Monday, December 30, 2019

Annotated Bibliography On Database Design - 1623 Words

CPSC 5340 Database Design Homework 3 Rikky Patel 9-27-2015 Part: 1 3.11. Suppose that each of the following Update operations is applied directly to the database state shown in Figure 3.6. Discuss all integrity constraints violated by each operation, if any, and the different ways of enforcing these constraints. e. Insert into DEPENDENT. Answer: This operation is accepted and it can be successfully inserted. g. Delete the EMPLOYEE tuple with Ssn = ‘987654321’. Answer: This operation can’t be used. Because Ssn has been used as a foreign key of WORKS_ON, EMPLOYEE and DEPARTMENT relations ad deleting records with Ssn = ‘987654321’ will leave no corresponding entry for record in WORKS_ON relation. If we want to delete this data than we need to delete it from all the tables. h. Delete the PROJECT tuple with Pname = ‘ProductX’. Answer: This operation can’t be used. Because Pnumber has been used as a foreign key of WORKS_ON relation and deleting record with Pname = ‘ProductX’ will also delete product with Pnumber = ‘1’. Since this value has been used in WORKS_ON table so deleting this record will violate referring integrity constraint. If we want to delete this data than we also have to delete data from corresponding tables. i. Modify the Mgr_ssn and Mgr_start_date of the DEPARTMENT tuple with Dnumber = 5 to ‘123456789’ and ‘2007-10-01’, respectively. Answer: This operation can be acceptable. 3.12. Consider the AIRLINE relational database schema shown in Figure 3.8,Show MoreRelatedPersonal Reflection1034 Words   |  5 Pagesproperly trained to assist my school district with programs to significantly improve the program for ELLs in my school District. The big challenges I anticipate in my Ph.D. program will be the classes of Statistics I and II, Qualitative and Quatitative Design and Measurement, and ultimately my dissertation. Nonetheless, with my work ethic and my study plan, I know I will meet these challenges. I have not developed a shift in thinking from the beginning of this course to the present. I started with theRead MoreHcs 465 (Health Care Research Utilization) Entire Class Assignme6475 Words   |  26 PagesAssignment, Annotated Bibliography Individual Assignment: Literature Review in Research: An Annotated Bibliography †¢ Resource: Literature Review in Research: An Annotated Bibliography Grading Criteria. †¢ Go to the Center for Writing Excellence. †¢ Click the Tutorials Guides link. †¢ Click the Annotated Bibliography link the under the Samples heading. You may use this format to create your annotated bibliography. †¢ Read: the Annotated Bibliography samplesRead MoreThe Effect Of Cell Phone On College Students Interaction At Dining Table1641 Words   |  7 Pagesothers. My research strategy will start with conducting a literature research on published articles that associated with the use of cell phone and human interaction. I used both EBSCOhost and sociological abstracts as my research databases. As I look throw the database with search terms â€Å"dinner table† and â€Å"cell phone use,† I barely found any articles related to the topic. After I identified some alternative search terms, I overcome the limitation of search result. Search terms such as â€Å"multitasking†Read MoreScientific Method and Health Care2524 Words   |  11 Pages | | | |Individual |Resource: Literature Review in Research: An Annotated Bibliography Grading Criteria |Wk 1 D7 |10 | |Literature Review in Research:| | | | |An Annotated Bibliography |Go to the Center for Writing Excellence. | |Read MoreManaging Information Security Risks: The Octave Approach1635 Words   |  6 Pagesenforcement. Biskup, J.; Flegel, U.; Karabulut, Y. Secure Mediations: Requirements and Design, 127-140. Database Security XII: Status and Prospects. Edited by S. Jajodia. Twelfth International Working Conference on Database Security, Chalkidiki, Greece, July 15-17, 1998. Norwell, MA: Kluwer Academic Publishers, 1999 (ISBN 0792384881). In this paper, Biskup et al discuses the the secure mediation to it risks through design and system requirements. The need for designing security mechanism for the mediatorsRead MoreAnnotated Bibliography On The Voting Booths Of America Are Empty1233 Words   |  5 PagesAnnotated Bibliography Linda Feldmann Staff writer of The Christian,Science Monitor. Why the Poll Booths of America are Empty. The Christian Science Monitor: 1. Oct 03 2000. National Newspapers Core. Web. 12 Dec. 2016. This source focuses on the decline in voter turnout over the past few decades with the lead up to the 2000 Presidential election year. Comparing elections from 1960, the various experts have not been able to pinpoint a solid reason until a several people from Harvard come up withRead MoreNurse: Research and Turnover2314 Words   |  10 Pagesto provide evidenced based care requires the ability to read peer-reviewed primary research reports and initiate recommendations in the clinical area. In the current paper the nurse will analyze 10 research report on nursing turnover. An annotated bibliography of 10 articles related to the problem will be discussed. This is by no means an exhaustive list. The research reports provide credible evidence-based practice implications regarding nursing turnover. CritiqueRead MorePCOS Essay4926 Words   |  20 PagesScholarly Journals; English Search Results: 138 Academic Search Premier 70 CINAHL Complete 13 Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 0 EBSCO MegaFILE 42 Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition 14 MEDLINE with Full Text 0 Polycystic ovarian syndrome AND clomiphene Limiters: Full Text; Scholarly Journals; English Search Results: 106 Academic Search Premier 62 CINAHL Complete 9 Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 0 EBSCO MegaFILE 30 Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition 9 MEDLINE with FullRead MoreWorkplace Citizenship8908 Words   |  36 PagesAdditional study resources 10 Assignments 11 Overview of assignments 11 Submission of assignments 11 Extensions late submission 12 Grading guidelines 12 Copying plagiarism 13 Assignment 1 – Learning Reflections 14 Assignment 2 – Annotated Bibliography 16 Assignment 3 – PowerPoint Presentation 20 Assignment 4 – Final Essay 22 Your feedback 25 Student Evaluation of Learning and Teaching (SELT) 25 Support services and resources 25 External student information 25 Students with disabilitiesRead MoreImpact of Ict on Society2585 Words   |  11 PagesTechnologies Impact of ICT on Society Table of Contents PART A 1 1. Introduction 1 2. The annotations 1 2.1 Scholarly journal articles 1 2.2 Conference papers 1 2.3 Newspaper articles 1 2.4 Internet sources 1 3. Conclusion 2 Annotated Bibliographies 3 PART B (Endnote) 6 4. Introduction 6 5. The Endnote advantages 6 6. The Endnote disadvantages 7 7. The Recommendations 8 8. Conclusion 9 9. References 10 PART A Introduction With era of globalization

Sunday, December 22, 2019

Critical Review Of The Above Mentioned System Generated...

The critical review of the above mentioned System generated service routes case using Thomas Bertels and Arne Buthman s 10 Criteria for Evaluating Six Sigma Project, using Low, Medium and High are enumerated below: 1. Link to Strategic Imperatives This entails the act of creating short- and long-term plans to guide an organization to continued and increasing success in this highly competitive business environment. Project managers oversee specific projects ultimately designed to make progress toward strategic planning objectives. Implementing projects -- putting planned projects into action -- is important to both strategic planning efforts and project managers in a number of ways. High; This case is rated high on this parameter based on the fact that, there is a greater link to strategic imperatives; improving the route review process and route quality that the organization is determined to achieve. 2. Application of Six Sigma Tools Six Sigma is a method that provides organizations tools to improve the capability of their business processes. This increase in performance and decrease in process variation lead to defect reduction and improvement in profits, employee morale, and quality of products or services. Six Sigma quality is a term generally used to indicate a process is well controlled (within process limits  ±3s from the center line in a control chart, and requirements/tolerance limits  ±6s from the center line). High; Tools such as Process Flow Chart,Show MoreRelatedExtended Supply Chain1474 Words   |  6 Pagesalternative route(s) to prevent the company from being heavily influenced by unexpected logistics problems. At the same time, the company must know how long would an alternative route(s) take and what would it cost the company. The second step is to prioritize its suppliers based on the assessment obtained from the first step. The company should segment those suppliers by using different dimensions. For example, the company can use demand volume, logistics routes, or supplier demand to review which supplierRead MoreDescribing The Current Process From The Article. The Environmental1906 Words   |  8 Pages Describing the Current Process from the Article The Environmental Service Company which provides collection, processing, recycling and disposal of hazardous and non-hazardous materials for industrial and automotive customers is facing a freight transportation problem. The company receives 45,000 service orders a week and is falling short in providing a quality service to all its customers. There s a great variation in the time the field worker gets to a trash site and in the pickup time. TheseRead MoreInformation System Used by United Parcel Service3850 Words   |  15 Pagesï » ¿UPS 1 UPS 14 United Parcel Service (UPS) Information System Introduction In the 1907, the United Parcel Service (UPS) started out in a close-sized office located in the basement. The founders of the United Parcel Service were two teenagers from Seattle. They had one phone and two bicycles and they promised to run this service under one statement only; best service and lower rates. For more than hundred years, this formula has been used by the UPS and it is running successfully. This is theRead MoreFedex Strategic Planning6196 Words   |  25 PagesStrategic Planning and Execution at FedEx Express Jacquelyn Haas, FedEx Services Jeff McLeod, FedEx Express Rick Dezemplen, FedEx Services Rodney Conger, ESRI Abstract ESRI GIS technologies are being used at FedEx Express to solve complex business problems in both the planning and execution of the daily delivery process. The application of spatial data at FedEx is unique in that it is being used to support several mission critical, multi user applications and processes worldwide. Spatial data is beingRead MoreShaheen Air International14539 Words   |  59 Pages TABLE OF CONTENTS: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 3 TIME LINE 3 THE COMPANY: PRESENT AND FUTURE PLANS 4 MISSION STATEMENT 5 DISTRIBUTION: NETWORK OF CHANNELS TO REACH END CONSUMER 5 DOMESTIC ROUTES 6 INTERNATIONAL ROUTES 7 PRODUCT LINE 7 PRODUCT LIFE CYCLE (PLC) 11 SERVICE FACILITIES 11 INDUSTRY ANALYSIS 12 MAJOR COMPETITORS 15 MARKET SIZE AND MARKET GROWTH 18 PAKISTAN/SOUTHWEST ASIA TRAVEL GROWTH FORECAST 20 PAKISTAN DOMESTIC MARKET CAPACITY, TRAFFIC YIELD 20 AIRLINERead MoreObjectives Of A Risk Management Plan5550 Words   |  23 Pages IS3110 Final Project By: Alfredo Ramos Osbaldo Ruiz INTRODUCTION Purpose Of A Risk Management Plan Defense Logistics Information Services (DLIS) senior Management has decided that they are going to update the former risk management plan with a new plan. This new risk management plan for DLIS will not only lessen the amount of risk for future activities, but it will also be in compliance with standard regulations such as FISMA, DOD, DHS, NIST, COBIT, and DAICAP. A risk is by definition is theRead MoreThesis on Pakistan Railways6300 Words   |  26 PagesRAILWAY    INTRODUCTION. Pakistan Railways  (reporting mark  PR) is a national state-owned rail transport service of  Pakistan, head-quartered in Lahore. It is administered by the  federal government  under the  Ministry of Railways. PR provides an important mode of transportation throughout Pakistan. Railways at a Glance Assets | | * Track --------------------- | 7,791 route km | * Stations------------------- | 559 | * Bridges ------------------- | 14,570 | * Land ----------------------Read MoreRyanair Analyses44239 Words   |  177 Pages18 24 20 23 25 27 4. The low fare airline business model 4.1. Introduction 4.2. Differences between the LFA model and the FSA model 4.2.1. The service factor 28 29 29 2 4.2.2. Turnaround times 4.2.3. Homogenous fleet 4.2.4. Point-to-point travel vs hub-and-spoke travel 4.2.5. Higher seat density 4.2.6. Choice of airports 4.2.7. Distribution system 4.2.8. Frequent flyer programmes 30 31 31 32 32 33 34 5. Analysis of the macro environment 5.1. Introduction to the theoretical frameworkRead MoreEssay on American Airlines3778 Words   |  16 Pagesï » ¿ Table of Contents Abstract 3 Situation Analysis 3 Strengths, Weaknesses, Threats, and Opportunities 4 Re-Branding 6 Pricing Strategy 8 Service Marketers 9 Future 12 Summary 12 References 13 Abstract In this case study we will review the new strategic business plan of American Airlines, and how they are responding to changes in the marketplace to compete in the modern era. We will also analyze the advantages of rebranding efforts, the effectiveness of existing practices of the airline andRead MoreResource-Based View of a Firm4400 Words   |  18 PagesRESOURCE-BASED-VIEW OF A FIRM LITERATURE REVIEW 3 Introduction- What is the Resource-Based-View of a Firm? 3 Resource-Based-View -Background 3 Resources Capabilities of a Firm 4 Firm Resources Sustainable Competitive Advantage 5 Value 5 Rareness 6 Inimitability- Is it hard to copy? 6 Non- Substitutability 7 Durability 7 Imperfect Mobility 8 Appropriability- Who captures the value the resource creates? 8 Competitive Superiority 9 The RBV of a Firms Ability to Innovate 10 Conclusion

Saturday, December 14, 2019

Southwestern Airlines Free Essays

Southwest Airlines Co. (â€Å"Southwest†) is a major U. S. We will write a custom essay sample on Southwestern Airlines or any similar topic only for you Order Now airline that primarily provides short Haul high-frequency, point-to-point, and low-fare service. Southwest was incorporated in Texas and commenced operations on June 18, 1971 with three Boeing 737 aircraft Serving three Texas cities; Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio. Today Southwest operates nearly 400 Boeing 737 aircraft to 59 U. S. cities. Southwest has the lowest operating cost structure in the domestic airline industry and consistently offers the lowest and simplest Fares. Southwest also has one of the best overall customer service records. LUV is Southwest’s NYSE symbol, selected to represent the company’s home at Dallas Love Field, as well as the theme of Southwest’s employee and customer relationships Within 30 years, Southwest Airlines has become the fifth largest major airline company in America. It currently operates 520 Boeing 737s throughout the United States. The mission of Southwest Airlines is dedication to the highest quality of customer service delivered with a sense of warmth, friendliness, individual pride, and company spirit. It primarily provides short haul, high-frequency, point-to-point, low-fare air transportation service in the United States. The company essentially functions as a â€Å"point-to-point† operation rather than a â€Å"hub and spoke† service like its competitors. This provides for a unique competitive advantage, which has led this company to be a strong performer within the industry. The major success to their continued success is due to their low-cost model, as compared to their competitors, which allows Southwest airlines to differentiate itself from the competition and perpetuates its success and popularity among consumers. When we look at southwestern airlines competitive environment using porters five forces we find that the bargaining powers of Customers in the airlines industry have many options and are price sensitive. If driving is cheaper than flying southwest may lose customers. There are also over 100 carriers in the U. S. market therefore there are many options for customers. The bargaining power of suppliers: Southwest is at the mercy of the labor Unions and Gas suppliers. If these costs become too high then price raises will mandatory. The threat of new entrants: With so many major airlines going bankrupt there is a large supply of airplanes and personnel. This means that it is easier than ever to start up and airline and try and compete with Southwest. The threat of substitute products: Flying has very few substitutes in the U. S. market if you need to be somewhere in a hurry. However there are other forms of transportation including busses, trains, and cars. The intensity of competitive rivalry: There is intense industry competition. Every route is hotly contested with price wars and a grab for customers. Price margins are low, and airlines need to be able to trim costs any way they can. Southwestern airlines has got the following strengths; Southwest’s commitment to customer service has led to an excellent track record. They held the unofficial Triple Crown in customer service for three consecutive years. The Triple Crown consists in being the best in on time performance, baggage handling, and customer satisfaction. This is an amazing feat considering no other airlines have held all three components for a single month. Southwest has a major advantage over other airlines because it operates a single type of plane, the Boeing 737. This means that all their pilots, facilities, and crews are trained on any plane that Southwest owns. Southwest also operates a fleet with an average age of 7 years. This means that they have less maintenance problems, and this leads to fewer delays, and higher customer service. Sensible expansion policy. Southwest has developed a very sensible strategy for expansion, paying particular attention not to strain the balance sheet. It has also achieved a national presence through flights to 59 airports in 58 cities. Southwest has been able to become a national airline by strategic expansion to airports where there is less competition. For example, it opened a major operation at Baltimore-Washington International and therefore avoided the presence of other major airlines at Reagan National and Dulles. The continued growth of the Company is testament to the strategic direction taken by management, particularly considering the difficult business environment. Southwest relies on direct ticket booking and does not heavily utilize travel agents this is a cost saver. They also do not have full food service on their flights, leading to a faster turnaround. Southwest also has a unique open seating system, with no assigned seats the planes load faster. Due to a change in passenger profile, business class and first class seats have suffered declining demand. Many companies have been forced to introduce low-cost fare options. Since southwest has been an industry leader and â€Å"ahead of the curve† in providing low cost, standardized travel options, it has no need to change strategy, thus saving on restructuring costs. The Company also benefits from its long establishment in the low-cost airline market, allowing the Company to capitalize on significant customer awareness of the brand. Southwest has a highly efficient operation. The Company was first to introduce to the Airline industry the ten-minute turnaround (between arrival at the gate and departure). This has subsequently increased demand for short flight routes. Strong financials. Southwest has the strongest market capitalization and balance sheet of all rivals in the sector. A market capitalization of $14,022 million accounts for twice the market capitalization of the five largest rivals put together. In the current volatile market, it should allow southwest to overcome short-term downturns in demand more Successfully than the other main carriers. The continued ability of Southwest to produce positive results highlights it among rivals. 2003 saw quarter-over-quarter increases in income, representing 51 consecutive quarterly profit rises. Revenues for the full year 2003, which were $5,937 million, increased 7. 5% against 2002 revenues. Southwest does not fly into major hub airports in most cities, this leads to lower gate costs, less congestion, and quicker turnaround times. Southwest has been marketed as the low price leader, and their planes have been painted in funky colors. Southwest views its major competition as the automobile and not other airlines. Southwest airlines operate a single type of plane B737 in an all coach configuration. They do not offer meals, and do no transfer bags to other airlines leading to lower operating costs. The airline has won the Triple Crown and is setting the industry standard in customer service. Southwest has come under intense competition from United. They are not a full service airline and do not offer the amenities and services for international travelers. They also do not have a higher cost first class option on their planes. Marketing. Southwest is a low-cost carrier. They provide themselves on cost efficiencies, which enable them to offer good service at lower prices to the customer than their competitors. Their marketing strategy was to convey the message that what Southwest had to offer was of value. Southwest markets itself as the only major short-hop, low-fare, and point-to-point carrier in the U. S. airline industry. Their marketing style is known for being unconventional, unique, unpredictable, and attention-getting in order to create and reinforce the Company’s maverick and fun-loving, combative image. They continually look for ways to make their distinctive image come alive and strike a spark in the minds of the consumer. Finance. In the year 2000, Southwest reported its 28th consecutive year of profitability as well as its ninth consecutive year of increased profits. In many years, Southwest was reporting profits while many other airline companies were reporting losses. Southwest is able to maintain and increase their profit margin by keeping costs low, being highly efficient, and creatively cutting costs. One of Southwest’s most important strategies is keeping its costs low and moving customers in above-average times. In an effort to move customers along quickly, Southwest tries to avoid congested airports. Southwest also encourages passengers to make reservations and ticket purchases through their website. By serving smaller airports near major metropolitan areas and in medium-sized cities, Southwest is able to produce better-than-average on-time performance, as well as reducing fuel costs of idle planes waiting for clearance to land. Serving smaller airports also lowers landing fees and terminal gate costs. Southwest’s operative principal is â€Å"employees come first and customers come second. † Southwest employees are â€Å"hired for attitude and trained for skill. † The Company’s strategy is that it can train people to do the tasks and hold the skills that are required, but a person’s attitude is not something that can be changed. The hiring process involves an interviewing approach called â€Å"Target Selection,† which aims at matching people’s traits (or target dimensions) for performing a specific job successfully. New hires are trained at Southwest University for People. Managers trained in this program take leadership courses that emphasize a management style based on coaching and encouraging rather than supervising or enforcing rules. The Company has the lowest turnover rate in the industry, which may be partly due to the fact that 80% to 90% of supervisory positions are filled internally. However just like any organization, despite the fact that they have strengths, south west also has weaknesses which include: Little room for strategic development. The main weakness of the Company results from operating in a highly competitive market, one that is increasingly susceptible to a volatile political environment. The airline industry is highly competitive as to fares, frequent flier benefits, routes, and service. Some carriers competing with Southwest have larger fleets and a more established brand name. Many carry passengers from the major hubs in the U. S. , holding long-standing relationships with key airports. To enter these markets, the corporate strategy of Southwest will have to be adjusted. No established alliances. Certain major U. S. irlines have established marketing alliances with each other, including Northwest Airlines/Continental Airlines, American Airlines/Alaska Airlines and Continental Airlines/America West Airlines. In 2001, AMR Corp. , parent of American Airlines, completed its acquisition of the assets of Trans World Airlines. This puts enormous strain on the Company to maintain its position in the industry while running a smaller fleet. Fully valued share price. Despite Southwest holding the strongest financial position in the airline industry, the stock of the Company is considered fully valued, particularly in the short term. This will disconcert the investor searching for quick gains resulting in the potential loss of capital to its competitors. The strong financial position will apply pressure to the strategic direction of the Company, forcing the directors of Southwest to consciously pursue the same level of growth if they are to maintain investor confidence. South west airlines have got the following opportunities; Southwest’s greatest opportunity is directly related to its greatest strength: to continue to develop its low-cost position in the airline industry. Southwest must maintain an emphasis on low-cost flying, and brand association that has served it well so far. After September 11, customer numbers dwindled due to consumer fears over flying. One way the Company hopes to regain the trust of the public is through lower airfare. In 2002, no fare was more than $399. However, in August 2002, the company reduced fares even further, lowering last-minute fares while maintaining the full schedule of frequent flights in order to further stimulate travel. As of 2003 Southwest was offering fares as low as $39. The company must keep prices as low as possible in order to stimulate demands, and look to edistribute expenses through other areas. Continual streamlining and automation is necessary in order to both aid in cost-cutting and maintain the competitive advantage on which the company brand is based. Southwest has expanded ticket counters and security checkpoints and has increased its airport workforce. The boarding process has been streamlined through replacing the traditional plastic boarding card system with an automated one, and the carrier is in the process of rolling out new self check-in technology. This should result in a reduction of boarding times, and contrast sharply with those carriers that still have extensive queuing. Expand geographically. The market share Southwest holds has grown substantially, particularly since 9/11. Fifty percent of the core market is under control of Southwest and this is expanding. With the increase in the number of cities and networks to which it is linked, southwest could begin to target large city markets and with such a strong brand name, both marketing and PR costs will reduce. Furthermore, the timing appears perfect, if it wishes to capitalize on the pressure currently endured by many of the established carriers. Southwest could strengthen its position through an alliance. Many competitors have reduced share price due to poor financials. Southwest could exploit this through a merger or a favorable acquisition. This could provide an easier route into the major hubs and remove many of the challenges associated with entering new markets. A major threat comes from the unstable airline industry as the result of the 9/11 attacks. Immediately after the terrorist attacks, and in the face of falling demand for air service, most major carriers announced significant service reduction, grounded aircraft, and reduced employee levels. These events negatively impacted industry profits. Despite the absence of subsequent attacks, the political environment remains unstable, throwing into question the airlines’ ability to make long-range strategic plans. Following 9/11, Southwest was able to offset losses through lower jet fuel prices and internal cost reduction initiatives. However, there can be no assurance that Southwest will be able to continue to offset future cost increases resulting from the changing commercial airline environment. Another threat derives from the Company being subject to varying degrees of competition from surface transportation in its short-haul markets, particularly the private automobile. The short-haul air services that compete with surface transportation regard price as a competitive factor for customers. Similarly, frequency and convenience of scheduling, facilities, transportation safety and security procedures, and customer service may be of equal or greater importance to many passengers. These can limit the number of customers who choose southwest. However, southwest airlines need to put up the following strategies; it needs to launch a new promotional campaign. They need to remind customers in the California market that they are the winner of the Triple Crown, and that low cost means high service and customer satisfaction when it comes to Southwest. With lower turnaround times, and fewer delayed flights southwest has great unique selling points. They just need to remind the public about how great an Airline they are. This can be done with more TV ads, and more sponsorship of major sporting events. Southwest also needs to continue to be southwest. They have a winning business model, and have made money every year of their existence. They cannot abandon what their core competencies are. They need to keep prices where they are, or even lower prices, and they advertise that fact to the public. Southwest airlines have been able to successfully implement its fuel hedging strategy to save on fuel expenses in a big way and have the largest hedging position among other carriers. In the second quarter of 2005, Southwest’s unit costs fell by 3. 5% despite a 25% increase in jet fuel costs. During Fiscal year 2003, southwest had much lower fuel expense (0. 12 per ASM) compared to the other airlines with the exception of JetBlue as illustrated in exhibit 1 below. In 2005, 85 per cent of the airline’s fuel needs has been hedged at $26 per barrel. World oil prices in August 2005 reached $68 per barrel. In the second quarter of 2005 alone, Southwest achieved fuel savings of $196 million. The state of the industry also suggests t hat airlines that are hedged have a competitive advantage over the non-hedging airlines. Southwest announced in 2003 that it would add performance-enhancing Blended Winglets to its current and future fleet of Boeing 737-700’s. The visually distinctive Winglets will improve performance by extending the airplane’s range, saving fuel, lowering engine maintenance costs, and reducing takeoff noise. In an overall effort to improve customer’s in-flight experience, in-flight entertainment is something that Southwest is currently evaluating and which JetBlue has been very successful at already because of its introduction in its long-haul flights. In comparison, Southwest has 415 airplanes to consider and that represents an investment decision at a whole new dimension. Additionally, Southwest has to consider how things may fit into their environment. At this point, 60% of its service is still very short haul. Southwest needs to be mindful of the fact that a certain approach that has been successful for its competitor may not be necessarily work to its advantage. In summary, Southwest has long been regarded as a benchmark in its industry for operational excellence. Southwest Airlines is a fine example of a company that is committed to its core competencies – efficient operations to drive its low cost structure, outstanding delivery of customer service and innovative HR management practices. We hope this paper provided a good insight into Southwest operations, as part of its overall strategy, to achieve success and gain competitive advantage. References www. southwest. com] (Southwest airlines official web site www. mba-tutorials/marketing/southwesternairlines. html www. answers. com/topic/southwesternairlines. html Allen, Margaret. â€Å"Ground Controller. † Dallas Business Journal. August 3, 2001 Southwest Airlines: High Tech, Low Costs† – Eweek. com, April 2005 How to cite Southwestern Airlines, Papers

Friday, December 6, 2019

Tools and Techniques of Organizational Change

Question: Discuss about the Tools and Techniques of Organizational Change. Answer: Introduction In the present epoch of globalization, the business organizations have to adapt themselves to the dynamic business environment and the market situation. Several times, when the companies need to undertake new projects or enter into different stream they have to adapt themselves or change the internal operations. This change could be in terms of job roles, business processes, organization structure or the use of technology. The companies implement change to seize new opportunity, address different issues or improve the productivity or the performance of the organization. However, in most of the changes, the employees have to modify or adapt their operations or working method. Therefore, the organization changes often meet with the employee resistance and similar challenges (Cameron and Green, 2015). If the employees cannot transition with the changes properly the change remains unsuccessful and cannot deliver the desired results. Along with it, in the unsuccessful implementation of th e change, the employees becomes stressed which results in loss of productivity. Therefore, the business enterprises develop several intervention techniques to control the negative impact of the change process in the organization. This discipline is called the change management which deals with the preparation and supporting the implementation of the new changes (Cameron and Green, 2015). The change management approaches supports the employees and the organization to embrace the change and streamline it in the current operations of the organization. Westpac, Singapore is an International Bank with headquarters in Australia which is trying to bring more than 40% of women in the senior management position. It is a significant change in the organization structure of the company and it needs appropriate change management approaches to smoothly implement the change. In this regard, the following report will provide a brief description of the organization and its external and internal environment. In the context of the external and the internal environment, an appropriate change management framework is proposed and in the subsequent section, the impact of the change on the organization and the employees is examined. Overview of the Organization and the Industry Westpac is the Australias first bank and has a long history of operating nearly 200 years in Australia. In Asia, the banking organization is active for the last forty years. In Asia, the headquarters of the company are located in Singapore and the regional offices are situated in the cities of Mumbai, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Beijing. It provides services in the field of institutional and client management, foreign exchange, debt markets, wealth management commodities and transactional banking. Over the last few years, the bank has been ranked consistently as the most sustainable banking organization across the world by the Dow and Jones sustainability ranking. It shows that the sustainability practices of the company are deep embedded in its working environment. The company practices the sustainability methods in its business processes, culture and operations. The company has the workforce of about 40,000 employees and they are all focused to deliver value to the customers besides co ntributing to the community (Westpac, 2016). External analysis of the Westpac The external environment of the Westpac Bank is examined through the PEST framework wherein the external environment is assessed by the political, economic, social and technological factors. In Singapore, the relative ratio of the women in senior leadership positions is relatively low; hence the government is encouraging the companies to recruit women in middle and low levels. Along with it, the government is also trying to increase the flexibility in the working environment so that the women trying to take a time back to focus on families are welcomed again in the corporates (Vaswani, 2015). The Singapore government also regulates the banking entities operating in Singapore. All the foreign banks are required to maintain a proportion of their assets in the local branch. They are also required to follow workplace ethics and workforce diversity norms in the country. In the 2015 budget, the Singapore government has also assisted the companies to retain the older employees and mother, fund their working arrangements and skill acquisition (Au-Yong, 2015). Economic: The economic conditions in Singapore are the most ideal for the business development and growth. It is one of the most open economies with the least corruption index. It has a high per-capita GDP and growing middle class. Therefore, the economic conditions of the country are ideal for the banking organizations. There is a highly educated workforce and the company can achieve competitive advantage by diversified workforce including both women and men. Social: In the corporate culture in Singapore, the progress of women is often hindered. The working hour in the country is high and the work-life balance is low. It prevents many women to pursue the corporate career. They are of the perception that either they can pursue family life or corporate life. The women, who have taken a temporary break from the organizations to concentrate on family life, face several problems while resuming their career. Technology: In terms of technology, Singapore is a fairly advanced country. Westpac, Singapore has adequate resources to integrate best technical infrastructure in the organization. Internal Environment Assessment The company was founded in Australia and is the first and the leading bank in the country. The company has imbibed strong sustainability principles and promoted inclusion of the diversification in the workforce. In Australia, the company has been successful in implementing diversification and around half of the workforce comprises of women. The company put great emphasis on diversification which has resulted in the success of the organization and innovation in the company. With the diversification, the company brings different perspectives, capabilities, insight and experiences in the company. Moreover, the vision of the company focuses in providing best services to the companies, customers and communities. With regard to the services, the company has developed strategy to provide excellent customer services to the customers. Along with it, the company is also focusing on the market of Asia which is a growing market in the present. By operating in the Asian region, the company also a ddresses the customer needs of the Australian customers who are trading in this region. The strategic vision of the company is high and it maintains a strict discipline to achieve its objectives. In order to provide seamless customer service to all the customers, the company adopted digitalization in all its operations (Westpac Banking Corporation, 2016). Proposed CHANGE Management framework With the constant evolution of the business objectives and changes in the marketplace, it is important to introduce change in the organization with appropriate strategies. The change management is an important discipline that ensures that the changes are thoroughly implemented and expected outcomes are realized. The change management approach encompasses the wider implications of the change and the strategies required to move the organization from the current state to the desired state (Paton and McCalman, 2008). In the present case, the strategic objective of the company is to create diversification in the workforce and increase the number of women employees in leadership roles to 40%. In this regard, the company can adopt the change management framework given by Kurt Lewis. In this model, the change process is differentiated in three stages, namely, unfreeze, change and refreeze. The three stages of the proposed change are described below: Unfreeze: In this stage, the organization is prepared for the change. The employees and all the stakeholders are notified the necessity of the change. The management and the change management team develop strategies to implement the change. In this stage, it is important to state why the current attitudes, strategies and beliefs are not adequate to meet the expected outcomes and why the changes are needed. It is expected that the employees will encounter the situation of uncertainty. In an organization, there are several forces which are striving to maintain the current status of the organization; the management can present a provocative problem so that the people recognize the need for change. In the current situation, Westpac, Singapore is required to increase the number of female employees in the organization to increase diversity in the workforce. It is important since it is one of the primary strategic objective of the organization as well as inclusion of diversification is important for fostering innovation and growth of the organization. With respect to the situation, the primary drivers of the change are the management and the human resource department. It is important that the HR department and the management communicate with the employees the desired changes, its implication for them as well as the benefits. Transition: This is the second stage of thee change management model. It is the most critical stage as in this stage, the organization transitions from its previous state to the current state. In this step, the organization takes all the necessary steps and the actions for the implementation of the change. It is the stage where the change becomes real and the employees struggle with the new system and approaches. During this time, the stress, uncertainty and fear occur among the employees that creates resistance and chaotic situation in the workplace. Moreover, in this situation, the employees begin to learn new behavior, processes and systems and adopt them. It is important in this situation, to prepare the employees for the change by communicating with them and supporting them in this transition process (Reiss, 2012). The management and the HR department of Westpac, Singapore will also take the appropriate actions to increase the number of women in the leadership position. It should initiate the recruitment procedure to enroll women in junior and middle-level leadership roles. Refreezing: It is the last stage of the change management process, in this stage the change is reinforced and stabilized in the organization. The changes start to show in the organization structure and processes. The changes are institutionalized in the everyday working of the organization and the changes processes are stabilized in the organization. In the present context, Westpac, Singapore will implement several changes in the organization. The number of women in the workforce will increase and the senior women employees will achieve the leadership positions. It will show a drastic change for the male employees as well as the junior employees as their colleagues will change. The staff has to report to the women employees and adjust to their leadership style which might raise resistance from the employees. There will be an increased pressure in the human resource department to recruit appropriate female candidates for the senior positions. In this stage, it is important for the management to a cknowledge the efforts and contributions of the people who are significant in bringing change in the organization. The female employees in leadership position should also be supported by using appropriate strategies. Discussion on the Impact of the Change on the Organization and the Employees Whenever the change is introduced in the organization, a major challenge is to combat the negative effects of the change on the organization as well as the employees. The change affects the organization in several ways. For instance, the change results in the loss of self-confidence, confusion and conflicts. During the change, several processes occur about which the employees have little knowledge due to which they have difficulty in conducting day-to-day tasks. As a result, the employees feel incompetent and powerless. The changes also results in modification in the regular routine of the employees and confusion (Cameron and Green, 2015). The most important challenge is to combat conflicts and resistance from the employees. The employees get to attached to their old working habits and norms and find it difficult to adopt new business processes. In the present situation, Westpac, Singapore will also sustain several impacts due to the changes in the organization structure. In Singapor e, the employees give little emphasis to diversity and inclusion and promote male employees in the corporate ladder. Therefore, it will be difficult to change the perception of the employees and encourage them to embrace inclusion. Along with it, in Singapore, the women prefer to concentrate on the family after a certain age. It is due to excessively long working hours and the workplace culture wherein the men are promoted over men. The women also have several family pressures and commitments outside workplace which provoke them to abandon their jobs. In regard to the leadership roles, the women are not provided adequate support from the senior management which results in them second guessing their talent (HRM Asia, 2016). Recommendations to Tackle the Issues of Employee Resistance The primary reaction of the employees in change is resistance. The introduction of the change is uncomfortable and requires learning new approaches and technology. Therefore, the employees remain uncomfortable in adopting new approaches and rather stick by the older ones. It can be stated that the change introduces a situation of uncertainty an anxiety. In this situation, the best approach to manage change is accepting the employee resistance as the normal reaction to the situation. During the scenarios of the change, the most accommodating and supportive employees show resistance to learning new methods and technology. Along with it, the management of Westpac, Singapore can create a trusting, employee-oriented and supportive environment for the change (Finch, 2011). The company must introduce the strategy of communication to manage the change. In this strategy, the management should communicate the need of change to the staff and support the employees with the change. The change is best-accepted in the environment where the perception that a change is urgently needed is established. If the management is not convinced about the rationale and the need for the change, he will not be able to convince the employees. The employees should also be asked to join in the endeavor to bring change to obtain the maximum support from the employees. Conclusion It can be concluded that the change management is a significant discipline in the present dynamic business environment. Change management refers to all the approaches and the strategies that are focused on successful implementation of the change. Westpac, Singapore is a multinational banking organization with headquarters in Australia and manly deals with Australian subcontinent and Asia. The strategic objectives of the company include the policy of enhancing diversification and inclusion in the workplace. In this regard, in the Australian branch, the 50% of the workforce is of women. The company is targeting same in the Singapore. However, there are certain external factors such as the social perception of the people who discourage women from working. The company can implement the Lewins change management framework to implement the change in the organization. The company can implement the changes in three stages, namely, unfreezing, transition and refreezing. In the change implement ation process, the companies encounter employee resistance. It can be encountered by communicating with the employees regarding the need of change and creting an inducing environment for the change. References Cameron, E. and Green, M. (2015). 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