Training in Clinical and Counseling Psychology

Graduate school applicants who want a career in the field of psychology often assume that training in clinical or counseling psychology will prepare them for practice, which is a reasonable assumption, but not all doctoral programs offer similar training. There are several kinds of doctoral programs in clinical and counseling psychology, and each offers different training. Consider what you want to do with your degree -- counsel patients, work in academia or do research -- when you decide which program is best for you. Considerations in Selecting Graduate Programs   As you consider applying to clinical and counseling programs remember your own interests. What do you hope to do with your degree? Do you want to work with people and practice psychology? Do you want to teach and conduct research at a college or university? Do you want to conduct research in business and industry or for the government? Do you want to work in public policy, conducting and applying research to address social problems? Not all doctoral psychology programs will train you for all of these careers. There are three types of doctoral programs in clinical and counseling psychology and ​two different academic degrees. Scientist Model The scientist model emphasizes training students for research. Students earn a  Ph.D., a doctor of philosophy,  which is a research degree. Like other science Ph.Ds., clinical and counseling psychologists trained in scientist programs focus on conducting research. They learn how to ask and answer questions through conducting carefully designed research. Graduates of this model get jobs as researchers and college professors. Students in scientist programs are not trained in practice and, unless they seek additional training after graduation, they are not eligible to practice psychology as therapists. Scientist-Practitioner Model The scientist-practitioner model is also known as the Boulder Model, after the 1949 Boulder Conference on Graduate Education in Clinical Psychology in which it was first created. Scientist-practitioner programs train students in both science and practice. Students earn Ph.D.s and learn how to design and conduct research, but they also learn how to apply research findings and practice as psychologists. Graduates have careers in academia and practice. Some work as researchers and professors. Others work in practice settings, such as hospitals, mental health facilities, and private practice. Some do both. Practitioner-Scholar Model The practitioner-scholar model is also referred to as the Vail model, after the 1973 Vail Conference on Professional Training in Psychology, when it was first articulated. The practitioner-scholar model is a professional doctoral degree that trains students for clinical practice. Most students earn Psy.D. (doctor of psychology) degrees. Students learn how to understand and apply scholarly findings to practice. They are trained to be consumers of research. Graduates work in practice settings in hospitals, mental health facilities, and private practice.

Twelfth Night by Trevor Nunn (Screen Play) - 1687 Words

Title: Twelfth Night Director: Trevor Nunn Writer: William Shakespeare and Trevor Nunn (screen play) Genres: Romance, Comedy, Drama Runtime: 2hr 14min (134min) Sound Mix: Doubly Colour: Metrocolour Cinematographic: Spherical Budget: 5,000,000.00 (Estimated) Filming Locations: Cotehele House, St. Dominick, Cornwall, England, UK (Quayside tavern/interior of Orsino’s castle) Lanhydrock House, Bodmin, Cornwall, England, UK(Olivia’s house and garden) Mount Edgcumbe House, Cremyll, Cornwall, England, UK Prideaux Place, Padstow, Cornwall, England, UK St. Michael’s Mount, Marazion, Cornwall, England, UK Trebarwith Strand, Cornwall, England, UK Music: O Mistress Mine (music by Shaun Davey, words by William Shakespeare, sung by Ben Kingsley) Heigh-Ho, The Wind and the Rain (music by Shaun Davey, words by William Shakespeare, sung by Bens Kinsley) Main Characters: Helena Bonham Carter (Olivia), Richard E. Grant (Sir Andrew Aguecheek), Nigel Hawthorne (Malvolio), Ben Kingsley (Feste), Mel Smith (Sir Toby Belch), Imelda Staunton (Maria), Toby Stephens (Orsino), Imogen Stubbs (Viola) and Stephen Mackintosh (Sebastian). â€Å"Twelfth Night is an amusing and entertaining comedy of romance and gender confusion which creates a love triangle out of mistaken sexual identities. The period has been moved up to the early 19thShow MoreRelatedEssay about Film Versions of Shakespeare Comedies2208 Words   |  9 PagesFilm Versions of Shakespeare Comedies Shakespearean plays are complex, intricate pieces of work in which a diverse range of interpretations and readings can be made. This is particularly true of his comedies, where the light-hearted humour is often offset by darker, more serious undertones. In adapting these comedies it is for the director – in the cinematic context – to decide how to interpret the play and which elements are privileged and which are suppressed. This variance in interpretation

3 Year Global Sale Data of Computer vs. Laptop vs. Tablet

Questions: 1. Do research on the Web to find at least three years of global sales data for tablet computers vs. laptop and/or desktop computers. Use a graphics program to illustrate the sales figures. Write a brief summary of your findings. 2. Use the Internet to search for information about a company that has excellent or poor product quality in your estimation. You can use a search engine, such as Google, or a database at your university. Write a brief report describing what you found. What leads to higher quality products? How can an information system help a company produce higher quality products? 3. Do research on an entrepreneur in Technology that you admire. Write a brief description of how the individual was able to start a business. What challenges had to be overcome? Did the individual encounter failure before becoming a success? 4. Careers in Technology Go to the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics (www.bls.gov) Web site, which publishes a list of the fastest growi ng occupations. Write a report identifying the five fastest growing occupations. What are the growth opportunities of three careers that are the most appealing to you? 5. Using a database or spreadsheet program, develop a table listing give popular Internet sites for a job search. The table should include columns on any costs of using the site, any requirements such as a salary and job type, important features, advantages and disadvantages. Answers: 1. The below mentioned statistics [table 1] shows the global shipment figures for tablets, laptops and desktop PCs over the period 2013 to 2015. As seen from the bar graph, in year 2013 and 2014 global sales of tablets are almost similar. In 2015, the sale for tablets has been increased drastically. For laptops the scenario is bit different (Gartner.com, 2016). In 2013 and 2014, the numbers of sales are almost similar and in 2015 it has been increased not by a huge margin. As the sales for tablets and laptops are increasing over the past three years a different trend has been found for the Personal computers (PCs) (Statista, 2016). Decreased demand for Desktop computers drags down PC sales by a huge margin as seen from the above graph. Most reputable vendors like HP, Lenovo, and Dell are concentrating on making portable smart devices rather than making pc desktops in recent years. Weak demand for Desktop computers caused PC sales to decrease more than percent in each year (Statisticb rain.com, 2016). Year Sales for Tablets Sales for Laptops Sales for Desktops 2013 22700,00,000 18100,00,000 13700,00,000 2014 23000,00,000 17400,00,000 12900,00,000 2015 33200,00,000 1940000000 11900,00,000 Table: Global sales data (Source: Statisticbrain.com, 2016) Several research firms have confirmed that big reason for decline was businesses buying fewer desktop computers. According to Tech Research Group (an organization), there is almost 10 percent decrease throughout the year 2013. 2013 is considered the worst in history for global Personal Computer Markets (PCs). It is no surprise that the increasing adoption of smart phones, tablets and laptops have caused the reduction in sales of Desktop (PCs). In most of the countries, people have started to use Tablets and laptops as their primary device for their work rather than using Desktops (Pcs) (Statisticbrain.com, 2016). With Android powering the current sales market, the sales of desktops and other older devices are decreasing day by day (www.idc.com, 2016). It is clear from the above bar graph that in recent years there is an abnormal hike in the sales for Tablets. The table given above confirms the number of sales for desktops, laptops and tablets. 2. McDonalds, (founded in1940, 15th may) is one of the largest USA based fast food restaurants provides its services throughout the world are to be considered here. It started its business as a barbeque restaurant. McDonald's predominantly sells hamburgers, desserts, soft drinks, chicken items, breakfast items etc (Mcdonalds.com.hk, 2016). It provides the opportunity to the customers to eat within the restaurant or to take a parcel. All the items are wrapped appropriately. It provides high quality food products. It provides high quality products. McDonalds have fulfilled almost every commitment. It provides all its nutrition related information along with the products. It provides perfect meal packages. It is giving an opportunity to the customers to choose between apple and milk. The consumers are its stakeholder only (Brown, 2015). It is known its low price. It provides customer friendly relationship. The taste, flavor quality of the products is unique. The advertisement process focused on the teen and child consumers. McDonalds is getting opportunity to add premium white chicken, Asian salad etc. Areas under consideration to achieve higher quality product: There were some unexpected changes occur as the change of the CEOs simultaneously, which is a threat. There is no service for substitute products. There is no bargaining power. It is trying both differentiation and leadership strategies. Some franchisers are reporting that McDonalds is granting more franchises under their capacity level. McDonalds should focus on good customer relationship chain management. The services provided to the customer are no consistent. As the eating habit, concern of people are changing they need to improve it. There are many competitors are there in non burger segments such as- KFC, PIZZA HUT etc. Today it faces many challenges in the market for health conscious customers. They should make the customers happy so that they come back for registers. They should try to raise their quality of the food along with more comfortable seating as well as dining environment. They should spent more money and time for the perfect planning to execute a proper management outcome. They must hire expert employees. Incentive plans should be included. Older buildings need to get updated. There are only 173 outlets present all over the world McDonalds need to increase the number of outlets. It is the first company which started with special burger is becoming obsolete day by day as consumers are looking for changes. 3. In the contemporary world, Jeff Bezosis has considered as one of the pioneer entrepreneur in the field of technology. This pioneer entrepreneur previously worked in Wall Street. It was 1994, when he had identified the interesting facts about online users trend. During that time, use of internet had increased by 2300% in a year (Stone, 2013). Such a huge rate influenced him to think about it and as a consequence, the organization has established. During that time, the central aim of the organization was to make it worldwide customer centric organization (Stone, 2013). However, what should be sold using online medium were major challenges for Jeff Bezosis. After started with 20 different products, Jeff Bezosis finally decided to sell books due to its universal demands. Since, incorporation, the organization had employed five employees during next one year. In July 1995, the organization had established its first virtual store named "Earth's Biggest Book Store. Since, the establishment, it has remained ahead of its closet competitors. During this period, the organization never faced any failure. At present, it has acquired the Washington Post news paper with $250 million which demonstrates its overall success (Stone, 2013). 4. According to the occupational outlook handbook of the year 2016-2017, this had been released on 17th December, 2015 by U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics returns BLS employment estimation for the 2014-2024 decade (Bls.gov, 2016). The occupational outlook handbook is regarded as the most universally used sources of career authority of career information. Career counselors, teachers, parents, students, education and training officials, career changers, and researchers are using Occupational Outlook Handbook for availing detailed information about hundred of occupations. A detailed overview of the five fastest growing occupations is given below. Occupations Number of jobs, 2014 2014 Median pay Computer and Information Research Scientists 25600 108,360.00 Computer Network Architects 146200 98430 Software Developers 1114000 97990 Information Security Analysts 82900 88890 Computer Systems Analysts 567800 82710 Table: Fastest Growing occupations In this recent time, people are much more concerned about the act of choosing the right career which will make their future bright. The growth opportunity of three careers that will be appropriate for an individual are: Software developers- The occupation of Software developers is estimated to grow 108 percent from 2014 to 2024, which is regarded as the fastest growing occupation than the other occupations due to the fact that Software developers is estimated to develop over the converging decade, and extra technicians are required to inaugurate the system needs. Computer Systems Analysts - The activity of Computer Systems Analysts is estimated to be grown 40 percent from 2014 to 2024, which is also growing gradually with time. Computer Network Architects - The occupation of Computer Network Architects is estimated to grow 40% from 2014 to 2024, which has been growing with a great speed with respect to other occupations. The main requirement of Computer Network Architects is to fulfill the requirement of infrastructure demand in recent times. 5. Basis of Distinction Monster.com CarrerBuilder.com reed.co.uk Justlanded.com Naukri.com (1) Works of the portals It is globally and is handled over the world It is maintained nationally as well as internationally to provide jobs. It is the specific US Job portal that provides job only in the US based regions. It is the specific US Job portal that provides job only in the US based regions. It is the job portal that provides job all around the world. It works globally. (2) Ratings and reviews 8.2/10 3.8/10 4.2/10 8.8/10 6.5/10 (3) Alexa Rank 868 451 As it is not global the rank of the job portal is not mentioned. 443 (4)Services Offered Paid Free Free Free Free as well as Paid (5) Customers Feedback Good Medium Best Good Better and improving (6) Registered Users More than 3 millions. Approximately 1 millions. Approximately 1 crore. More than More than 3 millions. More than 5 millions. (7) Reviews of Yahoo.com Most customers is un satisfied from the service of monster.com Most customers is not satisfy from the service of carrerbuilder.com The review of US based customers is quite good as it offers better services and facilities As per the review of yahoo.com the services of justlanded.com is very low. As per the review of yahoo.com the services of naukri.com good a satisfactory. (8) Services offered Online Online Online Online Online (9) Database management In monster.com mainly consultancy services are registered as compared to recruiters. In carrerbuilder.com both recruiters and consultancy is present. In reed.co.uk.com mainly recruiters from the specified regions are only present. In justlanded.com only recruiters are present. In naukri.com both recruiters and consultancy companies is registered. (10) Web Traffic The web traffic of monster.com is very large as compared to any other job portals. The web traffic of carrerbuilder.com is medium as compared to any other job portals. The web traffic of reed.co.uk.com is large and limited only in US. The web traffic of reed.co.uk.com is medium and limited only in US. The web traffic of naukri.com is large as compared to any other job portals. (11) Cost of access Basic service free; need membership for premium service. Basic service free; need membership for premium service. Basic service free; need membership for premium service. Basic service free; need membership for premium service. Basic service free; need membership for premium service. References Bls.gov,. 2016. Computer and Information Technology Occupations : Occupational Outlook Handbook: : U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/home.htm 13 January 2016. Brown, J. 2015. McDonalds fixes its marketing, Chipotle fixes its product.Fortune. https://fortune.com/2015/01/21/mcdonalds-chipotle-integrity-trust/ 13 January 2016. Gartner.com,. 2016. Gartner Says Worldwide Tablet Sales Grew 68 Percent in 2013, With Android Capturing 62 Percent of the Market. https://www.gartner.com/newsroom/id/2674215 13 January 2016. Mcdonalds.com.hk,. 2016. How Do We Control Our Quality? :: McDonald's Hong Kong. https://www.mcdonalds.com.hk/en/food/learn-more-about-mcdonalds-food/how-much-do-you-know-about-our-food/how-do-we-control-our-quality.html 13 January 2016. Statista,. 2016. Tablets, laptops PCs shipments forecast 2010-2019 | Statistic. https://www.statista.com/statistics/272595/global-shipments-forecast-for-tablets-laptops-and-desktop-pcs/ 13 January 2016. Statisticbrain.com,. 2016. Computer Sales Statistics | Statistic Brain. https://www.statisticbrain.com/computer-sales-statistics/ 13 January 2016. Stone, B. 2013. The Secrets of Bezos: How Amazon Became the Everything Store.Businessweek.com. https://www.bloomberg.com/bw/articles/2013-10-10/jeff-bezos-and-the-age-of-amazon-excerpt-from-the-everything-store-by-brad-stone 13 January 2016. www.idc.com,. 2016. PC Leaders Continue Growth And Share Gains As Market Remains Slow, According to IDC. https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=prUS25372415 13 January 2016.

Admissions Essay -Homeland Security

Self Assesment/Admissions Essay -Homeland Security Free Online Research Papers I have always been intrigued by studying different topics related to Law Enforcement, specifically in the area of Homeland Security. I have taken many courses over the past 19 years relating to or touching the surface on issues surrounding 911 and Homeland Security. I find myself wanting to look deeper into these issues. I am seeking admissions into this program for the following reasons. I want to learn in depth about the issues we have faced as a nation, and the issues we will be faced with in the future regarding Homeland Security. I have been waiting on the right time in my life to start my Master’s Program, and it is finally the right time. I am looking forward to the challenges of research. I would like to continue to advance myself and my career, and a Master’s Degree will assist my endeavor. I am committed to my family, and setting examples for my children to follow. I always push my children to do more, and this is another way to show them there are no limits if you’re willing to give 100%. My background in Law Enforcement will make the transition into this program very smooth for me. I decided to go back to College in 1993 to finish my Bachelors Degree. I finished my degree from Saint Leo University in 1995, graduating with honors (CUM LAUDE). I have taken many courses dealing directly with Homeland Security, and Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD). I am incident Command Certified (ICS), and have taken numerous courses relating to ICS structure. I personally have handled large scale events relating to disasters and security. I have been responsible for several successful presidential escorts. I feel my future contributions relating to Homeland Security center around drug trafficking efforts and training of our Law Enforcement members. I feel many parallels exist between drug trafficking activity and terrorism. Why have we not closed off our borders to drug smuggling? What implications might this have for terrorists or others who may wish to import a Weapon of Mass Destruction (WMD) into our country? Has there been a large scale impact on home-grown/manufactured drugs? While there is sure to be debate regarding the answers to these questions, most can agree that drugs remain abundantly available and an important reason our jails are overcrowded. Criminals respond to technology by using any means at their disposal, ranging from low tech mules which sacrifice one, knowing that 9 others will get through. Drug cartels have penetrated foreign governments and corrupted officials worldwide, well-financed terrorists have done the same. It would be naive to think that officials or lower level government personnel in Colombia, Afghanistan, Mexico, and a dozen other countries that may be corrupt, only sell advance information about government operations against drug cartel activity while not selling information about operations against terrorist groups. Policies are bound to fail if they ignore important social forces. Important lessons for the counter-terrorism community may lie in the Governments response to the drug trade and the way the government is organizationally structured to respond to the activities of drug trafficking organizations. Law Enforcement training must include better command, control, and coordination of policy and its funding and implementation (overall program responsibility). The enhanced effectiveness will not come from organizational structure alone. Law Enforcement training must be sensitive to ever-changing social, religious, and political phenomena spanning the globe; must be proactive, not reactive; and must keep abreast of evolving or revolutionary new technologies. One of the main challenges today for Law Enforcement is finding a way to eliminate the illegal activity for terrorist groups. If you can eliminate the illegal activity, you will impact the funding source for these various groups. Illegal drug money funds terrorist organizations and activities. The terrorists point to our willingness to consume these drugs as direct evidence of our society’s moral degeneracy. Law Enforcement needs to be vigilant in its efforts to thwart drug trafficking in the United States. Having a better understanding of Homeland Security and the challenges we face as a nation, will enable me to better understand what lies ahead. The area I am currently responsible for is considered a rural area. I have worked in metropolitan areas in the past, and they pose different challenges than my current assignment. In a rural area there is more opportunity for terrorists to blend into the community. Additionally, there are more opportunities for large scale organizations to set up and run a grow house or lab that would be difficult to detect. I am utilizing aircraft operations to combat some of these issues, as well as focusing on neighborhood watch groups to report suspicious activity. These basic and simple techniques have proven to be successful in combating these types of behavior within our community. The area I currently work in did not have a large scale multi-jurisdictional co-op plan in place prior to 2005. I was instrumental in implementing and writing this plan for the tri-county area. We have a working plan to deal with terrorist threats, natural or manmade disasters, and large scale mobilizations. In Ma y 2001, we experienced a long draught within Dade County. A large scale fire developed, and we had to execute our co-op plan. The 17 day fire detail worked flawlessly. In August 2002 we experienced a tornado in Dade County. Again, we utilized our plan and our efforts proved to be successful. Whether it is a large scale disaster or terrorist threat, I am confident in my ability as a Law Enforcement manager to oversee and collaborate with any agency to make the detail a success. This program will provide me with the resources I need to better understand Homeland Security. I plan to utilize this knowledge to share the information learned with those I command. In conclusion, I would like to thank those on the selection committee for allowing me the opportunity to apply for this program. I look forward to the learning and growing opportunity that this program will offer. Research Papers on Self Assesment/Admissions Essay -Homeland SecurityThe Effects of Illegal ImmigrationThe Relationship Between Delinquency and Drug UseNever Been Kicked Out of a Place This NiceOpen Architechture a white paperInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesRelationship between Media Coverage and Social andStandardized TestingIncorporating Risk and Uncertainty Factor in CapitalGenetic EngineeringAppeasement Policy Towards the Outbreak of World War 2

Al Tazaj

Al Tazaj Introduction The name Al Tazaj is an Arabic one which means ‘fresh’. Al Tazaj opened its first restaurant in 1989. The restaurant was started by the owner of a poultry farm. The most common meal served in these restaurants is a meal prepared out of traditional recipes that Shaikh Abdul Rahman’s wife used to prepare for him.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Al Tazaj specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The restaurant has over 100 outlets making it the largest fast food chains in the entire region. This shows a positive trend in the efforts to expand the restaurants. Al Tazaj has managed to not only open restaurants in the Middle East but also in other countries such as the United States. The chain of restaurants has a branch in Chicago, which is doing very well. Apart from focusing on expanding his chain of restaurants, the owner of Al Tazaj has also ventured into other entrepreneurial activities such as opening of a scientific research center. The demand for healthy fast food in Saudi Arabia has given the owner of Al Tazaj a competitive advantage over the rest of competitors in the fast food market. This is because the restaurant prepares roasted chicken, fresh from his poultry farm. It is expected that the sale of fast food is going to increase due to the rising demand for ready meals as more people, including women, are now working away from their homes. This paper shall discuss Al Tazaj restaurant. Tags: Grilled Chicken, Saudi Arabia, barbeque, fast food. Background The first Al Tazaj restaurant came into existence in 1989. The first branch of this restaurant was opened in the holy city of Makkah. The idea of starting this restaurant was conceived by Sheik Abdulrahman Fakieh. Sheik Abdulrahman Fakieh is a poultry farmer in Saudi Arabia.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn M ore He has practiced poultry farming for over 50 years. The idea to open the restaurant was motivated by his love for chicken prepared using traditional Arabian recipe. The chicken prepared by Al Tazaj is very delicious and is prepared using traditional Saudi Arabian recipe. Since its launch, Al Tajaz has continued to satisfy its customers through excellent customer service and preparation of fresh chicken. The poultry prepared in this restaurant is got from Fakieh poultry farm. With the constant supply of chicken from this farm, Al Tazaj is able to sell its barbequed chicken over 100 destinations. This makes it the leading fast food chain stores nationally and also in the entire Middle East. Unlike fast the fast food sold in other stores, the chicken served in Al Tazaj is healthy and fresh. The restaurant gets fresh chicken direct from the farm which is barbequed using healthy recipes. Chicken is slaughtered and barbequed on the same day while still fresh. The chicken is ma rinated using a sauce that is commonly referred to as the ‘secret sauce’. It is then grilled using charcoal as the source of heat. Most of the times, the meal is served with a garden salad. It is also possible for the meal to be served together with French fries or Taza rice. The two are greasy and are some of the best accompaniments to be served together with the barbequed chicken. Some of the sauces that go well with this chicken include garlic and Tahina sauces. For desserts, Basbousa is used. This has placed the restaurant ahead of its competitors since many restaurants are not able to get chicken and cook it while fresh. The barbequed chicken from Al Tazaj tastes very natural. This is because the chicken is marinated using only natural ingredients. This ensures that the final product tastes natural and there are no artificial additives which may be harmful to people’s health.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Al Tazaj specifically fo r you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Al Tazaj has invested a lot of resources in promotion of its products. One of the methods of advertising that it has invested in is television advertisement. There are numerous television adverts that promote Al Tazaj’s products hence making them popular among the people who love to eat out but in a healthy manner. This mode of advertisement has been very effective and has given the restaurant a competitive advantage over its rivals in the fast food market in the Middle East. Meals and services The restaurant does not serve a lot of meals. Some of the meals served in Al Tazaj include Barbequed chicken combo meal, Al Tazaj kabsa, maglouba, Al Tazaj braost meal, barbequed chicken mandi, chicken nuggets meal, kebab with rice meal and barbequed chicken, among others. Locations Since the restaurant was started, it has opened other branches in many countries. Most of the restaurants are located in Saudi Arabia. However, th ere are other Al Tazaj restaurants in other parts of the world such as in Kuwait, Egypt and Malaysia. Other branches include Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan as well as Lebanon. Apart from these branches in the Middle East, Al Tazaj has branches in Chicago. The restaurant there is simply called Taza. Like in the rest of Al Tazaj restaurants, this restaurant in the United States prepares Al Tazaj barbequed chicken. Chicken is the most common meal in these restaurants. It is prepared as per the Islamic standards so that it is halal. Products and market share The restaurant has expended swiftly to other Middle East countries since its inception. The restaurant competes against renowned fast food restaurants globally such as the McDonalds, Burger King and Pizza Hut in the Saudi Arabian fast food market which is estimated to be worth over $220 million. The restaurant has branches in most of the Middle East countries. However, its first non-Arab owned restaurant was opened in Chicago, United States in August 1997. The name ‘Tazer’ was adopted for the Chicago based restaurant for easier pronunciation by the local residents since Al Tazaj would be hard for them.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Business for Al Tazaj restaurants is boosted by Muslim pilgrims whenever they visit the holy city of Mecca. During this period, the fast food chain increases its sales drastically due the presence of the vast number of pilgrims in the region. Moreover, they attract customers because they are known to sell halal products. Arabian cuisine is characterized by strong spices which give the food a strong flavor. Restaurants in Saudi Arabia offer a rich combination of deliciously prepared food. Spices are a major component of their dishes. Eating in Saudi Arabian restaurants is a bit different from eating in Western restaurants. In Saudi Arabia, there are some restrictions such as prohibition in eating raw meats. Therefore, it is not possible to find meals such as sushi or steak tartar, which are common in the western restaurants. However, the restaurants do not only prepare Arabic dishes but also have others such as Italian, Indian and Pakistani cuisines. Price competition The cost of foo d in Saudi Arabia depends with the restaurant that one visits. A typical meal costs around $5.00 USD in an average restaurant. However, fancy restaurants charge an average of $13.00 USD for the cheapest meal. Most of the foods served in fast food restaurants cost between 6 and 20 SAR. Another difference between Saudi Arabian restaurants and other restaurants is that most of the Saudi Arabian restaurants are divided into compartments that do not allow free mixing of men and women. However, there are restaurants that have a family section, or restaurants that are entirely family restaurants. This means that members of a family can freely sit together and share a meal without any restrictions. Sales and region coverage The fast food market in Saudi Arabia is expected to hit the $4.5 billion mark by the year 2015. Some of the factors that are likely to contribute to the rising demand of fast food market in Saudi Arabia include high demand for these foods among the young people as well a s the rich in the country. Most of the young people have been influenced by the western way of life, including their tendencies to indulge in fast foods. Moreover, there are more people with higher disposable incomes who are able to afford foods sold in the fast food outlets. Additionally, trend out eating out is becoming very popular among the Saudi Arabians from all age groups. This creates an opportunity for sales, particularly for restaurants such as Al Tazaj, which prepare delicious local cuisines. Restaurants, such as Al Tazaj, which serve fast foods, are expected to experience massive sales of their products in the coming three years or less. Sales from fast food restaurants are expected to account for 20 percent of the total food service transactions in Saudi Arabia. Outlets that major in fast foods have become a major attraction for the young people in Saudi Arabia. Restaurants, such as Al Tazaj, which offer delicious meals and comfort to their clients are likely to experie nce high volumes of sales in the near future. Saudi Arabia has witnessed the mushrooming of fast food outlets in the recent past. This has increased the competition for such foods locally and some restaurants, such as Al Tazaj have even opted to go beyond the regional barriers and open branches in other countries abroad. Al-Zahrani Hasan (25) observe that at the end of the year 2011, there was an increase in lunchtime fast food sales in Saudi Arabia in most of the fast food stalls. Al Tazaj restaurant is among the fast food restaurants that registered these high sales. This was especially because the restaurant prepares healthy meals, fresh and in a healthy environment. Due to the rising demand for fast foods, people employed in these restaurants and stalls are working for long hours in order to meet with the demand. The year also marked a significant shift away from the conventional extended lunches. Workers eating away from their homes opted for fast foods, with quality and swift service being the most important qualities that were being looked at by consumers before choosing where to have their meals. Domestic demand for fast food in Saudi Arabia The kingdom of Saudi Arabia is one of the largest developing countries. It covers an estimated 2.25 square kilometers. It is also estimated that there are over 24 million people. Most of the people live in urban areas. These people in urban areas are mostly found in the cities of Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam. As a result of the great population of people living in these cities, they have experienced drastic growth over the past twenty years. Jeddah is the second largest city in Saudi Arabia. It is cosmopolitan in nature. The city is located near the red sea. Pilgrims going to Makkah and Medina pass through this city. There is also a port where most of the imports to Saudi Arabia get into the country. Due to the vast population that is cosmopolitan in nature, there are numerous fast food outlets that have been opened in the past two decades. Among them is the Al Tazaj restaurant, which is famous for its barbequed chicken fresh from Fakieh Poultry Farms. The concept of fast food outlets and restaurants is relatively new in Saudi Arabia. The typical lifestyle of someone in Saudi Arabia is very different from that of a person in western countries such as the United States. However, this is slowly changing and there is a lot of transfer of culture from one part of the world to another. This probably explains why more Saudi Arabians are embracing the concept of fast food restaurants. More entrepreneurs are also venturing into this business since it is one of the businesses that are doing very well in Saudi Arabia. Sheikh Abdul Rahman bin Abdul Qadir Fakieh is not only a successful businessman in the area of fast food but has also ventured into other entrepreneurial projects. One of the projects is the Fakieh Research Development Centre. This is one of the scientific foundations established by an ind ividual. The center, just like Al Tazaj restaurant, has been a success. He was also the first entrepreneur in Saudi Arabia to venture into poultry industry. When he established Al Tazaj chain of restaurants, it was termed as the first food restaurant chain in the world that offered fresh roast chicken. As it is the case with other countries, especially those in the developed world, many people in Saudi Arabia are opting to have fast foods instead of foods prepared from their kitchens. This happens especially during lunch time due to their busy schedules thus lacking enough time to prepare meals from their homes. Fast food stalls have benefited from this tendency because they are able to meet with the rising demand for more fast food hence increasing their profits (Al-Zahrani Hasan 26). Customers are therefore presented with various alternatives for their lunch while away from their homes. Over the past few years, franchising has been on the increase in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabian b usinessmen have continued to be attracted by the success of franchises in western countries as well as locally. Borrowing from such ideas has proved to be a successful venture for most business people in the Saudi market. This is particularly true for Al Tazaj restaurants. The fast food franchises in Saudi Arabia are estimated to account for 60 percent of all the franchises in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Consumers in the Saudi market have also become more demanding. They demand to have quality and value for what they are paying for. It is expected that franchising in the Middle East is going to increase drastically in the near future. The annual growth in franchising is expected to be 27 percent. Most people consider Saudi Arabia as a kingdom whose predominant activity is related to oil. Interestingly, the kingdom has also ventured into other activities that are doing very oil. One such diverse activity is the fast food market, where restaurants such as Al Tazaj have a large share. Most of the fast food outlets have shown numerous signs of positive growth. It is expected that the import of foodstuffs in Saudi Arabia will exceed $ 7 billion every year. Fast food industry in the Middle East, particularly in Saudi Arabia has continued to grow drastically in the recent years. The growth has been fuelled by factors such as a change in lifestyle due to influence from the western countries. This has led to a desire for instant gratification, something which fast food outlets offer. This has led to a change in the lifestyle of the people in Saudi Arabia. There is also a great exposure to the outside world through modern technological devices such as computers that enable people to know what is happening globally through the internet. There is also an increase in the number of Saudi Arabian women who are working away from their homes. This reduces the time that women have to prepare meals for their families at home. Therefore, most of them opt for meals prepared at th e fast food outlets. Moreover, fast food outlets offer to deliver food to people’s home free of charge. This makes it convenient for many people, particularly at a time when most women are working outside their homes. These things make the fast food industry one of the fastest growing industries in the Middle East, especially in Saudi Arabia. Future challenges for Al Tazaj Saudi Arabia is one of the fastest growing food markets in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia is ranked as the largest importer of food. The kingdom of Saudi Arabia is run using strict Sharia laws that affect all areas of life, including the food industry. Before embarking on opening fast food outlets, it is important for one to understand the culture of the Arabs as well as the Islam religion. This will help in minimizing any conflicts that may arise if one is not well versed with the two. The two have a profound influence on the people’s way of life as well as their commercial practices. There are major events in the Islamic calendar that may significantly affect some businesses such as the fast food industry. For instance, events such as Ramadan would affect the sale of fast food in various restaurants and fast food outlets. Moreover, the kingdom requires that only halal food is sold in various eating joints. Fast food restaurants are expected to prepare their meals following halal guidelines so that everything that is sold to the people complies with the set regulations. Although the regulations for what is considered as halal are universal, there are some slight variations from one state to another. Therefore, it is important for a fast food restaurant in Saudi Arabia to find out the requirements of the country for what is halal. Marketing According to AME Info Services (1), getting a fast food restaurant that offers healthy cuisines is very rare. Healthy eating is a concern for many people, especially now that cases of people being overweight or obese are on the rise. People a re also concerned about healthy eating because of the ever increasing cases of lifestyle diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure. Therefore, the importance of healthy eating can not be over emphasized. Different restaurants prepare different meals. The type of meals prepared depends on factors such as the consumer’s preferences. Al Tazaj is a restaurant that is top in the list of the restaurants that prepare healthy meals for its consumers. The restaurant follows the set international safety standards regarding preparation of food. The restaurant also follows safety practices to ensure that the practices and procedures it uses in its operations result to a healthy environment during preparation of their healthy meals. Fresh charcoal is used for preparation of its barbeques. The restaurant operates after receiving a certificate from the Saudi Council of healthy and safe food. It is not possible for any restaurant to be operational in Saudi Arabia without first receiv ing this certificate. This shows that the restaurant has met the safety and health standards set by the Saudi government. This ensures that consumers buy food that has been prepared in a healthy environment. Al Tazaj restaurant in Chicago According to Walkup (1), the opening of Al Tazaj restaurant in Chicago was estimated to cost the owner between 3.5 and 4 million dollars. The Chicago restaurant has a capacity of 250. The location of the restaurant is expected to be a major attraction to many people hence leading to massive sales. Immediately after its launch, an average of 1500 meals was served every day. The most meals were served between 11.30 a.m and 1.30 p.m. business is good during the weekends as more people flock the restaurant over the weekends than during week days. Like in all its other branches, the Chicago restaurant emphasizes freshness and healthy preparation of meals. The restaurant aims at becoming a global village restaurant through preparation of cuisines from di fferent parts of the world. Conclusion Saudi Arabia is one on the developing countries that is swiftly adopting the concept of eating out in fast food restaurants. Most of the Saudi Arabian people live in urban areas, with the majority living in Jeddah. The large population of people in Jeddah is an advantage to Al Tazaj restaurant since the restaurant is located in this city. Although there are numerous fast food outlets that are being opened nowadays, Al Tazaj restaurant was among the first fast food restaurant to be opened in Saudi Arabia. Shaikh Abdul Rahman Fakieh was the founder of the first Al Tazaj restaurant. The restaurant was opened in 1989. The first restaurant was opened in Mecca. Shiakh Fakieh ran a poultry farm that supplied the restaurant with the chicken that was used to make barbeque chicken. The owner of Al Tazaj conceived the idea of opening a fast food restaurant which prepares healthy barbequed chicken. Since its opening, the restaurant has continued to out do its competitors in the fast food industry. It has also managed to expand its operations into other countries in the Middle East as well as in the European countries such as the United States. It is expected that the fast food industry in Saudi Arabia is going to continue growing because of the high demand for fast food for the working population. AME Info Services. Al-Tazaj Restaurants secures health and safety certificate from  Saudi Council. (2009). Web. https://www.ameinfo.com/ Al-Zahrani, Abdulrahem Hasan, Tanwer. Trip Generation at Fast Food restaurants in Saudi Arabia. ITE Journal. (2008): 24-29. Web. https://www.ite.org/ Walkup, Carolyn. Taza global chicken restaurant opens in Chicago. (1997). Web.

The role of business ethics in the corporate environment Essay

The role of business ethics in the corporate environment - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that business ethics is a part of the corporate governance practices of a business. Ethics is not just an academic, legal or moral aspect but in the long term scenarios of business management, corporate ethics is aimed to be established as the essential behavioural traits and part of the organisational philosophy of a corporation which would further strengthen the brand equity of the company and also ensure stable and sustainable growth for the company in the future years. Also, with time, considerations are made regarding the individual consciousness about the application of business ethics in their work which would help to establish self-regulation as an integral part of ethics and corporate governance. Despite the corporate entities, academic institutions, researchers, scholars and practitioners all over the world focusing on the aspect of business ethics and highlighting its role in conducting a profitable and sustainable business, the realm of ethical problems continue to persist in the corporate environment and as a result of which a number of unethical activities and incidences in the corporate environment is often identified. As a result of this, questions arise as to how far the ethical aspects of business management are actually been integrated into the individual organisational approaches of corporate functions and the global stakeholder groups remain sceptical about the integration and real-life implementation of business ethics within the overall business domain.

Business and Financial Environment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Business and Financial Environment - Essay Example As the company includes more and more debt to its capital structure the rate of Return required by the company increases. WACC which comprises of weighted average of cost of Debt and cost of Equity increases as the firm is exposed to more and more debt. The increase in debt increases the risk of the company and as the debt to equity ratio in a capital structure of the firm increases the Return on Equity required by the firm increases which increases the WACC for the firm. This will also increase the amount of earnings required by the firm to keep its value to its previous position. This risk inherent for an organization due to its operations is called business risk. It is the risk of a firm when it uses no debt. Technically or in terms of formulation it is the uncertainty in the future returns on assets of a firm (ROA). We can write ROA as: This gives us a way to measure the business risk of an un-levered firm i.e. measuring deviations in the ROE of that firm. Such a business risk is called firm's Basic Business Risk. "Business risk is the uncertainty associated with operating cash flows of a business. There are different dimensions of business risk, namely sales risk and operating risk (mtholyoke, 2007)". Variations in business risk not only depend on the type of industry a firm is operating in but also varies within the industry from firm to firm. Business risk's dependence is influenced by six common factors. a) Demand Variability the more the variations in demand of a firm's product, the more will be its business risk b) Sales Price Variability firms which operate in a market where prices are stable faces low business risk as compared to the firms which operate in a highly volatile market. c) Input Cost Variability the firms who are weak on the supply side and have high variability in input costs are exposed to high risk d) Adaptability of output prices with changes in input prices the firms which are in command to change their output prices with changes in input prices are less exposed to business risk. e) Ability to develop new products in a timely, cost effective manner the more the industry requires introduction of new products in market, the more the firm will be exposed to business risk f) Degree of operating leverage the high the degree of operating leverage the firm is operating at, the more will be its business risk Operating Leverage the firms which have high degree of operation leverage i.e. a major portion of their operations depends upon fixed cost leaves their firms more exposed to business risk. That means a decline in sales will not decline the cost since major portion of cost is fixed therefore even a smaller decline in sales