Jet Blue Airways Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Jet Blue Airways - Case Study Example This is because airline fortunes change quite quickly and by large margins that if one made a profit, it is appealing but a loss if incurred, it is devastating. There are many airlines competing in the US market most of which register losses for years. This has proved difficult especially for companies with limited resources that compete with those with enough resources to afford less travels charges for customers and higher pay packages for employees. These two factors result in mass exodus of customers and staff from poor performing airlines. The more financially able firms were also the ones that could offer high quality service, more value addition services and subsidized rates. Aviation colleges were not graduating enough pilots and other airport staff to cater for the high demand in this industry. Thus, the airlines that could not afford the high cost of hiring more staff had to do with grounding their planes since there is an official limit of hours that an employee should wor k per day. The high number of airlines in the US causes congestion in the JF Kennedy International Airport (JFKIA). Congestion results in delays and flight cancellations that in turn resulted to loss of customers for airlines who had no alternative strategies for dealing with these inconveniences. Airlines undergoing financial difficulties could only obtain limited financial assistance from well-off multinationals since the law required that a Non-US company can only have a maximum 25% stake in a US airline. No US airline could obtain foreign financial assistance beyond 25% of its value. The only other option left for these companies were mergers and cost cutting especially with the steep rise in cost of crude oil and by extension, jet fuel. Strategic Intent Jet Blue had planned to expand mainly by increasing the number of destinations that it had direct flights. This was achieved by identifying an alternative hub since JFK Airport was overly congested. In addition, the company prov ided discounted services that included low fares, snacks during flights and speedy clearance to travel. Value addition was another strategy used to attract customers mainly by offering services like private massage, manicure, hair styling, a children play area and a big screen TV. Jet Blue put these fine details into consideration and they paid off well making customers want to seek their travel services. Financial Objectives Before offering low cost services, the company had to cut down its operation costs. First, it bought economical planes for its fleet by replacing Boeing 737 with Airbus A320 that is easier to operate and maintain. Second, it used IT to cut operational costs by use of Open Skies software to manage internet bookings, electronic ticketing and revenue management. Use of IT also included phone bookings and use of PayPal to pay for their tickets. These strategies worked well for Jet Blue as it continued expanding at a faster rate than competition.  

Congestion Pricing in New York City Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Congestion Pricing in New York City - Term Paper Example Next, Congestion pricing was introduced in London in 2003 with a charge of $13 for cars entering central London. Since its introduction, traffic delays have been reduced by 26%, bus service has becomes much faster and more reliable, and many more people have taken to bicycling instead of using their cars to access central London. Further, pollutants in the air have dropped dramatically too and Co2 levels have been reduced by 15% (Transport Alternatives). Stockholm conducted a trial of congestion pricing in 2006 for 6 months and found a 20% reduction in traffic, and a 10% drop in air pollution. Following this, it was made effective in 2007 in Stockholm. Since then, Stockholm has seen a 4.5% increase in public transport ridership, an 18% reduction in traffic, 50% decrease in waiting time to enter the city, and 14-18% drop in carbon emissions (Peach). In Trondheim, Norway, the congestion pricing has helped reduce traffic congestion by nearly 10% (Zupan and Perrotta). There are several g oals that introducing congestion pricing brings to the cities. ... The charges would be applicable from 6 AM to 6PM. The charges varied from $8 for cars to $21 for trucks. The charge was payable only once per day. Certain categories of vehicles were exempt from these charges. These vehicles were transit buses, emergency vehicles, taxis, and vehicles with handicapped license plates. However, for taxis that begin, end or touch the zone a surcharge of $1 would be applicable. For payment, the drivers would have an option of paying either through an â€Å"E-ZPass† which was an electronic transponder, or through an account linked to the E-ZPass recognizable through license plate recognition systems. For people without E-ZPass, the payment could be made within 48 hours at certain specified retail outlets/via internet or phone. In comparison to congestion pricing in other countries, the amount proposed was lower ($8 for NY compared to $13 in London for example). Further, the table below shows the comparison of several other important factors in the p roposed congestion pricing in New York with the implemented congestion pricing in London. Table 1: Comparison of London and New York Congestion pricing    London (Before Implementation) New York Proposal Size of zone 8 sq miles 8,5 sq miles Area of zone as percentage of region 1,3% of greater London 0,1% of tri-state region Number of Vehicles Entry Points 174 19 People Entering Zone Each Morning >1 million 1,7 million People Entering Zone by public transport 85% 78% Vehicles Entering Zone Each Day 7 AM to 6:30 PM 315,000 500,000 Vehicles Per Hour During Four Hour Morning Peak Period 40,000 53,000 Residents in Zone 83,000 500,000 Routing around the zone Ring road available to avoid the zone Options limited for most trips Source: Zupan and Perrotta, 2003 The proposal

Evaluation for the first episode of Gracepoint Essay

Evaluation for the first episode of Gracepoint - Essay Example Gracepoint investigates the highly mysterious murder of a young boy in a small town. There is only one season to this drama and all the loose ends are tied up by the creators in this single season. Instead of solving a new mystery murder in every second episode, a single investigation stretches over an entire season in Gracepoint. Young adults and middle age people constituted the audience of this show. The lowest ratings were seen in the 14-49 age demographic (Fletcher). This age group actually forms a majority of all viewers across America. Crime shows tend to become quite popular in this age group, but Gracepoint failed to cast a highly memorable impression on many people from this age group. However, it is also believed that crime shows like Gracepoint have more loyal followers from the age group of 42-55 as more mature people tend to become more interested in such shows than younger people. It can be assumed that adults and senior adults formed main audience of Gracepoint in Ame rica. The plot of the first episode is not so complex, but quite interesting. In this episode, the female detective named Miller becomes infuriated when another male officer named Carver is given the highly coveted position in an investigation which she was promised earlier. A young boy’s body is found dumped at the base of cliffs. Both Miller and Carver arrive at the crime scene and Miller becomes particularly distressed. Blunt force trauma is later confirmed as the cause of Danny’s death. The news instantly becomes a media bonanza in the town with one reporter after another arriving at the crime scene. Tom, Miller’s son, is presented as a mysterious young fellow because he is shown removing evidence from his mobile and laptop upon hearing the news of Danny’s death from his mother. A footage reveals that Danny skateboarded down a

Maori Identity Expression and Development in Once Were Warriors Essay

Maori Identity Expression and Development in Once Were Warriors - Essay Example I used the concepts and arguments from the following major theorists: Murray and Conrich (2008), Barclay (1990), Pihama (1996), Alia and Bull (2005) and Mita (1996). Murray and Conrich (2008) explore the meaning of ‘indigenous self-expression,’ while Barclay (1990) describes the process and effects of ‘talking in’ for indigenous people. Pihama (1996) emphasises the importance of contextualising Maori violence in order to avoid ethnic stereotyping. Alia and Bull (2005, p.64) argue that as indigenous groups internalise outsider views and develop their own internal understanding of their societies, they are involved in the ‘invention of tradition.’ Mita (1996) asserts that films provide the opportunity of decolonising themes. For this essay, I ask: How does Once Were Warriors reflect the ideas of the ‘indigenous self-expression’ (Murray and Conrich 2008), ‘our own image’ and ‘talking in’ (Barclay 1990), and â €˜decolonising the screen’ (Mita 1996)? Once Were Warriors reflects ‘indigenous self-expression’ (Murray and Conrich 2008), ‘our own image’ and ‘talking in’ (Barclay 1990) through emphasising the remaking and reclaiming of the warrior Maori culture in different ways and ‘decolonising the screen’ (Mita 1996) through reducing Western influences and focusing on the legitimacy of the hybrid Maori-modern culture. The paper concludes that Once Were Warriors signifies the remaking of Maori identity through the process of reclaiming their warriorhood status that simultaneously decolonises Maori identity development. ii. Reflexive Introduction I chose this film because it represents the breakdown of the indigenous social fabric, after colonisation has eroded the cultural fabric of the colonised. As a person who has a strong sense of colonisation history and who values family and clan ties, I can relate to the impacts of colonisati on and urbanisation on the social ties and identity-making of the Maori. Colonisation and its subsequent urbanisation and commercialisation effects have eroded the Maoris’ sense of identity, affecting not only their ethnic group as a whole, but also their family roots and individual personalities. I am then interpreting the film, not only from the views and concepts of the aforementioned theorists, but also from my own family and social values and experiences, because I am someone who deeply respects and values collectivistic societies, of which I am also a proud part of. I continue to strongly ground my analysis on scholarly research, nonetheless, through using textual analysis and semiotics that can help me attain a balanced perspective. iii. Background Introduction Since the early 1970s, a significant cultural shift is changing Maori representation in films, a shift called the â€Å"Maori Renaissance† (Keown 2008, p.197). Lee Tamahori’s Once Were Warriors bel ongs to this shift, as it portrays the implications of one of the historical events in the Maoris’ lives, their migration from rural, coastal ancestral lands to Pakeha-dominated urban areas and the effects of this migration to their ethnic identity-making process and identities (Keown 2008, p.197). For this essay, I explore how the film reflects indigenous expression and decolonisation themes. My research question is: How does Once Were Warriors reflect the ideas of the ‘indigenous self-expression’ (Murray and Conrich 2008), ‘our own image’

Sustantive Analysis - Explain how a command sustains an ethical Case Study

Sustantive Analysis - Explain how a command sustains an ethical command climate in war - Case Study Example William Darryl explains further by stating that strong commitment in soldiers is due to cohesion. In ethical command climate, values developed when one joins military help one to endure and help in their existence. Ethical command climate will provide soldiers with good character that helps them in their existence and survival in war. The enforcement of Ethical command climate is the responsibility of the commander A commander sustains ethical command climate during time of war through what they do and say. A commander’s ethical command is the bedrock for the successful command climate. Commanders give leadership to its soldiers through teaching of ethics and keeping up with the ethical standards, living ethically, and creating a healthy ethic command climate. Through determining of the health status of your unit, establishing clear goals, identifying climate areas they want to influence and execution of the commands, the commander is able to sustain ethical command climate2. As per the case study, it is observed that reinforcement of army goals and purposes gives them morale. Gardner suggests that leaders should be a source of motivation, guidance, and understanding to their groups. Good leadership by commanders offers a great effect to the morale and perception of its soldiers thus; the level of participation on their duties will be highly improved. However sometime unethical command climate may occur3. Unethical command climate in are due to certain factors such as; harassment of soldiers by their officials and management, lack of proper training, lack of rewards and incentives, poor promotion policies, delayed or no supply of tools and equipment. Unethical command climate will cause demoralization of soldiers during combat. Unethical combat climate leads to bad attitude of soldiers towards their works and thus poor involvement in their action. Keegan and Holmes

Secession of a Federal State Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Secession of a Federal State - Term Paper Example One who swore to override laws and constitution in order to reach his legitimate goal to divide the union between the South and North, and the ever-compromising force in executing charters beyond human demand. Republican viewed the strengths from slavery as values objectionable to Northern voters' republican ways. Leadership from Southerners was seen as a mere handful to the nation represented by the paradox of republican government, which, in essence, a minority rules the majority awaring that Lincoln was withheld from providing declaration on strategies, fearing that they would be perverted in both North and South. He declared that people would find him as his records earlier stated. I find this well demonstrated in the controversy on administration and enactment of laws, which brought wrinkles in Northern faces as they defied to honor guarantee to return slaves to the South. Lincoln was clearly stating, â€Å"I will not impose fugitive slave laws† (Wright 11). A constitutio nal crisis arose, as the federal states were not ready to embrace the laws, which would rather favor the Southern people. Failure to abide by the majority feeling at the brink of division crisis led the Southern people to extreme reputation not to surrender to people they had beaten in the election, unless the government broke up. Lincoln was unable to find good, capable generals in the beginning of the division. He tended to favor the Southern people as he felt they were more martial and occupied higher ranks, unlike the Northern people. Abraham Lincoln never supported the slave as he tells Douglas â€Å"I have no purpose, either directly or indirectly, to interfere with the institution of slavery where it exists† (Current 7). When the states seceded, many generals left their ranks; however, the people from North sat underneath them. Lincoln was devastated in choosing men like Sir Grants so that he could use them, being aware that surrendering would lead to losing all office s they held and prohibition against holding more territories. In this era, Lincoln seemed relentlessly upbeat about the union and rationalist of secession. It is true to say that neither of the sides had a favorable advantage or the ability to enforce submission of the other’s will. Southerners gathered into gangs that fought as armed mobs. Lincoln’s victory was used, by secessionists, to excuse themselves to act, on threats, to abandon the union of federal states and save the power of slave politically, which was viewed as proponent of minority rule. Lincoln could not believe that Southern people meant secession and war, although frequently told by his royal states-men. He became skeptical and wondered if he would be inaugurated in Washington. He was provoked and could publicly announce that he gained no credit to himself for his power, but he was blind to view the stormy wide cloud, which no machines could overturn. Abraham Lincoln certainly understood the nature of the black republican who had no sympathy on him. Events in the South were comprehensible. Animosity was widely spreading while temperament was flawed. The republican followers were young and unknowledgeable. Lincoln stated â€Å"I intent to unite both the south and north for the sake of country’s unity† (Cline 13). After the election, he was determined to show a former face of the Republican Party a

Sustantive Analysis - Explain how a command sustains an ethical Case Study

Sustantive Analysis - Explain how a command sustains an ethical command climate in war - Case Study Example William Darryl explains further by stating that strong commitment in soldiers is due to cohesion. In ethical command climate, values developed when one joins military help one to endure and help in their existence. Ethical command climate will provide soldiers with good character that helps them in their existence and survival in war. The enforcement of Ethical command climate is the responsibility of the commander A commander sustains ethical command climate during time of war through what they do and say. A commander’s ethical command is the bedrock for the successful command climate. Commanders give leadership to its soldiers through teaching of ethics and keeping up with the ethical standards, living ethically, and creating a healthy ethic command climate. Through determining of the health status of your unit, establishing clear goals, identifying climate areas they want to influence and execution of the commands, the commander is able to sustain ethical command climate2. As per the case study, it is observed that reinforcement of army goals and purposes gives them morale. Gardner suggests that leaders should be a source of motivation, guidance, and understanding to their groups. Good leadership by commanders offers a great effect to the morale and perception of its soldiers thus; the level of participation on their duties will be highly improved. However sometime unethical command climate may occur3. Unethical command climate in are due to certain factors such as; harassment of soldiers by their officials and management, lack of proper training, lack of rewards and incentives, poor promotion policies, delayed or no supply of tools and equipment. Unethical command climate will cause demoralization of soldiers during combat. Unethical combat climate leads to bad attitude of soldiers towards their works and thus poor involvement in their action. Keegan and Holmes