Continental Airlines: Flying High with Its Data Warehouse

The airline industry is a competitive market in which some airlines are profitable while others are not. During the late 1990s, most airlines were lucrative because fuel costs were relatively low and travel was at an all time high amongst flyers. Recently, the airline industry has taken a severe hit due to the increased rate of oil, the 9/11 attacks, and anti-traffic control system to name a few. However, Continental Airlines remains one of the largest airlines in the United States holding its rank in fourth place amongst other airline companies.Initially, Continental Airlines was not highly regarded because of its information technology (IT) and organizational culture. Unlike other airline companies, Continental Airlines has taken extreme measures by adopting new strategies to overhaul its IT department altogether. The information systems Continental had in place was old and outdated because it did not provide information of its most valuable customers. The Transaction Processing Fa cility (TPF) was the old IBM mainframe system Continental’s IT team had during the late 1990s. The system was not designed for customer service.In order for Continental to accomplish its goals, the IT team realized the need to replace its old mainframe. The IT team determined it needed to integrate into one system by consolidating the airline’s disparate customer management relationship (CRM) systems. As a result, Continental joined forces with Teradata to build an enterprise data warehouse comprised of 25 enterprise systems. The warehouses consist of â€Å"schedules, reservations, customer profiles and demographics, airline maintenance records and schedules, employee and crew payroll, and customer care† (Rainer & Turban, 2008, p.132).Additionally, executives of Continental Airlines were able to develop the Customer Value Metric (CVM), which enables them to determine how much money customers spend with its airlines and the costs of flying the customer as well. T he data warehouse is a repository of historical data that assist with business operations to include â€Å"data mining, decision support, and querying applications† (Rainer & Turban, 2008, p. 117). Many components make up the data warehouse such as business dimensions in which data is organized by customers, vendors, product, price level, and region.The data in various databases are encoded differently and kept historically for many years. Once data enters the warehouse it is not updated. Databases use online transaction processing (OLTP), in which business transactions are processed online as they occur. Typically, data warehouses are designed to support decision makers by using online analytical processing (OLAP) for the analysis of mass data by end users. Data is stored in a multidimensional structure as well. All data in the data warehouse comes from Continental Airlines operational databases which can be relational databases as well.These components enable users access t o corporate data for analyzing. Special software such as extract, transform, and load (ETL) are used to process data to later store in a data warehouse. However, only a summary of data is transferred to the warehouse. This data is organized in a form that is easy for end users when accessing. The reason why Continental Airlines remains successful is due to their strategies for improving and enhancing quality customer service with many functions implemented by their IT team.Continental Airlines main focus is increasing customer rewards and incentives of frequent flyers that are loyal customers, while gaining new customers that are profitable too. Continental Airlines contributes its success to the quality customer service and customer satisfaction it provides by expanding its routes and serving meals on every flight. Some airline companies have gone bankrupt while others simply choose not to improve their quality of customer service. As a result, customers have become irritated due t o the lack of reasonable rates, delays, and strict rules of other airline companies.In closing, information technology is essential for airline companies. Some airline companies may choose to stick with basic airline technology. However, an airline company can enhance its level of customer service and profitability based on the type of changes it needs to make. Executives of an airline company can look to its IT department to strategize ways to utilize information systems that best fits its goals, business practices, mission statement, customer service, and customer satisfaction.

Identify and explain the main causes of economic growth. b) Look at Coursework

Identify and explain the main causes of economic growth. b) Look at the country rankings of the UK, South Korea, Qatar and Equat - Coursework Example In the recent past years, the initiative of sustainable development intensification has led to development of additional factors such as environmentally sound process, which ought to be considered in the growth of an economy (Erikson & Stimson, 2002. p. 56). A factor that leads to an increase in total demand is one of the key causes of economic growth in any country. This can occur due various sources. However, an increase in total demand is a short-term cause. This is because whenever an economy of any country is at its full capacity, that country cannot produce any additional products or services to improve her economy. However, improvements or advancements in the labor forces, and quantity and quality of products and services will give room for the long-term economic growth through a heightening in productivity (Nordhaus, 2001, p. 23). Progression or advancement in technology has been one of indicators of economic growth in various states. Technological advancements in any country lead to a high and more productive economy of that given country, and this will accelerate economic growth. Every developing country and developed states have invested heavily in the technology industry in order to see their country economy grows quickly. According to Erikson and Stimson, advanced technology has improved service delivery and encouraged both local and foreign investments (Erikson & Stimson, 2002, P.56). There are few cases of unemployment in all countries with improved technology. This is because technological improvements have led to creation of job opportunities that see their citizens securing jobs and improving their living standards. Consequently, these local and foreign investments will accelerate economic growth despite the fact that the fresh capital goods or assets for example, machines, will be the exact source of the growth (Friedman, 2005). Deepening and widening capital is one of the causes of economic growth of a country. Capital widening takes place w hen investment rises and increases with the strengthening of the labor force. On the other hand, Capital Deepening takes place when capital increases while the labor force remains constant. Economists usually say that capital deepening is one of the most significant and necessary forms of investment (Nordhaus, 2001, p.23). Uses of land and mineral resources are the major causes of economic growth in both developed and developing countries. Proper utilization of mineral resources of a country depends heavily on government policies and regulations. Most of citizens in countries that have implemented strict policies have utilized their resources well, including land. Countries with double-digit economic growth have recorded proper utilization of their resources. In the economic growth globally, various countries have different situation and circumstances that are facilitating economic growth. For instance, the UK has a robust economy (Nordhaus, 2001, p.23). In the end, economic growth can take place due to increased capital, raised investment in new infrastructure, factories, increased labor productivity, and augment the working population or the discovery of fresh raw materials. Technological improvements can also facilitate or hinder economic growth (Friedman, 2005). Economic growth relies on investment and productivity, using available resources more efficiently and

Media audiences and Media geography Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Media audiences and Media geography - Essay Example A potential representation of the traditional media is the folk media that projected the communication channels of the ancient societies. Modern media has a very different and advanced mechanism of mass communication. The mass media in the contemporary age is one of the most effective systems of life support that has pronounced effect on the global future and has the widest distribution all over the world. The contemporary age is essentially the age of information, in which the social and environmental issues continue to grow, that imparts the need of transition to a sustainable economy for every nation. â€Å"There has also been a healthful and general realization that the emphasis on â€Å"mass† audience – meaning an audience of individuals in lonely and direct contact with mass communication was never accurate† (Schramm, 1960, p. vii). The distinction between the audience of the past and the audience of the new age is imperative for the media to customize the content according to the every-changing and modifying needs of the audiences in an increasingly culturally diverse and globalized world. Media has a very strong influence on the society. Klapper (1960, p. 5) defined the consideration of the mass media as a compulsory and sufficient cause behind the effects observed in the audiences as short-sightedness, and recommended the consideration of media as just another influential element amidst other influences. â€Å"[I]t is the presumed power of the media to capture and sway the hearts, minds and behavior of the national public that account for both the fear and anxiety, and the hope and excitement, with which the media are regarded† (Fejes, 1984, p. 219). Media has always been both a trend-setter for and influenced by the audiences of a particular point in time. â€Å"The media are crucial in the social circulation of discourse and thus play a formative role in social and political change† (Fiske, 1996, p. 10). Media place s immense emphasis on the likes and dislikes of the audiences because the success of media fundamentally depends upon the approval of the audiences of the content that the media shows. The first and the foremost basic principle that every would-be programmer is taught through every handbook is â€Å"know the audience† (Ang, 1991, p. 19). â€Å"In order for television to achieve its work – that is, to make meaning and produce pleasure – it has to draw upon and operate on the basis of a kind of generalized societal common sense about the terms of the society and people’s social location in it† (Gray, 1995, p. 9). The research culture has evolved greatly over the passage of time. Although research has been a necessary part of the spread of knowledge in all times, yet the research was never as rampant as it is today. In the past, it was easy to advertise a product by just showing the models endorsing them as the audiences understood that the technology was not quite developed to expect every product to be made after a lot of research. Besides, the audiences themselves were too uneducated and far from being the part of a research culture to think on these lines. Over the decades, there has been immense advancement in technology which has played a fundamental role in the development of a research culture all over the world. Today, scientists are equipped enough to

E-Business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

E-Business - Essay Example The attributes are the various properties which are highlighted in ovals and represent the various features of the system. Frawley (2001) mentions that knowledge of the business system can be derived easily by using the logical designs of the database of the organization where information is very valuable to be stored for effective and efficient retrieval. The very organization of the hotel into departments and their location are the prime factors for designing the network topology and the technologies to be used for efficient communication and sharing of information (Physinfo, 2006). Using LAN the computers are interconnected within the office or building premises so that all the employees are able to get information on demand. The head office has a central server where all the information us stored in the database. The other offices are also networked using the LAN technologies. The switch is two layered and used to take care of the storing and forwarding mechanism as stated in Tanenbaum

Infection Control Practice in Saudi Arabia Assignment

Infection Control Practice in Saudi Arabia - Assignment Example tive in the modern times that every measure should be taken to reduce the spread of communicable disease which has of late increased the morbidity and mortality rate in Saudi Arabia. Sadly or perhaps even disappointing, the Saudi Arabian Commission of Health Specialty does not request any specific tests of any nature for infection control prior to the renewal of nursing license. This is in light of even the presence of the most lethal and dreadful virus Ebola virus scare in the modern times. While Ebola scare should not only be the cause for having infection prevention and control test (Krisberg, 2013) there are many other benefit that comes with well-educated and trained medical personnel in line of infection prevention and control. This are benefits that are proven scientifically and there is every rationale that the hospitals in Saudi Arabia should adopt measure of identifying the proficiency in infection prevention and control among its member. This can provide information for training need for the nurse on the very line. According to Krisberg (2013) he assert that it is not only important to request Infection Control Test as a prerequisite to renew nursing license in Saudi Arabia, it is imperative also for its benefit across the divide. The benefits touches both on the care givers of the patients and the patients. Proficiency of infection prevention and control is also very beneficial to the government since it reduces the cost of government in caring for the morbidity that is as result of poor measures of infection and control of diseases in the hospital. There are several empirical research that remain as prove that the test could revolutionize the infection prevention and control and henceforth reduce the preventable infection in Saudi Arabia. Despite the resounding empirical research indicating that improved infection prevention and control is very important, the recently released research report of Saudi Arabian practice on infection prevention and

Plea Bargaining Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Plea Bargaining - Essay Example Sometimes evidence, prior history, wealth and family can lure someone in power to change the way they may feel about prosecution others. The prosecuting attorney is the one who would decide whether a plea bargain is suitable. This should not be the case. A prosecuting attorney can decide to let someone whom is convicted to accept a plea bargain. Sometimes the plea bargain is given to the wrong person. Plea bargaining should be abolished under certain circumstances. Crimes that are a felony offense should not be able to accept a plea bargain. If the charge is damaging enough to qualify as a felony, the charge should not be able to be lessened. Those who are guilty of a certain crime should be held responsible for the crime committed. To give an example of why plea bargaining should be abolished in some cases is important. If a man in convicted of a felony rape charge, the charge can put the man in jail. In jail he will be forced to serve time for a crime that he committed. While in ja il, he can no longer hurt anyone else. If the man is offered a plea bargain and this plea bargain will keep him out of jail, he will be free to be out on the streets again. In this case, he may commit another crime. This can allow taking another victim. It is easy to see how this could have been avoided. On the other hand, there is a good side to offering a plea bargain.

Management Factors of Professional Success Assignment

Management Factors of Professional Success - Assignment Example A leader who shows no concern over the company’s performance will lead to its failure since almost all employees will follow his path and attitudes. On the other hand, a leader who shows concern will replicate similar traits and attributes among the employees. Though leaders have different styles of leadership, their activities immensely affect the operations of the organization. For instance, treating the employees nicely in anniversaries, taking them occasionally for lunch shows that one appreciates the work of the employees and how significant they are to the success of the organization. In essence, this shows that the manager or the leader values the employees (Daft 418). On the other hand, whenever the leaders delegate duties and decision making responsibilities to the employees, it shows that the leader believes in them. Therefore, the employees will have the autonomy to make decisions on how to accomplish the company’s objectives (Daft 419). It is, therefore, essential to note that the traits, activities, and decisions of the top leaders have an impact on the activities that take place in an organization.The statement â€Å"high versus low-quality leadership has a bigger impact on a firm’s performance than business en vironment† is mostly false. The situational variables within the environment perform differently according to the styles of leadership employed by the leader. For instance, the personnel in an organization have varying performance levels as according to the different leadership styles (Daft 418-420). For instance, individuals with low task readiness and skills will require a different leadership style than that of the highly skilled and competent employees. Employs with low skills and work readiness will highly depend on a directive leadership style where they will be given guidelines and direction on how to accomplish tasks and responsibilities within the organization. With this approach, the company’s performance will be solely depended on the leadership style. In this case, the leader explains decisions and issues the workers with a chance to ask questions and attain clarity on comprehending their responsibilities. On the other hand, competent and skilled workers mak e the leadership style insignificant or redundant. This is because these employees know how to perform their tasks and do not require a leader who initiates structure or who directs them on what to do.