Airline computer application Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Airline computer application - Essay Example Reservations and the internet Among the various airline computer applications the computer reservation system holds much importance in today’s date. It is a computerized system mainly used to feed in and store and occasionally retrieve information and basically conduct integral transaction on airlines travel. The computer application on reservation parameter has travelled a long way from its first introduction in the year 1950. Down the years with latest developments, modern technology implementation and change in laws the reservation system has also changed. It is a sole system of maintaining much of the management task. Be it maintaining records, flight schedules, seat management, passenger reservation, ticket booking, tariffs and many others. Previously all the information of a particular airline was restricted within its staffs and it was not allowed to be shared with others. But with the push of the travel agents in the year 1970, the emergence of the computer reservation system came into account where other airlines, travel agents and any individual can peep into the information for a particular airline. It has been globalized for all, where not only the purchases of tickets are facilitated; the whole system is accessible to the consumers. The first to introduce automated booking was American Airlines in the year 1946. To track various incidents and information and also to make work smoother, faster and more efficient the introduction was highly appealing to every airline worldwide. In due course they invested into research and development of the particular invention to make it more users friendly and easier and nearly in 1970 airlines were successful in building up their own systems. The major systems that are popular today are Worldspan, SABRE, Abacus, Patheo and Galileo. The American airlines are known to use mainly SABRE along with Lastminute.com, Travelocity and Expedia Abacus is considered to be much popular in the Asian countries (Wahab Sala h, Cooper Chris, 2001). In flight services and Provisioning programs In flight services and provisioning programs refers to the services available to the customers during the flight. It was claimed that in the year 1936, smoking room, dining room, lounge, piano and a bar was provided by the airline Hindenburg in a two and a half hour flight. Later on the facilities provided were revised and the facilities majorly provided was listed down to food and drinks and occasionally in long flights there was projector movie played for the entertainment of the people. Soon there was major requirement of the advanced in flight services and there was demand of designing the cabin in the preferred way. IFE systems were in corporate where the major players were Thales Group, Panasonic Avionics Corporation and Rockwell Collins. Down the years with much advanced technology is implemented and the in flight services have become much improved with various modern applications introduced in every way giv ing all the comfort and facility to the passengers. It is a major innovation since many of the flights include much longer journeys than twenty hours and passenger needs comfort and proper facility while traveling continuously for such long. The longer destination flights need more of these services as the passengers go through major time zone difference which usually makes them physically unstable. Good service and good provisioning programs becomes mandatory in these cases. Today there are vast entertainment services available with TV channels, musical programs, block buster movies, documentaries, educational channels, news broadcasting and many others. This is only because of the innovative software systems as well as hardware applications that got implemented in the recent days to facilitate the passengers. The major concern in installing these applications was cost parameters and system safety along with challenges like user compatibility. But thankfully these hurdles were easi ly

Rachel and her Children essay Essay Example for Free

Rachel and her Children essay Essay We see them almost everywhere! We can hear them around the corner, and we see their shadow from far away. We try to avoid looking directly into their eyes, and we pretend we did not hear them when they talk to us. We walk around the block to avoid them, and walk faster to leave them behind. These people that we consider to be invisible are actually homeless human beings. Homelessness in America remains an issue of deep concern in the 21st century. Without a permanent roof over their head, these people seek refuge in various places such as homeless shelters and tent cities. If they are fortunate they will find a safe place to stay the night. The less fortunate ones are forced to spend their night in public places that are unsafe and unfit to sleep in. Although homelessness is not a new issue to write about, in â€Å"Rachel and her children†, Jonathan Kozol brings us into an entirely new world. A world where the homeless are not just figures with hands held out asking for spare change. He brings us into the lives of these homeless story by story case by case sharing his personal interviews with these unfortunate people. What Kozol describes deeply in the book throughout true incredible stories goes beyond our expectation. Especially in chapter 5,† Distancing ourselves from pain and tears† which is one of the center of the book, the author raises more concern about our attitudes toward poor homeless people. What Kozol means by â€Å"distancing† in the chapter is that people do really care about homelessness. They do understand and feel guilty about what homeless people are suffering day by day. Because of the guiltiness, they try to create a â€Å"distance† by themselves to ignore the responsibility for these homeless people. Instead of blaming the reckless negligence of the government’s welfare system, people end up blaming homelessness for creating their own destitution. In some ways, it is surely that most Americans would have a certain enhanced sympathy toward homeless people. However, not many of us do truly care about them, want to know what the story is behind them becoming homeless, and try to help them get out of their dark side. We do have compassion, but our compassion is not big enough to connect us closer to homeless people. Even though we feel very bad whenever we hear about the poor people, every one of us does have a distance ourselves from homelessness. The first thing that come to my mind and other people’s when thinking about homeless people is that all of them are panhandlers, those who are mentally unstable, and victims of â€Å"dumping† by greedy hospital or drug addiction. Last summer I came to visit my friend who lives in downtown San Francisco. As I was walking down to the bus station, I remember passing an old homeless woman who was asking people for money at the corner of the station. Being careful not to touch her, I dropped a few spare coins in his hand. Automatically assuming that the money I gave her would be used for drugs or alcohol, I looked upon her with contempt. After reading this book, I understand that the woman I saw at the corner of the station could have, at one time, been just like me. Even though being a little proud of just doing something good, I found that I (as well as other people) fail to create a distance from homelessness. At the beginning, Kozol opens his book with the story of Peter and Megan who are living in the Martique homeless shelter. Before ending up being homeless, they had a happy life with their five children. Peter did plumbing and carpentry. He was also a contributing and working. After a fire destroyed the house and all of Peter’s collection of tools he had built up for years, Peter’s family had to struggle in the Martique. By opening with this story, Kozol gives the readers a new vision of homeless people. Stereotypes of the homeless as individuals struggling with mental health issues or substance addictions no longer hold. They used to be normal members in the society just like us, but for some reasons cause them to become destitute. Kozol’s book documents how many homeless were recently employed, cast into homelessness by financial misfortune such as ongoing unemployment, staggering medical bills or medical disabilities. Many homeless people are in their existing condition of living on the streets because of being born poor, while many other homeless people used to have money, fame and property before but lost it all in some big personal or external event. We have never thought what lead those people into their dark sides. We are too hasty to put everyone into the same category. Because of that failure in thinking, we naturally build an invisible distance that separates us from homeless people. There are hundreds of fears which could be called typical of human needs existing inside of us such as: going broke, foreclosure on house, humiliation from public speaking, running out of food, or major disasters†¦. However, a life that is financially is unsecure, and in a depressed economy, the fear of being homeless seems to be considered as the biggest concern for human beings. For those who have been homeless and are now off the street, generally they promise themselves never to let that happen again. Many people now fear being homeless who are close to foreclosure. Too many people bought at the top of the market or re-financed with variable rate deals. Therefore, this fear of being homeless is a real fear. When people are scared of something so much that they cannot face it, they tend to ignore it in order to release the fear that they are going through. We all know that homelessness still exists. We also know that that the number of people who stay in the street as their home, lack of food, tremble because of cold, and carry on so many disease is increasingly higher in every states of the U.S. Since we fear of being homeless, we try to disregard the existence of homelessness. We even blame homeless people for creating their own situation. In order to push away our own â€Å"nightmare†, we unintentionally create the distance between ourselves and homelessness. Not only do we eliminate our â€Å"nightmare† by blaming the homeless people but also we evade our responsibility by making an excuse that there is no â€Å"quick fix† for erasing homelessness in America. That means people who are living in the street have to wait a long time to get a house. Most of us usually think that we already gave a hand for helping homelessness by the tax we pay to the government every year, and that the government themselves have had programs for low-income Americans. However, we do not know that the money the government gives up to help poor people is â€Å"just over a tenth of the federal budget† (131). Yet, that ten percent of the budget was cut into one third by the Reagan budget cuts. In other words, when that amount of money reaches to the homeless people, it means nothing. The question here is: What is the rest of the money gone instead of using to help homeless? The rest of billions of dollars is used for national defense such as: military, weapons, and so-called wars†¦ Without knowing this, we blame homeless people for creating their own destitution instead of the government. The book â€Å"Rachel and her children† incredibly tells stories of homeless people. Each person has his or her own different circumstances, but generally these people used to have the same normal live before they became homeless. Many of us would sympathize with homeless people on the street, but only few truly want to help them get out of their extreme circumstances. In some ways, we still draw ourselves a distance from homelessness either because of our guiltiness or our own fear of being homeless one day. When we confidently give up our little spare coins to homeless people without worrying if they are used for drugs or alcohol, that is when we little by little erase our distance and get closer to these poor homeless human beings. View as multi-pages

Effective Professional Managers and Management Model

Effective Professional Managers and Management Model The reflection on and critical analysis of effective professional managers in relation to an effective management model. (Wilber, 2015) In this report, we look at the UN Model (profile of an effective manager). I choose to use the UN Model as my base for this assignment because I find it easy to understand with the way that its broken down levels of managerial experience and because of the values it holds. I also interview 2 experienced managers and asked them about their roles, their success and how they improved as a manager. I reflected and rated myself on the UN Model to get a feeling for how well I would do in a managerial role.       Values the driver of managerial effectiveness The values of a professional manager according to the UN Model includes Integrity, Professionalism, and Respect for diversity. To sum up the middle managers role per the UN Model they must be a role model to staff, be decisive and understand cultures differences. As a Senior Manager, the UN Model expects resilience in the face of external pressures (S.A.R.L, ND), continuous improvement and to intentionally build a diverse workforce (S.A.R.L, ND). To the UN Model being an Organisational leader means building a culture of integrity. Emotional competence To the UN Model having emotional competence means to be Self-aware, have self-confidence, emotional self-control, to be conscientious, optimistic, achievement oriented, to have empathy and discretion. As named by the UN Model; Detailers are managers that dont follow these guidelines. Being a manager doesnt mean only managing employees work but also means managing how they feel in the workplace. Conceptual competence To the UN Model having conceptual competence means always having an eye on their environment and the world beyond it (S.A.R.L, ND). These managers practice talking to people around them keep a clear understanding of the work and organisational environment. Effective managers apply their knowledge of concepts, system thinking and pattern recognition. Technical/substantive competence The UN Model tells us that middle managers must be able to apply and share their knowledge (S.A.R.L, ND). Senior managers should create knowledge sharing and learning mechanisms (S.A.R.L, ND). Organisational leaders should be able to develop a knowledge sharing and learning culture (S.A.R.L, ND). The fundamentals of technical/substantive competence per the UN Model are Knowledge and information management, knowledge networks, knowledge sharing, coaching and developing others and continuous learning and development. Managing people In the UN Model, being able to manage people means having great communication, teamwork, motivation, and means being able to manage individuals performance. A middle manager should be able to effectively manage people. The expectation of senior managers is for them to create an enabling environment. At an organisational level, managers should be able to create a high performance culture (S.A.R.L, ND). Managing action and change To the UN Model; managers should have strong and reliable action and change management, decision-making, creativity and innovation, they should also be client and result oriented. At the middle manager level; managers should be able to make things happen and support change. At the senior manager level; managers should be able to anticipate and lead change. Organisational leaders should drive for excellence and create a culture around searching for positive change. Managing across organisational boundaries Effective managers have a finely tuned understanding of the departments surface and deeper structures (S.A.R.L, ND). The UN Model pushes for strong organisational awareness, building networks and alliances, and positively influencing in the work environment. Section Rating (1 = bad, 10 = great) Explanation/critical analysis Values Integrity 8/10 I do what I say Im going to do when Im going to do it. I say what I think is ethical even if its not the popular opinion. Professionalism 5/10 I make myself at home and sometimes assume people are fine with me being so comfortable at work. Respect for diversity 7/10 I like meeting knew cultures and working with them. I have a bit of a lack of knowledge when it comes to understanding sensitive topics and cultural differences. Emotional Competence Self-awareness 8/10 Interested in learning more about myself and how I am during work. Am aware of my emotions and understand what I can do to make myself feel better. Self confidence 6/10 Am decisive. Can sometimes be unsure about where I fit in and can be easily effected by something someone says. Emotional self-control 7/10 Can deal with someone difficult without raising my voice. I can be tactful. Conscientiousness 10/10 Keep promises. Careful in work. Accept responsibility for mistakes. Optimism 6/10 Try to constantly look at both sides. Can sometimes be lost in disadvantages of doing something. Achievement orientation 5/10 Dont always push for the absolute best. Can sometimes lack motivation. When there is something I need to do, I work at it until it is fully done. Empathy 8/10 Am tactful. Could take body language on board more. Discretion 7/10 Respects privacy. I can keep things confidential if needed. Conceptual Competence Use of concepts 7/10 I can apply concepts to many different things. Systems thinking 5/10 Cant always predict consequences of quick fix solutions. Pattern recognition 7.5/10 Can apply concepts to a new situation. Can identify patterns quite easily. Technical/substantive competence Knowledge and information management 7/10 I can identify trends and best practice. Knowledge networks 8/10 Can make formal and informal connections. Knowledge sharing 9/10 Try to share my knowledge as much as possible and in many ways. Coaching and developing others 8/10 Am interested in helping others learn Continuous learning and development 8/10 Interested in new developments. Keen to learn. Managing people Communication 9/10 I can communicate clearly with many different cultures. Teamwork 8/10 Work well with others. Try to include everyone. Motivation 6/10 Can sometimes leave things that dont feel as necessary behind. Managing individual performance 7.5/10 I use praise accordingly. Find it easy to address poor performance. Managing action and change Action and change management 7.5/10 I like making sure things get done. Decision-making 8/10 I am very decisive. I can say no when it is needed. Creativity and innovation 7/10 I try to think of new ways of doing things all the time. Client orientation 8/10 I can anticipate clients needs before they decide they need it. Results orientation 6.5/10 I am interested in rewarding good results and try to keep the focus on the result and how we get there. Managing across organizational boundaries Organizational awareness 4/10 Need work on understanding the legalities and limits of organisations Building networks and alliances 8/10 I am interested in building strong and positive alliances inside and outside of the company. Influencing 6.5/10 I try to positively influence people to do the right thing by example. In this investigation we asked questions about the interviewees management rolls. In both interviews, we asked the same questions: What business are/where you in? How long have you been working in this field? How successful was/is the business? How did you help the success of the business? What do you do when people start a job? What do you think makes a good manager? How do you improve yourself as a manager? Do you have any advice for someone going into management? In the first interview, we talked to a man named Arwyn. His answers to our questions were as follows: He was the head of department at a university for 16 years, also a senior lecturer. He has been working in the education field for 25 years. He was in the business from 15 students all the way to 400 students. He had many long-standing staff and says teamwork and collective responsibility were ways he contributed to making the business successful. When somebody starts working under his management he conducts training, he observes their ability, he assigns a mentor and monitors their progress. He said that good managers are loyal to the organisation, honest, teamwork oriented, they have integrity, they understand the organisation and they think about what they can do for the organisation; not what the organisation can do for them. He says that managing is always a learning process and involves sharing experiences with others. His advice for someone going into management was to be humble and patient. Relation to un model It seems Arwyn put great value on empathy, knowledge sharing, coaching and developing others, teamwork and influencing staff positively. He took the interview very seriously and presented himself professionally. This shows that he has great values as a manager. In the second interview, we talked to a woman named Parvinder. Her answers to our questions were as follows: She worked in a Cafà © 7 days a week as a manager. She has been working in management for 15 years. The business was very successful for a number of years but the recession hit the business hard. She feels she helped the success of the business by keeping with the times. When people start the job, she goes through an introduction, an orientation and training. She said a good manager should motivate, inspire and lead. As a manager, she improved herself by learning from her mistakes and by looking for new ways to innovate. Her advice for people going into management was that it isnt easy, you need people skills and a passion to lead. Relation to un model I believe Parvinder has strong conceptual competence and organisational awareness by the way she looks for ways to improve, I think she tries to provide a place for teamwork to thrive. How I felt In both interviews, I felt confident in the questions I was asking, I feel that I could have asked more conversational questions to make both me and the interviewee feel more comfortable. What I saw When Arwyn came into the room he asked if he could sit down and he also put on a tie. Both interviewees where slightly reserved at the start but near the end they both felt more comfortable. What I thought I thought both interviewees where very knowledgeable about management, I noticed they hardly gave closed answers and that they held strong values around professionalism. What I learnt I learnt the value of working as a team, being professional and having integrity. I also learnt that being a manager or working in general is more about what you can do for the organisation more than what the organisation can do for you. What I would do differently in an interview setting I would try and make more small talk at the start to try and make the interviewees more comfortable, I would also try tailoring my questions to suit the interviewees better by implying certain answers. What I could/would do better in management If I were a manager I would try to hold strong value on presenting myself professionally, managing with teamwork and clear communication. I would make sure empathy was one of my main goals to make sure my team was in a positive mindset and happy. I think that both interviewees where very knowledgeable about management. They both put great value on teamwork and developing a communication culture. I feel Arwyns management style was much more collective and team oriented while Parvinders style was more about leading and resembled a more classic idea of management. In this report, we looked briefly at the Kotter Model and more in depth into the UN Model. We looked at my personal reflection on the UN Model and applied the model to two interviews with managers with a lot of experience. References       S.A.R.L, M. (ND, ND ND). ProfileManager_v4. Retrieved from HR Portal: https://hr.un.org/sites/hr.un.org/files/Profile%20of%20an%20Effective%20Manager_0.pdf Wilber, K. (2015, December 15). A Brief Look At Management Practices. Retrieved from Linkdin: http://staffingstream.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/supplier-management.jpg

Analysis of Dream Deferred by Langston Hughes Essay -- Dream Deferred

Analysis of Dream Deferred by Langston Hughes Dreams are the driving force of America today. Every person has some sort of dreams and or goals. Although in life everyone has dreams and goals, there are obviously more struggles for some ethnic groups than for others. The poem, "Dream Deferred," by Langston Hughes, is one man's expression of his dreams during a difficult time period. As a black man in a time period where African-Americans were considered an inferior group of people,dreams and goals would have been difficult to realize. Langston Hughes aptly expresses his frustrations in his poem, "Dream Deferred." As people read this poem, in any time period, they can relate to the simple universal message that the poet expressed. Hughes is very expressive in how he feels about dreams he has had and the fact and his frustration at not being able to pursue and/or fulfill those dreams that he is unable to pursue or fulfill those dreams. In his poem, Hughes asks the reader to think by posing the question, ?What happens to a dream deferred??(1). This first li...

How Does One Achieve the American Dream?

How does one achieve the American Dream? The answer undoubtedly depends upon one’s definition of the Dream, and there are many from which to choose. John Winthrop envisioned a religious paradise in a â€Å"City upon a Hill. † Martin Luther King, Jr. dreamed of racial equality. Both men yearned for what they perceived as perfection. But, the definition of the American Dream is an idea which suggests that all people can succeed through hard work, and that all people have the potential to live happy, successful lives. It matters not who you are and what ethnic group you’re from, you can achieve the American dream. Lets look at Martin Luther King Jr. He turned the world up-side-down by going against the odds, (during the time of the Civil Rights Movement) proclaiming ‘that all men are created equal’. He was a well known civil rights leader who stood up for his beliefs in a non-violent way. Through perseverance and determination, he was able to maintain his focus of letting America know that he deserved to be treated with dignity and respect. Although, his untimely death of assassination, it was though his actions and dedications that can be pronounced Martin Luther King to be an excellent example of one who achieved the American dream. His struggles paved the way for others, to become a part of the great â€Å"melting pot† regardless of nationality or background. These include Oprah Winfrey and our newly elected 44th president of the United States of America, Barack Obama creating a new day and time this country, America. Oprah Winfrey is a prime example of someone who achieved the American Dream. As a child her life was not a fairy tale at all. At a young age Winfrey's parents separated and sent her to live with grandparents in very poor surroundings. Later, at the age of six she moved to live with her mother. She was consequently sexually molested by male relatives at a young age and endured the hardship up until she was 14. She moved to live with her father in Nashville Tennessee. Living with her father did not eliminate her problems even though he was loving (yet strict) towards her. She struggled with drugs and rebellious behavior and even the loss of a baby after giving birth to it prematurely. Wild behavior conflicted with her father's strict rules and high standards. After being awarded a University Scholarship she eventually began to settle down. Winfrey studied at the Tennessee State University and received a BA in Speech and Performing Arts. It was her father's high standards that inspired her to aim for and achieve more from life. Winfrey became involved in several groups and pursued her interests in media and journalism while at University. Even though her early years in life where filled with hardship, she was always gifted with intelligence and she graduated as an honors student. Winfrey's career really began to take off after moving to Chicago in 1984 to host â€Å"AM Chicago†, an early morning talk show at WLS-TV's. It went on to become the number one ranked talk show shortly after she started and it was renamed â€Å"The Oprah Winfrey Show† after one year. The Oprah Winfrey Show went on to become one of the most successful and highest ranked television talk show programs in history. Oprah Winfrey continues to follow her dreams through her many business and media interests. She is one of the wealthiest women in the United States of America and is regularly placed high up on the Forbes magazine Rich List each year. Winfrey continues to influence and inspire people worldwide with her example of overcoming great odds to achieve great success financially, spiritually and socially. Barack Obama is such an exceptionally, smart, African American man. On January 20, 2009 Obama became the first African American president of the USA. He accomplished the American dream without a doubt. He proved to the black society as well as the white, that what was sought out to be the â€Å"impossible† could be possible. He achieved it because he has what everyone wants. For instance he has a nice house, car, beautiful family and he’s just such a beautiful person altogether. Obama has proved to all that the American Dream is not just an â€Å"Alice in Wonderland† type of fairy tale. Indeed the American Dream is a reality with its own symbol and that symbol is Barrack Obama, the 44th and fist black president of the United States of America. In conclusion, it just goes to show that the â€Å"American Dream† is possible and nothing is out of your limits when it comes to dreams. For instance look at Oprah—a multi-billionaire, African American woman, who wasn’t raised with the finer things in life. She had to work hard for success. Also President Obama got to where he is now because of hard work, discipline and determination. I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today. †-Martin Luther King Jr.

The Optimal Bar Top Height

The Optimal Bar Top Height The most common height for a bar top, whether it is a kitchen breakfast bar, a basement wet bar, or a commercial bar down at the corner pub is 42-inches. Construction Conventions Standard conventions support the 42-inch bar height. Most pre-made backsplashes are four to six inches tall. When that height is added to the standard countertop height, the backsplash can slip underneath the overhang of the finished bar top for a smooth transition. Comfort The optimal and most ergonomic height for a top that services both the seated and standing user is 42 inches. With a bar stool of the proper height, it is comfortable to sit at a 42-inch bar. This is also a comfortable height for most people to lean against. Additionally, the bar top at this height is in easy reach of a standing person, so they can set their food and drink down without leaning over. A bar top is typically too high to serve as a good seated work surface and is mainly useful for leisure activities. The Multiple Benefits of Bars The main benefits for a bar top come from one person working standing up on one side and another sitting on the other. The bartender has a comfortable height to prepare drinks on his feet and the customer has a comfortable height to drink them while on a seat or standing. The standing bartender is also at a comfortable height to engage the seated customer, whether for the simple business transaction or for the age-old tradition of chatty banter or deep heart-to-hearts that often happen in this setting. The other benefit of a bar top is its aesthetic appeal. In another common context for bars: A kitchen bar top can divide the space up nicely by serving as a transition area, between the cooking area and the eating area.