to understand that diversity is strength to be celebrated by all. Each stakeholder at Adamsrill Primary School is required to understand their roles and responsibility in promoting equality (Adamsrill single equality policy n.d, p.2). The governing body identifies equality barriers and sets objectives to address them and also monitors efficiency in the attainment of equality objectives and then publishes review results. Students are the major source of information during equality monitoring progress and the collected information includes exclusions, harassment or bullying complaints and others (Adamsrill single equality policy n.d, p.2). The headteacher is responsible for endorsing the Equality message to the staff, pupils and parents. Background for the text in which the Single Equality Policy is embedded in wider social and policy discourses Educational policy in the UK after the Second World War is divided into welfarism and post-welfarism (Morgan and Williamson 2008, p.16). Welfarism began from 1944 to the late 1980s when the Education Act 1944 was designed with the aim of providing education to all especially those who could not access it previously like the minority groups. Like Bowe, Ball & Gold (1992, p.6), I realize that there was too much control over what was to be taught and how teaching would take place and there was over-commitment to the provision of equal opportuniti