Impact of Customer Satisfaction with In-flight Catering to Airline Research Proposal

Impact of Customer Satisfaction with In-flight Catering to Airline Reputation and Profit - Research Proposal Example This research proposal offers to explore an issue of in-flight catering and its impact to airline ratings, competitiveness, and profits of an airline. In-flight catering is one of the major services that have been associated with flights for a long time. This and other on-board services have been provided to long distance flight customers since the beginning of air passenger flights decades ago. In recent years, in-flight catering has come under increasing scrutiny by customers and the media with perceptions about meal quality being given greater attention. In most airline markets, different types of services are operated to cater for different kinds of customers. The services are largely differentiated in terms of cost and distance of flight. According to King, budget airlines and low-cost carriers offer limited on-board catering reminiscent of the flight costs of the airlines; customer expectations about catering service quality are therefore lower than in long-haul flights. Long d istance flights continue to offer significant on-board services including catering, these are open to customer scrutiny with regard to quality and in-flight catering is one of the services that has clearly affected airline ratings over the years. Customers have sometimes characterized airline food as being uninspiring and tasteless. With current competition levels it is evident that customers are increasingly taking notice of airline catering when choosing flights; this may have a bearing on airline reputation and profits over time.

Conservation tasks used by Piaget, James Mc Garrigle and Margaret Essay

Conservation tasks used by Piaget, James Mc Garrigle and Margaret Donaldson - Essay Example The results suggest that whether children conserve or not does not depend on either of the two tasks used but rather on their mastery of identity. This study aims at exploring Piaget's Task on conservation in children and critically evaluating it in the light of the more recent procedure described by (McGarrigle and Donaldson, 1975). Conservation is defined as the realization that number of items, measure or length is not related to arrangement or look of the objects or items. An examle is when a child is presented with a glass full of water, will they be able to deduct that if that same water is transferred to a broader but plumper cup, then will it conserve the quantity and be the same Piaget argues that during the early childhood stage (below 6 years), children's ability to perform logical mental operations is inadequate. In his research, Piaget identified four stages in cognitive development namely; Sensorimotor stage (Infancy), Pre-operational stage(2-7 years), Concrete operational stage (7-11 years) and Formal operational stage (Adolescence through adulthood). ... Children in pre operational stage fail the the test of conservation because their thinking process does not comprehend the three principles of reversibility, compensation and identity. This has been interpreted to mean that before certain ages children are not able to perceive things in certain ways. The theories have found wide usage especially in developing school curricula, however other psychologists have disagreed with them. They have argued that conservation tasks do not necessarily reveal an essential limitation in the child's appreciation of quantity. Below are some of the arguments as to why children may fail to conserve: That the subjects may be distracted by the procedure. They may think that the experimenter wants them to answer in a certain way especially if the question is repeated. That the child may forget if the experimenter interfered with the information stored in Short Term Memory. Porpodas (1987). The children may not understand the relational terms. That the conservation task being artificial would normally make no sense to a child. Lenz (2003) argues that Piaget does not take into account matters of simplicity or complexity of the task and that if a task is simple enough the child may perform correctly but if complex, even an older child may make pre-operational mistakes. Indeed, in an effort to illustrate that children younger than in Piaget's typical age can conserve, many researchers have modified Piaget's original procedure. For instance McGarrigle and Donaldson (1975) assert that if the transformation is bought about accidentally then the number of 5-6 year olds conserving will go up. This study is to

Toulmin Schema Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Toulmin Schema - Essay Example The researcher states that the Federation Aviation Administration (FAA) requires airlines to give their crew a 10-hour rest time before commencing a duty period that includes flying. The ten-hour rest period may include the time a crew takes to commute to or from their houses or hotel room. Moreover, the carriages should not reduce the actual time for sleeping the chance to below 8 hours. Meaning the pilots and crew only have two hours to commute, which practically is not enough, thus they end up eating into their 8 hour sleeping time. Additionally, FAA has extended the length of continuous time off during a one-week period from 24 hours to 30 hours. The flight crewmembers should use the rest opportunity to sleep instead of doing other things during the period. The FAA further asserts that persons whose internal clock may be off due to flipping back and forth between different zones require additional time off. However, airlines rarely observe these rules and regulations. Jochen Wirt z and Loizos Heracleous assert that motivating staff through rewards and recognition has helped Singapore Airlines build desirable behaviors among crewmembers. The airline offers interesting and varied job content, symbolic actions, performance-based share options, and a significant percentage of variable pay components related to a person’s contributions and the airline’s financial performance. The company also provides bonuses based on its profitability. Additionally, the company uses its numerous international accolades, companywide meetings, and open communication to make staff motivated. Motivation and communication have helped Singapore Airlines realize service excellence. This approach has created job satisfaction, and overall, excellent service to customers.

Industrial Grinders Essay Example for Free

Industrial Grinders Essay With the introduction of less costly plastic rings by company, Henri Poulenc, Industrial Grinders is faced with a decision of a total changeover from steel rings to plastic rings for their machines that would also fit similar machines manufactured by other companies. Henri Poulenc has introduced the less expensive plastic rings in a small market affecting 10% of Industrial Grinders’ sales . Industrial Grinders believes the market will eventually change-over to all plastic rings. Industrial Grinders must decide a timeline for changing production. It is estimated that production could begin by mid-September. With raw steel and steel rings already in inventory, IG must sell-off existing inventory before changing total production to all plastic rings. a. Plastic Rings versus Steel Rings Steel rings last approximately 2 months Plastic rings last approximately 8 months 100 steel rings cost $263.85 to produce 100 plastic rings cost $66.60 to produce At a weekly profit/Loss, Net income for 690 steel units would be $390.00 At a weekly profit/Loss, Net income for 172.5 plastic units would be $437.80 If sales continue at 690 units per week from May to mid-September, 10,350  units will have been sold, leaving 15,100 steel rings in inventory at a cost value of $39,713. This would require approximately 22 more weeks of sales to deplete inventory. As steel rings will last for two months, the sale of existing steel rings will have a faster turn- around time for continued depletion of stock. Knowing that Henri Poulenc is affecting sales in only a small portion of Industrial Grinders’ territory, retooling for plastics should also begin while steel rings are being phased out. Industrial Grinders can continue to charge the same amount, or more, for its plastic rings, as Henry Poulenc has set the standard in pricing. During the upcoming slack period, the company will employ workers at 70% of regular wages to finish all steel production, while full-time staff completes retooling on available machines. Examine alternative theories, assumptions and ideas: a. Rings account for a substantial portion of Industrial Grinder’s revenue. b. Plastic rings, sold by Henry Poulenc, are sold for at least the same amount as Industrial Grinder’s steel rings. c. Only 10% of Industrial Grinder’s market is affected by Henry Poulenc. d. Henry Poulenc is the only company producing plastic rings. e. Shipping weight for plastic rings is less than steel rings. f. As plastic ring use spreads, the customer will demand the longer lasting plastic ring. g. Steel ring production will be phased out due to market demand for plastic rings. As the future production of rings within the industry will undoubtedly change from steel to plastic, Industrial Grinders must take swift action to keep up with industry changes and customer needs – jumping ahead of further competition. However, taking into consideration the 8 month life of plastic rings and their lower production cost as opposed to the 2 month life of steel rings at a higher production cost, sales must increase to sustain the higher profit margin of plastic rings. Determine the appropriate actions, alternatives or conclusions for the case: Industrial Grinders should change to plastic ring production. As plastic rings have been introduced by competitor, Henry Poulenc, rings with a longer life will be in increasing demand by customers. Industrial Grinders must forge ahead and heavily market the plastic rings as a better product for their customers. The plastic rings are less expensive to make, less costly to ship but have a longer life on machines. Although some revenue will be lost due to the longer life of plastic, Industrial Grinders will recoup losses with added sales. 2. Inventory Analyzing the cause of the problem or situation A changeover to plastic rings poses a problem for Industrial Grinders. Its inventory of special steel and inventory of produced steel rings must be dealt with before or during the production of plastic rings. a. Raw Steel The raw steel inventory cost value is $26,444. The steel cannot be sold to another party and will have to be used or counted as a loss to the company. b. Steel Rings The steel ring inventory cost value is $67,149. These rings could be sold within the existing market.The total cost of raw steel and steel rings inventory exceeds $93,000.00. The decision whether to use all raw steel and sell all existing steel rings becomes a major concern within Industrial Grinder’s management. Examine alternative theories, assumptions and ideas: a. Industrial Grinders wants to change from steel rings to more cost effective plastic rings. b. Management does not want to absorb the cost of unused inventory. c. Not all management agrees on use of raw steel inventory. d. The introduction of plastic rings will spread throughout the industry. e. Industrial Grinders could produce steel rings while retooling some machines for plastic production. f. Industrial Grinders could sell existing steel rings and take a loss on raw steel. Determine the appropriate actions, alternatives or conclusions for the case: Industrial Grinders is faced with a financial decision regarding disposition  of current inventory. Believing that the future lies with the more cost effective plastic rings, IG should continue to sell existing steel ring inventory while producing further steel rings, using the raw steel inventory on hand. The plant down time could use excess labor to deplete the raw steel. During this period, retooling could also occur and plastic ring production would begin. The machining changeover would be possible with a minimal cost of $1800.With Henry Poulenc affecting only 10% of IG sales, Industrial Grinders should deplete stock and introduce plastic rings. 3. Management Concerns Analyzing the cause or problem of the situation: Within management, it is agreed that plastic rings should be produced. However, the disposition of inventory on hand is not agreed upon between sales management / engineering and plant management/ parent company management. a. Sales Manager, Harry Greiner, believes inventory could be counted as a loss. Plastic production should begin and steel rings should no longer be sold. Selling both steel and plastic would be cause for market retaliation. b. Development Engineer , Anders Ericsson, is concerned about inventory not being depleted by plastic ring production in September. c. German Plant General Manager, Lawrence Bridgeman, is concerned about inventory. He believes, at the onset, that plastic rings should only be sold in markets affected by Henry Poulenc. d. Parent Company Head, Hein Van Boetzalaer, agrees to plastic rings but states that IG must use inventory. Examine alternative theories, assumptions and ideas: a. All but the Sales Manager are concerned about inventory cost. b. Selling plastic rings within some markets may cause steel ring sales to slump when other customers learn of the plastic rings and their longer life. c. The raw inventory could be in production during plant down time. d. The existing steel rings could be sold while the raw steel could be accepted as a loss. e. Henry Poulenc is the only company producing plastic rings. f. IG has time within the industry to sell all existing inventory while retooling for immediate production of plastic rings. Determine the appropriate actions, alternatives or conclusions for the case: Industrial Grinders upper management should implement the course of using and selling the existing inventory while retooling for plastic rings. Although sales and engineering opinions are taken into account, the idea of taking a loss for inventory on hand is unacceptable in IG’s current position. Henry Poulenc only affects 10% of IG’s current market. Upper management must make the decision on the company’s future operations. It is not proven that IG’s total market must immediately receive plastic rings. Depleting inventory, while offering plastic rings in the affected market , is an acceptable alternative. Depleting inventory first, then changing to all plastic rings is also an acceptable alternative. However, the parent company must decide the fate of inventory and future plastic production.

Cultural Anthropology Book Report Essay -- essays research papers

Classical Readings on Cultural Anthropology What do we have to learn through the study of different cultures? I was hoping for some wonderful revelation in the collection of writings. I may have found one. This book was a difficult read for me. I am not sure whether it’s my age or my inexperience with classical readings. I also found it difficult to formulate a report on a collection of readings, the last report I did was on Laura Ingall’s Little House on the Prairie. This reading was a little more challenging. The main point that seemed to jump out at me is that perceptions change, our theory of reality changes with every viewpoint. Every culture can seem primitive, self destructive, nonsensical, immoral or just wrong, depending on who is doing the observation and what perspective they are observing from. In the first reading, Narcirema, points very clearly to the fact that our own culture could seem very odd, irrational, and ritualistic to an outsider. But aren’t we all outsiders to everyone else? Don’t we see ourselves as â€Å"normal† and everyone else as â€Å"abnormal†? I think it is human nature more than ethnocentrism. My daily rituals would seem very irrational to another woman of my age in different circumstances. That’s where the saying comes from that you don’t really know a person till you walk a mile in their shoes. The second reading of â€Å"Queer Customs† gets right to my point that culture is an abstraction; therefore each person doing the viewing views it differently. Culture is pointed out as being a â€Å"way of thinking, feeling, and believing† and since I have never met anyone who thought exactly the way I did about everything, one would have to conclude that we each have our own culture and our own views of other cultures. I wasn’t really sure that the next reading really fit in with the others in the book. Rapport-talk versus Report-talk seemed insignificant to the other passages. It is a well-known fact, in all walks of life that men and women of any race, creed, or culture are different and that we have different and sometimes contrasting ways of communicating with each other. I was surprised to find this seemingly simple theory in this book. Yet again back to my question; am I getting the intended message from the author? The Christmas Ox story made so much more sense to me and had great importance when I read the passage on Potlach.... ...tely cause the demise of the entire culture. Sharp’s and Bodley’s detailed description of simple â€Å"helpful† actions that have generational, historical implications are dramatic and still, and maybe even more so, relevant to modern cultural diffusion. We don’t often think critically about our efforts to â€Å"help† others. We just dive in and â€Å"fix things†, this seems to come with the thinking that â€Å"we know better than they do†. This is a common problem in today’s governments around the world. This is the result of ethnocentrism. This book has certainly taught me one thing. American culture is very ethnocentric. Ours is one that is a â€Å"nightmare† to navigate the good and the bad because there are so many double standards. I think this speaks to the very core of contention among Americans these days. Very few of our leaders do what is right, and each of us has our own definition of right. Maybe if more people could really walk outside of their own daily rituals, beliefs, habits and commandments, and truly look at human kind without a superiority gauge, then the world would be a better place with less war, less suffering, less judgment and more peace, happiness, success, and creativity.

A Letter for My Future Husband Essay

After reading â€Å"Why I Want a Wife†, I disagree with Syfers’ opinion when she created an example of a perfect wife who has the responsibilities to meet her husband’s needs. I am looking for a husband, but it seems too early and so far away for a high-school girl who wants to get into a holy matrimony. However, the real question is if a wife has all the responsibilities to do everything, what would a husband do? If I am a wife, I will not expect my husband to be handsome or rich. Instead, I do expect my husband to have a good personality so that we can have a healthy relationship. I want a husband who will respect me, share responsibilities with me, and be honest with me. I want a husband who will respect me the way I respect him. However, I have a right to keep my own private space, and I do not want my husband force me into talking about things that I do not want to say. On the other hand, I am glad to listen to my husband’s complaints, because it is a way to show respect and it will also help me learn more about him. I want a husband who will never scold at me in front of other people even though I may be difficult. For instance, when my friend and I are talking in the living room, my husband should not directly walk in and order me to prepare a meal for his friends. Even if I refuse, my husband should not yell at me in front of my friend. Instead, he should be kind and respectful. I want a husband who can comfort me when I am not in a good mood, and listen carefully when I am talking. While he is listening, it should not be in one ear and out the other because he should be attentive. Just like Syfers’ point,†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦I want a wife who will listen to me when I feel the need to explain a difficult point†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I want a husband who will share the family’s responsibilities with me. Women nowadays are becoming economically independent, so taking care of the children is not only a wife’s responsibility. â€Å"I want a wife to keep track of the children’s doctor and dentist appointments†¦I want a wife to make sure my children eat properly and are kept clean. I want a wife who will wash the children’s clothes and keep them mended. I want a wife who is a good nurturant attendant to my children and who a rranges for their schooling†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I disagree with Syfers’ opinion that a wife should be the one to take care of the children, because a husband could also take care of the children when his wife is at work. I do not want  my husband to stand around and do nothing when I am cooking. Since I am not a good cook, I want a husband who can â€Å"Plan the menus, prepare the meals† when I am not in the mood for it. I want a husband who is good with technology so he can fix electronics, and also be good with chores so he can help me to keep the house clean. I want a husband who is always be honest with me. Honesty can bring a couple closer to each other, and prevent misunderstandings. I want a husband who will not betray me, and he will not say one thing in front of me and then do the opposite behind my back. I am woman who always tend to be sentimental, and because of that, I want my husband to be a straight shooter who is devoted to me and will not lie to me. I believe that men and women are equal, so I can not accept the husband that Syfers describes, â€Å"If, by chance, I find another person more suitable as a wife than the wife I already have, I want the liberty to replace my present wife with another one.† I want a husband who will unconditionally love and trust me, like the â€Å"Star-Crossed Lovers†, who loved each other to the point where they died for one another. I expect my husband to have a good personality that who can support my emotional, physical and mental needs. However, I want a husband who will not lose his temper easily when I flare up in an unreasonable manner. I want a responsible husband who can do things that I cannot do. I want an honest husband who can read my thoughts and promise me he will not be a liar. If love is an apple, then I am a girl who is searching the other half of the apple. My future husband, where are you?

Orientalism as a lens to A Passage in India Essay

Orientalism is described by Edward Said as an integral part of European civilization and culture. Orientalism has been a part of the culture globally. The author of â€Å"Orientalismâ€Å" had used three types of definition in his essay. Academically, Said had defined Orientalism is as a label. Anyone who studies and seeks information about the Orient can be considered an Orientalist. He had also defined Orientalism as the study of the Orient. However, it can also be considered as an ideology based on â€Å"ontological and epistemological† difference between the Occident and the Orient like what the author did to the Passage to India. As stated in the text, the comparison of both worlds where the inland natives and the Europeans is clearly seen and differentiated. In the text, the author of the passage to India said that â€Å"Chandrapore was never large or beautiful, but two hundred years ago it lay on the road between Upper India, then Imperial and the sea, and the fine houses date from that period. † This passage shows that the author viewed the place as beautiful during the colonization period. Politically, it is a known fact that the Occident or the Western part of the globe (Europe) had dominated the Orient. This relationship gives a presence of power domination of the Occident against the Orient. Therefore as Said explains in his introduction, Orientalism is believed to be more of a sign of European Atlantic power over the orient. Furthermore Orientalism shows the superiority of the Westerners as a race, as described by Denys Hay. In the Passage to India, there had been a description regarding the democracy of the people who lives in Chandrapore. â€Å"The zest for decoration stopped in the eighteenth century, nor was it ever democratic. This only shows that the decorations and the like are dictated by the colonizer. The view of the author in â€Å"A Passage to India† only shows that the author sees the natives as nomads. Socially, the aspect of Orientalism is also studied by Said as an exchange between individual authors and the large political concerns from the three races who had colonized the Orient, namely British, French and Americans. The author describes the word Orientalism as a word that had been used by the west. Orientalism is seen as a system of citation from authors. The cultural role played by the Orient in the west had connected the word to the ideology, politics, the logic of power and relevance. The essay â€Å"A Passage to India† illustrates the difference of times from the colonization period and the present times. This is shown in the same passage shown above â€Å"Chandrapore was never large nor beautiful, but two hundred years ago it lay on the road†¦and the fine houses date from that period. The zest for decoration stopped, nor was it ever democratic. From this passage, the author shows that in the eighteenth century, fine houses and decorations are mandated by the colonizers during that time. It had described the times before as the glorious years and as such prosperous and a very profitable city. However, the author believes that through time, there are several changes that had made the city that way in the present. As such the author describes the place as lifeless and unholy, this is so because there was a note in the passage in the first paragraph that â€Å"Ganges is not holy here†. The river Ganges is considered as a holy place in India. Through that statement it shows that the author perceives the city of Chandrapore as an unholy place. Furthermore, it can also be understood from the writing style of the author that the only beautiful sight that can behold in a distance are the houses of the Europeans. This can be further verified in the passage â€Å"Inland, prospect alters. There is an oval maidan and a†¦hospital, houses belonging to Eurasians stand on the high ground†¦Ã¢â‚¬  The passage only shows that because the houses are built in high ground it is obvious that the author describes this places as high society. It also describe that the Europeans are the ones who are benefiting from the land of India. This is so because in the passage written next to the description of the European Houses is the comparison of Chandrapore. It can be seen in this passage â€Å"†¦second rise is laid out in the Civil Station and viewed hence Chandrapre appears to be a totally different place†¦It is no city but a forest sparsely scattered with huts. † This only show that the foreigners live in concrete houses in the city, while the original inhabitants of India live in mud huts in the forest. The Introduction of Orientalism written by Said and A Passage to India can be related in terms of the British Colonization. Edward Said describes the superiority of the Westerners against Oriental Culture. It is evident that the British had colonized India in a very long time. The term Orientalism shows the superiority of the Western Race against India. On the other hand, the essay A Passage to India shows the superiority of the westerners in terms of the beautiful houses and distinctive buildings seen from the European Communities as compared to those of who lived in India. It is evident in both essays that they are showing the inferiority of the people in the Orient and at the same time the people in the Orient are not doing anything to argue the point. Based on the different descriptions of the places and knowledge that both authors share, it can be seen that they see the Orient as a very prosperous place that is rich in culture. Both authors think that the Westerners had exploited this riches to their benefit. Political issues can be seen in the description of both authors in the text. In the Orientalism essay, Edward Said thinks that Orientalism represents the opposite of the Occident. If the Occident is very advanced, that is how Orientalism is backward in its ideologies and technology. On the other hand, in A passage to India, it can be seen in the description of the text. The place where Eurasians lived were described as a city with complete amenities such as the hospital and houses. However, on the other side of the land is Chandrapore, which the author describes as a city of gardens. This could mean that the author sees that the Eurasians live in houses while the Indians live in the forest. As a conclusion, both authors are partly right in their claim that Orientalism had been a word used by the Westerners to show their superiority over the Orient as stated by Said in Orientalism. This domination is also seen in the essay â€Å"A Passage to India†. As mentioned in the essay â€Å"A Passage to India†, Europeans had created an environment that is prosperous compared to where the Indians reside. However, it must be noted that the Oriental people had been the ones who had let the colonization happened. The thinking of the Orients and the Westerners are different in terms of colonization. Orientalism can be a very strong word and as the author said this is an ideology of the Orient and as such, the word must not be used as a representation of who is superior over the other. A Passage to India had shown the different ways of life before and also the different lifestyles that the colonizers and original inhabitants of the place. The essay of the A Passage to India can be patterned after the Orientalism of Said in a different way, Orientalism showed the difference of both worlds through culture, A Passage to India showed the difference through the lifestyles. As such, one can conclude that the Orient had let the domination of the Westerners happen. In other words it can also be described that the Orients had welcomed the invasion of the Westerners because they had given additional knowledge, culture and beliefs to the Orients. In order to assess the true meaning of the word Orientalism and to further see the true image of the Orient, one must consider the cultural aspects before the Westerners had come to the Orient. The knowledge, political and social systems of the Orient can only be seen from the eyes of the people who live there. When the Westerners came, the Orient had been influenced in their political systems and social status. This in turn has given the authors of both essays the idea that the Westerners show their superiority through the illustration different cultures and ways of life by the Westerners.