The Fast Food Industry in the US and Beyond

Paper Summary:

This paper examines the fast food industry, a rather controversial industry within the United States and on an international basis. The paper maintains that it is useful to understand some major tenets of its operations and to use these as comparative measures to see if the strategic objectives of the industry are different or similar to that of other industries. It adds that it is also useful to understand the business management aspects of the fast food industry model. The paper chooses three criteria - automation, uniformity, and low prices - and provides a critical review of these criteria in the fast food industry. These are then compared to other industries for a crucial review of the overall fast food industry model. The paper includes graphs and charts.

Outline:
Introduction
Automation: Fast Food Industry Technological Advancements
Insurance and Fast Food: Comparison of Automation Criteria
Uniformity in the Fast Food Industry
Exploring the Uniform Criteria: Comparing the Fast Food and Coffee Shop Chains
Low Prices in the Fast Food Industry: Is that Necessarily a Negative Criterion?
Low Pricing Model: Comparison of Wal-Mart and Fast Food Companies
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"Automation within the industry has been noted to optimize efficiency, enhance physical and financial assets, and to minimize waste, all of which increases the profit margin for many companies within the industry. Automation in the fast food industry is primarily driven by consumers increased demand. For example, McDonald's has utilized a mobile point of sale software at some locations to increase sales by serving more drive-thru customers faster, increasing accuracy for orders, and decreasing the standard wait time in the store."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Adamy, Janet. At Starbucks Coffee Comes with New Decor. Wall Street Journal. November 10, 2006. Retrieved March 29, 2007 from http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB116312829873619491-rEuuK6h0IL9_iA6jYLhMMeq4xXo_20061117.html?mod=blogs
• Davenport, Thomas and Harris, Jeanne. Lessons from Successful Automated Decision-Making from the Insurance Industry. Accenture Research Note (3), November 1, 2004. Retrieved on March 29, 2007 from http://www.accenture.com/Global/Research_and_Insights/Institute_For_High_Performance_Business/By_Subject/Innovation/LessonsInsuranceIndustry.htm?c=index_sig_0605&n=vwlessonsinsurance
• Dicker, John. The United States of Wal-Mart. Penguin Group, 2005.
• Quinn, Bill. How Wal-Mart is Destroying America (and the World) and What You Can Do About It. Ten Speed Press, 2005.
• Schlosser, Eric. Fast Food Nation. New York: Harper Perrenial, 2005.

More papers on The Fast Food Industry in the US and Beyond:

• Analytical Essay # 144235 : "The Rise and Growth of the Fast Food Industry"
• Persuasive Essay # 144456 : "The Impact of the Fast Food Industry"
• Persuasive Essay # 148174 : "The Perils of the Fast Food Industry"

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