-
Essay / A Critique of McDonald's Unethical and Unprofessional Business Practices in the Movie Supersize Me
Table of ContentsBrief SummaryEthical/Unprofessional Business PracticesMarketingPublic RelationsConclusionBrief SummarySeveral lawsuits have been filed against McDonald's restaurants because they knowingly eat unhealthy foods. Documentarian Morgan Spurlock conducts an unscientific experiment using himself as a guinea pig. His experiment involves eating only McDonald's for thirty days, three meals a day. If the employee asks him if he would like an oversized meal, he must agree. At the end of thirty days, he must have eaten all the dishes on the menu at least once. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why violent video games should not be banned”? Get the original essay Before starting the experiment, he is examined by three doctors, a general practitioner (Dr. Daryl M. Isaacs), a cardiologist (Dr. Steven Siegel) and a gastroenterologist (Dr. Lisa Ganjhu). Various medical examinations were carried out. Everyone concludes that his general state of health is exceptional. They will also monitor him for a period of thirty days, to ensure that he is not putting his body in danger. He also consults a nutritionist (Bridget Bennett) and an exercise physiologist (Eric Rowley). They also conclude that his physical fitness is above average. Morgan's girlfriend Alex Jamieson, a vegan and chef, is part of Morgan's journey during the film. She observes that his health begins to deteriorate and he suffers from sexual dysfunction, mood swings, and even more serious health problems during this period. During the 30-day period, he will also not exercise and take no fewer than 3,000 steps per day. Throughout the film, he visits various McDonalds in different states. His weight increases 25 pounds, his blood pressure skyrockets, his cholesterol level increases 65 points, he has symptoms of toxic liver shock, his energy decreases, he has chest pains, and his girlfriend complains of their sex life. At one point, his doctors advise him to stop the experiment before his condition becomes fatal. Doctors say they've seen similar side effects in heavy drinkers and say he's addicted to the food. During the experiment, he talks to a number of experts about the pros and cons of the fast food lifestyle. Between his interactions with his healthcare team and his meals, scenes depicting how the fast food industry targets children. Alex supervises Morgan's diet after the experiment to help him lose the weight he gained in 14 months. The film ends with the observation that 6 weeks after the film's premiere, McDonald's dropped the Supersize option and began marketing healthier menu items, such as salads. Ethical/Unethical Business Practices Ethics refers to conduct that we perceive as right and wrong. Business ethics refers to the accepted principles of right and wrong that guide the behavior of business people, employers and employees and the way they choose to interact with each other. Some business ethics are determined by law, but most decisions are left to the best judgment of the individual based on their moral and ethical principles. Ethical behavior goes beyond obeying laws, rules and regulations and involves doing the right thing. Ethics means the moral principles that serve as a guide between right and wrong. Ethical business practices refer tohonesty in business, workplace safety and social and environmental issues. Ethical codes have been developed for industries, businesses, managers and employees because the cost of white-collar crime is high, both for businesses and society. It should also be kept in mind that what is ethical for one culture or population group may be unethical for another group. Unethical behavior in business refers to actions that do not conform to acceptable standards of business operations - not doing what is right in business. eachIn some cases it may be an individual within a company who is unethical in their work and in other cases we are talking about an unethical company culture. ethics, where the entire company is corrupt from top to bottom, often having disastrous results for the company. It is important to realize that what is unethical is not always illegal, although sometimes it is both. There are many cases where businesses may act within the law, but their actions harm society and are generally considered unethical. The McDonald's menu in general is considered unhealthy. Portions are extremely large and consumers are further encouraged to “SUPERPARE” for a nominal price difference. These meals exceed the limit of food that an average person consumes per meal. The fat and sugar content is outrageously excessive and harmful to the body. All but 7 products contain sugar, including salads. Food is addictive, leads to cravings, and causes fluctuations in people's moods when consumed in excess. Continuous consumption of these meals leads to serious health complications, ultimately leading to chronic health problems. Although it is legal, the above clearly illustrates unethical business practices. The way meals are marketed attracts the unsuspecting consumer. It “deceives” the customer into believing that they are receiving a “healthy” meal, which is good value for money. MarketingMarketing is one of the functions of business and works in conjunction with all other functions to achieve business objectives. Marketing is about understanding customers and finding ways to provide the products or services they demand. Marketing refers to activities undertaken by a business to promote the purchase or sale of a product or service. There are five main factors that convince a customer to purchase a product or service: Product: Is the product or service suitable for the current market and customers? ? Compared to competitors, is the product or service clearly superior? Price: Is the price of the product or service competitive and affordable for the target market? Are consumers willing to pay the price the company asks? Promotion: The way in which the company informs its potential customers about the products and services it has to offer. Advertising is essential to the success of any product or service. Location: This is the place where buyers and sellers meet for sales to take place. The company must choose the best possible shapes and locations in order to increase its sales. Packaging: The way the product is presented is critical to sales success. The first impression regarding the product or service often determines whether consumers will purchase the product or use the service. Market orientation involves finding out what people want or need and then finding it..