Hinduism And Buddhism What Is Hinduism - 1986 Words

Hinduism and Buddhism What is Hinduism? ‘The religion life of India is like the river Ganges. It has flowed along for thousands of years, swirling from its own power, but also from the power of new streams that have added to its force’. (pg 78 Fifth edition Experiencing the world’s religions, traditions, challenges, and change) Hinduism, is the main religion of India and is the worship of numerous gods with a faith in a solitary celestial reality. Hinduism has numerous divisions of religion, but they have a related family of beliefs. Information about this religion can be describe to us by learning about the ancients scriptures of India called The Vedas. They give detail data about gods, and devotion during the Vedi period. The Vedas teachings were preserved only in oral form for numerous years, but at a later point were transcribed down, so they could be passed down to others generations. The Vedas are the earliest sacred texts of Hinduism and it means â€Å"knowledge† or â€Å"sacred lore†. There are four basic sacred books: 1. Rig veda is basically a collection of at least one thousand chants that were used for the Aryan gods. 2. The Yajur Veda contains detail instructions for recitation to be done during a sacrifice. 3. The Soma Veda is basically music used during the vedic chants. 4. The Atharva Veda is prayers and charms. Now there is one more called The Rig Veda and according to our text book â€Å"it has an account of the origin of the universe. The universe is said to haveShow MoreRelatedHinduism And Buddhism And Hinduism1641 Words   |  7 PagesSo far we’ve learned about Hinduism and Buddhism in India two of the most common religions found in India. One of the many things about learning about different culture is the religion that is come with. Religion is one of the many things that are unique to each and every culture. Religion views are what make a group of individuals come together and form a community. In core 7 we are learning about Hinduism and Buddhism learning about India and their religion views has helped me see the world inRead MoreSimilarities Between Hinduism And Buddhism948 Words   |  4 PagesBoth Hinduism and Buddhism came from the region called India. Hinduism was the dominant one in the subcontinent, while Buddhism had to flee to other regions to spread its belief to the people. The creation of Hinduism will eventually give birth to Buddhism later on. Even though both â€Å"religions† came from the same region, they have some similarities and differences between them. Hinduism from the start was a combination of different beliefs or ceremonies from the Indus Valley Civilization. All ofRead MoreSimilarities Between Hinduism And Buddhism995 Words   |  4 PagesCompare and Contrast Essay Hinduism and Buddhism There are more than seven billion people living across the world and about 19 major religions with about 270 subgroups. In many states and countries, there are two or more religions that are being practiced by its residents. Hinduism and Buddhism are two of the 19 major religions, that are widely practiced. Hinduism and Buddhism both have common origins, and share similar beliefs. Both Hinduism and Buddhism are religions that focus on the way to liveRead MoreHinduism vs. Buddhism Essay627 Words   |  3 PagesHinduism and Buddhism are two of the most interesting religions in the world. To date, people still practice these religions in varying parts of the world. Although originating from the country of India, some have difficulty in differentiating between the two. Although Hinduism and Buddhism share many similarities, they are also different. What is Hinduism? Hinduism, the largest of the eastern religion and one of the oldest in the world. (Curry). Hinduism denotes the reli gions of majority ofRead MoreHinduism and Buddhism: History and Modern Appeal1696 Words   |  7 Pagesestablished religions, Hinduism and Buddhism have their similarities, as well as differences. Both religions are practiced in Southeast Asia, starting in India and have influenced each other. Hinduism dates back to 5,000 years ago, while Buddhism was created three centuries ago. I will explore what the two religions share and what separates the two from one another covering the origins, number of followers, the texts used, and the belief system followed. Origin of Hinduism Hinduism is one of the oldestRead MoreHinduism and Budhism: Two of the World ´s Largest Religions1201 Words   |  5 Pagesthese Religions are Hinduism and Buddhism. While some do not see these as extremely prominent, they are pinocle belief systems in the Asian continent, with over 1 billion followers all together. (Feldhaus) These two religions along with few other traditional Asian belief systems are very different from traditional western belief systems in ways of their origins, practices and philosophy.(Chen) What is it that makes these Asian religions different from western religions? What is similar and differentRead MoreHinduism, Buddhism, and Shinto1049 Words   |  5 PagesHinduism, Buddhism and Shinto, while vast in differences there is much to learn about these three religions similarities as well. Some facts and history of Hinduism include, Hinduism (being the oldest of the three) is dated back in pre-history before 10000 BC even believed to predate the Indus River V alley Civilization! The Vedas (the holy text of Hinduism) is the foundation for Indian culture and also the basic belief system of Hinduism. The basic belief structure of Hinduism is as follows, theRead MoreThe Goals of Hinduism and Buddhism Essay1368 Words   |  6 Pages2. Hinduism and Buddhism are traditions that originated from the Vedic sacrifice practice, and they share a common foundation in their view of existence. What are the similarities, and very importantly, the differences in their respective focuses and goals? Also included in this topic: For a time, Buddhism became a dominant tradition in much of India, but then Hinduism rose to become the dominant tradition. There are relatively few Buddhists in India today, especially in comparison to the numberRead MoreThe Spread of Hinduism and Buddhism in Southeast Asia Essay1413 Words   |  6 PagesHinduism is a very popular religion in India, being that it could possibly be the oldest religion of all time and originated in India, the Hindu population in India is 80%. With Hinduism being such a popular religion, it competes with Christianity and Islam at 900 million followers of Hinduism worldwide (Miksic, 10). As for the popularity of Buddhism, it is not nearly as prevalent as Hinduism is, even in India. A very important attribute to Hinduism is the caste system. The caste system is comprisedRead MoreSiddhartha Gautama, Siddhartha And The Country Of Nepal1464 Words   |  6 PagesSiddhartha is a compound of Sanskrit words, sidd and artha. Sidd meaning Perfection and Artha meaning to have a goal, so the overall meaning of Siddhartha is the one whose goal is perfection. He was born in a second highest caste in a Hindu family. In Buddhism, Siddhartha is not considered to be a god; he is just a person and only is considered to have certain abilities, as an extraordinary human. He was kept inside the kingdom until the age of 29, and at that time Siddhartha became very unsatisfied with

4 Reasons Why Trees Drop Nuts Early

Sometimes nut-bearing trees, such as hickory, walnut, and pecan, drop their fruit before full maturity. At times, it can be a natural shedding of a portion of the nut crop. Other causes can be more problematic, including adverse weather conditions, poor tree health, inadequate  pollination, insects, and disease. How Nut Trees Set Fruit Most nut-bearing trees have male pollinators and female flowers, both called catkins. Female flowers produce nuts during the current seasons growth and have to survive through that years growth before the crop of nuts is set. Not all flowers on a tree will produce a nut each year; in fact, they may alternate years.   There can be several natural nut drops between mid-Mays pollination through the end of Augusts fruit set, and they can be minimized by proper tree fertilization. For example, if a tree wasnt adequately pollinated or didnt have enough potassium to set good fruit, there will be nuts that may be malformed with few seeds inside (fruits on the tree grow but embryos inside dont develop). The tree will drop this fruit early because its not biologically sufficient for the trees reproduction. The tree will concentrate its energy on growing fruits that are going to set good seeds. A Trees Physical Condition Poor tree health can cause premature dropping of nuts. A trees health is often compromised because of inadequate nutrient uptake, which is most evident during drought. Insect and disease infestations increase during these times of tree stress and can further degrade a trees condition, especially if trees are growing in poor soil. Any early defoliation will cause nut drop and low-quality fruit. Water and fertilize your tree adequately to make sure it has the proper nutrients to set and grow its fruits. Weather Influence on a Trees Nut Crop Excessive rain or frost during late spring/early summer pollination will cause inadequate pollination of female flowers. Those poorly-pollinated flowers may produce a nut that will drop early or produce no nut at all. Sometimes, male pollen can mature either before or after the female flower is receptive, and this condition is usually weather-related. An extended drought during nut growth may also result in the dropping of tree nuts, particularly if the plant is in sandy soil that dries out quickly. Thats a resource competition drop, or a so-called June drop, as the tree is concentrating its energy on the number of nuts it can support.   Mechanical injury to leaves, flowers, and nuts from hail and wind may cause premature dropping as well. Insects and Diseases of Nut Trees Early pecan scab infection of young nuts will cause nuts to drop and is a major cause of pecan crop failure. Black walnut is highly vulnerable to anthracnose, and the disease is of much concern in commercial orchards. Leaf diseases in nut trees such as scab, scorch, mildew, blotch, brown spot, and downy or vein spot may also cause nut shedding. The pecan nut casebearer probably causes more nut shedding than all other insects combined in pecan orchards. Codling moth causes significant premature nut drop in black walnut groves. Other insects, such as black aphids, walnut caterpillar, shuckworms, stink bugs, and pecan weevils may cause early nut dropping. Avoid using pesticides during flowering, as chemicals can kill beneficial insects and result in inadequate pollination.

The Paradox Of The Hero - 1484 Words

The Paradox of the Hero in Paradise Lost What exactly is a hero? A common pedestrian might say a hero is someone who goes out of their way to help people. A child may say that a hero is someone who performs valiant deeds. Merriam-Webster Dictionary itself has 3 definitions of a hero: â€Å"a person who is admired for great or brave deeds or acts,† â€Å"a person who is greatly admired† and â€Å"the chief male [or female] in a story, play, movie etc.† (Merriam Webster Dictionary). In a literary situation, a hero is defined as one with certain traits that follows the epic hero cycle. The epic hero cycle is a common literary tool used throughout the ages in famous epics, such as The Iliad and The Odyssey. It follows a simple pattern; a strong person, usually male and of noble birth, journeys on a long and treacherous quest, encountering many mythical beings along the way, and usually hitting a snag before their victory. John Milton’s Paradise Lost follows th e exact same pattern, except with a character no one would expect: Satan. Satan exhibits many of the traits an epic hero while at the same time following the traditional epic cycle. Although he is not seen as a hero by many, Satan is indisputably the hero of Paradise Lost who follows the epic cycle down to the last detail: he is a powerful supernatural being of noble birth that is tasked with a long and treacherous quest and tested within that quest before his victory. The quest that Satan takes on is not the standard â€Å"save theShow MoreRelatedElucidation Regarding the Stages Set by Fair is foul, and foul is fair (I: i, 10), in William Shakespeares The Tragedy of Macbeth1076 Words   |  5 Pagesand bad is good; however, it actually implies that one cannot assume anything. The paradox displays the style and diction that Shakespeare continues to utilize throughout the tragedy. His style and diction supports the paradox as it creates confusion that causes the audience to recall that nothing can be assumed. In addition, it allows one to expect other paradoxes along with imagery that further supports the paradox, â€Å"Fair is foul, and foul is fair† (I: i, 10). The style Shakespeare utilizes createsRead More Heracles as a Paradox in Women of Trachis1531 Words   |  7 PagesHeracles as a Paradox in Women of Trachis Using the portrayal of Hercules in Sophocles tragedy Women of Trachis, a puzzling image of the Greek hero emerges. Most of the myths of Heracles portray him as a fierce warrior, tamer of beasts and a master of everything he attempts. This myth however, shows honorable traits juxtaposed with very negative aspects of the same man. Heracles is a paradox because even though he is a very great man and ideal hero, in some ways he is savage, highly emotionalRead MoreBackdrop Addresses Cowboy Analyses1101 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿Backdrop addresses cowboy by Margaret Atwood The male hero could be said to be portrayed in Atwood’s poem â€Å"Backdrop addresses cowboy† by the cowboy. The cowboy is a clichà ©d symbol of masculinity made famous by the Western film industry of America. One can immediately conjure him up, square-jawed and handsomely rugged in Stetson and spurred boots, galloping around on his trusty steed rescuing damsels in distress with whom he intends on riding off romantically into the sunset with. This is howeverRead MoreJohn Milton s Paradise Lost985 Words   |  4 PagesJohn Milton’s Paradise Lost is a paradox of morality and character definitions. After reading multiple articles, the largest concerning topic was the hero status of an inherently evil character. The issue lies within defining what a hero is and is not in terms of epic poetry. John Milton’s refusal to clarify a hero shows this paradox he has created is a something that he meant to achieve. According to Mary Nyquist in The Father s Word/Satan s Wrath, â€Å"The text seems here not just to invite, butRead MoreSoren Kierkegaards The Iliad, By Simone Weil1349 Words   |  6 Pageswhich they have come to posses, that they are no longer empathetic. This then turns the individual into an instrument of the force, thus making the individual with power and the individual without both subjugated to the force. This is where the paradox occurs, force in itself cannot be possessed but instead possesses those who wish to wield, turning the individual into an instrument (15/69). In this sense force levels the playing field. The blindness that comes with the use of force â€Å"establishesRead MoreTheorist : Philip Zimbardo s `` The Lucifer Effect ``984 Words   |  4 Pagesand the hero. If one chooses to let things go on they are no better than the ones doing it. Anyone can be a hero, its just a matter if you ll take it or not, when the opportunity comes. It’s going against others for what is right. For instance, Joe Darby, the hero of Abu Ghraib. He stopped the abuses by showing the photos, though he had to go into hiding for three years because he himself and his family were being threatened to be killed. Zimbardo wants us all to believe that we are a â€Å"Hero-in-Waiting†Read MoreEssay on Kierkegaards View on Faith1045 Words   |  5 Pageshighest, also that it is dishone st of philosophy to give something else in its place and to disparage faith† (Fear and Trembling, 12).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  To Kierkegaard, the whole biblical story is a paradox. â€Å"Thinking about Abraham is another matter, however; then I am shattered. I am constantly aware of the prodigious paradox that is the content of Abraham’s life, I am constantly repelled, and, despite all its passion, my thought cannot penetrate it, cannot get ahead by a hairsbreadth† (Fear and Trembling, 12)Read MoreEssay about Soren Kierkegaards Fear And Trembling959 Words   |  4 PagesHow does the individual assure himself that he is justified? In Soren Kierkegaards Fear and Trembling, Abraham, found in a paradox between two ethical duties, is confronted with this question. He has ethical duties to be faithful to God and also to his son, Isaac. He believes that God demands him to sacrifice Isaac. But, Abraham, firmly adhering to his faith, submitted to what he believed was the will of God. By using his perspective and that of his alternative guise, Johannes de Silentio,Read More Fai r Is Foul And Foul Is Fair Essay760 Words   |  4 Pagesfunctions throughout the play. The line is a prophecy which one thing seems like another. It implies especially to the characters that they are not as they seem to be. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The Three Witches are the ones who introduce the paradox that runs throughout the play. The theme affects these characters because although they speak of the future, they do not seem to affect the course of it. They are the agents of fate because they only speak of the truth of what will happen. MacbethRead MoreThe American Paradox By Morgan Roney Essay1136 Words   |  5 Pages Morgan Roney The American Paradox From the time of the colonial period to the early national period, hardships came about because of differing opinions and views on peoples’ rights. Slavery was a major issue for African Americans along with issues involving equality, race, and liberty. Slavery mainly arose because of the high demand for crops and goods as the world evolved. In the articles by Morgan, Breen and Innes, Holton, Levy, and Rothman the issues dealing with slavery, liberty, and

Investment in South Africa - 1213 Words

Caltex plant was established in South Africa in 1977 after the owners decided to expand its operations in South Africa. The construction of the plant brought controversy over the interested parties, there were two dimensions of the utilitarian benefits of the Caltex plant, and there were violations of the justice and of moral rights whereas on the other side there were possible benefits to the South Africans. The plant setup was helpful in that it provided job opportunities to majority of South African blacks, for their families and dependants. By 1976, American companies in south Africa had employed more than 60,000 people, this ensured that they had something to rely on for their survival, another benefit is that Caltex provided support†¦show more content†¦For the second resolution, that asked Caltex not to sell to the police or military of South Africa, again I will vote for the stand, investments in South Africa were not meant to improvise or innovate on new ways of fur thering apartheid; it should stop selling the oil to the forces. This will ensure any expenditure on death, violence, segregation and unwarranted imprisonment is cut down to earth, my vote will be a strong position irrespective of amid protests from other majority shareholders. There are expectations that bureaucracy in the government will maneuver its way to ensure sales to oil the military and police, since the military and the police were the heartbeat of unlawful apartheid, any action separating Caltex from their operations will be a huge boost to the south Africans. For the third resolution, I will vote for the implementation of four tutu principles, though the principles are moderate, they were aimed at blackmailing the government in apartheid by submissions of articles cleverly written, though the clause on unions brings controversy as they may ultimately become political platforms. The managers of Texaco and So Cal should have been human and make resolutions to vote as I wo uld have voted, all human beings are equal and none should suffer on only because the other party has a comparatively advantageous position. Universal code of ethics should guide eachShow MoreRelatedThe Future of South Africa1708 Words   |  7 PagesThe future of South Africa Predicting the future development of South Africa has become increasingly difficult due to radical changes that have occurred in the last few decades. These changes have left South Africa in a state of social and economical unrest. The largest of these changes was the abolishment of Apartheid. This allowed for black vote, and thus in 1994 a black government. This lead to black empowerment, which was subjugated for hundreds of years. This however created a new series ofRead MoreSocio-Cultural Impacts990 Words   |  4 Pages2010 launched in South Africa, the main attraction was mostly on gold and diamonds. The number of crime rate is what people knew about South Africa, and since the high crime, so there are not so many people come to South Africa for travel or investment. Therefore, most of the cultural in South Africa are not familiar by the world. But FIFA World Cup has been the biggest and a very successful promotion for the cultural of South Africa and it also make a big impact to the South Africa society, it letsRead MoreStudying Existing Solar Pv Market1121 Words   |  5 PagesSOLAR PARK IN SOUTH AFRICA:- South African sun based PV business is expanding with many REIPPP tasks developed in . There are over 4 million sun based boards who have been introduced .Sun oriented influence in South Africa will help develop 25MW in the year 2012 to 1050MY by the year 2015. Recently various industries and mining organizations have found that it can spare them money and help them reduce certain costs. . http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/How-Real-Is-The-South-African-PV-MarketRead MoreBenefits Of Economic Globalization On South Africa Essay1346 Words   |  6 PagesGVPT200-Essay II South Africa has reaped the benefits of economic globalization first hand as it has emerged to become a major economic power in Africa, especially in recent years. This country has been infamously plagued by apartheid, an inhumane policy of segregation based on grounds of race, which also had economic consequences as trade sanctions were established in 1986 by the United States in response to South Africa’s policy of apartheid. However, apartheid ended in the 1990s and the South AfricanRead MoreEconomic Growth And Development Of South Africa1193 Words   |  5 Pages Viviers (cited by Vollgraaf 2016:p2) as a result of Brexit South Africa’s economic growth is expected to have a 0.1% cut-back due to its trading relations with the countries concerned. Bowler (2016:p1) stated that the UK’s pound depreciated after the Brexit occurrence, which could result in the UK’s imports being expensive. The country will be inclined to import less causing its trading im port partners to suffer in the process. South Africa’s export demand in the UK market is going to decreaseRead MoreEssay about South African Investment1083 Words   |  5 PagesA South African Investment Shanquetta Dupree PHI 445 Instructor: Whitfield May 17, 2011 In your judgment, were the possible utilitarian benefits of building the Caltex plant in 1977 more important than the possible violations of moral rights and of justice that may be involved? Justify your answer fully by identifying the possible benefits and the possible violations of rights and justice that you may be associated with the building of the plant and explaining which you think are more importantRead MoreA Report On Hotel Investment Conference Africa931 Words   |  4 PagesRELEASE AFRICA IS STILL THE ‘GO TO’ PLACE FOR HOTEL INVESTORS – UNPACKING THE OUTCOMES OF HOTEL INVESTEMENT CONFERENCE AFRICA 2014 South Africa, Pretoria, 29 September 2014: â€Å"Africa remains the ‘go to’ place in the world, in as far as hotel investment and growth is concerned - and it will be for some time to come† says one of South Africa’s leading economists and Chief Economist for Investment Solutions, Chris Hart. Addressing delegates at the recent Hotel Investment Conference Africa (HICA)Read MoreAnalysis Of Making An Investment In A Foreign Market1569 Words   |  7 Pages Making an Investment in a Foreign Market Name: Institution Making an Investment in a Foreign Market Introduction As globalization intensifies, the business community tends to expand its operations towards the international market. This can be as a result of intense competition in the local market, need to increase sales and profits margins, to enhance the company’s prestige, to create jobs, to increase the value of the entrepreneurs among others (Bodie, 2013). Before goingRead MoreSouth Afric A Role As A Leader Essay1383 Words   |  6 PagesSouth Africa plays a role as a leader come out of Africa and engaging in Africa or through whom the established powers could engage with Africa. The Mbeki administration argues that the role given to South Africa was a role South Africa took on its own. The errors in South Africa playing the role of regional power may have developed during Mandela’s phase,  due to over doing of goodwill. Thabo Mbeki’s role was to try bring South Africa to be a regional power and this is seen in the formation of theRead MoreThe Effects of Globalizat ion1678 Words   |  7 Pageseconomy of the world which results in a dramatic increase in investment, cross border trade s well as cultural exchange. Globalization is dominated by nation states, economies of national and the cultural identities of nations. Globalization creates an interconnected world with a global mass culture which is commonly referred to as a global village (Egnatz, 2011). South Africa is integrated highly into the world economy. South Africa is the strongest African economy and has attained positions like

Race is ever where Essay Example For Students

Race is ever where Essay Everywhere you go, everywhere you look, there is always somebody different. The American society focuses on that person, or group of people. They make them feel worthless and treated them like animals. Imagine walking down the street and having people stare at you or call you Names, or talk behind your back. Imagine not knowing the time because nobody will tell you. Why wont they tell you the time, or spare you some change? Because youre black, actually, because youre skin is a different color, or religion. All the characters we have read experience some from of racism none more then Othello. People that are angry or upset say most racist comments in the play. For example, when Emilia found out that Othello had killed Desdemona she was extremely mad and she called Othello a Blacker devil, this was the only time in the play that she had said anything racist about Othello. The main characters that have racist attitudes are Iago, Brabantio, Roderigo and Emilia, with the hatred of Othello as the basis for their racist actions and comments towards him. Iago is the most racist character in the book as he has it in for Othello right from the start. What sparks off Imagos hate towards him is the fact that when Othello chose his lieutenant, it was Cassio who was chosen instead of Iago. What made Iago angry was the fact that Cassio had no experience in war when he did and Cassio was chosen instead of him. Iago does not say anything racist to Othellos face but he has a lot to say against him behind his back. He schemes to destroy Othello and anything in his way including Cassio and Desdemona. The first time we hear one of his racist comments is when hes talking to Brabantio about Othello and Desdemona, Iago uses racist comments all the way through the play, as he tries to turn people against Othello, for example calling him a Barbary Horse. He never says anything racist to Othellos face because in his plot he had to be his best friend, so as not to make him suspicious that Iago was causing all the trouble for him. Iago is jealous of Othello for many reasons; one being that Othello has higher ranking in the army than him, and also he has a good marriage with Desdemona which Iago does not have himself with Emilia. These are the main causes of his hatred for Othello and the reason he adopts such a racist attitude. Roderigo is another one of the racist characters in the play, being so right from the start. He is Imagos accomplice and will do anything that Iago wants him to. I think he does this because of the way Iago can twist a situation to make it sound as if R oderigo would get something good from it but in the end he doesnt. One of the racist names he calls Othello behind his back is Thick-lips. He hates Othello because hes jealous of him as he also loves Desdemona but cannot have her. I dont think he views Othello in a very bad, racist way but uses the racism against Othello because hes jealous of him. Neither Roderigo nor Iago would say anything racist to Othellos face, as he is the General of the Army. Brabantio is also a racist character, and is enraged when he finds out that his daughter, Desdemona, has been seeing the moor behind his back. Brabantio is so mad he sends out his guards to catch Othello and put him in prison. Brabantio views Othello as a foul and dirty no good black, I think this racist view of his is because hes angry when he finds out that his daughter has been seeing this moor. Unlike Iago and Roderigo, Brabantio will openly make racist comments about Othello to his face such as, lascivious moor, and Wheeling strang er. Brabantio can do this because he is the Senator of Venice and is higher in rank than Othello. The other character who is racist towards Othello is Emilia, the lady in waiting to Desdemona. Emilia is disgusted with Othello when she finds

Sample on Strategy Management of McDonalds Fast Food Company

Question: Describe about the Strategy Management for McDonalds. assignment requires to choose the retail company. Answer: Executive Summary This report contains an analysis of different strategies that can be employed by McDonalds in their operations for sustainability. It analyses the mission, vision and objectives of the company. Besides, the macro-environment has also been analyzed critically by the application of the PESTEL model and Porters five factor model. Internal factors have also been analyzed in the form of a SWOT analysis. The models applied in this report are essential in strategic management and they have been crafted to fit the operations of different organizations. Lastly, recommendations have been provided on how the strengths the company has can be utilized while minimizing the effects of the companys weaknesses. Also, there are recommendations on how the company can seize opportunities and evade possible threats that may be harmful to business. Strategic Purpose Strategic Purpose of the Organization Various business aspects are covered by McDonalds vision and that is evident in their vision statement. The company embraces innovation because they need to satisfy their customer needs, and that is why they say they need to enhance the contemporary customer experiences. Their vision has a strategic link to it and that is why the company is ever improving their products to suit the current and future market needs (McDonalds UK, 2016). They are determined to create products that will give satisfaction now as they work towards improving the products to give the market the quality of products they would need in the future. This shows that the main strategy to keep this reality is by embracing innovation which the company does effectively. Also, the mission of the company as clearly stated in their mission statement is to provide a conducive environment for their customers to eat and drink while offering the best working conditions to the employees. Also, it includes the corporate social responsibility by clearly stating that they would like to have a positive impact in the environment (McDonalds UK, 2016). These are factors that are strategic since they help the company to have a humble experience in the society and in so doing, they gain popularity and increase their sales. Compatibility between Strategic Statements and Functional Objectives of the Company From the vision and the mission statements discussed above, it can be deduced that there is a relationship between the statements and the functional objectives of the company (Dey, 2016). This is so because, McDonalds has managed to fulfill its promise to the market in offering the best quality food that they need and an ample environment from which the consumers can enjoy their meals.Besides, it has managed to give people good working experience by providing conducive environments from which they work. Their corporate social responsibility is also on point because they have activities that work towards improvement of the environment. External Analysis Macro-Environment Analysis (PESTEL Analysis) McDonaldscorporate strategies address the different issues that are discussed in this PESTEL analysis. This model analyzes the external factors that that present different opportunities and threats to the business. McDonalds is mainly focused on the socio-cultural and economic factors. Nonetheless, the companys success can be attributed to the effective strategies that have been employed by the company to deal with the external factors (Leekha Chhabra Sharma, 2014). Since the company is the biggest fast food outlet, McDonalds needs to adapt its strategies to suit the ever changing industry. Political Factors Political factors play a vital role in the operations of a business. This relates to many factors that are politically influenced. For instance, when an organization wants to enter the global market, it needs to have strategies that will make it successful in such an environment (Shilei Yong, 2009). In McDonalds case, the political factors include: increase in international trade agreements, which is an opportunity; the pending tax reforms which also is an opportunity and the changing public health guidelines and policies, which pose a threat to operations in the industry. The political factors have enabled McDonalds to expand in many international markets due to political stability (Verma, Gupta Nangia, 2014). Also, the company has an opportunity to strategically change its operations to minimize the impact of taxation without necessarily violating the law. However, there is a threat of the public health policies which are increasingly discouraging people from consuming junk and fa st food. Nonetheless, the company has a chance to change and improve its products to be healthy. In this analysis, the political factors opportunities outweigh the threats that are posed by the policies. Economic factors Economic factors address the wider economy. The economic factors include the growth rate of the economy, inflation, unemployment, costs of raw materials and energy costs among others. Changes and shifts in these factors affect the operation of an organization. Economic changes across the globe influence McDonalds working environment because it operates in different markets. The slow but steady nature of the US economy gives an opportunity to the company. McDonalds has a potential to grow because of the nature of the economy of the state. Another factor is the stable but risky economy in Europe (Sardar Talat, 2015). This poses a threat to the companys expansion in the region. Also, in Asia there is a rapid growth of the economy and it is offering opportunities to the local population. This is also a threat to McDonalds expansion in the Asian market. Analysis of the economic factors shows that the economy as an external factor poses a threat to the business (Bernhardt, et al., 2015). Socio-cultural Factors The analysis of social cultural factors refers to the social conditions that favor or limit the business of the company.Socio-cultural factors involve shared or common attitudes and beliefs of a population. They also refer to how the population reacts to trend changes. For McDonalds, the external social factors include: First, the widening wealth gap. This brings opportunities for the company to increase revenue due to an increased customer base. Since the company targets the middle and the low income earners, this creates great potential for growth. Secondly, cultural diversity gives the company an opportunity to improve the product mix to suit the diverse market (Brown, Bessant Lamming, 2013). This is also an opportunity since it increases the companys revenue through more sales. Lastly, there are lifestyle and healthy trends, which give the company an opportunity to improve healthfulness of its products. The analysis of the socio-cultural factors gives the company more opportunit ies than threats and hence an increased chance for future business. Technological Factors The technological factors also play a vital role in the success of a company. The ever changing technological techniques offer opportunities to those companies that also grow with the technology while the ones that do not improve their technologies are threatened. Such factors as improved communication, production techniques and distribution channels impact a business greatly. For McDonalds, research and development activities help the company to come up with improvements that enhance efficiency. Also, automation by the company helps in increasing production and hence a larger market is easily satisfied. Moreover, online marketing and sales increase the market base for the company (Erickson, 2016). Generally, the technological factors existing offer the company an opportunity for better business. Self service is one of the operational functions that technology enhances. Self service creates efficiency for both the organization and the customers. Also automation makes the production o f different products easy and faster. This improves the general performance of the organization. Ecological Factors Factors like climate change affect the business negatively hence posing a threat to the company. Although, emphasis on strategies that emphasize on sustainable business offers an opportunity, and also the increased corporate environmental activities help in popularization of the company. The company has a CSR policy because it is concerned with the environmental matters (Stembridge, 2014). The company encourages reusing of waste products to protect the environment. Also, they engage in occasional activities that clean the environment. Legal Factors Legal factors act as threats more than opportunities to a business. For instance, regulations limit operations of a company. The new minimum wage levels in the US affect the company negatively since they increase the operation costs, also the animal welfare regulations also threaten the business because they produce animal products too (Pingali, 2016). Legal factors are a major threat because they keep on changing and what is legal today may be illegal tomorrow making business difficult. These factors offer different opportunities and threats to the company. Since McDonalds is still a leader in the fast food restaurant business, it can be ascertained that they have the right strategies to tackle the challenges that are posed by these factors. Besides, the company can also seize the opportunities that the factors bring due to their strategic positioning. The analysis shows that there are opportunities that the company can use to gain a competitive advantage in future and that is how the company can be sustainable into the future. Also, the company should lay down strategies that deal with threats that these factors offer. Porters Five Force Factors Analysis McDonalds exhibits different levels of strength in the five forces. This model analyzes the most effective factors that directly or indirectly affect the business. For McDonalds, the focus is on the fast food industry. The companys success in the industry indicates that, effective strategies are being utilized to manage the external forces that may negatively affect business (AzadiRahimzadeh, 2012) Competitive Rivalry (Strong Force) The company faces stiff competition because the fast food restaurant industry is already saturated. Some of the players in the industry include KFC, Dominos, and Pizza Hut among others.For McDonalds, the external factors that create a strong force include the high number of competitors, the level of aggressiveness of the competitors and low switching costs. All these pose a threat to the company since they are strong forces and entry is easy for other firms. Bargaining Power of Customers (Strong Force) Customers have a chance to easily impose their demands on the company since switching costs are low. Moving from one restaurant to another is easy. Also, the large numbers of service providers acts as a threat to their operation and customers can influence their operations (Rosenberg, 2015). In addition,availability of substitutes give customers the strength to bargain since they can readily get substitutes of what the company offers, hence the bargaining power of customers is a strong force. Bargaining Power of Suppliers (Weak Force) The bargaining power of suppliers does not affect the companys operations. This is due to the large number of suppliers of raw materials in the market. Also, there is an abundance of the supplies that the company utilizes which makes it possible for them to have options to choose the best bargains. This is a weak force and it gives an opportunity to the company to cut costs. Threat of Substitutes (Strong Force) The analysis of this force focuses on the effects of the availability of substitutes on the firms performance. High performance, low switching costs and substitute availability are strong forces that influence the operations of McDonalds. This factor is harmful to business although the company has managed to retain its popularity in the industry for long (Dey, 2016). Such a force can be managed through strategies like product quality enhancement and improvement. Threat of New Entrants (Moderate Force) In all industries, the threat of new entrants exists. It is a force that threatens the market base of a business. In the case of McDonalds, the force is not so strong because there are some limitations in terms of costs. These costs relate to capital, switching costs and brand development. McDonalds is already popular and there are minimal chances of new entrants taking over their market space. Besides, McDonalds has developed a loyal customer base. Again the high cost of capital does not allow new entrants to invade the market easily and that is why this force is moderate and is controllable by the company. Internal Analysis Strategic Capabilities. Organizational Capabilities and Core Competences The company has different capabilities that enable it to manage the operations of the company such as having a secret recipe, core intellectual assets, a strong value chain and other capabilities and core competences are discussed below. Secret recipe-McDonalds has a secret recipe that cannot easily be imitated. They have strict confidential contracts signed by people who offer their services. Core intellectual assets-The employees in McDonalds are trained in the way the organization operates and how to prepare different products. Quality is highly upheld and they are highly motivated. Strong value chain-The organization has a strong value chain, which helps in the achievement of the companies objectives. Financial physical assets and technology-The Company has a huge asset base and that makes its expansion easy because of the competitive advantage it enjoys. In addition, it employs technology in most of its activities and that makes it have superior products. Business Functions Analysis The main business functions include, administrative functions, franchising, which is a kind of business model that gives different organizations a right to use their brand name and business model for a specified period of time, human resource, supplies and product development. These functions are essential and helped the organization to gain the success that it enjoys currently. Although there are other functions, the ones mentioned are the ones that promote the strategic wellbeing of the organization. Basis of Competitive Strategy The generic strategy the company uses is the one of cost leadership. The company engages in cost minimization so that their products can have low prices. This strategy has helped the company in market penetration. The company operates on position 2, 3 and 4 which are, low price, hybrid and differentiation. Innovation and creativity are the practices that enhance the companys competitive advantage (Wittmann Reuter, 2008). Strategic Choice and Strategy Evaluation Key Direction of Future Growth It is essential for McDonalds to grow its business and possibly diversify because of the changing trends in the business environment. Changes like peoples tastes and preference, production techniques and environmental conservation policies affect business. This can be done by exploring new products and new markets. The Ansoff matrix can be applied in the process to come up with suitable strategies for improved business operations (Richardson Evans, 2007). Market Penetration Market penetration involves the presentation of the existing products to an already existing market (Taylor, 2012). McDonalds has chicken products, Hamburgers, French fries, soft drinks, desserts and salads. The strategy for market penetration for the new products is offering them at a reduced price (Goldman, Nieuwenhuizen, 2006). This strategy is effective for the penetration of a new and existing market since people like to spend little and gain more. New Product Development The company has always provided innovative products to its customers. This relates to unique recipes that they employ in the production of their products. McDonalds seeks innovation from one market and employs it in the rest of the worlds markets. This strategy is a little risky but it has helped the company to build its over 47 million customers across the world. The strategy is the one responsible for the companys growth. New Market Development McDonalds is a global company and its franchise system helps it to reach its customers in the international market. The organization has over 31000 outlets and is operational in 119 countries and still is expanding (Pride Ferrell, 2010). The franchise system, the company is successful in entering new international market and the strategy has proven to be significantly effective. Diversification Diversification is a marketing strategy in which an organization engages in exploring markets which in which it has not been having operations (Taylor, 2012). It is difficult for the company along its normal operations to diversify. The franchise system is not suitable for diversification since the processes involved may be long and insignificant. The strategy employed is the acquisition of other companies with different products. For instance, McDonalds acquired some stake in Chipotle Mexican Grill Pert a Manger and Donatos Pizza. This is the strategy that can work for diversification since the company has a competitive advantage. Ansoffs Matrix Analysis This is a strategic planning tool that is used by marketing managers and other executives in coming up with ways they will operate in the future. The option in the matrix chosen is market penetration strategy. Suitability The strategy employed by McDonalds in market penetration is taking in new products to existing markets at low prices and that edges competition making it a suitable strategy (Richardson, Evans, 2007). Acceptability The strategy is acceptable because, the company operates at low costs and that gives them a competitive advantage over other players who have high operational costs. Feasibility The strategy is feasible because the company has a huge financial asset base which enables it to enter the new markets at low prices without significant effects on their financial status. Conclusion and Recommendations McDonalds has different strengths which enable it to survive in the competitive fast food industry. Having a strong financial base enables them to navigate through various economic cycles. To reduce risks, the company should diversify since it has a high financial asset base. The nature of the food that the company produces acts as a weakness because there are campaigns against fast foods in the world. The company should start producing healthy products that will help them remain afloat in the market. Also, all legal requirements should be fulfilled to reduce risks. There is an opportunity in the fast growing fast food industry because people dont have time to prepare their food and so this opportunity should be used by the company to increase its business. Besides, the company should explore green energy which will help in conservation and reduction of costs. The threats the company faces include competition, public health matters and environmental issues. 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