The business trajectory of Continental Airlines Essay

The business trajectory of Continental Airlines - Essay Example The organization had major problems starting by the fact that the employees were unmotivated and dissatisfied in their workplace. A lack of motivation and enthusiasm are two reasons why business enterprises fail (Sasson, 2012). The employees considered Continental Airlines a crummy place to work. The firm suffered from customer dissatisfaction. A Forbes study revealed that the company ranked tied for last within the industry in profits-sales-assets per employee (Nohria, et al., 2010). In a separate study by the U.S. Department of Transportation the firm ranked last in the industry in on-time percentage, baggage report, and complaints of poor service. There was a lack of teamwork among the employees of the company. Teamwork in the workplace is critical to accomplish the organization’s goals (Cross, 2012). The company was in desperate need of an overhaul and reorganization. The person that came to the rescue of the company was Gordon Bethune. Gordon Bethune was elevated to the p osition of Chief Executive Officer in 1994. Bethune was a former lieutenant in the U.S. Navy. In 1978 Jimmy Carter passed the Airline Deregulation Act. The law was designed to give commercial airlines the latitude to set fare prices and it enable airlines the ability to enter or exit a plane route. The deregulation movement presented a tremendous opportunity for the industry. A firm that was able to capitalize on deregulation was Southwest Airlines. On the other hand Continental Airlines did not implement any effective strategies to capitalize on deregulation. The main root of the problem was the lack of leadership from the executive management of the company. Another problem was that there was also a power struggle for ownership of the company which deterred attention from implementing operational strategies to be able to capitalize on deregulation. Mr. Bethune was able to lead the turnaround at Continental by implementing sound business strategies. Four strategies that Bethune implemented at the firm were: Fly to Win, Fund the Future, Make Reliability Reality, and Working Together. The Fly to Win Strategy was a product service plan. The company removed air capacity of unprofitable routes. The firm eliminated 18% of its flights in an effort to reduce costs by eliminating unprofitable flight routes. A lot of the flights that were eliminated were from the CAL Lite program. One of the new emphases of the company was in becoming a customer friendly airline. The firm concentrated in offering flights to places people wanted to go. The Fund the Future strategy emphasized finding capital to fund the operations of the company. The organization res tructured its plane fleet. It reduced its fleet type from 13 to 4 (Nohria, et al., 2010). The company matched airplane size with the size of customer markets. It also eliminated above market leases on planes. For instance Continental eliminated all 21 of its Airbus A300 and the 4,000 employees that served them. Despite the company’s initiatives the firm faced risk of bankruptcy once again in December of 1994 due to the fact that the

Health and Human Services Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Health and Human Services - Assignment Example The following denotes factual data on the racial and ethnic disparities in the US health and human services sector: †¢ Prior to 1994, the medical enrollment database only enlisted existing races as white, black, and other or unknown (Academic Journal, Sequist and Schneider 2006, pp. 1455). †¢ Over 50% of African Americans don’t receive appropriate key medical procedures relative to whites (Report, Committee on Understanding and Eliminating Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care 2009, pp. 2) †¢ Between the years of 200 and 2008, the percentage of dialysis patients increased overall, but blacks and Hispanics were less likely to be registered on waiting lists relative to whites (Government, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 2012). †¢ Over the years, health services providers have both intentionally and unintentionally communicated lower expectations for patients in disadvantaged racial and ethnic positions (Academic Journal, Sequist and Schneider 2006, pp. 1456). †¢ In 2009, Blacks and Hispanics were the least likely to receive to receive medical attention on diabetes relative to whites (Government, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 2012). †¢ 66% of young non-Hispanic white adults aged between the ages of 20 – 29 are twice as likely to get private health insurance coverage as Hispanics, who stand at only 33% (Report, Cohen and Bloom 2011). †¢ In 2007, Blacks made up almost half of the patients suffering from HIV/AIDS, despite being just 13% of the US population (Government, 2010).

St. Lucy's Home for Girls Raised by Wolves Essay

St. Lucy's Home for Girls Raised by Wolves - Essay Example Russell uses vivid description to develop the different aspects of her story. A close analysis of the story reveals that she explores multiple gender issues. In a bid to analyze this gender issue, this paper will offer a gender perspective analysis of her work. In addition, it will also consider the historical and the cultural perspective portrayed by the author as she developed her story. In her story, Russell tackles certain critical gender issues that are of interest to many literary analysts. One of them named Natalyalc commenting of Russell’s book online said, â€Å"The story also seems to have gender roles as the main theme†¦Ã¢â‚¬  She continues to say, â€Å"Because they have separate homes for male and female wolves and furthermore taught differently.† The fact that the story is centered on 15 wolf girls struggling to acculturate and assimilate into the human society introduces a gender based perspective. She mentions that, brothers of the girls were in a separate home. The fact that girls and boys did not learn the new culture in an integrated system is an emphasis on the existing gender differences, and the conservative nature of the society concerning the gender roles. The 15 girls undergo a rigorous transformational process as the nuns struggle to shape civilized women out of them. Most of the activities they indulge in are defined by the gender roles evident in the society. One nun tried to help Mirabella conform to feminine behavior as Russell describes when she says, â€Å"Shed sit down with Mirabella and pry her fingers apart. â€Å"You see?" shed say softly, again and again. "What are you holding on to? Nothing, little one. Nothing† (Russell 241). For example, they were expected to learn how to walk with composure as ladies. Moreover, the nuns make efforts of combing the hair in order to give them a feminine look evident when the narrator says, â€Å"The sisters swept out hair back into high, bouffant

Managing Orgnisation Essay Example for Free

Managing Orgnisation Essay Organizational culture can be summed up as a complex set of assumptions, beliefs, perceptions, symbols and values that define how a company goes about doing business. Every organization has its own unique culture or value set. Most organizations do not consciously try to create a certain culture as the culture of the organization is typically created automatically and unconsciously, based on the values of the top management or the founders of an organization. How things are said and done in a company reflects and shapes its organizational culture and can be seen in the following ways based on norms, critical incidents, rituals and significant symbols. Norms are a set of unwritten rules and guidelines that are standard for appropriate behaviour. Critical incidents are the events that occur in a company for example; a manager pointed out a mistake in the boss’ work and got passed over for a promotion. It shows that the company does not tolerate criticism. Based on this, other employees will learn from it and keep quiet even if their superiors made a mistake on their jobs. Rituals are the company’s traditions and customs, which are known as rites. Each company has their own set of rituals and can be extremely different from one another. A few examples will be the dress code, work pace, where to sit during meetings and recognition; how achievements are awarded. A significant symbol is how the employees and customers describe the organization. This means the language used to reflect the beliefs that are an everyday part of life for the organization. They are an indication of what values the company holds important. Based on the above introduction and explanation, we can derive that certain aspects of the culture can and cannot be managed. As said before, the top of the organization are the ones who set the goal and mission for the company. But based on the settings, different values and beliefs branches out as people have different perceptions and way of getting job done. Each culture is like a finger print and there can be no same culture between two unrelated organizations. The culture [1]‘is one type of environmental influence which impacts the way people (employees) think, perform tasks, and  communicate/interact with each other.’ Harris (1994) said: [2]‘Work is done by people who make up an organization, not by the organization itself. Organizational culture is ultimately manifested, represented and maintained by sense-making efforts and actions of individuals.’ It means organisational culture will first manifest itself before having impact on individuals and in turns affect an organization’s productivity, performance and their good points. In any kind of businesses, having a good culture is key matter in sustaining a good organization and in return creating good working results. Creating a â€Å"positive† culture would be extremely difficult to implement. At a certain point of situation, there will be a need to manage the culture of the organization. This is when there is a change in the tops of the management; the board of directors. It can also occur when there is a merge and overtaking by another organization.

Coke Strategy Essay -- Strategic Management Business

Coca Cola is the leading manufacturer, marketer and distributor of soft drinks in the world. With domestic market nearing saturation, the potential for growth lies in international markets. In recent years, economic, political and social changes have made the global environment more uncertain, forcing Coke to reevaluate its strategy, structure and culture to maintain a competitive advantage. The following is a dynamic analysis that tracks the evolution of Coke’s strategy from global standardization to a multi-domestic strategy that emphasizes national responsiveness. During Goizueta’s management term, Coke is already a large, mature company in the formalization stage of its life cycle and in the international stage of global development. The organization’s official goal is to dominate the global beverage market and maintain its market leadership position over Pepsi and other competitors. Its primary operative goals are productivity, efficiency and profit. Coke is a highly formalized, centralized organization with a clear hierarchy of authority and a mechanistic management process. Employees believe in the supremacy of the product, and the company’s rigid, heavy-handed culture helps maintain control and drive aggressive marketing and expansion plans. Given the steady consumer demand and low uncertainty created by the simple/stable environmental dimensions, the vertical structure is appropriate because it provides management with high degree of efficiency and control. Coke’s effectiveness is a result of the synergistic fit between its structural and contextual dimensions. Coke realizes economies of scale/scope and low-cost production from a globalization strategy that enables product design, manufacturing and marketing to be ... ...our product categories. With greater distances between regional units, Coke needs to establish more global coordination mechanisms such as transnational teams and functional managers to link resources, disseminate knowledge and bring products to market faster. To ensure that regional units don’t act too autonomously, headquarters needs to develop unified plans and procedures to ensure control and coordination. With more differentiation, Coke’s challenge is to stay competitive in new product categories without weakening the flagship product or diluting its brand image. Looking to the future, Coke should consider moving to a transnational model, which would transform the organization into a network of interdependent global operations that work together to achieve multi-dimensional goals by simultaneously achieving efficiency, national responsiveness and shared learning.

Cheerleading Captain Essay

There are many different opinions out there about cheerleaders, many good, and many bad. Some think of them as the girls standing by the football field, but I think of cheerleading as a symbol of all the spirit that we can share, and a token of appreciation toward the team that’s being cheered on. Cheerleading is such a vital part to many sections of the school. If I, Nina Guenther, am chosen to be a captain for the Burrell High School Junior Varsity squad, I will make sure that everyone has a positive outlook, and the great qualities the squad holds are emphasized.One reason I’d make a great choice for a captain, is that I would be dedicated to the squad, and won’t give up when faced with an obstacle. To me, extra practices, time spent making cheers, organizing stunts, and many of the other things a captain is chosen to do, is not work, but a privilege. These tasks would not bother or frustrate me, because as long as it’d help the girls on my squad, Iâ₠¬â„¢d be happy to do anything to help. I’d handle all obstacles, whether they concern individuals, the squad, a cheer, or a stunt, in an effective way that would help the squad grow.If I were chosen, I’m sure that I could help the squad surpass past years, and I could help every girl on the squad grow and become a better cheerleader. I have a strong belief that the change and growth in others affects you. I remember as I walked into the first tryout practice, last year, how nervous I was. I worked hard throughout that season to sharpen my physical and mental skills. Even though I’m far from perfect, if I continue to learn and get better, then I will influence and persuade others to do better.Growth will not only be seen in the abilities of the squad members, but in their attitudes. If I were a captain, I would make sure that everyone kept a positive outlook and worked harder than ever. Hopefully, by the end of you reading this, you can see how dedicated I am to this squad, and how hard I’ll work to make sure this season is one of the best we’ve ever had. I see a lot of promise in this year, and if I’m chosen as a captain, this squad’s full potential will be realized. Cheerleading, to me, isn’t just about standing on sidelines yelling cheers.It’s about how a group of people can support another group through their spirit. It’s not about bows or matching outfits, either, it’s about how people can come together to achieve something. Finally, it’s not about standing in rows, it’s about how if we can all come together to support something, we can make a difference. It’s about friendship and teamwork, hard work and dedication. Please consider me as a choice for one of the captains for the 2013-2014 cheerleading season on the Burrell High School Junior Varsity Squad. Thank you.

Prose coursework Essay

London being the most powerful city of its vast British empire had become the central point of the world. In the Victorian period, Britain owned the majority of the world and science was taking major jumps in history with discoveries, inventions and theories, for example the Darwin theory of evolution and the inventions of much revolutionary technology, such as the light bulb, the telephone etc. London was filled with life; it was a city where gas powered lamps lit the squalid streets covered with eerie shadows. Carriages clattered day and night delivering the rich and wealthy, but London was slowly deteriorating through wicked serial murders, drug misuse and frightened prostitutes. The city was famous for poverty: people who were stricken by ill health, cramped living conditions and high risk of sewerage water contamination. Soot rained over the city as the industrial revolution was at its peak, which was the cause of the covering of layers of black pollution creating a dark, dreary place. Public executions were frequency and Victorian people lived from day to day fearing crime, as renowned murderers walking the streets of London caused widespread fear across London, for example the likes of Jack the Ripper, infamous for ruthless murders of prostitutes and taunts he sent to the irresponsible police force, evidently many officers were publicly exposed as corrupt. Victorians had lost their respect for the police as they were thought to be unreliable in their protection of the desperate civilians of London. Arthur Conan Doyle’s character, Sherlock Holmes, surfaced in 1887. The people had found their savior, many immediately fell for the fictional character, and Holmes was seen as the super human detective like a cake with many layers, where each layer was revealed slowly throughout the fiction. He was a detective able to solve every mystery; he seemed to be a superhero always seeking justice to overcome evil. This fantasy became such a reality that when it’s creator tried to kill him off in 1893, many fans protested and even the author received death threats warning him to keep them supplied with the drug that feed their addiction for Holmes. This super sleuth had become famous in every province of the world. Many films, TV production, websites, museums and even organizations of secret police based in Eastern Europe were dedicated to him. Conan Doyle based his idea for Holmes on the traditional guide, but devised and invented the use of the scientific approach to solving mystery: observation, analysis of data observed, formation of theory based only on the facts. The traditional detective story is based on sudden adventitious circumstances; Doyle believed these circumstances didn’t occur in reality. Doyle’s mastery of the six rules of detective story allowed him to use the extra-ordinary. His concept was to reveal the mystery at the opening of the story followed by the development which explores detail of the story and at the conclusion Holmes explains and elaborates how the crime was committed. Holmes role and character is reveals throughout the story this is where we gain knowledge of his personality and mannerism, for example; -In the Red Headed league the case seem to be a joke but Holmes is still determined to work out the mystery, this show Holmes doesn’t fail to attempt even if it seem unworthy task. -In the Speckled Band Holmes pick up the smallest detail like the nonworking bell, the vent that leads into another room instead of outside, the bed that was bolted to the floor, a safe which had two holes, milk on a small plate not used for any animal a their home and the impression on the chair which had feet impression that was directly under the vent, these deduction prove Holmes superhuman ability and why he became so successful. Dr. Watson is the story teller, his relationship with Holmes seems to be strict controlling and ordered towards Dr. Watson but during their breaks Holmes becomes joyful and friendly towards Dr. Watson, for example; -In the Red Headed League Holmes tells Dr. Watson to leave him for 50 minutes to smoke his pipe and think, this order show Holmes superior over Dr. Watson. During many cases Dr. Watson seem to be the plot device as he develops the plot. The Speckled band is mystery where Holmes faces Dr. Roylett, throughout this story a lot of tension is built. Holmes conversation with Helen Stoner is calmer as Holmes gives her sympathy; here Holmes is presented as her knight in shining armor. 1 Sherlock Holmes Coursework Show preview only The above preview is unformatted text This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our GCSE Arthur Conan Doyle section.