Mcdonald's case study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Mcdonald's - Case Study Example In 2003, McDonalds reinvented its mission/vision by implementing a â€Å"Plan to win† strategy that focuses on becoming â€Å"bigger, not just better†. Action plans in implementing this strategy are to increase sales in every geographic segment of the business; to offer relevant menu to its 60 million customers per day, and to gain the confidence of stockholders by the profitability of its operation. McDonald uses 5 key strategies in implementing this plan, i.e. product, price, people, place and promotion (McDonalds 2009 annual report). In increasing sales in every geographic segment of the business thru franchising. Focused on brand availability, menu variety, beverage choice, convenience and day part expansion. McDonalds introduced McCafe and premium Angus third pounder, focused on classic favorites like big Mac and Quarter Pounder, and emphasized affordability in the US market; and in mid-2010s introduced frappes and smoothies. In all areas of operations, reinvestment was done in the facilities and equipments, opened stores in convenient areas, extended store hours, build up its drive through systems and offered locally relevant selections. The strategy included advertising and promotions. In U.S, drive-through systems, and cafà ©-ambiance were developed; in Europe, the portable snacks were popularized; in Germany, breakfast time was introduced and designed the same strategies in other areas where McDonalds is present. McDonalds joined the bandwagon of globalization and has developed franchised business in 119 countries. In 2010, McDonalds has 32,737 franchise units all over the world, an increase of 28% from 21,078 units in 2009 (McDonald’s Annual Report). This means the company has to work with franchise owners with diverse cultures, religion and ethnicity. The tactics of McDonalds is to adopt its menu to the culture and taste of the region, to hire and train locals to work in the

Strategies for Cancer Treatment

Strategies for Cancer Treatment Cancer is one of the most severe health problems in the world. So the development of new anticancer drugs and new effective strategies to treat cancer is on the rise in drug discovery and clinical therapy. One of the major causes for morbidity and mortality is cancer, alone in 2008 there are approximately 12.7 million cases and 7.6 million deaths worldwide. A diagnosis of cancer goes as back as ca. 460 BC – ca. 370 BC, Hippocrates describes many different types of cancers and referred to them with the word carcinos, Greek word means crab. He gave this name because of the cut surfaces of a solid malignant tumour, showing stretched veins on all sides, similar in appearance of crab. A normal cell changes into a cancer cell due to cell mutation. Stimulatory and inhibitory systems in human body are responsible for controlling cell division. Cancer is monoclonal and for a normal cell to change its â€Å"phenotype† into a â€Å"neoplastic† cell, it has to undergo genetic mutation and these mutations will cause cancer. Carcinogenesis occurs in three stages: initiation, promotion and progression. Malignant transformation occurs at progression step and implies the ability to attack surrounding tissues to spread cancer. DNA damage is one of the main causes of cancer. It can arise from prolong exposure to exogenous agents. Cancer research has generated a rich and complex body of cognition, bring outing cancer to be a disease involving dynamic changes in the genome after a fourth part century of rapid advances. Two types of cancer genes has be outlined in the discovery of mutation, 1st that â€Å"oncogenes with dominant gain of function† and 2nd â€Å"tumor suppressor genes with recessive loss of function†. Both were identified through changes in human and animal cancer cells and by experimental models on the their cancer phenotypes. That tumorigenesis in human beings is a multistep process and that these staircase reflect genetic alterations that drive the progressive transformation of normal human cells into highly malignant derivatives. Cultured cells transform is a multistep process, it was observed that rodent cells show tumorigenic activity after being introduced to a minimum two genetic changes, whereas human cells are more complicate to transform. It has been established by transge nic models of tumorigenesis that tumorigenesis in mice process over multiple rate-limiting steps. In cancer cell genotype, malignant growth consist of six crucial modifications in cell physiology (Figure); self-sufficiency in growth signals, evasion of programmed cell death (apoptosis), insensitivity to growth-inhibitory (antigrowth) signals, limitless replicative potential, sustained angiogenesis and tissue invasion and metastasis. Tumor development goes through physiological changes to ensure the anticancer defence mechanism is successfully breached into cells and tissues. These six physiological changes are said to be shared in almost all types of human tumors. Microtubules are new and improved cytotoxic anticancer inhibitors, used in the treatment of different types of cancer. They can attack a cancer cell as a single agent or as combined regiments. â€Å"Microtubule-interacting agents† are of two types, one acts by inhibiting the transformation of tubulin heterodimer into microtubule polymers (â€Å"tubulin polymerisation inhibitors†) and other acts as stabilizing agent, it stabilizes the microtubule under normal destabilize conditions (â€Å"microtubule stabilizers†). Vincristine and Vinblastine agents are used for tubulin polymerization inhibitor. They were approved by FDA in 1963 and 1965. The 1st agent to use as microtubule-stabilizing agent was paclitaxel (or taxol) and was approved by FDA in 1992 and then semi-synthetic analog docetaxel in 1996. The use of microtubule-stabilizing agents as anticancer drugs has made a significant advance in cancer treatment. Taxol is a complex diterpene. Wall, Wani and co-workers were the first to isolate it from the bar of the pacific yew tree Taxus brevifolia Nutt in 1971. The compound showed excellent in vivo antitumor activity in nude mice experiment modelled as human tumour, which initiated the preclinical formulation and studies on Taxol toxicity in 1977 by NCI (National Cancer Institute). Susan Horwitz and co-workers were the 1st to identify the microtubule-stabilising properties of Taxol. They also identified the mechanism of action of taxol which stabilises the cellular microtubules is distinct from other compounds. Since 1995 many more natural products which share same properties as taxol i.e. depolymerisation of microtubules has been discovered. Cellular targets of microtubules-stabilizing agents consist of hollow filaments of ca.240 Ã… diameter, they are made of 55 kD proteins ÃŽ ±- and ÃŽ ²-tubulin as an important subunit. Cytoskeleton consists of actin polymers and intermediate filaments, however microtubules are one of the essential components and responsible for various cellular functions, such as maintenance of cell shape, its development and motility, intracellular transport of vesicles. Cellular microtubules are made of 13 protofliaments â€Å"(i.e. linear polymer with head-to-tail arrangement of ÃŽ ±- and ÃŽ ²-tubulin subunits)† There are possibilities structures with different protofilaments number, however only the structure with 13 protofilaments can align ÃŽ ±- and ÃŽ ²-tubulin parallel along with the axis of microtubules cylinder and this can cellular transport by motor proteins over a long distance. Microtubules has the ability to shorten and lengthen its length by adding or losing ÃŽ ±/ÃŽ ² tubulin from microtubule ends, and this known as â€Å"dynamic instability†. The dynamic properties of the microtubules are responsible for proper assembly of the mitotic spindle and the sister chromatids movement to the spindle poles. The spindle microtubules are 4-100 folds more dynamic as compare to the one’s forming interphase cytoskeleton. As mentioned above microtubule-interacting agents are of two types, one inhibits the microtubule polymerisation or destabilise the microtubules which already exists â€Å"(such as Vinca alkaloids or colchicines)† and other stabilise microtubules under destabilising conditions. Both types of agents would lead intense cell cycle arrest in mitosis at cellular level and would bring death that cell through apoptpsis. According to the research done by Horwitz and co-workers it is established that if a human cancer cell is treated with low concentration of microtubule-stabilising drugs, this will lead to abnormal mitosis formation, followed by the cell cycle arrest in G1 and eventually apoptosis will take place in arrested G1 state. However if high concentration of drug is used against human cancer cell, it will cause a prolong mitotic block and cells will exit without multiplying, as a result formation of tetraploid G1 cells will take place, which then leads to cell apoptosis. This can be established from the these results that it is a fundamental requirement for the cells to go through mitosis to achieve apoptosis by microtubule-stabilizing agents. For anticancer drugs, the cellular response to MSA’s can be modify due to changes occur in the cells and can lead to drug resistance or cell may be inherently acquired resistance against the effects of growth inhibitors due to the resistance protein. Drug efflux by ABC transporters such as the phosphoglycp-protein (P-gp), is one of the most often drug resistance observed in the cancer cells. Introduction of taxol was given above, now we will look at in more detail. Taxol showed excellent in vivo antitumor activity in nude mice experiment modelled as human tumour, which initiated the preclinical formulation and studies on Taxol toxicity in 1977 by NCI (National Cancer Institute). Susan Horwitz and co-workers were the 1st to identify the microtubule-stabilising properties of Taxol. They also identified the mechanism of action of taxol which stabilises the cellular microtubules is distinct from other compounds. Anticancer drugs from taxol are used widely to treat different types of cancer such as ovarian, breast and non-small cell lungs cancer. It can be used on its own, monotherapy or combined with cis-platin. Taxol has very low stability and formulation difficulties, however one of the major issue in it development is its low availability from natural sources.

Violence in the Media is Not to Blame for the Effect on Children Essay

The Effect of Violence in the Media on Children Television, movies, and video games are a big part of children’s lives in today’s technologically advanced society. However, there is a big controversy questioning the effects of these media outlets on children. Much of society claims to have proof for the belief that media violence affects children negatively. However, I am skeptical of the evidence that is stated to prove that claim. I feel that society has placed the blame on these mediums for the violent acts, however serious or trivial, that children commit way too easily, before they even begin to examine the parenting of today’s society. Television, movies, and video games are not the primary causes for acts of violence and other crimes committed by kids. They are only singled out due to the violent images and plots that they depict which leads one to believe that since children view these violent scenes they will imitate unconditionally for lack of better judgment. When a kid commits a violent act, the crime is often blamed on the television program that the child watched, the movies the child saw, or the video game the child just played. But if one were to actually go about censoring television shows, cartoons should be censored first. People will start trying to stop kids from viewing violent images such as shows like the Power Rangers or The Ninja Turtles. I do not think that shows like this should be censored so a kid can’t watch them. I think that by censoring the images it will just make kids want to see them more. Kids are attracted to violence and if they can’t see it on television or in movies, they will easily see it outside when they play at the playground or something. Violent television, movies and especially video games offer a way for kids to see what violence is without actually committing any crimes or hurting anyone. Before humans could see or engage in virtual violence, we watched or committed real violent acts. Take, for example, the ancient acts of the Romans. They would watch gladiators fight and kill each other before they could find their violent entertainment in television. Most people won’t admit that they like violence in television, movies, and video games, but I think that they offer a way to see the violence without actually hurting anyone. If we censor or ban it, we will be forced to find our violence elsew... ... is engulfed with opinion and restrictions on studies that are looking for a single answer, in most cases one that points the finger at violent media. But, if we can properly make parents and people aware with good information, we can start paying attention to the real problems, rather than television, movies, or video games. Our society would become much better overall as well. People are quick to blame violence in our society on television, movies, or video games because they are simple and easy targets. I think we have to stop looking at television for the cause of kids and violence and attack the real causes for the violence in our society. Violence in television, or movie, or video game will not make a kid kill someone else. A lot of kids watch violent images all the time, and only a very small percentage of them actually commit violent crimes. In conclusion, violence on television, movies, and video games is not the real problem. The problem is that we wrongfully blame these media sources for violent crimes and if we can get rid of this theory on this issue, then and only then do I believe that we can start solving the real p roblems of kids and violence in our society.

Unmistakably Racist

Miami is a state of America and so thus Michigan. These two states are both progressive like any other states in America. But when one tackles about the racism that is happening in those two states, there are some things that are surprisingly odd.After reading the article written by William Booth entitled â€Å"A White Migration North from Miami,† I easily got the gist of the article which says â€Å"There is a racism that is happening in Miami.† And from that very point of the fact that racism is present there, Michigan is no doubt a good comparison with that of Miami.On my own understanding of racism, I define it as a discrimination of a superior race over the inferior ones. In the article of Booth, he cited many instances wherein the Americans feel that they are being discriminated because of the fact that their population is clearly a minority in the state.It seems that wherever they go, even in malls, food chains or government institutions, the people are Spanish s peakers. They really feel that the place is not theirs anymore because of the massive invasion of the Spanish speaking people. To make the racism clear enough, I want to conclude from what Booth says in the article, that whoever holds the most population, they are the ones who are more likely rule the place just like what happened in Miami.It is true that there is a reverse racism in Miami. Americans usually think that they are the superior race. But in the case of Miami, Spanish speaking people become the superior class because of their increasing numbers. In Michigan, Americans still reign the seat of superior class.Tracing back the history, the White Americans were discriminating the Black Americans. One good example of it was the way the students were treated. According to Zbrozek of The Daily Michigan, blacks, unlike the whites, were not allowed to attend dance classes and to use swimming pools.He also said that blacks were also not enjoying the rights of white students to join political activities in school. The discrimination of whites towards the blacks is very evident.Nowadays, there was still some racism that is happening in Michigan but not that bad like before just like what   Monique Luse said because as what Isaac Curtis in the article written by Jeff Barr that a good man is no doubt a good man no matter what his color and race. And Black Americans have already proven their worth in the society.I think my point is now clear enough. Booth is right. The majority wins over the minority and in this case, it is not an exemption. Are you the one who is discriminating someone or the one who is being discriminated? If you are the racist one, have you ever wondered if discriminating people are good habit to do?What if you go to a place where you and your class are being discriminated because of the apparent fact that you are a minority group of people in that particular place? Do you think you will feel good? Come to think of it as early as now. You wil l never know what will be the twist of fate do unto you.Works CitedBooth, William. A White Migration North from Miami. The World is a Text.Sliverman , Jonathan. Rader, Dean. 9 November 1998. Washington Post Staff Writer.  Ã‚   28   June 2008.< http://www.fiu.edu/~fcf-whiteflight.html>Zbrozek, Chris. Confronting the racism in Michigan’s history. The Michigan Daily.11 April  Ã‚  Ã‚   2007.Barr, Jeff.   Society taught lessons of racism. Michigan News. 14 February 2008. Luse, Monique. Telephone Interview. 2 January 2002.   

Functional Skills †Literacy Letter Writing Essay

I belong to a group called ‘Community Concern’. We as a group provide volunteers for community projects. I have recently seen the advert in the local paper about the old bus station being redeveloped and our group have all decided that we would like to volunteer to clean up the area before the work starts We have a lot of our own equipment, and we do supply things for this such as; Gardening equipment; †¢ Shovels †¢ Lawn movers †¢ Chainsaws †¢ Rakes †¢ Garden Forks †¢ Hedge trimmers and †¢ Leaf blowers General equipment; †¢ Buckets †¢ Yard brushes †¢ Paint †¢ Litter Pickers †¢ Gloves However, although we do provide this equipment there is on vital thing that we may need from the local council and that is a skip to put all the waste materials into once we’re done with it. I feel that this would be something we could discuss at a later time. Our group Community Concern are committed to improving the appearance of the local area and we feel that this project will strengthen the community and maybe even bring new people into the local area. Our Volunteers take pride in the work that they complete and are an asset to the group. They have completed a number of renovation projects over the years, the most recent being the re-decoration of the leisure centre a few weeks ago. I would like to thank you from all of us at Community Concern for taking the time to read this letter. And will leave you with our contact number in the hope that it would be possible to set up a meeting to discuss all the issues I have brought up today and hopefully to finalise some details and start planning the work!