Internal capabilities and core competencies free essay sample

The importance of efficiency particularly in running a business provides a major opportunity for Singapore Airlines (SIA) to successfully deliver optimum value to its customers. According to Lacar(2009),SIA introduced ground-breaking in-flight services with relation to the latest technological advancements. For example,the innovative Raffles Class Space-Bed which provides passengers the ultimate luxury and comfort in their travelling experience (Anon, 2005). In addition, SIA provides services such as in-flight movies and superior food. SIA flight attendant, Singapore Girl is personification of Asian values and hospitality described as an icon that links SIA’s commitment to service excellence (Hasan, 2009). These activities correspond with the highly skilled management team in terms of formulating effective marketing strategies. 1.2 Aircraft fleets Continuous introductions of aircrafts are conducted by Singapore Airlines, with the assistance of rapid technological advancements, SIA managed to introduce new aircrafts with a larger passenger capacity and also implement fuel-efficient technology (Lacar, 2009). In fact, SIA was the largest operators of the Boeing 777 in the year 2005 which implies that the internal capabilities of SIA on being able to introduce the most updated models of aircraft is a major factor for the success of SIA despite being overtaken by Emirates Airlines in 2009. We will write a custom essay sample on Internal capabilities and core competencies or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page This is an indication that SIA are capable of being one of the leaders in the airline industry due to continuous improvements. 1.3 Information technology Information technology and effective communications lead to the enhancement of customer services, particularly in terms of improving the efficiency especially due to the fact that the airline industry is a service industry. According to Singapore Airlines (2012), the introduction of the In-Flight connectivity allowed SIA to take advantage of the IT industry to bring internet and mobile data services. Doganis (2006) states that the use of IT can reduce operating costs such as the introduction of online booking and check-in services reduces the need for customers to book via a travel agent which would be more costly as SIA’s website is regarded as one of the most user-friendly and advanced websites in the airline industry. 1.4 Market Potential Singapore Airlines has managed to grow into one of the leading airline carriers in the world (Lacar, 2009). SIA’s reputation has been greatly enhanced due to its continuous innovations and numerous core competencies despite facing the challenges. SIA possesses a strong position particularly in Asia and ‘Kangaroo Routes’ (Singapore Business Review, 2013). There is a strong market potential particularly in emerging countries such as India and China. The CEO of Singapore Airlines has mentioned that the firm open to investment opportunities especially in India due to the numerous world class airports that are evident in India which could prove to be a second hub for flights to European countries (Phillip, 2013). Despite failing twice in the Indian market in 1970 and 2001, India is seen as one of the most potentially lucrative markets in the world. In terms of the US market, due to the dropping of non-stop flights, SIA’s total capacity in the US market are estimated to drop by 16% to about 22,000 weekly seats (CAPA, 2013). 1.5 Market Opportunities Due to the strong market potential in the emerging countries particularly India and China, there are major opportunities for SIA to increase its flight destinations. Phillip (2013) states that the market in India is relatively more open to foreign investment in recent years and may prove to be an instrumental factor for SIA to seize this opportunity to undergo expansion. Besides opportunities to implement new technology advancements to increase customer experience, there is a largely untapped ‘secret weapon’ in terms of investing in the low-cost airline market (Lacar, 2009). 1.6 Competitive Situation In 2006, SIA became the airline with the highest stock market value in the world. However, due to rapid competition particularly from Middle Eastern airline companies such as Emirates and Etihad, SIA experienced a major 12% fall in passenger count since 2008 (Fickling, 2012). SIA faces more challenges as Emirates Airlines and Qatar Airways expand their central hubs and are able to win premium passengers with improved front-cabin service (Tsang, 2013a). Intense competition can be observed nowadays particularly due to the increase of low cost airlines obtains an ever increasing market share in the aviation industry. 2.0 Identification of Problems and Issues 2.1 Problems and Issues 2.1.1 Brand Identity Singapore Airlines has well known with its identity of premium brand.According to IATA,premium traffic grew by 2.9% for the first 5 months of 2013, against a 4.3% growth in overall passenger traffic (Tsang, 2013b). The figure shows company lose considerable market position and recognised could not continue to Asia budget airline market over the past four years (Tsang, 2013a). 2.1.2 Operating Loss Singapore Airlines faces a challenging and unpredictable operating environment with instability in economic climate in the Eurozone and sluggish recover in United States. Furthermore, fuel prices remain persistently high. Singapore Airline’s operating loss widened to a $214.2 million after-tax loss represent 375% deterioration over the $121.8 million net profit (Tsang, 2013b).Passenger yieldfell to 11.1 Singapore cents per RPK in FY13/14 first-quarter.The cargo business faces an issue of overcapacity in the marketwhich will add pressure onloads and yields (CAPA, 2013). 2.1.3 Intense Competition The airline has been criticised for an alleged lack of strategic vision and intensifying competition in the market. The new trend of changing landscape marked by the growth of low-budget carrier and premium long-haul market,primarily from Middle Eastern carriers underminedpremium yield of Singapore Airlines. 2.2 Strategic Alternatives Singapore Airline should implement campaign activity to re-branding their strategyto launch premium economy class in growing emerging economies.The proposed strategy will minimise the risk of low demand of first-class seats and maximise revenue of the lower end market. As the wealthy population increases in emerging market. Another approach of SIAopportunities in forging close partnership with India. It would avoid the high fuel costs and intensifies of low fares competition.While the overall Asia market is growing, SIA must exploit the full potential of the market and equity stakes in airlines. 3.0 Strategic Gap The competition continues to intensify and the product gapSIA enjoyed for several years over competitors has narrowed significantly and unprofitable. SIA has perceived as leader in stylish innovation in the past few years, usurped as the world’s best premium airline. However, there is a deterioration of product challenged by image issue and customer’s expectations that frequently copied by competitors.Numerous core competencies like in-flight service, aircraft fleets, and efficient information techonology has provided convenient to the current passengers, however customer has higher expectation each day. It increased along with the expansion of Emirates and Qatar as centrally located hubs and switched passengers attracted to its improved front-cabin service (Tsang, 2013a). To bridging the gap, SIA should respond to demand of renewal the current facilities, new service ideas or partnership within the next 5 years. Company can successfully close the competitive gap with the renewal of business demands to stay ahead of competitors. 4.0 Customer or Buyer Targets Based on the proposed strategies, Singapore Airlines can target customers such as professionals, white collared and businessman who are travel frequently to other countries for their business meetings or visits. They are more conscious on service quality and price. Other than that, it can focus on few markets such as countries in Asia Pacific region such as India and China as these are emerging countries with high purchasing power parity since their level of middle income class is increasing day by day due to their fast growing economy. These emerging counties has a large population which enable Singapore Airlines to gain market share by entering these markets and become market leader in these regions by joint venture or alliance with local airlines company. 5.0 Competitive Situation and Competitior Profile 5.1 Competitor Profile Although Singapore Airlines has a few significant competitors that provide similar service and cheaper air fares around the world (Morningstar, 2005). The key rivals of Singapore Airlines can be categorized into Middle East carriers and Asian low-cost carriers. Middle East carriers Singapore Air faces challenging competition from Emirates Airline and Qatar Airways on Europe-Asia routes which are known as â€Å"Kangaroo Route† between Europe and Oceania as both competitors expand their more centrally located hubs and win premium passengers with improved front-cabin service (Fickling, 2012). Middle East carriers are more focus on the quality such as Emirates and Qataras they invest millions in upgrading lounges and enhancing services (CNBC, 2013). Also, Qantas Airways and Emirates are forming an alliance that opens up the Australian firm’s domestic network of more than 50 destinations to the Dubai-based airline. Asian low-cost carriers Low-fare airlines accounted 30 percent of seat capacity at Singapore low-cost carriers that are focus on price sensitivity competition such as Air Asia and Jetstar targeted regional and economy travelers as their customers by offering fares that are cheaper up to four times than SIA’s fares (Park,2013). Air Asia’s cut-rate pricing on Southeast Asian routes and the emergence of new rivals such as the Lion Air group from Indonesia increase the intensity of competition among airlines industry. 5.2 Competitive Situation As now population of emerging countries’ income level is moving to middle class, the demand for premium economy class will increase compare to economy class. The weak global economic performance boosted the emerging markets with the strongest growth in Africa, Latin America, and Middle East (Onyango, 2013). For instance, Cathay Pacific and Qantas offer customers premium economy tickets to satisfy the needs and demand of customers who are willing to pay more for better services and comfort but not willing to pay for business class fares. This will lead to a price war lastly as airlines company start reduce their fares of premium seat in order to gain market share and stay competitive. Moreover, Qantas and Cathay Pacific upgraded premium products as well. Besides, Singapore Airlines can carry out joint venture or alliance with other airplane industry as their strategy. The Indian government permitted foreign carriers to invest up to 49%(Bahre, 2013). By adopting this strategy, it is easier for Singapore Airlines to penetrate into Indian market as the restriction and barriers of government become relatively low. There will occur the restructuring and re-consolidation of company in the airlines industry as other airlines company will go for similar strategy in order to stay competitive and increase their market share. 6.0 Segmentation, Targeting, and Positioning

Eight-thousander Essay Example

Eight Eight-thousander Essay Eight-thousander Essay Sudarshan Gautam has a long road ahead of him before next years historic attempt to summit Mount Everest. The Nepalese-born Mount Royal University student, who has no arms, will be cruising from one Canadian coast to the other to raise cash, awareness and, perhaps, the pulses of other drivers as he makes the journey behind the wheel using just his feet. The inspiring amputee, who is licensed to drive and has done so on asphalt in 29 countries, is planning to pull off the feat as early as this summer.Donations generated through his adventure will be split among a mountaineering program for the disabled, offered through the Vancouver-based Tetra Society, and his own endeavour to scale the worlds highest peak, planned for next March. I like to spread the message that disability is not inability and I hope it will help for our mission to raise (money) for those things, said Gautam, 30, who will meet with sponsors Tuesday to finalize a start date for the cross-country tour. I have been pl anning this for next month, but because of the federal election the sponsor wants to move the project a couple months later. | |Gautam, who hails from the rural Ramecchap district of Nepal, lost his arms at 14 while vacationing with his family in Kathmandu. He was flying a kite that became entangled with overhead power lines. Believing the wire was insulated, he used a piece of iron to dislodge the kite. The resulting jolt badly damaged his limbs, which doctors had no choice but to remove. The physical disadvantage has proven to be of little consequence to Gautam. In 2005, he earned a bachelors degree in management and commerce before moving on to his next challenge scaling the 5,372-metre Mount Yala using his teeth, feet and the aid of sherpas.Through the Mount Everest expedition, Gautam hopes to raise $1 million for Nepalese orphans and disabled persons. I was born a normal child in Gunshi, Bhauduri-1 in Ramechhap district of Nepal. An average student, I enjoyed sports, particul arly, volleyball and soccer while at school. Apart from sports, I felt excited by scientific experiments. Like any child I was full of dreams, hopes, aspirations and passion. The first few of my dreams were to become a pilot or a political leader. A tragic accident, however, turned my whole life upside down.In June 1994, I arrived in Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal, on vacation. One day, I was flying a kite from a rooftop. The kite got stuck on the overhead electric wires. I did not realize that there were some naked wires. What’s even worse: I was totally oblivious to the fact that the wires carried an electricity of 11,000 volts. Naive as I was at the time, I used an iron rod to free the kite. I always shudder to think what happened after that. My father and uncle took me immediately to the Nepal Army Hospital. When I regained consciousness, I found that both my hands were completely burnt.After a few days at the hospital, doctors amputated both my arms. The unthinkabl e consequences of the accident led to the amputation of not just of my dreams but my whole future! My life became a burden onto myself. The days and weeks after my arms were amputated seem like dreadful memories. It felt as if I was engulfed in total darkness without the smallest glimmer of light. I knew I was alive, yet I was no more alive than a dead body. I could no longer do things that I did earlier. All my friends deserted me. I felt completely isolated from the world.I saw all my dreams shattering into pieces right before my eyes. I returned to my village after eight months of medication. When I reached my village, my neighbors and even my close friends laughed at my condition and others felt pity at my disability. In my own village, I was dubbed a â€Å"poor boy. † Meanwhile, many of my friends and classmates completed their School Leaving Certificate exams. The villagers congratulated them on their success and expressed pity for me, the â€Å"poor boy. † Their pity hurt me. I started facing terrible discrimination.I had not only lost my hands, but also my self-respect and dignity. I had lost my identity of being a man. There was nothing left in my life except for tears and endless sorrows. I asked myself how long I could go on living in that condition. What can I do? There seemed to be no answers. There seemed to be no hope at all. â€Å"Change and growth take place when a person has risked himself and dares to become involved with experimenting with his own life. † Herbert Otto â€Å"Challenges are what make life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful. Joshua J. Marine Time is the greatest healer and courage a genuine guide. As time passed by, I began to gather myself up and was able to muster courage and strength I never felt within me before. Things began to change after I made peace with the fact that no matter what, I had to endure my disability. I knew that if I did not overcome my weakness, I would end up worthless. I had to either prove myself a differently-abled person or live like a dead man. I followed my inner voice and started doing things in my own way. I customized things around me to suit my ability.I trained myself to do things on my own, including brushing teeth, taking showers, shaving, cooking and feeding. The more I started doing things independently, the more I realized I could do a lot of things that physically fit people do, without anybody’s support. Gradually, I started to play cards, carom, chess, etc. I even learnt how to ride a horse, a task many bodily fit people find daunting. I also practiced writing with my toes and later took School Leaving Certificate final examinations. I passed, writing the answers with my toes. â€Å"I am thankful for all of those who said NO to me.It’s because of them I’m doing it myself. † Albert Einstein Success is the harbinger of happiness. My village folks congratulated me on my success in the SLC exams. My courage and consistency paid back at last. I felt a deep sense of delight and pride. Overnight, I – the poor boy – became an icon of success in my village and others in the vicinity. Parents would tell their children, â€Å"Look! He passed his exams despite the disability. You should be embarrassed of yourself. † All this boosted my confidence. I began to believe in myself strongly once again.I managed to free myself from the psychological barriers that were holding me back. Finally, I could see the light at the end of the tunnel. I was ready to take on all sorts of challenges in the world and I was prepared to strive hard to succeed. I recovered my old cheerful self and started getting involved in all kinds of activities and socializations in the community. People in my village began to call me their young leader. I left my village for Kathmandu to continue my higher education. When I arrived in Kathmandu, I made a promise to myself: â€Å"One da y I will claim my respectable lace in my society and the world will regard me as a brave person! † I got enrolled at Nepal Commerce Campus, Kathmandu, Nepal from where I graduated in commerce. While at college, as a leader of students’ council, I advocated for the rights and rehabilitation of the disabled. â€Å"If we all did the things we are capable of, we would astound ourselves. † -Thomas Edison † It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed. † Theodore Roosevelt I aspired to have my name entered in the Guinness Book of World Records so that my country would be proud of my efforts.To achieve that goal, I decided to drive a standard car. I visited many driving institutes asking them to train me and sought financial help from many organizations to help fund the project. Nobody came forward to support the cause as they didn’t believe I could do it. At last, I invested my own funds to learn how to drive from a private dri ving institute. On September 8, 2001, I demonstrated my driving skill to approximately 10,000 spectators. The Government of Nepal, Nepal Disabled Federation, Only at Nepal and many other social organizations helped me to organize that event.The demonstration was aired by various television channels and radios and covered in the print media. Now I am capable to drive a standard car with my feet through the busy streets. Driving a car on the streets of Kathmandu for the first time was an amazing and unforgettable experience. After the driving demonstration, I got support from many institutions. I was presented with cash awards and honored by many social organizations and the Nepalese Government. As people started to take me seriously, I transformed from being a poor, pitiable child, to somebody who could help others.So I began advocating the cause of others like me. As a president of Nepali for Nepali Cooperation Committee-Nepal, Nepal Scout and other organizations, I took initiatives to support more than 20,000 people of Mugu district from 2001 to 2004. In 2003, I took on a new challenge. With the help of a driving institute, I learned how to ride a normal (not modified) motorbike. A date for motorcycle riding demonstration was fixed. Unfortunately, because Nepal’s political situation worsened, the demonstration had to be cancelled. I continued to serve as a social worker nd was an active student political leader, but I was not satisfied. Meanwhile, I had been meeting many dedicated people and philanthropists from around the world. They supported me and helped me to plan my future activities. I got a chance to visit different countries and show my abilities. The abroad experience reinforced my confidence and I felt I had attained a new status in my life. Finally, I chose Canada to settle down. Today, I have the potentialities and opportunities to prove my abilities. My dreams, which I had wrongly believed were shattered after my hands were amputated, onc e again started coming alive.I felt capable of dreaming again. â€Å"I avoid looking forward or backward, and try to keep looking upward. † Charlotte Bronte â€Å"Forget all the reasons it won’t work and believe the one reason that it will. † Unknown Now, my only one dream is to set my foot on top of the Mt. Everest. I have had some rock climbing training in Nepal. I climbed 5,732 m Mount Yala Peak in 2005 without prosthesis arms and oxygen. A press conference was held before I went on the Yala Peak expedition. People did not believe that I could not climb mountains without both arms. Some even laughed at me and taunted me.But I didn’t give up my hope. I ascended Mount Yala at 3 am on Aug. 24, 2005 with an expedition team led by the fastest climb record holder, Pemba Dorje Sherpa. I got enormous support from the Government of Nepal and the United Nations in Nepal for my attempt to summit Yala. I am confident that can climb Mt Everest as well. All I need is your support and best wishes to keep up my strength and hope. I wish to climb Mount Everest without prosthetics so that I can be an inspiration to millions of physically challenged people around the world. I’d like to spread the message: â€Å"Disability is not inability. †

Review of the Literature 3 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Review of the Literature 3 - Essay Example amist revivals: revolutionary islamists, traditional islamists, and modernist islamists, where the common thread that binds them is their adherence to fundamental Islamic principles. For him, these different Islamists lead Islamic Revival in diverse terms, but they all argue for the renewal of fundamental Islamic principles. Revolutionary Islamists, also called as fundamentalist, are radical Muslims who advocate political activism and demand the conservative observance of Islam. They want to establish a purely Islamic state and to apply Sharia in their society. They resist Western beliefs and influences and anything that opposes the main beliefs of Islam. They want to reinstate the classical period, where the society made by Prophet Muhammad and his first four caliphs is the model Islamic state. For Revolutionary Islamists, the primary goal of the Islamic state is to implement the Sharia. The law cannot be separated from how the state should be run. Revolutionary Islamists do not acc ept the taglid and want to apply ijtihad and they blame the Traditionalist Islamists and their dogma of taglid for the fall of Islam. Revolutionary Islamists also do not approve of secularists, because this would weaken the ummah and oppose the idea of universalism in Islam. For the past few years, Revolutionary Islamists agree with the application of modern values in Islamic states, as long as they are aligned with the traditional Islamic principles. An example is accepting democratic ruling, as long as the ulama decides on lawmaking procedures and outcomes. Traditionalist Islamists are made of conservative ulama and Islamic scholars. Like the Revolutionary Islamists, they repudiate the teachings and principles of the West. They want to maintain Islamic beliefs and go back to the erstwhile eras of Islamic classical and medieval periods. They also do not oppose Sufism and other folk varieties of Islam, including the mystical ones. They argue that these different beliefs are part of