Category: ESSAYS

Essay on Corona Virus

Corona Virus

What is corona virus, what causes it, how can I protect myself and more importantly, what should I know about corona virus? These are familiar questions that are running through everyone minds all over the globe right from the most powerful man to the little boy in the village. However, there is only so much we can learn about corona virus given that it is a new phenomenon to us. So how safe are we and how long is this virus going to be around, is there a vaccine? However, despite the fact that I cannot give you all these answers I can walk you through all what is known about the corona virus. Hey! It doesn’t hurt to be informed.

What is Corona Virus?

corona virus essay sampleCOVID-19 is a virus that scientist know very little about in the human body since all that is known of this virus has only been encountered in animals. Corona virus was first encountered in human being in December 2019 in Wuhan China. The main challenge that it posed was the fact that the government did not know about this fast enough until bodies were found lying on the streets and this made it earn its epidemic label. Human beings have been known to have quite a strong immune system, though it has been severely tested over the eye and has mutated to become stronger but this is new even to the body and this makes it more strenuous and the body gives in quite fast. At first, the virus was known as ‘corona virus’ but eventually, thanks to the international scientific naming standard it was named ‘covid-19’. As a matter of fact, this is an abbreviation for ‘corona virus disease’ having COVID-19 stand for ‘CO’ ‘corona,’ ‘VI’ for ‘virus,’ and ‘D’ for disease and 19 for the year in which it was found.

In other words, corona virus is what we would call a textbook/ novel illness as it has only been experienced/ explored theoretically and even then not to the extent to which it has manifested itself. Scientists on a global scale as in a race to not only find a cure but also a vaccine for this new epidemic that is causing ripples of panic around the globe as it makes surprise appearances in different parts of the world and claiming more lives. However, thanks to the enhanced communication systems in place today and the internet, people are now more informed on what preventive measure sot take and also getting to learn more about covid-19. However, on the downside, the internet is also causing havoc, as well as people, sharing rumors surrounding the virus, this has in one way or the other affected certain people and action has been taken on certain individuals.

A report by the CDC showed that as a matter of fact, Corona virus is not the first of its kind, however, covid-19 is unique. There are other forms of corona virus that have been found such as corona virus 229E, and patients are handled and treated quite differently when it comes to the both of them. This is due to its different symptoms and reactions and effect on the human body. So what are the symptoms associated with this disease?

Symptoms of Corona Virus

At first, bodies were found lying all over the streets randomly and not much was known about this, at least to the common citizens of Wuhan, but with time, as scientist continue digging up more into this, we have come to learn more about its symptoms.

Respiratory illness

According to all the victims of the corona virus, the common similarity between them all is that they were all faced with respiratory infections which cuts right through form the nose to the lung and general breathing.

Coughing

There is not much to explain around coughing, but this has been known as one of the major mediums of transmission of the virus.

Shortness of breath

coronavirus symptomsThis is in relation to the above symptoms that affect the respiratory system and this tends to deprive the body of the ability to breathe normally and in severe cases is regarded as fatal.

However, these are not the final findings as this is all new to us as well, but it is based on the observation that has been made on the patients that have been admitted after testing positive for the virus. After infection, the symptoms may appear between 2-14 days and given that it has no cure yet, depending on the severity it ranges from mild symptoms, severe illness and even death.

Have you heard of zoonotic diseases? Well, let me shed some light on that in relation to covid-19. Zoonotic diseases according to Wikipedia are ‘ (plural zoonoses, or zoonotic diseases)

an infectious disease caused by bacteria, viruses, or parasites that spread from non-human animals (usually vertebrates) to humans. This means that it can be transmitted from animals to human beings. This could explain how it was first found in a market in china that traded in ‘uncommon’ animal meat such as that of bats. I dare think that that were it not for such poor lifestyle choices than maybe, just maybe this could have been avoided, which leads me to the next segment,

How To Prevent Spread of the Virus?

Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

Given that this is a respiratory disease, this means that air is one of the mediums that could be used in its transmission, which is why the government and all other related departments are highly discouraging large gatherings of people and even quarantining regions that have been exposed to the infection to prevent its spread. Make sure that you are not within a minimum radius of 6 feet from an infected person and do not stay for long around them and also avoid having physical contact with them as well.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth

As shallow as this may, it could be a real lifesaver. Our hands come into contact with different surfaces over time and by this, I mean a whole range of surfaces from areas that have been exposed to the viruses and even to the basic of petting our animals. During this period, make as much effort to minimize contact of your hands with your eyes, nose and mouth.

Stay home when sick.

The only way to avoid spreading such an epidemic is being human enough to spare others from getting the virus by not working around circumstances that could facilitate its spread.

When coughing or sneezing use a tissue and dispose of it properly after use.

This helps avoid spraying the air with the virus that could be quite hazardous to those around you.

Wear a facemask

Desperate times call for desperate measures and this for sure is one of those desperate times. A facemask could be the reason as to why you will survive this epidemic. A face mask prevents you from breathing in contaminated air and at the same time prevents you (if infected) from further spreading it

Maintain proper hygiene

It is now time that the human race went back to the basics of proper hygiene to ensure their survival. Proper hygiene costs you nothing and the simple practices of washing your hands before and after going to the bathroom, before you eat and after sneezing and coughing and disinfecting your house have proven to be once again very crucial. This is not only for the case of corona virus but also for many more illnesses, you might escape the claws of corona but fall prey of another illness.

Cook meat and eggs properly.

As we have already established, corona virus has traced its origin form non –human animals, and given that most people take meat and eggs then the disease is prone to either spread or reproduce in animal meat and produce. As in the case in the meat market in China, it spread from the meet. The CDC is highly recommending that both business in the hospitality industry and people in the homes, ensure that they cook meat and eggs properly before consuming them. Prevention is always better than cure.

Are you infected with the virus? What do you do if you have been close to someone who has been infected?

  1. If you suspect that you have been exposed to the virus make sure that you seek for medical attention, HOWEVER, make sure that you alert your medical officer prior to your visit so that they can get ready and also avoid its spread in the hospital.
  2. Keep track of your symptoms

The only way to know that you are experiencing is right from the symptoms and in this case, you are to look out for respiratory symptoms. However, they could just be any other disease, but make sure that you don’t take it for granted and monitor the symptoms and seek medical help.

Avoid crowded spaces

The subway shared cabs and even buses should be used as your last option both for your safety and for those around you. Ensure that you stay home when you do not have anything of importance to do out there. This limits your possibility of coming into contact with the virus.

Transport in relation to covid-19

The world has turned into a global village and the thought of waking up in one continent and sleeping in the other is not an impossibility anymore, however, this is definitely not the time for that. Governments all around the world have imposed travel bans to china and even more restrictions on what comes to and from China. Leave alone the financial perspective of this and look at the emotional impact for those quarantined (trapped) there and this will tell you that this is only a real case scenario of desperate time calling for desperate measure. Wuhan China is as per now no one’s favorite destination place and they will also take some time to recover from that but this is all for the good of the human race.

Not only are people discouraged from travelling to china but also from using crowded travel facilities such as subways, trains and busses.

Treatment

To this moment, there has not been any given treatment for corona virus and the best that we have come is simply giving medical care for the infected and relieving them of any discomfort associated with the virus.

Speculations

This segment cannot be complete without talking about all the speculations around the corona virus outbreak both form reliable sources and rumors as well. There has been a major concern on whether people can test negative then positive for the virus. Well, the answer is yes. The argument behind this is that the virus could take a while before it is detected which is why suspected carriers of the virus are put under quarantine to fully ascertain whether they are infected or not.

On the other hand, like most viruses, one of the factors that propels or influences it is the change in weather patterns, so the science community is still looking at the possibility of looking at the role that weather plays in this. However, if they have success in this, then they will have made a major milestone in treating this.

Is this natural or artificial? Well for those who love a good conspiracy theory might be on to something as people tend to think that corona virus has ‘lab experiment’ written all over it, but honestly, there is no proof to this yet. However, just like any other theory, it will be tested on the scale of time to see if it holds. However other people have speculated that there is apa6tern of certain new epidemics happening after 100 years. True or false? I’ll leave that for you to decide.

However, as far as science is concerned those are the facts surrounding the corona virus otherwise known as covid-19. However, I still have my utmost faith in the human race that once again we hall rise above this and despite the fact we have lost a couple of good people, we can only hope for better days ahead. I do believe that every one of us has a role to play during this time and the very first duty is keeping yourself safe by maintaining hygienic, personal health, cooking meat and eggs properly and not forgetting seeking for medical help in case of any symptom.

Nursing Diagnosis Plan for Corona Virus

Are you a medical or nursing student and would like to order nursing care plan for covid-19 then talk to our nursing writers for assistance. As the world grips in panic due to the pandemic disease most nursing schools and medical researchers have turned to research to understand the mechanism of the virus and how to treat patients. We expect medical and nursing students to write numerous assignments on corona virus this article will go along way in tackling the assignments.

 

McDonald’s SWOT Analysis

McDonald’s SWOT Analysis

So your professor wants you to perform a SWOT analysis for MacDonald’s.  And you’ve decided the best way to kick off the assignment is to browse around a little. Somehow you found yourself here. This post will conduct a McDonald’s SWOT analysis so you can replicate the process for your assignment. A SWOT analysis is a tool that helps savvy investors and competent executives make strategic business decisions. The process involved is pretty simple. However, it’s not always easy.

What’s a SWOT ANALYSIS?

SWOT is an acronym for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. A  SWOT analysis methodically examines each of these 4 aspects to see if there are any insights hidden therein.

Generally, strengths are factors that enable an entity to seize any opportunities that are up for grabs. Threats, on the other hand, tend to conspire with weaknesses to further complicate things for a business. 

You’ll do well to keep this understanding in mind as we cruise through this MacDonald’s SWOT analysis.  In this process, we’ll spend sufficient time deliberating on each of the 4 aspects mentioned above. Weseek to understand how each aspect strengthens or weakens MacDonald’s.

We’ll discuss each component under a separate subheading so we can give it adequate attention. Another reason we’ll do that is to keep the analysis organized.  Before we embark on the journey, it’s critical toknow what MacDonald’s does.

MacDonald’s: A Brief History and What the Company Does

McDonald’s SWOT Analysis

As Napoleon Hill (1937) so aptly states in Think and Grow rich, adversity carries within itself the seeds of success. No person who follows Hill’s advice — knowingly or unknowingly— ever gives up. Maurice and RichardMacDonald (brothers) had failed in a movie business in New England. But they were not willing to quit. Instead, they relocated to California and founded their very first McDonald restaurant, which was merely a hamburger stand (1940).

Over the years, they labored hard. They also strategized hard. The year 1948 was a defining one in their entrepreneurial journey. In that year, the dynamic duo incorporated the Speedee Service System which featured the “soon to be famous” 15 cents apiece hamburgers. 

The success the brothers saw must have inspired them to introduce franchising into their overall business strategy. As a result, the business grew into 10 restaurants, nine of which were franchises. You can learn more about the company from its official website.

Ray Kroc Appears on the Scene

Before the money and fame, Ray Kroc sold milkshake mixing machines. That’s how he ran into the Macdonald brothers. Kroc possessedgreat salesmanship skills. It’s not hard to figure out why the brothers let him become agent for their franchising business. Kroc would later (1961) acquire the business from the brothers for $2.7 million. The deal’s value was a colossal sum those days.

To organize the business he’d bought, he established a company called McDonald’s System, Inc. The company’s name would later change to present day’s MacDonald’s Corp. Even though the company was founded in California, its headquarters are in West Loop, Chicago. Before 2018, the company’s headquarters sat in Oak Brook, Illinois.

The New Owner’s Vision

It turned out that Kroc had a really huge vision for his new business. Initially, he planned to plant 1,000 restaurants in the United States. But the business ended up expanding into international markets. Canada and Puerto Rico are some of very first new locations McDonald’s grew into in 1967.

Today, the well-known fast-food behemoth owns or controls restaurants in 120+ countries. According to Statista (2018), McDonald’s Corp ownedat least 37,855 restaurants as of 2018.

Currently, franchisees own 92.7 percent of the business, according to Forbes (Feb 4, 2019). Eventually, the company intends to have 95 percent of its business operated by franchisees.  Forbes also says that McDonald’s, Starbucks, and Restaurant Brands International are the three largestfast-food chains on the planet. Other sources show that McDonald’s is the biggest chain of fast-food restaurants (in terms of sales) worldwide.

Best Selling McDonald’s Products

They include McGriddles breakfast sandwich, premium salads, chicken nuggets, baked apple pie, and the Egg MucMuffin. Other delicacies include snack wraps, Happy Meals, and of course, the famous Big Mac.  But did you know McDonald’s is the largest distributor of toys? You mean McDonald’s sells more tots than toy titans Hasbro and Mattel? Yes, it sounds incredible, but it’s true. This marketing trick aims to win over kids to their side from an early age. The strategy works.  Actually, 40 percent of kids aged 2 – 11 regularly request their parents to take them to McDonald’s. That request happens as regularly as once a week. That’s pretty much building tomorrow’s loyal customer base today.

The company also passes out books and gadgets especially through so-called Happy Meals. This marketing trick is highly effective.

Now let’s proceed straight to the core business at hand: developing McDonald’s SWOT analysis.

What Makes McDonald’s Strong?

As stated above, McDonald is among the three biggest fast-food businesses globally. Obviously, being that big does give a business certain strengths. Perhaps it’s more accurate to state that McDonald’s leveraged various strengths to clinch its current market dominance.  And because the company is now performing well (judging from 2018’s numbers), it can only become more successful and stronger. As they say, success births success. Let’s look at a few factors that come together into McDonald’s strengths.

1. A Brand that Enjoys International Recognition

McDonald’s sits pretty among the world’s most recognizable brands.  Maybe the company isn’t as recognizable as Toyota or Coca-Cola.  But that’s probably because these companies are in pretty much every country in the world.

That said, many people in the world today can quickly recognize McDonald’s logo. The logo brings together two “Golden Arches,” forming a logo that resembles the letterM. The architecture of the first franchised restaurant (1952) featured two arches joined together into an M-like shape. Very few people in countries where McDonald’s operates wouldn’t immediately recognize the company’s logo.

Being well-known comes with various benefits. Customers tend to trust well-known companies over ones no one’s ever heard of. Brand recognition is a great asset when it comes to opening branches in foreign locations.

That’s why everyone in Kenya (ever heard of Kenya?) was talking about McDonald’s in early 2018. Newspapers had reported that the company was planning to set up shop in that country. And everyone there was talking about McDonald’s as if it were a brand they’d known all their lives.

2. Highly Efficient Systems

McDonald’s restaurants operate the same way the world over. A customer who orders a burger in Morocco or a coffee in Mauritiusgets the same seamless service. In other words, McDonald’s is one well-coordinated system — a system that works.

Many small little-known restaurants probably make better burgers than McDonald’s.  But they’ve not managed to design and implement a consistently effective service delivery system.

Also, a McDonald’s Big Macalways tastes like a McDonald’s Big Mac! Most people like consistency and predictability. And this giant chain of fast-food restaurants serves exactly that. It’s accurate to say Ray Kroc bought an efficient system rather than merely a chain of successful restaurants.

Thanks to its super-efficient systems, McDonald’s cranks out roughly 75 burgers every second. Here’s another astounding fact about the company’s efficiency.  The company serves about 810 customers every singlesecond!That’saccording to McDonald’s Every Second, a site that shows real-time numbers.

3. A Business Model that Works: Franchising

The company has been refranchising its restaurants for some time now. Refranchising allows the company to expand without needing to invest vast amounts of money. The business model enables MacDonald’s to keep operational costs low and manageable.

The chain intends to eventually place 95% of its business in the competent hands of franchisees. That model lets the company rake in tons of money in franchisefees. The franchisee typically pays $45,000 in fees. In addition, the person must have close to $1,000,000 in liquid capital before they can start operating. Franchising ropes in others to help run the empire. Meanwhile, the company retains 100% control of the systems that new owners use to manage their business.

4. A Huge, Diversified Income

McDonald’s sells the majority of its products in the United States. But the company has a presence in 120+ countries. What does that mean? It means that the company doesn’t have to worry too much about risk concentration in any one country. Excellent performance in a few countries offsets “lowerthan expected” performance in other locations. 

5. Annual Dividend Hikes — Happy Investors

McDonald’s has consistently made sure investors smile all the way to the bank since 1976. That was the first year the company paid out dividends. What’s different about these dividends is that they have been increasing over the last 20+ years. 

Over that period, dividends grew at a steady annual rate (average) of 17.3 percent. In fact, the company’s dividend yield surpassed that of the fast-food sub-industryin 27 percent (in 2017).

Generally, happy investors are an asset. They can help a business raise capital for growth without much struggle.

What are McDonald’s Weaknesses?

In this section of our McDonald’s SWOT analysis, we’ll focus on the factors that somehow weaken the company.

Well, there aren’t that many weaknesses to talk of. But there are at least two that the company grapples with. What makes these weaknesses big problems is that there’s nothing much the business can do about them.  Let’s now look at McDonald’s main weaknesses.

1. Overreliance on Low-skilled Workers

The vast majority of McDonald’s workers are semi-skilled. They’re mostly people who can’t for some reason find a better-paying job. Some are college students. You bet most workers have only a high school diploma.Actually, one doesn’t need to have any skills to work there. Quite naturally, flipping burgers has never been a job that pays well.

Consequently, these employees have trouble staying motivated. They see their job as a stepping stone to something bigger elsewhere.  In the end, a great number of McDonald’s workers leave.

That means the company is always looking for people to hire. And since most people who accept such jobs aren’t trained, they need training. And training employees is expensive.

Unfortunately, there’s nothing much McDonald’s can do about this sad state of affairs. The company just has to grin and bear it. 

2. Being Associated with Unhealthy Food

When people talk of unhealthy food in general, fast-food chains like McDonald’s come to mind. And that’s can’t be good thing.

No wonder the company is nowadays trying to include healthy items such as smoothies on the menu. But as things stand, consumers will likely continue associating the company with unhealthy food.

Sure, notions and ideas change. But it might be years before food lovers start associating McDonald’s with healthy delicacies.

What Opportunities Can McDonald’s Seize?

The company has weaknesses and threats to worry about, certainly. But it is best if the company doesn’t focus too much on them.

Luckily, there are several opportunities McDonald’s can grab and dramatically improve the bottom line. Let’s look at some of these opportunities.

1. Expansion into Underserved Markets

Africa is a continent that companies like McDonald’s may want to give a little more attention to in the future. That’s because Africa is home to more than 1.2 billion people as of 2019. In addition, experts estimate that fully 50 percent of global population growth will happen in Africa by 2050.

Well, African countries aren’t the most affluent in the world. And the majority of people there struggle financially. That said, McDonald’s sells cheap food — food many people in the continent can afford. Little wonder Subway and Kentucky Fried Chicken have positioned themselves to cash in on Africa’s appetite for tasty food.

Currently, the company operates in only four African countries namely Morocco, Egypt, Mauritius, and South Africa. These 4 countries combined boast under 400 McDonald’s restaurants. Compare that to the more than 500 restaurants the company has in the Philippines. Or to the 509 restaurants it operated in Spain as of 2018.

Why Africa?

Global Finance (2019) recently prepared a list of the world’s richest and poorest countries. The data the report presents is quite interesting. It measures each country’s GDP. But GDP isn’t a good measure of wealth of people living in a given country.

With that in mind, Global Finance used GDP numbers that were adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP). PPP-adjusted GDP numbers give a much clearer idea of people’s ability to buy goods and services.

Exciting Insights

Consider this: McDonald’s runs more restaurants in the Philippines than it does in the entire African continent. But the numbers reveal that’s not the way it should be.

The PPP-adjusted GDP for the Philippines is $9,494. That compares very closely to the GDP-PPP for Morocco which stands at $9,284.

It Gets More Interesting

The GDP-PPP for Gabonis higher than that of South Africa, Morocco, Mauritius, Egypt, or Philippines. Seriously, why aren’t there McDonald’s restaurants in Gabon?

Algeria, Botswana, Tunisia, Libya, Namibia, and Eswatini are other African countries with a higher GDP-PPP than that of the Philippines.

And of course, there’s Nigeria with a200+ million populationwhose median age hovers around 18 years. There was talk of McDonald’s plans to enter Nigeria in 2015. Unfortunately, those intentions became nothing in the end.

Evidently, there’s lots of untapped potential in Africa. McDonald can move in and get a piece of this pie.

2. Adding Healthier Food Items

Nobody wants food full of sugars and carbs anymore. People everywhere seem to have joined a rapidlyexpanding religion called health-consciousness.

But that’s a blessing in disguise.

McDonald’s can add as many healthy options as it wants to the current product offerings. And it’s already doing so. Smoothies, for instance, are now a constant in the company’s restaurants.

Healthier Options Fetch Better Prices

These days, the company’s restaurants are also serving a range of healthy food. One can now order fruit and maple oat meal. Or a fruit and yoghurt parfait. A customer can even order an “artisan” grilled chicken sandwich. The great thing is McDonald’s can charge premium prices for these healthy product offerings.

 In the end, it’s a good thing that people are quitting junk food. The only thing that can limit the items the company can add is its imagination and innovation.

3. Being Associated with the United States

McDonald’s is based in the United States. And that means a lot. For various reasons, many people across the world look at American goods somewhat differently. In the minds of many, the U.S. is still the greatest country on Earth. It’s a country that pursues excellence with diligence.

Many people want to be able to say their product is “made in the USA.”  Robert Von Goeben, co-founder of Green Toys in California, rightly says that “made in the USA” means “quality.”

As a result, there’s always going to be demand for US-made products. It doesn’t matter whether those products are Levis Strauss Jeans or the famous McDonald’s Big Macs. The perception can greatly help the company when it comes time to expand into Africa and other places. 

4. Low-interest Dollar-denominated Capital

There’s lots of affordable debt in the U.S. today. Given its performance numbers, McDonald’s can easily access cheap loans and other types of debt. Capital availability is a hugely critical factor when it comes to raising funds for venturing into new markets.

Combine availability of cheap dollar-denominated debt with the fact that the company makes enormous profits each year.  What do you get? You get a giant with lots of potential to grow into a behemoth.

What Threats is McDonald’s Looking at? 

Are there any factors McDonald’s needs to pay particular attention to? Yes, the company shouldn’t rest on its laurels.

It should innovate continually, churning out products that keep customers satisfied but still yearning for more. 

Let’s now discuss 4 main threats that the company potentially faces.

1. A Rapidly Multiplying “Tribe” of Health-conscious Consumers

We saw how McDonald’s can take advantage of changing tastes and preferences. We mentioned that the company can introduce new, healthier delicacies to cater to the needs of increasingly health-conscious consumers.   But the emerging trend should worry McDonald’s a bit.

The Famous 2004 Documentary

A 2004 documentary called “Super Size Me” did a massive amount of harm to the company. The documentary featured Morgan Spurlock. The person’s health continued to worsen over a one-month period during which he ate only McDonald’s food. After that, many started looking at fast-food in a whole new way.

Burgers can make people grow fat fast.But burgers are also what McDonald’s is best known for. In fact, the company sells the highest number of burgers in the fast-food market. That means sales from this item forms a critical part of the total revenue earned. 

For that reason, the business can’t abruptly abandon burgers and other kinds of similar food. It’s been selling burgers for more than 6 decades, remember.

Meanwhile, more and more people continue to join the health-conscious movement. And that puts the company in a tough spot. Certainly, more consumers adopting healthier habits is a positive thing. Butthat development remains a threat to the company’s earning potential.

2.  Competition in Local and International Markets

Competition is a hard fact of life in almost every business and industry under the Sun. If a business never worries about competition, it’s most probably a monopoly. McDonald’s operates in an environment that sees increasing competition from companies engaging in the same line of business.

In the U.S., McDonald’s direct competitors include Starbucks, Wendy’s, Burger King, KFC, Pizza Hut, Subway, and Yum Brands, Inc.

Other companies whose product offerings overlap those of McDonald’s include CMG (Chipotle Mexican Grill), Panera Bread Company, and Taco Bell.

Let’s briefly analyze these competitors.

Starbucks

Starbucks happens to be one of MacDonald’s mightiest competitors. With more than 28,000 locationsin over 75 countries, Starbucks is no small player.

The world’s number #1 coffeehouse chain, Starbuck comes immediately after McDonald’s in terms of revenue.

Subway

Subway is another worthy competitor. In fact, Subway is the largest restaurantchain globally (in size). Compared to McDonald’s almost 38,000 restaurants, Subway operated more than 43,000 restaurants located in over 100 countries (as of 2017).

Subway has already hit the goal McDonald’s has been striving toward. With Subway, franchisees own and operate 100% of the company’s restaurants. But the company’s sales (Subway’s) have followed a downward trajectory since 2012.

Burger King

With 16,000 locations in more than 100 countries, Burger King is smaller than Subway, Starbucks, and McDonald’s.

However, it’s still a notable competitor. Restaurant Brands International, the owner of Popeyes and Tim Hortons, owns Burger King.

Chipotle

Boasting more than 2,400 locations, Chipotle mainly operates in the U.S, France, Germany, U.K., Canada, and the U.S. The company keeps calling customers’ attention to the quality of its food.

The company uses an effective marketing slogan that goes, “Food with Integrity.” It’s easy to see why the company manages to sell at a higher price point than McDonald’s.

Wendy’s

Wendy’s owns about 6,500 restaurants located in the U.S. and 29 other countries.  Some of the company’s restaurants are franchised while others are not. In comparison with McDonald’s, Wendy’s is rather small, but it’s still an important competitor.

Yum Brands, Inc.

Yum is the commercial might behind KFC, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell. The company rivals Subway in terms of number of locations. The business owns more than 45,000 restaurants spread out across almost 140 countries. And like Subway, nearly every restaurant (97%) is a franchise.

For the most part, these businesses are doing more or less what McDonald’s does. They sell similar products and run similar systems. Besides, they’re deep-pocketed, just like McDonald’s is. Clearly, the company must keep working hard if it desires to keep its competitors where they belong — behind it.

3. Changes in Commodities’ Prices Could Push Up Costs

McDonald’s uses commodities whose production it has little control over. With commodities such as potatoes, an unpredictable factor (e.g. drought) can lead to sudden price increases.

Unfortunately, the company isn’t always in a position to pass on the increased cost to its customers. Luckily, the company is a large client. Negotiating better deals will always be easier for McDonald’s than it is for small, unknown fast-food restaurants.

Do you think we left anything in this McDonald’s SWOT analysis? It’s possible we did. But you certainly can create a similar analysis for your SWOT analysis assignment, can’t you?

McDonald’s SWOT Analysis: Wrapping it all Up

McDonald’s is in the fast-food business. It’s a well-known brand. Most people easily recognize its famous “Golden Arches.” Also, the company is a global business that with an enormous diversified income. In addition, the company’s extremely efficient systems ensure that it keeps its customers happy and coming back.

But the business has two main weaknesses. First, it over relies on semiskilled labor which means employee turnover is a huge problem. Second, it’s hard for the business to run away from its being associated with unhealthy food.

There are some great opportunities McDonald’s can grab, too. Many consumers in foreign countries tend to believe that US-made products are always of superior quality.  Add that to the fact that quite a few countries especially in Africa have relatively high GDP-PPP. There’s potential for growth and expansion in many underserved locations. Also, it’s relatively easy for the company to access low-cost debt. In addition, consistently good dividend payouts have kept investors happy for years. The company can raise additional expansion capital without difficulty.

Finally, there’s need to appreciate the threats McDonald’s faces. The company battles stiff competition from rivals such as Starbucks, Subway, Yum Brands, Inc., Wendy’s, and Chipotle among others.  Aside from that, the company must deal with the fact that preferences are shifting toward healthier food. The business must look for ways to replace the revenue it gets from fast-food sales. Fortunately, McDonald’s is moving fast to incorporate healthy delicacies into its product offerings.

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Sample Essay: US Economic Shutdown In 2019

Why You Support U.S Economic Shutdown Over Border Wall Stalemate.

economic shutdownEarly 2019 saw partial economic shutdown in the United States as a showdown loomed over President Trump insistence of funding bill include his Mexico border wall budget. The United States of America is one of the world’s superpowers and economic strongholds. Mexico has for some time now attached itself to America, despite the fact that they are only neighbors and not one. However, tables seem to be turning with the election of Donald Trump as the President of America. Mexico has been known for its shady ways of operation with all the smuggling, drugs, gangs and don’t forget that they have a large number of them living in America as illegal immigrants. This spills right into the states under the noses of the government. However if only Mexico would be denied free access to the states then maybe, just maybe the cartels spreading their tentacles to America would be crippled.

Every now and then we must have all stumbled on an epic movie, say the great wall or some other 200BC movie. They all have one thing in common that they all have a wall that around their cities for security. However, incorporating this idea in this generation is quite unthinkable and quite expensive to start it all at scratch. Such plans made in a short time will definitely have an impact on the economy. I do tend to think that right now, all eyes are fixed on Donald Trump to see how everything rolls out. The wall is not yet rolled halfway at least and it already has an impact on the economy. There has been an economic shutdown (something that was quite unthinkable by the rest of the world, However, I will be breaking it down to the simple basics.

Budget projections

Every government is run on a budget and every successful economy is built on solid numbers which are quite elastic giving an allowance of an addition or a deficit of some funds to spare. However, I tend to think that the Mexican wall was not thought out clearly. There was a projection that it would only cost between 8 to 12 billion. However, this figure is in-comprehensive of fluctuation. However putting everything in place, uncertainties included and the new steel material that will be used, the figure rises to a practically an estimate of 18-25$ billion, however, this figure is variable of who is doing the projections but this is the minimum figure in play. This will definitely be a blow to the economy. I tend to think that such a project carrying such a huge amount of time and resources should be done on something that will generate income back. A prototype of the wall was actually created, going down with it 20 million dollars. The prototype was to get the picture of what is to be built and an idea of what to expect. It is also a good platform to put in recommendations and adjustments to the plan such that when the project commences, it will have very few setbacks and almost zero adjustments

Specifications of the wall.

The projected wall is supposed to be quite a fortress and it has attracted the attention of all specialists in the industry and its specifications are quite impressive.  Apparently, the Mexican border wall was in trumps campaigning agenda but in a way, people never thought of it as serious as it now appears to be. However, this wall is specified to Donald trump’s specifications. Let me try painting a picture of this wall in your mind. Once in a campaign rally, he said that he intends the wall to be a see-through wall arguing that “if you can’t have the vision, you don’t know what’s on the other side”. The wall is intended to cover about 2000 miles Homeland security took the liberty to check out the prototype and give some input to make the wall as effective as possible and perform on the primary function of denying access to passage of drugs, illegal immigrants and this means no one will be able to climb through the wall. The wall will be 18-30 feet and will be able to withstand any tunnel going couple of 6 or more feet deep. This eliminates the possibility of “Mexican moles” coming through underground. The wall will incorporate multiple materials to build as part of it will involve concrete, steel and some transparent material that we haven’t been let in on yet. The wall might be shorter than the actual distance of the border having in mind that there are natural walls all around such as rivers, mountains that will not need any additional wall. However such areas will have backup barriers and patrols just around them.

Wall funding

The border wall will definitely cost lots of money and the taxpayers will feel the pinch of that at the end of the day. However, Donald Trump says that actually, Mexico will be paying for the wall. The thought of that sounds crazy but come to think of it, he is the president, the guy in the high seat. This comes days after a couple of offers were given to counteract his offer and there was a bargaining chip on Mexico to help in the funding, but let the Mexican immigrants in the states remain. I tend to think that of all the determined people I know, Donald Trump definitely comes on top. Since back in the day while campaigning, he presented his dreams, goals and agendas and true to the word he is running with it. Nothing is coming between him and his wall. He is determined that wherever the funding comes from either from Mexico or his government it has to be done. The issue on Mexico funding the wall has been adamantly refuted by both the former president of Mexico, Enrique Pena Nieto and the current president, Andres Manuel, however, word is that if they don’t agree to it then the U.S will be cutting off some of its vital income generating trades and this will dent the Mexican economy. I tend to think however that being world leaders who have the whole world’s eyes on them they should talk things out and come to a fair agreement.

Economic shutdown

”We will be forced to close the Southern Border entirely if the Obstructionist Democrats do not give us the money to finish the Wall & also change the ridiculous immigration laws that our Country is saddled with. Hard to believe there was a Congress & President who would approve!” is a statement from one of the many tweets from the president himself. However, I tend to think that there is a bigger picture that he is ignoring of the corporate community at large. For once now the American feels the real impact of the power that is vested into the president, the kind of power that can send people home and bring an economic shutdown to a whole economy. About 25 percent of the federal government has been shut down since Saturday, with roughly 800,000 workers affected, including an estimated 350,000 who are on furlough at home. This number will definitely have an impact on the GDP of the country and maybe, just maybe leave a mark on their international relationships. $11 billion dollars have been lost through the five weeks partial government that has been there.

Purpose of the wall

The Mexican wall is projected to able an added security feature in favor of the United States. For long, the Mexican streets have been run by gangs and they have quite a reputation for the drug trades and this spills right into America. As the saying goes, you cannot get a different result by doing the same thing, you have to do something different to get different results. This is the kind of concept that is at work on the wall project. If adding security personnel still leaves a pothole then what about building a concrete, see-through wall to keep the trade fully out. The thing is that with the completion of the wall, the whole world will be fixated as seeing how effective the wall is and that will keep Donald Trump’s wall on the weighing scale and trust me it will not only the top talk on twitter but also on the top search subject. The wall will serve a primary function of cutting drug trade and routes to the states but also the secondary function of after eliminating the issue of “importing” drugs will now deal with the domestic drug circle.

Pros and Cons of the wall

Come to think of it, the wall is not as bad as it sounds really it has also a good side to it. As much as there has been a shutdown the wall will create a good employment platform as a lot of labor will be required. They will be sourcing of not only skilled labor but also semi-skilled and unskilled guys work on the project. A couple of projections have been done and the signs show that as soon as the finances come through, the wall will commence and it should be completed in the shortest time possible. However, on the other side, there will be a strain in the relationship between Mexico and the United States of America and Mexico would suffer a bigger fate than that. Trades from the states to Mexico will also be affected and I project that the rates will go higher and the process quite longer, thanks to all the security measures and bottleneck requirements. The economic shutdown has already come once and not everyone knows that Trump will still build that wall at the expense of the economy of the nation and not sparing his reputation if need be. At this point the Congress and the Republicans in the “house “ will bend to his will as they try to see the bigger picture of stabilizing the country’s economy, after all, they still got on board after losing 0.2% on their GDP. I also tend to think that the government should be in full support of Trumps plans all the way through, having in mind that he laid all his card on the table for them and they voted him in knowing very well that he is was ready to run with his agenda. This will definitely go down to the legacy of Donald Trump but the more this story is disputed may also add an economic fallback to his legacy. Despite the fact that this may be far-fetched, this wall will definitely go down in history and be a tourist attraction later in the days.

The bigger picture

Let’s look at the bigger picture of the whole economic shutdown in the country. Despite the fact that there has been a partial 35-day old economic shutdown in the county and a strain on the economy, there is also something that will come from this whole situation. Donald Trump has set up his priorities to bring the military on board and get them a good deal out of this whole situation. The world went into mixed reactions after Donald Trump withdrew American soldiers from Syria and they thought that this has some political backing to it or some hidden agenda but they are simply coming back home and give a helping hand. He said that the American army hasn’t gotten such funding dedicated to them in a very long time and he has a huge pool to funds dedicated to them. There also is a good bit to this, right? The county will also get rid of the issue of drugs and substance and this will set the young people to purpose and this actually gets the house business in order. As much as the everyone is entitled to their own opinion I tend to think that the fact that they choose to get this government working for them, with all their agenda they are obliged to work with them and move with the flow. The economic shutdown has been enlightenment on the American people on what system they operate on and how much some decisions will flow down to the neighborhood and the household.

Assignment Topics on Economic Shutdown & US-Mexico Border Impasse

Intense debate has emerged on the impact of economic shutdown on the US economy. At expertwritinghelp.com we expect students to be assigned essays and research papers that will discuss the following topics:

  1. The impact of economic shutdown on the U.S economy
  2. Economic benefits of the US-Mexico border wall
  3. Your position on economic shutdown

These are some of the assignment topics that you will likely encounter. Feel free to buy economics essays from our economics essay writing service online.

 

Sample Essay: Early Industrial Revolution

The Significance of the Early Industrial Revolution

sample essay on industrial revolutionEarly Industrial Revolution or Pre-Industrial Revolution refers to the period before the advent of the Industrial Revolution. The period between 1500s and 1750s marked a shift in the foregoing level of selling and buying goods. The impetuous existing art forms and production of goods were brought to polarity in this era. The voyages from Western Europe led the way for the Revolution. The chief trade practices included trading in precious metals, handicrafts, cotton, etc. The farmers and merchants wanted to raise money by increasing trade with other nations. This led to the expansion of economy through fostering development in the involved nations. It is crucial to understand the genesis of the Early Industrial Revolution, which emerged through several centuries stimulating growth in the West and the rest of the world (Persson, p. 3, par. 2).

During the period of Early Industrial Revolution, there were no machines for equipping the making of goods. The manual labor was used for performing tasks and assembling units for the finished goods. During this era, textiles and other products were made at home, and people would trade their goods. Due to inadequate transportation and communication systems, the trading of goods was not possible on a large scale. Then the Europeans sought their way toward innovation and technology, which made their demands and market clearly available to the mass population. This paper discusses the significance of the Early Industrial Revolution, and the developments and innovations, such as Renaissance warfare, boatswain’s pipe, astrolabe, quadrant, and spinning wheel in addition to the roots of Industrial Revolution, the expansion of markets in the Pre-Industrial era, the European Cities, the cottage industry, the upswing trend in agricultural practices, and the innovation approach paving the way to the Industrial Revolution.

Under this section, the paper discusses the roots of Industrial Revolution in Pre-Industrial society, the expansion of markets in 1550s, the European Cities in the Pre-Industrial Society, the Renaissance warfare and other innovations in navigation and sailing apparatus, the rise in standard of living through urban set ups, the upswing trend in agricultural practices, the role of small scale industries in 1500s, such as cottage industries, and Pre-Industrial financial innovations, which led to a greater Industrial Revolution from 1750 onwards.

The Roots of Industrial Revolution in Pre-Industrial Society

The Early Industrial Revolution connoted a slow lifestyle with limited resources. During the 16th century, there were no manufactured goods; instead, there were various raw materials available in the rural areas. The wood was used to carry the domestic activities, and wind and water were the determining factors for the source of power. The basic source of income for the people of the Early Industrial Revolution in the 16th century merely came from farming, cow-raising, selling milk, etc. The Early Industrial Revolution also saw no substantial increase in population for decades (Tucker, par. 2). The common people grew in the fear of epidemics, such as Typhoid, Influenza, Plague, etc. These diseases resulted in mass dying due to insufficient care and medical facilities (“Pre-Industrial Society,” par.3).

Expansion of Markets in 1550s

history essay writing serviceThe Early Industrial Revolution has its significance in promoting and establishing strong foundation for the Industrial Revolution. During the 1550s, there was no existence of commercial industries. The small scale trade practices were emphasized from the households and agricultural lands. The craftsmanship was used to balance the lifestyle, for example, by making furniture, handicrafts, pottery, masonry, etc. (“Pre-Industrial Society,” par.8). The home-based occupations, such as weaving cloth and making dresses out of this cloth material were part of fine craftsmanship in the Early Industrial Revolution. The labor worked hard to complete their day-to-day tasks, but the production was very slow because of few tools and equipments. Some cities became centers for providing basic raw materials and goods. Markets developed for selling agricultural goods, handicrafts, and pottery items. During the Early Industrial Revolution, the elite people owned large areas of land and hired labor for growing agricultural produce, and also assigned work to the servants to help them carry out their daily activities. On the contrary, the poor people made goods from the raw materials and managed their lifestyle with minimal agricultural produce from small lands and cow-raising.

European Cities in the Pre-Industrial Society

Many cities flourished during the Early Industrial Revolution era due to their establishment of markets. The main attraction that accounted for the growth of a town into a city was the spread of its market. Florence, a prominent European city attracted traders, as it proffered handicrafts and several mechanically tinkered clay pots, kettles and pans (“Pre-Industrial Society,” par. 9). The Early Industrial Revolution era witnessed advancement in the European cities that were producing gun-powder and cannons through their basic industries with no thoroughly equipped tools.

Renaissance Warfare and other Innovations in Navigation and Sailing Equipment

In the 16th century, no democracy existed on the world map. There were rulers, ruling their dynasties and trying to expand their empires in order to gain more and more power. Through army and cavalry, with renaissance warfare, the rulers attacked the other empires. The use of war hammers, swords, clubs and maces, winged spears, lances, pikes, etc. as tools for warfare adds to the innovation list during the Early Industrial Revolution. The use of mechanical clocks and navigation tools, such as boatswain’s pipe, astrolabe, quadrant, and sandglass marked the beginning of 16th century (“Pre-Industrial Society,” par.9). These major inventions came up in navigation and sailing equipment.

Rise in Standard of Living through Urban Establishments

The increase in agricultural produce helped in feeding the population and to prevent health degradation, which formerly occurred due to shortage of food in the 15th century (“Pre-Industrial Society,” par.4). A wider view of competition was created among the people. They began working more in order to get more wages and have a better livelihood. They uplifted from the previous concept of living in the rural areas to better townships. They adapted to better living conditions and went to learning centers to get education about basic skills, which would be helpful in their survival to some extent, thus, moving toward urbanization.

An Upswing Trend in Agricultural Practices

One of the few very important reforms was observed during the Early Industrial Revolution, which was about the change in agricultural practices and patterns. The food production in Europe increased to a great extent in the future period as a result of persistent endeavors of the farmers and traders of the Early Industrial Revolution. In the mid 1500s, the demand for most of the products, such as textiles, warfare, cotton, etc. increased (Brock, p. 5, par. 3). Later on, in 1750-1800s, the historians called this reformatory era as the Agricultural Revolution (“Pre-Industrial Society,” par.15).

The Role of Small Scale Industries in 1500s

After 1500, the European markets expanded from Asia to the American continent. Europeans established industries and markets in other nations as well (McDowall, par. 3). The aim of such establishment was the expansion of their markets to extract more revenue out of other nations. The financial industry and cottage industry of Europeans also expanded tremendously. The Dutch East India Company expanded its market in order to derive spices from the South-East Asian countries (“Pre-Industrial Society,” par.11).

Cottage Industry in the Early 16th Century

Cottage industries were also seen as a peculiarly expanding market. The poor families depended on agricultural land, worked night long by weaving cloth with fusty machines, such as old spinning wheel in their cottages. The merchants who traveled in the countryside, in search of great deals, bought the fancy spun cloth from the small markets of cottage industries. Sometimes these merchants would also provide raw materials, such as cotton or wool, and paid them for the labor, and then took the finished goods to sell them further (“Pre-Industrial Society,” par. 14). This is how the cottage industry allowed the growth of industries in the Early Industrial Revolution era.

Pre-Industrial Innovations of 16th Century Leading to a Greater Industrial Revolution from 1750 onwards

Several innovations in banking and financial sectors laid the foundation for the following Industrial Revolution. The growth of traders and consumers of the 16th century, later on, attributed to the Industrial Revolution from 1750 onwards. Beginning from 1500, the trade expanded globally by transportation via boats and ships. The navigation instruments helped to increase the market and to discover nations. By 1600s, the Europeans living in the cities got interested in the markets and global trade opportunities by investing in financial innovations, and became difficult to dissolute the urban culture from them (“Pre-Industrial Society,” par.13). They wanted to expand the production and trade deals through the use of coal and textiles. These two raw materials i.e. coal and textiles gave a kick-start to the Early Industrial Revolution. In the 1700s, coke was widely used in the production of iron; also, several textile centers were established, and the construction of roads and canals was done. This made the country ahead in many inventions, and coal being a pivotal material, for example, it was widely used in operating the steam engine. In order to meet the needs of the families and the society, it motivated the traders and producers of the Early Industrial Revolution to think of strategies to manufacture goods on a large scale. Various reforms in the agricultural field, such as Crop Rotation, was invented by the Dutch (“Pre-Industrial Society,” par.16) Thus, the European markets expanded in numerous countries, and this paved the way for the Industrial Revolution.

Conclusion

Hence, the paper discussed the significance of the Early Industrial Revolution along with developments and innovations, which eventually provided the path to the greater Industrial Revolution. The Early Industrial Revolution emerged before the Industrial Revolution and laid the roots for the latter one. The beginning of the Early Industrial Revolution dates back to 1500s. The Early Industrial Revolution is said to be a domicile of Britain. It started in Britain and then expanded to the faraway lands. The small scale industries transformed into large scale after the developments in the field of technology. The use of wood, as a fuel, in everyday lives was replaced by coal. A few cities, such as Florence emerged as the prime centers of raw materials and goods. All these cities were patronized by the European merchants who traveled the countryside for varying trade purposes. The use of several renaissance warfare and innovations in this field is responsible for early developments in the Western Civilization. The other innovations included the sandglass, quarter, boatswain’s pipe, and astrolabe, which were also important instruments for navigation and sailing. The arrival of new technologies after the Early Industrial Revolution owes its credit to the zeal of the people from the Early Industrial Revolution era who wanted to bring reforms in their lifestyle, farming practices, and production methods to eventually fetch more profit through sale of their merchandise to other nations across the seas.

Works Cited

Brock, F. “How Pre-Industrial Era English and Dutch Trade Influenced Social Change,”

University of Massachusetts, https://www1.umassd.edu/euro/2007papers/brock.pdf. Accessed 17 April 2018.

McDowall, C. “World Textile Trade 1500-1800 – Pre-Industrial Revolution,” The Culture

Concept Circle, 31 January 2014. https://www.thecultureconcept.com/world-textile-trade-1500-1800-pre-industrial-revolution. Accessed 17 April 2018.

Persson, K.G. “A New Economic History of Pre-industrial Europe,” University of Copenhagen,

https://www.econ.ku.dk/kgp/doc/Workfrms/new%20econ%20hist.pdf. Accessed 17 April 2018.

“Pre-Industrial Society.” Bellarmine College Preparatory,

https://webs.bcp.org/sites/vcleary/modernworldhistorytextbook/industrialrevolution/preindus.html. Accessed 17 April 2018.

Tucker, G.S.L. “English Pre-Industrial Population Trends,” The Economic History Review, vol.

16, no. 2, https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1468-0289.1963.tb01726.x. Accessed 17 April 2018.

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Free Essay: Toyota Marketing Strategy

The 7Ps Of Marketing: Toyota Marketing Strategy Analysis

7Ps of marketing analysis of ToyotaAre you a student in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada or Australia looking to hire marketing essay writing service for your Toyota marketing strategy plans, essays writing or dissertation help online? At Expert Writing Help, we hire highly talented and qualified marketing paper writers to assist you complete that assignment or marketing analysis paper giving you sleepless nights. Most students seeking our marketing essay writing service request for proof that we can deliver quality paper. It is  for this reason that we regularly develop free marketing essays for students to judge our writing skills. In this blog post, we shall conduct market analysis on Toyota company to establish what makes the company successful. Since Toyota company is a highly successful automotive assembly company, it has attracted attention of academicians and pundits. Therefore, it is common to find academicians, analysts and strategists spending hours on end studying their marketing strategy. Our expert marketing essay writers deployed the 7Ps of marketing tool to analyze Toyota marketing strategy, which has seen  the company grow into a giant automaker.

As of February 2018, Toyota was the largest carmaker in the world. And that is no accident. Continuous improvement, innovation, high-quality products, and fiercely executing a well-thought-out marketing strategy account for Toyota’s dominance. Toyota’s focused execution of the 7Ps of marketing provides useful insights into how a business can achieve greatness. They are product, price, place, promotion, physical evidence, process, and people.

Toyota marketing strategy: Product

Without a product or service, the other Ps of marketing do not mean a thing. Toyota makes beautifully designed, comfortable, fuel-efficient, durable, and safe products that satisfactorily meet users’ mobility needs.  Perhaps that is the reason this automaker’s vehicles’ have become almost ubiquitous.

The company continually develops sophisticated ways to improve its products. It offers diverse products that allow their customers unlimited choice. The company’s product mix includes engines, accessories and spare parts, marine products, Toyota automobiles, Lexus automobiles, and Welcab series (modified for the elderly and disabled). If a customer wants a luxury vehicle, Lexus automobiles satisfy that demand. And if a senior needs a suitable car, Welcab series have them covered.

Toyota marketing strategy: Price

Toyota sells affordable, comfortable, and fuel-efficient vehicles as well as top-of-the-range products that offer comfort and luxury. One cannot immediately identify the specific market category the company serves. Perhaps it is accurate to say that Toyota sells to the world. Before the company enters a new market, it has already developed a crystal clear understanding of the market and its various needs. One finds a profusion of specific models offered at varying price points in a given market and only a few such units in a different one. In markets that demand comfort and luxury, the company provides products that satisfy that need at acceptable prices. The most popular models in a given market are usually a reflection of its people’s purchasing power.

Toyota marketing strategy: Place

Toyota cars seem to be everywhere you look. Dealerships and retailers are the two principal places Toyota uses to distribute its products. Customers can find with ease the find numerous dealerships and retailers all over the world. But the largest chunk of the sales is attributable to the dealerships’ efforts. The company supplies its accessories and parts through independently owned auto spare stores. And there are millions of such businesses dotting the world’s economic landscape. Toyota relies heavily on the revenue its dealerships generate. But the company would not be where it is without the billions of dollars rolling in from the private auto spare stores.

Additionally, the internet is increasingly becoming a place where Toyota’s customers all over the world can buy products. It is hard to find a dealership that lacks a strong online presence.

Toyota marketing strategy: Promotion

marketing essay writing serviceWhen it comes to promotion and getting one’s name out there, Toyota goes all out and wins. The company consistently devises and executes various strategies and specific activities that aim to saturate the auto market with “Toyota messages.” Toyota promotes itself and its products through public relations, personal selling, advertisements, direct selling, and sales promotion.

Toyota marketing strategy: toyota’s promotion function

Personal Selling: Salespeople do personal selling at the various dealerships around the world. Most people are familiar with the typical, ever-smiling car salespeople at such locations. They are excellent at explaining or demonstrating why a particular model would work for a customer. Toyota’s Personal selling strategy is hugely successful if the humongous cumulative dealerships’ sales are anything to go by.

Advertisements: Toyota really goes to town on newspaper, TV, and online ads

Public Relations: Toyota understands and appreciates the incredible power of “free press” that is public relations. The company runs various programs that demonstrate Toyota’s commitment to corporate social responsibility. Studies have shown that customers are increasingly choosing to support businesses that care about people and not just profits. Some of the programs are Togethergreen and Meal Per Hour. Togethergreen supports environmental initiatives while Meal Per Hour demonstrates Toyota’s concern for the hungry. “Acts of kindness” encourage consumers to form supportive mental associations with the businesses involved.

Direct Sales

Recently, Toyota started testing the effectiveness of a solution that potentially offers its customers convenience and saves them time. It is a web-based system where prospective customers would log in and order a product from anywhere. The company would then deliver the product to the customer’s preferred location. One wonders whether the success of the proposed system could lead to job losses.

Toyota marketing strategy: People

People are a central factor to how Toyota runs its business. The company invests enormously into its workforce through training and talent development. While Toyota pays great salaries to its employees, the work environment is not what one would call comfortable. It is a challenging place that forces people to think and create solutions that solve the company’s problems. People are probably the automaker’s number-one factor that sets it apart from its competitors.

Toyota runs its business on the premise that efficiency combined with good people produces excellence. Every person working for them is a dedicated soul who works hard to attain Chie — Japanese for Wisdom or knowledge. At Toyota, everyone’s ideas matter. And suggestions can originate from any place, whether that is the corner office or the factory floor.

Toyota marketing strategy: Process

Toyota hates waste and favors the lean manufacturing approach. The company remains firmly opposed to people and ideas that waste time, material or other resources. After attaining dominance, many companies tend to stop to celebrate their success. But Toyota has a different “mindset.” To them, anything that works excellently today needs to be working even better tomorrow. At that point, Toyota begins to look like one of the successful companies of the future.

Toyota marketing strategy: Physical Evidence

Toyota is easily identifiable by a logo that features three overlapping ellipses. The ellipses symbolize the “oneness” that exists between the hearts of Toyota’s customers and the carmaker’s products. The logo also reminds the corporation of the critical role technology serves in the grand scheme of things. The emblem makes the company’s dealerships, products, and staff easily identifiable. And customers get documentation that would always call to mind the buying experience relating to the product purchased.

That is what makes Toyota strategy great. It is reasonable to assume that other types of businesses can achieve excellence by implementing in their situations the 7Ps of marketing.

About the author

Alen Owen is professional marketing essay writer with Expert Writing Help. He has authored numerous papers on marketing case studies, marketing plan assignments and financial analysis papers with great precision. We hope you learnt alot from his concise writing and indepth research on Toyota marketing strategy plan.

Effect of Brexit on British Education

The Effect of Brexit on British Education Systems, Benefits and Challenge

The British education system is one of the most excellent and prestigious in the world. Parents and guardians from all corners of the earth have had no problem paying for their children the high fees some of the best British institutions of higher learning charge. Everything was all right until Brexit happened. The move by Britons to vote to exit the European Union was a decision that no doubt has had certain effects that have resonated in the United Kingdom and beyond. The exiting process is expected to be finalized by spring of 2019. You want to know the effect of Brexit on British education systems, benefits and challenges, right? Read on

Effect of brexit on British education: increased fees

effect of brexit on education sytemsOne of the most important ways Brexit has affected the British education systems is that it is, unintentionally, discouraging learners from other countries from joining U.K. universities. You already know that the tuition fees some U.K. colleges charge are some of the highest worldwide, already. Pre-Brexit U.K. had everyone from the European Union paying the same amount of tuition fees British students paid to get an excellent education.



Things are changing, though. Some colleges have already included a note in the tuition fees pages of their websites informing existing students across the vast EU region that they cannot predict the fees payable come 2019.

It is this unpredictability that has had some learners abandon their dreams of earning degrees from U.K. universities. When Brexit completes its course tentatively next year, EU learners will start paying the same amount of fees applicable to international students.

Effect of brexit on British education: restricted movement

Debate rages on among U.K. politicians as to whether EU residents will continue enjoying the current freedom of movement in the country. If they decide to curtail this freedom, people originating from the EU will find it hard to gain entry into the country and consequently its education system. Currently, approximately six percent of the learners in the U.K. comes from the EU. British campuses have contemplated what the effect of the eventual exit of these students will be.

As British degrees become more challenging to access, small colleges in most of the remote and less attractive cities will suffer most. The exit of these international students means the exit of much-needed tuition fees. In fact, a recent study revealed that foreign learners spend about 86 billion pounds while studying in the U.K. While economists are yet to figure out how this will impact the British education system, it is safe to say the system will suffer in some way. Most of these students will most probably join universities in Ireland, Netherlands, Sweden, and Scotland among other colleges that teach degrees in English.

That said, those who come from wealthy families are unlikely to be deterred by the higher fees and stricter Visa rules. For some international residents, earning a British degree has become a family tradition, and it is likely that these challenges will cause them to abandon such valued traditions.

Effect of brexit on British education: funding and scholarships

Effect of Brexit on British EducationApart from the economic impacts felt, there are other challenges the British education faces. One of these problems relates to the question of access to funding from the EU. Many British universities have benefited from EU funds which they have used to build laboratories and lecture theatres. Some schools in the U.K. have been funded by the EU up to 15 percent of their overall budgets, and Brexit means they will need to look for alternative funding.

One could argue that these colleges will receive funding from the U.K government. While this will most likely happen, it might be a challenging task for a country whose current research budget is below the international average.

Additionally, Brexit affects staffing at British universities. Fifteen percent of the research and teaching staff come from the EU. The Erasmus scheme has had 200,000 British students and 20,000 university staff study and work in European universities. Will all this come to an end with Brexit? It is a wait-and-see situation here.

Positive Effect of Brexit on British Education

Increased British government funding to UK instititions

Brexit is not without some benefits. It is highly likely that the British higher education industry will continue to thrive despite Brexit. The government is already aware of the need to step in and extend a helping hand for the advancement of science and research. If the government provides substantial support to the British education system, U.K. universities might end up far much stronger than they could ever have become pre-Brexit. Universities in this country have established high standards of excellence in education and research, and the government will want to do whatever it takes to ensure this trend continues.

Enhanced fees collection

Secondly, British universities attract a vast number of international students. Higher tuition fees and stricter Visa regulations might dissuade a number of these aspiring learners to enrol in British programs. Ordinarily lower student numbers would mean reduced fees for the universities and colleges, but then the institutions will be charging more. Considering that a significant number of international students will still want to get a British degree, the net effect could end up being that the universities collect more tuition fees than they used to during the pre-Brexit days.

Attract and retain talent and best brains in the UK

The new Visa rules, while seemingly stricter, operate under a points-based system which the most qualified people from the rest of the world would find rational. The new rules not only favours well-qualified Master’s and PhD students from other parts of the world but it also eases the rights of those currently well-qualified to remain and continue working in the United Kingdom. A point-based Visa system is the best way to attract and retain the most brilliant brains from all over the world, as opposed to mainly the EU, as is currently the case.
Undoubtedly, Brexit has been impactful in the British education system. From reduced student numbers and EU faculty talent to discontinuation of research funds from the EU, the effects and challenges are evident. Leaving the EU, however, brings certain benefits that become apparent on a closer analysis of the impact Brexit will have on the British education system. It is highly unlikely that the value of a U.K. degree will diminish. If you have been thinking of studying a degree program in that country, there is no reason you should halt your plans. The burning desire to become a highly sought-after graduate will see you through any current challenges.

About the Author

Alan is an expert MBA dissertation writer he is currently researching on the impact of Brexit on various aspects of lives both to British and international citizens. He also contributed in writing economics case study on Brexit that was published on this blog.

Different Types of Essays and Formats

Different Types of Essays and Formats

types of essays and formatsDid you know there exists different types of essays and formats and some you might never learn in your school years? Writing essays is a must do for all high school, college and university, however, you will be restricted to a few types of essays and formats. We encourage students to learn different essays formats and structures as they might be required to understand them in their professional life.

Depending on the institution and academic level experience shows that most employers respect job seekers who are college graduates. Holding a university degree announces to the world that you have what it takes to accomplish great things. You probably know that earning that coveted degree is not going to be a walk in the park. Enjoy your life at the university; attend all the parties you want, but always ensure you turn in your assignments on time. Throughout your college life, you will write dozens of papers on various subjects relating to your degree program. Essays are a reality of college life, especially if are studying a degree in the humanities or the social sciences. Different types of essays exist. If you seek to understand the different types of essays and their formats, you have come to the right place.

Formats and Types of Essays You Should Learn

First things first — what is an essay? An essay is usually a short piece of writing covering a topic relating to a particular subject. Not all essays are brief. The voluminous works of prolific writers such as Alexander Pope or the equally talented John Locke are essentially essays. You now know what an essay is; let us move on to the various types of essays and their formats.

Type of essay: Expository essay

The first type of essay you need to familiarise yourself with is the expository essay. An expository essay, also known as an explanatory essay, attempts to describe or explain something. Scholars use this type of essay to present information with the sole purpose of educating the reader. Once in a while, your professor might ask you to write an expository essay to help you discover more about a specific subject, to test your researching skills, and to assess your understanding of the subject in question. When writing this type of essay, you cannot use “I” in your sentences, though you might use “you” when referring to your audience. You need to stick to the facts; your personal opinion is not of any help when tackling such an assignment.

You must include citations, and you will need to follow a particular referencing style. Typically, you will need to use the MLA formatting style, APA, or Harvard styles.

Type of essay: Persuasive essay

The second type of essay you will interact with is the persuasive essay. In this kind of essay, the job of the writer is to persuade the reader to support a specific point of view. Here, your instructor wants you to gain a deep understanding of your subject and take a position relating to the subject matter. To do this, you must use your power of reason to build sound arguments that withstand criticism. Unless your teacher prefers a different essay format, a persuasive essay usually requires the MLA formatting style.

Type of essay: Comparison and contrast essay

how to write different essay formatsThe next type of essay is the comparison and contrast essay. In this kind of essay, the writer aims at exploring and exposing the similarities and dissimilarities between ideas. You will need to bring your analytical ability and critical faculties to bear upon the subject at hand. You should be able to succinctly describe what two ideas or realities have in common and what makes them distinct. Usually, no scholarly research and referencing is needed. Therefore, citation is not necessary.

You should also get a clear understanding of what a cause and effect essay is. This type of essay concerns itself with the how and why of things, and the effects that certain situations and events give rise to. For example, your professor might ask you to write a cause and effect essay on the causes of overeating in children and the effects of overeating on the health of these children. You are not allowed to use “I” when writing this type of essay. A cause and effect essay insists on facts, and your opinion should not appear anywhere on the piece you are writing. When you extricate yourself from the essay and present facts, the result is that your work seems authoritative and reliable. You will have to cite all your sources, and it is important that you find sources that lend validity and credibility to your work. The recommended format for this type of essay is MLA or APA style. Still, your professor might suggest that you use a different formatting style. It is best that you follow your teacher’s instructions.

Type of essay: Research essay

Then there is the research essay. In this type of composition, the objective is to analyse a perspective or to argue a point of view concerning a narrow topic. The writer needs to find objective and relevant material and comb through it to locate the specific research that supports their ideas. The writer needs to evaluate and interpret the material and make their point. Either MLA or APA formatting style is suitable for this type of essay.

Your tutor might require you to write a review at some point. A review aims at analysing and presenting a piece of work, say a film or a book, to evaluate its overall validity and effects. Your subjective opinion is all right, but an objective angle has its significance too. A review having a lot of personal views might seem less formal. All assertions made require proof. As long as you have used reference material, you will need to include citations. The MLA formatting style is suitable for reviews.

How to Write And Format Essays

Finally, you want to know what an informal essay is. As the name suggests, an informal essay communicates subjectively in a style that is more conversational and expressive than what you would find in any other type of composition. You can include your personal opinion, persuade, and inform. For this kind of piece, you do not need to add citations. As a result, no formatting style is necessary.

The types of essays and their formatting styles in this article are not the only ones. There are others, and it is your job as a good student to read up on them and increase your knowledge. The explanations presented here should help you avoid mixing up things as you write your essays.

Due to lack of writing skills or enough time to conduct thorough research you might require our best essay writing services online. We are a team of highly talented and skilled writers with adequate knowledge on different types of essays and formats. Therefore, do not hesitate to buy expertly written essay papers from our experts at affordable cost.

Sample Essay on World War III

The Start of World War III: Kim Jong-un versus Donald Trump

free essay on world war IIIWith or without the help of Donald Trump, Kim Jong-un has the capability to plunge the entire planet into its World War III inside a century. Indubitably this one will cause more harm and destruction than the Great War, where even the use of aircraft was in its early stages, and chemical weapons were not used. It could also be more dangerous than the World War II that ended with the first where nuclear weapons were heavily used.

Currently, Donald Trump has played a pivotal role in inciting the start of World War III where he has installed anti-missile defense against the north inside South Korea.  Trump is trying to copy what President Kennedy did in 1962 during the Cuban missile crisis. Note that President Reagan did the same thing during 1980s cold war: practicing brinkmanship, demonstrating strength and displaying resolve.

Just like Kennedy and Reagan, it is easy for Trump to prevail. Nevertheless, it not that trick to watch how things would spin out of control in a blink of an eye. Since this will make Kim feel that he is abandoned and exposed at the same time, he could try to retaliate by sending off a few missiles of his own, perhaps targeting Japan which is always a popular point of the target. Evident to the recent form in Syria and Afghanistan, Trump will strike back using a surgical and proportionate strike on some facilities belonging to North Korea.  The North Korean will be forced to sink a South Korean warship. In the process, some North Koreans will manage to get themselves shot to ribbons, chucking another missile over the border and it kills all the American troops. This will force Trump to retaliate by escalating the bombing of government building. With all these happenings, Kim will see his regime critically threatened, having no other alternative and nothing to lose. Having a great support from Russian and Chinese diplomacy, Kim will unleash his massive conventional force, trying to get the Americans surrender and leave him in power.

Military Might and Powerful Military Forces in World War III

The fact is that there is no shortage of weapons. In those two parts of the world, you come across the world’s biggest and most powerful military forces. The United States and Russia are now content to be more of an observer than a player. Believing what Trump says, it is so worrying to publicly chastise North Korea while pushing for harsher sanctions. Remember that there is South Korea too rapidly growing its armed troops, and of course North Korea, with a massive army and its nuclear and missile technology it has managed to build. Even though Japan us technically impaired to self-defense, the country has substantial armed forces. Note that it would not take an extended period for this superior abundant power to build a nuclear technology weapon once the need arises.

Kim is not crazy, and he is also not a nutty dictator as portrayed in team America; he is just like his father. Kim is ruthless and paranoid, as he openly eliminates all his rivals and critics. Since he has nothing to lose, once the Americans decide to depose him just like what they did with Saddam and Gaddafi, he believes that he will be killed publicly.  Because of this, nothing can stop him from executing a few million Japanese and Koreans plus a few thousand Yankee soldiers.

Clearly, this is where the danger for President Donald lies. The US president has cleverly made some augments that America does not want to embrace change. However, let’s find out of what use are those words to Kim.  The only reason Kim needs his nuclear and enjoys playing with them is precise to freak out other leaders around him, leaders who care less about human life and prosperity of their countries. What the northern Korea leader sees is the world where developed nations like America, Japan, South Korea and even China or Russia will try to eliminate you if you so dump such that you disarm yourself or let them tamper with your weapon program.  So according to Kim, this is the main reason as to why Gaddafi and Saddam were executed in cold blood. However, our primary concern should be why both the Iranians and Kim are still sitting pretty.

The threat is not about Trump personally. It is what any American president is bound to do once they feel that the vital security of the great nation is at stake. Essentially, what the article talks about here is the ultimate sacrifice made by Japan and South Korea to eliminate some threats of a North Korean missile killing American citizens in some next five years to come. The danger can be assessed as possible, and it might shift over time. However is seems implausible to vanish on its preference, for example through massive economic collapse. Nevertheless, this is never a good prospect that any president can feel contended with. No president is capable of allowing a hostile nation to be in a position to attack San Francisco with a nuclear-tipped ICBM if it has an opportunity to stop it from taking place.

If President Donald Trump felt that he had no other option other than making a surgical strike, the consequences of his action are incalculable. Just like Kim has done in the past, Trump could have opted for a low-level act of aggression. For instance, he would opt to sink a North Korean warship or drop a big conventional bomb on a North Korean nuclear facility. It is not possible to assume that Kim could respond in a kind way, worsen matters or just shout a lot. If escalation starts, when will it go critical? How many people will lose their lives in the process and how much damage could it bring to the global economy?

CONCLUSION

The cost of human life and treasure would be unprecedented is this is bound to happen. The current world, apart from the odd hermit nation like North Korea, is a more interdependent than ever before in various ways including social, political and economic aspects. This alone could make World War III the worst ever global conflict.

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Sample Essay Collapse of Lehman Brothers and Northern Rock

Sample Essay on the Collapse of Lehman Brothers and Northern Rock

In the year 2008, two financial behemoths were pushed to oblivion after they were declared bankrupt. The collapse of Lehman Brothers and Northern Rock, which was headquartered in London marked the beginning of the global financial crisis. Eichengreen et al., (2009) observe that the fall of Lehman Brothers was the direct cause of the global recession, as the effects of the fall spread through contagion and spillover effects to the rest of the global economies.

Other scholars opine that the collapse of Lehman Brothers and Northern Rock accelerated and intensified the global financial crisis. The two financial institutions were key players in their respective countries, the United Kingdom and the United States of America, however, the two financial giants failed in the year 2008. Reasons cited for the failure of these financial behemoths are strategy miscalculation and financial weaknesses.

These essay seeks to evaluate, compare and contract strategic and financial reasons for the collapse of Lehman Brothers and Northern Rock, both which were operating different business models and in different geographical locations and finish with outlining what major world financial institutions should learn from the collapse of the two financial behemoths.

Overview of the Collapse of Lehman Brothers and Northern Rock

Overview of Lehman Brothers and its Collapse

Lehman Brothers CollapseAccording to Swedberg  (2010) Lehman Brothers was founded by German immigrants Henry Lehman, Emanuel Lehman and Mayer Lehman in 1850 in Montgomery. The growth and prosperity of Lehman Brothers was buttressed by a bludgeoning U.S economy at that time, which aided the financial institution to become an international financial industry player. Through the years until its collapse, Lehman Brothers were faced with numerous challenges, with the most glaring being the First World War, the Great Depression of the 1930 and the Second World War, however, it was unable to withstand the housing bubble burst of 2007, which eventually brought the financial giant to its knees. Levine (2010) observes that in the year 2003, the United States of America was experiencing a housing boom and Lehman Brothers plunged into the housing business by acquiring five mortgage lenders. Initially, the new acquisitions, which were dealing in securitisation of mortgages, were highly profitable and growing faster than other business lines, lifting profits for the company by over 56% in two years, 2004 to 2006. However, crack emerged in the mortgage business with the burst of the housing bubble in the year 2007-2008, ending the bull run of the company stock and growth.

Overview of Northern Rock and its Collapse

Collapse of Northern RockNorthern Rock started as a building society in 1955 following the merger between Northern Countries Permanent Building Society, which was formed in 1850, and Rock Building Society, which was formed in 1865. The merger gave rise to a new entity Northern Rock Building Society that later merged with small building societies.  Northern Rock was listed on the London Stock Exchange in the year 2007 and had its headquarters located in North Eastern part of England. According to Shin (2009) Northern Rock core businesses before the collapse in the year 2008 was in residential mortgage lending, retail savings and insurance products. Therefore, Northern Rock was involved in three business lines, receiving deposits, lending mortgage loans and selling insurance products. The future of Northern Rock was inherent in the success or failure of its business-funding model. Following the conversion of Northern Rock Building Society into a fully-fledged bank, the United Kingdom North Eastern based financial institution started offering a wide range of banking services but still maintained the residential mortgage lending business. Capitalising on its two businesses, Cash flow from the banking business was channeled to fund loans in the mortgage business. Ungureanu and Cocris (2008) opine that Northern Rock would use the cheap deposit and offer them to consumers as mortgage loans at high interest rates. Katie (2012) explains that with increased fortunes the residential business segment and financial innovations, Northern Rock gave prominence to the residential market through creating mortgage-backed securities. Additionally, it shifted its focus from cheap deposits to interbank loans and other short term funding mechanisms from the money market and capital markets to sustain the residential market business, which is what caused cracks in Northern Rock. With the drying up of funds from financial markets falling the bubble burst and lack of confidence in the institution due to its subprime mortgage business, which at that time was in deep mess in the United States of America, depositors ran into a panic mode resulting into a bank run, drying up Northern Rock’s liquidity.

Strategic Reasons for the Collapse of Lehman Brothers and Northern Rock

Contemporary business environment, both in product and service, market is characterised by cutthroat competition that threatens the very survival of firms whether big or small. In order to stay afloat, Delios (2012) asserts that business managers devise both short term and long-term strategies in order to remain competitive or gain competitive advantage; consequently, a business strategy is an indispensable tool both in product and service market. Since financial institutions are driven by profit maximisation and growth attainment, managers of financial institutions devise business strategies, both in the short term and long-term business in order to drive profitability and growth both in the long term and short-term goals. However, strategies do not always yield intended purposes, as constant changes in market conditions may render them blunt and obsolete.

Lehman Brothers and Northern Rock had to pursue strategies to gain a competitive edge in the financial industry, more so to benefit from the boom in the housing market in the early years of 200s both in the United States of America and in the United Kingdom. According to Duta, Caplan and Lawson (2010) among the reasons that point to the collapse of Lehman Brothers are excessive exposure to the subprime business, fraud, poor credit risk rating by credit rating companies, complex company structure and overall company business strategy.  Barkhausen (2010) observes that Lehman Brothers in the year 2006 made its intention to pursue an aggressive growth business strategy. As a result, Barkhausen (2010) expounds that the once financial behemoth “switched from a low risk brokerage model to a capital intensive banking model”. Lehman Brothers, therefore, reoriented their business strategy to a business that was involved in buying assets and storing them awaiting their appreciation in value instead of channeling them to a third party. The financial giant in pursuing its aggressive business strategy started buying into real estate, leverage lending and private equity, which are highly illiquid assets with vague prospect.

This was a profitable business model in the short term but a very risky model in the long term given the low prospects of illiquid assets such as private equity, which would only cripple financial performance. While Lehman Brothers was pursuing an aggressive growth strategy to increase profitability levels, Northern Rock, on the other hand, was pursuing a different business model from Lehman Brothers but that was also an aggressive business strategy to increase profitability levels. Einsenbeis and Kaufman (2009) assert that the predominant reason of the collapse of Northern Rock was precipitated by its aggressive business strategy that it adopted following its conversion into a fully fledged bank in the year 1997. Einsenbeis and Kaufman (2009) continues to assert that in 1997, Northern Rock re-oriented its business model from “a traditional thrift and mortgage lender that originated and held mortgages to one that relied upon mortgage origination, servicing and repackaging through securitisation.” Just like in Lehman Brothers case, the new business model proved profitable in the short term lifting assets in mid 2005 from $16 billion to a record $32 billion at the end of 2007. In addition, according to the Bank of England (2007) the new business model tripled Northern Rock’s mortgage market share from 6% to a record 19% from the year 1999 to the year 2007. These aggressive business strategies that re-oriented earlier business models of Lehman Brothers and Northern Rock constrained liquidity for the both financial behemoth. An observation supported by Llewellyn (2004) who observes that the exponential growth of Northern Rock of above 20% saw mortgage lending outpace retail deposit, forcing the financial giant to fill the gap using market funding mechanisms.

Due to constrained liquidity, Lehman Brothers and Northern Rock adopted new funding strategies. For instance, Einsenbeis and Kaufman (2009) observe that the new business model of originating and distributing repackaged mortgage loans as securities caused the lender to be highly leveraged; as a result, Northern Rock turned to short term borrowing from the markets to support the securitisation process of mortgages, creating a maturity mismatch. Similarly, Swedberg (2010) asserts that despite immense losses from the countercyclical strategy that sought to re-orient the Lehman Brothers strategy into an aggressive business model, the bank failed to sell the illiquid assets instead focused on short term borrowing from the money market using repos, this saw Lehman Brothers increase its short term liabilities than peer banks. Over-reliance on short term borrowing posed high impact risk to the corporations in case of sudden steep rise in interest rates as it would make borrowing unsustainable drying up liquidity in the corporations, and that is what happened following the start of the subprime crisis, which was marked by the fall of Bear Stearns and a dip in investor confidence.

Financial Reasons for the Collapse of Lehman Brothers and Northern Rock

Following a boom in the housing prices in the United Kingdom and the United States of America, Northern Rock and Lehman Brothers started securitisation of mortgages, that is the origination and distribution of mortgage backed securities. According to Fabozzi and Kothari (2008) securitisation of mortgages is the process in which illiquid assets such as mortgage loans are converted to liquid assets through packaging them into asset backed securities and selling them to investors and other third party agents. The originator of mortgages, in this case Lehman Brothers and Northern Rock, sells issued loans to a special purpose vehicle, which in turns creates tranches and sells them to investors who are willing to take up the risks, cash flow from borrowers of the loans is what is used to pay the investors. Both Lehman Brothers and Northern Rock became key players in distributing securitised mortgages, Barkhausen (2010) observes that by the year 2007, Lehman Brothers had accumulated $85 billion worth of mortgage backed securities in its portfolio, which represented four times its shareholders equity. This over concentration in the mortgage business made the company highly vulnerable to a dip in housing price. The bursting of the housing bubble in 2008 brought out the consequences of over-exposure to the mortgage market to light with disastrous consequences; similar situation was reflected in Northern Rock, which was originating and distributing mortgage backed securities to investors. Securitisation posed an adverse effect of undercapitalisation to Lehman Brothers and Northern Rock due to mismatch of maturity of amount lent out and borrowed funds, as the two institutions borrowed funds on short term basis while lent out on a long term basis creating liquidity crisis on the two financial firms. Following increased credit risk due to default on subprime mortgage loans, investors grew wary of mortgage backed securities, as a result, starving cash Northern Rock and Lehman Brothers who were using proceeds from investors to settle the short term loans, therefore increasing their financial risk.

Key Lesson from the Collapse of Lehman Brothers and Northern Rock

The collapse of Lehman Brothers and Northern Rock, which at the time were dominant players in the financial industry, resulted into catastrophic effects of the global financial system. Due to the adverse effects that the fall of these two dominant players in the financial industry caused the global economy, a lot of research has been done to deduce lessons that players can learn from the their collapse. The other major reasons cited for the collapse of Lehman Brothers and Northern Rock were greed, deregulation of the financial industry, weak corporate governance structures and weak risk management systems. Due to the competitive nature of the financial industry, players were undercutting peers by under pricing risks and engaging in other unethical practices to drive up businesses. Weak corporate governance structures contributed to the collapse of Lehman Brothers and Northern Rock by allowing the management to pursue high impact business strategies.  As a result, the financial industry need to be regulated to curb unethical business practices and play a greater oversight role in the operational activities and risk levels of players in the financial industry. Financial institutions should be required to establish effective risk management frameworks and corporate governance structures.

Conclusion

In the past two decades, the world has witnessed mixed happening in the global financial sector, from the dot.com bubble burst in the United States of America in the early 2000’s to the recent banking crisis that has hit the developed countries of Northern America and Europe. Bank failures are mainly caused by liberalisation of the financial markets and deregulation of the financial systems in a country. In the case of the collapse of Lehman Brothers and Northern Rock, it was because of strategic and financial reasons caused by the aggressiveness of the management of these two firms to increase profitability levels and growth. The two institutions reoriented their business strategy in order to spur growth; however, the results had far reaching effects. The lessons learnt include a need for regulations in the financial services industry, enhanced risk management systems and enhanced corporate governance structures in financial institutions to avert another global financial crisis.

Looking for help to write original MBA essays, capstones, dissertations or thesis on accounting, finance or economics? Our MBA capstone writing service is what you need. You can also purchase pre-written high quality essay like the one above on strategic reasons for the collapse of Lehman Brothers and Northern Rock.

References
Bank of England 2007. Financial stability report. London: Bank of England.

Barkhausen, H. 2010. Derivatives in bankruptcy: some lessons from Lehman Brothers. The Journal of Structured Finance, 15(4), 7-10.

Delios, A. 2012. International business: an Asia Pacific perspective. London: FT Press.

Dutta, S., Caplan, D. & Lawson, R. 2010. Lehman’s shell game poor risk management. Strategic Finance, 92(2) 23-29.

Eichengreen, B., Mody, A. Nedeljkovic, M. & Samo, L. 2009. How the subprime crisis went global: evidence from bank credit default  swap  spreads.  NBER  Working  Paper  Series.

Eisenbeis, R. A. & Kaufman, G. G. 2009. The failure of Northern Rock: a multi-dimensional case study. Vienna: SUERF.

Fabozzi, F. J. & Kothari, V. 2008. Introduction to securitisation. New York: John Wiley & Sons.

Katie, J. 2012. Why banks fail: a case study of Northern Rock, Lehman Brothers and Union Bank of Switzerland (UBS)? Munich: GRIN Publishing.

Levine, R. 2010. An autopsy of the US financial system: accident, suicide, or negligent homicide. Journal of Financial Economic Policy, 2(3), 196-213.

Llewellyn, D. T. 2004. Institutional Structure of financial regulation ad supervision:  the basic issues. In Carmichael, J, Alexander F.& David,  L. Aligning Financial Supervisory Structures with Country Needs. Washington: World Bank Institute,

Shin, H. S. 2009. Reflections on Northern Rock: the bank run that heralded  the Global Financial Crisis. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 23(1), 101–119.

Swedberg, R. 2010. The structure of confidence and the Collapse of Lehman Brothers, markets on trial: the Economic Sociology of the U.S. Financial Crisis: A part of the research in the Sociology of Organizations, 30A, 71-114.

Ungureanu, M. & Cocris, V 2008. Northern Rock: the crisis of a UK mortgage lender. Available at: https://anale.feaa.uaic.ro/anale/resurse/018_F01_Ungureanu_Cocris.pdf [Accessed 20 May 2013]

Sample Political Essay on Battle for the US Presidential Seat

Clinton Vs Trump: A Heated Battle for the US Presidential Seat

Americans always vote freely upon the sacred right of their citizenship. This is their constitutional duty which they undertake with uttermost patriotism. There are some Americans out there who wish that somehow president Obama could be elected for a third time. I am one of these people and I believe that if we could vote today with Obama, vs. Hillary and trump then Obama will win the elections hands down.

Obama in his two terms as the president of United States of America has accomplished and done a life’s worth of work. In the years that he has been president, he has:

  • Passed the affordable Obama Care Act in 2010 which covered over 32 million Americans who were uninsured giving them a new beginning and hope for the future without any fears on health issues.
  • He was also able to successfully end the war in Iraq which has been a headache and loss of revenue to the US voters. At the same time he also began the draw down of the war in Afghanistan.
  • In his term he will be remembered for the elimination of the world renowned terrorist Osama bin laden.
  • He also reversed bush torture policies which violated the most basic human rights
  • He made it appoint to increase support for the war veterans to help them fit into the community as they had given their all to their country.

These are just some of his achievements and the list can go on and on and on.With these achievements,it is not strange that Americanization just know what patriotism is, dare to dream of giving Obama a third term in the office. A third term for Obama in the office will ensure that he accomplishes more great things. It will also mean that he gets to finish projects like the cancer research going on.

When we compare their social media life, Obama beats trump on Facebook likes, and also on twitter just to mention a few. This demonstrates on Obama’s popularity and if I dare say percentage of people ready to vote for him without hesitation as he has proven himself to be efficient and effective in his work as he has been in office for two terms.

Obama the sitting US president created one of the best media targeting programs. He reached out to more people than Romney, Clinton, or even trump. Obama successfully reached the local people using the tennis channel, HaTV or ESPN classic. This cheap cable programs reached the smaller states like Alaska and would definitely in moving the masses.

Financially speaking, Mr. Obama managed to raise over $739,000,000 and Mr. Trump only managed to raise $445,000,000 for the American campaign. This just shows how Obama is a more organized campaigner with a lot of support from the American people.

A large group of college graduates don’t like Trump, they prefer Obama as the first option and Clinton comes in second with Trump as the last option if all of them were to stand as candidates in the upcoming elections. President Obama is one of the most recognized people not only in America but in the whole continent and this gives him an added advantage and a guaranteed win If he were allowed to contest for the presidency seat a third time. This is in contrast to Mr.Trump who has majority support in the mid-western states in America while Clinton has her supporters in lowa state which largely supported the Clintons in 2008 and 2012.

Donald Trump will surely be beaten by Obama due to Trumps racist comments and lies, lack of experience, poorly stated economic issues and also issues affecting individual rights where he is accused of sexually harassing females.

A majority of nonwhite residents will favor Barrack to Trump or Clinton. The black community and Mexicans could end up being a major difference per say in the ballot box.

A vote for the incumbent Mr. Obama would be a walk in the park because as the US president, he has all the battle ground states in his back pocket. This includes Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Florida and Nevada. It will only be right for the American people to give president Barack Obama a third time in office as he has proven over and over how he has the best interest of the people of America at heart.

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