Vincent Romano Essays (1231 words) - Sports, Injuries, Neurotrauma

Vincent Romano Dr. Myers English 1301.4033 April 3, 2017 Concussions in Football American football is one of the most violent sports in the U.S. It is also the most popular. Every year, millions of Americans, either from home or in attendance at the stadium, spend enormous amounts of money to enjoy football. As viewer's watch the high impact hits delivered, the viewer's attention is focused on the present situation of the game and the players' future safety is far from the mind. Concussions in American football is a major problem. Concussion prevention and protocol are a couple of the most important factors to attempt to begin bringing the concussion rate down in all levels of American football. Another important factor is the teaching of proper football techniques starting at the youth level. Youth football players could benefit from a modified tackling process that would better protect them from the risk of a concussion (Johnson 183). With the speed and size of athletes increasing every year, improper tackling techniques being performed at such a fast pace c ontributes to the concussion problem in American football. USA Football should implement a mandatory concussion safety certification program to combat the issue of concussions and require coaches to complete this training prior to leading football requiring coaches to complete prior to teaching football to ensure the safety and future of American football athletes. The main problem is coaching practices for youth athletes is not utilizing safe tackling techniques to avoid concussive and other head injuries. A potential solution is USA Football should design and make mandatory a safety program that teaches coaches to enforce the use of proper tackling techniques, proper equipment fitting, the dangers of concussions, and the mandatory safety protocols for head collisions. A detailed and mandatory safety program could help decrease the concussion rate and eliminate serious injuries and deaths in the industry of American football, providing beneficial results. Problem- Professional football leagues, organizations, and trainers have an active interest in player health and safety. USA Football, a U.S. governing body for American Football, stands for the development, participation, safety, and value of the game for all players, coaches, officials, and parents that have love for the sport. USA Football is a non-profit organization that was established in 2002 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The mission was to lead coach and player development and connect the football communities that will hopefully advance and grow the sport. USA Football provides the best certifications, resources, and programs for millions of athletes around the world. USA Football serves everyone from youth leagues to middle school and high school. USA Football is dedicated to making the game safer and better so that nothing stands in the way of a player's excitement for the sport. USA Football's main goal, through the advancement of coach training, is to develop valuable leadership, g uidance, and practice skills. The training allows the coach to be the best mentor for the players resulting in the best path for the athlete's future. Though football training excellence exist, it lacks mandatory certification to insure proper tackling techniques are utilized to avoid severe head injuries. One main issue involved when dealing with concussions related to the game of football is not using the appropriate tackling technique. Football tackling and being tackled is the leading cause of concusiions and is 13% higher in football than any other sport (Meehan and Landry). In an attempt to reduce the instances of concussions, new rule changes in the NFL were implemented in 2012 to restrict a player from leading with the helmet to make a tackle. The rule change was created in the hope to avoid big head to head collisions and decrease the number of concussions (Baumgart and Wada). If players are guilty of this action, they are penalized in the game upon further review. The hit is reviewed later by the NFL to determine a fine for any player that made illegal hits. In the article, "The NFL's Tackling Dilemma", Mark Fainaru-Wada and Simon Baumgart writes, "that from the year 2012, when the rule was applied, to 2013, player's penalized for an illegal hit dropped from forty to twent y-five" (Baumgart Wada). However, penalties and fines may be decreasing the rate of concussions, but it

Free Essays on Alienation According To Marx

What does one mean by alienation? Alienation is said to be the misperceived separation of essence from the object that it characterizes.1 In 1844 Karl Marx wrote and published The Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts of 1844, better known as The Paris Manuscripts. This was Karl Marx’s first work, where he writes a study about alienation of workers. Alienation manifests itself in many different forms. Marx argues that; â€Å"One must understand, there are three types of alienation. The first type of alienation is alienation from oneself. The second type of alienation is alienation from his fellow human beings. The third type of alienation is alienation from the world as a whole. These three forms of alienation are interconnected.† This is the core of his approach to the problem of alienation. (Monthly Review, 2000, p.35) However, Alienation has also been associated with early theological writings to refer to the estrangement of a person from God as well.2 Therefore it is without question that Alienation can be extremely harmful as its principle action is to cause people to feel isolated and alone. The recognition of man as a â€Å"species† becomes important to the theory of Alienation, which is central to Marx’s work and vital in reiterating the human essence of man.3 Alienation for Marx was a consequence of the conditions within systems of mutual production, which caused man to lose his identity as a species being and fall into an alienated state through the production of capital.4 Subsequently, he became detached from his conscious life activity causing him to be detached from himself, from others and the product of his labor. Essentially man comes to lose all his traits that identify his recognition of himself as human, causing him to become de-humanized. In the Paris Manuscripts Marx identified four specific ways in which alienation pervades capitalist society. The product of labour: The worker is alienate... Free Essays on Alienation According To Marx Free Essays on Alienation According To Marx What does one mean by alienation? Alienation is said to be the misperceived separation of essence from the object that it characterizes.1 In 1844 Karl Marx wrote and published The Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts of 1844, better known as The Paris Manuscripts. This was Karl Marx’s first work, where he writes a study about alienation of workers. Alienation manifests itself in many different forms. Marx argues that; â€Å"One must understand, there are three types of alienation. The first type of alienation is alienation from oneself. The second type of alienation is alienation from his fellow human beings. The third type of alienation is alienation from the world as a whole. These three forms of alienation are interconnected.† This is the core of his approach to the problem of alienation. (Monthly Review, 2000, p.35) However, Alienation has also been associated with early theological writings to refer to the estrangement of a person from God as well.2 Therefore it is without question that Alienation can be extremely harmful as its principle action is to cause people to feel isolated and alone. The recognition of man as a â€Å"species† becomes important to the theory of Alienation, which is central to Marx’s work and vital in reiterating the human essence of man.3 Alienation for Marx was a consequence of the conditions within systems of mutual production, which caused man to lose his identity as a species being and fall into an alienated state through the production of capital.4 Subsequently, he became detached from his conscious life activity causing him to be detached from himself, from others and the product of his labor. Essentially man comes to lose all his traits that identify his recognition of himself as human, causing him to become de-humanized. In the Paris Manuscripts Marx identified four specific ways in which alienation pervades capitalist society. The product of labour: The worker is alienate...

Sikhism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Sikhism - Essay Example Sikhism originated from the teachings of Guru Nanak Dev who opposed the caste system of Hinduism. The followers essentially believe in a formless God who is universal and both the creator as well as destructive force. The religious essentially is inclined towards protection of human rights and grants freedom to follow any religion as well as reject control by the political governance. Shinto (the way of many gods) is a Japanese religion which beliefs that every object whether living or non-living bears a life and therefore has a soul. The religion preaches regard towards the spiritual forms, which surround the world. The followers of Shinto believe in possession of the spirit, faith healing and shamanism. The paper here shall focus on one of the distinct religion of the east, originating in the state of Punjab, India, popularized as Sikhism (7 Major Eastern Religions, n.d.). Sikhism was initiated in 1469 in India after Guru Nanak Dev Ji was born. He was the first prophet of the Sikhs and the 10th or last was Guru Gobind Singh Ji. While Guru Nanak Dev Ji preached against the caste system, animal sacrifice and fasting, the later advocated all Sikhs to be baptized. The Rehatnamas was written by following the teachings of Guru Sahib, which directed the code of conduct of the followers. Guru Angad Dev Ji wrote the Gurmukhi script of the Sikhs. The third Guru created the hymns for funeral ceremony, the fourth Guru wrote hymns to be recited at marriages. The first four Gurus’ hymns were compiled by the fifth Guru to form the Adi Granth. Guru Gobind Singh Ji who compiled the ninth Guru’s hymns into the Adi Granth completed the Granth Sahib. After their tenth Guru died the Sikhs had their language, holy places and code of conduct and above all, a religion independent of all others. The Sikhs began to rule Punjab from the 1760s. It is the youngest of the four renowned religions of the world centering on worship of one God. The term ‘Sikh’ indic ates ‘disciple’, that is disciple of Sikh Gurus. (Guru’s Period, n.d.; Sikh Kingdom Era, n.d.) The Sikhs mainly pursue the preaching of the 10 Gurus scripted in their holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib. The religion is based upon noble conduct in life entailing truthfulness, equality and rejection of all kinds of superstitions and rituals without any scientific base. The Sikh should ensure a stable and persistent relation with God. According to the beliefs of Sikhism, the followers were supposed to worship one God who is ever existent. The religion preaches against the caste system, untouchability, any kind of occultism or horoscopes, â€Å"Shradh, Ancestor worship, Pind, Patal, Fasting, Tilak, Janju, Tulsi, Malla, Gor, Math, Marhi† and idol worship (SGPC, n.d). Yet the religion permits an individual to gain knowledge of other practices by reading. The Khalsa or the community of Sikhs should pray to God before taking on to any task and should not affect the sentiments of others. A Sikh child needs to be educated in the doctrines of Sikhism right after birth along with other lessons. The hair of the body should not be tampered with and a Sikh should not take any kind of intoxicant. A Sikh woman or man is not supposed to pierce his body (even ears and nose). One is not permitted to steal or get associated with gambling. A woman from the Sikh community is

International marketing - the case of Mcdonald's Essay

International marketing - the case of Mcdonald's - Essay Example Differences in culture, behaviour and customer needs across nations have posed new challenges while also providing new opportunities in international marketing. These have altered the segmenting, targeting of the market and product positioning. Thus international marketing strategy is a comprehensive effort which entails deployment of the marketing mix to create a sustainable advantage in the international market place (Wong and Merrilees, 2007). The right marketing mix and the marketing decision can change the brand perception and enhance the firm’s reputation leading to strong brand performance. The power of global brands can be used as a means of international entry but such brands also have to adapt to cultural and other environmental conditions. 2. Company Background McDonald's is one of the most respected and recognized brands in the world. Its success is ascertained from the fact that the organization has over 33,000 franchisees across the world, operating in 119 countr ies and serving over 47 million people each day (Han, 2008). McDonald's has achieved success purely because of its ‘think global, act local’ strategy that it has adopted in all its markets. Initially however, McDonald's had an ethnocentric approach to international marketing as it tried to replicate the home country elements overseas. However, through experience and knowledge it adopted the polycentric approach and focused on the demands of the host country. 3. Standardization and Adaptation Gilani and Razeghi (2010) do not consider it necessary to adapt to the elements of the marketing mix to suit to local tastes as markets have become globalized. However, globalization has not homogenised cultures. Standardization which pertains to identical product lines at identical prices, distributed through identical distribution lines with identical promotional programs (Zou, Andrus, Norvell, 1997), is not feasible in the changed business environment as this demonstrates a produ ct-centred approach whereas organizations need to have a customer-centric approach. McDonald's, in order to fit in to the new market demands, adjusted the entire marketing strategy including how they distribute and promote their brand. The company re-designed its marketing mix based on the product positioning, branding and design. 4. Product Positioning Product positioning is the product’s positioning and image that lends it a distinct value and place in the target segment’s mind (Liu and Chen, 2000). Since buyers differ in their attitudes, lifestyle and behaviour, these differences help in market segmentation. Within each segment product positioning strategy has to differ. McDonald's initially positioned itself as the market leader with low-priced quality food (Need Coffee, 2005). McDonald’s continuously strives to serve the customers better as its vision is to be the ‘world’s best quick service restaurant experience and ensure that every customer in every restaurant smiles (Andidas, 2003). However, as it entered the Asian markets, particularly China, it had to reposition itself. Burgers in China are perceived by the elders as providing nutritional value while the youth seeks taste (Anderson and He, 1998). Even though they do not relish pizzas or fast food, but the Chinese consumers would like to be seen at fast food outlets. McDonald's strategy was to provide the ambience, music and the environment that attracted the Chinese consu

Examining Ethnic Differences in Achievemen Essay Example for Free

Examining Ethnic Differences in Achievemen Essay 1. The definition of an ethnic group is a group of people of the same race or nationality that share the same cultural norms and values. 2. Three ways in which the education system may encourage separation between children of different ethnic backgrounds are: Labelling and teacher racism, many teachers label their students and studies by interactionist sociologists found out that many teachers labelled black children as disruptive and they didn’t want them in their class. Another reason is the ethnocentric curriculum. Troyna and Williams describe the curriculum in British schools as ethnocentric because it gives priority to white culture and the English language; this causes separation between white pupils and other ethnic pupils. A final reason is the selection and segregation available to schools. David Gillborn argues that marketization has given schools greater scope to select pupils. This puts some ethnic minority pupils at a disadvantage because selection gives more scope for negative stereotypes to influence decisions about school admissions. 3. There are many ways in which factors in children’s home background may lead to differences in achievement levels between ethnic groups. The first way is cultural deprivation; this is split into 3 aspects. The first is intellectual and linguistic skills. Cultural deprivation theorists argue that many children from low-income black families lack intellectual stimulation and enriching experiences. Bereiter and Engelmann consider the language spoken by low-income black American families as inadequate for educational success. The next aspect is attitudes and values. Cultural deprivation theorists say that some black children are socialised into a subculture that instils a fatalistic ‘live for toady’ attitude that does not value education and leaves them unequipped for success. The final aspect of cultural deprivation is family structure and parental support. Daniel Moynihan argues that because many black families are headed by a lone mother, their children are deprived of adequate care because she has to struggle financially in the absence of a male breadwinner. Also Ken Pryce claims that Asians are higher achievers because their cukture is more resistant to racism and gives them a greater sense of self-worth. However, he argues, black Caribbean culture is less cohesive and less resistant to racism. As a result, many balck pupils have low self-esteem and under-achieve. Another reason is Material deprivation and class. According to Flaherty; Pakistani’s and Bangladeshis are over three times more likely than whites to be in the poorest fifth of the population, as a result statistics show that Pakistani and Bangladeshi boys are among the lowest ethnic groups in the country to obtain 5 A-C GCSE’s. A final reason is racism in wider society. David Mason says â€Å" discrimination is a continuing and persistent feature of the experience of Britain’s citizens of minority ethnic origin. † 4. The differences in educational attainment between different groups of pupils have been a major focus of much sociological research. These differences can often be seen to be largely due to different social class, but also gender or ethnicity. Social class is the most significant and dominant factor when looking at these differences, but ethnicity also has a relative impact on educational achievement. Education has a key role to play in eradicating racism and valuing diversity and it a responsibility for all educational establishments, including those with few or no ethnic minority pupils. Promoting racial equality demands a whole school approach and commitment from all those who are involved in the life and work of their school. Racism is linked to the educational achievement of minority ethnic groups, however the connections are complex. Gilborn and Mirza conclude that ‘social class and gender differences are also associated with differences in attainment but neither can account for persistent underlying ethnic inequalities: comparing like with like, African Caribbean, Pakistani and Bangladeshi pupils do not enjoy equal opportunities. ’ They also argue that in promoting educational inclusion as a means of raising standards, there is a need ‘for clarity and guidance in translating the commitment to equality and inclusion into policy proposals and practice at the local and school level. Many cultural deprivation theorists see the lack of intellectual and linguistic skills as a major cause of under-achievement. Gordon Bowker identifies their lack of standard English as a major barrier to progress in education and integration into wider society. However the Swann Report found that language was not a major factor in under-achievement. Other cultural deprivation theorists suc as Charles Murray argue that a high rate of lone parenthood and a lack of positive male role models lead to the under-achievement of some minorities. Also Anthony Flew believes that ethnic differences in achievement stem from cultural differences outside the education system, not discrimination within it. However Geoffrey Driver criticises the cultural deprivation theory for ignoring the positive effects of ethnicity on achievement. He shows that the black Caribbean family, far from being dysfunctional, provides girls with positive role models of strong independent wome Driver argues this is why black girls tend to be more successful in education than black boys. Some socilogists that the ethnic differences in education are cause by racism. John Rex shows how racial discrimination leads to social exclusion and how this worsens the poverty faced by ethnic minorities. In housing, for instance, discrimination means that minorities are more likely to be forced into substandard acoomodation than white people of the same class. This creates separation due to the ethnic children not being able to study at home and therefore getting lower grades than the white children who are able to study at home.

Low Cost Model For Long Haul Airlines

Low Cost Model For Long Haul Airlines As most industries reach a stage of maturation, the changing nature of the airline industry is evolving to integrate novel strategies and business models needed to comply with consumer needs. The low-cost airline sector is a model that generated large financial gains but saturation is observed, leading companies to discover new opportunities in the long-haul low-cost market. The article explains the principles behind the idea, justifying the failure of previous attempts and proposing a novel business model that can be adjusted to todays economy. 1. Introduction The airline industry is characterized by instability and unpredictability making it one of the most risky to invest in, succeeded only by the hospitality industry. Due to significant exposure to external factors, the airlines are subject to financial losses and damages, with the most recent being the terrorist attack on the US on September 11th in 2001. The global airline industry suffered greatly and any financial stability plummeted reports show losses of $10 billion only by US airlines in 2002 (Wensveen et al., 2007) In order to adapt with the continuously changing environment, airlines employed a cost-reduction policy by reducing capacity, in-flight amenities and management expenditure. The effectiveness of this method urged many companies to reconstruct their strategy to comply with consumer demand and lifestyle (Taneja, 2005). As a result, passengers were starting to prefer the more cost-effective approach of Low-cost carriers (LCCs) than conventional methods. A form of low-cost travelling had already emerged in the 1970s by Southwest Airlines, who kept low-unit costs by reducing aircraft turn-around time at the gate which inspired current companies follow its business strategy (Bamber, 2009). Today modern development of the strategy lead to a low-cost revolution with LCCs controlling 30 and 40% of the market capacity in the US and UK respectively since 2005 (Taneja, 2005). Due to the success of the model and the inevitable future saturation of the short-haul LCCs, companies focused their interest in converting the same business model for long-haul flights and turning it into a profitable business plan. However the concept of a low-cost long-haul airline is not new but previous attempts have not been successful. The earliest example is Freddie Lakers Skytrain which offered no frills transatlantic flights from London Gatwick to New York with single class tickets costing only  £59 one-way. The competitive pricing from established airlines that ensured after the relaxation of transatlantic market fare regulations, lead to debt accumulation of  £270 million and the company ultimately failed in 1982 (Calder, 2006). This review will examine the issues raised by the entrance of low-cost airlines to the long-haul route market and assess the factors that lead that prevented growth and establishment of such companies. By assessing how the elements of low-cost travelling are transferable to long-haul operations and the sustainability of such projects, solutions to building a successful business model could be found. 2. Other LCCs and proposals Shortly after the demise of Lakers venture, a US based low cost airline named People Express commenced flights from New York to London Gatwick in 1983 and later added Brussels. By providing connecting flights at its Newark hub and charging $3 for checked baggage, the company proceeded to expand from a successful low-cost carrier to offering economical long-haul flights. However, due to over-expansion and management problems the company was terminated in 1987. Recent attempts to adopt the Skytrain model of low-budget travelling include Oasis and Zoom Airlines. Oasis, based in Hong Kong, offered non-stop service between Hong Kong and London Gatwick in 2007, generating huge success due to the low cost of  £75 for one-way flights. Due to growing competition by leading airlines which landed in the more centrally located Heathrow and rapid accumulation of losses due to the unsustainable fares, the company failed just after 18 months. On the other hand, Zoom Airlines which operated between Toronto and several UK airports since 2006, had a longer lifespan but was forced to shut down after outstanding debts and bankruptcy were reported. A variety of ideas and proposals for long-haul travelling were suggested but were unable to raise the necessary finance. One of the most controversial cases is Civair, which was scheduled to start up a low cost flight between Cape Town and London Stansted in March 2004. However in December of that year, 7,400 passengers were left stranded when the company did not have an aircraft for the flight and no alternatives could be funded leading to closure. 2.1 Long-haul vs. short-haul flying Low-cost carriers have inherent differences in various factors when distinguishing between short-haul and long-haul flights. These include crew and security requirements, turn-around times, airport facilities, route authorities and route density. The competitive advantage acquired in short-haul LCCS cannot be transferred to long-haul, low-cost carriers because the only means of being profitable is optimizing aircraft capacity. Theories that could possibly create revenue by using the low-cost, long-haul model fall in two categories: either using a long haul airbus, charging higher baggage fees, buy-in food and beverages and fly to secondary airports or acquiring many cheap long-haul aircrafts with two-class service and secondary airport bases which will conduct multiple flights per week(Wensveen and Leick, 2009). The former theory would only be viable in practice if high volume city pairs could fill all the seats in the aircraft while the latter relies solely on getting cheap aircraft . However before developing hypotheses and specifications, attention should be given on the business side of airline operation. Judging from previous attempts, despite the original promising profits, most companies failed due to improper business planning. 3. Airline business planning and airline failure Every attempt of an airline entering the low-cost, long-haul flight market lead in failure, despite all the positive indications in the beginning. While there are hundreds of reasons leading in an airline failure, several common errors in business planning are shared between all of the cases. 3.1. Inability to maintain competitive advantage A company should be able to establish a sustainable, competitive advantage by analyzing and targeting the correct market while having the ability to compete with other carriers in the long-term. In the case of Skytrain, where Laker Airways entered the market of LCLH market without any competitors, it generated significant gains which were quickly diminished after the introduction of other airlines in the market. Uniqueness of an airlines business concept is important as it sets it apart from the competition otherwise will fail to raise necessary funds. 3.2. Inadequate income growth and profitability In most cases, many airlines business often dont demonstrate income growth and profitability. By displaying unrealistic financial projections in order to sell the business concept, the airline will fail. Bottom line growth is vital for the financial establishment of a company and that growth should be based on valid financial assumptions which can be backed up by quality measurements. 3.3 Incompetent leadership While the importance of a capable management team is underestimated, its one of the most imperative factors I gaining the interest of potential investors, as its believed that an average idea can be made profitable by the correct mindset. In most airlines the management team is overlooked in the business plan and this discourages investors from investing money. On the contrary, a good team is able to highlight any risks involved in the strategic objectives of the company and create a business plan that will ensure growth. A prime example is the introduction of Gordon Bethune as a new Chief Executive Officer of Continental Airlines the company had already filed for bankruptcy but Mr. Bethunes actions reinstated the fading airline into the most thriving carriers(Bethune et al., 1998). 3.4 Limited initial funding Most airlines require large funding throughout their development which cannot be obtained easily and combined with poor business plans lead to untimely failing. Airlines such as Oasis and Zoom were closed due to inadequate funding while competition by other companies was rising (Bradsher, 2008) . Correct estimations of the funding required and also taking into account the money lost during setup and initial operations, will lure investors for money investment as the potential for profitability will be significantly displayed. 3.5. Overexpansion and lacking flexibility Airlines often tend to expand their destination and aircraft base, with the impression that it will increase income revenue. In most of the cases, it was the limiting-step towards failure. Moderate growth and balanced route frequency can prevent overexpansion and sustain optimal gains. Additionally, the ability to compromise and adjust to the changing economical and social environment can subsequently increase the popularity of an airline among passengers. Continuous operation will lead to dependence on financial support from loans or subsidies and eventually bankruptcy. 4. Can the long-haul, low-cost model work? Studies have examined the possibility of the low-cost model integrating in long-haul flight business and clear advantages and disadvantages have been noted. At first, due to the absence of direct substitute for long-haul flights as well as the already competitive prices, there isnt adequate evidences that lower fares can increase demand in the same manner as in short-haul flights. Moreover, secondary airports cannot be used for the landing of large-aircrafts due to size and time limitations and also cost-effectiveness (Maertens, 2010). However, a cost advantage of 20 to 25% is possible if a carrier can offer online booking to reduce distribution costs and only point-to-point services where connective flights to the desired destination can be arranged by the individual passenger. Today, companies such as AirAsia X and Jet Star have managed to find a balance between price and service in order to provide low-cost flight opportunities. 4.1 Jetstar The Australian airline has managed to become one of the most successful start-ups in the recent years. While being a fully owned subsidiary of a legacy carrier, Quantas, is managed and operated separately. After commencing flights in the domestic Australian market in 2004, Jetstar operated its first international flight to from Melbourne to Singapore on December 2010, marking a new era for economical long-haul flights. Their low fares are based on the notion of offering point-to-point routes between Australia, Asia and the Pacific, in order to complement Quantas main international flight schedule. The company also offers choice between two ticket types, economy and premium economy, which various in-flight meals and snacks can be purchased or complimentary, respectively. 4.2 AirAsia X The Malaysian AirAsia which was the pioneer of low-cost carrier operations across Asia introduced the long-haul service AirAsia X in 2007 to provide more options and greater affordability to a wider marketing spectrum. Based in Kuala Lumpur, the worlds biggest low-cost hub, it has covered many destinations in Australia, Europe and Asia. A key principle in order to keep costs low is high frequency of flights and providing point-to-point medium or long haul services. As a true no-frills service it includes lots of seats and passengers purchasing in-flight meals and entertainment. It also offers a premium class which is similar to economy fare of legacy carriers while in June 2010, a US$10 million refurbishment was introduced introducing flat beds in the premium area with a small rise in the ticket fare (Anonymous, 2010). 5. Building an efficient low-cost long haul airline By evaluating the facts and figures of the previously mentioned airlines, Jetstar and AirAsia X, its evident that that reasonably priced long-haul travel can become a reality by utilizing specific cost-effective methods and business strategies. While this increase in long-haul travelling maybe attributed to the expanding economy in Asia (Hooper, 2005) and the rapidly increasing competition among emerging low-cost airlines in the continent, it has been shown that intercontinental travel as demonstrated by AirAsia can be profitable while maintaining low fares. These techniques can also be employed for any up-and-coming LCLH airline in Europe or US, to ensure their development. 5.1. Ensure faster turnaround of aircraft Short-hauls are considered to have more cost-advantage than long-hauls due to landing at secondary and less congested airports which allows higher crew and aircraft utilisation. Long-haul flights usually require more time refuelling and servicing, therefore less rotations can be performed compared to short-hauls. However, by landing at a specifically designated low-cost hub, such as Kuala Lumpur, can minimize refuelling times and costs of servicing while providing adequate support for larger aircrafts. 5.2. No frills services All-economy seating and in-flight food and beverage which can be purchased can aid in the revenue of sales while pre-booked in-flight entertainment such as hand-held devices could be useful in long-haul flights. 5.3. Point-to-point travelling only This method employed in short-haul flights ensures short turnaround times and prevention of time-consuming services which would affect timetables. Modern long-haul airlines could seek interline partners to expand their flight capabilities, similar to the co-operation of the Australian company Jetstar with its partner company Quantas (Jetstar, 2007). 5.4 High density cabins and lower input prices Gains from the long-haul flights will be possible if high seat densities exist which could make up for the low ticket fare, as more passengers equal to increased revenue. Also by importing dual-seating system with premium seats which can be charged at higher prices and have extra amenities, a market for passengers requiring conditions similar to business flights can be created resulting in more profit. New entries in the airline industry are benefited from very low unit aircraft prices in large orders as well as hiring younger and cheaper pilots. Moreover, costs of advertisings and website/call centres can be avoided to cut down expenses, since the low price is a sufficient reason for passengers to choose those companies. 6. Novel business models Because of the limited solutions and benefits on directly developing a low-cost, long-haul airline, new business models have been developed for potential exploitation into a low-cost model. 6.1. Network specialists These companies cater mainly to business passengers and are specifically operated as a corporate shuttle for routes with high-yield. A prime example is PrivatAir, a Geneva-based airline which has survived through contracts with major corporations to transport their employees between locations (Wensveen and Leick, 2009). It offers business class seating on trans-Atlantic flights using several Airbus and Boeing planes. It can also operate as an operator for existing airlines such as Lufthansa and KLM which utilize the company for their business class services in Germany. 6.2. Product specialists Airlines which focus on business and affluent leisure travel and are all-business class, all first class or both. These types of airlines are on par with legacy airline yields and offer premium cabins for long-haul flights. Companies in this market include Eos Airlines, MAXjet Airways, Silverjet and LAvion. While the first three carriers had gone bankrupt, LAvion which seemed promising and was recently acquired by British Airways did not make any profit as well (Lagrorce, 2008). Eos and Maxjet airways both operated between London Stansted and New York JFK using Boeing 757-200 while Silverjet operated between London Luton and Newark as well as Dubai. All three airlines ceased operations in 2008. LAvion operated between Paris Orly and Newark and is currently a subsidiary of British Airways OpenSkies unit. While the original offer of low fares and premium facilities seemed promising, all four companies filed for bankruptcy, citing rising fuel and oil prizes, limited funding resources an d newly formed competition on the specific routes by legacy carriers. While this business problem does not seem to be problematic, adjustments should be made in order to give motives to increase passenger preference. 6.3. Price specialists These airlines mainly adopt lower-costing strategies to compete with existing companies solely on price. This includes the low-cost, long haul flight plan which has been employed by various airlines such as Oasis Hong Kong, Zoom, Jetstar, Viva Macau and AirAsia X. In order to compete with legacy companies, larger aircrafts with high-seating configuration should be used to make profit. With the exception of Oasis and Zoom, which were bankrupt, the rest of the companies flourished with expanding their flight schedule beyond Asia and Australia. The problems leading to failure in the two named companies mainly involve insufficient business planning as discussed in a previous section. However long-term effects of the plan remain to be seen as sustaining low prices can be proven difficult with the current economy. 6.4. Long-haul charter carriers While unit costs for charter carriers is 10-20% more expensive than LCCs (Teckentrup, 2007), their increasing use for long-haul travelling made them an attractive alternative to network airlines, usually for summer destinations. Many European charter companies now target specifically long-haul destinations, such as Corsair which operates an all-economy Boeing 747-400 between Paris and Overseas French territories in the Caribbean; such high density planes are not used on other long-haul international travel by the company. Due to competition and projects bearing no success such as Britannia Airways, which discontinued flights from UK to Australia, charter airline long-haul flights have been restricted to limited time frames and leisure destinations. However, charter flights represent a large percentage of long-haul market and could potentially be exploited beneficially. 7. Sustainability of the low-cost model and future projects As the long-haul market becomes successfully grown and becomes profitable for major carriers again, it is likely that other carriers will be interested to obtain a share of the market. Due to the over-saturation of the low-cost short-haul airline industry in Europe, established LCCs such as Easyjet may utilize point-to-point flights by co-operating with long-haul flight companies to lower prices for distant travelling. Employing new aircraft types such as Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 can fly longer distances offer denser seating that would be possible to fit 800 seats flying between main hubs such as London-New York. Deregulation can also create a potential increase in new services, as many markets are limited to one or two national carriers. As this breaks down, the introduction of new entrants, such as Virgin Atlantic in the India-UK and India-USA markets can spur new competition and lower prices in international travel (Phadnis, 2012). For now, the low-cost, long-haul market appears to be decreasing as one of the pioneers of this sector AirAsia X pulled its European services citing the damaged economy of European countries and exorbitant government taxes affecting its ability to offer low-cost fares (Thomas, 2012). Even Ryanair, which declared that will commence transatlantic flights in 2007, has recently confirmed that long-haul flights are not happening for some years (Olorenshaw and Sturke, 2007). 8. Conclusions The substantial success of certain LCCs has certainly led to the perception of an attractive business model and its implementation is being utilised by various long-haul operators. Established LCCs are reluctant to join the long-haul market due to the dangers present but that is rapidly changing. Experience and expertise gained by short-haul markets can be transcribed successfully in the long-haul operating scheme, which will greatly compensate to the losses that will occur as the markets become saturated with myriads of low-cost carriers. On the other had, traditional airlines are equipped with an array of qualities such as established clientele, reducing economy seat fares to attract new passenger and experience in international flights puts the beginner low-cost carrier in a disadvantageous position. By employing a long haul point-to-point model to promote cross-selling and service integration with more established, traditional companies allow passengers to fly from smaller markets in other regions via LCCs. As with any new business model, achieving cost advantages is not enough to deem it successful. Theres a long history of competitors which offered subsidised low fares to combat new entrants in the long-haul market, leading them to financial difficulties and bankruptcy. Continuous innovation is needed in the evolving air transport market and adjusting to emerging carrier types could be beneficial. Combining a solid business plan which is flexible, manageable and competitive with a long term vision will guarantee a successful transition to the long-haul business.

Corporate Social Responsibility in Supply Chain Management Essay

Case Study: Singapore The case was developed with the cooperation of Singapore Compact for CSR solely for educational purposes as a contribution to the Project entitled â€Å"New Corporate Procurement Strategy on Trade in Goods and Services in APEC Region – Supply-chain options with CSR perspective -† conducted under the auspices of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). The case is neither designed nor intended to illustrate the correct or incorrect management of the situation or issues contained in the case. No part of this case can be reproduced, stored or used without the written permission of the author and the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation.  © 2007 APEC Secretariat 216 Case Study: Singapore Executive Summary NTUC FairPrice Cooperative Ltd is the leading supermarket retailer in Singapore. The company is known as a â€Å"supermarket with social conscience.† Its supply chain activities focus on developing effective strategies to improve product quality and safety by working closely with its suppliers in implementing standards and good CSR practices. Singapore imports 95% of its vegetables from other economies since the local farms cannot meet the local demand. FairPrice itself imports about 80% of its vegetables. Sellers need to ensure that the vegetables are safe for consumption and its supply is ample. FairPrice invested in a fresh food distribution center in 2002 to enhance its ability to move its stock faster and maintain freshness quality. The Good Agricultural Practices for Vegetable Farming (GAP-VF) certification ensures that local suppliers meet the standard but the certification does not cover overseas suppliers. FairPrice needs to encourage these overseas suppliers to adopt similar standards. The standard applied to organic vegetables is even higher. FairPrice works with Agrifood Technologies Pte Ltd to develop an in-house certification program that would provide assurance of the integrity of the organic produce. FairPrice participates in the Pekan Baru project, a collaboration of the Indonesian and Singapore governments. FairPrice purchases 50 tons of vegetables per week from Pekan Baru. As the sole importer of the vegetables produced in Pekan Baru, FairPrice provides more work and income for more than 500 farmers and many operators along the supply chain. The project also involves technology transfer which helps the farmers to implement good agricultural practices and get higher yields of better quality vegetables. Pekan Beru farmers learned the technology on cold chain management which makes it possible to maintain the freshness of vegetables while being transported from the farm to FairPrice distribution centers. With quality assurance, FairPrice packages the vegetables under its house brand, Pasar. Branding the vegetables under Pasar has helped to market and increase demand for vegetables from Pekan Baru since FairPrice is a trusted brand in Singapore. CSR is a journey and FairPrice continues to strive to be the best place to shop, the best place to work, and the best corporate citizen. Introduction In the retail sector, companies compete for the consumer’s money by looking at the marketing mix of 4Ps – Product, Price, Place and Promotion. These are traditionally the four factors that retailers consider in their marketing strategy. However, due to globalization and better consumer awareness, retailers need to address another 3Ps – People, Planet and (not only) Profit. Consumers no longer just buy what is displayed on the retail shelves. They are asking questions as to how the products have been produced, and what has been their impact on society and the environment. For retailers to compete effectively in the market today, they need to assure consumers that what they put on the retail shelves are ‘ethical products’. In the supermarket retail industry, product quality (e.g. freshness, taste) and safety are two of the key concerns. If consumers in Singapore are in doubt about the product quality and safety of any retailer, they have a lternative sources such as vendors in local fresh produce markets. Hence, to 217 Case Study: Singapore compete effectively, supermarket retailers need to look at how and not just what they are doing in business. By examining the opportunities and challenges in the context of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) within the supply chain, businesses can sharpen their competitive edge and be good corporate citizens. Company Profile Established in 1973 by the labour movement, NTUC FairPrice Cooperative Ltd has grown from its first shop set up to moderate the price of sugar and rice to being the leading supermarket retailer in Singapore. It employs over 5,000 and runs a retail network of 216 outlets comprising 76 FairPrice supermarkets, one FairPrice Finest, two FairPrice Xtra (Hypermart), three Homemarts, 19 FairPrice Xpress and 116 Cheers Convenience Stores. FairPrice’s founding mission was to moderate the cost of living for the ordinary households in Singapore. Over the years, FairPrice’s mission has evolved to its present mission which is to moderate the costs of a good life. Essentially, FairPrice’s aim is to be: †¢ †¢ †¢ the best place to shop, the best place to work, and the best corporate citizen. To be the best place to shop, FairPrice focuses on maximizing consumer satisfaction which is based on its brand promise of delivering value, quality and service. Key to this commitment are its procurement practices. FairPrice’s product sourcing takes into account consumer feedback and needs, and market trends. It sources from established and reputable companies. It always tries to diversify its sources of supply, particularly for essential items. It also develops its own range of house brand products to offer consumers an alternative to national brands. FairPrice plays a strong role in establishing the price of essentials in Singapore. During the avian flu outbreak that resulted in the ban of egg imports from the region, FairPrice responded swiftly to the crisis by putting in place precautionary measures to curb profiteering. To prevent arbitrage, FairPrice took unpopular but necessary measures in restricting the purchase of eggs. To further alleviate the egg shortage, it imported Australian and New Zealand eggs as alternatives. Even after the ban on Malaysian poultry imports was lifted, FairPrice continued its efforts in working with business partners to peg chicken and egg prices at a reasonable level. Through this, FairPrice helped restore egg prices to pre-ban levels. To be the best place to work, FairPrice is a unionized employer that has good labour-management relationship. FairPrice takes a holistic approach in providing for employees well-being and opportunities for growth and development. FairPrice received the Work-life Excellence Award 2006 conferred by the tripartite committee on Work-life Strategy Singapore, in recognition of its programs to help employees balance personal commitments and work responsibilities. FairPrice contributes to the community through its own initiatives such as its annual Used Textbooks project, its Million Dollar Food Voucher Scheme for the needy and the provision of study grants to children of needy members. It also engages its network of suppliers to support its community efforts such as Heartstrings Buys, a fund-raising drive for the Community Chest. To promote environment protection, FairPrice launched the ‘Love Nature’ reusable bags to encourage its customers to reduce their reliance on plastic bags when shopping for groceries and necessities. In addition, the company participated in the ‘Bring Your Own Bag Day’ to encourage 218 Case Study: Singapore shoppers to bring their own shopping bags instead of using plastic bags. Cashiers at the retail stores have been trained to pack more items in each bag to reduce the consumption of plastic bags. As a good corporate citizen, FairPrice was cited as the â€Å"supermarket with a social conscience† by the Far East Economic Review in a 2000 survey report. In September 2005, FairPrice signed the UN Global Compact (UNGC) to support the initiative of the Singapore Compact movement to establish a UNGC network in Singapore and help raise awareness among more companies of the key principles of CSR which it upholds. FairPrice was also conferred the President’s Social Service Award in 2005 in recognition of its contributions to society. As a responsible food retailer, FairPrice is both a Case Trust accredited member and a Food Safety Partner of Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA) the economy-wide food safety authority of Singapore. FairPrice also supports pro-family initiatives and prides itself as a pro-family business retailer. It was voted one of the best loved pro-family retailers in the Singapore 2006 contest organized by the Ministry of Community Development, Youth & Sports. In another survey conducted by the Reader’s Digest in 2006, FairPrice was voted in by consumers and won the Trusted Brand Gold Award for the supermarket chain category in Singapore. The Supply Chain Singapore has only 256 licensed farms covering 746 hectares1 which cannot supply enough fresh meat, fruits and vegetables to meet the demand of its population of 4.4 million. Singapore imports 95% of its vegetables worth S$314 million since local farms can meet only 5% of the demand for vegetables. It imports vegetables from Australia, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, The United States and Viet Nam. With Singapore’s high dependence on imported fresh vegetables, local sellers such as supermarkets need to ensure that the imported food is safe for consumption and its supply is ample. FairPrice invested S$25 million on a 130,000 square feet fresh food distribution center in 2002 to better manage its supply chain for fresh food. The setting up of the fresh food distribution center enhances the ability of FairPrice to move its stock faster and maintain freshness quality. The distribution center also provides the right infrastructure to improve the handling process of fresh food, thus reducing spoilage. Good temperature management and storage management are critical in maintaining the quality of food and preventing cross-contamination. FairPrice is committed to maintain a high standard of food safety and hygiene at the fresh food distribution center by getting the center to be Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP) certified. From the distribution center to the retail stores, FairPrice uses refrigerated trucks to transport the vegetables. At the store, temperature checks are conducted again before putting the vegetables on the retail shelves. FairPrice works with the relevant authorities to develop standards. One such initiative is the implementation of the technical reference standards on cold chain management for chilled pork in 2005. The standard was developed by AVA and SPRING Singapore, the economy-wide standard body, together with FairPrice. It provides strict receiving, storage and display guidelines to ensure that the quality of the pork is not compromised.