A Comparative Analysis of Food System Sustainability: ASU’s Aramark Catering Services and The Walt Disney Company

Description
As recent statistics from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) show, “in the United States, food waste is estimated at between 30-40 percent of the food supply…at the retail and consumer levels, correspond[ing] to approximately 133 billion pounds and…

As recent statistics from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) show, “in the United States, food waste is estimated at between 30-40 percent of the food supply…at the retail and consumer levels, correspond[ing] to approximately 133 billion pounds and $161 billion worth of food in 2010” (“Food Loss and Waste | FDA”, 2020). Not only is excess food waste an economic problem for numerous companies, it’s unsustainable and inefficient when there could be the potential for learning and implementing innovative solutions, both on a large and small scale. The research from this creative project will focus on comparing The Walt Disney Company’s current food waste sustainability practices at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, with Arizona State University’s (ASU’s) local Aramark Catering Services practices and initiatives throughout the Tempe campus’ dining halls. Specifically, the thesis will explore the benefits of anaerobic digesters and The Walt Disney Company’s use of anaerobic digesters at their Walt Disney World Parks and Resorts as a central means of converting food waste material into renewable natural gas. It will also explore Aramark’s current food waste management processes, specifically composting with the City of Phoenix’s industrial-grade composting yard, and the potential for implementing anaerobic digestion via a partnership with the City of Mesa into or in place of their current processes on ASU’s Tempe campus in the future.

Details

Contributors
Date Created
2020-12
Topical Subject
Resource Type
Text
Language
  • eng

Additional Information

English
Series
  • Academic Year 2020-2021
Extent
  • 28 pages

How Studying Abroad Benefits Students in the Business World

Description
The world of business has become increasingly globalized over the years. Companies are seeking business internationally and it has become common to work with people from different parts of the world. It is imperative that those who work in business…

The world of business has become increasingly globalized over the years. Companies are seeking business internationally and it has become common to work with people from different parts of the world. It is imperative that those who work in business understand and recognize the differences between their home country and culture, and the country and culture of those with whom they are doing business. With that being said, students who intend on going into business post graduation must keep in mind this globalized mindset when applying for jobs. As a student in the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University, I learned how important this is after receiving my International Business certificate while studying abroad for a semester in Spain. I found that the skills that I gained and what I learned about myself, and the European culture helped shape the way I view the world of business. I also believe that this helped differentiate me from other applicants when applying for internships. I believe that every business student, if willing and financially able, should study abroad not only to gain an insightful experience, but because it helps place them above other applicants when applying for jobs or internships.This project included research to find evidence that supports this belief through surveys and interviews with business students who have studied abroad in the past, and through interviews with employers and recruiters from all over the country. The creative portion of this thesis includes a promotional video, using the student interviews, as well as my own personal experience, to further promote studying abroad for business students.

Details

Contributors
Date Created
2020-12
Topical Subject
Resource Type
Text
Language
  • eng

Additional Information

English
Series
  • Academic Year 2020-2021
Extent
  • 20 pages

Long Lines: Looking at The Starbucks On Campus from A Business Process Management Perspective

Description
This project aimed to find implementable solutions to the long flow times at the Starbucks locations on campus. Surveys of the consumers indicated a dissatisfaction rating of 29%, neutral rating of 29% and satisfaction rating of 42%. Showing room for…

This project aimed to find implementable solutions to the long flow times at the Starbucks locations on campus. Surveys of the consumers indicated a dissatisfaction rating of 29%, neutral rating of 29% and satisfaction rating of 42%. Showing room for improvement in satisfaction, respondents were asked if a decrease in flow time or if mobile ordering was implemented would affect their frequency, over 50% responded that it would increase their frequency. Implementation of a mobile ordering system into the ASU app or separating the register line into M&G only and then cash and card only, is recommended to decrease the flow time.

Details

Contributors
Date Created
2020-12
Topical Subject
Resource Type
Text
Language
  • eng

Additional Information

English
Series
  • Academic Year 2020-2021
Extent
  • 31 pages

The Simian Barrier Dilemma: Improving Gene Vaccines for the Future

Description
Since its inception in the early 1990s, the concept of gene vaccines, particularly DNA vaccines, has enticed researchers across the board due to its simple design, flexible modification, and overall inexpensive cost of manufacturing. However, the past three decades have…

Since its inception in the early 1990s, the concept of gene vaccines, particularly DNA vaccines, has enticed researchers across the board due to its simple design, flexible modification, and overall inexpensive cost of manufacturing. However, the past three decades have proven to be less fruitful than anticipated as scientists have yet to tackle the issue of inducing a strong enough response in humans and non-human primates to protect against foreign pathogens, an issue that has since been coined as the “simian barrier.” This appears to be a human/primate barrier as protective vaccines have been produced for other mammals. Despite millions of dollars in research along with some of the world’s brightest minds chipping in to resolve this, there has yet to be any truly viable solution to overcoming this barrier. With current research illustrating effective applications of RNA vaccines in humans, these studies may be uncovering the solution to the largely unsolved simian barrier dilemma. If vaccines using RNA, the transcribed version of DNA, are effective in humans, the problem may be inefficient transcription of the DNA. This may be attributable to a DNA promoter that has insufficient activity in primates. Additionally, with DNA vaccines being even cheaper and easier to manufacture than RNA vaccines, along with having no required cold chain for distribution, this concept remains more promising than RNA vaccines that are further along in clinical trials.

Details

Contributors
Date Created
2020-12
Embargo Release Date
Topical Subject
Resource Type
Text
Language
  • eng

Additional Information

English
Series
  • Academic Year 2020-2021
Extent
  • 21 pages

Explaining the Chilean Protests of 2019-2020: The Pinochet Dictatorship and its Neoliberal Legacy

Description
In the past year, Chile has experienced the largest civil uprising since the Pinochet dictatorship ending in 1990. This study was conducted in order to better understand the deep-seated motivations behind the mass protests. Due to the relatively recent nature…

In the past year, Chile has experienced the largest civil uprising since the Pinochet dictatorship ending in 1990. This study was conducted in order to better understand the deep-seated motivations behind the mass protests. Due to the relatively recent nature of these demonstrations, little research has yet to be published. Scholarly literature indicates that Pinochet’s neoliberal policies—especially within the education, housing, and social security sectors—have prevented real progressive change and are structured to mainly benefit the business elites. Even 30 years after Pinochet’s authoritarian regime, left-leaning administrations attempted to improve the economic and social situations of the lower classes but could not due to the structural inequalities at the base of the Chilean economy and society. Foundationally, Pinochet’s neoliberal legacy has yet to be completely dismantled which is also echoed throughout the interview data.

Interviews were analyzed using content analysis in order to complement the literature and provide for new explanations. These interviews were collected through online news and firsthand reports of actual protesters and academics reflecting on the protests. Interviews from Chileans provide a window into the perspective of protesters in their own words. After coding the transcriptions of the first-hand reports, the primary findings of these sources show anger about human rights violations during the protests, frustration with the neoliberal economic structure, and current disconnection between the government and the people. This study found that Pinochet’s economic legacies implemented through his authoritarian dictatorship can help explain the 2019 civil uprising.

Details

Contributors
Date Created
2020-05
Topical Subject
Resource Type
Text
Language
  • eng

Additional Information

English
Series
  • Academic Year 2019-2020
Extent
  • 42 pages

Arizona's Struggle to Conform or Not to Conform to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 and The Impact of the New Provision on Arizona Taxpayers

Description
This paper takes a comprehensive approach to evaluate Arizona’s conformity process after the passage of TCJA in December 2017.

Details

Contributors
Date Created
2020-05
Topical Subject
Resource Type
Text
Language
  • eng

Additional Information

English
Series
  • Academic Year 2019-2020
Extent
  • 35 pages

The Future of Energy: Space-Based Solar Power

Description
Space-based solar power is a renewable energy that is an alternative to all other forms of energy production. It takes on a new approach that pushes energy production off-world. Energy is harnessed and beamed down to a ground receiver via…

Space-based solar power is a renewable energy that is an alternative to all other forms of energy production. It takes on a new approach that pushes energy production off-world. Energy is harnessed and beamed down to a ground receiver via microwaves which is then sent to the grid and distributed to people across the country, and even globe. While the technology is new and still in the research and development stages, the ability is there. An economic analysis of the various technology yields levelized costs of energy comparable to current prices—under $.10/kWh. The markets and profits for this type of technology are abundant, ranging from commercial to military uses, with profits in the millions to billions of dollars. The environmental impacts are low compared to current energy production methods. The potential is great, the technology is close, and the future is near.

Details

Contributors
Date Created
2020-05
Topical Subject
Language
  • eng

Additional Information

English
Series
  • Academic Year 2019-2020
Extent
  • 32 pages

The Autonomous Revolution

Description

The autonomous vehicle revolution started nearly a century ago with inventor Francis Houdina, who is credited with the first operational prototype of an unmanned motor vehicle. Almost 100 years later, autonomous vehicle technology is now on the brink of changing…

The autonomous vehicle revolution started nearly a century ago with inventor Francis Houdina, who is credited with the first operational prototype of an unmanned motor vehicle. Almost 100 years later, autonomous vehicle technology is now on the brink of changing the world and will undoubtedly revolutionize the way transportation takes place. With this in mind, it is incredibly important to analyze and work through how the changes associated with the implementation of autonomous vehicles is going to affect the world legally. At the present time, there are no exceptions for the laws that are currently in place for non-autonomous vehicles, which means there is a significant amount of room for interpretation at times of autonomous vehicle error. First it is important to look at the history of automobiles and of autonomous technology. Starting with inventor Francis Houdina and automaker Mercedes Benz. Second, the ways in which autonomous technology has evolved over the last century. Companies such as Tesla and Waymo have been trailblazers of the industry. Third, looking at the way the world and different governments have or have not handled the incoming world of autonomous vehicles. Examining legislature formed by leading autonomous countries like Germany. Fourth, autonomous vehicles can now be found around the world in the hands of the public and in testing situations under manufacturer supervision. As a result of the widespread use of autonomous vehicles, there are now countless incidents of autonomous technology failure. The data and the outcomes of these accidents provide significant insight on the future legal necessities surrounding autonomous vehicles. Fifth, based on the history, technology, pre existing automobile legal framework and autonomous accidents, recommendations will be made on how to correctly govern autonomous vehicles and their owners. Autonomous vehicles will disrupt the world, but with the proper legal framework and regulations they will only continue to better the world we live in, improving efficiency, safety, and so much more.

Details

Contributors
Date Created
2020-05
Topical Subject
Resource Type
Text
Language
  • eng

Additional Information

English
Series
  • Academic Year 2019-2020
Extent
  • 30 pages
Open Access
Peer-reviewed

The Consequences of Sustainability Initiatives in the Supply Chain Process: Examples of the Intended and Unintended Outcomes

Description
Unintended consequences occur in the supply chain process when managers fail to fully prepare for the social and environmental outcomes of their initiatives. By analyzing these unintended consequences, we are better prepared to make supply chain initiatives that are truly…

Unintended consequences occur in the supply chain process when managers fail to fully prepare for the social and environmental outcomes of their initiatives. By analyzing these unintended consequences, we are better prepared to make supply chain initiatives that are truly sustainable for all. This paper utilizes a model developed by Dr. Carter and Dr. Kaufmann which creates a mutually exclusive and exhaustive framework in order to fully develop the relationship between intended and unintended consequences. Furthermore, paradox theory is implemented in order to refine the differences between intended and unintended outcomes to create a clearer understanding. Over the course of this paper, real world examples will be utilized from company social responsibility reports in order to populate and explain the matrix. Through this work, we show how companies take on a broad range of actions with outcomes varying from positive to negative. We expect that through this paper, we can make this topic more easily understood so that further research and understanding can be achieved.

Details

Contributors
Date Created
2020-05
Topical Subject
Resource Type
Text
Language
  • eng

Additional Information

English
Series
  • Academic Year 2019-2020
Extent
  • 17 pages

Mental Health Implications of Private and Public Immigrant Detention Centers in Arizona

Description
The United States has been long considered a country of immigrants. Throughout U.S. history the implementation of immigration policies has oscillated from lenient to highly restrictive. Currently, the Department of Homeland Security manages the largest detention system in the world.…

The United States has been long considered a country of immigrants. Throughout U.S. history the implementation of immigration policies has oscillated from lenient to highly restrictive. Currently, the Department of Homeland Security manages the largest detention system in the world. In December 2019, the National Detention Standards that govern the level of care in detention were revised. These revisions grant more oversight to private detention companies, including mental health treatment options and the use of solitary confinement. This is concerning given the amount of suicides that have occurred in detention. Despite an increasing trend in funding for detention centers, mental health resources are scarce and increasingly remiss in detention centers. Individuals held in civil detention are subject to deteriorating mental health due to the locations of detention centers, solitary confinement and high costs associated with outbound calls and visitations.

Details

Contributors
Date Created
2020-05
Topical Subject
Resource Type
Text
Language
  • eng

Additional Information

English
Series
  • Academic Year 2019-2020
Extent
  • 38 pages
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