Suburban Design Essay Example

Suburban Design Essay Example Suburban Design Essay Suburban Design Essay The article entitled â€Å"How Suburban Design is Failing Teenagers† written by William L. Hamilton and published in the New York Times on May 6, 1999, is an article of great interest for a significant number of stakeholders. There are several quotes that are worth noting in light of the purpose and message of the article. The author mentioned that: Created as safe havens from the sociological ills of cities, suburbs now stand accused of creating their own environmental diseases: lack of character and the grounding principles of identity, lack of diversity or the tolerance it engenders, lack of attachment to shared, civic ideals (Hamilton 217). This statement from the author shows a general picture of how suburbs has become. It is a statement which tries to describe the suburbs not only in geographical or physical terms but in societal terms. It is an argument which has become a reality for some and this calls the attention of several actors to increase their awareness. Likewise, the author cited The Free Press with the â€Å"Parents move there for their children; their children are dying to get out† (qtd in Hamilton 218). This shows the irony of the situation but lacks further relevant explanation. Moving from one place to another is generally seen as a very hard task for children as they have to continuously undergo the process of adjustment. Likewise, there exists the fact that they are commonly not included in the decision-making process. Lastly, the author pointed out a very basic question that has become hard to answer for suburbs: â€Å"Between home and school, in a landscape drawn by cars and the adults who drive them, is there even a particular place that teen-agers can call their own? † (Hamilton 219). This shows how much the teen-agers have been left out in the suburbs when they should have been incorporated in how suburbs are planned and designed. There are certain needs of the teenagers which are not given prior notice by the way life in the suburbs are designed. These are the points which catch the interest of the reader from a personal point of view. These hold the main thoughts and arguments of the article and provide a general guide in understanding the article. References Hamilton, William. â€Å"How Suburban Design is Failing Teenagers. † World is a Text. 2nd Ed. Ed. Jonathan Silverman and Dean Rader. NJ: Prentice Hall, 2005.

The American Journalist Robert Kaplan stated that anyone who Essay

The American Journalist Robert Kaplan stated that anyone who disbelieves Hobbes' state of nature argument has never visited Co - Essay Example One of the most famous journalists from America, Robert Kaplan has attributed such a term to the society of Cote da’Ivoire, also called in English has the Ivory Coast. To make a statement of such magnitude, there must be some sense going behind it. And indeed, when one sees the current crisis in the Ivory Coast on both the social and political fronts, one is ought to come to the conclusion that Hobbes description of ‘state of nature’ is still prevalent. (Volkov 2011) The troubled lands of West Africa saw an unusual development in political and societal fronts through the land of Ivory Coast. After its independence from the French in 1960, there was a line of hope within the minds of people of this country to stand tall amongst other nations. But, it all came down when the first political crisis rose in Abidjan in 2002. Irrespective of the presence of the French troupes in the country, deployed primarily to seize any such rebellions against the government, the poli tical scenario was split into two with the rebels occupying the entire northern half of the country. When the United Nations came into picture, a deal was struck wherein the rebels, the Ivorians and the ruling government would combine together to form a united governance.

International Expansion of Burger King into France Case Study

International Expansion of Burger King into France - Case Study Example Among the different factors identified by this model, we have singled out three that have a particular impact on the success of Burger King. Further PESTLE information is available in Appendix 1. 1. The most critical is the socio-cultural factor. France is a country with a long culinary tradition. French people who consume fast food show preferences guided by considerations of health and nutritional variety (Steele). French ex-employees of foreign fast-food chains have identified such preferences and successfully set up their own fast-food restaurants better aligned to French tastes (Rosenberg). Burger King will therefore need to adapt its cultural approach by extending the menu range beyond the basic burger-soda combination to produce meals to appeal both to the customer who is interested in novelty and fashion and to the one who seeks reassurance from tried and trusted classics. In general, culture occupies an important place in French life and extends beyond eating habits. Literature, art, lifestyle, values and traditions are all watched over and influenced by various French institutions as well as the government. As a nation, France seeks to develop and export its culture: "promoting cultural influence has been national policy for centuries" (Morrison). As such, a certain cultural protectionism exists in the French domestic market. For this reason, standardisation of Burger King operations extended to France must also be tempered by intelligent adaptation to the cultural norms that are deeply rooted in the market (Briscoe). 2. The legal environment and a number of governmental components are also specific to France. While to some degree harmonised with European policy, laws are still largely based on the Napoleonic Code, which has certain significant differences to anglo-saxon law. The french government has also recently begun a national awareness campaign for fitness and healthy eating, typified by its promotional web site (www.mangerbouger.fr). While this has no legal weight, it is an indication of the french government's wish to influence eating habits and therefore food market offerings. This represents both a challenge and an opportunity to Burger King. For example, if the company can adapt its promotional material correctly, Burger King meals can be positioned as the "healthy fast-food alternative" (Rosenberg). 3. Economic factors including exchange rates and inflation will also be important considerations. Exchange rates are based on the euro, which is currently strong against the US dollar. Revenue flowing back to the parent company from Burger King in France will therefore be enhanced, but operating expenses will be higher as well. France has one of the highest numbers of public holidays in Europe and almost double the amount of paid vacation for a salaried employee compared to the US. The french working week was redefined some years ago by the government as 37 hours per week. Where possible, the response of companies in France was to become more efficient in their working practices. However for restaurants such as those of Burger King, the repercussion is on higher staffing expenses. Adaptation of restaurant operating procedures may be required. Competitors of Burger King such as McDonald's (Briscoe) and