Wednesday, July 8, 2020

Business Excellence at Emirates Airlines - 1375 Words

Business Excellence at Emirates Airlines (Research Paper Sample) Content: Business Excellence at Emirates AirlinesCourse code:Name:Student number:Date of submission: Summary Established in the year 1885, Emirates Airlines has become one of the household names, across the Middle East and globally. In the recent years the company has seen a lot of growth, relative to the successful business model. The company has applied some of the most revolutionary strategies to rise to its current status in the industry. Currently the airline manages more than 3000 flights every week. This is relative to the fact that flies it planes to more than 78 countries across the globe within more than 142 cities. Due to its revolutionary services and quality of operations it has received a myriad of national and international awards and accreditation.Introduction Started in the year 1985, the Emirates Airlines is the leading carriers in the Middles East and a top airline globally. With emphasis on passengers and cargo, the airline has continued to grow beyond most of the worlds biggest airlines that have been around much longer. Over the years, the company has risen through the ranks to join the leaders in the industry (Emirates, 2014). Over the course of the rise, the company has employed conventional and revolutionary strategies to ascertain it position in the industry. Despite the fact that some of the leaders in the industry across Europe have raised concerns over the revolutionary nature of the company and business model, the company continues to receive accreditation awards of excellence stamping it authority and influence in the industry. This paper brings out the Quality Management strategies on a Business Excellence Model that has seen the company rise to in the industry. Background It is owned by the government of Dubai under the Dubai investment corporation of Dubai. Currently the airlines prides in providing the best services in the Middle East, with over 3000 flights every week, travelling to more than 78 countries across the gl obe within more than 142 cities globally (Emirates, 2014). The Emirates Airlines is managed under the Emirates Group, which also handles Dnata, which is an aviation company that carries out ground handling. Over the years, the company has built one of the biggest brands in the world, much of which can be attributed to the companys commitment to excellent services, revolutionary growth in the airline industry and consistence in profitability. It has redefined the industry for quite sometime, bringing in some fundamental improved baselines for the rest of the industry players to follow (Emirates, 2014). Literature Review Business Excellence Model The business excellence model, is the backbone of all the revolutionary developments and growth that the company has seen and more so the influence in the industry. Using a business excellence model that focuses on visionary leadership, customer satisfaction, valued workforce, personal learning, and redefinition of the future through innovati ons and a sober perspective on social responsibility, the company has risen to the top. It is a model that has been embedded in the culture of the firm observed throughout the chain of command in a holistic manner.All the strategies adopted by the company this far, relates to the key aspects of a business excellence model which are leadership, strategic planning, customer focus, measurement, knowledge management, analysis, workforce focus, operations focus and the results. The rationale for this business report is to establish some of the key milestones that the airline has made over the course of rise and how its current business excellence model has aided in its ascend within the industry. The company prides in more than 500 international and national awards of excellence, but this has not stopped the company from breaking down the norms that have been held previously by other players, disturbing the status quo. As recent as last year in 2013, the airline received an award from Sk ytrax, rating it as the worlds Best Airline of the year (Emirates, 2014).The excellence business model used by the company allows for measurable goals and performance overtime, with a key emphasis on results. The airlines embraces a business excellence model that has strong pillars in technology, lean staffing while at the same time the business structure is flat. Majority of the staff are sourced from India and Pakistan and due to the fact that there arent any staff unions, there is plenty of staff to peak from at lower staffing costs. Although it is large company, it is able to minimize the operational and overhead costs and operate as a small airline. The airline has been at the forefront of integrating its operation with technology making the service delivery smooth and unmatched in the industry (Emirates, 2014). The companys strategies rest on massive campaigns to market and advertise its services among them sponsoring European football teams and venturing into the mobile appli cations industry to offer clients seamless services everywhere (James, 2014). In the recent past, the airline started using the wide body planes such as the Boeing 777 and the A380s airbuses, to minimize the costs of operation; a move that has since yielded results. It is this liberal approach that has given the airline an advantageous leap into the top ten players of the industry. An aspects that has seen most of the key players in the industry among them; Air France, Heathrow, Frankfurt Airlines and Amsterdam among others citing foul play. Most of the companies that are aggrieved cite that they company may be receiving fuel subsides, referencing the fact that the company has been doing well even in light of the recent fuel crisis in pump prices (Emirates, 2014). Other major accusations are related to exemption or subsidies from local taxes, airport charges at the home airports and low costs of labor relative to its affiliation with the government and the local policies. These are allegations that the company has defended vehemently, even on its website under the business model tab, citing that biased competitive advantages would only cripple the national benefits and interests (Centreforaviation.com, 2014).Data collection All of the data presented has been collected from credible secondary sources among them airlines website which is rich with well organized information. At the same time some of the sources include airlines authorities that have information on the company and the industry at large.ISO Applications Among the various ISO certifications that the airline has applied for, it has been awarded the ISO 9001:2000, which relates to Quality Management Systems. This is an accreditation certificate that is awarded companies that are able to offer their client quality services with consistency, through quality management systems in operations (Asiatraveltips.com, 2014). Dnata, which is part of the Emirates Group, also received accreditation for ISO 14001E nvironmental Management System (Ameinfo.com, 2004). This is a certificate that recognizes the firms ability to offer services as per the environmentally, sound and sustainable requirements (Asiatraveltips.com, 2014). Dnata Airport Operations is the section of the emirates that offers the ground handling services. These are certificates the shows the commitment of the Emirates Airline management staff, to the course of offering quality services with assurances on satisfaction and sustainable environmental conservation. The airline has also been awarded the certificate for ISO 17025, for quality and safe food items offered to the clients onboard the planes.Awards National awards In 2013, the airlines received an award from Dubai Airports Health, Safety and Environment Excellence Awards, for being the most excellent choice with reference to safety for the stakeholders. The award titled; Overall Excellence in Safety for Stakeholder epitomizes the commitment of the company to its stakeho lders and their vision for the future of the company and the industry as well (Businessexcellence.gov.ae, 2014). The company has also been awarded a sporting certificate for the Emirates Flight Catering Cricket Team, which won during the 2013 inter-hotel competition organized and held in Dubai. The company has also received the Dubai Quality Award, which recognizes companies that maintain high standards and quality management systems in their operations. International awards The airline, in light of its revolutionary development has also received quite a number of international awards. In 2013, the company was named the best airline in the world. This year the airline has also received a number of awards. Among the recent international awards is the Caterer Middle East Awards which is was awarded in recognition for the best chief steward of the year to David DSouza. At the same awards, the airlines also received Pastry Chef of the Year 2014 Finalist - Yana Murashova. The company als o won the Aviation Industry Awards, as the Aviation Company of the year and the Aircraft Operator Award. It also emerged as the winner of several awards at ...

Thursday, July 2, 2020

2019 Best Brightest Niko Stjepan Martinovic, Notre Dame (Mendoza)

Niko Stjepan Martinovic 2019 Best Brightest: Niko Stjepan Martinovic, Notre Dame (Mendoza) by: Jeff Schmitt on March 24, 2019 | 0 Comments Comments 1,559 Views March 24, 2019Niko Stjepan MartinovicUniversity of Notre Dame, Mendoza College of Businessâ€Å"I am an anachronism. There are many other centuries I would’ve better belonged in.†Fun fact about yourself: I’m a dual citizen between the United States and Croatia. Another one is that Liam Neeson â€Å"threatened† me.Hometown: Huntington, New YorkHigh School: Locust Valley High SchoolMajor: FinanceMinor: N/AFavorite Business Course: Applied Investment Management (AIM) the course where a class of approximately 20 students manages a live portfolio of $15mm given to us by the University’s Endowment.Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles During College:Project Leader for Student International Business Council: GTCR LBO ProjectResident Assistant in Zahm HouseTour GuideHead of Student Innovation @ Innovation Park/Idea CenterCo-Founded two companies: both have since dissipatedWall Street ClubInvestment Club: Board MemberJapan ClubTable Tennis ClubMen’s Boxing ClubClub SoccerWhere have you interned during your college career? Goldman Sachs, IBD Real Estate Financing Group Summer Analyst, New York, NYValued various types of real estate assets, worked with credit team to evaluate if certain metrics met rating agency requirements, and consulted the capital markets desk on pricing to aid in negotiations with sponsors and brokers.Modeled out cash flows and rent roll using Argus files, made underwriting and market leasing assumptions, and projected normalized cash flows for various assets in various locations.Created and presented screening packs to internal managing directors during pipeline meetings.Built committee memo presentation for the financing of a data center asset portfolio that was presented group wide on deal closing.Greenvale Capital Management, Summer Intern, London, UKForensically analyzed, in French, the financial statements for a publicly traded European firm and developed thesis on shorting the stock.Presented findings to portfolio managers and the stock was shorted and subsequently traded down on press releases.Brigade Capital Management, LP, Investment Team Intern, New York, NYCreated DCF model on a slot-machine manufacturer and determined the company was undervalued relative to competitors.Consolidated a tear sheet, valuation spread, and made an investment recommendation on the company to portfolio managers.Built comparable company spread for both the auto-part and gaming industries to determine what EV/EBITDA multiples would be best to use in future valuation.Prepared tear sheet and FCF model on a PE firms’ acquisition of a leisure company and recommended purchase of the first lien term loan to CLO portfolio managers and investment committee.Solus Alternative Asset Management, LP, Investment Team Intern, New York, NYBuilt a fully circular, three financial statement model on Cenveo (CVO), a distressed printing and paper company.Presented a comparable company spread and tear sheet on the printing industry and CVO for portfolio managers.Prepared a DCF model made an investment recommendation on the company.Developed understanding of distressed/stressed and post-reorg equity investing by attending morning meetings, investor relations meetings, and client phone calls.Tegean Capital Management, LLC, Investment Team Intern, New York, NYPrepared tear sheets on financial institutions with a $10bn-$30bn market cap through due diligence and quantitative modeling.Created FCF model concerning the $3bn merger between PetSmart (incumbent) and Chewy.com (disruptor) and attended the roadshow.Presented tear sheet and models to Tegean CEO and gave investment recommendations.Where will you be working after graduation? Goldman Sachs, Analyst in the Real Estate Financing Group (NYC, New York)What company do you admire mos t? Disney! Ever since I was a child, this company was a part of my life. The magic of their films, their parks, and just their brand overall was enough to make me want to be an Imagineer for the longest time. The company started with the visionary Walt Disney making cartoons and today has turned into one of the most recognizable brands in the entire world. What can you possibly hate about that success and growth?What did you enjoy most about your business school? Notre Dame is a business school that encourages teamwork and community building. Everyone wants everyone else to succeed. It does not fall into the trap of being a cutthroat environment.What is the biggest lesson you gained from studying business? That business is not as easy as the media would make it out to be. It requires a substantial amount of know-how and foundational knowledge of certain core concepts. It is difficult to analyze a company, to grow a company, and to build one from the ground up. My education here has been humbling in that regard.What has surprised you most about majoring in business? I thought I would hate accounting. Turns out, it has informed every finance class I have since taken. It truly is the language of business and I even thought that quote was just classic business jargon, but it is the truth. Knowing accounting is the key to understanding the financial health and financial workings of a firm.â€Å"If I didn’t major in business, I would be majoring in or studying†¦The Culinary Arts. Growing up in a European family food becomes the cornerstone of everyday life. At breakfast, you’re getting asked what you want for dinner. Food defines many childhoods for Europeans and it has influenced me so much that I still strongly consider moving into a career that is involved with the culinary arts. Combining business into it, would I like to own a restaurant(s) someday? The answer is ABSOLUTELY.Who most influenced your decision to pursue business in college? My brother Luka attended business school at Wharton one year ahead of me. I would constantly Facetime him and he would tell about the classes he was taking. In fact, I was originally an Economics and Math major at Notre Dame before these conversations. Luka was able to create a narrative which helped me realize that I was truly interested in the subject matter and scholarly discourse of an education in business.Which academic, extracurricular or personal achievement are you most proud of? I never thought I would graduate from Notre Dame saying that I entered a boxing tournament. Bengal Bouts is a boxing tournament held every year at Notre Dame. All the proceeds of the fundraiser and subsequent tournament go toward developing Holy Cross Schools (Kindergarten through College) and Healthcare facilities in Bangladesh. When I was a freshman, I said to myself that it would be a senior year bucket list item to enter the tournament. I put in 4 months of grueling preparation and discipline to g et to a level of fitness I never had before, and it was something I truly thought I would never be able to do. Needless to say, I am very proud of this achievement and accomplishment.Which classmate do you most admire? Christopher Skomra is one of the most intelligent people I have ever met. His knowledge of finance blows me away every time and it’s no surprise that he received the Frank Reilly Award, which is given to the best finance student of the AIM class. Regardless of GPA and academic standing, my answer wouldn’t change. He continues to push the boundary for what the â€Å"normal† knowledge/skill set is for an undergraduate student. He already has the know-how of a full-time employee of at least a year in my opinion, which in the finance world, is a lot of experience.Who would you most want to thank for your success? I am incredibly lucky for the family I have. My parents have sacrificed so much for me and my brother to receive the educations we have. We were not only expected to do our best but to push ourselves past that. My parents certainly instilled that quality of resilience and persistence into me and it has given me an identity that I plan to hold throughout my career and life. I hope I can be as good a parent someday.What are the top two items on your bucket list? Cook with Gordon RamsaySkydive in SwitzerlandWhat are your hobbies?CookingJazz Music (Playing and attending performances at Jazz Bars/Clubs)ViticultureJapanese CultureBoxingSkiingSoccerTennisWhat made Niko such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2019?â€Å"Niko Martinovic is a remarkable human being. I have known him since I had the pleasure of teaching him Corporate Financial Management during the fall of his sophomore year. He has a dazzling intellect, and a tremendous passion to help the underserved.Niko produced superhuman work in every phase of our course. He was always thoroughly prepared, participated very actively, regularly visited office hours to di scuss advanced concepts and interpretations, worked every optional problem and hundreds that were not assigned, and consistently completed assignments far in advance of course deadlines. The questions he asks in and out of class may be the most sophisticated I’ve ever received. And that includes conversations with top academics.But it is out of the classroom where Niko has most distinguished himself. He is the most positive and upbeat person I know, and his enthusiasm is contagious. The depth and breadth of his extracurricular activities are astonishing. He spearheads several of the university’s entrepreneurship programs, serves extensively in his dorm, boxes to provide education and healthcare for impoverished students in Bangladesh, is fluent in four languages, and is even an outstanding cook!He is also a superior athlete and DJ, and an accomplished jazz musician. And his performance in group work is astounding. He is an outstanding listener, and always inspires his group members to achieve beyond what they thought possible. Niko has redefined my perception of what one person can accomplish, and the impact he/she can have. And he’s only 21!   Wow. And he is always available, on immediate notice, to help.   At the end of last semester, my final exam was on a Thursday night. And with grades due only 72 hours later, I was in a panic when the need for an early Friday morning makeup exam suddenly materialized.   Who did we call very early that Friday morning, and awaken from a deep sleep to proctor the exam?   Niko Martinovic, because we knew he would deliver. And how did he respond?   â€Å"I’m happy to help. I’ll be right over. Which room?†Niko may also be the most articulate and persuasive individual I have ever spoken with. Five seconds into a discussion with him, the conversation has real depth. He is one of the very few students ever that when he approaches me in the hallway, my senses dramatically sharpen , because I know I will have to be at my best to meaningfully converse with him. He is also one of the very few students I call on for advice because I value his penetrating insight. On top of all of this Niko is the most delightful person imaginable. He’s stunningly polite and humble, has a fantastic sense of humor, and generates enormous respect from others. On a wide variety of topics, students from across the university seek him out for advice. He always uplifts them.   Students, staff and faculty are in awe of him.It would be a rare student who could match Niko’s prowess in any of eight major areas – scholarship, leadership, keenness of mind, integrity, congeniality, work ethic, humility and passion to serve humanity. Niko may be the most impressive person I’ve ever met.   He is an inspiration to all who know him. I can’t imagine a person who will do more good.†Carl Ackermann Nolan Professorship for Excellence in Undergraduate Instru ction Teaching Professor of Finance   Page 1 of 11